Sir Sean Connery to take part in Taiwan human chain protest against China

Sir Sean Connery will participate in a planned 300-kilometre human chain next week in Taiwan to protest against China`s missile threat against the island.

The human chain, part of an event called Hand in Hand to Protect Taiwan, will stretch from the island`s northern coast to its southern tip Feb. 28, in a show of unity against China for aiming hundreds of missiles at the territory, the Liberty Times newspaper quoted organizers saying.

Taiwan and China split in 1949 amid a bloody civil war and China has been putting pressure on Taiwan to stop resisting its rule and unify.

The human chain comes ahead of Taiwan`s March 20 presidential election and is being organized by supporters of President Chen Shui-bian, who leads a party that has angered China by campaigning for formal independence for Taiwan.

Connery, 73, an outspoken supporter of independence for his native Scotland, will link hands with Chen in front of the Presidential Office building in Taipei, the mass-circulation China Times newspaper said Thursday.

The human chain`s organizers weren`t immediately available for comment Thursday morning. Connery is expected to announce his participation in the event at a news conference in Japan on Feb. 26, the China Times said.

The March presidential election will coincide with a referendum on whether Taiwan should beef up anti-missile defences if China refuses to withdraw nearly 500 missiles pointed at it.

Chian fears the vote might set a precedent for a referendum on the touchy unification issue - a move Chinese leaders have warned would spark a war.

Chen and Connery met in Panama last November at celebrations for that country`s 100th independence anniversary.

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