Protesting a planned trade agreement with rival China tens of thousands of opposition supporters chanted anti-communist slogans as they marched in Taiwan's capital, which they believed would destabilize the island's self-rule and harm its economy.

‘It's a disgrace to Embrace Communist China’ and Protect Taiwan, ‘Protect Our Jobs’, as they marched several miles along a main thoroughfare in Taipei, to the Presidential office building.

Saying Taiwanese had a right to articulate their views before it takes effect, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party is calling for a referendum on the pact.

While organizers said there were more than 100, 000, the police said about 32,000 people participated in the protest.

The Government said the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, to be signed in the Chinese city of Chongqing, would give Taiwanese companies tariff remunerations in China that are comparable to those acknowledged by Southeast Asian countries under a split trade pact with China.

The conformity is the gemstone in the crown of Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou's policy of seeking closer economic ties to alleviate tension across the Taiwan Strait, a flash point since the two sides split amid civil war in 1949.

"The trade pact would turn Taiwan into another Chinese territory like Hong Kong. Taiwanese have worked so hard to achieve the democracy we have today, and we will not allow China to control us”, said Chang Kuo-min.