Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

On the morning of October 19, President Lai Ching-te and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao attended the opening of the Presidential Office Building’s all-new permanent exhibition, Together as One with Taiwan: The Ark of Democracy, and special exhibition, Super Taiwan Comics! The Flavors of Taiwan in Ink. In remarks, President Lai stated that the permanent exhibition, with the theme “Ark of Democracy,” has cross-disciplinary, cross-generational, and “cross-universe” features, and symbolizes how the people of Taiwan are all navigators of this Ark. He said that we will continue guiding the nation forward together with democracy and unity, and welcomed the public to visit the exhibition. Vice President Hsiao, in remarks, stated that the public can gain a deeper understanding of the historical context of the office as well as of the development of Taiwan through several eras. In his remarks, President Lai stated that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was born on September 28, 1986 in order to achieve democracy. Over its journey, he said, the DPP has worked together with the Taiwanese people, not just to break free from restrictions on political parties and the media, end martial law, call to abolish Article 100 of the Criminal Code, and achieve 100 percent freedom of speech, but also to tirelessly promote direct presidential elections and the complete re-election of the legislature, helping Taiwan shift from authoritarian rule to democracy. The president said that in 2000, the DPP took office for the first time, opening the Presidential Office Building to the public for weekday tours. This, he said, fully represents the spirit of democracy, as democracy is rule by the people, and the Presidential Office Building is not just the workplace of the president, vice president, and other staff. Its property rights belong to the whole body of citizens, he said, and citizens have the right to enter the Presidential Office Building and learn more about its architecture as well as Taiwan’s past. President Lai indicated that former President Tsai Ing-wen took the opening up of the Presidential Office Building even further by installing a permanent exhibition, similarly upholding the democratic spirit, and helping the public understand the significance of democracy on an even deeper level. The theme of the previous exhibition, he said, was “Power to the People,” while the theme of the new permanent exhibition, “Ark of Democracy,” envisions democratic Taiwan as an ark on the Pacific Ocean, with peace as our lighthouse; democracy as our compass; freedom, human rights, and the rule of law as our banners; culture and ecological sustainability as our hull; and technology as our driving force. The president said that the people of Taiwan are all navigators of this Ark, and we work together to guide a course of engagement with the world and usher in the future – these are the key concepts of the Ark of Democracy’s curation. President Lai expressed that the exhibition has three major features. First, he said, it is cross-disciplinary, introducing Taiwan’s rich natural ecology and technological achievements, showing that Taiwan is a diverse ark of ecology, technology, culture, and democracy. Second, he said, it is cross-generational, displaying not only images of the former presidents, but also exhibiting the history of Taiwan’s semiconductor development, civil movements, and democratization, and even explaining the architectural history of the Presidential Office Building in the first-floor corridors. The president said that members of the public who come to visit will be able to clearly understand that Taiwan’s achievements are hard-won and worth cherishing, and that we should unite all the more closely for even greater accomplishments. President Lai went on to say that the exhibition’s third feature is being “cross-universe,” with one of the exhibits utilizing AI technology to generate multiple universes showing what the world might look like without Taiwan, presenting the technical and futuristic aspects of AI as well as the importance of Taiwan. We will transform Taiwan into an AI island, he said, and this is the first time that AI applications have featured in an exhibition at the Presidential Office Building. President Lai then remarked on the rich variety of the exhibition content, and thanked the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Culture (MOC), Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of the Interior, and Ministry of Transportation and