Rupert Wingfield-Hayes
in Taipei

There is a concerned citizen here at one of the polling stations - a district elementary school - and he is critical of the way the counting is happening.

He was shouting at the officials, saying that the regulations insist that the ballot boxes must be sealed as soon as polling closes - but they had not sealed the ballot boxes. "Why do you not know what you are doing?" he asked them.

They then quickly sealed the ballot boxes. People really watch this very closely here - there are people just watching to check everything is done the way it should be.

And if it's not, they immediately say so.

The counting of votes in Taiwan's election is now under way, just minutes after the polls officially closed.

From gyms and schools to churches and temples, the votes are being counted at polling stations all across the island.

Rupert Wingfield-Hayes
in Taipei

The polls have closed. One man made it inside in the last 30 seconds but another elderly man missed it by 30 seconds. So that was a disappointment.

There have been people trickling in here in the first half hour, compared to this morning.

They are taking apart the polling booths and re-arranging the tables. And then they are going to open the ballot boxes and begin the count.

It's just past 16:00 in Taiwan, and the polls have now officially closed.

Counting of votes is expected to begin soon, as the world awaits the outcome of one of the most significant elections in the world.

Shaimaa Khalil
in Taipei

We are down with minutes to go before voting ends.

I saw a woman literally run into the polling station I am at to cast her ballot, and a couple of men as well.

There's a small wave of last minute voters.

Shaimaa Khalil
BBC News, Taipei

Image source, BBC News

So many places here have been turned into polling stations - gyms, schools and churches.

But this is the first time I have seen a temple being used as a polling station. I’m told this happens at every election in Taiwan.

This is Hsin Fu, a Taoist temple in a western district of Taipei.

There's been a steady flow of voters here, with less than half an hour to go before polls close.

Image source, EPA

Taiwan's foreign ministry has called it an "immense joy" to see Taiwanese people go to the polls.

"Witnessing fellow citizens freely exercise their democratic right fills our hearts with immense joy. Our people are helping shape the future of our country, & we couldn’t be prouder!" it said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The crucial vote will close in less than 30 minutes.

Rupert Wingfield-Hayes
in Taipei

Image source, Getty Images

People in Taiwan are really enthusiastic about voting.

You can see it from the fact that so many older people began queuing up from early this morning outside voting stations.

It’s also a family affair. We saw many three and even four-generation families coming to vote together – bringing small children with them, and showing them how they vote and telling them how important this is for Taiwan.

It is something people here take seriously and are proud of.

It’s also important to remember how young Taiwan’s democracy is.

This is only the eighth time people here have voted directly for their president and vice-president.

Many older people can still remember the era of military rule which ended in 1987. Election day is also a holiday here and the weather is perfect with blue skies and 22C.

That should mean a high turnout, but also people want to get their voting done early, so they can get out to the hills or take the kids to the zoo and enjoy the day off.

The Chinese ambassador to Australia has warned the country against "miscalculations" in its ties with Taiwan’s next leader.

Xiao Qian told The Australian, external in an exclusive interview that Australia would be “pushed over the edge of an abyss” if it tied itself to William Lai of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.

Mr Lai, who is currently Taiwan's vice-president, has been labelled a separatist by Beijing.

Mr Xiao claimed the DPP has “chang(ed) the status quo across the Straits” by colluding with “external forces in successive provocative actions”.

“If Australia is tied to the chariot of Taiwan separatist forces, the Australian people would be pushed over the edge of an abyss,” he added.

Shaimaa Khalil
BBC News, Taipei

Image source, Getty Images

One thing I’ve noticed in the rallies I’ve been to and also in the polling stations, is the large number of children. Families with their little ones either waving flags or walking around polling stations.

A couple of mothers told me they wanted their children to soak up the atmosphere.

I met Lulu and her son Elvis at one of the rallies. “He’s about to start his winter break but I wanted him to come here and experience this," she said.

Lulu told me that she has friends in Hong Kong who have deleted their WhatsApp messages now for fear of consequences. "I want him to appreciate that freedom we have to say what we want."

I asked Elvis what he was looking forward to during his winter break. “PlayStation,” he replied.

Lok Lee
BBC Chinese, Taipei

Chang Mei Hsueh came to a polling station in southern Taipei with her daughter before the polls opened.

She says she votes in every election because it concerns the development of Taiwan. This time however, she is frustrated with traditional parties and is looking for a breath of fresh air.

Image source, BBC Chinese

Taiwan's defence ministry says it detected eight military aircraft, one of which crossed into Taiwan’s southwestern air defence identification zone, as of 06:00 local time (00:00 GMT) this morning.

Six Chinese navy vessels were also seen around the island, the ministry said in a statement, external.

“Armed forces have monitored the situation and tasked CAP (combat air patrol) aircraft, navy vessels and land-based missile systems to respond to these activities,” it said.

China has been increasing military pressure on Taiwan in the months leading up to today's polls.

