Taiwan’s over 19 million eligible voters are set to participate in a pivotal election on Saturday amidst not only local economic trials but also the looming threats from China towards the self-ruled island.
The election sees three candidates vying for the presidency: William Lai Ching-te, the island's incumbent vice president and representative of the ruling Beijing-skeptical Democratic Progressive Party (DPP); Hou Yu-ih, mayor of New Taipei from the Beijing-favorable Kuomintang (KMT); and Ko Wen-je, the former mayor of Taipei and member of the recently established Taiwan People’s Party (TPP).
While Taiwan is grappling with surging housing costs and stagnant salaries, the electorate must also deal with a more profound dilemma – the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) resolve to assume control over the island, by force if needed.
In the lead-up to the election, military aircraft and balloons have circled the island, and Chinese officials have implored Taiwanese voters to make the "right choice".
Brian Hioe, founding editor of Taiwan-focused New Bloom magazine, remarks that although not the sole issue, "the main topic in Taiwanese presidential elections traditionally revolves around the choice between independence and unification".
Protestors in Taiwan have utilized creative displays to depict the authoritarian nature of China which has endeavored to sway the outcome of the election through military intimidation, diplomatic pressure, misinformation, and fiscal incentives [Ng Han Guan/AP Photo]
Notably, the sentiment of Taiwanese identity has strengthened in recent years amidst one of Asia's most vibrant democracies. As reported by National Chengchi University's Election Study Center, as of June 2023, 62.8 percent of individuals identify purely as Taiwanese while 30.5 percent see themselves as both Taiwanese and Chinese, and a mere 2.5 percent solely as Chinese.
Aurora Chang, a 24-year-old, once uncertain about her identity, eventually embraced her Taiwanese heritage. She explained her decision, “Being Taiwanese was really a conscious choice that I made…Our identity is actively being eradicated by a power with greater international influence than us."
Taiwanese voters aged between 20 and 39 make up more than 30 percent of the electorate. Hioe, also a non-resident fellow at the University of Nottingham’s Taiwan studies programme, points out that concerns over identity are particularly pertinent to the youth in Taiwan, who unlike their counterparts in Asia, face an existential threat to their national identity.
Chen Yi An, a 27-year-old medical worker from Taipei, takes pride in her Taiwanese identity, “Taiwan is the place I grew up…it should not be controversial."
However, not all young Taiwanese share this strong sense of identity. Ting-yi Zheng, a 27-year-old doctoral student in Beijing who has lived in China for seven years, chooses not to return to Taiwan for voting. His concerns lie with Taipei's relationship with Beijing and consequently the island’s economy.
Since Tsai Ing-wen's initial election in 2016, China has increased political, military, and economic strain on Taiwan, though Tsai extended an early offer for dialogue. She cannot contend for a third term [Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP]
Another voter, Liz Li, now 27, recalls learning about Taiwan's independence in school but admits to harboring doubts later on. As she plans to vote, identity issues are not her primary concern. Rather, she dreams of owning a home on the island, though the high prices may force her to work abroad.
Li is looking for new ideas and alternatives to the longstanding political powers DPP and KMT, which is why she plans to support TPP's Ko, attracted by his outsider status and the financial feasibility he represents.
Chiaoning Su, an associate professor at Oakland University in the US, conveyed that Taiwanese identity is shaped by knowing what they are not, delineated by lifestyle, democratic values, and free speech, contrasting with Beijing's authoritarian regime.
For Chang and many others, Taiwan's values on matters like gender equality and rights for the queer community–Taiwan being the first Asian territory to legalize same-sex marriage–bolster their Taiwanese identity.
She intends to cast her vote for Lai, whom Beijing has branded a "separatist". Lai has expressed his desire to preserve Taiwan's current de facto independent status, making him the definitive candidate for those seeking to uphold Taiwanese autonomy.