Communications, whose ministers or deputy ministers were also at the event, for their support. He also offered his gratitude to the staff of the General Association of Chinese Culture for their hard work and dedication, which successfully brought the all-new permanent exhibition to completion. In addition to the permanent exhibition, the president noted, the MOC has organized Super Taiwan Comics! The Flavors of Taiwan in Ink, a special exhibition that showcases the abundant and diverse creativity in Taiwan’s world of comics. In that world, he said, one can see a different perspective of Taiwan, which is equally admirable. The president, who would soon tour the exhibition with those present, pointed out that at the end of the exhibition there is a photo booth. He welcomed exhibition-goers to have pictures taken with images of him and the vice president and to share them with friends on Facebook or Instagram. In closing, President Lai again welcomed the people of Taiwan to visit the Together as One with Taiwan: The Ark of Democracy permanent exhibition. All the people of Taiwan, the president emphasized, have the right to visit the Presidential Office Building. He stated that we are all navigators of this Ark of Democracy, and that we will continue guiding the nation forward together with democracy and unity. Vice President Hsiao then delivered remarks, saying that she is very happy to be with President Lai at today’s “unboxing” of the Presidential Office Building’s permanent exhibition. From the inauguration on May 20 to today, she said, many of our fellow Taiwanese have been asking when they would be able to visit and take pictures at the Presidential Office Building again. She said she is sure that everyone is very much looking forward to visiting, as the building belongs to the whole body of citizens, just as President Lai had said, one that has its own history and bears the important vestiges of our continued pursuit of progress. Vice President Hsiao remarked that the exhibition is very diverse in content, spanning ecology, democracy, international affairs, technology, and civil movements. Moreover, she emphasized, it showcases Taiwan’s spirit of resilience. The exhibition also goes into the history of the Presidential Office Building and has displays of important laws and objects, she noted, adding that the public can visit and gain a deeper understanding of the historical context of the office as well as of the development of Taiwan through several eras. Vice President Hsiao pointed out that the “Ark of Democracy” of the title implies that we are all in the same boat. When our international friends visit, she said, they see that even though the island of Taiwan is small, it is home to a diversity of opinions and positions, and that our people are in the end able to find common ground and move forward together. She stated that because we are all in the same boat, we must work together. Noting that Taiwan’s industry landscape is very diverse, Vice President Hsiao said that this exhibition presents the historical context surrounding the development of our world-renowned high-tech industry. She also underscored how it showcases the people of various sectors and professions who have worked together so that the Taiwanese people can live in peace and happiness and the nation can become even greater. Vice President Hsiao said that Taiwan has a very diverse ecology. Even though this Ark is very small, when our international friends come here, she said, they notice that Taiwan has mountains, is surrounded by the ocean, and that getting from the coast to a mountain and back again can take as little as 20 to 30 minutes. She pointed out that this diverse ecology is also seen in our Ark of Democracy, which bears the nation’s beauty and its sorrow, as well as its people’s dreams and future. She said she is looking forward to “unboxing” the exhibition with President Lai and the ministry leaders moments from now, but that she is also looking forward to the people of Taiwan taking the time to walk through the Presidential Office Building and share in the glory of our history and Taiwan’s democracy.  Following their remarks, President Lai and Vice President Hsiao took a tour of the exhibits, “Welcome Aboard the Ark of Democracy,” “Presidents of the Republic of China (Taiwan),” “Ecological Treasure Island,” “The Invisible Backbone of Global Technology,” “Taiwan’s Vibrant Democracy, Moving Forward with the World,” “Become One with Us,” and “The Ark Sails Onward,” and the special exhibition of contemporary Taiwan comics, taking in the unique highlights of each area.

