Taiwan's new opposition leader warns of risk of war with China

Taiwan’s new opposition leader took office on Nov 1, warning of the risk of war with China and pledging to open a new era of peace with Beijing.

- 

Former lawmaker Cheng Li-wun takes the reins of the largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), at a time of rising military and political tension with Beijing, which views the democratically governed island as its own territory.

“This is the worst of times. The Taiwan Strait faces grave military danger and the world is watching closely,” she told party members in a speech at an indoor high school stadium in Taipei.

“Taiwan’s security faces the constant threat of war.”

While the KMT traditionally espouses close relations with Beijing, Taiwan’s government, led by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), strongly objects to China’s sovereignty claims.