Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

On the afternoon of August 8, President Lai Ching-te presided over the first meeting of the National Climate Change Committee. As the committee’s convener, the president presented committee members with their letters of appointment, and explained that, in line with the principle of equity, the committee has drawn its members from a diverse range of disciplines, generations, and perspectives. This demonstrates the government’s determination, he said, to forge a social consensus through diversified dialogue, and to unite the public in addressing the major challenges to future global and domestic development. President Lai emphasized that energy issues are complex and not simply a black-and-white matter of being for or against nuclear energy. Every strategic national policy decision, he said, is bound to present multiple-choice questions complicated by the fact that more than one right answer may be possible. The president stated that he aims to address issues honestly, propose solutions pragmatically, and resolve problems practically through the committee’s discussions, with the goal of formulating strategies for the nation’s sustainable development so that Taiwan society can forge a consensus and the nation can indeed develop sustainably. A translation of President Lai’s opening statement follows: Today is Father’s Day, so first I want to wish fathers around the world a happy Father’s Day. I also want to thank everyone for taking the time to participate in today’s meeting, especially on this holiday. There are many fathers here today, and Committee Member Huang Pin-han (黃品涵), who recently gave birth and is still in postpartum care, insisted on attending. Let’s give her a warm round of applause. I also want to thank all our friends watching the live broadcast, who are joining us in showing their concern for the nation’s future and development. To respond to the impacts of global climate change, global infectious diseases, and the challenges posed by shifting global geopolitics, I announced the establishment of three committees at the Presidential Office one month after my inauguration: the National Climate Change Committee, Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee, and Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee. I hope these three committees will fulfill three major functions of serving as platforms for social engagement, bridges for communication within society, and engines for policy effectiveness. This demonstrates the government’s determination to forge a social consensus through diversified dialogue and unite the public to address the major challenges of future global and domestic development. In line with the principle of equity, the members of these three committees are drawn from a diverse range of disciplines, generations, and perspectives. For example, the National Climate Change Committee includes eight cabinet ministers and commission heads, with Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming (彭啓明) serving as the executive secretary. National climate governance, however, involves broad and profound issues, requiring the public and private sectors to join forces and work together. As a result, 65 percent of this committee’s members are not government officials. In addition, 28.5 percent of members are women. There are six representatives from the industrial sector, and we want to express our gratitude to enterprise representatives Paul Peng (彭双浪), Lai Po-szu (賴博司), Terry Tsao (曹世綸), Sophia Cheng (程淑芬), Lydia Hsiao-mei Lin (林筱玫), and Taipower Company Chairman Tseng Wen-sheng (曾文生) for their participation. Their involvement will extend Taiwan’s strategic thinking about climate and energy across traditional sectors, fields, and high-tech industries, account for the needs of emerging industries of the new era such as AI and international green finance, and ensure that we look ahead to the future and align with international trends. The number of our representatives from the civil society sector is equal to that of the industrial sector, with six pioneers of environmental movements representing multiple generations invited to participate: Shih Shin-min (施信民), Lee Ken-cheng (李根政), Chao Chia-wei (趙家緯), Ho Tsung-hsun (何宗勳), Huang Pin-han (黃品涵), and Chen Hui-ping (陳惠萍). They all represent efforts at the frontlines of environmental movements. We are deeply grateful for your participation and look forward to jointly expanding dialogue with civil society, working together to achieve greater depth and breadth in systemic change. Of course, we also invited scholars and experts from various disciplines to join. We are very grateful to Lin Tze-luen (林子倫), Chou Kuei-tien (周桂田), Tseng Chung-jen (曾重仁), and Su Huey-jen (蘇慧貞) for their participation. Their respective backgrounds in the humanities, science and engineering, environmental health, medicine, and public health will help us gain a more comprehensive understanding of climate change issues. The committee is meeting for the first time today, and we are beginning