By Yimou Lee 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.

Taiwan's unprecedented mass recall targeting 24 opposition lawmakers from a China-friendly party suffered a setback on Saturday, as all managed to retain their seats. The outcome suggests that, with the opposition still controlling the legislature,