Monday, March 28, 2005 Posted: 0654 GMT (1454 HKT)

(CNN) -- A massive protest in Taiwan against China's new anti-secession laws is a misuse of people power, Chinese media said on Monday.

Hundreds of thousands of Taiwanese marched in their capital Taipei on Saturday to protest Beijing's new law sanctioning the use of force if Taiwan moves toward formal independence.

"The size of the rally does not, however, make the event a rational move," an editorial published in the China Daily said.

"Instead, it further exposes the secessionist forces' attempt to misuse people power to pursue their secessionist agenda," the newspaper said.

In Saturday's rally, Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian was joined by many thousands of people protesting the new laws, which lay the groundwork for military force against Taiwan if it moves towards independence.

According to the China Daily editorial, a conspiracy by the secessionist forces to fool the public and fuel cross-Straits tension shows how necessary the anti-secession law is.

"Only by effectively opposing and checking their secessionist activities can peace and stability in the Straits be maintained," the editorial said.

"As for Chen, his participation in the protest added to his record as a man of bad faith. Only one month ago, Chen solemnly pledged to develop cross-Straits relations during his meeting with PFP (People First Party) chairman James Soong. Unfortunately he has failed to honor his word," it said.

China considers Taiwan an integral part of its territory to be brought back to the fold eventually, and by force if necessary.

"China is a violent country. We want nothing to do with it," said protester Wu Chao-hsiung, a carpenter from Taipei. "We have to insist on the freedom to determine our own fate."

The comments in China's state controlled media came as China prepared on Monday to welcome Chiang Pin-kung, vice chairman of Taiwan's opposition Nationalist Party, leading the first visit to the mainland by a Nationalist delegation since 1949.

Analysts expect Beijing to give Chiang red-carpet treatment and cosy up to the party known in Chinese as the Kuomintang (KMT) -- which supports eventual unification with a democratic China -- while ignoring Chen.

China's annual session of parliament passed the anti-secession law on March 14. Beijing has claimed Taiwan as its own since their split at the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949.

On Saturday, thousands of tour buses from all over the island arrived in Taipei filled with protesters, who assembled in 10 different areas -- each route representing one of the articles of the anti-secession law.

The marchers then converged on the wide boulevard in front of the president's office. Police estimated the crowd at about a million, The Associated Press reported. Taiwan's population is 23 million.

President Chen, a fierce longtime critic of Beijing's Communist leadership, appeared at an intersection along one of the protest routes and waved at bystanders.

As he promised, Chen didn't speak at the rally, but he mounted a stage and chanted slogans with the crowds, AP reported. He closed off the event by singing a song -- "Taiwan is our baby."

China's state-run China Daily had said on Friday the march could raise tensions and set back bilateral ties, and cautioned against talk and acts by Chen at the rally. (Full story)

Some analysts see the law -- which codified Beijing's longstanding threat to attack Taiwan -- as a bid by Beijing to deter Chen from pushing for a formal split from China before the end of his term in 2008.

Former President Lee Teng-hui, 82, who has become a vocal supporter of independence since retiring in 2000, also marched in the protest. Vice President Annette Lu also made a brief appearance.

"What do we want from China? Peace," lawmaker Bi-Khim Hsiao led the crowd in chanting.

Hsiao said there is no real expectation Beijing will reconsider the law. The protest is aimed more at bringing greater international pressure on China to negotiate peacefully.

"(The law) essentially gives China a blank check to use force against Taiwan, and they are the ones legislating, they are the ones interpreting the law, and executing and implementing the law," Hsiao told CNN on Saturday.

Organizers billed the protest as a "peace carnival." A woman dressed as the Statue of Liberty waved her torch at the crowds, while a five-story-high white balloon representing peace was erected at the protest site.

An equally tall model of a red sea urchin -- its needles said to symbolize the missiles China is pointing at Taiwan -- was deflated at the end of the rally. Protesters climbed over it and tried to tear it apart.

Protesters chanted "Oppose War, Love Taiwan" and carried signs reading "Shame on China" and "Democracy."

U.S. and Japanese flags flew below a green protest banner, while demonstrators erected large paper board with the faces of U.S. President George W. Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi

Many Taiwanese see those two countries as the island's most likely allies in any military conflict with China.

The United States has pledged to defend Taiwan in the event of an attack. Washington said the legislation could set back cross-Strait relations and called its passage "unfortunate."

China's tougher stance on Taiwan has also made Europe wary about lifting an arms embargo, an anticipated move that now appears will be delayed. (Full story)

"The anti-secession law, simply put, is a law that authorizes war," 70-year-old businessman Fan Wen-yi said. "If they really see Taiwan people as their compatriots, why do they enact such a law?"

Vivian Wang, a 38-year-old restaurant worker, traveled about 300 km (190 miles) by bus from the southern city of Kaohsiung to join the protest.

"Taiwan is only a small island, so we must speak out really loud to make the world hear that we are a democracy facing an evil giant," Wang said.

Copyright 2005 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.