Lok Lee
BBC Chinese, Taipei

Timothy Shen wanted to book high-speed train tickets on Friday but they all were sold out – so he could only travel to his hometown on voting day itself. The tech worker was not very enthusiastic about the election as the public “knows very limited information” about politics - so he says he will just vote for the candidate his parents like.

However, he adds that he recognises the relative freedom Taiwanese people enjoy - as compared to those across the strait.

Image source, BBC Chinese

Yvette Tan
Live editor

It's just past 14:30 in Taiwan and also in Singapore - where we've just taken over the live page from our colleagues in Taipei.

If you're joining us now, here's what you need to know:

• Polling in Taiwan has entered its final hours - as people have slightly less than two hours left to cast their vote
• The election is believed to be a close race between the ruling party candidate William Lai who Beijing has described as a "troublemaker", and the main opposition candidate Hou Yu-ih who is seen as standing for warmer ties with the mainland
• But for the first time ever, both main parties are also facing a realistic challenge from a third party - which is popular amongst youth
• Many Taiwanese voters, however, say they are more concerned about the economy than they are about China
• Results are expected to come out later on Saturday - in a vote that will be closely watched around the world, particularly by the US which is Taiwan's closest and most poweful ally

Stay with us as we bring you the latest lines

People around the island are casting their ballot in a presidential election that will have major implications for its relationship with China.

Here's a quick primer on the source of the rift.

The election is believed to be a close race between a candidate Beijing has described as a "troublemaker", and another that is seen as standing for warmer ties with the mainland.

At the heart of the issue is China's claim over self-governed Taiwan.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed to bring Taiwan under its rule, and has set 2049 as a target date for "achieving the Chinese dream" - though many Taiwanese consider themselves to be part of a separate nation.

But what is for certain is no matter who walks away the winner, it will have an indelible impact on the delicate relationship between China and Taiwan.

Read more on China-Taiwan tensions here.

Shaimaa Khalil
in Taipei

I’m at a high school in the heart of Taipei that has been turned into a polling station. People are making their way in, many families with small children.

Some look rather sleepy and others are excited.

China, which claims Taiwan as its own, and the US, Taipei's most powerful ally, are watching closely - Taiwan is in the middle of a battle for influence in this region between Beijing and Washington.

I meet Wendy and her daughter Amanda, an eager first-time voter.

Smiling, Wendy tells me she wants to see a “change in the relationship with mainland China - a peaceful way.”

Is she worried about Beijing’s reaction? China has been conducting military drills, and sending its ships and aircarft into Taiwanese territory increasingly in the past year.

"No," laughs Wendy. "We're used to it."

Lok Lee
BBC Chinese, Taipei

Lingo Wu, who cast her ballot in the Banqiao Elementary School with her friends, says the “bad economy” has weighed on her mind.

She says she has not been affected by the recent tensions between China and Taiwan - Beijing claims the island as its territory and in the past year has ramped up military pressure with drills. But she believes cooperation is the way to go.

“We want a win-win situation. We all want to make money.”

Rupert Wingfield-Hayes
in Taipei

Yes, for a couple of reasons.

The DPP is hoping for an unprecedented third consecutive term. No party has achieved that.

For the first time ever both the main parties are facing a realistic challenge from a third party - the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), whose support is built on widespread discontent with both older parties, the opposition KMT and the ruling DPP.

Youth particularly feel like the DPP and KMT spend all their energy arguing about relations with China - which claims the self-governed island as its territory - and ignore the real need for cheaper housing and better wages.

Also, for the first time ever all the candidates are Taiwanese, that is none of them are from the so-called “mainlander” families who came from China in 1949. Even the KMT, which is dominated by the clout of such families, has put forward a candidate whose family background is not that - and who is very different from any of his predecessors.

Image source, Reuters

Some 1.02m first-time voters, aged 20 to 23, will vote today, according to media reports citing Taiwan’s Central Election Committee.

While they are worried about China ratcheting up pressure on Taiwan, the high cost of living, low wages and affordable housing are also a huge concern for them.

This partly explains the appeal of Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan’s People’s Party among younger voters.

Known affectionately as KP, Ko drew them by focusing on day-to-day issues such as housing.

Taiwanese youth "cannot find good jobs, cannot afford to buy houses, do not dare to get married and do not want to have kids," Ko had earlier said.

"My responsibility is to give hope to the young people. Only when the young people have hope does our country have hope.”

But Ko has since run into critcism and had fallen back in the polls following allegations of sexist remarks and a botched attempt at running on a joint ticket with another opposition candidate.

Tessa Wong
in Taipei

At the Banqiao district in New Taipei City, civil servant Ms Yang says cross-strait issues are foremost in her mind.

Is she concerned about how Beijing would react to the election results? No, she replies dismissively. “Let’s see if they dare to attack. Anyway I heard their weapons are pretty bad these days.”

“We’ve heard their warnings and threats since we were young, but they still haven’t tried to unify us.”

What worries her more is a return to the days when Taiwan was closer to China, she adds. “I’m scared we go back to that era.”