:Sunflower Student Movement

The term "Sunflower Student Movement" referred to protestors' use of sunflowers as a symbol of hope as the flower is heliotropic.{{cite web |title=Rally backs Taiwan students occupying parliament |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26679496 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=March 29, 2014 |date=March 21, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502093102/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26679496 |url-status=live }} The movement's name in Chinese is ({{zh|t=太陽花|p=taì yáng hua}}), a calque of the English word "sunflower", rather than the native term, ({{zh|t=向日葵|p=xiàng rì kuí}}){{Cite web |url=https://www.thechinastory.org/2014/04/the-sunflower-movement-in-taiwan/ |title=The Sunflower Movement in Taiwan | the China Story |access-date=March 12, 2016 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502055041/https://www.thechinastory.org/2014/04/the-sunflower-movement-in-taiwan/ |url-status=dead}} This term was popularized after a florist contributed 1000 sunflowers to the students outside the Legislative Yuan building.{{cite web |script-title=zh:花店老闆捐「太陽花」 盼照亮學運 |url=http://news.sina.com.tw/article/20140321/12033438.html |publisher=Formosa TV |access-date=March 29, 2014 |date=March 21, 2014 |language=zh |archive-date=March 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329100239/http://news.sina.com.tw/article/20140321/12033438.html |url-status=dead }} "Sunflower" was also an allusion to the Wild Lily Movement of 1990 which set a milestone in the democratization of Taiwan.{{cite web |last=Hhung |first=Joe |title=Echoes of the Wild Lily Movement |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/commentary/the-china-post/joe-hung/2014/03/24/403513/Echoes-of.htm |work=Chine Post |access-date=March 29, 2014 |date=March 24, 2014 |archive-date=March 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329081047/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/commentary/the-china-post/joe-hung/2014/03/24/403513/Echoes-of.htm |url-status=live }} The movement is also known as the "March 18 Student Movement" ({{lang|zh|318學運}}) or "Occupy Taiwan Legislature" ({{lang|zh|佔領國會事件}}).

The movement's anthem was "Island's Sunrise" by the indie band Fire EX. from Kaohsiung.{{cite news |last1=Cole |first1=J. Michael |title=Sunflowers End Occupation of Taiwan's Legislature |url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/04/sunflowers-end-occupation-of-taiwans-legislature/ |access-date=June 24, 2014 |publisher=The Diplomat |date=April 11, 2014 |archive-date=July 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702010907/https://thediplomat.com/2014/04/sunflowers-end-occupation-of-taiwans-legislature/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Chen |first2=Elaine |last2=Hou |first1=Chih-chung |title=Festive rally closes Legislature occupation as protesters head home |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201404100034.aspx |agency=Central News Agency |access-date=April 10, 2014 |date=April 10, 2014 |archive-date=August 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828123240/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201404100034.aspx |url-status=live }}

On March 17, 2014, Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang (KMT) attempted a unilateral move in the Legislative Yuan to force the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement (CSSTA) to the legislative floor without giving it a clause-by-clause review as previously established in a June 2013 agreement with the opposing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Previously, in September 2013, the two parties had agreed to hold 16 public hearings over the details of the trade agreement with academics, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and relevant trade sector representatives. The KMT had chaired eight public hearings within a week, and several members of social groups, NGOs, and business representatives from impacted industries were either not invited or informed at the last minute. When academics and business sector representatives gave their opinions at the hearings, then presiding chair of the legislature's Internal Administrative Committee, KMT legislator Chang Ching-chung, said the agreement had to be adopted in its entirety and could not be amended. Legislative gridlock followed, as the opposing DPP had not completed the eight hearings they had agreed to chair by March 17. Chang, citing Article 61 of the Legislative Yuan Functions Act, announced that the review process had gone beyond the 90 days allotted for review. The agreement, in the KMT's view, should therefore be considered reviewed and should be submitted to a plenary session on March 21 for a final vote.

On March 18 around 9:00 p.m. local time, crowds of students, academics, civic organizations, and other protestors climbed over the fence at the legislature and entered the building. In the melee, one window of the Legislative Yuan was smashed and a police officer suffered serious injuries. A lawyer who was assigned to the protesters stated that six individuals had been arrested over the protest so far. While several hundred protesters remained outside the building, about 300 protesters occupied the legislative floor overnight and succeeded in preventing several attempts by police to expel them. The protesters demanded that the clause-by-clause review of the agreement be reinstated, otherwise they vowed to occupy the legislature until March 21, when the Yuan had scheduled to vote and pass the CSSTA. As night approached, the authorities cut water and electricity to the building. Premier Jiang Yi-huah ordered riot police be sent in to evict the protesters, but that directive was not followed.{{cite web |script-title=zh:台灣反服貿協議團體佔領立法院議事場 |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/trad/china/2014/03/140318_taiwan_demo.shtml |publisher=BBC |access-date=March 19, 2014 |language=zh |date=March 18, 2014 |archive-date=March 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322055305/http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/trad/china/2014/03/140318_taiwan_demo.shtml |url-status=live }}

Shortly after the movement began, thousands of riot police from the National Police Agency were mobilized across the country to surround the protesters.{{cite web |last=Enav |first=Peter |title=China Trade Pact Foes Occupy Taiwanese Legislature |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/china-pact-opponents-occupy-taiwan-legislature-22963000 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=ABC News |access-date=March 19, 2014 |date=March 19, 2014 |archive-date=March 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325163311/http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/china-pact-opponents-occupy-taiwan-legislature-22963000 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Sanchez |first1=Ray |first2=Zoe |last2=Li |title=Taiwan Legislature occupiers' ultimatum passes without response from government |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/19/world/asia/taiwan-student-protests/ |publisher=CNN |access-date=March 21, 2014 |date=March 21, 2014 |archive-date=June 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626182801/https://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/19/world/asia/taiwan-student-protests/ |url-status=live }} On March 20, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng promised not to use force against protesters.{{cite web |title=Wang promises a solution, response to students' appeals |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/03/21/2003586173 |work=The Taipei Times |access-date=March 21, 2014 |author=Shih Hsiu-chuan |last2=Su |first2=Fang-ho |last3=Chung |first3=Jake |date=March 21, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502081909/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/03/21/2003586173 |url-status=live }}

On March 21, Speaker Wang refused to meet with President Ma Ying-jeou and Premier Jiang Yi-huah to discuss a response, stating that the president should listen to the people and that a compromise was needed among the lawmakers first.{{cite web |script-title=zh:王金平盼總統傾聽民意 促朝野共識 |url=http://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E7%8E%8B%E9%87%91%E5%B9%B3%E7%9B%BC%E7%B8%BD%E7%B5%B1%E5%82%BE%E8%81%BD%E6%B0%91%E6%84%8F-%E4%BF%83%E6%9C%9D%E9%87%8E%E5%85%B1%E8%AD%98-061800458.html |work=Radio Taiwan International |publisher=Yahoo News Network |access-date=March 21, 2014 |author=陳沂庭 |language=zh |date=March 21, 2014 |archive-date=March 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140321113639/http://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E7%8E%8B%E9%87%91%E5%B9%B3%E7%9B%BC%E7%B8%BD%E7%B5%B1%E5%82%BE%E8%81%BD%E6%B0%91%E6%84%8F-%E4%BF%83%E6%9C%9D%E9%87%8E%E5%85%B1%E8%AD%98-061800458.html |url-status=live }} Premier Jiang met with demonstrators outside the legislature on March 22 but stated that the executive branch had no intention of dropping the trade pact. At a press conference on March 23, President Ma restated his resolve in passing the trade pact and affirmed he did not act following orders from Beijing.{{cite web |script-title=zh:佔領國會》記者會提問機會少 外媒抗議 |url=http://iservice.libertytimes.com.tw/liveNews/news.php?no=973618&type=%E6%94%BF%E6%B2%BB&Slots=Live |work=Liberty Times |access-date=March 24, 2014 |date=March 23, 2014 |language=zh |archive-date=March 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323110012/http://iservice.libertytimes.com.tw/liveNews/news.php?no=973618&type=%E6%94%BF%E6%B2%BB&Slots=Live |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |last=Blanchard |first=Ben |title=Taiwan leader says protest-hit China trade pact vital |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-protests-idUSBREA2M03220140323 |work=Reuters |access-date=March 24, 2014 |date=March 24, 2014 |editor-last=Perry |editor-first=Michael |archive-date=March 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306230315/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-protests-idUSBREA2M03220140323 |url-status=live }}

