Taiwan Vice President Lai Ching-te on Tuesday hit out at China over its probe of major Apple supplier Foxconn, saying Beijing should ¡°cherish¡± Taiwanese companies and not put pressure on them during an election.

Foxconn is facing a tax probe in China, two sources close to the company said on Monday, confirming a report in China¡¯s state-backed Global Times.

The sources said they believed it was disclosed for political reasons tied to Taiwan¡¯s January elections where the company¡¯s founder Terry Gou is running as an independent candidate for president.