An unprecedented recall vote could hand President Lai Ching-te more power by ousting legislative opponents. It could also prompt a response from China.

Taiwan's government said the island's largest-ever recall vote has faced "unprecedented" election interference by China, which claims the democratically governed island as its own, over Taiwan's rejection.

Civic groups backed by President Lai Ching-te's Democratic Progressive Party are seeking to unseat 31 lawmakers belonging to the main opposition Kuomintang party, who they accuse of being pro-China and a threat to the island's security.