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TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Ruling-party candidate Lai Ching-te emerged victorious in Taiwan’s presidential election on Saturday, a result that will determine the trajectory of the self-ruled democracy’s contentious relations with China over the next four years. Beijing strongly opposes Lai, the current vice president who abandoned his medical career to pursue politics from the grassroots to the presidency. It's the first time a single party has led Taiwan for three consecutive four-year presidential terms since the first open presidential election in 1996. Its candidate, Hou Yu-ih, also had promised to restart talks with China while bolstering national defense. Evelyn Ni traveled from China especially to get a taste of Taiwan’s election.

Persons: Lai Ching, Lai, Tsai Ing, Hou Yu, Hou, “, I’m, David Chiau, Ko Wen, Ko, Chen Binhua, Beijing wouldn't, ” Chen, Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, Evelyn Ni, Tony Chen, ”, Xi Jinping, Stacy Chen, Gabrielle Reid, Sung Organizations: Democratic, Nationalist, KMT, ih, Taiwan People’s Party, DPP, Cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office, Biden, Associated Press Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Beijing, Japanese, United States, Taipei, Russia, Ukraine, South China

☆ Taiwan made its choice on who will lead it into an uncertain future as China remains hellbent on controlling it, and tough times may lie ahead
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Read previewTaiwan has elected its new president, the Democratic Progressive Party's Lai Ching-te, who is also the current Vice President. While experts still assess that an invasion of Taiwan remains unlikely in the near future, that doesn't diminish concerns about other ways China could squeeze the island. AdvertisementTaiwan's Vice President and presidential candidate for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Lai Ching-te (C) casts his ballot to vote on January 13, 2024, in Tainan, Taiwan. Nevertheless, the win marks the first time a political party in Taiwan has won a presidential election three times in a row. The supporters of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) cheer at an election campaign on January 12, 2024 in Tainan, Taiwan.

Persons: —, Party's Lai Ching, Lai's, Lai, Tsai Ing, Lai Ching, Tsai, Getty Images Lai, Hou, Ko Wen, Amanda Hsiao, Annabelle Chih, Nancy Pelosi, flack, Annice Lyn, He's, Hsiao, Hao, Hou Yu, Beijing's, Chuan Kang, Xi Jinping, It'll, Joe Biden's, Xi, Biden, it's, BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI Organizations: Service, Democratic, Taiwan, Business, Democratic Progressive Party, Getty Images, ih, Taiwan's People Party, Kuomintang, KMT, Getty, Washington, NBC, US, People's Liberation Army Locations: Taiwan, China, Beijing, Taipei, New Taipei City, AFP, Tainan, Taichung, Taipei , Washington, San Francisco

☆ Terry Gou, the founder of iPhone maker Foxconn, drops out of Taiwan's presidential election race
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Foxconn founder Terry Gou has withdrawn from Taiwan's presidential race. AdvertisementTerry Gou, the founder of Foxconn – Apple's main manufacturer of iPhones – has dropped out of Taiwan's presidential race. Taiwan's presidential race is closely watched because China claims the self-ruled island — a semiconductor powerhouse — as its own territory. The more opposition candidates there are, the more these votes could be split against the ruling party to ensure Lai's win. Other presidential candidates in the island's presidential race are DPP's Lai, KMT's Hou Yu-ih, and former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je from the Taiwan People's Party.

Persons: Terry Gou, Gou, —, Foxconn, –, William Lai, Xi Jinping, Lai, Beijing wouldn't, Tammy Lai, KMT's Hou Yu, Ko Wen Organizations: Service, Democratic Progressive Party, Nvidia, Kuomintang, ih, Taiwan People's Party Locations: China, Taiwan, Beijing, Taipei

☆ Taiwan's former U.S. envoy, vilified by China, is named vice presidential candidate
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Representative to the United States, Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office T.H. Lai, vice president and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential candidate, has led in most opinion polls ahead of the election, which is taking place as Taiwan comes under increased pressure from China to accept its sovereignty claim. The United States, as with most countries, has no formal ties with Taiwan, but is the island's most important international supporter and arms supplier. 'INDEPENDENCE ACT'Like Lai, Hsiao is despised by China, which has twice placed sanctions on her, most recently in April, saying she was an "independence diehard". The DPP's smooth handling of its vice presidential nominee stands in contrast with efforts by Taiwan's two main opposition parties to agree on a joint ticket.

