The arms race across the Taiwan Strait and Chinese military pressure against the island Beijing claims as its ¡°sacred¡± territory is unlikely to end no matter who wins Taiwan¡¯s closely watched elections.

China has cast the Jan. 13 presidential and parliamentary elections as a choice between war and peace, warning that an attempt to push for Taiwan¡¯s formal independence means conflict.

China has focused its anger in the run-up to the vote on Lai Ching-te, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party¡¯s (DPP) presidential candidate, rebuffing his calls for talks as it views him as a separatist.