In response to the press conference, a group of protesters led by Dennis Wei{{cite news |last1=Pan |first1=Jason |title=Sunflower activists demand answers |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/03/25/2003614363 |access-date=March 25, 2015 |work=Taipei Times |date=March 25, 2015 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502083843/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/03/25/2003614363 |url-status=live }} stormed and occupied the Executive Yuan around 7:30 p.m. local time on March 23.{{cite web |script-title=zh:【警方動態】奪回行政院 640鎮暴警出動 |url=http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/politics/20140323/365550/%E5%8D%83%E4%BA%BA%E7%AA%81%E8%A5%B2%E8%A1%8C%E6%94%BF%E9%99%A2%E3%80%80%E6%BF%80%E9%80%B2%E6%B4%BE%E9%A0%86%E5%88%A9%E6%94%BB%E5%85%A5 |work=Apple Daily |access-date=March 24, 2014 |date=March 23, 2014 |language=zh |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234620/http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/politics/20140323/365550/%E5%8D%83%E4%BA%BA%E7%AA%81%E8%A5%B2%E8%A1%8C%E6%94%BF%E9%99%A2%E3%80%80%E6%BF%80%E9%80%B2%E6%B4%BE%E9%A0%86%E5%88%A9%E6%94%BB%E5%85%A5 |url-status=live }} The protesters were evicted from the Executive Yuan by 5:00 a.m. on March 24, but some congregated again on Zhongxiao East Road.{{cite web |last1=Chen |first1=Chi-chung |title=Executive Yuan protesters dispersed with water cannons |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201403240009.aspx |agency=Central News Agency |access-date=March 23, 2014 |first2=Yuris |last2=Ku |first3=James |last3=Lee |date=March 23, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502110446/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201403240009.aspx |url-status=live }} During the 10-hour eviction process, around 1000 riot police and other law enforcement personnel reportedly used excessive force, including water cannon and baton strikes to the head against the nonviolent protesters, while journalists and medics were ordered to leave.{{cite web |last=Cole |first=J. Michael |title=Riot Police Crack Down on Taiwanese Protesters |url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/03/riot-police-crack-down-on-taiwanese-protesters/ |publisher=The Diplomat |access-date=March 27, 2014 |date=March 24, 2014 |archive-date=March 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190307232055/https://thediplomat.com/2014/03/riot-police-crack-down-on-taiwanese-protesters/ |url-status=live }} More than 150 people were injured and 61 were arrested.{{cite web |last=Chung |first=Lawrence |title=More than 150 injured as police evict student protesters from Taiwan parliament |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1455773/taipei-student-protesters-occupy-government-hq-ransack-cabinet-office |work=South China Morning Post |access-date=March 27, 2014 |date=March 24, 2014 |archive-date=March 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327020851/http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1455773/taipei-student-protesters-occupy-government-hq-ransack-cabinet-office |url-status=live }} The Association of Taiwan Journalists accused the police of using violence against the media during the eviction process and violating freedom of the press, citing more than 10 cases of attacks on media reporters.{{cite web |last=Loa |first=Iok-sin |title=Journalists accuse police of attacking them |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/03/25/2003586496 |work=Taipei Times |access-date=March 25, 2014 |date=March 25, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502090634/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/03/25/2003586496 |url-status=live }}

On March 25, President Ma invited representatives of the student protests to his office for a dialog over the controversial trade agreement "without any preconditions", after the president said earlier he would not hold face-to-face talks.{{cite web |first=Koh |last=Gui Qing |title=Taiwan's Ma says ready to meet protesters over China trade pact |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-protest-idUSBREA2O0BP20140325 |work=Reuters |date=March 25, 2014 |access-date=March 26, 2014 |editor-last=Laurence |editor-first=Jeremy |archive-date=March 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310204917/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-protest-idUSBREA2O0BP20140325 |url-status=live }} One of the student leaders Lin Fei-fan accepted the invitation initially and agreed no preconditions should be set for the meeting, but he said the students wanted to discuss whether Taiwan needed new legislation to monitor all cross-strait agreements, and whether the CSSTA should be postponed until that legislation was introduced.{{cite web |last=Brown |first=Sophie |title=Taiwan's president asks protesters to talk over trade deal |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/26/world/asia/taiwan-trade-deal-protest/index.html?iref=allsearch |publisher=CNN |access-date=March 26, 2014 |date=March 26, 2014 |archive-date=August 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821211251/http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/26/world/asia/taiwan-trade-deal-protest/index.html?iref=allsearch |url-status=live }} However, one day later, on March 26, the protest leaders rebuffed the invitation to meet despite earlier calling on President Ma to meet with them to answer their demands, as they feel Ma, who was the Chairman of the Kuomintang, was still controlling the Kuomintang legislators via the party regulations, so that the cross-party negotiations failed once again to reach a consensus on the protests and the pact.{{cite web |title=Taiwan's Ma Offers to Meet Student Leaders as Dispute Continues |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-25/taiwan-s-ma-offers-to-meet-student-leaders-as-dispute-continues.html |publisher=Bloomberg |date=March 25, 2014 |editor1-last=Mathieson |editor1-first=Rosalind |editor2-last=Fellman |editor2-first=Joshua |first=Tim |last=Culpan |access-date=March 26, 2014 |archive-date=December 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205020103/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-25/taiwan-s-ma-offers-to-meet-student-leaders-as-dispute-continues.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Kuo |first1=Adam Tyrsett |title=Activists set conditions to Ma dialog |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2014/03/26/403711/Activists-set.htm |work=China Post |access-date=March 27, 2014 |last2=Wei |first2=Katherine |date=March 26, 2014 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924024054/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2014/03/26/403711/Activists-set.htm |url-status=live }}

On March 26, student protesters called for all legislators to support the establishment of a law for supervising cross-strait agreements before passing the recent trade in services pact. The student activists drafted an undertaking document and asked all lawmakers to sign the document to show their approval.{{cite web |last=Wei |first=Katherine |title=DPP lawmakers agree to support cross-strait pact supervisory law |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2014/03/27/403796/DPP-lawmakers.htm |work=China Post |access-date=March 27, 2014 |date=March 27, 2014 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924024058/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2014/03/27/403796/DPP-lawmakers.htm |url-status=live }}

File:Protesters near NTU hospital in Taipei Taiwan.jpg

On March 27, Lin Fei-fan called for a March 30 rally filling the Ketagalan Boulevard leading from the Presidential Office to the legislature to put pressure on President Ma to heed the demonstrators' demands.{{cite web |last=Chung |first=Lawrence |title=Students threaten huge rally to pressure Ma Ying-jeou to drop trade pact with Beijing |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1458798/taiwanese-students-threaten-huge-rally-pressure-ma-ying-jeou-drop-trade |work=South China Morning Post |access-date=March 28, 2014 |date=March 28, 2014 |archive-date=March 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328022457/http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1458798/taiwanese-students-threaten-huge-rally-pressure-ma-ying-jeou-drop-trade |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Loa |first1=Iok-sin |title=Sunday rally planned for Ketagalan Blvd |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/03/28/2003586700 |work=Taipei Times |access-date=March 28, 2014 |last2=Shih |first2=Hsiu-chuan |date=March 28, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502110405/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/03/28/2003586700 |url-status=live }} The organizers behind the demonstration said around 500,000 people massed in the March 30 rally, while the police estimated the figure to be 116,000.{{cite web |last1=Gold |first1=Michael |title=Over 100,000 protest in Taiwan over China trade deal |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-protests-idUSBREA2T07H20140330 |work=Reuters |access-date=March 30, 2014 |date=March 30, 2014 |last2=Pomfret |first2=James |editor-last=Laurence |editor-first=Jeremy |archive-date=March 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311202239/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-protests-idUSBREA2T07H20140330 |url-status=live }} Twenty-two NGOs also took part in the rally.{{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Chris |last2=Lee |first2=Hsin-fang |last3=Kan |first3=Chih-chi |title=Protest gathers broad support |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/03/31/2003586930/2 |access-date=July 28, 2014 |work=Taipei Times |date=March 31, 2014 |archive-date=March 31, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331180149/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/03/31/2003586930/2 |url-status=live }} Hundreds of people opposing the movement held a concurrent rally in the same area, but left before the students dispersed.{{cite web |last1=Wu |first2=Stacy |last2=Hsu |first1=Liang-yi |title=TRADE PACT SIEGE: White-clad army demand return of Legislative Yuan |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/03/31/2003586951 |work=Taipei Times |access-date=March 31, 2014 |date=March 31, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502054559/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/03/31/2003586951 |url-status=live }}

