China's military says will 'crush' any Taiwan 'independence' efforts

BEIJING, Jan 12 (AFP): China's military on Friday vowed to "crush" any efforts to promote Taiwan's independence, a day before a crucial election on the self-ruled island which Beijing claims is part of its territory.
"The Chinese People's Liberation Army maintains high vigilance at all times and will take all necessary measures to firmly crush 'Taiwan independence' attempts of all forms," defence ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said in a statement.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of supporters flocked to noisy, colourful rallies for Taiwan's three main political parties on Friday, as the candidates made a last push for votes in an election that China has warned could take the island closer to war.
Taiwan's bustling democracy of 23 million people is separated by a narrow 180-kilometre (110-mile) strait from communist-ruled China, which claims the island as part of its territory.
Saturday's election is being closely watched around the world as the winner will lead the strategically important island-a major producer of vital semiconductors-as it manages ties with an increasingly assertive China.
Vice President Lai Ching-te, the front-runner candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), paints the election as a choice between "democracy and autocracy"-criticising his main opponent Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomintang (KMT) for being too "pro-China".
Waving flags and carrying posters, their supporters converged in two stadiums located right next to each other in New Taipei City.
"We want peace, not war," blared the KMT supporters' signs, while DPP loyalists carried the party's signature green flags saying: "Choose the right people, walk the right path".
In Taipei, supporters of third-party candidate Ko Wen-je gathered outside the Presidential Office on the sprawling Ketagalan Boulevard, shouting that "Taiwan's choice is Ko Wen-je".
The leader of the small Taiwan People's Party (TPP), Ko has criticised his opponents for being caught up in ideological deadlock, attracting voters who say they are sick of talking about China.
Beijing in recent years has maintained a near-daily military presence around Taiwan, sending in warplanes and ships to its surroundings in "grey zone" harassment actions which fall short of outright provocation.
The weeks leading up to Saturday's vote have also seen a flurry of Chinese balloons crossing the Taiwan Strait's sensitive median line, which Taipei authorities have slammed as a form of interference in the crucial poll.
On Friday, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence announced a record-high of five balloons around Taiwan the day before, with one moving directly over the island's southern tip.