China says will ‘crush’ Taiwan independence efforts as vote looms

Lai Ching-te, Taiwan's vice president and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential candidate, says, 'Taiwan must win this battle' [Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters]

China’s military has promised to “crush” any efforts to promote Taiwan’s independence, a day before a crucial election on the self-ruled island, which Beijing claims is part of its territory.

Hundreds of thousands of people attended final pre-election rallies in Taiwan on Friday in advance of critical presidential and parliamentary polls on Saturday.