There was pride and patriotism in Taipei on the final day of an election campaign that may shake the world.
Before polls opened on Saturday, thousands gathered at the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's final rally, waving flags and chanting songs.
Some jumped up and down with excitement – and one young man holding a pride flag cried openly.
Lai Ching Tee is the DPP candidate and the person most likely to win.
Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Lai Ching Tee. Photo: AP
His party was formed from a protest movement, but now stands squarely behind one key message: stand up China.
Election season is in Taiwan It is always about more than just internal politics, it is about people asking themselves who they are, how they define their identity, and how they feel about their powerful neighbour.
In his speech, Lai referred to previous examples when China fired missiles at the island.
“I gave up my well-paid job and decided to follow in the footsteps of our elders in democracy,” he said.
In fact, it places these entire elections within the framework of a choice between democracy and tyranny.
That message clearly got through to the people we spoke to here, most of whom were clear about their motivations.
“China wants to control Taiwan,” one woman told us. “This election is about freedom, democracy and human rights.”
Choosing between “War and Peace”
Of course, China views the supporters of the Democratic Progressive Party as separatists, and views Taiwan as a breakaway province that will soon be reunited, albeit by force if necessary.
This context weighs heavily on voters.
In fact, cross-Strait relations have deteriorated in recent years, and China has described the vote as a choice between “war and peace.”
Opposition candidate Ho Yu-ae used a similar framing: he wants more dialogue with the mainland.
Taiwan Nationalist Party presidential candidate Hui Yu-er. Photo: AP
His supporters are equally enthusiastic, although their average age is slightly older, and many of them want to talk about peace.
“I feel like the DPP is causing chaos,” one woman told us. “It seems they want the mainland to attack us.”
But Mr. Hu has also been criticized for his lack of a long-term strategy. When I asked him directly whether he thought the status quo could last forever, he dodged the question:
He added, “The current situation under the Progressive Democratic Party is no longer the status quo.”
“The matter has gradually changed. Because of the confrontation between the two sides, we are on the verge of war.”
Three horse race?
Ko Win Jee is very popular among young voters
There is a third force in this vote, a new party, the Trans-Pacific Partnership Party, led by a man named Ko Win Jee.
He was attracting so many young voters with his focus on local issues that hundreds lined the streets to see him.
His party could still hold things up.
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What will change in 2024?
Regarding the Taiwan islands, the threats have come into sharp focus ahead of the elections
Misinformation can be even more devastating
But likely the most disruptive force this time around will be election interference, with major concerns about the amount of disinformation flooding Taiwanese social media.
At a small company called Doublethink Lab, they track videos as they appear, trying to figure out where they come from and how to amplify them.
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The spread of misinformation in Taiwan's elections
Many accuse Lai of things like extramarital affairs. Many of them were generated by artificial intelligence and have clear signs of coming from China.
“Foreign actors have almost unlimited resources and a clear goal to influence our elections. It's a lopsided fight,” Doublethink's CEO tells us.
It is unclear how China will react to the vote, as it has remained relatively calm this week.
Taiwan is one of the most progressive places in Asia, but its politics remain some of the most complex and dangerous.
