Reuters
Date: May 8, 2016
Reporting by J.R. Wu; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky

The incoming Taiwanese government on Sunday accused China of “political interference”

Taiwanese President Ma Ying-Jeou (R) shakes hands with President-elect Tsai Ing-wen (L) after discussing the transfer of power in a meeting in Taipei, Taiwan March 30, 2016. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

after a senior Chinese official cast doubt over the island keeping its observer status at the World Health Organisation if bilateral relations deteriorated further.

China and self-ruled Taiwan underwent a rapprochement under the outgoing government which was run by China-friendly Nationalists, but ties have begun to strain with their successors, the independence-leaning Tsai Ing-wen and her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Tsai and the DPP won landslide presidential and parliamentary elections in January, in part on rising anti-China sentiment on the island. She has said she will maintain the status quo with China, but has never conceded to a key bilateral agreement, the “one China” principle.     [FULL  STORY]