Taiwan election: China says island faces choice between ‘war and peace’ so who could win and what’s at stake?
As Taiwan heads to polls this weekend, tensions with China, which claims sovereignty over the democratically-governed island, are at an all-time high.
During his New Year’s address, Chinese president Xi Jinping said “reunification” with Taiwan was “inevitable”. Whichever party wins the 13 January presidential election will determine Taiwan’s geopolitical standing and its relationship with China and the US.
Even though there are many domestic issues such as economic worries, including the cost of living, the central issue in these elections remains the imminent threat of a Chinese incursion.
Who are the candidates?
Three main candidates vying for the presidential seat are Lai Ching-te (or William Lai) of the Democratic(DPP), Hou You-yi from the Kuomintang (KMT), and Ko Wen-je of the newly formed Taiwan People’s Party (TPP).
