Taipei, Taiwan ? In one of the largest demonstrations in Taiwan’s history, about a million people marched through the capital on Saturday to protest a new Chinese law that authorizes an attack on the island if it moves toward formal independence.

“Taiwan is only a small island, so we must speak out really loud to make the world hear that we are a democracy facing an evil giant,” said Vivian Wang, a 38-year-old restaurant worker who traveled by bus from the southern city of Kaohsiung — about 190 miles away.

Hundreds of thousands assembled at 10 different areas in Taipei, with each route representing one of the articles of the anti-secession law. The marchers converged on the wide boulevard in front of the Presidential Office building.

Beijing is worried that self-ruled Taiwan is drifting toward independence, and China’s legislature recently passed a law codifying the use of military force against Taiwan if it seeks a permanent split. The island — just 100 miles off China’s southern coast — has been resisting Beijing’s rule since the Communists took over the mainland in 1949.

Taiwan has been able to enjoy de facto independence for more than 50 years, largely because the United States has warned it might defend the island if China attacks. America is also the only major nation that sells advanced weapons to newly democratic Taiwan, about the size of Maryland and Delaware combined.

“What do we want from China? Peace,” lawmaker Bikhim Hsiao led the crowd in chanting.

Police estimated the crowd at about a million. The rally was organized by private groups, but leaders of President Chen Shui-bian’s Democratic Progressive Party played a high-profile role in the organization.

Chen appeared at an intersection along one of the protest routes, protected by 500 plainclothes bodyguards.

Pro-Taiwan supporters march Saturday in Taipei, Taiwan. The Taiwan government has amassed more than one million pro-Taiwan supporters in the streets of Taipei to rally against Beijing's recently approved anti-secession law.

Chen has long been a fierce critic of Beijing’s Communist leadership and has resisted China’s increasing pressure to unify.

As he promised, Chen did not speak at the rally, but mounted the stage and chanted slogans with the crowds. Critics had said that holding a speech at the event might have provoked China.

Former President Lee Teng-hui, 82, who has become a vocal supporter of independence since retiring in 2000, also marched in the protest.

Police set up barbed wire at the opposite side of the Presidential Office building to prevent protesters from turning their anger against the headquarters of the opposition Nationalist party. Leaders from the Nationalists stayed away from the demonstration.

Supporters of Taiwan’s cause also staged demonstrations overseas. In Hong Kong, about 100 protesters marched to oppose the anti-secession law. Taiwanese TV stations also showed footage of protests in Los Angeles and Brussels, Belgium.