China and the Kuomintang (KMT), Taiwan’s main opposition party, issued warnings on Thursday, January 11 2024, on the threat to peace that Lai Ching-te, the Presidential Candidate of the governing party, may represent if he wins this weekend’s election.

With geopolitical tensions in the background, Taiwan has scheduled a crucial election on Saturday, January 13, 2024, for both the Presidency and the Legislature, which the global community will closely observe. The Government of Taiwan objects to China’s claims that Taiwan is part of its territory.

China has presented the election as a choice between war and peace, without outright endorsing a candidate or stating which option is best.

According to China and the KMT, Lai, a member of the Democratic Progressive Party, is a risky advocate for the Island’s Official Independence. Lai has made many offers to have discussions with China but has received no response. He asserts that the future of Taiwan lies with its people.

According to a statement from China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, Lai is an “obstinate Taiwan Independence Worker” who will support separatist efforts even more if elected.

“I sincerely hope the majority of Taiwan compatriots recognize the extreme harm of the DPP’s ‘Taiwan Independence’ line and the extreme danger of Lai Ching-te’s triggering of cross-Strait confrontation and conflict, and to make the right choice at the crossroads of cross-Strait relations,” it said.

China was criticized by Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry for “once again blatantly intimidating the Taiwanese people and the international community” and for attempting to influence the election.

China has never abandoned the use of force to bring Taiwan under its authority and has throughout the past four years stepped up military action near the island, frequently deploying airplanes and warships into the Taiwan Strait.

The KMT, which has always favored stronger links with China but disputes any pro-Beijing sentiment has also condemned Lai’s advocacy for independence.

KMT Vice-Presidential candidate Jaw Shaw-kong told foreign media in Taipei’s sister city, New Taipei, on Thursday, January 11, 2024, that if Lai won, tensions would probably start to escalate even before President Tsai Ing-wen takes office on May 20.

As the Taiwan Strait is already so heated, Tsai Ing-wen is more reserved and doesn’t declare her support for Taiwan Independence daily. Do you believe that the cross-strait situation will improve if Lai Ching-te wins?

According to Lai’s campaign staff, Jaw was “spreading fear of war,” parroting Chinese stances and aligning with Chinese objectives.

DPP spokesman Tai Wei-shan stated that “unification” with China is all that Jaw Shaw-kong is considering.

In light of Beijing’s demands for equality and dignity, Lai stated on Tuesday that, should he be elected, he will uphold the status quo in the strait and seek peace via force.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office stated that Taiwan Independence is “incompatible with peace,” citing Lai’s remarks.

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Lai has declared that he is not interested in changing Taiwan’s official name, the Republic of China. After losing a civil war to Mao Zedong’s Communists, who founded the People’s Republic of China, the Republican Government withdrew to the island in 1949.

The DPP has painted the KMT as pro-Beijing, as has its presidential candidate, Hou Yu-ih.

Hou, seated next to Jaw, said he wouldn’t address the question of “unification” with China during his tenure in office if elected, while maintaining the status quo and fostering engagement with China but also criticizing the “one country, two systems” autonomy model Beijing has proposed to Taiwan.

Hou declared, “I firmly uphold Taiwan’s democratic and free system; this is the middle path that Taiwan should take,” promising to put in place strong defenses to deter China from attacking. “When the Taiwan Strait is stable, Taiwan is safe, and the world can be at ease.”