Twenty-three million Taiwanese will head to the polls this Saturday in a presidential election that would prove decisive on the self-governing island’s relationship with China in the next four years.

At the time of writing, incumbent president President Tsai Ing-wen seemed a shoo-in.

Taiwan’s public opinion is in favour of the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate whose defiant stance towards China has burnished her credentials, particularly in light with the Hong Kong protests which has sparked fear in Taiwan over growing assertiveness of authoritarian Beijing.

The results of a recent media poll in Taiwan shows Tsai with leading with a comfortable margin, garnering 45 percent of votes from respondents to 29 percent for opposition Kuomintang (KMT) candidate Han Kuo-yu. Han’s party favour closer ties with Beijing.

Here’s what you need to know about the contenders in the January 11 polls:

TSAI-ING WEN, TAIWAN PRESIDENT, DPP CANDIDATE

Taiwan's 2020 presidential election candidate, Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen of the DPP attends a campaign rally in Taipei, Taiwan, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

HAN KUO-YU, KMT CANDIDATE

Taiwan's 2020 presidential election candidate Han Kuo-yu of the Nationalist Party (KMT) speaks during a televised policy debate in Taipei, Taiwan, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019.


JAMES SOONG, PFP CANDIDATE


James Soong of the People First Party speaks during a televised policy debate in Taipei, Taiwan, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019. (Pool Photo via AP)