Indignation was caused by an Associated Press story earlier this week reporting Annette Lu's decision to run for the presidency, which quoted Chinese media as calling her "insane" and "scum of the nation."
The story was later used by CNN in a newscast headlined "Taiwan's scum to run for president," subsequently replaced by "Lu seeks to be first Taiwan woman president" as protests poured in.
"Not a single agency will ever use criticism by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez targeting U.S. President George Bush," said Chen Shui-bian, the president of Taiwan.
Some parliamentary members even demanded that the AP correspondent be expelled from the island.
AP representatives have already said they are sorry for the use of unacceptable epithets, and have offered Annette Lu an opportunity to publicize her views.
An official response is also expected from CNN.
Annette Lu, 63, is one of four candidates from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party to run in the primaries in the spring of 2008.
A former dissident and lawmaker, Lu was branded "scum of the nation" by China's Taiwan expert Liu Jiayan in a 2002 article for her declarations of independence for Taiwan, which China deems its province, and condemnations of China's missile threat.
