Thousands rally in Taiwan, call for referendum on independence from China

Pro-independence supporters take part in a rally to protest against what they claim are annexation efforts by China, and to call for a referendum, in Taipei, Taiwan October 20, 2018. REUTERS/Judy Peng

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Several thousand pro-independence demonstrators rallied in Taiwan's capital on Saturday to protest against Beijing's "bullying" and called for a referendum on whether the self-ruled island should formally declare independence from China.

The rally, one of the largest seen on Taiwan this year, was organised by a group called Formosa Alliance founded six months ago, and the protesters gathered near the headquarters of President Tsai Ing-wen's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).