by discussing issues that are the focus of particular concern to our society. First, we will hear a report from the Ministry of Environment assessing the impacts of climate change on both the globe and Taiwan. Following that, Chairman Tseng will deliver a report on the transition and challenges related to power supply and demand in Taiwan. Due to the impacts of extreme weather, more and more experts are warning that each summer from now on is likely to be “one of the coolest summers of the rest of our lives.” Increasingly, what were once considered “once-in-a-century” droughts and storms are occurring in rapid succession. Over the past eight years under the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration, the government had to establish two emergency response centers at least 19 times, either in close succession or simultaneously – one to address drought and the other to manage flooding. Late last month, Typhoon Gaemi brought disastrous rainfall in Chiayi and three other counties and municipalities south of it. Single-day precipitation levels in both the lowlands and mountainous areas were comparable to those brought by Typhoon Morakot in 2009, and in some areas even exceeded Morakot. Statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture indicate that nationwide losses from damage to agricultural property and private facilities are already in the billions of New Taiwan Dollars. Extreme precipitation caused by global extreme weather, as well as heat waves and other such disasters pose formidable challenges to all countries. A sudden natural disaster is like an acute cold, while climate change is more like a chronic disease. But no matter which type of problem we’re facing, we all have a responsibility to continue strengthening Taiwan’s ability to adapt to the risks associated with extreme weather, and to continually make our nation more sustainable and more resilient. Of course, I realize that the stability of Taiwan’s power supply is a matter of concern not only to us in Taiwan. It’s also important to international supply chains. There has recently been widespread discussion regarding the issue of nuclear power. Twenty-plus years ago, back when I was a member of the Legislative Yuan, working across party lines I co-sponsored a draft version of the Basic Environment Act. The Act has come to be known as Taiwan’s “environmental constitution,” and it is the first law in Taiwan to incorporate the concept of a “nuclear-free homeland.” Article 23 of the Act reads that the government shall formulate a plan to progressively achieve the goal of a nuclear-free homeland. Although the DPP was the ruling party at that time within the executive branch, we did not have a legislative majority. The fact that we were able to get the Basic Environment Act passed by reaching a consensus between the ruling and opposition parties is proof that the concept of a nuclear-free homeland is not just an ideological stance of the DPP. Sustainable development is a goal that we all agree upon, regardless of party affiliation, and one that we’re all working together to achieve. I hope that through this committee, everyone can realize that energy issues are complex and not simply a black-and-white matter of being for or against nuclear energy. Every strategic national policy decision is bound to present multiple-choice questions complicated by the fact that more than one right answer may be possible. That’s the only way we can address issues honestly, propose solutions pragmatically, and resolve problems practically. Therefore, I want to say to every one of you, that to have differing positions is typical in a democracy. Having diverse opinions is, in fact, the best thing about democracy. I hope that the committee’s discussions will impress upon the 23 million people of Taiwan that we can all have our different viewpoints, but we only have one Taiwan. We can all have our different stances, but we still have one goal that we all agree upon, and that is our nation’s sustainable development. Our shared mission is to think flexibly and brainstorm among a broad range of people, with the goal of formulating strategies for the nation’s sustainable development so that Taiwan society can forge a consensus. Once again, I want to thank everyone for your willingness to take on such an important task. I’ll soon ask each of you to actively share your thoughts, professional expertise, and experience with us, to help us resolve problems and to help Taiwan keep moving forward. Thank you. Following his statement, President Lai presented letters of appointment to the committee members, heard a report assessing the impacts of climate change on both the globe and Taiwan presented by Minister Peng, and a report on the transition and challenges related to power supply and demand in Taiwan presented by Chairman Tseng. Afterward, President Lai exchanged views with the committee members regarding the content of the two reports and the Rules of Procedure for Meetings of the Office of the President National Climate Change Committee.

