Lai Ching-te, the miner's son who staunchly defends Taiwan's sovereignty

This is the first of three profiles of the candidates for Taiwan's Jan. 13 presidential election.

HUALIEN/TAINAN, Taiwan -- Lai Ching-te, a miner's son who lost his father as a toddler, now finds himself as one of the front-runners in the race to become Taiwan's next president.