Tens of thousands of opposition party supporters took to the streets in Taipei Saturday to protest a soon-to-be-signed trade agreement with China that they fear will undermine Taiwan's sovereign status and hurt its economy. Addressing the rally in front of the Presidential Office, opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen urged the public to cast a no- confidence vote in the year-end mayoral elections in five special municipalities to show their opposition to the cross-strait economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) that will be signed in Chongqing, China June 29. Former President Lee Teng-hui also led the demonstrators in chanting anti-ECFA slogans and urged the public to help the DPP secure all five mayoral seats up for grabs in the pivotal Nov. 27 elections. Commenting on the DPP-organized protest march, President Ma Ying-jeou said it would be more conducive to national development if the opposition camp joined the efforts to closely and rationally monitor the implementation of the ECFA. The following are excerpts from local media coverage of the issue: United Daily News: Su Tseng-chang, the DPP candidate for Taipei mayor in the November election, said at Saturday's rally that the ECFA panders to big corporations at the expense of small and medium-size enterprises and would eventually lead to a further widening of the wealth gap in Taiwan. Under the agreement, Taiwan will open its doors to some of China's service industries, which Su said could affect the job prospects of Taipei residents in the long run because over 80 percent of the city's employed population is working in the service sector. In response, Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin, who is seeking a second term, ridiculed Su as lacking knowledge of Taipei's economic structure and having no confidence in its strength. According to Hau, Su is aware of the positive effects the ECFA will have on Taipei City but dares not voice support for the pact for fear of alienating die- hard pro-independence voters. Hau further said Taipei is not afraid of competition but rather is afraid of lack of progress. 'Su's lack of confidence in the city's development potential renders him incapable of leading the city to become a world-class metropolis,' Hau contended. (June 27, 2010). China Times: For the first time since he announced his candidacy for Taipei City mayor earlier this year, Su expressed open opposition to the ECFA Saturday. Stressing that Taipei is part of Taiwan, Su said it is unlikely that the city by itself would benefit from a policy initiative that would hurt Taiwan as a whole. The adverse effects of the ECFA will gradually spread from the agricultural and industrial sectors to the service sector, and Taipei will eventually be affected because service industries form the backbone of the city's economy, he said. In contrast, incumbent Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin said the ECFA will contribute to Taipei City's technology, cultural and filmmaking industries. 'Many local filmmakers told me at the opening of the 2010 Taipei Film Festival that the ECFA will help Taiwan tap into the vast Chinese movie market, Hau said at a farm produce trade fair Saturday. (June 27, 2010). Liberty Times: Former President Lee said at Saturday's protest rally that the ECFA would incorporate Taiwanese businesses into China's industrial chain step by step and make Taiwan's economy part of China's, which would serve China's long-term goal of bringing Taiwan under its control. Lee urged all opposition supporters to unite to ensure that the DPP candidates win the mayoral elections in five special municipalities -- Taipei, Xinbei, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung. Many of the DPP politicians who spoke at the rally said that Taiwan may gain short-term benefits from tariff cuts under the ECFA, but that a number of local factories may be forced to shut down within a few years as a result of the ECFA- prescribed market opening and a flood of cheap Chinese imports. After the ECFA is signed, China will definitely increase the pressure on Taiwan to start political talks on sensitive issues such as the establishment of a military confidence building mechanism and signing of a peace agreement, which would lead to eventual annexation of Taiwan, they warned. (June 27, 2010). 