Taiwan presidential contender sparks US concerns over China tensions

Taiwan’s next presidential election is still a year away, but for Lai Ching-te, the vice-president and likely candidate of the ruling party, the campaign to convince the US that he is a safe pair of hands starts now.

On Sunday, President Tsai Ing-wen’s ruling Democratic Progressive party elected Lai its chair, following Tsai’s resignation as party leader after the DPP’s defeat in local polls. With Tsai’s grip over her party weakened long before her final presidential term ends next year, DPP politicians expect Lai to become the party’s uncontested candidate to succeed her.