Pro-independence protesters in southern Taiwan assaulted an envoy from rival China on Tuesday, pushing him to the ground while shouting that their island does not belong to Beijing.

The attack on Vice Chairman Zhang Mingqing of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait comes amid rapidly improving relations between Beijing and Taipei under the new administration of Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou.

Ma was elected in March after promising to turn the corner on the pro-independence policies of predecessor Chen Shui-bian and seek expanded trade and political relations with China, from which Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949.

China continues to claim the island as part of its territory and has threatened to invade if it ever moves toward formal independence.

Pictures from Taiwanese TV stations showed about a dozen protesters surrounding Zhang at a Tainan temple commemorating Confucius, then toppling him to the ground while shouting anti-communist and pro-independence slogans.

"Taiwan does not belong to China," protesters shouted.

Zhang was helped to his feet by an escort and rushed to a waiting vehicle. A middle-aged man stomped and banged on the vehicle but did not attempt to prevent it from leaving the scene.

Zhang is a well-recognised figure in Taiwan. He was formerly the spokesman for Beijing on Taiwan affairs, often depicted on television making strident comments that many Taiwanese regarded as offensive.

A spokesman for Ma deplored today's attack.

"The presidential office expresses regrets over the incident and condemns the violence stirred up by a small number of people," said Wang Yu-chi.