China calls Taiwan poll frontrunner a 'severe danger' days from crucial vote

China warned Taiwan’s voters on January 11 to make the correct choice in the island’s weekend elections, describing the presidential frontrunner as a “severe danger” who would threaten peace by following the “evil path” of independence.

China warned Taiwan's voters on January 11 to make the correct choice in the island's weekend elections, describing the presidential frontrunner as a "severe danger" who would threaten peace by following the "evil path" of independence.

Democratic Taiwan is two days from a pivotal election that is being watched from Beijing to Washington because the next President will determine the island's future relations with an increasingly assertive China in a flashpoint region.

China views Taiwan as a renegade province and has never renounced the use of force to take it one day.

Vice President Lai Ching-te, the frontrunner candidate for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), has portrayed himself as a defender of Taiwan's democracy but has drawn ire from China in the past over comments about independence — a red line for Beijing.

Also Read: Taiwan voters face flood of pro-China disinformation

China's Taiwan Affairs Office said in a statement on January 11 that if Mr. Lai "comes to power, he will further push for 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities (and create) turbulence in the Taiwan Strait".

"(He) would continue to follow the evil path of provoking 'independence' and... take Taiwan ever further away from peace and prosperity, and ever closer to war and decline," it said.