Taiwan's president-elect Lai hails US support as delegation visits

Lai Ching-te said Monday that freedom and democracy "are the most valuable assets for the Taiwanese people, and the sacred mountains to protect Taiwan" during his meeting with the delegates at his party's headquarters. "They are also the core values Taiwan and the United States share and the foundation for the long-term stability in Taiwan-US partnership," he said. Voters on the self-ruled island defied Beijing's repeated calls not to elect Lai, whom it condemned as a dangerous separatist who would take Taiwan down the "evil path" of independence.