China should focus on economy not 'territorial expansion', Taiwan president says

China's economy is in a bad way and President Xi Jinping should focus on improving the lives of his people and not "territorial expansion", Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said in an interview with the New York Times. China, which views the democratically governed island as its own territory, has ramped up military and political pressure against Taiwan, whose government rejects Beijing's territorial claims.

Speaking to the New York Times' DealBook Summit, Lai said Taiwan's economy is forecast to grow 7.37% this year, "while international financial institutions estimate China's growth to be only a little above 4%". "China's economy is indeed struggling," Lai said, according to a transcript released by his office on Thursday.

"We sincerely hope that as China faces economic pressures, Preside