A workers kinds poll papers at a polling station in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024.
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A workers kinds poll papers at a polling station in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024.
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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 subsequent 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 drive if vital. Home points such because the sluggish financial system and costly housing additionally featured prominently within the marketing campaign.
Democratic Progressive Social gathering presidential candidate Lai Ching-te, who additionally goes by William, votes throughout the elections in southern Taiwan’s Tainan metropolis on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024.
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Democratic Progressive Social gathering presidential candidate Lai Ching-te, who additionally goes by William, votes throughout the elections in southern Taiwan’s Tainan metropolis on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024.
Ng Han Guan/AP
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 individuals to exit and vote.
”I encourage everybody across the nation to vote with enthusiasm and present the vitality of Taiwan’s democracy,” he mentioned.
Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih casts a vote for the election in New Taipei Metropolis, Taiwan, Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024.
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Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih casts a vote for the election in New Taipei Metropolis, Taiwan, Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024.
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Hou Yu-ih, the candidate of Beijing-favored Kuomintang, also called 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 depart to run for president.
”What we’d like throughout 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.”
Taiwan Folks’s Social gathering (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je emerges from a voting sales space at a polling station in Taipei Metropolis, Taiwan, Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024.
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Taiwan Folks’s Social gathering (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je emerges from a voting sales space at a polling station in Taipei Metropolis, Taiwan, Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024.
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Various candidate Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan Folks’s Social gathering, who has proven reputation amongst younger voters searching 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, mentioned he aimed to strive his finest day-after-day ”and plan for the subsequent 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 night time with stirring speeches, however youthful voters had been principally targeted on their financial futures in a difficult surroundings.
Supporters of the Democratic Progressive Social gathering presidential candidate Lai Ching-te, who additionally goes by William, attend a rally in southern Taiwan’s Tainan metropolis on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024 forward of the presidential election on Saturday.
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Supporters of the Democratic Progressive Social gathering presidential candidate Lai Ching-te, who additionally goes by William, attend a rally in southern Taiwan’s Tainan metropolis on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024 forward of the presidential election on Saturday.
Ng Han Guan/AP
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 checks and navy workout routines geared toward intimidating Taiwanese voters earlier than the primary open presidential election in 1996.
”I wished 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 mentioned.
Hou, a former head of Taiwan’s police drive, mentioned 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 will likely be determined by the 23.5 million (individuals of Taiwan), and I’ll use my life to guard Taiwan,” Hou mentioned.
China’s navy 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,” mentioned Gabrielle Reid, affiliate director with the worldwide intelligence consultancy S-RM.
”The end result of the vote will finally decide the character of ties with China relative to the West and may have sturdy bearing on the state of play within the South China Sea,” she mentioned.
Apart from the China tensions, home points dominated the marketing campaign, significantly an financial system that was estimated to have grown simply 1.4% final 12 months. That partly displays inevitable cycles in demand for laptop chips and different exports from the high-tech, closely trade-dependent manufacturing base, and a slowing of the Chinese language financial system.
However longer-term challenges resembling unaffordable housing and wage stagnation topped voters’ issues.
The candidate with essentially the most votes wins, with no runoff. The legislative races are for districts and at-large seats.