With two weeks to go until Taiwan's presidential election, the three candidates faced off in a televised debate on Saturday, and discussed key issues including Taiwan's relationship with China.

Taiwanese media hosted the event with candidates Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, Hou Yu-ih of the biggest opposition Kuomintang party, and Ko Wen-je of the second-largest opposition Taiwan People's Party.

Lai is leading the polls and expressed the view that China and Taiwan are different. He criticized both of his rivals for supporting what Beijing calls the one-China principle, with Taiwan as part of its territory.

The two opposition candidates responded by blasting Lai for having described himself as a "pragmatic worker for Taiwan independence" in the past.

Hou with the Kuomintang party warned that Lai's assertion endangers Taiwan's security.

Ko with the second-largest opposition party also criticized the leading candidate and raised the issue of how can Taiwan promote its independence, which he says the United States is not supporting.

Lai replied that Taiwan's sovereignty belongs to its 23 million people, not to Beijing. He said that is what he defines as Taiwan independence.

Lai promised to protect Taiwan, develop its economy and make people happy, saying that is what a "pragmatic worker" should do.

The three candidates are set to hold large-scale campaigns across Taiwan to gain support in the lead up to the election.