Lai new Taiwan premier:

Asia

Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen named a staunchly pro-independence city mayor as her new premier Tuesday in a move which some analysts said would rile China.

China still sees self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory, even though they split almost 70 years ago, and despite being a fully-fledged democracy the island has never declared a formal split from the mainland.

Beijing has said that any Taiwanese move towards a declaration of independence would prompt a military response.

New premier William Lai is currently mayor of the southern city of Tainan, a stronghold of Tsai’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

The doctor-turned-lawmaker has repeatedly stated his support for Taiwan’s independence in media interviews and city council meetings. His appointment could further sour relations between Beijing and Taipei. Chinese authorities cut official communications with Taiwan after Tsai took office in May last year, because she refused to acknowledge the island is part of “one China” — unlike her Beijing-friendly predecessor Ma Ying-jeou.

Beijing is highly suspicious of Tsai and the DPP, which is traditionally pro-independence. “To Beijing, Lai’s appointment is one more unfriendly gesture by Tsai’s government and adds to the proof that she is not keen to improve cross-strait ties,” said Yang Kai-huang, a cross-strait expert in Ming Chuan University.

Tsai said she hoped Lai would deliver “good results” and praised him for being in tune with public opinion. (AFP)