President Joe Biden plans to send a delegation to Taiwan after the election, and expects no let-up in rising defense and trade cooperation with the self-governing democracy claimed by Beijing. China has derided election front-runner Lai Ching-te. Taiwan's leading candidates largely agree on the need to build robust defenses and have stepped back from options backed by previous leaders, whether flirting with outright independence or with economic integration with the mainland. Former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je is promoting a third way.