Chinese President Xi Jinping has been issued a warning ahead of Taiwan's monumental election, as tensions between the two countries ramp up
Three candidates are set to battle it out on Saturday - Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Kuomintang (KMT) candidate Hou Yu-ih and Ko Wen-je from the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP).
Frontrunner Lai Ching-te is a keen supporter of Taiwan's sovereign identity, amid territorial claims by China.
His running mate, Hsiao Bi-khim, has been sanctioned twice previously by China for being a "stubborn secessionist".
Hou Yu-ih (L) is one of the candidates running for Presidency this weekend
Reuters
However, Hou Yu-ih champions "closer relations" between Taiwan and China, calling for more "peaceful open dialogue".
Third candidate Ko has claimed a "middle path" on the issue.
Appearing on GB News, Admiral Mark Montgomery says the DPP and KMT are "moving more towards each other" with their stance on China, but historically the DPP has been most strongly in favour of independence.
He believes not adopting a firmer stance on the matter could open the door to Xi Jinping as the Chinese President could sniff out an "opportunity".
He added that DPP candidate Lai "would no longer say the word independence".
When asked by host Jacob Rees-Mogg if relations with China will be made "a little bit easier" if the DPP win, Admiral Montgomery said: "They certainly have no intention on reunification.
"They want to create the condition so that it can never be forced on them. But the DPP has moved a little bit that way.
"The KMT has also moved away from being too close and too concerned about infuriating China. They recognise that the youth of Taiwan do not see themselves as as Chinese and therefore don't vote for anyone."
He claimed that it would make the KMT party look like they are "aligning more with a reconciliation".
Admiral Mark Montgomery says Taiwan need to need to make their relationship with the US clear
GB News
Admiral Montgomery added that the Taiwan need to make their relations with the US clearer, in order to send a clear message to China.
Admiral Montgomery explained: "The policies of the DPP might be softened by the KMT, and of course to people like me that's risk because if you do not make these kind of investments in your defence, if you do not make clear you know your relationship with the United States and your desire for that, you don't send a strong deterrence message to China.
"So I think it's more in the messaging that's important in this election that the DPP winning is a message that Taiwan still feels its future is with the United States, the West and democracy, and no opportunity for being reincorporated into China."