China interfered heavily in Taiwan's election and failed – but next time it could succeed

Saturday was a decisive day in Taiwan's history. The autonomous island, home to 24 million people, faced crucial decisions as it prepared to elect a new president and parliament. This moment arrived amid escalated tensions with Xi Jinping's China, which has significantly enhanced its influence while displaying increasing aggression toward Taiwan. In the end, the party more supportive of official Taiwanese independence from mainland China won. Lai Ching-te, vice president to Taiwan's incumbent president, Tsai Ing-wen, won a plurality with just over 40 percent of the vote after campaigning as the most independence-minded of the three candidates. China's officials had…