China threatens fresh Taiwan sanctions as pre-election tension mounts

News Snapshot:

While Beijing is not expected to try to invade Taiwan in the near future, diplomats and observers expected sharp retaliation if Lai Ching-te – also known as William Lai – Taiwan’s current vice-president and the DPP candidate, wins the election on Saturday. “China will want to show its displeasure. They will send signals,” one diplomatic source in Taipei said. This could come in the form of economic sanctions and an increase in incursions by Chinese aircraft, naval ships and drones closer to Taiwan’s territory. Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said on Wednesday that eight People’s Liberation Army aircraft and five vessels had...