US breakfast for Taiwan VP Lai

Taiwan's vice president-elect, William Lai Ching-te, will be at this week's high-profile National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, an event attended by US presidents and which Donald Trump joined last year.

Lai, who assumes office in May, has angered Beijing by saying he is a "realistic worker for Taiwan independence" - a red line. Beijing considers the island a Chinese province with no right to state-to-state relations.

But Lai wrote on his Facebook page that he was going in an individual capacity. Lai added he would also express thanks to US politicians who support Taiwan's bid to enter the World Health Organization.

The breakfast, started in 1953, is tomorrow and Thursday and hosted by members of the US Congress.