On the morning of July 18, President Lai Ching-te met with international and Taiwanese members of the organizing committee for the 2024 Junior Chamber International (JCI) World Congress. In remarks, President Lai said that Taiwan will host this year’s JCI World Congress, adding that young leaders from many nations will focus on such issues as entrepreneurship and innovation, green economy, and carbon emissions reduction under the event’s theme, “Technological Innovation for a Prosperous and Sustainable Future.” The president thanked JCI for supporting Taiwan and expressed his hope for Taiwan to harness the power for change through this event, as we work together to make the world a better place. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: In October, Taiwan will host the 2024 JCI World Congress. Over the past several years, I have enjoyed many interactions with partners from JCI, and I am delighted to be able to welcome you all to the Presidential Office today. I wish the congress great success and thank all of our JCI partners for their contributions. Over the years, JCI Taiwan has been actively involved in public affairs. Its Ten Outstanding Young Persons award encourages young people to contribute even more to society. It was an honor for me to serve as chairman of the panel of judges for the awards and to work with JCI in promoting this meaningful event.  As one of the world’s four major international service organizations, JCI continues to marshal the forces of its 350,000-strong global membership and community resources to promote global development. The 2024 JCI World Congress in October will bring together more than 6,000 people from 120 countries. The event will see young leaders from these nations focus on such issues as entrepreneurship and innovation, green economy, and carbon emissions reduction under its theme, “Technological Innovation for a Prosperous and Sustainable Future.” I understand that JCI President Kaveen Kumar Kumaravel’s vision for his fellow members is “Let’s make a difference!” We are delighted to welcome the president and thank him for helping facilitate Taiwan’s hosting of this year’s world congress, so that we can harness the power for change as we work together to make the world a better place. In closing, I want to extend my special thanks to JCI Chung-Li for winning the bid for Taiwan’s right to host the world congress. And I thank all of our guests once again for supporting Taiwan. I wish you a successful visit and the very best for the JCI World Congress. Also in attendance at the meeting was JCI Secretary General Kevin Hin.

On the morning of June 3, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by International Peace Foundation (IPF) Founder and Chairman Uwe Morawetz. In remarks, President Lai thanked the IPF for coming to Taiwan to promote the Taiwan BRIDGES event series with National Taiwan University (NTU), and advance educational exchanges and global peace together. The president said he is confident the program will not only benefit Taiwan’s scholars, but also deepen our international connections and enhance our global reach. He also expressed hope that Chairman Morawetz will gain an even deeper understanding of Taiwan through this visit, and said he looks forward to seeing even more international exchanges and cooperation in the future. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I am delighted to welcome Chairman Morawetz back to Taiwan. Chairman Morawetz is visiting to promote the Taiwan BRIDGES event series with NTU President Chen Wen-chang (陳文章). Last month, in my inaugural address, I stated that Taiwan would be a pilot for global peace. Today, I am pleased to meet and exchange ideas with Chairman Morawetz and all our distinguished guests. The IPF believes that education serves as the foundation of peace. It has worked with universities to establish advanced courses and research that can assist governments, the European Union, and the United Nations in opening up peace dialogue. The IPF has also organized the event series BRIDGES – Dialogues Towards a Culture of Peace, holding over 800 events across Southeast Asia since 2003. By bringing together Nobel laureates and renowned artists, the series has achieved remarkable results in fostering academic cooperation and cultural exchange. I want to thank the IPF for choosing to come to Taiwan so that we can advance educational exchanges and global peace together. The Taiwan BRIDGES event series is expected to begin next year, and six Nobel laureates in physics, medicine, chemistry, and economics will be invited to visit Taiwan. I am confident this program will not only benefit Taiwan’s scholars, but also deepen our international connections and enhance our global reach. Taiwan, with its geopolitically strategic location, is an important democracy in the Indo-Pacific region. On this occasion, I want to express my special thanks to President Chen for his efforts in nurturing talent for the nation. For instance, last month, NTU inaugurated the International School of Politics and Economics with the aim to cultivate leaders in Taiwan with a global political and economic vision. Additionally, LITEON Technology Founder and LITEON Group Chairman Raymond Soong (宋恭源) made a donation to NTU in August last year to establish an interdisciplinary top research exchange platform, which has facilitated collaboration between President Chen and Chairman Morawetz. I am grateful for Chairman Soong’s contributions. I