War with China is not an option, Taiwan ruling party VP candidate says

23/11/2023 13:13

        The vice presidential candidate for Taiwan's ruling party in a January election said on Thursday that war with China is not an option, pointing to cross-strait communications as key to easing tension that has raised concern about the region's stability.
        
        China, which views Taiwan as its own territory despite the strong objections of the government in Taipei, looms large over the Jan. 13 poll especially as China has stepped up military pressure to assert its sovereignty claims.
        
        The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) this week announced Hsiao Bi-khim, previously Taiwan's high-profile de facto ambassador to the United states, as the running mate for its presidential candidate Lai Ching-te, the frontrunner to be the island's next leader.
        
        China detests both Lai and Hsiao, viewing them as separatists, and has put sanctions on Hsiao twice, most recently in April.
        
        Hsiao told reporters that "many other international friends" had also been sanctioned by China and she would forge ahead in her commitment to defending Taiwan's democracy.