Taiwan's Presidential Front-Runner Picks Former US Envoy as Running Mate

The Lai-Hsiao ticket, denounced by China as an 'independence double act', is set to escalate cross-strait tensions amid a divided opposition.

Taiwan's presidential front-runner, Vice President Lai Ching-te, has named Hsiao Bi-khim, the island's former envoy to the United States, as his running mate for the upcoming January elections.
Hsiao, who has been sanctioned twice by China and is well-regarded in Washington, is expected to bolster Lai's chances in the election.
The announcement comes as Taiwan's two main opposition parties, the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party, have failed to agree on a joint ticket, increasing Lai's chances of victory.
China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, has denounced the Lai-Hsiao ticket as an 'independence double act', warning that their potential victory could escalate tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
The election is being closely watched globally due to its potential impact on Taiwan-China relations and the geopolitical balance in the Indo-Pacific region.