On April 1, hundreds of pro-China activists supporting the trade pact rallied against the parliament seizure. The group was organized by Chang An-lo, a prominent Taiwanese gang leader also known as "White Wolf", who was on bail after being arrested on his return to Taiwan from China, where he had fled 17 years previously. He faced charges relating to organized crime.{{cite web |title=Taiwan pro-China activists rally against parliament seizure |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/taiwan-pro-china/1055614.html |publisher=Channel NewsAsia |access-date=April 1, 2014 |date=April 1, 2014 |archive-date=January 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113124036/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/taiwan-pro-china/1055614.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |last=Hsiao |first=Alison |title='White Wolf' leads pro-pact rally |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/04/02/2003587076 |work=Taipei Times |access-date=April 10, 2014 |date=April 2, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502105901/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/04/02/2003587076 |url-status=live }}

On April 6, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng visited the occupied parliament chamber and promised to postpone review of the trade pact until legislation monitoring all cross-strait agreements has been passed.{{cite web |script-title=zh:王金平保證監督條例未立法 不開服貿協商會議 |url=http://iservice.libertytimes.com.tw/liveNews/news.php?no=982643&type=%E6%94%BF%E6%B2%BB |work=Liberty Times |access-date=April 6, 2014 |date=April 6, 2014 |language=zh |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407132347/http://iservice.libertytimes.com.tw/liveNews/news.php?type=%E6%94%BF%E6%B2%BB&no=982643 |url-status=dead }} However, Alex Fai, a deputy secretary of the KMT caucus, said at a news conference that Wang should have consulted with the KMT caucus in advance, rather than keeping them in the dark. DPP legislative whip Ker Chien-ming dismissed the KMT lawmakers' remarks as being a poor excuse to back down, noting that the KMT lawmakers surrounded Wang when the speaker read his announcement and shouted "Go, go Taiwan" along with Wang after his announcement.{{cite web |last=Chang |first=Maubo |title=Ruling party lawmaker blames speaker for selling out Kuomintang |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201404060012.aspx |agency=Central News Agency |access-date=April 6, 2014 |date=April 6, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502053349/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201404060012.aspx |url-status=live }} According to Presidential Office spokeswoman Garfie Li, President Ma Ying-jeou had no knowledge beforehand of either Wang's Sunday morning visit to protesters at the Legislative Yuan or his promise that the monitoring rules will be implemented before a review, and the president called again for an early passage of the trade pact with China.{{cite web |last=Chang |first=Maubo |title=Ma calls for early passage of services pact despite Wang's pledge |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201404060009.aspx |agency=Central News Agency |access-date=April 6, 2014 |date=April 6, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502074851/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201404060009.aspx |url-status=live }} Premier Jiang Yi-huah has stated that the concessions are not realistic.{{cite web |script-title=zh:江揆：先立法再審查 不符實際狀況 |url=http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/politics/20140407/374783/ |work=Apple Daily |access-date=April 7, 2014 |date=April 7, 2014 |language=zh |archive-date=April 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408212619/http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/politics/20140407/374783/ |url-status=live }}

In response to the April 6 concessions from Speaker Wang, the protesters held a press conference on April 7 stating they would vacate the Legislative Yuan on April 10 at 6 p.m. local time, which they eventually did, and also continue the movement in the broader Taiwan society.{{cite web |last=Ramzy |first=Austin |title=Concession Offered, Taiwan Group to End Protest of China Trade Pact |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/08/world/asia/concession-offered-taiwan-group-to-end-protest-of-china-trade-pact.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 12, 2014 |date=April 7, 2014 |archive-date=March 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329015915/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/08/world/asia/concession-offered-taiwan-group-to-end-protest-of-china-trade-pact.html |url-status=live }} President Ma supported the students' decision to leave the legislature.{{cite web |last=Gold |first=Michael |title=Taiwan protesters to end sit-in over China trade pact |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-taiwan-protests-idUKBREA360Z520140407 |work=Reuters |access-date=April 7, 2014 |date=April 7, 2014 |archive-date=December 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231190052/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-taiwan-protests-idUKBREA360Z520140407 |url-status=dead }} The legislative chamber was fully cleaned by students before they left.{{cite web |last=Pedroletti |first=Brice |title=A Taïwan, les étudiants lèvent le camp et crient victoire |url=http://www.lemonde.fr/asie-pacifique/article/2014/04/11/les-etudiants-taiwanais-levent-le-camp-et-crient-victoire-a-taipei_4399703_3216.html |work=Le Monde |access-date=April 12, 2014 |language=fr |date=April 11, 2014 |archive-date=April 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140411232329/http://www.lemonde.fr/asie-pacifique/article/2014/04/11/les-etudiants-taiwanais-levent-le-camp-et-crient-victoire-a-taipei_4399703_3216.html |url-status=live }}

On April 21, Lin Fei-fan, Chen Wei-ting, Huang Kuo-chang and four other key members of the Sunflower Movement attended the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office voluntarily to explain what happened during their occupation of the legislature that began on March 18 and the attempted occupation of the Executive Yuan on March 23. Wellington Koo, one of the lawyers accompanying the group, said that, if charged, the defendants would enter a plea of not guilty. The prosecutors said that several protestors stood accused of a number of offenses, such as obstruction of justice.{{cite web |last1=Liu |first2=Christie |last2=Chen |first1=Shi-yi |title=Key figures in student protests questioned by prosecutors |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201404210038.aspx |agency=Central News Agency |access-date=April 21, 2014 |date=April 21, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502091703/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201404210038.aspx |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Chang |first=Rich |title=Prosecutors question protest leaders |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/04/22/2003588591 |work=Taipei Times |access-date=April 22, 2014 |date=April 22, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502091625/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/04/22/2003588591 |url-status=live }}

By June 2014, over four hundred people had been questioned or investigated by prosecutors and the police for their role in the protest.{{cite news |last1=Hsiao |first1=Alison |title=Legal authorities are 『abusing powers' |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/06/06/2003592098 |access-date=June 6, 2014 |work=Taipei Times |date=June 6, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502074634/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/06/06/2003592098 |url-status=live }}

On July 30, 23 injured protesters filed suit against premier Jiang Yi-huah, National Police Agency Director-General Wang Cho-chiun, Taipei Police Commissioner Huang Sheng-yung and Zhongzheng First Police Precinct Chief Fang Yang-ning on charges of attempted murder, coercion and causing bodily harm.{{cite news |last1=Chang |first1=Wen-chuan |last2=Pan |first2=Jason |title=Premier to face court over evictions |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/07/30/2003596235 |access-date=July 30, 2014 |work=Taipei Times |date=July 30, 2014 |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306111514/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/07/30/2003596235 |url-status=live }} More than one hundred demonstrators massed outside the court, calling for Jiang to resign.{{cite news |last1=Loa |first1=Iok-sin |title=Premier in court over violent evictions |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/07/31/2003596311 |access-date=July 31, 2014 |work=Taipei Times |date=July 31, 2014 |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043021/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/07/31/2003596311 |url-status=live }} Jiang's cabinet also sued 126 protesters involved with the storming of the Executive Yuan. Soon after taking office on May 20, 2016, the Tsai Ing-wen administration and new premier Lin Chuan dropped the charges.{{cite news |last1=Tai |first1=Ya-chen |last2=Hsu |first2=Elizabeth |title=Government changes course on Sunflower Movement protesters |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201605230010.aspx |access-date=May 23, 2016 |agency=Central News Agency |date=May 23, 2016 |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043618/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201605230010.aspx |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Hsu |first1=Stacy |last2=Gerber |first2=Abraham |title=Cabinet drops charges against students |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/05/24/2003646979 |access-date=May 24, 2016 |work=Taipei Times |date=May 24, 2016 |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043133/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/05/24/2003646979 |url-status=live }}

