Pro-Independence Candidate Leads in Taiwan Presidential Election

After 30 minutes of vote counting, preliminary data shows that Lai Ching-te from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan is leading in the island's presidential election. Lai Ching-te is leading with 34.2%, followed by Ko Wen-je, the candidate from the Taiwan People's Party who advocates for dialogue with Beijing and the United States, with 28.9%. The candidate from the Taiwanese opposition party, who calls for normalizing relations with Beijing, is in third place with 28.4%.