Elections were underway on Saturday, January 13, in Taiwan, with China aggressively framing the democratic exercise as a binary choice between peace and conflict while ramping up pressure on the island. Voters headed to polling stations to select a new president and parliamentary members.Taiwan has charted an admirable democratic trajectory since pioneering direct leadership elections in 1996. This followed decades struggle against authoritarianism and martial law to earn hard-fought liberties.Taiwan elections: Who is the presidential candidate Lai Ching-teThe ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate is current Vice President Lai Ching-te - who China has repeatedly denounced and rebuffed dialogue appeals from. Lai insists hell maintain the cross-Strait peace whilst boosting Taiwans defences.Every vote is valued, as this is Taiwans hard earned democracy, Lai told reporters in Tainan ahead of voting, while encouraging people to cast their ballots.Lai has also expressed his desire to preserving peace across the Taiwan Strait, and also boosting the islands defences.Psychological warfare seen in Chinese balloonsChina has continously been against Lai and repeatedly denounced Lai as a dangerous separatist. The Communist country has also rebuffed calls from Lai for talks.On polling day itself Taiwans defence ministry spotted Chinese balloons crossing the sensitive Taiwan Strait, with one breaching into Taiwanese airspace. Officials blasted such incursions as threatening aviation and attempted coercion of election outcomes.Nobody wants war, remarked businesswoman Jennifer Lu after voting in Taipei with her daughter. Taiwans next leader should think of ways to peacefully get along with China.What are the challenges ahead of Lai Ching-teLai faces two challengers - opposition Kuomintangs Hou Yu-ih who supports increased China engagement, and Ko Wen-je of the new Taiwan Peoples Party prioritising domestic issues like housing costs.While Lai and Hou are on each others extreme, Ko believes in engaging in China but insists that it cannot come at the expense of protecting Taiwans democracy and way of life.There is also a passionate base of supporters of Ko, especially young voters or focusing on bread and butter issues such as the high cost of housing.Parliamentary Polls Also CriticalThe parliamentary elections running concurrently are equally crucial, experts say. If no single party secures a majority, the new presidents legislative agenda could be obstructed - including on security matters as China intensifies intimidation efforts against the island it claims as its territory.Compared to previous elections the result this time is very difficult to predict, said banker Liao Jeng-wen who cast an early vote. Many Taiwanese think we should maintain the status quo.Vote counting will start promptly after polls close at 4pm. The outcome should be announced by evening, barring an extremely tight race.
