Taiwan’s Lai says island must show ‘determination’

News Snapshot:

TAIPEI – Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Wednesday the island must boost defense spending and “demonstrate its determination” to protect itself, in a New Year’s speech just weeks before Donald Trump takes office in the United States. Self-ruled Taiwan faces the constant threat of invasion from China, which claims the island as part of its territory and has refused to renounce the use of force to bring it under its control. - Advertisement - Washington has long been Taipei’s most important backer and biggest supplier of arms but Trump’s transactional style of diplomacy has raised concerns about his willingness...