Persons: Hsiao, Lai Ching, Lai, Democratic Progressive Party's, Rupert Hammond, Chambers, Chen Shui Organizations: Cultural, T.H, Sheraton, Democratic Progressive, U.S ., Taiwan Business Council, Reuters, The, ACT, Taiwan Affairs Office, DPP, Kuomintang, KMT, Taiwan People's Party, Facebook Locations: United States, Taipei, Sheraton New York, New York City, January's, Washington, Beijing, Taiwan, China, U.S, The United States, Japan

In a post on his Facebook page, Lai said he would formally present Hsiao as his running mate on Monday afternoon. "Bi-khim's relationships in D.C. will be invaluable to a President Lai, if he is elected, she's going to bring all of those relationships into his government and he doesn't have those," he told Reuters. The United States, as with most countries, has no formal ties with Taiwan, but is the island's most important international supporter and arms supplier. 'INDEPENDENCE ACT'Like Lai, Hsiao is despised by China, which has twice placed sanctions on her, most recently in April, saying she was an "independence diehard". The DPP champions Taiwan's separate identity from China.

Persons: Hsiao, khim, Morris Chang, Carlos Barria, Lai Ching, Lai, Democratic Progressive Party's, Rupert Hammond, Chambers, Chen Shui, Ben Blanchard, Yimou Lee, Muralikumar Anantharaman Organizations: APEC, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Rights, Democratic Progressive, U.S ., Taiwan Business Council, Reuters, The, ACT, Taiwan Affairs Office, DPP, Kuomintang, KMT, Taiwan People's Party, Facebook, Thomson Locations: U.S, Asia, San Francisco , California, Rights TAIPEI, United States, January's, Washington, Beijing, Taiwan, China, The United States, Japan

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Nicolai Hojgaard claimed the biggest title of his career Sunday after running off five straight birdies down the stretch to win the season-ending World Tour Championship by two strokes. 13-17, shoot 8-under 64 and end the finale to the European tour on 21-under par. This one feels great.”Political Cartoons View All 1256 ImagesHojgaard has now won a tournament for three consecutive years on the European tour but this was easily his biggest, earning him $3 million. Rasmus Hojgaard hit his second shot into the water guarding the green and only made par. Nicolai Hojgaard jumped to second place in the Race to Dubai rankings behind McIlroy, who had already been crowned as European golf's No.

Persons: — Nicolai Hojgaard, Dane, Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy —, —, Hojgaard, ”, “, ” Hojgaard, Fleetwood, Matt Wallace, Rasmus, Rasmus Hojgaard, Matthieu Pavon, Adrian Meronk, Ryan Fox, Victor Perez, Thorbjørn Olesen, Alexander Bjork, Sami Valimaki, Robert MacIntyre, Pavon, Jorge Campillo, Ryo Hisatsune, Nicolai Hojgaard, McIlroy, Rahm, ___ Organizations: United Arab Emirates, Ryder, Fleetwood, Golf Estates, Dubai Locations: DUBAI, United Arab, Nos, Dubai, Rome, Fleetwood

☆ Taiwan's Former US Envoy, Well-Known in U.S., Vilified by China, Named VP Candidate
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

