Taiwan Election About Choosing Whether to Embrace China, Frontrunner Says

Taiwan Election About Choosing Whether to Embrace China, Frontrunner Says
Taiwan's Vice President Lai Ching-te and running mate Hsiao Bi-Khim pose for a photo after registering for the upcoming presidential election at the Central Election Commission in Taipei, Taiwan, on Nov. 21, 2023. Ann Wang/Reuters
Reuters
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Taiwan’s people have to make a choice at next year’s election about whether the island keeps moving forward on the road to democracy or “walk into the embrace of China,” the frontrunner to be the next president said on Tuesday.

The issue of China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, looms large ahead of the Jan. 13 presidential and parliamentary elections, especially as Beijing has been stepping up its military pressure against the island.