William Lai of the Democratic Progressive Party, who defends democracy, says he has angered China in the past with comments about independence.
The Chinese government has warned Taiwanese voters to make the “right choice” two days before a presidential election on the self-governed island.
The Chinese side said a victory for ruling party candidate William Lai would pose a risk to relations.
He also criticized “brazen chatter” by the United States after Washington warned Beijing not to escalate tensions ahead of Saturday’s vote.
Who wins the polls could move the island closer or further away from Beijing.
Taiwan has become an important flashpoint in the struggle between China and the United States for supremacy in Asia.
The China Taiwan Affairs Office said Lai would further promote separatist activities if elected.
”[He] “It will continue on its evil path of provoking “independence,” pushing Taiwan further and further away from peace and prosperity, and closer and closer to war and decline,” the statement said.
Lai of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) called on voters to “choose the right path” to maintain Taiwan’s sovereignty. Mr. Lai’s main opponent, Hou Yuxi of the Kuomintang Party, calls Mr. Lai at risk for relations with China.
Democratic Progressive Party supporters at Thursday’s Taipei rally – most Taiwanese want to maintain status quo
Although many Taiwanese consider themselves part of a separate nation, most support the status quo, with Taiwan not declaring independence from or reunifying with China.
Although the island is considered a separate island from the mainland, the Chinese government says it is a breakaway province that will eventually become part of the country, and the possibility of using force to achieve this. has not been excluded.
Mr. Lai was leading by a narrow margin in the presidential election until voting was suspended on January 2nd. Parliamentary elections are also being held.
China’s message to voters told the US to stop commenting on the election.
Beijing’s Foreign Ministry slammed the US government after the US announced it would send an unofficial delegation to Taiwan after the vote.
The U.S. government “must refrain from interfering in elections…to avoid causing serious damage to U.S.-China relations,” the spokesperson said.
China “expresses its firm opposition to the US side’s brazen chatter regarding elections in the Taiwan region.”
The Chinese government said voters in Taiwan were being forced to choose between peace and war in the election.
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu on Thursday criticized China’s “repeated interference” in Saturday’s vote.
“Frankly, the Chinese government should stop interfering in other countries’ elections and hold its own elections,” Wu posted on social platform X, formerly known as Twitter.