am also pleased to welcome Tzu Chi Charity Foundation CEO Yen Po-wen (顏博文) and Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps Senior Volunteer Doctor Lin Shih-han (林士涵) to the Presidential Office today. We have all witnessed over many years that whenever a disaster strikes Taiwan, Tzu Chi volunteers quickly provide relief, supporting those affected. After the April 3 earthquake this year, Tzu Chi set up response centers and shelters to assist the victims. The Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps has long provided medical and material assistance in remote and underserved areas. To date, it has set up free clinics in 50 countries and regions on more than 400 occasions. Such work is very admirable. The public welfare organizations represented by these two distinguished guests exemplify the goodwill of Taiwan and align with the ideals of the IPF. I look forward to seeing even more international exchanges and cooperation in the future. In closing, I hope that Chairman Morawetz will gain an even deeper understanding of Taiwan through this visit. I also wish the IPF and NTU great success in their collaboration. Chairman Morawetz then delivered remarks, saying that in October last year, he visited Taiwan and met with Professor Lee Yuan-tseh (李遠哲), a Nobel laureate who has participated in BRIDGES events in Thailand and suggested having BRIDGES in Taiwan in the future. Through Professor Lee, the chairman said, they were introduced to NTU, who will be the main partner in the BRIDGES event series in Taiwan. Chairman Morawetz said that the BRIDGES event series will run from November 2025 until April 2026, and that they will have many Nobel laureates visiting Taiwan. The aim, he said, is to promote Taiwan as an international hub for science, technology, sustainability, and innovation. The chairman also said they would like to further elevate Taiwan on the international map with a forward-looking program on education. With the participation of the science Nobel laureates, the brightest minds of the world, he said, BRIDGES wants to highlight Taiwan’s important role for peacebuilding, international cooperation, and global security.  As the program is called BRIDGES, the chairman went on, they want to build long-term bridges between the Nobel laureates and Taiwan. He said that although the laureates will come to Taiwan for the first time, they can develop long-term relationships with institutions and universities, come to Taiwan more often, invite Taiwanese students to work in their labs abroad, or start research programs with universities. He said the program should be a long-term and sustainable success for Taiwan, and not just an event series.  Chairman Morawetz indicated that six Nobel laureates in physics, chemistry, medicine, and economics have already been confirmed to be hosted by NTU. He said he will also be going to Tainan, Taichung, Kaohsiung, and other places because BRIDGES would like to include universities in other parts of Taiwan, involving the whole country in the program. It should be of benefit not only for the capital, he added, but for the whole country. Chairman Morawetz stated that now there is still more than one year to prepare for the program, and BRIDGES wants to be as inclusive as possible to benefit as many institutions and organizations as possible. He said they want to build long-term relationships with as many foundations and charitable organizations as possible, so that not only one organization, but the whole country, benefits from the events.  

On the afternoon of July 8, President Tsai Ing-wen attended a ceremony marking the end of the Taiwan-based study for exchange students enrolled in Taiwan-Paraguay Polytechnic University (UPTP). In remarks at the event, President Tsai called UPTP a cornerstone of bilateral educational cooperation spurring broader exchanges between our two countries, which share the goal of making it the best polytechnic university in Latin America. The president expressed hope that, as Taiwan looks to expand its cooperation with Paraguay, UPTP students can use their knowledge and experience to act as a bridge between our two countries and help us all work toward a better tomorrow. A transcript of the president's remarks is provided below: I would first like to congratulate all the students on completing your study in Taiwan. I also want to thank all the faculty members for your hard work and dedication. I am so delighted to have Ambassador Fleitas here with us today to mark this important milestone in Taiwan-Paraguay cooperation. When I visited Paraguay in 2018, I had the privilege of attending the opening ceremony for the pre-university courses at UPTP. Some of those who took these courses back then are soon to graduate in about six months' time. I am glad to see you again in Taiwan. And I want to thank National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST, Taiwan Tech) and our Ministry of Foreign Affairs for helping facilitate the UPTP program. I know the COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult for many of you to come to Taiwan to study. But I hope that you enjoyed your three semesters of study at Taiwan Tech, having had a chance to get to know Taiwan while sharing your culture with your fellow students here. With your contributions, I am sure the internationally diverse campus of Taiwan Tech has become a culturally much richer place. As a cornerstone of Taiwan-Paraguay educational cooperation, UPTP is