Persons: Ben Blanchard, Yimou Lee, Lai Ching, Lai, Democratic Progressive Party's, Hsiao, Rupert Hammond, Chambers, Chen Shui, Muralikumar Anantharaman Organizations: Democratic Progressive, U.S ., Taiwan Business Council, Reuters, The, ACT, Taiwan Affairs Office, DPP, Kuomintang, KMT, Taiwan People's Party, Facebook Locations: Yimou Lee TAIPEI, United States, January's, Washington, Beijing, Taiwan, China, U.S, The United States, Japan

☆ Clock ticking as Taiwan opposition bicker over joint presidency bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Ben Blanchard | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The issue of China, which views Taiwan as its territory, looms over the Jan. 13 parliamentary and presidential elections. China has stepped up military and political pressure, including high-profile war games, to press the island to accept its sovereignty claim, which Taiwan rejects. But both parties failed to reach agreement on how to interpret opinion polls and thus decide who will stand for what position by an originally scheduled deadline of Saturday. China detests frontrunner Lai, regarding him as a separatist, and has rebuffed repeated calls from him for talks. Hou especially has vowed to renew dialogue with Beijing, and says Lai is a dangerous supporter of Taiwan independence.

Persons: Democratic Progressive Party's, Lai Ching, Hou Yu, Ko, Lai, Hou, Hsiao, Eric Chu, Tsai Ing, Ben Blanchard, William Mallard, Kim Coghill Organizations: Kuomintang, KMT, Taiwan People's Party, Democratic Progressive, ih, Former Taipei, DPP, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, China, Taiwan, Beijing, United States, Chiayi

☆ China urges countries to boycott Hong Kong media freedom event - document
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Emma Farge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The flag alley at the United Nations European headquarters is seen during the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, September 11, 2023. The event on Wednesday titled 'Media Freedom in Hong Kong' is being held on the sidelines of the five-week meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council. Britain released a report this month saying that Hong Kong authorities have extended the application of a Beijing imposed national security law "beyond genuine national security concerns". China, one of the 47 members of the Geneva-based Human Rights Council and seeking re-election next month, has in the past sought to counter criticism of its human rights record. Reporting by Emma Farge; Additional reporting by Greg Torode and Jessie Pang in Hong Kong; Editing by Jacqueline WongOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, Sebastien Lai, Jimmy Lai, China's, Jimmy Lai's, Michelle Bachelet, Emma Farge, Greg Torode, Jessie Pang, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: United Nations, Human Rights, REUTERS, Rights, British, Reuters, Rights Council, Thomson Locations: Geneva, Switzerland, China, British, Hong Kong, United States, France, Germany, Britain, Beijing, Xinjiang

☆ China says Britain's plans to disrupt Hong Kong 'doomed to fail'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Jason Lee/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsHONG KONG, Sept 20 (Reuters) - China's foreign ministry in Hong Kong slammed a six month report on the financial hub by Britain, saying it ignored "good" societal conditions, a more stable business environment and instead supported "anti China" chaos. While some Western governments have criticised the laws as curbing social and political freedoms in the city, both Chinese and Hong Kong officials have said they were vital to restore stability. Hong Kong, which returned to China in 1997 from Britain, has had "universal success" in implementing the practise of 'one country, two systems', China's foreign ministry said. "Plans to disrupt Hong Kong are doomed to fail." The British report said that authorities continue to try to use legal routes to suppress the protest anthem 'Glory to Hong Kong' while media tycoon Jimmy Lai's national security trial has been further delayed.

Persons: Mao Zedong, Theresa May, Jason Lee, Hong, Jimmy Lai's, Farah Master, Michael Perry Organizations: British, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: China, Beijing, HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Britain

☆ China Says Britain's Plans to Disrupt Hong Kong 'Doomed to Fail'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG (Reuters) - China's foreign ministry in Hong Kong slammed a six month report on the financial hub by Britain, saying it ignored "good" societal conditions, a more stable business environment and instead supported "anti China" chaos. While some Western governments have criticised the laws as curbing social and political freedoms in the city, both Chinese and Hong Kong officials have said they were vital to restore stability. Hong Kong, which returned to China in 1997 from Britain, has had "universal success" in implementing the practise of 'one country, two systems', China's foreign ministry said. "Plans to disrupt Hong Kong are doomed to fail." The British report said that authorities continue to try to use legal routes to suppress the protest anthem 'Glory to Hong Kong' while media tycoon Jimmy Lai's national security trial has been further delayed.

