Taiwanese pro-independence supporters raise a green-and-white flag up a makeshift pole Friday in a push to establish a "republic" separate from China, commemorating what they believe is the day the island reclaimed its "sovereignty". September 8 is a date symbolic for the island's independence movement as Japan signed the Treaty of San Francisco on that day 72 years ago to renounce its claim to Taiwan. Japan colonised Taiwan from 1895 till its surrender during the end of the World War II in 1945. Politicians -- especially those running for Taiwan's presidency in January next year -- speak carefully about the island's status, but on Friday, the crowd gathering for the flag-raising ceremony were far bolder. At 09:08 am (0108 GMT), a green-and-white flag bearing the island's map and the word Taiwan was raised from a pole set up on a truck decorated with a banner reading "Establishing the country with Lai (Ching-te)". Current Vice President Lai of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is a frontrunner in January's election, which pit him against three opposition candidates favouring warmer relations with China. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES