Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

On the morning of December 8, President Tsai Ing-wen attended the opening ceremony of the 2021 Energy Taiwan exhibition. In remarks, President Tsai stated that by 2025 domestic construction of wind and solar power installations is set to generate NT$1.7 trillion in investments, more than NT$2 trillion in output value, and 160,000 job opportunities. The president also said that the government is making every effort to make Taiwan the green energy hub of Asia, while speeding up and expanding our green energy rollout so that Taiwan's energy sector will be an indispensable link in the international green energy supply chain. A translation of President Tsai's remarks follows: We're all aware that one of the key issues at last month's COP26 was the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. This goal has become a global consensus, and, going forward, countries around the world will be working toward reducing their carbon emissions. Transforming our energy sector is the key to reducing carbon emissions, and today's Energy Taiwan exhibition highlights Taiwan's determination and ability to develop renewable energy. Each of you here is an important partner to our government in our joint effort to promote Taiwan's energy transition. I have participated in this exhibition's opening ceremony for four consecutive years, not just to show how important energy issues are for this administration, but also to thank all of you in person. Because of your efforts, Taiwan has been able to engage with the international community and contribute more to the world. Climate change is a global challenge, and Taiwan is joining the global response. The Environmental Protection Administration is currently working on amendments to our nation's Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act, including writing the 2050 net-zero goal into law. And the Executive Yuan has set up a task force to evaluate possible paths toward net-zero emissions and draft a blueprint for our energy transition. Today's exhibition is our domestic green energy industry's largest platform for exchange. I want everyone to know that our government is making every effort to realize our vitally important goal of making Taiwan the green energy hub of Asia. In the future, global industrial demand for green energy will only continue to grow. This year, Taiwan began to implement provisions that will spur major power consumers to increase the proportion of renewable energy they use within five years. The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism will also subject the carbon footprints of export products to more rigorous inspections. As such, many international enterprises have joined the RE100 initiative, under which they have committed to using 100-percent renewable energy in the future. Here, TSMC and UMC are among the companies which have joined RE100 and have acted on their green energy commitments. I'm sure you all noticed that last week, SEMI released new data showing that Taiwan's firms spent over US$7.3 billion on semiconductor manufacturing equipment in the third quarter, setting a domestic record and making Taiwan the world's largest market for such equipment. This year, the output value of Taiwan's semiconductor industry is projected to surpass NT$4 trillion for the first time ever. Our semiconductor industry is indeed thriving. To meet urgent industry demand for green energy, our government is speeding up and expanding our green energy rollout, and is helping make Taiwan's energy sector an indispensable link in the international green energy supply chain. I also want to share with you that Taiwan's solar energy installed capacity has grown by a factor of 4.7 over the past five years, and our second offshore wind farm has also started operation. We expect that, through 2025, wind and solar power construction projects in Taiwan will generate NT$1.7 trillion in investments, more than NT$2 trillion in output value, and 160,000 job opportunities. To further progress and develop, Taiwan must continue to promote the transformation of our energy sector. To reach our long-term goal of net-zero emissions, we need to use natural gas in this transitional period and build a more flexible and responsive power supply network. Building the third liquefied natural gas import terminal will help relieve the imbalance created by generating power for northern Taiwan in central and southern Taiwan, and will also reduce air pollution in central and southern Taiwan. This facility is crucial to Taiwan's energy sector and to achieving net-zero emissions. We all know how important energy is to our nation's economic development, industrial competitiveness, and people's everyday lives. So, however difficult this energy transition may be, our government will continue to engage with people throughout society to jointly resolve any issues we might encounter. I hope we can combine our collective strengths and resolutely forge ahead on this path. In closing, I want to thank the organizer and co-organizers for their efforts to expand the scope of this exhibition every year. I also want to congratulate today's award winners, and thank each of you for your contributions to transforming Taiwan's energy sector. Let's continue to work together toward this goal. Thank you, and I wish you all a successful exhibition. Following her address, President Tsai presented the SEMI Taiwan Industry Contribution Awards, Taiwan Excellent PV Awards, Top Solar Awards, and PVGSA Renewable PV Power System Promotion Awards to awardees and firms. The president also visited the Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, United Renewable Energy, and Taiwan Solar Energy Corporation exhibition booths and listened to presentations introducing their products. Also in attendance at the exhibition were Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Chuan-neng (林全能), Chairman of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council James C. F. Huang (黃志芳), SEMI Taiwan President Terry Tsao (曹世綸), and members of the diplomatic corps stationed in Taiwan.

