Taipei, 13 January 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Polling stations opened on Saturday morning in the East Asian island state of Taiwan to vote for a new president and a new parliament.

Around 19.5 million eligible voters were set to cast their votes from 8 am (0000 GMT). The election campaign was dominated by the tensions between China and Taiwan. Whoever wins the election will also decide how relations with China develop.

The Chinese leadership regards Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which is in favour of Taiwanese independence, as separatist, even if it has no intention of officially declaring independence.

President Tsai Ing-Wen cast her ballot just after polls opened.

"Citizens of a democratic country can decide the future of their country with ballots in their hands," he said. "I would like to appeal here to come out and vote as soon as possible. Remember, this is the right and obligation of citizens," he added.

Tsai Ing-wen is not allowed to run again after two terms in office. William Lai is running for the DPP instead. The rivals from the conservative Kuomintang Party and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) want to re-establish more contact with China through business, culture or tourism, but on the condition that Taiwan's democracy is preserved.

TPP’s presidential candidate Ko Wen-je also cast his ballot in Taipei.

"Finish what you need to do every day. Then you plan the next stage," Ko told reporters, expecting that the turnout should be good thanks to the good weather.

A 66 year-old voter who grew up in Taipei City, told dpa outside a polling station that she voted for the ruling party as she'd seen some well-designed policies in the past years. "In addition, they used more positive words during the campaign, which encouraged people a lot," she said.

A 28 year-old who returned from Australia to cast his ballot in Taipei, said he did it as he believes that people should exercise their citizens' rights.

The Communist Party in Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade province and wants reunification, if necessary by military force. Beijing has been demonstrating its military might in the Taiwan Strait, the strait between the two states, for some time now with fighter jets entering Taiwan's air defence zone on an almost daily basis.

Beijing broke off contact with the current government under President Tsai in 2016. Although Taiwan has not officially declared its independence, it has had an independent, democratically elected government for decades.

People also have until 4 pm (local time) to elect a new parliament, in which the DPP previously had an absolute majority. The election results are expected late Saturday evening.

Photo: EPA