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 afternoon of September 27, President Tsai Ing-wen met with Stanford University Professor Andrew Ng. In remarks, President Tsai stated that Taiwan has an excellent foundation in semiconductors and smart manufacturing, and expressed hope that Taiwan can accelerate the development of artificial intelligence and its associated applications, so that we can continue to upgrade and transform our industries. Stating that the government will give its full support to the development of AI technologies, the president expressed her belief that Taiwan has what it takes to develop a comprehensive AI ecosystem and become an international AI powerhouse. A translation of President Tsai's remarks follows: The last time Professor Ng visited Taiwan was in 2019, before the global pandemic started. He was here at the invitation of the Ministry of Science and Technology to give a lecture on the theme "What's next in AI." Four years later, the AI wave has truly arrived and the whole world is paying close attention to this issue. Professor Ng, let me welcome you to Taiwan again. Through this visit, I hope that you can build closer connections with industry and academia in Taiwan to discuss and explore more potential applications for AI. Technological advances have made it easier to put AI into practice. AI can now play a role in finding solutions to the many issues faced by modern society in areas such as climate change, healthcare, and traffic safety. As Professor Ng has said, AI is transforming almost every industry. It is for this reason that Taiwan hopes to accelerate the development of AI and its associated applications, so that we can continue to upgrade and transform Taiwan's industries and cultivate more talent, making Taiwan a smart, digital nation. As AI applications grow increasingly complex, the chip and information and communications technology industries, among others, will have to adapt. AI has also become an important driver for the future of the semiconductor industry. And with the geopolitical changes of recent years, countries around the world are seeking a reliable supply chain. I am confident that building on our solid foundation of talent and R&D, Taiwan will maintain its position of global prominence in this area. Moving forward, Taiwan will work with like-minded partners, using technology to strengthen social trust, safeguard and enhance our democracy and freedoms, and reduce any potentially negative impacts of AI. I also want to thank Taiwania Capital CEO David Weng (翁嘉盛) for his longstanding efforts to facilitate Taiwanese industries' global engagement and for his keen interest in AI. Thank you for hosting the Navigating the Future of AI forum and for inviting Professor Ng to visit Taiwan to explore the trends in and challenges of AI with us. Taiwan has an excellent foundation in semiconductors and smart manufacturing as well as outstanding talent in AI. The government is also giving its full support to the development of AI technologies. I believe that Taiwan has what it takes to develop a comprehensive AI ecosystem. The world can count on Taiwan to become an international AI powerhouse. I once again welcome you, Professor Ng, and I wish you a successful and rewarding visit to Taiwan. 

On the morning of April 22, Earth Day, President Tsai Ing-wen attended the 100 Re-Actions forum on environmental sustainability in Taipei. In remarks, President Tsai stated that the government will promote a broad transition across Taiwan's energy sector, industry, lifestyle, and society on the foundations of technology R&D and climate legislation, working together with the public to accelerate progress toward the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.   A translation of President Tsai's remarks follows: One year ago today, on Earth Day last year, I attended this forum and announced that we would take a pragmatic and forward-looking approach in plotting a course toward net-zero emissions by 2050. After a year of planning and interagency efforts, the National Development Council (NDC) at the end of last month (March) officially published Taiwan's Pathway to Net-Zero Emissions in 2050, along with an explanation of our overall strategy. On the foundations of technology R&D and climate legislation, the government will promote a broad transition across Taiwan's energy sector, industry, lifestyle, and society in order to accelerate progress toward net-zero emissions.   Technological advances are a key driver of the global transition to net-zero. Whether it’s the net-zero roadmap set out by the International Energy Agency (IEA) or the roadmaps of other countries, long-term carbon reduction will rely on new technologies to deliver further breakthroughs. Taiwan has globally competitive technological advantages, and we must invest in the research and development of new sustainable energy technologies, taking a multi-pronged approach to comprehensively deploy the technologies needed for net-zero.  