Large protest takes place against pro-independence leader in Taiwan

More than 600 Taiwan residents gathered around Taiwan's leader's office in Taipei on Friday, to protest the island's deputy leader Lai Ching-te's planned visit to the United States this weekend.

They shouted slogans accusing Lai, also Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party's 2024 leadership candidate, of relying on the US to seek "independence" and causing harm to Taiwan.

Lai, who has openly branded himself as a pragmatic advocate for "Taiwan independence", will reportedly stop in the US on his way to and from Paraguay as part of a seven-day trip starting on Saturday.