spurring broader exchanges between our two countries. Our shared goal for UPTP is to make it the best polytechnic university in Latin America, and I am truly grateful to the staff of Taiwan Tech for all you have done toward this goal. Over the past five years, many scholars and administrators have worked to turn UPTP into a model for Taiwan's international education cooperation projects, sharing our knowledge and expertise in science and technology with friends around the world. Education has been at the root of Taiwan's national development. By cultivating outstanding talent in science and technology, Taiwan and Paraguay are sowing the seeds of future growth, prosperity, and friendship. And there is nothing more satisfying than seeing young talent like you thrive. In just six months, you will graduate and embark on an exciting new chapter of your careers. I am confident that your education at UPTP will empower you to contribute to the development of Paraguay and the welfare of your fellow people. As we in Taiwan look to expand our cooperation with Paraguay, I am hopeful that you, as future UPTP graduates, can play a key part in this effort. With your knowledge and experience, you can act as a bridge to help us all work toward a better tomorrow. Going forward, Taiwan will continue to strengthen collaboration with all our democratic partners. We look forward to working together with all of you in the months and years to come.

On the morning of December 9, President Tsai Ing-wen met with a senior delegation of representatives from the industry association SEMI and the renewable energy sector. During the meeting, President Tsai stated that the government will continue working to achieve its goal of 20 gigawatts of installed solar capacity by 2025, and will release additional offshore wind power capacity for development each year in order to build a more flexible and resilient power grid. The president also asked the business community for its support in these government efforts, so that we can lay a solid foundation for Taiwan's future global competitiveness. A translation of President Tsai's remarks follows: It was just yesterday that we met at the Energy Taiwan expo. And it is a pleasure to welcome you all to the Presidential Office today for a more in-depth exchange of views and to hear your valued opinions. First of all, I want to thank SEMI for its longstanding focus on the development of Taiwan's semiconductor sector. Its annual SEMICON Taiwan exhibition is a major event for the global semiconductor industry, as well as an important platform for our homegrown firms to connect with their international counterparts. Let me take this opportunity to wish SEMI all success with the upcoming SEMICON Taiwan exhibition, which will be held at the end of the month. This year, the value of Taiwan's semiconductor industry is expected to exceed NT$4 trillion, breaking previous records. One important task we have in maintaining our nation's global leadership in this sector is the development of green energy, so we can address the demand for green energy from semiconductor firms. Since 2016, cooperation between our government and all of you, as industry leaders, has yielded notable progress in Taiwan's solar and wind power sectors. And last year, the Ministry of Economic Affairs established a platform for trading green energy, speeding up efforts to coordinate green energy demand and supply in the private sector. Going forward, as we pursue our goal of 20 gigawatts of installed solar capacity by 2025, I will be closely following the MOEA's evaluation of additional areas for potential solar power project development. In addition, we have already announced details of the bidding process and localization requirements for the third phase of our offshore wind power development plan, as part of which 1.5 gigawatts of capacity will be up for bidding each year from 2026 to 2031. Moreover, to facilitate the integration of renewable energy into Taiwan's power supply grid, Taipower has set a goal of installing more than 1,000 megawatts of energy storage capacity by 2025, through a combination of direct construction as well as private tenders. Our administration will continue to work to ensure the stability of our power grid by developing more flexible and resilient systems. Energy transition is a key policy priority for our government, and we have a clear roadmap for how to overcome the challenges ahead of us and meet our goals. Your cooperation and support for our government's efforts are important to us. Together, we can help lay a firm foundation for Taiwan's future competitiveness. Among the members of the visiting delegation were SEMI Global Chief Marketing Officer and SEMI Taiwan President Terry Tsao (曹世綸), SEMI PV Committee Chairman Andy Shen (沈維鈞), SEMI Wind Energy Committee Vice Chairman Julian Kuo (郭世榮), SEMI Energy Storage Committee Chairman Paul Ai (艾祖華); United Renewable Energy Co. (URE) Chairman Sam Hong (洪傳獻); TSEC Corp. Chairman Liao Kuo-jung (廖國榮); ASE Technology Holding Co. Corporate Administration Officer Dtuang Wang (汪渡村); Yuen Foong Yu Group Chairman Hui-Jean Liu (劉慧瑾); Copenhagen Infrastructure Wind Power Development Taiwan Co. Managing Director Marina Hsu (許乃文); Ørsted Asia Pacific President Matthias Bausenwein; Siemens Gamesa Offshore Asia-Pacific General Manager Niels Steenberg; AUO Optronics Corp. Vice President of Energy Business T.Y. Lin (林恬宇); and Enel X Taiwan Co. General Manager Chen Wei-ting (陳威廷).

