I will not yield': Taiwan convulsed by 17-year prison sentence for populist opposition figure

"I will not yield! I will not surrender! Ko shouted on Sunday in Taipei, as he turned towards the grand, red-brick Japanese colonial-era building in order to directly address President Lai Ching-te."

"We want Lai Ching-te to understand that even if you try to eliminate Ko Wen-je, there are still tens of thousands of supporters behind him, he told the reportedly 80,000-strong crowd."

"The judiciary - one of the most fundamental red lines in our society - has been undermined, says one 49-year-old, who gives his name as Mr Wang."

"What's certain is that Ko's conviction has widened the chasm in Taiwan's already fractured political landscape, as it struggles to bridge the divide that exists between its main political forces on how to handle the existential threat posed by China."

Ko Wen-je, facing a 17-year prison sentence for corruption, rallied around 80,000 supporters outside Taiwan's Presidential Office. He declared his determination not to yield or surrender, addressing President Lai Ching-te directly. The Taiwan People's Party called for immediate action for judicial justice following the conviction. Attendees expressed concerns about the manipulation of Taiwan's judiciary, which they view as a fundamental societal red line. Ko's conviction has deepened political divisions in Taiwan, particularly regarding responses to the threat from China.

Read at www.theguardian.com