Taiwan election is between democracy and autocracy, says VP William Lai

Taiwan's election next year will be a decision between democracy and autocracy, Vice President William Lai said in remarks televised after China conducted military manoeuvres surrounding the island in response to his visit to the United States earlier this month. Lai, the favourite to be Taiwan's next president in the January elections, made brief stops in the United States this month on his route to and from Paraguay, infuriating Beijing, which regards him as a dangerous separatist given China's territorial claims over the island. Taiwan's defence ministry announced on Sunday morning that 25 Chinese air force jets had crossed the…