Taiwan's new President Lai Ching-te assumed the self-ruled island's highest office on Monday (May 20) after rising from a humble coal-mining town. President Lai now faces the challenge of combating falling birth rates in the island alongside widening rift with Xi Jinping's China.

Meet Taiwan’s new president Lai Ching-te, a ‘severe danger’ for China

Less than a week before Taiwan inaugurates its new president, 45 Chinese aircraft were detected around the self-ruled island in yet another violation of Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) by Chinese leader Xi Jinping's forces.

Xi's China sends 45 aircraft around Taiwan ahead of new president's inauguration

Taiwan will vote for a new president on Saturday (Jan 13) in an election watched across the world as the new leader in Taipei City will determine the course of affairs in the self-ruled island nation amid growing aggression by Communist-ruled China.

Explained: How Taiwan is keeping up with democracy amid Xi Jinping's 'reunification' threat