As Thanksgiving feasts were prepared across the United States, Taiwanese Americans found themselves captivated by the unfolding "soap opera" of Taiwan's presidential election. The intense passions that divide political factions in Taiwan have also spilled over into the Taiwanese American community, leading to heated discussions and even conflicts within families and workplaces.

On that eventful day in Taiwan, as Jean Tsao prepared her Thanksgiving meal, she was bombarded with messages from fellow Taiwanese Americans who were upset about the collapse of attempts to create a joint ticket among opposition parties. Some even expressed a desire to travel to Taiwan to participate in the forthcoming election on January 13.

Cross-strait relations between Taiwan and China have become increasingly tense, with China viewing Taiwan as its own territory and vowing to take it by force if necessary. This has added to the significance of the upcoming election, as the next president's approach to these relations could determine the fragile balance between peace and the threat of war. There are concerns that mishandling the situation could also lead to an erosion of Taiwan's hard-fought democracy.

Jean Tsao, the director of the U.S. southwest branch of the Kuomintang (KMT), a party with a more friendlier stance towards China, sees the KMT as a bridge of peace. She feels that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) denies Taiwan's Chinese roots and undermines the country's culture, accumulated over 5,000 years.

The presidential election has been a constant source of drama, attracting widespread attention, with even globally renowned pop star Taylor Swift becoming a topic of discussion. In November, the opposition candidates engaged in heated exchanges during a news conference, resulting in the dissolution of the unified ticket. Ultimately, Foxconn founder Terry Gou dropped out of the race, while the DPP's incumbent president, Tsai Ing-wen, is set to conclude her term.

As the election draws nearer, Taiwanese Americans in Southern California remain fixated on the developments, closely following news clips and talk shows on YouTube and discussing politics with friends on the Line app. Thousands of Taiwanese Americans travel to rallies and cast their ballots in an effort to shape the island's relationship with China.

With the goal of securing Taiwan's autonomy and preventing Chinese encroachment, Taiwanese American communities have rallied together in support of their preferred candidates. Tony Chen, president of the Laguna Woods Taiwanese Club, joins his friends on weekly hikes where they discuss the election and share a mutual concern for their homeland.

To demonstrate their support, Lai Ching-te's supporters organized a gathering at the Taiwan Center in Rosemead, waving flags and chanting slogans in Mandarin. They urged Taiwanese Americans, who retained their Taiwanese citizenship, to return home to vote, as overseas residents can only cast their votes in Taiwan.

The upcoming election has garnered significant attention not only from older generations but also from the younger demographic. MimiQ Soong, the reigning Miss Taiwanese American and a student at UCLA, passionately campaigned for Lai Ching-te, performing a dance routine to show her support. Soong expressed the importance of protecting Taiwan's democracy and the need for a leader who will safeguard its values.

As the excitement surrounding Taiwan's presidential election continues to build, Taiwanese Americans in the United States remain fully engaged, demonstrating their unwavering support for their preferred candidates and their determination to ensure the preservation of Taiwan's autonomy.

(Note: The article is based on the given information, and any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of the AI assistant.)