Voting under way in Taiwan’s critical elections watched closely by China

TAIPEI – Polls opened on Jan 13 in

Taiwan’s presidential and parliamentary elections,

which

China has framed as a choice between war and peace,

and are happening as Beijing ramps up pressure to get the island to accept its sovereignty.

Taiwan has been a democratic success story since holding its first direct presidential election in 1996, the culmination of decades of struggle against authoritarian rule and martial law.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which champions Taiwan’s separate identity and rejects China’s territorial claims, is seeking a third term in office with its candidate, current Vice-President Lai Ching-te.

Speaking to reporters in the southern city of Tainan before voting, Mr Lai encouraged people to cast their ballots.

“Every vote is valued, as this is Taiwan’s hard-earned democracy,” he said in brief remarks.

In the run-up to the election,

China repeatedly denounced Mr Lai as a dangerous separatist

and rebuffed repeated calls from him for talks. Mr Lai says he is committed to preserving peace across the Taiwan Strait, and to keep boosting the island’s defences.

Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said on the morning of Jan 12 that it had again spotted Chinese balloons crossing the sensitive Taiwan Strait, one of which flew over Taiwan itself. The ministry has denounced as psychological warfare and a threat to aviation safety the spate of balloons reported over the strait in the past month.

“Nobody wants war,” said businesswoman Jennifer Lu, 36, who was playing on a grass pitch with her daughter after casting her ballot on a sunny morning in Taipei’s Songshan district.

Mr Lai is facing two opponents for the presidency –

Mr Hou Yu-ih of Taiwan’s largest opposition party, the Kuomintang,

and former Taipei mayor

Ko Wen-je of the small Taiwan People’s Party,

founded only in 2019.

Mr Hou wants to restart engagement beginning with people-to-people exchanges and has, like China, accused Mr Lai of supporting Taiwan’s formal independence. Mr Lai says Mr Hou is pro-Beijing, which Mr Hou rejects.

Dr Ko has won a passionate support base, especially among young voters, for focusing on bread-and-butter issues like the high cost of housing. He also wants to re-engage China, but insists that cannot come at the expense of protecting Taiwan’s democracy and way of life.

Dr Ko told reporters after voting at a Taipei high school that he was “calm” and had slept well the night before.

The parliamentary elections are equally important, especially if none of the three parties is able to get a majority, which might hinder the new president’s ability to pass legislation and spending, especially for defence.

“Compared with previous elections, the result this time is very difficult to predict,” said financial sector worker Liao Jeng-wen, 44, who voted early on Jan 13. “Taiwan’s next leader should think of ways to peacefully get along with China... Many Taiwanese think we should maintain the status quo.”

Polls are open for eight hours and close at 4pm, with ballot counting by hand starting almost at once. There is no electronic, absentee, proxy or early voting.

The result should be clear by late evening on Jan 13 when the losers concede and the winner gives a victory speech.

President Tsai Ing-wen is constitutionally barred from standing again after two terms in office. REUTERS