Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Tuesday blocked an opposition attempt to vote on a controversial bill to establish direct transport links with rival China during a rowdy session of parliament.
The bill proposed by Kuomintang (KMT) and People First Party (PFP) called for the establishment of links cut after the island and the Chinese mainland split in 1949 at the end of a civil war.
Dozens of lawmakers from the pro-independence DPP, backed by their Taiwan Solidarity Union allies, chanted slogans and unfurled banners on the legislative floor while others occupied the podium to prevent the opposition from voting.
"KMT and PFP selling out Taiwan's interest! Public enemy of the people!" "Sovereignty must not be voted on!" they chanted.
There were minor clashes but no injuries were reported.
Parliament speaker Wang Jin-pyng later decided to indefinitely postpone voting on the bill.
Under Taipei's ban on direct links across the Taiwan Strait, all merchandise and passengers transit via third ports, mainly Hong Kong.
In a relaxation, Taiwan in 2001 allowed limited direct trade, post and transport links known as the "three mini links" between the islands of Kinmen and Matsu and selected ports in China's southeastern Fujian province.
Taiwan's two opposition parties have sought improved ties with Beijing, given the ever closer economic links across the strait.
Despite political tensions, China has become Taiwan's leading foreign investment destination, with an estimated 80 billion US dollars in mainland projects so far funded by the island's businesspeople.
It is also Taiwan's largest market.
However, the DPP government is reluctant to the lift the decades-old ban due to Beijing's lingering hostility towards Taiwan.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory even though the island has been ruled as a de facto independent state since 1949. It threatens to invade if Taipei declares formal independence.
