Taiwan's president is publicly admitting his government is boxed in, a downbeat sign for anyone hoping for stable leadership in Taipei as pressure from Beijing grows.

• Lai Ching-te said governing conditions are severe, with constant military and political pressure from China.
• He does not control the legislature, so his agenda keeps getting blocked.
• That gridlock makes it harder for Taiwan to look united to the rest of the world when facing Beijing.
• Lai insisted his generation has no right to give up, and pointed to the sacrifices of the people who founded his party 40 years ago.
• He is betting on younger candidates for the year-end local elections, naming a slate that is younger than the opposition's, with several lawyers and nine women.

Outlook: The year-end local elections become the real test of whether Lai can rebuild enough support to break the deadlock at home.