In terms of legislation, the Environmental Protection Administration has worked to amend the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act. In addition to changing the name of the act to the Climate Change Response Act, its proposed revisions would write the 2050 net-zero emissions goal into law while activating a carbon pricing mechanism and filling out procedures for carbon footprint verification. Yesterday, the Executive Yuan approved these draft revisions and forwarded them to the Legislative Yuan for review. Going forward, the government will continue to push for further revisions to three key energy-related laws, and will leverage the power of green finance to help our finance sector accelerate the pace of our transition.  Energy transition is at the heart of this work. Since 2016, the government has been actively developing our green energy industry and continues to increase our renewable energy generation capacity, transforming Taiwan into the green energy hub of Asia. The purpose of these efforts is to lay a strong foundation for our future energy transition.  Moving forward, we will invest in the research and development of emerging technologies, including in hydrogen energy, geothermal energy, and other alternative green energy sources. Moreover, to accompany growth in green energy, we will continue to advance the development of smarter electrical grids and energy storage equipment. We want to use the power of technology to drive and accelerate the pace of our energy transition, so that by 2050, renewable energy accounts for at least 60 percent of our generation capacity, hydrogen accounts for around 10 percent, and fossil fuel with carbon capture accounts for around 20 percent, thereby achieving a stable energy transition.  In industry, our government continues to collect recommendations from a range of agencies and develop systematic strategies for reducing carbon emissions. As a country with an export-oriented industrial sector, Taiwan needs to make structural adjustments in order to become a part of the global green supply chain, whether through the enhancement of production processes in our manufacturing sector, the electrification of vehicles, or other means. To achieve this, our public and private sectors will have to work together. I encourage our business leaders to follow our government's model of first working with major companies to lead the way for smaller companies, together reducing the potential impacts of this transition on business while also making Taiwanese industry more competitive internationally.  Our transition to reach net-zero by 2050 will touch every aspect of our lives. To help everyone make lifestyle adjustments, the relevant government agencies have been engaging the public in conversation to forge a broad consensus on this matter. In addition to rallying everyone in Taiwan toward a low-carbon lifestyle, we are working to incorporate this idea even more broadly in areas such as diet, transportation, and architecture.  When it comes to the transition for society at large, the most important thing is to take care in ensuring a fair process. The government is preparing to collaborate with the public to jointly establish a social support system that will assist disadvantaged groups from all sectors of society, helping them turn the challenges of this transition into opportunities while also ensuring public participation and a just process. It is our hope that the costs of this transformation will not be unfairly placed on disadvantaged groups, which is why the government will help them through this process.  Achieving Taiwan's goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 will be a massive challenge. Our government has already planned to invest NT$900 billion by 2030 to promote our transition plans and continue to fine-tune our efforts. We also look forward to industry, academia, and all sectors of society working together with our government, as this forum reminds us that sustainability cannot be achieved by working alone. We will combine our nation's strengths and resources to ensure that the international push for a transition to net-zero by 2050 helps power Taiwan's own development heading into this new era. The NDC's publication of Taiwan's Pathway to Net-Zero Emissions in 2050 and explanation of our overall strategy last month was just the beginning. Our government has received recommendations from industry and environmental organizations, and there will be many projects and work that will require collaboration among us all. We will soon begin the next phase of our dialogue with the public, and will continue to review and revise our plans on a rolling basis, so that the people and government can continue cooperation and take significant strides toward our goal of net-zero by 2050.

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).

