Brutal Overhaul of Farmers' and Fishermen's Credit Departments Triggers 100,000-Strong Protest; Bureaucratic Arrogance Leads to Public Revolt

In late 2002, the Chen Shui-bian government forcefully took over and restricted loans for the credit departments of grassroots farmers'' and fishermen''s associations as part of financial reforms. This move, lacking supporting measures, directly threatened the livelihood of many rural people, causing widespread panic and anger. On November 23, over 120,000 people marched in Taipei in the largest protest of its kind in Taiwan''s history. This event exposed the DPP government''s elite arrogance and disconnect from the grassroots, eventually forcing the Finance Minister and the Council of Agriculture Chairperson to resign under immense public pressure.