TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) marked the first anniversary of his inauguration with a national address Tuesday, framing global trade and democratic values as the pillars of Taiwan’s future.
Lai began his speech by outlining his administration’s domestic efforts over the past year, highlighting investments in climate change mitigation, public health, and national resilience, per PNN. He emphasized that these initiatives are critical to maintaining Taiwan’s competitiveness and social stability.
Addressing the economic pressures stemming from US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, Lai said NT$150 billion (US$13 billion) of a NT$410 billion special budget had been allocated to support domestic industries. A substantial portion, NT$100 billion, was dedicated to Taipower. Lai described energy stability as essential to the country’s economic security.
On foreign policy, Lai urged stronger trade ties with like-minded democracies and regional neighbors. He reaffirmed Taiwan’s commitment to bolstering its information technology sector as a strategic advantage in the global market.
Domestically, Lai praised Taiwan’s youth for their political engagement and highlighted efforts to foster bipartisan communication. He noted that his administration will organize a security briefing for opposition leaders in a bid to promote dialogue.
While Lai did not directly address cross-strait relations in his speech, he responded to a reporter’s question on the topic. He reiterated Taiwan’s desire for peace but underscored the importance of enhancing national defense. Lai also expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue with China, provided it is based on mutual respect.
Opposition leaders welcomed Lai’s gesture but called for more concrete actions. KMT Chair Eric Chu (朱立倫) suggested that Lai personally lead the security briefing and formalize a mechanism for regular dialogue between the ruling and opposition parties, per Newtalk.
The TPP echoed calls for greater responsiveness, urging the government to act swiftly on issues such as the rising New Taiwan dollar and the economic fallout from US tariffs, per ETtoday. The TPP also warned against what it viewed as the political misuse of the judiciary.