Persons: Hong, Jimmy Lai's, Farah Master, Michael Perry Organizations: Reuters Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Britain, China, Beijing

☆ Foxconn founder Terry Gou has a new running mate — an actor who played the role of a presidential candidate in a Netflix drama
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Foxconn founder Terry Gou has picked an actor as his running mate for Taiwan's presidential election. Tammy Lai played the role of a presidential candidate in a Netflix hit. Gou, who is worth $7 billion, is entering Taiwan's presidential race as an independent candidate. Terry Gou, the billionaire founder of Foxconn — a key supplier to Apple — announced Thursday that an actor who played a presidential candidate in a recent Netflix hit will be his running mate for Taiwan's upcoming polls. His pick for vice president is 60-year-old Tammy Lai who played the role of a presidential candidate in Netflix's "Wave Makers," which premiered in April.

Persons: Terry Gou, Tammy Lai, Foxconn, Apple —, Gou, I'd, Lai Organizations: Netflix, Service, Apple, Democratic Progressive Party, Gou, Taiwan's, Kuomintang Locations: Wall, Silicon, Taiwan

☆ A village on an Italian island is providing free housing to digital nomads
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Silvia Marchetti | Poonam Binayak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Last week, Partis landed in the Sardinian village of Ollolai in Italy for a free stay paid by the local municipality. She's the first digital nomad to arrive — and already she said it feels like a life-changer. Source: Veronica Matta"That was a major success — many foreigners bought and restyled dozens of forsaken dwellings," said Mayor Francesco Columbu told CNBC. "Now, after investing in high-speed internet, with this new project 'Work from Ollolai' we want to make our village a digital nomad hub." Source: Veronica Matta"I just had to give my landowner a symbolic one euro for the house rental," said Partis.

Persons: Clarese, Partis, Ollolai, Antonio Meloni, Francesco Columbu, Veronica Matta, Sa, Matta, Veronica Matta Partis, —, that's Organizations: CNBC, Workers Locations: Los Angeles, Sardinian, Ollolai, Italy, Zanzibar, Sardinia, Singapore, Sardinia —, Partis

[1/10] Tsai Tsung-lin, who is dressed in full camouflage and holds a plastic rifle, walks on a road, in Keelung, Taiwan August 21, 2023. REUTERS/Ann Wang Acquire Licensing RightsKEELUNG, Taiwan, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Dressed in camouflage and holding a plastic rifle, Tsai Tsung-lin has been tramping around Taiwan on foot for more than a month with one message to his compatriots: be prepared for war. The 22-year-old former soldier, discharged from the army in July, hopes his journey can help increase civil defence awareness and unite the people of Taiwan amid tensions with China. China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, has stepped up military activity to try to force democratically governed Taiwan to accept Beijing's sovereignty, despite strong objections from the government in Taipei. Tsai carries a large Taiwan flag sticking on his backpack and a yellow sign reading, "Going around the island raising people's awareness to oppose the enemy".

Persons: Tsai, Ann Wang, Tsai Tsung, William Lai's, . Tsai, Huang, Minh Nguyen, Ben Blanchard, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Keelung, Taiwan, KEELUNG, China, Taipei, United States, Paraguay

☆ US trip pays off for Taiwan VP with China drills more 'thunder than rain'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Ben Blanchard | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

China has a particular dislike of Lai, the frontrunner in polls ahead of January's presidential election, due to his previous comments about being a "worker for Taiwan independence". In his public events he talked about peace and dialogue, though he also said that Taiwan would not back down in the face of threats. "These drills were a lot of thunder, but less rain." 'NO SURPRISES'Lo Chih-cheng, a senior lawmaker for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, said Lai's trip was also about the broader process of showing him to the United States as a steady and trustworthy leader. China could take other, trade-related, steps to punish Taiwan, having previously stopped Taiwanese fruit and fish imports.

