Taiwanese voters have rejected a bid to oust about one-fifth of their lawmakers from the opposition Nationalist Party in a recall election, a setback for President Lai Ching-te.

Taiwanese voters overwhelmingly rejected an unprecedented Saturday recall effort targeting the opposition Kuomintang Party, which favors better relations with China. Voters in every targeted constituency voted against recalling the KMT lawmakers,

The votes could reshape the island democracy's parliament and the government's approach to its powerful neighbor.