Taiwan President Lai Ching-te says he wants to work with China

Communications between China and Taiwan were severed in 2016 after former president Tsai Ing-wen took office, pledging to defend Taiwan’s sovereignty.

Lai, who comes from the same Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), has vowed to maintain Tsai’s policies of building up Taiwan’s defence capabilities, while remaining open to dialogue with China and strengthening relations with the island’s partners – particularly the United States.

But China said Lai’s inaugural speech on Monday amounted to calls for independence, “pushing our compatriots in…