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TAIPEI - TAIWAN'S embattled former president Chen Shui-bian vowed on Saturday to join an anti-China rally next week despite a money laundering scandal implicating him and his family.
The pro-independence opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is planning the Taipei rally to protest growing cross-Strait ties, which it says threaten Taiwan's sovereignty and security. It also opposes a planned visit by Beijing's top negotiator with Taiwan, Chen Yunlin.
'I will join you to take to the streets on October 25 ... to demand Chen Yunlin not coming to Taiwan,' Chen told a gathering of supporters in southern Chiayi county.
'The condition for Chen Yunlin's visit is to put me in jail. The Kuomintang is joining hands with the communists to persecute me,' the ex-leader claimed.
Tensions between Taipei and Beijing have eased since Mr Ma Ying-jeou of the China-friendly Kuomintang party took office on May 20.
Beijing considers the self-ruled island to be part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.
Chen Shui-bian, his wife, son, daughter-in-law, and brother-in-law have all been named as defendants in a money laundering case.
Taiwanese prosecutors say 21 million US dollars (S$31.07 billion) was sent to Swiss bank accounts belonging to Chen's daughter-in-law in 2007. The funds have since been frozen.
Chen is already being investigated for allegedly embezzling 14.8 million Taiwan dollars in special expenses while he was president. His wife is on trial in the same case. -- AFP
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