Persons: William Lai, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Lai, Ma Chen, Shen Dingli, Lai Ching, Lo Chih, cheng, Lo, Ko Wen, Xi Jinping, Ben Blanchard, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: International Airport, REUTERS, Rights, Taiwan, U.S, Liberation Army, National Defence University, United States, Relations, Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwanese Public, National Taiwan Normal University's Graduate, of Political, Thomson Locations: United States, New York, Paraguay, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, China, U.S, United, Shanghai, Taipei, Beijing, Washington, Asia

☆ Taiwan details China drills, VP says election not China's to call
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Ben Blanchard | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] Taiwan’s Vice President William Lai waves at Taoyuan International Airport following his trip to the United States and Paraguay, in Taoyuan, Taiwan August 18, 2023. "My position is that Taiwan is not a part of the People's Republic of China. China has demanded that Taiwan's government accept that both sides of the Taiwan Strait are part of "one China", but it has refused. LOWER-KEY DRILLSChina's Saturday drills were much more low-key than two rounds of war games around Taiwan last August and again in April this year. Taiwan's military also released pictures of one of its fighter jets taking off and a pilot checking a missile underneath an aircraft.

Persons: William Lai, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Lai, Su, It's, That's, Taiwan's, Alexander Neill, Neill, lambasting Lai, Tian Dan, Ben Blanchard, Greg Torode, James Pomfret, William Mallard, Kim Coghill, Edmund Klamann Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Democratic Progressive Party, APEC, Hawaii's, Eastern Theatre Command, Sunday, Taiwan, State Department, Reuters, Thomson Locations: United States, Paraguay, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, China, Beijing, New York, People's Republic of China, San Francisco, Singapore, U.S, Hong Kong

China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, despite the strong objections of the island's government. "This is a serious warning against Taiwan independence separatist forces colluding with external forces to provoke," it said. China has a particular dislike of Lai for his previous comments that he was a "practical worker for Taiwan independence". The United States, like most countries, has no formal ties with Taiwan but is its strongest international backer, bound by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself. China has over the past three years ramped up military pressure on Taiwan, including sending military aircraft and warships near the island.

Persons: William Lai, Nancy Pelosi, Tsai Ing, Kevin McCarthy, Lai, Deb Haaland, King Felipe VI, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Casey Hall, Ben Blanchard, Greg Torode, William Mallard Organizations: Joint Staff Office, Defense Ministry of Japan, Reuters, Eastern Theatre Command, U.S . House, U.S, Beijing, Communist Party, Thomson Locations: Okinawa, Miyako, SHANGHAI, TAIPEI, Taiwan, United States, Taipei . Lai, Paraguay, China, Taipei, California, South, Asuncion

☆ China launches drills in angry response to Taiwan vice president's trip to U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The U.S. says it's closely monitoring China's drills around Taiwan after Beijing began three days of military exercises around the island. Greg Baker | AFP | Getty ImagesChina launched military drills around Taiwan on Saturday as a "serious warning" to separatist forces in an angry but widely expected response to Vice President William Lai's visit to the United States, drawing condemnation from Taipei. Taiwan's government strongly condemned the drills, with the defense ministry saying it had the ability, determination, and confidence to ensure national security. "The Republic of China, Taiwan, is a sovereign country and has a legitimate and legal right to conduct normal diplomatic interactions with friendly countries," it added in a statement, using the island's formal name. Taiwan's defense ministry released a short video of undated footage showing Taiwanese forces at sea, on city streets and across the countryside.