On the afternoon of February 17, President Tsai Ing-wen met with members of the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) / Taiwan Philharmonic. In remarks, President Tsai thanked the NSO for transporting Taiwan's music and culture to so many places around the world, which has increased Taiwan's international visibility and inspired musical trends at home, encouraging more people to attend shows at concert halls. The president also expressed hope that even more people the world over may hear the voice of Taiwan. After President Tsai arrived, she enjoyed the NSO's live performance of Tao of Meinong, and then delivered remarks. A translation of President Tsai's remarks follows: Thank you for that beautiful performance just now. The work we just heard, Tao of Meinong, is a piece composed by Ms. Li Yuan-chen (李元貞) using elements of Hakka culture. Your rendition has added a new air of artistic charm to this century-old building. The NSO is launching its latest international tour in April. This will be the NSO's first overseas tour since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and since Mr. Märkl became its music director. In a new milestone, this is also the first time that the NSO has been invited to perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in the United States. Afterward, the NSO will continue to show the world Taiwan's cultural prowess through performances in other cities in the United States and Japan on the theme of "From Formosa." In addition to the classical canon, the NSO will be presenting Taiwanese compositions, including Tao of Meinong, the piece we just listened to. Ms. Chen Ke-chia (陳可嘉) has also created a work titled Ebbs and Flows especially for this tour, allowing overseas music lovers to enjoy the premier of this Taiwanese composition. I am sure that a great many people are looking forward to it. I want to take this opportunity to thank the NSO for representing Taiwan over the past 30 years and for putting on such stunning performances in venue after venue around the world. This has not only increased Taiwan's international visibility but also inspired musical trends at home, encouraging more people to attend shows at concert halls. The NSO has also endeavored to nurture and discover more musical talent in the younger generation, frequently holding performances at schools and in rural areas. The seeds you have planted have extended their roots far and wide, giving people a richer and more diverse musical life. As Taiwan's national symphony orchestra, you have transported Taiwan's music and culture to so many places around the world. Let us continue to work together so that even more people may hear the voice of Taiwan. NSO Music Director Jun Märkl then delivered remarks, a transcript of which follows: Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to express my gratitude for today's invitation. I am honored to meet you and to show my admiration for Taiwan, a country which has welcomed me on many occasions. As a student, I had visited Taiwan already in 1979. I came here to visit the Palace Museum, and I was immediately enchanted by this wonderful island and its wonderful people. Since 2018, I have been working with the National Symphony Orchestra, first as a guest conductor, later then as Artistic Advisor, and finally in my present job as Music Director. And my excitement and my motivation to work for you has grown year by year. In the classical music world, Taiwan is a very good place: here is great enthusiasm for music to be found; a solid support by the government – thank you for this; there [are] some excellent concert venues and theaters in Taiwan; a high standard of orchestras and music education; and above all, we have an enormous potential of highly talented musicians. The insiders of classical music know all about this, but generally Taiwan is more a secret treasure, and I want this wonderful place to be more known, showing the high level of music life to the world. In order to create an inclusive concept for NSO's concert programming, I started to learn as much as I could about Taiwan – its history, culture, the nature, and the people. And I have already traveled to most parts of the island; I have met and made friends in different regions, from different ethnical heritage, professions, background, and age. And I came to the conclusion that one aspect that makes Taiwan so unique is the great diversity. I deeply feel that this is one of the strongest points of your country, and different from all neighbor Asian countries: this diversity is a pool of millions of different ideas, which are producing great flexibility, the chance to find solutions to any problem, a pool of creativity, and a permanent inspiration for visions into the future. Therefore, I am really happy to see that the government is supporting diversity so much. My contribution to this process is that, under the umbrella of the NSO, we are creating projects which will bring together people from different parts of Taiwan, with different cultural and personal background. We are encouraging them to contribute ideas and to participate in projects which could make our world better today and tomorrow. I trust that the creative power of music and arts to enhance an active communication within the society, and this is far beyond arts, reaching out to many disciplines – art going to economy, science, sports, environment, and many others fields. I'm also looking into the future and thinking about [what] Taiwan could look like in 10 years, 20 years, maybe even 50 years from today, and I am giving all my trust to the young generation: by supporting them. I am convinced that we can enable them to develop the capability to face the strong challenges and chances ahead of us and to master the task of building a better future. Our projects under the motto "the next generation" are dedicated to elevat[ing] the chances for a top-level artistic life in Taiwan. The young generation shall meet, learn how to work together, share their ideas, and develop new visions: our All Taiwan National Youth Symphony Orchestra—it's coming up, yes—is a melting pot of young talented people from all over Taiwan, not only musicians, but from every part of society. We are also inviting musicians from Japan and Singapore to this youth orchestra. And this will help our young talent to create a network for their future work and life, in Taiwan and internationally. This youth orchestra of outstanding quality, and nothing less is our aim, is also an ideal ambassador for Taiwan in the world. As Madam President kindly has mentioned, the National Symphony Orchestra will be touring to the United States in April, to Japan in May this year, and we are planning to go on tour to Europe next year. These tours will help to open doors, to find friends, and establish good relationships for the country of Taiwan—it's much more than just music. I am very grateful for the government's support, which is crucial for us to undertake these projects. Let me conclude with a personal note about what I have seen and learned during the years working here: I strongly believe in the great human potential of the people of Taiwan. My task is to help finding [sic] ways to further develop this potential by building bridges between people and by encouraging the young generation. This is something music and arts can do in a particular positive and successful way. And I am proud and very grateful that you, Madame President, the Ministers, and our guests, are giving me and the National Symphony Orchestra your strong and important support. Thank you very much.

