TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) pledged to strengthen Taiwan’s resilience in his National Day address on Thursday (Oct. 10).
Under the Four Pillars of Peace action plan, Lai said he would bolster national defense and protect the well-being of the Taiwanese. Three new committees have been established to address Taiwan's global challenges, including climate change and authoritarian expansion: the National Climate Change Committee, Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee, and Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee.
“These three committees are interconnected and closely related to national resilience,” Lai said. The aim is to develop better responses to challenges and foster closer cooperation with the international community, he explained.
Taiwan is also continuing to diversify green energy sources and develop energy technologies to achieve the global goal of net zero by 2050, Lai said.
In terms of cross-strait relations, Taiwan is determined to uphold peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, the president said. Taipei's commitments to dialogue in the Taiwan Strait based on equality and dignity are unchanged, he said. The nation is also ready to collaborate with China to address global issues and ensure regional security for the benefit of people on both sides of the strait, he added.
Lai hoped that China could meet the expectations of the international community by contributing to regional and global peace and security. China can use its influence to help end the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East, he said. Amid these turbulent times, Taiwan will remain confident and resilient and be a force for peace and prosperity in the region, Lai said.
“The more Taiwanese persevere, the stronger global democracy becomes. The more resilient Taiwanese are, the more global democracy endures,” he said.
Approximately 183 distinguished foreign guests attended this year’s National Day celebration, including 14 official delegations and 91 representatives of diplomatic missions in Taiwan from allied and non-allied countries, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