Persons: Greg Baker, William Lai's, Joseph Wu, Joe Biden Organizations: PLA Navy, Beijing, AFP, Getty Images China, Eastern Theatre Command, Mainland Affairs Council, U.S, Taiwan Locations: Taiwan, China's, Fujian, U.S, United States, Taipei . Lai, Paraguay, China, Beijing, Republic of China, South Korea, Japan

☆ US urges China to cease military pressure against Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A screen broadcasts news footage of an Air Force aircraft taking part in military drills by the Eastern Theatre Command of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) around Taiwan, in a shopping area in Beijing, China August 19, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Aug 19 (Reuters) - The U.S. urged China on Saturday to stop pressuring Taiwan, after Beijing launched military drills around the democratically governed island in response to Taiwan Vice President William Lai's U.S. visit. "We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan," a State Department spokesperson told Reuters in a statement. The U.S. would continue to monitor the exercises closely, the department statement said. Reporting by Michael Martina; Editing by Cynthia OstermanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, William Lai's, Michael Martina, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Air Force, Eastern Theatre Command, Liberation Army, PLA, REUTERS, Rights, Taiwan, State Department, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, Beijing, China, U.S

☆ Explainer: Why is China so angry about the Taiwan vice president's US trip?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Here are the key issues in Taiwan-U.S., China-U.S. and Taiwan-China relations, and why China is so upset about Lai's visit to the United States. Taiwan's official name continues to be the Republic of China, though these days the government often stylises it as the Republic of China (Taiwan). China views Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen as a separatist and has rebuffed repeated calls from her for talks. She says the Republic of China and People's Republic of China are "not subordinate" to each other. Beijing says Tsai must accept that both China and Taiwan are part of "one China".

Persons: William Lai, Xi Jinping, Mao Zedong's, LAI, Lai, Joe Biden, Tsai Ing, Tsai, Ben Blanchard, Kim Coghill Organizations: Lotte, REUTERS, Rights, Taiwan, CHINA, Communist Party, Democratic, STATES, United States, Taiwan Relations, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, Rights TAIPEI, China, Taiwan, Taipei, United States, Paraguay, People's Republic of China, Republic of China, Beijing, TAIWAN, United, Washington, TAIPEI, BEIJING

☆ China holds drills near Taiwan, response to VP's US trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsChina holds drills near Taiwan, response to VP's US tripPostedChina launched military drills around Taiwan on Saturday as a "serious warning" to separatist forces in an angry but widely expected response to Vice President William Lai's visit to the United States, drawing condemnation from Taipei. Ryan Chang reports.

Persons: William Lai's, Ryan Chang Organizations: US, China Locations: China, Taiwan, United States, Taipei

☆ Taiwan vice president returns from sensitive visit to US
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Fabian Hamacher | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Taiwan’s Vice President William Lai speaks to the media upon arrival at Taoyuan International Airport as he returns from a trip to the United States and Paraguay, in Taoyuan, Taiwan August 18, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTAOYUAN, Taiwan, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Taiwan Vice President William Lai returned on Friday from a sensitive visit to the United States, thanking the Taiwanese people for supporting a trip he said showed the island's "self confidence" venturing into the international community. "Because of everyone's hard work, Taiwan's power is stronger and stronger, and it showed the international community that Taiwan is a force for good, that the international community really pays great attention to Taiwan," he said. China claims Taiwan as its territory and denounced the transit stops in the U.S., calling Lai a separatist and a "troublemaker". "Thank you for your contributions to the country and to society," he said, "allowing Taiwan to very progressively, self confidently and respectfully go into the international community, and winning the support of the international community."

