Taiwan officials have warned that China is trying to sway the democratically governed island's Jan. 13 presidential and legislative election, which is happening as Beijing ramps up military and political pressure to try to force Taipei to accept its sovereignty. Despite a lack of formal ties, Washington is Taiwan's main diplomatic backer and arms supplier, and U.S. President Joe Biden has asked Chinese leader Xi Jinping to respect Taiwan's electoral process.
Taiwan officials have warned that China is trying to sway the democratically governed island's Jan. 13 presidential and legislative election, which is happening as Beijing ramps up military and political pressure to try to force Taipei to accept its sovereignty. Despite a lack of formal ties, Washington is Taiwan's main diplomatic backer and arms supplier, and U.S. President Joe Biden has asked Chinese leader Xi Jinping to respect Taiwan's electoral process.
joined byjames moriarty, the chair of the organisation the american institute in taiwan until march. thank you for joining us. beijing has warned of resolute and forceful measures in response to this visit but how does diplomatic rhetoric compared to that of, say, the previous incidents when the president tsai met with the us speaker of the house nancy pelosi and her visit to the island? i house nancy pelosi and her visit to the island?- visit to the island? i think nancy pelosi s visit to the island? i think nancy pelosi s visit - visit to the island? i think nancy pelosi s visit to - visit to the island? i think nancy pelosi s visit to the island ramped up the rhetoric to a new level and therefore beijing cannot let it drop back down to that level too much without looking soft. on the other hand, it hasn t been to mark. the administration has handled this carefully. and i think william lai, the vice
american institute in taiwan, a position you held until earlier this year, what do you expect them to discuss? i this year, what do you expect them to discuss? them to discuss? i think william them to discuss? i think william lai will be - them to discuss? i think i william lai will be going to great lengths to assure the new chair that is not going to be doing anything silly with respect to cross straight ties. that he will basically maintain, do everything you can to maintain the status quo and will not be seen pushing taiwan towards an outright declaration of independence. of independence. james moriarty. of independence. james moriarty, thank - of independence. james moriarty, thank you - of independence. james| moriarty, thank you very of independence. james - moriarty, thank you very much forjoining us in the programme. around the world across the uk, this is bbc news. bbc news, bringing you different stories from across the uk. playful and plentiful. these kittens are curr
China on Sunday vowed "resolute and forceful measures" over a weekend trip by Taiwan Vice President William Lai to the United States it said it was closely monitoring."China is closely following the development of the situation and will take resolute and forceful measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity," an unnamed spokesperson for the foreign ministry said in a statement published online.