compared to the outgoing president, tsai ing-wen?i ing-wen? well, from the messaging we're - from the messaging we're getting from the communist party, it isjust getting from the communist party, it is just more of the same. you know, they're urging him not to do this and not to do that. the assumption — like in the articles like the one i just read out, is that it is going to be bad. and it's not like they're counting on him doing what they want him to do. so they're kind of pre—empting his leadership, if you like, by saying that it's going to be terrible. anyone who urges reunification is going to be persecuted in taiwan — this type of thing. so yeah, look — from the messaging we're getting from the chinese government, it'sjust more getting from the chinese government, it's just more of same. now, of course, another way in which they can apply pressure or the military flyovers, thejets, the ships coming close to taiwan, increasingly close. more and more tensions with fishermen on either side of the taiwan strait. and we might expec

on monday, taiwan will enter a new era, as president tsai ing—wen hands over power.e, has faced growing pressure from beijing, which sees taiwan as a rebel province. the chinese president, xijinping, has said that what he calls "reunification" must be fulfilled, and taiwan has effectively become more dependent on support from the us to ensure it continues to self—govern. our correspondent rupert wingfield—hayes has been to meet president tsai and ask her about her legacy. singing. it's hard to imagine a famous drag act being invited to perform for the communist party leadership at their compound in beijing. but that's exactly what president tsai ing—wen did this week at the presidential office building, in taipei. in her eight years in power, this softly—spoken former law professor has turned taiwan into arguably the most progressive society in asia. same—sex marriage is now legal here, and taipei hosts asia's largest pride festival. as she prepares to step down on monday, i sat down with president tsai at her home in taipei and asked her why she chose this particula

he very much follows the line taken by the previous president tsai ing—wen when he talked about chinat taiwan under its official name, the republic of china, is an independent sovereign nation and that it will stand up for itself against china, but also that he is not going to change the status quo. so looking to america, looking to thailand's friends looking to taiwan's friends and allies and saying, "look, i am not going to do anything to change the status quo here. i am basically a safe pair of hands. you don't need to worry, and we want to maintain basically the situation that has been here for the last eight years under president tsai ing—wen." so this is more of a continuation of the presidency than something completely new. a final decision could be made today on whether the wiki leaders found thatjulie and signage should be sent to the united states to face trial on spying charges. he is wanted in relation to the release of thousands of secret documents on the wars in iraq and afghanistan. he has resisted expedition for more than ten years. —— extradition. let's go to the high

william lai will be inaugurated as taiwan's president in a few hours, replacing the outgoing tsai ing—wenwhilst much of the focus will be on the new president's approach to cross—strait relations with china, a key focus for voters in january's election was taiwan's economy. gdp expanded byjust 1.3% as exports suffered due to a drop in global demand. another major election issue, youth unemployment. the jobless rate for the young is at over 11%. i asked economist woei chen ho for her perspective on what taiwan's new president should prioritise economically. taiwan's economy has been resilient _ taiwan's economy has been resilient over— taiwan's economy has been resilient over the _ taiwan's economy has been resilient over the last - taiwan's economy has been resilient over the last for i resilient over the last for years— resilient over the last for years with _ resilient over the last for years with growth - resilient over the last for. years with growth averaged resilient over the last for - years with growth averaged over three _ years with growth averaged over three point— years with g

in 2016, people here chose their first female president, tsai ing—wen. e rejects china's claims to taiwan and has moved the island further towards japan and the united states. when i sat down with president tsai at her home in taipei, i began on that delicate topic, the threat from china, and whether it's increased under the leadership of xijinping. do you fear xijinping? do you think the world, the democratic world, should fear xijinping and his ambitions? i think xijinping now, despite the fact that he may have a plan of some sort, but i don't think that is a definitive plan because, you know, the world is changing, the situation in china is changing, but the world is very different now, especially after ukrainian war, because, erm, the democracies seem to be able to get together to form a meaningful deterrence, so whenever there is invasion contemplated. so if we deal with the matter very carefully, there's still a great possibility for us to maintain peace as we all need. cheering tsai's predecessor, president ma ying—jeou, cheering tsai's predecessor

taiwan will enter a new era on monday as president tsai ing—wen hands over power.time has faced growing pressure from beijing. chinese president xijinping has said what he calls reunification must be fulfilled and that taiwan has effectively become more depend end on support from the us to ensure it continues to self—govern. 0ur correspondent, rupert wingfield hayes, sat down with president tsai and asked her about her legacy. it's hard to imagine a famous drag act being invited to perform for the communist party leadership. that's exactly what president tsai ing—wen did this week at the presidential office building in taipei. in her eight years in power, this softly spoken former law professor has turned taiwan into arguably the most progressive society in asia. same—sex marriage is now legal here and taipei hosts asia's largest pride festival. as she prepares to step down on monday, i sat down with president tsai at her home in taipei and asked her why she chose this particular fight. you were well ahead of any other country in asia in pushing through that legisl

in 2016, people here chose their first female president, tsai ing—wen. t down with president tsai at her home in taipei, i began on that delicate topic, the threat from china, and whether it's increased under the leadership of xijinping. do you fear xijinping7 do you think the world, the democratic world, should fear xijinping and his ambitions7 i think xijinping now, despite the fact that he may have a plan of some sort, but i don't think that is a definitive plan because, you know, the world

lai continues the legacy of fellow democratic progressive party president tsai ing-wen, a quarter centuryer taiwan's first free and fair presidential election. >> we are a democracy, not a chinese democracy, especially younger people would be quick to point out to you, we're a democracy, period. and that makes us different. as you move through the democratic process and keep building successful power transition upon successful power transition, that sense of pride grows. that sense of we have created something here that's precarious, that's fragile, but that's worth protecting. nick: even if that democracy is messy, as it was today in parliament. lai inherits divided government, but an island increasingly united in not wanting to be part of china. for the pbs newshour, i'm nick schifrin. geoff: europe's most important court has ruled that protection from climate change is a human right. the judgment will be put to the test in britain by a climate change refugee who lost his clifftop home to sea erosion. rising sea waters and increasingly violent storms, caused by melting ice and warmer oc

people of taiwan words seen by some as a departure from the cautious tone taken by his predecessor tsai ingise first days have been anything but calm. >> massive youth protests erupted outside parliament. demonstrators protesting a push by opposition parties to subject the island's new leader to tighter scrutiny. from china. friendly lawmakers more chaos inside taiwan's fiercely divided parliament, a massive brawl broke out last week over those legislative reform bills in the taiwanese capital confidence in the government and the military so you thought if the chinese communist party does attack taiwan, it won't be easy. >> how when these people are not afraid of war, yeah, always sounds. i believe leaders will prioritize people's happiness. >> just do the exam i'm not worried. i think piece will be maintained a fragile peace in tumultuous times for president lai military threats across the taiwan strait and deep divisions at home. >> so here we are, president lai ching-te got less than a week in office and you have military drills happening around taiwan, protests in the capital, tension i