Taiwan's vice president says the self-ruled democracy will not provoke a confrontation with China and seeks to communicate with Beijing on the basis of parity and respect. Bi-khim Hsiao said Friday Taiwan has seen “a dramatic uptick in provocative and proactive" actions by Beijing to infiltrate, sabotage and divide Taiwan's society. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory and has repeatedly threatened to annex it, by force if necessary. Beijing has labeled Hsiao and Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te as "diehard" separatists and refuses to speak with them.
