Taiwan tries to purge its ranks of China sympathizers

TAIPEI—Taiwan has embarked on a mission to purge any allies of Beijing from its civil service in an escalating battle against China's influence—vetting hundreds of thousands of workers and threatening to revoke the citizenship of those found to be Chinese citizens. For the first time since President Lai Ching-te launched a campaign against what he described as Chinese infiltration in Taiwan, authorities said last week that they were taking action against a teacher who obtained permanent residence status in China, a step short of citizenship. Lai has made the preservation of Taiwan's self-rule a political rallying cry, pressing for a…