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The independent DPP party, in power since 2016, is expected to win its third mandate. William Lai Ching-te is in the lead with over 42% of the vote, a clear victory, ahead of Hou Yu-ih, the Kuomintang candidate, who also stands bowed and admits defeat. The victory is also the victory of MP Hsiao Bi-khim, both ardent supporters of the island's independence, which China instead claims as part of its sovereign territory.
Feeling victory in his pocket and with more than an hour before the end of counting, Lai rushed to the party headquarters, where a crowd of tens of thousands of supporters were already greeting him in a festive atmosphere. The Democratic Progressive Party candidate was in the lead with around 65% of the vote with over 40% of the valid vote, behind his rivals Hou Yu-ih (Kmt) and Ko Wen-je (TPP) with 33.4% each and 26.5%, based on unofficial data from local media. There is confidence that the victory is always close, as the official data released by the Central Election Commission shows around half of the 17,795 seats counted: Lai with 41.9%, Hou with 33.15% and Ko with 24.95%. 19.3 million voters were called to vote at more than 18,000 polling stations in elections that could redefine relations between Taipei and Beijing. According to initial information, voter turnout should have seen a record turnout of at least over 70%.
Taiwan is going to the election, here are the main candidates
Chinese military maneuvers
China has now sent eight jets and six military ships around the island, Taiwan's Defense Ministry reported. Two Chinese spy balloons were also sent across the Taiwan Strait, he added. China also blocked the hashtag “Taiwan elections” on the social media platform Weibo. Economic Times writes it. The block was placed after the hashtag became one of the most trending following the opening of polls on the island.