Taiwanese leader welcomes talks between Washington and Beijing ‘to reduce risk of war’

Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te has welcomed talks between Washington and Beijing aimed at reducing the risk of conflict.

Lai’s annual Double Tenth address, marking the anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of China, Taiwan’s official name, also called for democracies to work together to safeguard regional peace and for the Taiwanese people’s right to exist to be respected.

But Beijing said he had shown his true colours and accused him of “stirring up confrontation across the...