and parliamentary elections.

The results will## be as closely watched in Beijing and# Washington as th China considers Taiwan a breakaway republic,## and President Xi Jinping often speaks# of reunification wit Nick Schifrin looks at the candidates# and the stakes for tomorrow's vote.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Taiwan's election is cacophonous,## colorful and a little chaotic.

It's also# critical to the future of the region.

The leading candidate is Lai Ching-te, known as# William Lai, the current vice President Trump the## Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP.

He vows to# continue Taiwan's current de facto independence## and uses more moderate language about Taiwan's# relationship with mainland China than he used to.

WILLIAM LAI, Taiwanese Presidential Candidate:# I will maintain the status quo and continue## to bring society together.

Our door will# always be open to engagements with Beijing.

NICK SCHIFRIN: But the People's Republic of China,## or PRC, appears to be keeping de liver Beijing's election warning.

There will# be more tension, more satellite launches... MAN: It's not the moon.

NICK SCHIFRIN: ... more balloons that flew over the U.S. last# year if you choose William Wang Wenbin is the Foreign Ministry spokesman.

WANG WENBIN, Chinese Foreign Ministry# Spokesman (through translator): Lai Ching-te## claims stu for Taiwan independence.

He is a# tr SHELLEY RIGGER, Davidson College: Sometimes,# people describe him as a pro-independence leader,## but that's not really the position# he's taking in this election.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Shelley Rigger is, the# faculty dean and professor of East Asian## studies at Davidson college.

She spoke# to us from a campaign office in SH ELLEY RIGGER: His mandate, if he wins, is# to maintain the current status quo across## the Taiwan Strait, which is that Taiwan# is a self-governing democratic entity## that hasn't fully separated itself# from its history as a Chinese place.

NICK SCHIFRIN: The main opposition candidate,# Hou Yu-ih, is from the Kuomintang party,## or KMT, historically less antagonistic# toward Beijing than the ruling DPP.

SHELLEY RIGGER: For the DPP, the# path to preserving the status## quo is to remain close to the U.S.# For the KMT candidate, Hou Yu-ih,## Taiwan needs to engage with Beijing more actively# in order to preserve its security and autonomy.

NICK SCHIFRIN: The election also features# for the first time a third-party candidate,## former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je,# popular among younger voters.

SHELLEY RIGGER: He's not that different on the# major policy areas.

His position on cross-strait## relations is a little bit hard to discern.

But# I think his appeal is that he's a new face.

The PRC doesn't like any of these candidates,# but they dislike Lai Ching-te the most.

NICK SCHIFRIN: That's led to what Taiwan calls# Beijing's unprecedented election interference,## including Lai deepfakes -- that's the real Lai on# the left, manipulated Lai on the right -- and what## the U.S. and Taiwan call disinformation about# labs with dangerous viruses and bioweapons.

Independent researchers have also# found a campaign of fake online## accounts disparaging Lai and promoting the# KMT.

Taipei accuses Beijing of co-opting local officials and# increasing economic pressure.

WILLIAM LAI: China has intervened in# every major Taiwanese election, but,## this time, it is the most severe.

It can be# said that they are leaving no ANDERSON COOPER, CNN Host: So are# you saying that the United States## would come to Taiwan's defense if China JOE BIDEN, President of the United States:# Yes.

Yes, we have a NICK SCHIFRIN: Looming behin relations is Washington's# relationship w The U.S. has expanded its military presence in the# Pacific, especially in Japan and to bases closer to Taiwan.

And the# U.S. has worked to improve Taiwan's## military.

But the administration# says its policy has not changed,## including that Taiwan should# not declare independence.

JOE BIDEN: We maintain the agreement# that there is a One China policy.

SHELLEY RIGGER: The PRC is really always worried# about somehow losing Taiwan.

And th they worry about the most, honestly, is that the# U.S. will encourage Taiwan or somehow give Taiwan## a blank check to bust a move and do something# that will force the PRC to respond militarily.

NICK SCHIFRIN: On New Year's Day, Chinese# Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping## reiterated his promise that Taiwan and# Beijing will one day fly the same f XI JINPING, Chinese President (through# translator): The reunification of## China is a histori NICK SCHIFRIN: Of course, all politics are local.## Voters have economic concerns and# ar But Beijing is on their mind, and# young Taiwanese are increasingly## proud to identify them themselves as from# Taiwan, not China, with Taiwanese food WOMAN: Just to cook it all the way.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Taiwanese music, including# by bands banned in mainland Chin and perhaps most of all, Taiwanese democracy.

SHELLEY RIGGER: They are going# to show with their votes their## determination to sustain a democratic# system and to preserve their freedom.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Democracy here is only 35# years old, but, tomorrow, the people of## Taiwan will choose their next leader, something# the people of mainland China Fo r the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Nick Schifrin.