On the morning of March 11, President Tsai Ing-wen attended a press conference for the opening of the Yoshitomo Nara Special Exhibition in Taiwan, which coincided with the tenth anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. In her remarks at the event, President Tsai said that ten years ago, Taiwan and Japan were profoundly affected by the disaster but stood by one another to provide mutual assistance. The president expressed hope that, by remembering the devastating impact of the earthquake, and by commemorating our dear friendship, Taiwan and Japan will continue to support each other through the challenges we face. She added that the Taiwan government will strive to reflect on the true cost of nuclear energy and accelerate a shift to alternative energy sources. Upon arriving at the venue, President Tsai first toured the exhibition before delivering remarks at a press conference. Expressing excitement for the long-awaited opening of the first Yoshitomo Nara Special Exhibition in Taiwan, the president said that over the past few weeks, she had seen Mr. Nara on Twitter sharing many of his thoughts on his quarantine in Taiwan and his preparations for the exhibition. She added that she had the chance to meet with Mr. Nara a few days prior, giving her an even deeper appreciation for his work when touring his exhibition. President Tsai mentioned that she was touched to see a new work that Mr. Nara had created especially for Taiwan, entitled "Hazy Humid Day," and was truly grateful for his dedication. Observing that Mr. Nara's trip to Taiwan for the exhibition was made possible by the hard work of many people, the president highlighted the friendship that Taiwan and Japan have cultivated over the years, and particularly since March 11, 2011, when the warmth and mutual support between us became especially apparent.  The president noted that after the shock of that day, Mr. Nara's work took on greater warmth as well as a soothing power, and said she is sure each person who sees his work will find something uniquely touching in it. She recommended that everyone come and see the exhibition for themselves instead of hearing about it from others, and said she was confident that Mr. Nara's many followers across Taiwan were all looking forward to seeing it, with the beautiful campus of Taipei National University of the Arts enhancing visitors' appreciation of his works. President Tsai noted that March 11, 2021 is the tenth anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, and that ten years ago, the people of Taiwan and Japan were both deeply affected, but nevertheless stood by one another during the disaster to provide support and assistance. Today, a decade later, Taiwan has collaborated with the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association to mark the Taiwan-Japan Friendship Year with a series of events, including the Yoshitomo Nara Special Exhibition as well as a Tohoku Friendship Special Exhibition, concert, and market at the Huashan 1914 Creative Park in Taipei. She said she hopes that these events can promote an enduring friendship between Taiwan and Japan.  President Tsai observed that these events are going forward during the pandemic thanks to the tireless efforts of Hiroyasu Izumi, Chief Representative of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office, and our many Japanese friends, as well as support from the General Association of Chinese Culture and others across Taiwan. Emphasizing the importance of remembering the devastation of the earthquake and commemorating our friendship, the president expressed hope that Taiwan and Japan will continue to support each other through the challenges we face. She added that we all hope the pandemic will subside soon, the Tokyo Olympics can be a success, and the people of Taiwan and Japan can once again have the pleasure of traveling to visit each other. President Tsai said that she will lead Taiwan's government to reflect on the true cost of nuclear energy and to accelerate our energy transformation, and expressed optimism that Taiwan and Japan, as neighbors in the Pacific, can develop sustainably and capitalize on the opportunities presented by renewable energy. The president concluded her remarks by wishing the Yoshitomo Nara Special Exhibition every success, not just for its Taipei leg, but also at subsequent venues in Tainan and Kaohsiung as well.  Following her remarks, the president participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony with other distinguished guests in attendance and posed for a group photo.

