Taiwan’s William Lai accused of stoking fear with 2027 countdown confusion

Opposition critics have accused Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te of stoking fear on the island with his suggestion that Beijing could be preparing to take Taiwan by force by 2027. They also said that Lai’s attempt to justify a massive increase in defence spending was nudging Taiwan towards a wartime footing without consensus or clarity. The controversy erupted after Lai told a press conference on Wednesday that Beijing was pursuing a goal to “complete unification with Taiwan by force by...