Lai Ching-te, the frontrunner for Taiwan¡¯s presidency, has picked Taipei¡¯s envoy to the United States ¡ª a fluent English speaker with deep connections in Washington ¡ª to be his running mate for January¡¯s election, sources with direct knowledge said.

Lai, vice president and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party¡¯s (DPP) presidential candidate, has almost consistently led opinion polls ahead of an election taking place amid increased Chinese pressure on Taiwan to accept Beijing¡¯s sovereignty claims.

Hsiao Bi-khim, 52, who has been Taiwan¡¯s de facto ambassador to the United States since 2020, has been considered by party officials, diplomats and Taiwanese media for months to be the most likely running mate for Lai.