China to take 'vigorous measures' after Taiwan's 'troublemaker' vice-president visits US

William Lai will not meet US lawmakers during his trip. Photograph: Ritchie B Tongo/EPA China's ministry for foreign affairs on Sunday condemned a brief US visit by Taiwan vice-president William Lai, saying he was a separatist and "troublemaker through and through" and Beijing would take strong steps to protect its sovereignty. Lai, front-runner to be Taiwan’s next president at elections in January, arrived in New York late on Saturday for what is officially a transit on his way to Paraguay for the inauguration of its president. China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has repeatedly denounced Lai’s…