Persons: William Lai, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Lai, Tsai Ing, Fabian Hamacher, Chang, Kim, Ben Blanchard, David Gregorio, Lincoln Organizations: Taoyuan International Airport, REUTERS, Rights, Taiwan, American Institute, U.S, Russian, Pacific, East China Seas, Thomson Locations: Taoyuan, United States, Paraguay, Taiwan, Rights TAOYUAN, China, U.S, New York, San Francisco, Taipei, Beijing, Okinawa, Miyako, East, Tokyo

☆ China military action to US stopover would be election interference, Taiwan VP says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Taiwan's Vice President William Lai speaks during a welcome dinner in Asuncion, Paraguay, in this handout picture released on August 15, 2023. Taiwanese officials say China could launch military drills this week, using Lai's stopovers in the United States as a pretext to intimidate voters ahead of an election next year and make them "fear war". China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, has an particular dislike of Lai who has in the past described himself as a "practical worker for Taiwan independence". China considers Taiwan to be its most sensitive and important political and diplomatic issue, and it is a constant source of Sino-U.S. friction. China says Taiwan has no right to state-to-state ties and has been trying to pick off Taiwan's remaining diplomatic allies.

Persons: William Lai, Lai, Tsai Ing, Kevin McCarthy, Lai's, Li Shangfu, Deb Haaland, King Felipe VI, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Taipei's, Ben Blanchard, Lincoln Organizations: Taiwan Presidential, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Taiwan, Central News Agency, U.S, Chinese Defence, Thomson Locations: Asuncion , Paraguay, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, U.S, China, Paraguay, United States, January's, New York, California, Central America, York, San Francisco, Taipei, Moscow, Asuncion, Honduras, Beijing

☆ Taiwan sees no Chinese military response to VP's US trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Yimou Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File PhotoTAIPEI, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Taiwan's defence ministry said on Tuesday it has not seen large-scale exercises or any other action by the Chinese military near the island after China condemned a brief U.S. visit by Taiwan Vice President William Lai. When asked at a press conference about Chinese military activity in response to Lai's trip, defence ministry spokesperson Sun Li-fang, said it was the responsibility of the armed forces to track any Chinese activities near Taiwan. However, Taiwan had not seen any "relatively large-scale" drills or actions by China's military, he said. Beijing has launched almost daily military incursions into Taiwan's air defence zone in recent years seeking to pressure Taipei to accept Chinese sovereignty. Both Taiwan and the United States are aiming for Lai's U.S. stop-overs to be as low-key as possible, saying that such transits are routine.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, William Lai, Lai, Sun Li, Sun, Su, Tsai Ing, Kevin McCarthy, Taiwan Premier Chen Chien, jen, Chen, Yimou Lee, Ben Blanchard, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Taiwan, Lai's U.S, U.S, Chinese Communist Party, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, China, U.S, William Lai . China, Paraguay, Taiwan, Beijing, Taipei, San Francisco, California, United States, New York, Taiwan Premier, Lai's

☆ Taiwan will not back down to threats, Taiwan VP says on US trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Taiwan's Vice President William Lai speaks during a luncheon in New York City, New York, U.S., in this handout picture released on August 14, 2023. Lai told a supporters lunch in New York on Sunday that "if Taiwan is safe, the world is safe, if the Taiwan Strait is peaceful, then the world is peaceful", according to Taiwan's presidential office. China considers Taiwan its most important diplomatic issue, and is a constant source of friction between Beijing and Washington, which is the island's most important international backer and arms supplier. Lai's speech was attended by Ingrid Larson, managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan, a U.S. government-run non-profit that carries out unofficial relations with Taiwan. China carried out war games around Taiwan in April after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen returned from California where she met U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy while also on a transit on her way back from Central America.

Persons: William Lai, Lai, Ingrid Larson, Tsai Ing, Kevin McCarthy, Ben Blanchard, Lincoln Organizations: Taiwan Presidential, REUTERS, American Institute, U.S, Eastern Theatre Command, Liberation Army, Taiwan, Central America, Thomson Locations: New York City , New York, U.S, Taiwan, REUTERS TAIPEI, Beijing, China, United States, Paraguay, San Francisco, New York, Washington, Republic of China, People's Republic of China, Taipei, California, Central

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