Taipei: President Lai Ching-te marked the first anniversary of his presidency with an address that emphasized Taiwan's pivotal role in technology, trade, and security on the global stage. He announced new economic and national security initiatives while calling for a commitment to democratic values and cross-party cooperation.
According to Focus Taiwan, President Lai began his address by expressing condolences for the victims of a recent tragic traffic accident in New Taipei City's Sanxia District. A task force has been formed to investigate the incident, and government agencies are collaborating to provide support to the affected families.
President Lai reiterated the government's dedication to serving the people and acknowledged the cooperation between the government and citizens in overcoming challenges. He highlighted the establishment of three committees to address climate change, health promotion, and social resilience, showcasing Taiwan's alignment with international standards through carbon reduction projects and significant budget allocations for a net-zero transition by 2030.
He also announced the creation of a national center for disease prevention and control and unveiled the NT$48.9 billion Healthy Taiwan Cultivation Plan to enhance public health post-pandemic. To bolster national security and defense resilience, the Executive Yuan has allocated NT$410 billion, with NT$150 billion dedicated to enhancing national resilience.
Addressing economic challenges, President Lai outlined strategies in response to the United States' new tariff policy, emphasizing the importance of stable power supply and energy security. He assured continued collaboration with the US and other democratic nations to strengthen trade relations, highlighting ongoing negotiations and recent agreements with countries like the United Kingdom and Canada.
President Lai underscored Taiwan's commitment to democratic values and free market principles, which he described as the nation's greatest assets. He emphasized the importance of international cooperation and investment, citing recent expansions by international firms such as Nvidia and Google in Taiwan.
Looking ahead, the government plans to establish a sovereign wealth fund and a national-level investment platform to boost Taiwan's global economic presence. Domestically, efforts will focus on enhancing local supply chains and supporting industrial restructuring to improve competitiveness.
In closing, President Lai reaffirmed Taiwan's dedication to democracy, emphasizing unity in diversity and the importance of cross-party dialogue. He highlighted Taiwan's role as a global leader in technological innovation, particularly through events like COMPUTEX TAIPEI, and expressed confidence in Taiwan's ability to overcome challenges and contribute to global prosperity.