China vows to ‘smash independence plots’ as thousands to rally for Taiwan elections

Tens of thousands are expected to gather on Friday for final rallies in Taiwan ahead of crucial presidential and parliamentary polls even as China’s defense ministry issued a warning, stating its intention to “smash any Taiwan independence plots.”

Taiwan, an island neighboring China, has witnessed democratic success since its inaugural direct presidential election in 1996, marking the end of a lengthy struggle against authoritarian rule and martial law.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), advocating for Taiwan’s distinct identity and rejecting China’s territorial claims, aims for a third term with its candidate, Vice President Lai Ching-te.

China, maintaining its stance on the potential use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, portrays the elections as a decisive moment between “peace and war.” The DPP is labeled as dangerous separatists, with China urging Taiwanese to make the “right choice.”

In response, the DPP rejects China’s sovereignty claims, emphasising that only the people of Taiwan can determine their future. Despite repeated calls for talks from Vice President Lai, China has consistently criticised him in the lead-up to Saturday’s election.

Regarding Taiwan’s efforts to upgrade F-16 fighter jets and acquire more from the United States, China’s defense ministry stated on Friday that even with such weapon purchases, the DPP “cannot stop the trend of complete reunification of the motherland.”

“The Chinese People’s Liberation Army remains on high alert at all times and will take all necessary measures to resolutely crush any form of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist plots and firmly defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Reuters quoted ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang as saying.

Lai says he is committed to preserving peace across the Taiwan Strait, but has accused China of seeking to interfere in the vote by spreading disinformation and putting further military and economic pressure on the island which Beijing views as “sacred” Chinese territory.

China looms large

Lai is facing two opponents for the presidency – Hou Yu-ih of Taiwan’s largest opposition party the Kuomintang (KMT) and former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je of the small Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), only founded in 2019.

No matter who wins, China looms in the background.

Taiwan’s government believes China is likely to attempt to put pressure on its incoming president after the island votes, including staging military manoeuvres near the island this spring, two senior government officials said.

Hou wants to re-start engagement with China, beginning with people-to-people exchanges, and has, like China, accused Lai of supporting Taiwan’s formal independence. Lai says Hou is pro-Beijing, which Hou rejects.

The KMT and TPP say Taiwan needs a change of government after eight years of DPP rule, though an effort by the two parties late last year to form a joint ticket to take on the DPP collapsed in acrimony.

The DPP and KMT will both hold their final rallies Friday evening in Taipei’s neighbouring New Taipei, while the TPP has the prime spot in central Taipei near the presidential office. Tens of thousands are expected to attend each event.

The DPP and KMT alike face a formidable challenge from the TPP, seeking to break the mould of two-party politics.

“This political status quo has led to an increasing wave of people hoping for reform. It has also pushed the TPP, which represents Taiwan’s third force, on to the stage of Taiwan’s politics,” Reuters quoted TPP’s Ko as saying to foreign reporters in Taipei on Friday.

Ko has won a passionate support base, especially among young voters, for focusing on bread and butter issues like the high cost of housing. He also wants to re-engage China, but insists that cannot come at the expense of protecting Taiwan’s democracy and way of life.

“We are not afraid” of China, said tech worker Charlie Lee, 61. “We already have a very strong democratic identity and will fight to the end.”

Polls open at 8.00 a.m. (0000 GMT) and close at 4.00 p.m. (0800 GMT), with ballot counting by hand starting almost at once. There is no electronic, absentee, proxy or early voting.

The result should be clear by late evening Saturday when the losers concede and the winner gives a victory speech.

Tsai is constitutionally barred from standing again after two terms in office.

For an in-depth look at the election listen now to a special edition of the Reuters World News podcast.

With inputs from agencies