Beijing-friendly Kuomintang Party

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Taipei early today calling for the education minister to resign after a student committed suicide, amid a deepening row over the island's "China-centric" school curriculum.

Known as 'xiao-la-jiao' or 'little hot pepper' for her straight-talking style, unlikely presidential hopeful Hung Hsiu-chu encapsulates the crisis facing Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang (KMT) and the sharp divisions in the island's politics.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Taipei early today calling for the education minister to resign after a student committed suicide, amid a deepening row over the island's "China-centric" school curriculum.

Known as 'xiao-la-jiao' or 'little hot pepper' for her straight-talking style, unlikely presidential hopeful Hung Hsiu-chu encapsulates the crisis facing Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang (KMT) and the sharp divisions in the island's politics.