TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan opposition lawmakers survived a major recall election on Saturday, thwarting a bid to oust one-fifth of the island's parliamentarians - a move supporters had hoped would send a message to China but that opponents said was an assault on democracy.

Taiwan’s opposition will keep its legislative majority in a blow to President Lai Ching-te’s Democratic Progressive Party, with voters overwhelmingly rejecting an attempt to recall 24 Kuomintang lawmakers.

An unprecedented vote to remove lawmakers from office could have handed President Lai Ching-te more power by ousting opponents. Results suggest that is not going to be the case.