Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, seeking a second four-year term, seems to be ahead in the polls with around 56 percent of over six million votes counted so far
An election official shows a ballot with vote for Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen as votes are counted at a polling station in Taipei, Taiwan January 11, 2020.
Voters chose Tsai's tough stance against China over Han's arguments for friendlier ties with Beijing, which considers self-governing Taiwan a renegade province to be brought under its control, by force if necessary. Tsai, who was seeking a second four-year term, had pitched herself as a defender of Taiwan's liberal values against the increasingly authoritarian shadow cast by Beijing under President Xi Jinping.
Thousands of supporters began gathering Saturday night for election count rallies but the atmosphere at Han's event in Kaohsiung was markedly more subdued, AFP reporters said.A Tsai victory would infuriate Beijing, which has made no secret of wanting to see her turfed out. Taiwan has long been a potential flashpoint between China and the United States, which remains the island's main military ally.The ruling Democratic Progressive Party leans towards independence, and Tsai rejects Beijing's view that Taiwan is part of "one China".
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