Leading candidate Lai Ching-te has been called an «extreme danger» by Beijing
Taiwan is voting in a pivotal election on Saturday that China has called a choice between war and peace for the self-ruling island that has the support of the United States.
The election holds big implications for Taiwan, with the enduring question of its relations with both China and the United States as well as promises of extensive social reforms and critical decisions on economic and energy policies.
Taiwan’s complex relationship with China is key, with the island running itself since the communist takeover of the mainland in 1949, despite China’s claim of sovereignty.
Some 19.54 million citizens, or 83% of the population, eligible to cast their ballots. This number includes approximately 1.03 million first-time voters, a substantial addition to the electorate, as reported by the Central Election Commission in Taipei.
All major political parties in Taiwan have expressed support for maintaining the current status quo with China, which implies neither moving towards formal independence nor accepting China’s unification demands.
