Around a thousand protesters surrounded a hotel in Taiwan's capital Taipei, where Chinese negotiator Chen Yunlin held a meeting today, to protest against closer ties between the two political rivals.
Hundreds of riot police stopped the protesters from various political groups getting into the Formosa Regent hotel for more than five hours, blocking traffic and causing minor scuffles.
Mr Chen remained in the hotel, unable to leave safely, local television reported, adding later that he had decided to stay the night.
"China is China. Taiwan is Taiwan. We have a Chinese bandit on our territory and we need to resist," Taipei resident Chang Shaoming, 50, said.
China has claimed sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan since 1949, when Mao Zedong's Communists won the Chinese civil war and Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists (KMT) fled to the island. Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan under its rule, by force if necessary.
But China-friendly Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou has pushed for landmark trade and transit ties since he took office in May.
Officials from the two sides signed deals on daily direct air flights, new cargo routes and food safety yesterday during Beijing's highest-level visit to its political rival in 60 years.
"This irrational act severely ruins Taiwan's international image," Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation, the island's agency in charge of negotiating with China, said in a statement about the protesters.
Reuters