TAIPEI ¨C Taiwan is facing a steady "drip, drip" of Chinese pressure ahead of the inauguration of its next president in May, with officials in Taipei fearing Beijing could further squeeze the island¡¯s room to maneuver without resorting to direct conflict.
Since current Vice President Lai Ching-te won the presidency in January ¡ª China views Lai as a separatist ¡ª Beijing has snatched away a diplomatic ally, altered an air route in the narrow Taiwan Strait, and begun regular coast guard patrols around the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands, which hug the Chinese coast.
China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, over the island¡¯s strong rejections.
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