What's at stake in Taiwan's elections? China says it could be a choice between peace and war

Taiwan is holding a presidential election on Saturday that neighboring China has warned could mean the difference between peace and war on the island, which Beijing claims as its territory even though Taiwan has governed itself for nearly three-quarters of a century.

The election is believed to be a close race between the candidate of the incumbent party that Beijing has described as independence-minded and the candidate of the main opposition party, which is seen as standing for warmer ties with the mainland.

Voters also will be choosing members of Taiwan's legislature following a campaign season that has focused largely on bread-and-butter domestic issue s like inflation in housing costs and the island republic's sluggish economy.

WHO'S RUNNING?