– including the United States – does not officially recognize Taiwan as an independent country, they are watching the results.

On New Year's Eve, Chinese leader Xi Jinping said China would "surely be reunified" with Taiwan – reiterating Beijing's aspiration to one day control Taiwan. Caught in the middle of this are the island's people.

NPR's Ailsa Chang and Emily Feng spent some time with one family who don't agree on what it means to be Taiwanese.

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Supporters cheer at an election campaign rally for Taiwan People's Party (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je in Taichung on January 6, 2024. (Photo by I-Hwa CHENG / AFP) (Photo by I-HWA CHENG/AFP via Getty Images) I-HWA CHENG/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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I-HWA CHENG/AFP via Getty Images

Supporters cheer at an election campaign rally for Taiwan People's Party (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je in Taichung on January 6, 2024. (Photo by I-Hwa CHENG / AFP) (Photo by I-HWA CHENG/AFP via Getty Images)

I-HWA CHENG/AFP via Getty Images

This episode was produced by Jonaki Mehta, Mallory Yu and Karen Zamora. It was edited by Patrick Jarenwattananon, Vincent Ni and Courtney Dorning. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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