Taiwan leader's stance on cross-Strait ties decried

Overseas Chinese communities promoting peaceful reunification across the Taiwan Strait denounced the provocative Lai Ching-te, the new administrative chief of China's Taiwan region, and his pro "Taiwan independence "agenda highlighted in his inauguration speech, calling him "a sheer troublemaker that viciously incites cross-Strait confrontations".

On Monday, Lai delivered his first flamboyant yet self-deceptive speech, making public narratives for his Democratic Progressive Party on ties with the Chinese mainland.

In his address, Lai adopted a more "sovereignty-affirming" tone by saying, "I hope that China will face the reality of (Taiwan's) existence, (and) respect the choices of the people of Taiwan." He said he would "neither yield nor provoke "Beijing, but would "seek peace".