On the afternoon of November 7 (morning of the same day in the UK), President Tsai Ing-wen addressed the Taiwan Day event held on the sidelines of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP26) via video. President Tsai stated that no single country can address the global climate crisis alone and that Taiwan should be included as part of the solution to this issue. The president also reiterated that Taiwan is willing and able to work side-by-side with our international partners to achieve our collective goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and ensure a sustainable environment for future generations. A transcript of President Tsai's remarks follows: First, I want to extend a warm welcome to you all for your presence at COP26 Taiwan Day. While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to present tremendous challenges to the world, the effort to tackle the global climate crisis also requires our immediate and joint attention. In recent decades, the world has faced increasingly grave challenges from extreme weather and climate change. Taiwan, as an integral part of the global community, is looking to play a role and make greater contributions in this important endeavor, so we can leave a better world for our future generations. Therefore, on this critical issue of climate change, Taiwan is determined to join the world in working toward the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. My administration has been aggressively implementing an energy transition plan since 2016, and is cultivating an even more aggressive plan to expedite our energy transition toward the net-zero goal. To demonstrate our commitment, we are also incorporating the target of "2050 Net-Zero Emissions" into our domestic law. Our government is also engaging the private sector to jointly develop green energy. Our collaboration has helped Taiwan's installed solar power capacity grow 450 percent over the past five years. And our first offshore wind farm began operation in 2019. Our effort doesn't stop here. We aim to do more than just to expedite our own energy transition. Taiwan is also working to become the Green Energy Hub in Asia. We also want to share our experience with neighboring countries to facilitate a more sustainable region. With the international community taking steps toward a zero-carbon economy, I am pleased to see so many experts from government agencies, industry, civil society, and academia gathered here today. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to discuss and exchange views on green energy and green finance with our friends from around the world. Let me take this opportunity to reiterate that Taiwan is willing and capable to work side-by-side with our international partners to achieve our collective goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Taiwan regards attaining net-zero and mitigating crisis as our collective and generational responsibility. And for this very reason, Taiwan should be included as part of the solution to address the global climate crisis. No single country can do this alone. Only by being united can we ensure a sustainable environment for future generations. Thank you all again for your participation. I wish you all a productive and fruitful COP26 Taiwan Day. The UNFCCC COP26 meetings are being held in Glasgow, Scotland between October 31 and November 12. Taiwan held COP26 Taiwan Day on November 7 in Glasgow to show our nation's willingness and determination to work with international partners to address climate change and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

On the morning of February 14, President Lai Ching-te convened the first high-level national security meeting of the year, following which he held a press conference. In remarks, President Lai announced that in this new year, the government will prioritize special budget allocations to ensure that Taiwan’s defense budget exceeds 3 percent of GDP. He stated that the government will also continue to reform national defense, reform our legal framework for national security, and advance our economic and trade strategy of being rooted in Taiwan while expanding globally. The president also proposed clear-cut national strategies for Taiwan-US relations, semiconductor industry development, and cross-strait relations. President Lai indicated that he instructed the national security and administrative teams to take swift action and deliver results, working within a stable strategic framework and according to the various policies and approaches outlined. He also instructed them to keep a close watch on changes in the international situation, seize opportunities whenever they arise, and address the concerns and hope of the citizens with concrete actions. He expressed hope that as long as citizens remain steadfast in their convictions, are willing to work hand in hand, stand firm amidst uncertainty, and look for ways to win within changing circumstances, Taiwan is certain to prevail in the test of time yet again. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: First, I would like to convey my condolences for the tragic incident which occurred at the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung, which resulted in numerous casualties. I have instructed Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) to lead the relevant central government agencies in assisting Taichung’s municipal government with actively resolving various issues regarding the incident. It is my hope that these issues can be resolved efficiently. Earlier today, I convened this year’s first high-level national security meeting. I will now report on the discussions from the meeting to all citizens. 