Voters in Taiwan go to the polls on Saturday to choose their next president. The candidates have been making their final pitch to voters, focusing on Taiwan's future relationship with China.

Lai Ching-te, Taiwan's current vice president, is running for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. He intends to continue its policy of deterring Chinese influence by strengthening ties with the United States and other democracies.

Lai said, "In the face of the threat from China, we have to unite even more in our hearts."

Hou Yu-ih is the candidate for the main opposition Kuomintang party. He accuses the DPP of stoking tensions with China and is pushing for more dialogue with Beijing.

Hou said, "The Taiwan Strait is described as the most tense place in the world, but I will keep the peace."

Ko Wen-je is running for the Taiwan People's Party, which he founded in 2019. He has criticized the two largest parties and is pitching himself as a centrist candidate.

Ko said, "Taiwan doesn't belong just to the DPP or the Kuomintang. The Taiwan People's Party will win the election and take back Taiwan."

The campaign has been overshadowed by Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping has shown a strong desire for unification with Taiwan and says he will not renounce the use of force to achieve this goal.

But Beijing is also hoping to win over people in Taiwan, especially young voters, through economic means.

Last September, China unveiled a plan to make its southeastern province of Fujian a showcase for integrated development with Taiwan. Under the scheme, China will create an environment that encourages Taiwanese firms to do business there.

But as Beijing gives with one hand, it takes away with the other. This month, it suspended preferential tariff treatment for 12 chemicals produced in Taiwan.

The administration of outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen described the move as economic coercion.