[JURIST] Hundreds of thousands of protestors gathered Saturday in a massive rally and march through the streets of Taiwan's capital Taipei to voice their opposition to China's anti-secession law [text] authorizing the potential use of force against Taiwan in order to achieve Chinese re-unification. Taiwan president President Chen Shui-bian [official website] and many members of his Democratic Progressive Party [Wikipedia entry] took part in the march. Taiwan, the seat of the Chinese nationalist government deposed by Mao Tse-Tung's Communists in 1948 has enjoyed virtual independence over the past 50 years largely because the US has indicated that it would likely defend the island against a Chinese attack. Washington has criticized the passage of the anti-secession law and has urged the two rivals to open lines of communication that have been closed since 1999. From Taiwan, the China Post has local coverage. China has said that the protests "threaten cross-strait relations" [China Daily report]. AP has more.