Taiwan's new president to take office as China says independence and peace 'like water and fire'

Taiwan's president-elect Lai Ching-te will be sworn into office on Monday, putting him at the helm of the self-ruled island as China ramps up military and political pressure on Taipei. Lai will officially take over from Tsai Ing-wen, whose eight years in power saw a sharp deterioration in relations with Beijing over its claim to the self-governed island. When Lai takes office he is expected to express goodwill towards Beijing in his inauguration speech, and call for both sides of the Taiwan Strait to pursue peace, a senior official briefed on the matter told Reuters. China claims democratic Taiwan as…