President Tsai Ing-wen, accompanied by Vice President Chen Chien-jen, met with foreign clergy and representatives from Taiwan's Chinese Regional Bishops' Conference on the morning of October 31. She thanked the Catholic clergy members for their selfless contributions to Taiwan, and said that it is now Taiwan's turn to care for them. Approximately 170 senior Catholic clergy have received various special benefits, allowances, and long-term care services through our Mackay Program. The president then mentioned that our Nationality Act was amended in 2016, and welcomed senior clergy members who would like to become Taiwanese citizens to use that same channel to do so, and give Taiwan an opportunity to care for them. A translation of the president's remarks follows: Vice President Chen and I usually meet with visitors separately, but our friends from the Catholic Church visiting today are all very special guests, so he decided to join me and meet with you together. The religious spirit of universal love has always transcended geographic and national boundaries. You hail from many different countries around the world, but have chosen to spend the best years of your lives serving Taiwan. You have all put down deep roots throughout Taiwan society, including remote areas, to show concern for disadvantaged groups and lend your assistance. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I want to convey our deepest gratitude to all of you for your selfless contributions. Friends from the Catholic Church began arriving in Taiwan in the 19th century and have contributed in many ways. They founded schools, established hospitals, and operated many important social welfare organizations, helping Taiwanese society develop and progress. Father Yves Moal has spent decades serving in eastern Taiwan and can speak Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka, Amis, and Bunun. He helps people from centers for the disabled to recycle resources and do handicraft work, helping the centers raise funds as the participants regain their self-confidence and self-respect. What he has done is truly remarkable. Sister Maryta Laumann, who hails from Germany, founded the Department of Textiles and Clothing at Fu Jen Catholic University, the first such department in Taiwan. To hone her professional qualifications, Sister Maryta completed three textile design degrees in the United States. As the first dean of the department, a position that she held for 14 years, she has played a key role in the development of Taiwan's textile industry. Father Jean-Claude Fournier is from Switzerland, and has worked with indigenous peoples to set up a savings cooperative, helping them use self-help and mutual assistance to improve their economic status. He has also raised donations in far-off Switzerland to support a kindergarten, making enormous contributions to early childhood education in remote areas. Sister Teresita Enriques from the Philippines established the first foundation in Taiwan for premature babies. She also helped set up a care center for people with physical and mental disabilities, as well as a care center for people who have senile dementia. Sister Teresita has played an important role in promoting dementia research in Taiwan, and localizing dementia care models. Since our time is limited, I cannot recount all of your wonderful achievements, but I do believe that the efforts of our Catholic friends in Taiwan are a precious chapter in the history of this land. You are a driving force that has continuously helped make a better Taiwan. In the past, it was you who cared for the people of Taiwan. Now, it is Taiwan's turn to care for you. Among the many senior members of the Catholic clergy in Taiwan, there are about 170 foreign nationals who have received various special benefits, allowances, and long-term care services under our Mackay Program. Many foreign clergy members who have served long stints in Taiwan now regard Taiwan as their homeland. I think it would be fair to say that you are "truly Taiwanese." We amended our Nationality Act in 2016 so that you could obtain ROC nationality without renouncing your original nationality. Those that I just mentioned—Father Yves Moal, Sister Maryta Laumann, Father Jean-Claude Fournier, and Sister Teresita Enriques—have already received their Taiwan national ID cards. If there are other senior clergy members who want to become Taiwanese citizens, we welcome them to go through the same channel, so that Taiwan can have an opportunity to care for them. Also present at the meeting were Archbishop John Hung Shan-chuan (洪山川, President of the Chinese Regional Bishop's Conference) and Father Otfried Chan (陳科, Secretary General of the Chinese Regional Bishops' Conference).