In a recent interview on Nippon Television’s news zero program, President Lai Ching-te responded to questions from host Mr. Sakurai Sho and Yomiuri TV Shanghai Bureau Chief Watanabe Masayo on topics including reflections on his first year in office, cross-strait relations, China’s military threats, Taiwan-United States relations, and Taiwan-Japan relations. The interview was broadcast on the evening of May 19. During the interview, President Lai stated that China intends to change the world’s rules-based international order, and that if Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted. Therefore, he said, Taiwan will strengthen its national defense, prevent war by preparing for war, and achieve the goal of peace. The president also noted that Taiwan’s purpose for developing drones is based on national security and industrial needs, and that Taiwan hopes to collaborate with Japan. He then reiterated that China’s threats are an international problem, and expressed hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war. Following is the text of the questions and the president’s responses: Q: How do you feel as you are about to round out your first year in office? President Lai: When I was young, I was determined to practice medicine and save lives. When I left medicine to go into politics, I was determined to transform Taiwan. And when I was sworn in as president on May 20 last year, I was determined to strengthen the nation. Time flies, and it has already been a year. Although the process has been very challenging, I am deeply honored to be a part of it. I am also profoundly grateful to our citizens for allowing me the opportunity to give back to our country. The future will certainly be full of more challenges, but I will do everything I can to unite the people and continue strengthening the nation. That is how I am feeling now. Q: We are now coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and over this period, we have often heard that conflict between Taiwan and the mainland is imminent. Do you personally believe that a cross-strait conflict could happen? President Lai: The international community is very much aware that China intends to replace the US and change the world’s rules-based international order, and annexing Taiwan is just the first step. So, as China’s military power grows stronger, some members of the international community are naturally on edge about whether a cross-strait conflict will break out. The international community must certainly do everything in its power to avoid a conflict in the Taiwan Strait; there is too great a cost. Besides causing direct disasters to both Taiwan and China, the impact on the global economy would be even greater, with estimated losses of US$10 trillion from war alone – that is roughly 10 percent of the global GDP. Additionally, 20 percent of global shipping passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, so if a conflict breaks out in the strait, other countries including Japan and Korea would suffer a grave impact. For Japan and Korea, a quarter of external transit passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, and a third of the various energy resources and minerals shipped back from other countries pass through said areas. If Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted, and therefore conflict in the Taiwan Strait must be avoided. Such a conflict is indeed avoidable. I am very thankful to Prime Minister of Japan Ishiba Shigeru and former Prime Ministers Abe Shinzo, Suga Yoshihide, and Kishida Fumio, as well as US President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden, and the other G7 leaders, for continuing to emphasize at international venues that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are essential components for global security and prosperity. When everyone in the global democratic community works together, stacking up enough strength to make China’s objectives unattainable or to make the cost of invading Taiwan too high for it to bear, a conflict in the strait can naturally be avoided. Q: As you said, President Lai, maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is also very important for other countries. How can war be avoided? What sort of countermeasures is Taiwan prepared to take to prevent war? President Lai: As Mr. Sakurai mentioned earlier, we are coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. There are many lessons we can take from that war. First is that peace is priceless, and war has no winners. From the tragedies of WWII, there are lessons that humanity should learn. We must pursue peace, and not start wars blindly, as that would be a major disaster for humanity. In other words, we must be determined to safeguard peace. The second lesson is that we cannot be complacent toward authoritarian powers. If you give them an inch, they will take a mile. They will keep growing, and eventually, not only will peace be unattainable, but