Taiwan president: William Lai takes over as Chinese incursions increase

Hello and welcome to the BBC’s coverage of the inauguration of Taiwan’s new president, William Lai Ching-te.

Lai, who served as Taiwan’s vice-president for the last four years, will be taking over from Tsai Ing-wen, who reset the island’s relationship with China during her eight years in power.

He is expected to advance her policies, but faces his own challenges – including an increasily aggressive China and domestic issues like a high cost of living.

In attendance at today’s ceremony will be former US officials dispatched by President Joe Biden, lawmakers from countries including Japan, Germany and China and leaders from some of the handful of countries which still maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

Lai’s victory earlier in January marked an unprecedented third consecutive presidential term for Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party.