2025 is a year full of challenges, but also a year full of hope. In today’s global landscape, the democratic world faces common threats posed by the convergence of authoritarian regimes, while dumping and unfair competition from China undermine the global economic order. A new United States administration was formed at the beginning of the year, adopting all-new strategies and policies to address challenges both domestic and from overseas. Every nation worldwide, including ours, is facing a new phase of changes and challenges. In face of such changes, ensuring national security, ensuring Taiwan’s indispensability in global supply chains, and ensuring that our nation continues to make progress amidst challenges are our top priorities this year. They are also why we convened a high-level national security meeting today. At the meeting, the national security team, the administrative team led by Premier Cho, and I held an in-depth discussion based on the overall state of affairs at home and abroad and the strategies the teams had prepared in response. We summed up the following points as an overall strategy for the next stage of advancing national security and development. First, for overall national security, so that we can ensure the freedom, democracy, and human rights of the Taiwanese people, as well as the progress and development of the nation as we face various threats from authoritarian regimes, Taiwan must resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, strengthen self-sufficiency in national defense, and consolidate national defense. Taiwan must enhance economic resilience, maintain economic autonomy, and stand firm with other democracies as we deepen our strategic partnerships with like-minded countries. As I have said, “As authoritarianism consolidates, democratic nations must come closer in solidarity!” And so, in this new year, we will focus on the following three priorities: First, to demonstrate our resolve for national defense, we will continue to reform national defense, implement whole-of-society defense resilience, and prioritize special budget allocations to ensure that our defense budget exceeds 3 percent of GDP. Second, to counter the threats to our national security from China’s united front tactics, attempts at infiltration, and cognitive warfare, we will continue with the reform of our legal framework for national security and expand the national security framework to boost societal resilience and foster unity within. Third, to seize opportunities in the restructuring of global supply chains and realignment of the economic order, we will continue advancing our economic and trade strategy of being rooted in Taiwan while expanding globally, strengthening protections for high-tech, and collaborating with our friends and allies to build supply chains for global democracies. Everyone shares concern regarding Taiwan-US relations, semiconductor industry development, and cross-strait relations. For these issues, I am proposing clear-cut national strategies. First, I will touch on Taiwan-US relations. Taiwan and the US have shared ideals and values, and are staunch partners within the democratic, free community. We are very grateful to President Donald Trump’s administration for their continued support for Taiwan after taking office. We are especially grateful for the US and Japan’s joint leaders’ statement reiterating “the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of security and prosperity for the international community,” as well as their high level of concern regarding China’s threat to regional security. In fact, the Democratic Progressive Party government has worked very closely with President Trump ever since his first term in office, and has remained an international partner. The procurement of numerous key advanced arms, freedom of navigation critical for security and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and many assisted breakthroughs in international diplomacy were made possible during this time. Positioned in the first island chain and on the democratic world’s frontline countering authoritarianism, Taiwan is willing and will continue to work with the US at all levels as we pursue regional stability and prosperity, helping realize our vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. Although changes in policy may occur these next few years, the mutual trust and close cooperation between Taiwan and Washington will steadfastly endure. On that, our citizens can rest assured. In accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances, the US announced a total of 48 military sales to Taiwan over the past eight years amounting to US$26.265 billion. During President Trump’s first term, 22 sales were announced totaling US$18.763 billion. This greatly supported Taiwan’s defensive capabilities. On the foundation of our close cooperation with the past eight years’ two US administrations, Taiwan will continue to demonstrate our determination for self-defense, accelerate the bolstering of our national defense, and keep enhancing the depth and breadth of Taiwan-US security cooperation, along with all manner of institutional cooperation. In terms of bilateral economic cooperation, Taiwan has always been one of the US’s most reliable trade partners, as well as one of the most important cooperative partners of US companies in the global semiconductor industry. In the past few years, Taiwan has greatly increased both direct and indirect investment in the US. By 