war will be inevitable. The third lesson is why WWII ended: It ended because different groups joined together in solidarity. Taiwan, Japan, and the Indo-Pacific region are all directly subjected to China’s threats, so we hope to be able to join together in cooperation. This is why we proposed the Four Pillars of Peace action plan. First, we will strengthen our national defense. Second, we will strengthen economic resilience. Third is standing shoulder to shoulder with the democratic community to demonstrate the strength of deterrence. Fourth is that as long as China treats Taiwan with parity and dignity, Taiwan is willing to conduct exchanges and cooperate with China, and seek peace and mutual prosperity. These four pillars can help us avoid war and achieve peace. That is to say, Taiwan hopes to achieve peace through strength, prevent war by preparing for war, keeping war from happening and pursuing the goal of peace. Q: Regarding drones, everyone knows that recently, Taiwan has been actively researching, developing, and introducing drones. Why do you need to actively research, develop, and introduce new drones at this time? President Lai: This is for two purposes. The first is to meet national security needs. The second is to meet industrial development needs. Because Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines are all part of the first island chain, and we are all democratic nations, we cannot be like an authoritarian country like China, which has an unlimited national defense budget. In this kind of situation, island nations such as Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines should leverage their own technologies to develop national defense methods that are asymmetric and utilize unmanned vehicles. In particular, from the Russo-Ukrainian War, we see that Ukraine has successfully utilized unmanned vehicles to protect itself and prevent Russia from unlimited invasion. In other words, the Russo-Ukrainian War has already proven the importance of drones. Therefore, the first purpose of developing drones is based on national security needs. Second, the world has already entered the era of smart technology. Whether generative, agentic, or physical, AI will continue to develop. In the future, cars and ships will also evolve into unmanned vehicles and unmanned boats, and there will be unmanned factories. Drones will even be able to assist with postal deliveries, or services like Uber, Uber Eats, and foodpanda, or agricultural irrigation and pesticide spraying. Therefore, in the future era of comprehensive smart technology, developing unmanned vehicles is a necessity. Taiwan, based on industrial needs, is actively planning the development of drones and unmanned vehicles. I would like to take this opportunity to express Taiwan’s hope to collaborate with Japan in the unmanned vehicle industry. Just as we do in the semiconductor industry, where Japan has raw materials, equipment, and technology, and Taiwan has wafer manufacturing, our two countries can cooperate. Japan is a technological power, and Taiwan also has significant technological strengths. If Taiwan and Japan work together, we will not only be able to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and security in the Indo-Pacific region, but it will also be very helpful for the industrial development of both countries. Q: The drones you just described probably include examples from the Russo-Ukrainian War. Taiwan and China are separated by the Taiwan Strait. Do our drones need to have cross-sea flight capabilities? President Lai: Taiwan does not intend to counterattack the mainland, and does not intend to invade any country. Taiwan’s drones are meant to protect our own nation and territory. Q: Former President Biden previously stated that US forces would assist Taiwan’s defense in the event of an attack. President Trump, however, has yet to clearly state that the US would help defend Taiwan. Do you think that in such an event, the US would help defend Taiwan? Or is Taiwan now trying to persuade the US? President Lai: Former President Biden and President Trump have answered questions from reporters. Although their responses were different, strong cooperation with Taiwan under the Biden administration has continued under the Trump administration; there has been no change. During President Trump’s first term, cooperation with Taiwan was broader and deeper compared to former President Barack Obama’s terms. After former President Biden took office, cooperation with Taiwan increased compared to President Trump’s first term. Now, during President Trump’s second term, cooperation with Taiwan is even greater than under former President Biden. Taiwan-US cooperation continues to grow stronger, and has not changed just because President Trump and former President Biden gave different responses to reporters. Furthermore, the Trump administration publicly stated that in the future, the US will shift its strategic focus