Presidential Office Spokesperson Sidney Lin (林鶴明) conducted a press conference on April 3 to explain the stage design for the 2019 Presidential Office Concert, which is scheduled to take place at 7 p.m. on April 6 (Saturday) outside the Presidential Office Building on Ketagalan Boulevard. The event's organizer, the General Association of Chinese Culture, has based the stage design on the theme of "majestic rolling mountains," with Taiwan's diverse topography reflected in the three-part concert program. Spokesperson Lin stated that the sloping scenery flats to be placed before the stage will symbolize Taiwan's towering mountain peaks and the cloud banks that so often hover above them. The stage itself will feature a rolling design, rising gradually from one height to the next, seamlessly ramping up to the Presidential Office Building's entrance porch. The stage calls to mind the terraced rice paddies that Taiwan's farmers build to adapt to local growing conditions. At the same time, dancing lights will transform the mountainous scenery flats into ocean waves, while the stage and the main tower of the Presidential Office Building combine to form a ship in the eye of the observer—reminding us that the people of Taiwan are navigating their way bravely and confidently forward together. Another notable feature of the stage design, said Spokesperson Lin, is the use of nearly 150,000 concert-quality LED lights to create the broadest video screen in Taiwan. The brilliant LED lights fuse video and light with the classic beauty of the century-old Presidential Office Building, and this piece of architecture—which normally strikes the viewer with its solemnity—no longer feels cold and distant, instead taking on the friendly countenance of a place with tales to tell and warmth to share. Concert attendees will enjoy a feast both for the eyes and the ears. This year's Presidential Office Concert will be free and open to the public, and music lovers are encouraged to bring their family and friends to Ketagalan Boulevard to enjoy the event. Spokesperson Lin mentioned that since the stage incorporates the Presidential Office Building, which is a national historic site, it was designed with the utmost care. Qualified technical experts have been hired to perform a safety assessment and implement protective measures as required by law, to ensure that the historic building remains in good condition even as concert-goers appreciate its beauty.

On April 6, President Lai Ching-te delivered recorded remarks regarding the impact of the 32 percent tariff that the United States government recently imposed on imports from Taiwan in the name of reciprocity. In his remarks, President Lai explained that the government will adopt five response strategies, including making every effort to improve reciprocal tariff rates through negotiations, adopting a support plan for affected domestic industries, adopting medium- and long-term economic development plans, forming new “Taiwan plus the US” arrangements, and launching industry listening tours. The president emphasized that as we face this latest challenge, the government and civil society will work hand in hand, and expressed hope that all parties, both ruling and opposition, will support the measures that the Executive Yuan will take to open up a broader path for Taiwan’s economy. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: My fellow citizens, good evening. The US government recently announced higher tariffs on countries around the world in the name of reciprocity, including imposing a 32 percent tariff on imports from Taiwan. This is bound to have a major impact on our nation. Various countries have already responded, and some have even adopted retaliatory measures. Tremendous changes in the global economy are expected. Taiwan is an export-led economy, and in facing future challenges there will inevitably be difficulties, so we must proceed carefully to turn danger into safety. During this time, I want to express gratitude to all sectors of society for providing valuable opinions, which the government regards highly, and will use as a reference to make policy decisions.  However, if we calmly and carefully analyze Taiwan’s trade with the US, we find that last year Taiwan’s exports to the US were valued at US$111.4 billion, accounting for 23.4 percent of total export value, with the other 75-plus percent of products sold worldwide to countries other than the US. Of products sold to the US, competitive ICT products and electronic components accounted for 65.4 percent. This shows that Taiwan’s economy does still have considerable resilience. As long as our response strategies are appropriate, and the public and private sectors join forces, we can reduce impacts. Please do not panic. To address the reciprocal tariffs by the US, Taiwan has no plans to adopt retaliatory tariffs. There will be no change in corporate investment commitments to the US, as long as they are consistent with national interests. But we must ensure the US clearly understands Taiwan’s contributions to US economic development. More importantly, we must actively seek to understand changes in the global economic situation, strengthen Taiwan-US industry cooperation, elevate the status of Taiwan industries in global supply chains, and with safeguarding the continued development of Taiwan’s economy as our goal, adopt the following five strategies to respond. Strategy one: Make every effort to improve reciprocal tariff rates through negotiations using the following five methods:  1. Taiwan has already formed a negotiation team led by Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君). The team includes members from the National Security Council, the Office of Trade Negotiations, and relevant Executive Yuan ministries and agencies, as well as academia and industry. Like the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, negotiations on tariffs can start from Taiwan-US bilateral zero-tariff treatment. 