Taiwan inaugurates new president for ruling party's historic third term after voters snub China's warnings

By Eric Cheung, Simone McCarthy and Jessie Yeung, CNN Taipei (CNN) — Lai Ching-te was sworn in as Taiwan's president Monday, marking the start of a historic third consecutive term for the island's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which has championed democracy in the face of years of growing threats from authoritarian China. Lai, 64, a former doctor and vice president, was inaugurated alongside new Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, who recently served as Taiwan's top envoy to the United States. Both leaders and their party are openly loathed by Beijing for championing Taiwan's sovereignty. China's ruling Communist Party says the…