24 Mar 2014

Police and students clash in Taipei

5:15 pm on 24 March 2014

Riot police have clashed with student demonstrators in the Taiwanese capital, Taipei, as they tried to evict several hundred protesters from the government's central headquarters.

Riot police stand guard outside the parliament building in Taipei.

Riot police stand guard outside the parliament building in Taipei. Photo: AFP

Police used water cannons and dragged out students one by one, clearing the building by dawn on Monday, the BBC reported.

More than 30 people were arrested and dozens hurt, police said.

The protesters say the agreement with China will hurt Taiwan's economy and leave it vulnerable to pressure from Beijing.

Another group of students and activists have been occupying Taiwan's parliament since early last week.

The students want more scrutiny over all future dealings with China, including any trade agreements, the BBC reports. They also want the current deal - which will allow the two sides to invest more freely in each other's services markets - to be scrapped.