from Europe to the Indo-Pacific. The US secretary of defense even publicly stated that the primary mission of the US is to prevent China from invading Taiwan, maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific, and thus maintain world peace. There is a saying in Taiwan that goes, “Help comes most to those who help themselves.” Before asking friends and allies for assistance in facing threats from China, Taiwan must first be determined and prepared to defend itself. This is Taiwan’s principle, and we are working in this direction, making all the necessary preparations to safeguard the nation. Q: I would like to ask you a question about Taiwan-Japan relations. After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, you made an appeal to give Japan a great deal of assistance and care. In particular, you visited Sendai to offer condolences. Later, you also expressed condolences and concern after the earthquakes in Aomori and Kumamoto. What are your expectations for future Taiwan-Japan exchanges and development? President Lai: I come from Tainan, and my constituency is in Tainan. Tainan has very deep ties with Japan, and of course, Taiwan also has deep ties with Japan. However, among Taiwan’s 22 counties and cities, Tainan has the deepest relationship with Japan. I sincerely hope that both of you and your teams will have an opportunity to visit Tainan. I will introduce Tainan’s scenery, including architecture from the era of Japanese rule, Tainan’s cuisine, and unique aspects of Tainan society, and you can also see lifestyles and culture from the Showa era.  The Wushantou Reservoir in Tainan was completed by engineer Mr. Hatta Yoichi from Kanazawa, Japan and the team he led to Tainan after he graduated from then-Tokyo Imperial University. It has nearly a century of history and is still in use today. This reservoir, along with the 16,000-km-long Chianan Canal, transformed the 150,000-hectare Chianan Plain into Taiwan’s premier rice-growing area. It was that foundation in agriculture that enabled Taiwan to develop industry and the technology sector of today. The reservoir continues to supply water to Tainan Science Park. It is used by residents of Tainan, the agricultural sector, and industry, and even the technology sector in Xinshi Industrial Park, as well as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Because of this, the people of Tainan are deeply grateful for Mr. Hatta and very friendly toward the people of Japan. A major earthquake, the largest in 50 years, struck Tainan on February 6, 2016, resulting in significant casualties. As mayor of Tainan at the time, I was extremely grateful to then-Prime Minister Abe, who sent five Japanese officials to the disaster site in Tainan the day after the earthquake. They were very thoughtful and asked what kind of assistance we needed from the Japanese government. They offered to provide help based on what we needed. I was deeply moved, as former Prime Minister Abe showed such care, going beyond the formality of just sending supplies that we may or may not have actually needed. Instead, the officials asked what we needed and then provided assistance based on those needs, which really moved me. Similarly, when the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 or the later Kumamoto earthquakes struck, the people of Tainan, under my leadership, naturally and dutifully expressed their support. Even earlier, when central Taiwan was hit by a major earthquake in 1999, Japan was the first country to deploy a rescue team to the disaster area. On February 6, 2018, after a major earthquake in Hualien, former Prime Minister Abe appeared in a video holding up a message of encouragement he had written in calligraphy saying “Remain strong, Taiwan.” All of Taiwan was deeply moved. Over the years, Taiwan and Japan have supported each other when earthquakes struck, and have forged bonds that are family-like, not just neighborly. This is truly valuable. In the future, I hope Taiwan and Japan can be like brothers, and that the peoples of Taiwan and Japan can treat one another like family. If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem; if Japan has a problem, then Taiwan has a problem. By caring for and helping each other, we can face various challenges and difficulties, and pursue a brighter future. Q: President Lai, you just used the phrase “If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem.” In the event that China attempts to invade Taiwan by force, what kind of response measures would you hope the US military and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take? President Lai: As I just mentioned, annexing Taiwan is only China’s first step. Its ultimate objective is to change the rules-based international order. That being the case, China’s threats are an international problem. So, I would very much hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war – prevention, after all, is more important than cure.