Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te said Thursday tougher measures are needed to counter stepped-up Chinese infiltration,

Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te on Thursday announced plans to restore the island’s military courts in order to counter what he described as China’s “ influence campaigns and manipulation .” Lai accused Beijing of trying to “absorb” Taiwan — China has long viewed the island as a breakaway province that it will eventually subsume.

China is stepping up its campaign of influence and penetration in Taiwan. Taipei will take measures to counter Beijing's attempts to absorb the island, according to Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te. Ching-te accused Beijing of intensifying: ・military exercises ・trade sanctions;