In August 2014, a Taichung police officer was given a suspended 3-month prison sentence and fined for making an expletive-filled Facebook post against the protesting students.{{cite news |last1=Liao Ren-kai |first1=Ren-kai |last2=Hsu |first2=Elizabeth |title=Policeman sentenced to 3 months in jail for cursing activists |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201408270023.aspx |access-date=August 28, 2014 |agency=Central News Agency |date=August 27, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502051916/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201408270023.aspx |url-status=live }} In May 2015, 39 protesters were charged with trespassing for their role in the occupation of the Executive Yuan.{{cite news |last1=Tsai |first1=Peggy |last2=Hsiao |first2=Scully |title=Another 39 Sunflower Movement protesters indicted |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201505050030.aspx |access-date=May 5, 2015 |agency=Central News Agency |date=May 5, 2015 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502085006/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201505050030.aspx |url-status=live }} Three months later, the Taipei District Court found that police actions had violated the Act Governing the Use of Police Weapons, and ordered the Taipei City Government to pay NT$30,000 to a protester, Lin Ming-hui.{{cite news |last1=Pan |first1=Jason |title=Teacher awarded compensation for Sunflower beating |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2015/08/09/2003624923 |date=August 9, 2015 |work=Taipei Times |access-date=August 9, 2015 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502052307/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2015/08/09/2003624923 |url-status=live }} In September, lawyers representing 30 other protesters petitioned Taipei City Government for NT$10 million in damages.{{cite news |last1=Hsiao |first1=Ting-fang |title=Lawyers seek state violence payments |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/09/16/2003627829 |access-date=September 16, 2015 |work=Taipei Times |date=September 16, 2015 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502065839/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/09/16/2003627829 |url-status=live }}

Court proceedings against 21 protesters began in June 2016. First to be charged with various offenses included Chen Wei-ting, Huang Kuo-chang, Lin Fei-fan and Wei Yang.{{cite news |last1=Pan |first1=Jason |title=Sunflower leaders to face justice system 'head-on' |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/06/15/2003648639 |access-date=June 15, 2016 |work=Taipei Times |date=June 15, 2016 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502103631/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/06/15/2003648639 |url-status=live }} In August, the Taiwan High Court overturned a decision by the Taipei District Court and found Chen Wei-ting and Tsay Ting-kuei not guilty of obstruction.{{cite news |last1=Pan |first1=Jason |title=Protest leaders' violent conduct verdict reversed |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/08/18/2003653345 |access-date=August 18, 2016 |work=Taipei Times |date=August 18, 2016 |archive-date=August 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818163131/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/08/18/2003653345 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |title=太陽花攻占政院案 魏揚涉煽惑犯罪判不受理確定 |trans-title=The Prosecution of criminal incitement on Wei Yang for seizing the Executive Yuan during the Sunflower Student Movement is not accepted in the court |url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/202110080051.aspx |last=Fang |first=Pei-ching |date=October 8, 2021 |access-date=January 4, 2022 |agency=Central News Agency |language=zh-tw |location=Taipei |archive-date=April 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409043118/https://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/202110080051.aspx |url-status=live }} In March 2017, the district court acquitted Chen, Huang and Lin of incitement charges.{{cite news |last1=Hou |first1=Elaine |last2=Wang |first2=Yang-yu |last3=Liu |first3=Shih-yi |title=Sunflower movement leaders acquitted over legislature occupation |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201703310008.aspx |access-date=March 31, 2017 |agency=Central News Agency |date=March 31, 2017 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502060559/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201703310008.aspx |url-status=live }} The High Court upheld that decision in March 2018{{cite news |last1=Hsiao |first1=Po-wen |last2=Wang |first2=Yang-yu |last3=Huang |first3=Frances |title=High court upholds acquittal of Sunflower Movement leaders |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201803130016.aspx |access-date=March 13, 2018 |agency=Central News Agency |date=March 13, 2018 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502045634/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201803130016.aspx |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Pan |first1=Jason |title=High Court acquits protesters against China trade pact |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2018/03/14/2003689244 |access-date=March 14, 2018 |work=Taipei Times |date=March 14, 2018 |archive-date=February 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225151817/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2018/03/14/2003689244 |url-status=live }} but in April 2020 overturned previous rulings on appeal and found seven protesters guilty of incitement, obstruction, theft, and damage of public property.{{cite news |last1=Pan |first1=Jason |title=High Court finds seven Sunflower protesters guilty |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2020/04/29/2003735475 |access-date=May 1, 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=April 29, 2020 |archive-date=May 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503201019/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2020/04/29/2003735475 |url-status=live }} The protesters appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing for their right to civil disobedience.{{Cite news |last=Lin |first=Wei-hsin |date=October 9, 2021 |title=攻占政院案纏訟7年 仍有2人未定讞 沒有公民不服從 前促轉會主委之子魏揚全身而退 |language=zh-tw |trans-title=The lawsuit of seizing Executive Yuan entangled for 7 years still retains 2 defendants pending, as Wei Yang, son of the former Chairman of the Transitional Justice Commission, is released without Constitutional review for the Civil disobedience |agency=China Times |location=Taipei |url=https://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20211009000354-260106?chdtv |access-date=January 4, 2022 |archive-date=April 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411164336/https://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20211009000354-260106?chdtv |url-status=live }} A judicial panel found that their actions exceeded the bounds of civil disobedience.{{Cite news |date=October 8, 2021 |title=魏揚錯愕！太陽花「煽惑他人犯罪」改判公訴不受理確定 理由曝光 |work=Apple Online |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202110080014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009035917/https://tw.appledaily.com/local/20211008/U3TZONDBGRHGVIJ2HFGXEIIOAQ/ |archive-date=October 9, 2021}} However, it also concluded that they did not incite crimes in others, only aided or abetted them, and therefore revoked the guilty rulings for the incitement charge. The case was then remanded to the High Court and closed because the Executive Yuan had decided to drop most of its charges by then.{{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Flor |last2=Lin |first2=Chang-shun |title=Charges dropped against Sunflower Movement protesters; case closed |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202110080014 |access-date=October 8, 2021 |agency=Central News Agency |date=October 8, 2021 |archive-date=October 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008135218/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202110080014 |url-status=live }} Republished as: {{cite news |title=High Court drops verdicts against seven protesters |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/10/09/2003765793 |access-date=October 9, 2021 |work=Taipei Times |date=October 9, 2021 |archive-date=October 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008215945/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/10/09/2003765793 |url-status=live }} 11 other protesters have been convicted on charges of damaging public property and forcibly obstructing law enforcement.{{Cite news |last=Tong |first=Elson |date=April 10, 2017 |title=11 jailed over Sunflower Movement occupation of Taiwan's executive branch |work=Hong Kong Free Press |url=https://hongkongfp.com/2017/04/10/11-jailed-sunflower-movement-occupation-taiwans-executive-branch/}}{{Cite web |last=張文川 |date=April 10, 2017 |title=323佔領政院宣判 魏揚、許立等8人無罪 - 社會 - 自由時報電子報 |url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/society/breakingnews/2031520 |website=Liberty Times |language=zh-Hant-TW |access-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822230549/https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/society/breakingnews/2031520 |url-status=live }}

In a meeting with Taiwanese politician James Soong on May 7, 2014, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Xi Jinping said that economic integration between China and Taiwan was mutually beneficial, would bring positive results for both sides and should not be disturbed. Xi appeared to address the Sunflower Movement indirectly, saying China wanted to know more about the concerns of people in Taiwan.{{cite web |last=Blanchard |editor-last=Popeski |editor-first=Ron |first=Ben |title=China's Xi stresses benefits of ties after Taiwan protests |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-taiwan-idUSBREA4606D20140507 |work=Reuters |access-date=May 9, 2014 |date=May 7, 2014 |archive-date=February 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205022326/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-taiwan-idUSBREA4606D20140507 |url-status=live }} Soong urged Beijing to be more tolerant of Taiwan's centrist and pluralist views.{{cite web |last=Chung |first=Lawrence |title=We're listening, Xi Jinping says to Taiwan |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1507001/were-listening-xi-jinping-says-taiwan |work=South China Morning Post |access-date=May 9, 2014 |date=May 8, 2014 |archive-date=May 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508234431/http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1507001/were-listening-xi-jinping-says-taiwan |url-status=live }}

