Polls open as Taiwan voters choose next president, weighing China’S threat and island’s stability

By Christopher Bodeen And Simina Mistreanu, The Associated Press on January 12, 2024.

Taiwan's Taiwan People's Party (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je, third right, cheers with his running mate Cynthia Wu, fourth left, during an election campaign in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. Taiwan will hold its presidential election on Jan. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) – Taiwanese are casting their votes Saturday for a new president in an election that could chart the trajectory of its relations with China over the next four years.

At stake is the peace and stability of the 110-mile-wide (177-kilometer-wide) strip of water between the Chinese mainland and the self-governed island claimed by China as its own.

Vice President Lai Ching-te, representing the governing Democratic Progressive Party, known as the DPP, seeks to succeed the outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen and give the independence-leaning party an unprecedented third term. Lai will be voting in his hometown of Tainan.

Hou Yu-ih, the candidate of Beijing-favored Kuomintang Party, also known as the Nationalist Party, will be casting his ballot in New Taipei City.

Alternative candidate Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People’s Party, who has shown popularity among young voters who seek an alternative to the two major parties, will be voting in Taipei.

Voting began at 8 a.m. (0000 GMT) Saturday and was to wrap up eight hours later.