2024, investment surpassed US$100 billion, creating nearly 400,000 job opportunities. In 2023 and 2024, investment in the US accounted for over 40 percent of Taiwan’s overall foreign investment, far surpassing our investment in China. In fact, in 2023 and 2024, Taiwanese investment in China fell to 11 percent and 8 percent, respectively. The US is now Taiwan’s biggest investment target. Our government is now launching relevant plans in accordance with national development needs and the need to establish secure supply systems, and the Executive Yuan is taking comprehensive inventory of opportunities for Taiwan-US economic and trade cooperation. Moving forward, close bilateral cooperation will allow us to expand US investment and procurement, facilitating balanced trade. Our government will also strengthen guidance and support for Taiwanese enterprises on increasing US investment, and promote the global expansion and growth of Taiwan’s industries. We will also boost Taiwan-US cooperation in tech development and manufacturing for AI and advanced semiconductors, and work together to maintain order in the semiconductor market, shaping a new era for our strategic economic partnership. Second, the development of our semiconductor industry. I want to emphasize that Taiwan, as one of the world’s most capable semiconductor manufacturing nations, is both willing and able to address new situations. With respect to President Trump’s concerns about our semiconductor industry, the government will act prudently, strengthen communications between Taiwan and the US, and promote greater mutual understanding. We will pay attention to the challenges arising from the situation and assist businesses in navigating them. In addition, we will introduce an initiative on semiconductor supply chain partnerships for global democracies. We are willing to collaborate with the US and our other democratic partners to develop more resilient and diversified semiconductor supply chains. Leveraging our strengths in cutting-edge semiconductors, we will form a global alliance for the AI chip industry and establish democratic supply chains for industries connected to high-end chips. Through international cooperation, we will open up an entirely new era of growth in the semiconductor industry. As we face the various new policies of the Trump administration, we will continue to uphold a spirit of mutual benefit, and we will continue to communicate and negotiate closely with the US government. This will help the new administration’s team to better understand how Taiwan is an indispensable partner in the process of rebuilding American manufacturing and consolidating its leadership in high-tech, and that Taiwan-US cooperation will benefit us both. Third, cross-strait relations. Regarding the regional and cross-strait situation, Taiwan-US relations, US-China relations, and interactions among Taiwan, the US, and China are a focus of global attention. As a member of the international democratic community and a responsible member of the region, Taiwan hopes to see Taiwan-US relations continue to strengthen and, alongside US-China relations, form a virtuous cycle rather than a zero-sum game where one side’s gain is another side’s loss. In facing China, Taiwan will always be a responsible actor. We will neither yield nor provoke. We will remain resilient and composed, maintaining our consistent position on cross-strait relations: Our determination to safeguard our national sovereignty and protect our free and democratic way of life remains unchanged. Our efforts to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, as well as our willingness to work alongside China in the pursuit of peace and mutual prosperity across the strait, remain unchanged. Our commitment to promoting healthy and orderly exchanges across the strait, choosing dialogue over confrontation, and advancing well-being for the peoples on both sides of the strait, under the principles of parity and dignity, remains unchanged. Regarding the matters I reported to the public today, I have instructed our national security and administrative teams to take swift action and deliver results, working within a stable strategic framework and according to the various policies and approaches I just outlined. I have also instructed them to keep a close watch on changes in the international situation, seize opportunities whenever they arise, and address the concerns and hope of the citizens with concrete actions. My fellow citizens, over the past several years, Taiwan has weathered a global pandemic and faced global challenges, both political and economic, arising from the US-China trade war and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Through it all, Taiwan has persevered; we have continued to develop our economy, bolster our national strength, and raise our international profile while garnering more support – all unprecedented achievements. This is all because Taiwan’s fate has never been decided by the external environment, but by the unity of the Taiwanese people and the resolve to never give up. A one-of-a-kind global situation is creating new strategic opportunities for our one-of-a-kind Taiwanese people, bringing new hope. Taiwan’s foundation is solid; its strength is great. So as long as everyone remains steadfast in their convictions, is willing to work hand in hand, stands firm amidst uncertainty, and looks for ways to win within changing circumstances, Taiwan is certain to prevail in the test of our time yet again, for I am confident that there are no difficulties that Taiwan cannot overcome. Thank you.