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Frank Hsieh (left), presidential candidate of Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, and his wife, You Fang-chih, cast their ballots at a polling station in Taiwan. -- PHOTO: AP
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TAIPEI - COUNTING began on Saturday in Taiwan's crunch presidential election with voters choosing between the pro-independence ruling party chief or an opposition rival who has vowed closer ties to China.
Analysts said voters were likely to focus on concern over the slowing pace of the economy as well as hopes of a rapprochement with China following eight years of recurring tensions under outgoing President Chen Shui-bian.
Ma Ying-jeou, the Harvard-educated candidate of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), was installed as favourite against Frank Hsieh, head of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Polling stations closed at 4pm (0800 GMT) and official results were due within a few hours.
Turnout was brisk and the electoral commission said it expected around 75 percent of the 17.3 million eligible voters to cast their ballots.
People were also asked to vote on two simultaneous referendums on joining the United Nations, although they may not get the required 50 per cent turnout that would make them count.
After casting his ballot in a Methodist church building in Taipei, Ma said he felt confident and calm, and promised to engage with China, which insists the self-ruled island is part of its territory.
He added: 'We want to normalise the trade and investment relationship with the mainland as we have done with other parts of the world.'
It meant opening transport links and allowing Taiwan's financial services industry access to the mainland market, as well as seeking proper investment guarantees and a double taxation agreement, he told reporters.
China and Taiwan have had virtually no direct links since the island split from the mainland in 1949 after a civil war.
'I have always said that, if I get elected, I will engage the mainland on many issues, but I will protect Taiwan's identity and also its security,' he said.
'Taiwan is not Tibet. Neither is it Hong Kong. We will keep this country running as it is.' Speaking earlier in the southern city of Kaohsiung, Mr Hsieh said he was tired after an exhausting campaign.
Quizzed about how sure he was of victory, he spread his arms out wide. 'I have this much confidence,' he smiled.
China's military crackdown in Tibet has allowed Mr Hsieh to attack Mr Ma's plan for an economic common market and peace treaty with China, but it appeared to have cut little ice.
Voters questioned said their key concern was the economy.
Mr Shih Han-kuang, a 44-year-old construction company boss who backed Mr Hsieh's DPP in the previous two presidential votes, said that was more important than Tibet or closer ties with China.
'Taiwan used to have strong economic competitiveness but now that is gone, and we are lagging behind the other Asian 'tigers,'' he said.
'What is happening in Tibet is too far from me and I am not interested in one-China or common market, I just want a better life,' agreed Mr Chen Che-yu, as he ran off after voting to his job as a waiter in a fast food restaurant.
China still claims Taiwan for itself and has threatened an invasion if it declares independence, confining the US-allied island to a murky limbo of de facto but unrecognised sovereignty.
Mr Ma is more aggressive in proposing a radical overhaul of economic ties to allow Taiwanese companies access to the vast mainland market while permitting Chinese investors to pump funds into the economy here.
He hopes to exploit the same malaise that propelled the KMT to a sweeping victory over the DPP in January's parliamentary elections.
Mr Hsieh also favours closer ties but is more cautious, warning Mr Ma's plan may engulf Taiwan with Chinese money and labourers.
The island is the world's 17th largest economy, mainly on the back of its information technology sector, but is losing jobs and investment to mainland China. Incomes are stagnant and the gap between rich and poor is widening. -- AFP
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