TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) reiterated his Four Pillars of Peace during a memorial ceremony for pro-democracy activist Nylon Cheng (鄭南榕) on Tuesday.
Lai described Cheng as a “philosopher of action,” noting that his ideas showed remarkable foresight, per the Presidential Office. After Cheng’s death on April 7, 1989, his sacrifice awakened society and inspired waves of democratic reform, he said.
The president said that despite Taiwan’s democratic achievements, it faces ongoing challenges, particularly threats from China. Just like democracy, peace must be secured through strength, Lai said, adding that true peace requires determination and capability.
Lai said that the first of his Four Pillars of Peace is strengthening national defense. The government has increased defense spending, purchased more weapons and equipment, and bolstered indigenous defense capabilities, he said. It is also promoting the special defense budget to form a “T-Dome” air defense system.
The second pillar is strengthening economic resilience, Lai said. The government’s strategy is to “root in Taiwan, expand globally, and market to the world,” he said. Investments in the US, Japan, Europe, and Southeast Asia have driven strong economic performance, with growth reaching 8.68% last year and unemployment falling to around 3%, the president said.
The third pillar is standing with democratic partners to safeguard regional peace and stability, Lai said. In recent years, European partners, the US, Japan, and others have repeatedly emphasized that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are essential to global security and prosperity, he said.
Lai said the fourth pillar is Taiwan’s willingness to engage with China on an equal and dignified basis to promote cross-strait peace. He stressed that equality and dignity are essential. Taiwan’s democratic development should not be misconstrued as provocation, he said.
Lai said the democratic foundations laid by earlier generations must be safeguarded. He said he hoped Taiwanese would continue to engage with the world and contribute to it.