2. To expand purchases from the US and thereby reduce the trade deficit, the Executive Yuan has already completed an inventory regarding large-scale procurement plans for agricultural, industrial, petroleum, and natural gas products, and the Ministry of National Defense has also proposed a military procurement list. All procurement plans will be actively pursued. 3. Expand investments in the US. Taiwan’s cumulative investment in the US already exceeds US$100 billion, creating approximately 400,000 jobs. In the future, in addition to increased investment in the US by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, other industries such as electronics, ICT, petrochemicals, and natural gas can all increase their US investments, deepening Taiwan-US industry cooperation. Taiwan’s government has helped form a “Taiwan investment in the US” team, and hopes that the US will reciprocate by forming a “US investment in Taiwan” team to bring about closer Taiwan-US trade cooperation, jointly creating a future economic golden age.  4. We must eliminate non-tariff barriers to trade. Non-tariff barriers are an indicator by which the US assesses whether a trading partner is trading fairly with the US. Therefore, we will proactively resolve longstanding non-tariff barriers so that negotiations can proceed more smoothly. 5. We must resolve two issues that have been matters of longstanding concern to the US. One regards high-tech export controls, and the other regards illegal transshipment of dumped goods, otherwise referred to as “origin washing.” Strategy two: We must adopt a plan for supporting our industries. For industries that will be affected by the tariffs, and especially traditional industries as well as micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, we will provide timely and needed support and assistance. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) and his administrative team recently announced a package of 20 specific measures designed to address nine areas. Moving forward, the support we provide to different industries will depend on how they are affected by the tariffs, will take into account the particular features of each industry, and will help each industry innovate, upgrade, and transform. Strategy three: We must adopt medium- and long-term economic development plans. At this point in time, our government must simultaneously adopt new strategies for economic and industrial development. This is also the fundamental path to solutions for future economic challenges. The government will proactively cooperate with friends and allies, develop a diverse range of markets, and achieve closer integration of entities in the upper, middle, and lower reaches of industrial supply chains. This course of action will make Taiwan’s industrial ecosystem more complete, and will help Taiwanese industries upgrade and transform. We must also make good use of the competitive advantages we possess in such areas as semiconductor manufacturing, integrated chip design, ICT, and smart manufacturing to build Taiwan into an AI island, and promote relevant applications for food, clothing, housing, and transportation, as well as military, security and surveillance, next-generation communications, and the medical and health and wellness industries as we advance toward a smarter, more sustainable, and more prosperous new Taiwan. Strategy four: “Taiwan plus one,” i.e., new “Taiwan plus the US” arrangements: While staying firmly rooted in Taiwan, our enterprises are expanding their global presence and marketing worldwide. This has been our national economic development strategy, and the most important aspect is maintaining a solid base here in Taiwan. We absolutely must maintain a solid footing, and cannot allow the present strife to cause us to waver. Therefore, our government will incentivize investments, carry out deregulation, and continue to improve Taiwan’s investment climate by actively resolving problems involving access to water, electricity, land, human resources, and professional talent. This will enable corporations to stay in Taiwan and continue investing here. In addition, we must also help the overseas manufacturing facilities of offshore Taiwanese businesses to make necessary adjustments to support our “Taiwan plus one” policy, in that our national economic development strategy will be adjusted as follows: to stay firmly rooted in Taiwan while expanding our global presence, strengthening US ties, and marketing worldwide. We intend to make use of the new state of supply chains to strengthen cooperation between Taiwanese and US industries, and gain further access to US markets. Strategy five: Launch industry listening tours: All industrial firms, regardless of sector or size, will be affected to some degree once the US reciprocal tariffs go into effect. The administrative teams led by myself and Premier Cho will hear out industry concerns so that we can quickly resolve problems and make sure policies meet actual needs. My fellow citizens, over the past half-century and more, Taiwan has been through two energy crises, the Asian financial crisis, the global financial crisis, and pandemics. We have been able to not only withstand one test after another, but even turn crises into opportunities. The Taiwanese economy has emerged from these crises stronger and more resilient than ever. As we face this latest challenge, the government and civil society will work hand in hand, and I hope that all parties in the legislature, both ruling and opposition, will support the measures that the Executive Yuan will take to open up a broader path for Taiwan’s economy. Let us join together and give it our all. Thank you.