Polling stations opened on Saturday morning in the East Asian island state of Taiwan to vote for a new president and a new parliament. Around 19.5 million eligible voters were set to cast their votes from 8 am (0000 GMT). The election campaign was dominated by the tensions between China and Taiwan. Whoever wins the election will also decide how relations with China develop. The Chinese leadership regards Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which is in favour of Taiwanese independence, a
Taiwan's opposition parties rushed to register their candidates for president on Friday with hours to go before a deadline, after talks on running a joint ticket collapsed in dramatic fashion on live television amid bitter arguments. The Jan. 13 election is taking place as China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, steps up military and political pressure to force the island to accept its sovereignty claims. The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and much smaller Taiwan People's Party (TPP), both campaigning to forge better ties with China, had previously agreed to work together against the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) but had made no progress on plans for a united presidential ticket.
Taiwan is set to vote on Jan. 13 in presidential and parliamentary elections, held once every four years. Here is a list of the candidates standing for president and their positions on relations with China: LAI CHING-TE Lai, also known by his English name William, is running for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Currently Taiwan's vice president, he is also the DPP's chairman, and has consistently led opinion polls.