On May 18, Lin Fei-fan, Chen Wei-ting and Huang Kuo-chang formed a new organization, {{ill|Taiwan March|zh|島國前進}}.{{cite news |last1=Wen |first1=Lii |title=Referendum Act reform petition to enter phase II |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2015/03/11/2003613266 |access-date=March 11, 2015 |work=Taipei Times |date=March 11, 2015 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502073305/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2015/03/11/2003613266 |url-status=live }} The organization aims to reform Taiwan's referendum laws and push for legislative review of the CSSTA, along with other cross-strait pacts and economic bills.{{cite web |last1=Wen |first1=Kuei-hsiang |title=Student protesters form new group to tackle referendum rules |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201405180012.aspx |agency=Central News Agency |access-date=May 20, 2014 |first2=Jeffrey |last2=Wu |date=May 18, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502085520/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201405180012.aspx |url-status=live }}

On May 21, DPP legislators criticized the Mainland Affairs Council for classifying the disadvantages of the trade accord and releasing only information it considers favorable to the agreement. Responding to the questions, Mainland Affairs Council Minister Wang Yu-chi said that the classified information was to be used for reference only within the government. Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Cho Shih-chao said that research produced by academics is only used for internal reference for decision making. However, neither official explained why only poll numbers favorable to the government's position have been released to the public, while others were not.{{cite web |last=Loa |first=Iok-sin |title=MAC hiding unfavorable data: DPP |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/05/22/2003590950 |work=Taipei Times |access-date=May 23, 2014 |date=May 22, 2014 |archive-date=March 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330120448/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/05/22/2003590950 |url-status=live }}

On June 9, deputy economics minister Woody Duh confirmed that since April, China had frozen negotiations with Taiwan over the merchandise trade agreement originally projected to be signed at the end of 2014.{{cite news |last1=Huang |first1=Chiao-wen |last2=Low |first2=Y.F. |title=Trade-in-goods pact with China unlikely this year: official |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/acs/201406090011.aspx |access-date=June 10, 2014 |agency=Central News Agency |date=June 9, 2014 |archive-date=March 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330104854/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/acs/201406090011.aspx |url-status=live }} Some observers attributed the freeze to the services pact logjam. The Legislative Yuan held an extraordinary session on June 13 to review the services trade pact and the draft bill to increase scrutiny of future cross-strait agreements.{{cite news |last1=Ku |first1=Helen |title=Economics ministry urges action on cross-strait trade |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/06/10/2003592396 |access-date=June 10, 2014 |work=Taipei Times |date=June 10, 2014 |archive-date=March 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330104845/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/06/10/2003592396 |url-status=live }} Duh urged the legislature to quickly approve the services trade pact and the new law to increase scrutiny of future agreements to avoid delaying the follow-up merchandise trade deal talks.{{cite news |last1=Chung |first1=Lawrence |title=Beijing 'freezes' cooperation talks with Taiwan over stalled trade pact |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1528429/beijing-freezes-cooperation-talks-taiwan-over-stalled-trade-pact |access-date=June 9, 2014 |work=South China Morning Post |date=June 9, 2014 |archive-date=June 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140609102154/http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1528429/beijing-freezes-cooperation-talks-taiwan-over-stalled-trade-pact |url-status=live }} President Ma called for progress to be made in the session.{{cite news |last1=Huang |first1=Kelven |last2=Huang |first2=Chiao-wen |last3=Low |first3=Y.F. |title=Talks with China suspended on stalled services pact |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/acs/201406090008.aspx |access-date=June 10, 2014 |agency=Central News Agency |date=June 9, 2014 |archive-date=March 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330120416/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/acs/201406090008.aspx |url-status=live }}

In an interview for Business Weekly published on June 25, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that the United States does not want see Taiwan's independence being threatened or undermined.{{Cite web |url=http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=2513205 |title=Hillary Clinton warns against over-dependence on China |access-date=June 26, 2014 |archive-date=July 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704081103/http://etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=2513205 |url-status=live }} Pointing to the Russo-Ukrainian war, she further warned that the loss of economic independence will affect Taiwan's political independence, and that overreliance on China will leave Taiwan vulnerable.{{cite news |last1=翁 |first1=嫆琄 |script-title=zh:希拉蕊：依賴中國太深 會讓台灣變脆弱 |url=http://newtalk.tw/news/2014/06/24/48579.html |access-date=June 25, 2014 |publisher=newtalk.tw |date=June 24, 2014 |language=zh |archive-date=June 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625135445/http://newtalk.tw/news/2014/06/24/48579.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Pan |first1=Jason |title=Reliance on China makes Taiwan vulnerable: Clinton |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/06/25/2003593606 |access-date=June 25, 2014 |work=Taipei Times |date=June 25, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502082455/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/06/25/2003593606 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |script-title=zh:商周訪希拉蕊 美置台優先順位 |url=http://www.cna.com.tw/news/aopl/201406240503-1.aspx |access-date=June 25, 2014 |agency=Central News Agency |date=June 24, 2014 |language=zh |archive-date=June 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626204153/http://www.cna.com.tw/news/aopl/201406240503-1.aspx |url-status=live }} While thanking Clinton for reminding Taiwan to act "carefully and smartly" when dealing with China, the Mainland Affairs Council said Taiwan's steady promotion of exchanges with China had not led to over-dependence on China, and that Taiwan had not lost economic and political independence.{{cite news |last1=Chai |first1=Scarlett |last2=Chang |first2=S.C. |title=Economic, political independence not lost: MAC |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201406240050.aspx |access-date=June 25, 2014 |agency=Central News Agency |date=June 24, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502080212/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201406240050.aspx |url-status=live }}

In August 2014, leaders of the student movement visited the United States, meeting with the US Congress, Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan. The delegation of students led by Lin Fei-fan reiterated their rejection of the one China policy, further commenting that if Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, students would protest again. Lin stressed that the movement was not controlled by either the Kuomintang or Democratic Progressive Party. Chen Wei-ting and Huang Kuo-chang both called the movement a "third force" in the politics of Taiwan.{{cite news |last1=Lowther |first1=William |title=Sunflower leaders urge US to drop 'one China' policy |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/08/23/2003598054 |access-date=August 23, 2014 |work=Taipei Times |date=August 23, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502051155/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/08/23/2003598054 |url-status=live }}

The KMT suffered heavy setbacks in the 2014 local elections and the 2016 general elections.{{Cite web |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/china-s-xi-calls-for-equ/1823850.html |title=China's Xi calls for "equal" political talks with Taiwan |access-date=May 4, 2015 |archive-date=July 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724005404/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/china-s-xi-calls-for-equ/1823850.html |url-status=live }}

On July 23, 2015, a related protest occurred, as the Ministry of Education was stormed by Anti Black Box Movement protesters.

