Taiwan elects its leaders, so it is already independent: presidential frontrunner.

According to the frontrunner to become the island’s next president in an interview with Japanese media, Taiwan has demonstrated that it is already independent and sovereign by choosing its president and does not require a separate declaration of independence.

As Taiwan is considered “sacred” Chinese territory, China has never renounced using force to annex it. In 2005, legislation was issued that gave Beijing the legal justification for taking military action against Taiwan if it signaled that it was ready to secede.

William Lai, the vice president, is unpopular in China due to remarks he made about the island’s independence. Lai is now leading in surveys ahead of the January presidential elections. According to Lai, neither the current situation nor Taiwan’s name—which is officially the Republic of China—should be altered.

Lai was questioned about his stance on Taiwan’s independence in an interview with Japanese media, the transcript of which his campaign team made available on Friday.

According to Lai, Taiwan frequently elects officials at all levels of the government, all the way up to the president.

Taiwan is already sovereign and independent in reality. How is it possible for there to be a presidential election if it is not sovereign and independent? Therefore, he said there is no requirement to declare Taiwan’s independence again.

My responsibility is to advance democracy, peace, and prosperity while defending Taiwan’s sovereignty.

The Taiwan Affairs Office of China has frequently criticized Lai as a separatist but did not respond to requests for comment. This week, China celebrates a week-long holiday.

Lai has been criticized for promoting an independence agenda and upsetting China by the Kuomintang, Taiwan’s primary opposition party, which has always supported strong relations with China.

According to Lai, Taiwanese voters were certain that this election was “absolutely not” about choosing between war and peace.

He said, “There is a choice between democracy and authoritarianism.

Tsai Ing-wen, the president of Taiwan, has served two terms in office and cannot run again.

She and Lai both rejected Chinese requests to embrace Beijing’s stance that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to “one China” and stated that only the people of Taiwan can decide their destiny.

Mao Zedong’s communists overthrew the Republic of China government, which had fled to Taiwan in 1949, and founded the People’s Republic of China.