Taiwan Vice President William Lai to leave for US trip amid tensions with China

Taiwan's Vice President, William Lai, is embarking on a trip to the United States on Saturday, a move that China has strongly criticised. This trip has raised concerns among Taiwanese officials who worry it might lead to increased Chinese military maneuvers in the region surrounding the democratically governed island. Lai, a leading contender in the upcoming January elections for Taiwan's presidency, is officially scheduled for transit layovers in the United States, while en route to and from Paraguay, where he will attend the presidential inauguration. While both Taipei and Washington assert that these layovers are routine and not intended to…