Taiwan's new president thanks the US for its support

Taiwan's President-elect Lai Ching-te hailed the island's "solid partnership" with the United States and welcomed the Washington delegation on a post-election visit expected to anger Beijing.
The unofficial US delegation was sent by US President Joe Biden's administration to meet with senior politicians, including current President Tsai Ing-wen and Lai, who won Saturday's election.
Voters on the self-ruled island defied repeated calls from Beijing not to elect Lai, whom they denounced as a dangerous separatist who would lead Taiwan down the "bad path" of independence.
Beijing, which claims the self-ruled island as its territory and has never shied away from using force to bring it under its control, insisted the vote did not change the fact that the island is part of China.
Lai said freedom and democracy "are the most valuable assets of the Taiwanese people" during his meeting with delegates at his party headquarters.
"They are also the core values that Taiwan and the United States share, and the basis for the long-term stability of the Taiwan-US partnership," he said.
"I am grateful for the United States' strong support for Taiwan's democracy, which demonstrates the close and stable partnership between Taiwan and the United States. This is of great importance to Taiwan."
Before meeting with Lai, the delegation went to the presidential office to meet with Tsai, who said their visit underscored the "close and stable" partnership between the US and Taiwan.
Communist-ruled China fiercely opposes anything that even suggests official recognition of Taiwan, and the US visit is expected to cause great irritation in Beijing.
On January 14, the Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken for congratulating Lai on his victory./BGNES