Polls have opened for Taiwan's presidential and legislative elections. Key points of contention include how to deal with China.

Voting began at more than 17,700 polling stations at 8 a.m. on Saturday local time.

The presidential candidates are Lai Ching-te from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, Hou Yu-ih from the biggest opposition Kuomintang party and Ko Wen-je from the second largest opposition Taiwan People's Party.

A major focus is whether the DPP, which pledges to resist pressure from Beijing, will continue in power or whether the opposition parties calling for increased dialogue and exchanges with China will realize a change of government.

The DPP currently accounts for a majority of the seats in Taiwan's unicameral legislature called the Legislative Yuan. But analysts predict it will be difficult in this election for any party to win a majority on its own.

Voting closes at 4 p.m. on Saturday, with ballot counting to start immediately. Preliminary results of the presidential vote are expected later in the day or early Sunday morning.