TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan should not be blamed for cross-strait tensions because its people reject Chinese Communist Party rule, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said Thursday.
Speaking at the launch of a Veterans Affairs Council digital care program, Lai said Taiwanese want to protect their democracy, freedom, and human rights. He said their refusal to accept Chinese Communist Party rule should not be portrayed as a threat to peace, CNA reported.
Lai said China was using military threats and political pressure against Taiwan. He urged veterans and the wider public to remain united in defending national security.
Lai pledged that the government would continue supporting veterans. He also called on people from all professions and backgrounds to help protect the rights Taiwan has secured over the past several decades.
Turning to healthcare, Lai said the council’s digital platform mainly serves retired military personnel. He called for the service to include other patients at veterans hospitals and asked the Ministry of Health and Welfare to expand it to hospitals across Taiwan, UDN reported.
The president also discussed the government’s “Long-Term Care 3.0” program, which aims to better connect care recipients with service providers. These include social service agencies, healthcare providers, families, local governments, and community leaders.
Lai said the program offers respite care so family caregivers can take breaks. The government also plans to build more public residential care centers and increase subsidies while the facilities are under construction.
Taiwan had 720 long-term care service locations and an annual budget of NT$4.95 billion (US$168 million) when former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) took office in 2016, Lai said. By the end of her presidency, the number of locations had grown to more than 15,000, while annual funding had reached NT$96.4 billion.
The government proposed NT$115.3 billion for long-term care in 2026, but the funding is awaiting legislative approval, Lai said. He urged the legislature to approve it so the government could improve care services and maintain access to resources during emergencies.