In 2015, the New Power Party emerged from the Sunflower Movement, advocating universal human rights, civil and political liberties, as well as Taiwan independence.[https://www.newpowerparty.tw/policy New Power Party Platform] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327162857/https://www.newpowerparty.tw/policy |date=March 27, 2019 }}(Chinese){{Cite web |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/09/14/2003627680 |title=New Power Party announces leadership structure – Taipei Times |website=Taipei Times |date=September 14, 2015 |access-date=April 6, 2016 |archive-date=October 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001071522/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/09/14/2003627680 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Horwitz |first1=Josh |title=Taiwan's newest politicians include a rock star and an aboriginal activist |url=https://qz.com/596669/taiwans-newest-politicians-include-a-rock-star-and-an-aboriginal-activist |work=Quartz |date=January 18, 2016 |access-date=June 12, 2017 |archive-date=August 31, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831000947/https://qz.com/596669/taiwans-newest-politicians-include-a-rock-star-and-an-aboriginal-activist/ |url-status=live }} In the 2016 Legislative Yuan election, Freddy Lim, one of the party's founders, defeated incumbent Kuomintang legislator Lin Yu-fang in the Zhongzheng–Wanhua constituency.{{cite news |last1=Hsiao |first1=Alison |title=ELECTIONS: DPP secures absolute majority in Legislative Yuan |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/01/17/2003637386 |access-date=January 17, 2016 |work=Taipei Times |date=January 17, 2016 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502085657/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/01/17/2003637386 |url-status=live }}

{{Main|2014 Wang-Zhang Meeting}}

To rebuild cross-strait ties after the Sunflower Movement protests, China's Taiwan Affairs Office Minister Zhang Zhijun arrived in Taiwan on June 25 for a four-day visit as part of the 2014 Wang-Zhang Meeting.{{cite magazine |title=China's First Minister-Level Official Visits Taiwan |url=http://time.com/2919774/china-sends-1st-minister-level-official-to-taiwan/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625063508/http://time.com/2919774/china-sends-1st-minister-level-official-to-taiwan/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 25, 2014 |access-date=June 26, 2014 |agency=Associated Press |magazine=Time |date=June 25, 2014}} Zhang met with his Taiwanese counterpart, Mainland Affairs Council Minister Wang Yu-chi at the Novotel Taipei Taoyuan International Airport hotel, with groups of protesters held back by police cordons. Zhang and Wang agreed to establish a direct communication mechanism heralded as the first of its kind, which allows concerned officials from both sides to cut through the bureaucracy and make direct calls to discuss important matters.{{cite news |last1=Chung |first1=Lawrence |title=Plan could see mainland Chinese visitors using Taiwan as transit point |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1540432/call-me-maybe-visiting-official-zhang-zhijun-sets-direct-link-between |access-date=June 26, 2014 |work=South China Morning Post |date=June 25, 2014 |archive-date=June 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626053702/http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1540432/call-me-maybe-visiting-official-zhang-zhijun-sets-direct-link-between |url-status=live }} During the visit, Zhang mentioned he wanted to hear different voices from the ground, but no meetings had been scheduled with leaders of the Sunflower Movement. Instead, Zhang met with a pre-selected group of students.{{cite news |last1=Tiezzi |first1=Shannon |title=Sunflower Movement Hangs Over Chinese Official's Trip to Taiwan |url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/06/sunflower-movement-hangs-over-chinese-officials-trip-to-taiwan/ |access-date=June 26, 2014 |date=June 25, 2014 |archive-date=June 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625213226/http://thediplomat.com/2014/06/sunflower-movement-hangs-over-chinese-officials-trip-to-taiwan/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Jen |first1=Victoria |title=China's top official makes landmark visit to Taiwan |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/china-s-top-official/1205278.html |access-date=June 26, 2014 |publisher=Channel NewsAsia |date=June 25, 2014}}{{cite news |last1=Chiu |first1=Chun-chin |last2=Bien |first2=Chin-feng |last3=Lee |first3=Hsin-Yin |title=Chinese official arrives in Taiwan on unprecedented visit (update 2) |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/acs/201406250016.aspx |access-date=June 26, 2014 |agency=Central News Agency |date=June 25, 2014 |archive-date=July 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701030935/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/acs/201406250016.aspx |url-status=live }}

Before Zhang's arrival on June 25, the Novotel hotel had also been the scene for an incident which was condemned by the Taiwan Association for Human Rights. After members of protest organizations booked a room at the hotel, police and hotel staff reportedly entered the room without authorization and demanded the guests check out immediately.{{cite news |last1=王 |first1=張會 |script-title=zh:張志軍抵台 野蠻飯店 踹門趕示威房客 |url=http://www.appledaily.com.tw/appledaily/article/headline/20140626/35918787/%E5%BC%B5%E5%BF%97%E8%BB%8D%E6%8A%B5%E5%8F%B0%E9%87%8E%E8%A0%BB%E9%A3%AF%E5%BA%97%E8%B8%B9%E9%96%80%E8%B6%95%E7%A4%BA%E5%A8%81%E6%88%BF%E5%AE%A2 |access-date=June 27, 2014 |work=Apple Daily |date=June 26, 2014 |language=zh |archive-date=June 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627121658/http://www.appledaily.com.tw/appledaily/article/headline/20140626/35918787/%E5%BC%B5%E5%BF%97%E8%BB%8D%E6%8A%B5%E5%8F%B0%E9%87%8E%E8%A0%BB%E9%A3%AF%E5%BA%97%E8%B8%B9%E9%96%80%E8%B6%95%E7%A4%BA%E5%A8%81%E6%88%BF%E5%AE%A2 |url-status=live }} Hotel management said in a statement that the number of people staying in the room did not correspond with the number registered at the reception. The extra guests were seen moving around inside the hotel, and calls for an explanation remained unanswered, the hotel said. The activists later complained they had been unlawfully detained in their room after the forced entry, with no water or food allowed into the room.{{cite news |title=Clashes welcome Chinese minister in Taiwan |url=http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=2513263 |access-date=June 26, 2014 |work=Taiwan News |date=June 25, 2014 |archive-date=June 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626161054/http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=2513263 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=林 |first1=雨佑 |script-title=zh:住飯店遭破門 林飛帆：現在是戒嚴嗎？ |url=http://newtalk.tw/news/2014/06/25/48616.html |access-date=June 26, 2014 |publisher=newtalk.tw |date=June 25, 2014 |language=zh |archive-date=June 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140628043312/http://newtalk.tw/news/2014/06/25/48616.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Loa |first1=lok-sin |title=Activists outraged over raid at hotel |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/06/26/2003593685 |access-date=June 26, 2014 |work=Taipei Times |date=June 25, 2014 |archive-date=June 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140628045453/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/06/26/2003593685 |url-status=live }}

When Zhang arrived at a casual meeting with Wang Yu-chi at Sizihwan Sunset Beach Resort in Xiziwan, Gushan District on June 27 around 8:10 pm, protesters organized by Taiwan Solidarity Union and Black Island National Youth Front greeted the motorcade by spraying white paint and throwing ghost money, shouting slogans such as "One Country on Each Side" and "Zhang Zhijun get out of here". The white paint did not hit Zhang but did hit his body guards.{{cite news |title=【更新】張志軍至西子灣 黑島青丟白漆砸車 |url=http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/politics/20140627/424143/ |access-date=June 30, 2014 |work=Apple Daily |date=June 27, 2014 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234454/http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/politics/20140627/424143/ |url-status=live }}

In August 2014, a reporter who covered the Zhang visit sued police over an alleged infringement of press freedom. He claimed to be there covering the protest and did not take part, but was still barred from recording the scene after showing his press credentials.{{cite news |last1=Chien |first1=Li-chung |last2=Pan |first2=Jason |title=Journalist suing police after alleged violence and attack on press freedom |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/08/28/2003598462 |access-date=August 28, 2014 |work=Taipei Times |date=August 28, 2014 |archive-date=August 31, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831125327/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/08/28/2003598462 |url-status=live }}

File:服貿黑箱-master2.png

File:Chang An-Le and Pan-Communism Supporters Protest in Taipei 20140401.jpg and other Chinese nationalist and pro-communist supporters clashing with protestors during the Sunflower Student Movement in Taipei.]]

More than 200 professors and industry experts issued joint statements and held panel discussions warning the national security risks raised in the opening of the type II telecommunication services outlined in the trade pact. The National Communications Commission denied the liberalization of telecommunication services would pose security threats.{{cite web |script-title=zh:服貿開發資通訊對國安的影響 |url=http://www.slideshare.net/ntuperc/20140331-qa |publisher=Slideshare |access-date=April 13, 2014 |language=zh |title=20140331 qa |date=March 31, 2014 |archive-date=April 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413161253/http://www.slideshare.net/ntuperc/20140331-qa |url-status=live }}{{cite web |script-title=zh:近3百位電機資訊教授連署反對服貿開放資通訊產業 |url=http://www.ithome.com.tw/news/86596 |publisher=iThome |access-date=April 14, 2014 |language=zh |date=April 10, 2014 |archive-date=April 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414005224/http://www.ithome.com.tw/news/86596 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Shan |first=Shelley |title=TRADE PACT SIEGE: Experts decry NCC telecom plans |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/04/10/2003587705/1 |work=Taipei Times |access-date=April 14, 2014 |date=April 10, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502060042/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/04/10/2003587705/1 |url-status=live }}

On March 21, a group of presidents from the 52-member Associations of national universities of Taiwan issued a joint statement calling on President Ma Ying-jeou to respond to the student-led protesters' demands, and urged Ma to engage in talks with student protest leaders as soon as possible to defuse the situation. 25 of 34 professors at the National Taiwan University Mathematics Department also issued another statement declaring their support for the protesting students and the public, stating that:

We are not against the signing of the service trade agreement per se, since we do live in a world being swept by globalization, but the signing and review processes must be transparent and executed with due process. This is why we support what the students are demanding, which is rejecting any agreement signed 'in a black box.

