Vote Counting Starts in Key Taiwan Election 

Sudan Events – Sumaya Sayed

Vote counting got under way on Saturday in Taiwan’s presidential election, held under the shadow of threats from China that choosing a leader it disapproves of could set the stage for war on the self-ruled island.

Beijing criticised frontrunner Lai Ching-te, the current vice-president, as a dangerous “separatist” in the days leading up to the poll and, on the eve of the vote, its defence ministry vowed to “crush” any Taiwanese independence attempts.

Communist China claims democratic Taiwan, separated from the mainland by a 180-km (110-mile) strait, as its own and says it will not rule out using force to bring about “unification”, even if conflict does not appear imminent.

Results are expected on Saturday evening, with the outcome watched closely by Beijing and Washington, Taiwan’s main military partner, as the two superpowers tussle for influence in the strategically vital region.

Lai, of the Democratic Progressive party (DPP), pitched himself during a raucous campaign as the defender of Taiwan’s democratic way of life.

“This is Taiwan’s hard-won democracy. We should all cherish our democracy and vote enthusiastically,” Lai told reporters as he voted in a school gymnasium in the southern city of Tainan.

His main opponent, Hou Yu-ih, of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), favours warmer ties with China and accuses the DPP of antagonising Beijing with its stance that Taiwan is “already independent”.

The KMT has said it will boost economic prosperity while maintaining strong relationships with international partners, including the US.