TAIPEI โ
Taiwan is on alert for China to conduct military exercises after the inauguration of newly elected President Lai Ching-te this month, the island’s top security official said on Wednesday, noting that Beijing usually starts such exercises in June.
China, which considers democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, strongly dislikes Lai and considers him a dangerous separatist. The Chinese government has rejected his repeated offers for talks, including last week’s.
Lai, like current President Tsai Ing-wen, rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims; both say only the islanders can decide their future. Lai, now vice president, will be inaugurated on May 20.
