New head of Taiwan ruling party vows to safeguard democracy

Taiwan vice president Lai Ching-te has been sworn in as chairman of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and vowed to uphold the self-ruled island’s democracy in face of China’s authoritarianism (Johnson Lai/AP)

The new head of Taiwan’s ruling party, who describes himself as pro-independence, has vowed to uphold the self-ruled island’s democracy in the face of China’s authoritarianism and continue with policies that have defined relations with China and the US.

Lai Ching-te, who currently serves as Taiwan’s vice president, assumed the new role of chairman of the Democratic Progress Party on Wednesday.