The statement also criticized remarks made earlier by a high-ranking Ministry of Economic Affairs official, who described the agreement as "beneficial to the students because after its implementation, they can work in China and earn NT$52,000 a month, rather than [the] NT$22,000 [they would make in Taiwan]." In the statement, the professors also asked if "sending [Taiwan's] educated youth to China for work [was] the government's only solution for the nation's low wage and wealth gap problems."{{cite web |title=University heads call on Ma to respond to occupiers |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/03/23/2003586323 |work=The Taipei Times |access-date=March 23, 2014 |author=Chen Yi-ching |last2=Lin |first2=Rachel |date=March 23, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502085356/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/03/23/2003586323 |url-status=live }}

The National Alliance of Parents Organization issued a statement on March 22 that supported the students, called for dialog, and praised the students' civic consciousness.

Multiple Taiwanese entertainers, including Deserts Chang, Giddens Ko, and Lin Cheng-sheng criticized the government's eviction of students from the Executive Yuan.{{cite news |last1=Feng |first1=Yi-en |last2=Hsu |first2=Stacy |title=TRADE PACT SIEGE: Celebrities label president, premier 'dictators' |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/03/25/2003586495/2 |access-date=October 12, 2014 |work=Taipei Times |date=March 25, 2014 |archive-date=October 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016194046/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/03/25/2003586495/2 |url-status=live }}

On March 22, Premier Jiang Yi-huah met with protesters but declined to withdraw the deal or agree to legislation monitoring future cross-strait agreements, saying that the two issues required the involvement of the Executive Yuan and President Ma Ying-jeou. Jiang stated that there is no need to enact new laws monitoring cross-strait agreements since "the governing party the Kuomintang has already proposed measures pertaining to the monitoring of such agreements by the legislature and the public that are supported by Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng. Therefore, there is no need for new legislation."{{cite web |last1=Loa |first1=Iok-sin |title=Jiang-protester talks fail before they start |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/03/23/2003586322/1 |work=The Taipei Times |access-date=March 22, 2014 |last2=Shih |first2=Hsiu-chuan |date=March 24, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502060407/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/03/23/2003586322/1 |url-status=live }}

On March 23, in a speech addressing the students, President Ma Ying-jeou applauded the students but questioned their decision to occupy government offices, asking:

Is this the sort of democracy we want? Must the rule of law be sacrificed in such a manner? Do we not take pride in our democracy and our respect for rule of law?{{cite magazine |last=Rauhala |first=Emily |title=The 'Battle of Taipei' Shows Just How Wary of China Young Taiwanese Are |url=https://time.com/35142/taiwan-protests-over-tisa-reveal-china-fears/ |magazine=Time |date=23 March 2014 |access-date=24 March 2014 |archive-date=February 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225214426/http://time.com/35142/taiwan-protests-over-tisa-reveal-china-fears/ |url-status=live }}

The students' association at National Taiwan University called for an education strike, so students could attend protests without disciplinary action from the school.{{cite web |last1=Chen |first1=Chi-chung |title=Students' association calls for 'strike' to support protests |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201403240007.aspx |agency=Central News Agency |access-date=March 24, 2014 |first2=James |last2=Lee |date=March 24, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502051559/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201403240007.aspx |url-status=live }} Alumni of the university petitioned for the resignation of Premier Jiang Yi-huah, a former professor there.{{cite web |last1=I-chia |first1=Lee |title=NTU alumni urge Jiang to resign |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/03/28/2003586703 |work=Taipei Times |access-date=March 28, 2014 |first2=Hsiu-chua |last2=Shih |date=March 28, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502064044/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/03/28/2003586703 |url-status=live }} The sociology departments at National Tsing Hua University and National Taipei University canceled classes in response to the protests.{{cite web |last1=Weng |first1=Yu-huang |title=Some departments back protesters by canceling classes |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/03/24/2003586422 |work=Taipei Times |access-date=March 24, 2014 |last2=Huang |first2=Pang-ping |first3=Stacy |last3=Hsu |date=March 24, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502061556/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/03/24/2003586422 |url-status=live }} Later, the sociology department of National Sun Yat-Sen University followed suit. In total, 45 student organizations from 18 universities backed the call to strike.{{cite web |last1=Chen |first1=Yi-ching |title=University groups call for strike |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/03/25/2003586497 |work=Taipei Times |access-date=March 25, 2014 |last2=Tan |first2=Chia-ling |first3=Jake |last3=Chung |date=March 25, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502060109/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/03/25/2003586497 |url-status=live }}

The {{ill|General Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of China|zh|中華民國全國商業總會}} (ROCCOC) held a press conference with representatives from 50 impacted service industries on March 26 to express their support for the trade pact. There are 122 associations covering more than 100,000 businesses within ROCCOC. Approximately 85 percent of ROCCOC's members might be impacted by the cross-strait pact. ROCCOC chairman Lai Chang-yi said Taiwan should not be afraid of competing with global businesses. By establishing bases in China, he stated, Taiwan's businesses have the opportunity to globalize.{{cite web |last=Liu |first=John |title=ROCCOC expresses support for trade pact |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2014/03/27/403793/ROCCOC-expresses.htm |work=China Post |access-date=March 27, 2014 |date=March 27, 2014 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924024056/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2014/03/27/403793/ROCCOC-expresses.htm |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Chen |first=Ted |title=Business, industry associations call for an end to protests |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/business/2014/03/26/403671/Business-industry.htm |work=China Post |access-date=March 27, 2014 |date=March 26, 2014 |archive-date=March 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306020827/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/business/2014/03/26/403671/Business-industry.htm |url-status=live }} The Bankers Association of the Republic of China (BAROC) held a supervisors and management meeting on March 27, and the chairman of BAROC Lee Jih-Chu on behalf of all members of BAROC issued three statements to support the trade pact after the meeting.{{cite web |last=孫 |first=彬訓 |script-title=zh:銀行公會挺服貿 理事長發3聲明 |url=http://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20140327003775-260407 |work=China Times |access-date=March 27, 2014 |date=March 27, 2014 |language=zh |archive-date=March 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328045323/http://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20140327003775-260407 |url-status=live }}

The Ministry of Economic Affairs held presentations explaining the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement at multiple universities across northern Taiwan.{{cite web |title=TRADE PACT SIEGE: Economic minister to tour universities, promote pact |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/04/07/2003587480 |work=Taipei Times |access-date=April 7, 2014 |date=April 7, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502083208/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/04/07/2003587480 |url-status=live }}

Some protesters feared the agreement would eventually result in the absorption of Taiwan by China, mirroring the accession of Crimea to the Russian Federation.{{cite web |title=Taiwanese students protest trade pact with mainland China |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-taiwan-china-students-protest-20140323,0,6328109.story |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=March 24, 2014 |date=March 23, 2014 |first=Cindy |last=Chang |archive-date=April 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420224341/http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-taiwan-china-students-protest-20140323,0,6328109.story |url-status=live }}

In a speech to the Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce on June 10, then Premier Jiang Yi-huah criticized the movement, saying protestors were people who "complain all day long about the government" and "blame others for their failures."{{cite news |last1=Shih |first1=Hsiu-chuan |last2=Wang |first2=Wen-hsuan |last3=Lin |first3=Sean |title=Premier disparages students who 'complain all day' |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/06/11/2003592469 |access-date=June 11, 2014 |work=Taipei Times |date=June 11, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502053501/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/06/11/2003592469 |url-status=live }}

China's state-run Xinhua News Agency criticized the student-led protests for being violent.{{cite web |script-title=zh:台湾学生暴力占领立法机构为哪般 |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/tw/2014-03/22/c_126299731.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408220506/http://news.xinhuanet.com/tw/2014-03/22/c_126299731.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 8, 2014 |agency=Xinhua News Agency |access-date=March 23, 2014 |language=zh |date=March 22, 2014}}

