Taiwan choosing next president in poll weighing China’s threat and island’s stability

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwanese are casting their votes Saturday for a brand new president and legislature in an election that might chart the trajectory of the self-ruled democracy’s relations with China over the following 4 years.

At stake is the peace and stability of the island 160 kilometers (100 miles) off the coast of China that Beijing claims as its personal, to be retaken by power if needed. Home points such because the sluggish economic system and costly housing additionally featured prominently within the marketing campaign.

Vice President Lai Ching-te, representing the governing Democratic Progressive Social gathering, often known as the DPP, seeks to succeed outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen and provides the independence-leaning get together an unprecedented third time period.

Lai forged his vote in his hometown of Tainan. He remarked on the sunny climate, suggesting it is a good time for Taiwanese folks to exit and vote.

“I encourage everybody across the nation to vote with enthusiasm and present the vitality of Taiwan’s democracy,” he stated.

Hou Yu-ih, the candidate of Beijing-favored Kuomintang, also referred to as the Nationalist Social gathering, forged his poll in New Taipei Metropolis, a municipality bordering the capital, Taipei. Hou is the mayor of New Taipei, a place from which he took go away to run for president.

“What we want through the election marketing campaign course of is chaos,” Hou advised reporters after casting his vote. “However after the vote, we have to be united and face the way forward for Taiwan collectively.”

Various candidate Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan Folks’s Social gathering, who has proven reputation amongst younger voters looking for an alternative choice to the 2 main events, voted in Taipei.

Requested by journalists how he felt, Ko, in his well-known dry method, stated he aimed to strive his greatest each day “and plan for the following stage after we get there.”

Voting started at 8 a.m. (0000 GMT) Saturday and was to wrap up eight hours later.

Candidates concluded their campaigns Friday evening with stirring speeches, however youthful voters had been largely centered on their financial futures in a difficult surroundings.

Talking in his hometown of Tainan within the island’s south, Lai mirrored on why he left his profession as a surgeon due to China’s missile assessments and army workouts geared toward intimidating Taiwanese voters earlier than the primary open presidential election in 1996.

“I needed to guard the democracy that had simply gotten underway in Taiwan. I gave up my well-paid job and determined to observe the footsteps of our elders in democracy,” Lai stated.

Hou, a former head of Taiwan’s police power, stated Lai’s view on relations with Beijing might push the 2 sides to struggle.

“I advocate pragmatic exchanges with China, the protection of nationwide safety, and safety of human rights. I insist that Taiwan’s future might be determined by the 23.5 million (folks of Taiwan), and I’ll use my life to guard Taiwan,” Hou stated.

China’s army threats might sway some voters in opposition to independence-leaning candidates, however the U.S. has pledged assist for whichever authorities emerges, bolstered by the Biden administration’s plans to ship an unofficial delegation made up of former senior officers to the island shortly after the election.

Taiwan’s election is seen as having “actual and lasting affect on the geopolitical panorama,” stated Gabrielle Reid, affiliate director with the worldwide intelligence consultancy S-RM.

“The end result of the vote will in the end decide the character of ties with China relative to the West and could have sturdy bearing on the state of play within the South China Sea,” she stated.

In addition to the China tensions, home points dominated the marketing campaign, notably an economic system that was estimated to have grown simply 1.4% final yr. That partly displays inevitable cycles in demand for pc chips and different exports from the high-tech, closely trade-dependent manufacturing base, and a slowing of the Chinese language economic system.

However longer-term challenges reminiscent of unaffordable housing and wage stagnation topped voters’ considerations.

The candidate with probably the most votes wins, with no runoff. The legislative races are for districts and at-large seats.