Taiwan's Presidential Front-Runner Shakes Up Election with US Envoy as Running Mate

Lai Ching-te, the frontrunner for Taiwan's presidency, has named Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan's former envoy to the United States, as his running mate in the upcoming election. Hsiao, who is well-known in Washington, has extensive connections and is expected to bring diplomatic and security expertise to Lai's ticket. Both Lai and Hsiao are despised by China, which has placed sanctions on Hsiao twice, denouncing her as an "independence diehard." China's Taiwan Affairs Office referred to Lai and Hsiao as an "independence double act," accusing them of colluding with external forces to provoke Taiwan independence. The opposition parties in Taiwan are struggling to agree on a joint ticket, while Lai's team is fully prepared and tested.