File:Taiwanese student movement supporters in Los Angeles 2.jpg

On March 24, the U.S. State Department commented on the issue, saying that the U.S. hopes discussions on the trade pact can be carried out civilly and peacefully.{{cite web |title=Taiwan's President to Meet Protesters Who Seized Legislature |first=Tim |last=Culpan |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-23/taiwan-riot-police-move-on-trade-protesters-in-cabinet-compound.html |publisher=Bloomberg |date=March 25, 2014 |access-date=March 27, 2014 |archive-date=August 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804140143/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-23/taiwan-riot-police-move-on-trade-protesters-in-cabinet-compound.html |url-status=live }} U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, who is a founding member of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, urged Ma to ensure a non-violent, peaceful resolution:

My thoughts are with Taiwanese students and other protesters expressing opposition to a proposed economic pact with China. The world is watching these courageous students. The message to President Ma is that when you try to jam a trade agreement through, people will resist.{{cite web |last=Wang |first=Chris |title=Politicians, civic groups lash out over crackdown |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/03/25/2003586494 |work=Taipei Times |date=25 March 2014 |access-date=25 March 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502110408/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/03/25/2003586494 |url-status=live }}

Amnesty International issued a statement on March 19 urging restraint in the police response.{{cite web |title=Taiwan: Restraint urged in protests over China trade deal |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/taiwan-restraint-urged-protests-over-china-trade-deal-2014-03-19 |publisher=Amnesty International |access-date=March 19, 2014 |date=March 19, 2014 |archive-date=June 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140609171443/https://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/taiwan-restraint-urged-protests-over-china-trade-deal-2014-03-19 |url-status=live }}

Overseas Taiwanese in the United States and the United Kingdom have demonstrated in support of the student movement.{{cite web |last=Phillips |first=Tony |title=Taiwanese abroad show support |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/03/25/2003586476 |work=Taipei Times |access-date=March 25, 2014 |date=March 25, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502061808/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/03/25/2003586476 |url-status=live }} On March 29 and 30, rallies were held in 49 cities in 21 countries to show support for the Sunflower Movement.{{cite web |last=Pan |first=Jason |title=Rallies held across globe for Sunflower movement |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/04/01/2003587023 |work=Taipei Times |date=April 2014 |access-date=April 9, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502110830/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/04/01/2003587023 |url-status=live }}

The BBC commented that this movement could be a further democratization of Taiwan, with additional safeguards to let the people, not any political party, decide the fate of Taiwan.{{cite web |last=Sui |first=Cindy |title=What unprecedented protest means for Taiwan |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26743794 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=March 28, 2014 |date=March 26, 2014 |archive-date=January 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113072909/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26743794 |url-status=live }}

Polish media group Niezalezna – which owns several print and online news outlets in Poland, including the daily Gazeta Polska Codziennie, the weekly Gazeta Polska and the monthly Nowe Panstwo — received a letter from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Bureau in Poland, protesting its use of an analogy between the occupation of the Executive Yuan compound by protesters and the consequent violent crackdown by police and the occupation of the central square, Maidan, in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, by protesters who were also treated brutally by the police. Hanna Shen, the journalist who wrote the story and other reports about the movement, expressed shock about receiving the letter:

My newspaper has been publishing articles very critical of the governments of Russia, China and the former Ukrainian government, but we never received any letter from the representative offices of those countries asking us to retract anything. I personally think this letter, as an attempt to influence, to control the way media in free and democratic Poland writes about Taiwan, is not acceptable. [M]any media outlets around the world – including in Germany and in the US – have also made the same analogy in their reports.{{cite web |last=Loa |first=Iok-sin |title=Polish media asked to retract siege reporting |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/04/06/2003587381 |work=Taipei Times |access-date=6 April 2014 |date=6 April 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502050005/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/04/06/2003587381 |url-status=live }}

Tang Prize recipient Yu Ying-shih expressed support for the movement in a speech on September 20, 2014. He lauded the students' intentions and further commented that all citizens of a democracy should make their concerns known and vote.{{cite news |title=Tang Prize's Yu praises Sunflower protests |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/09/21/2003600203 |access-date=September 21, 2014 |work=Taipei Times |date=September 21, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502060809/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/09/21/2003600203 |url-status=live }}

{{Commons category|Sunflower Movement}}

• Cross-Strait relations
• Wild Lily student movement
• Wild Strawberries Movement
• May 1968 events in France, Paris, France
• Referendums in Taiwan
• February 28 Incident
• Umbrella Movement
• 2020 Thai protests
• List of protests in the 21st century
• Today Hong Kong Tomorrow Taiwan - The slogan of this movement.

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Library resources box}}

• {{cite book |doi=10.4324/9781003395546 |title=Social Forces in the Re-Making of Cross-Strait Relations |date=2023 |last1=Beckershoff |first1=André |isbn=978-1-003-39554-6 |s2cid=259414447}}
• {{cite report |last1=Gold |first1=Tom |title=Occupy Central/Sunflower: Popular Resistance in Greater China |url=https://www.fpri.org/article/2014/10/occupy-centralsunflower-popular-resistance-in-greater-china/ |publisher=Foreign Policy Research Institute |date=October 2014}}
• {{cite book |last1=Ho |first1=Ming-sho |title=Challenging Beijing's Mandate of Heaven: Taiwan's Sunflower Movement and Hong Kong's Umbrella Movement |date=2019 |publisher=Temple University Press |isbn=978-1-4399-1706-0}}
• {{cite journal |last1=Brindle |first1=Andrew |title=A corpus analysis of discursive constructions of the Sunflower Student Movement in the English-language Taiwanese press |journal=Discourse & Society |date=January 2016 |volume=27 |issue=1 |pages=3–19 |doi=10.1177/0957926515605957 |s2cid=147318385}}
• {{cite journal |last1=Rowen |first1=Ian |title=Inside Taiwan's Sunflower Movement: Twenty-Four Days in a Student-Occupied Parliament, and the Future of the Region |journal=The Journal of Asian Studies |date=February 2015 |volume=74 |issue=1 |pages=5–21 |doi=10.1017/S0021911814002174 |s2cid=162654621}}
• {{cite journal |last1=Wang |first1=Chih-ming |title='The future that belongs to us': Affective politics, neoliberalism and the Sunflower Movement |journal=International Journal of Cultural Studies |date=March 2017 |volume=20 |issue=2 |pages=177–192 |doi=10.1177/1367877916683824 |s2cid=151343864}}
• {{cite book |doi=10.4324/9781315560533 |title=Taiwan's Social Movements under Ma Ying-jeou |date=2017 |isbn=978-1-315-56053-3 |editor-last1=Fell |editor-first1=Dafydd |editor1-link=Dafydd Fell}}

{{Commons category|Sunflower Movement}}

• [https://www.facebook.com/sunflowermovement Sunflower Movement in English] on Facebook
• [http://4am.tw/ Democracy at 4am]
• [https://www.facebook.com/lslandnationyouth Organizer Page]
• [https://www.flickr.com/photos/leechungwei/sets/72157642930721234/ Sunflower Student Movement/Flickr Photos]
• [https://thediplomat.com/2014/07/was-taiwans-sunflower-movement-successful/ Was Taiwan's Sunflower Movement Successful? – The Diplomat]
• [https://thediplomat.com/2016/02/taiwans-third-force-makes-its-presence-known-in-legislature/ Taiwan's 'Third Force' Makes Its Presence Known in Legislature – The Diplomat]
• [http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1740013/one-year-impact-sunflower-movement-protests-taiwan-continue-blossom One year on: impact of 'sunflower' movement protests in Taiwan continues to blossom – South China Morning Post]

{{Cross-Strait relations}}

Category:Student protests in Taiwan

Category:Civil disobedience

Category:Nonviolent occupation

Category:Nonviolent resistance movements

Category:Politics of Taiwan

Category:Cross-strait relations

Category:Progressivism in Taiwan

Category:2014 in Taiwan

Category:2014 protests

Category:2010s in Taipei

Category:Taiwanese democracy movements

Category:Taiwan independence movement