TAIPEI: A Taiwanese pro-independence politician was indicted on Thursday for attacking a Chinese envoy during his visit to the island, a prosecutor said.

"Wang Ting-yu rallied a crowd and used violent means to intimidate and assault Zhang Mingqing which caused him to fall to the ground and be injured," said Lee Ching-wen, a spokeswoman for the Tainan district prosecutor's office.

Wang, a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) councillor in southern Tainan city, faces a 14-month jail term if convicted of the charges, which include assault.

Zhang, vice president of China's quasi-official Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, was jostled and shoved to the ground by Wang and his supporters while visiting Tainan – a DPP stronghold.

Wang has insisted Zhang simply tripped, a position supported by the DPP.

The episode triggered an angry response from the Chinese government, which demanded Taiwan severely punish the pro-independence activists.

Tainan's city police chief was demoted and several suspects have been questioned by prosecutors in the wake of the incident.

China and Taiwan split in 1949 following a civil war but Beijing regards the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification.

Tensions between the two sides have eased since Beijing-friendly President Ma Ying-jeou swept to power in March, ending the eight-year rule of pro-independence Chen Shui-bian.


- AFP/so