On the afternoon of October 14, President Tsai Ing-wen delivered recorded opening remarks at the 2021 Taiwan Innotech Expo. President Tsai emphasized that, to respond to the need for digital transformation and innovative development in the business sector, the government has been guiding companies in upgrading their R&D capabilities, and has also been working to promote national digital transformation so that Taiwan can make further progress toward becoming a "smart nation." The president also expressed hope that the Taiwan Innotech Expo would facilitate the involvement of more people in these efforts, so that Taiwan can continually improve its R&D capabilities and make greater strides toward our goal of industrial innovation. A translation of President Tsai's remarks follows: The Taiwan Innotech Expo is being held this year as a hybrid event, with both physical and virtual exhibits. These exhibits cover everything from space technology and digital transformation to new agriculture, highlighting Taiwan's rich and diverse range of innovative capabilities. This year's expo brings together R&D achievements from 10 different government agencies, as well as outstanding R&D teams from Taiwan and around the world. There are more than 300 firms from 24 countries, with 1,300 tech products on display. I want to thank each of the government agencies involved for their hard work setting up this event. Over the past few years, to respond to the need for digital transformation and innovative development in the business sector, the government has been guiding companies to enhance their R&D capabilities and has been promoting national digital transformation so that Taiwan can make further progress toward becoming a "smart nation." Taiwan also places highly in rankings of global competitiveness. The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) ranked Taiwan eighth in its 2021 World Competitiveness Yearbook, up three spots from last year and the first time that Taiwan has ranked in the top 10. And in the IMD Yearbook's category of "total R&D personnel per capita," Taiwan was ranked first in the world. These rankings show once again that the world recognizes and respects Taiwan's R&D capabilities. Though the pandemic has tested us, we see it as an opportunity for Taiwan to innovate and transform itself. Today's opening highlights the foundation we have built with our 5+2 innovative industries plan, as well as the results of technological research under our Six Core Strategic Industries policy. We hope this expo will spur more people to help Taiwan continue to improve its R&D capabilities and make great strides in innovation. In closing, I wish everyone a successful and productive expo. Thank you.

On the morning of August 3, President Tsai Ing-wen met with leaders of the Reform for Resilience Commission's (R4R) Asia-Pacific Hub. In her remarks at the meeting, President Tsai highlighted the importance of promoting sustainable, balanced development and building a more robust social safety net as countries around the world continue to concurrently fight the pandemic and pursue economic recovery. The president expressed hope that the leaders of the R4R Asia-Pacific Hub would continue to contribute their expertise to advancing Taiwan's international cooperation and developing more resilient models for sustainable development, further aiding global disease prevention efforts. A translation of the president's remarks follows: I would like to welcome our visitors to the Presidential Office. All of you play key roles in academia or industry in Taiwan, and have long been involved in public affairs. You have also used your influence to speak up for Taiwan internationally, raising our global profile. For some time now, fighting COVID-19 has been the main focus of countries around the world, including Taiwan. I want to thank you all for your efforts to share the lessons learned in Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific region with the world to strengthen both domestic and international disease prevention efforts, while also helping to promote Taiwan's global ties. Your work concerns the crucial challenge of "resilience" in the post-pandemic era, which has also become a popular topic in the field of global governance. In fact, our national security agencies have for a long time been conducting tests on many aspects of social resilience, and have been engaged in infrastructure projects to protect against the damage that we know natural disasters and pandemics can cause to the overall structure of our society. This is why I believe it is so important that your work has allowed us to engage with the international community on this issue. Taiwan has indeed faced many challenges recently, but we have withstood them one by one, demonstrating the resilience of Taiwanese society. I have often called Taiwan an "island of resilience," and we have weathered such storms for centuries. I believe that many challenges lie ahead, but as long as we work together, we can get through them all. At this stage of the pandemic, as countries around the world maintain disease prevention efforts and pursue economic recovery, we are all also thinking about how to promote sustainable, balanced development and build a more robust social safety net. I hope that Taiwan will have even more opportunities to share our experiences in this area with other nations. I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate former Vice President Chen Chien-jen, who was named by Pope Francis as a member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. Your appointment let the whole world see Taiwan's academic achievements, and I believe it was an affirmation of Taiwan's democratic system in light of your past service as our vice president. To close, I would like to once again thank all the experts and scholars here today for everything you have done for Taiwan. I hope you will continue to contribute your expertise to strengthening Taiwan's international cooperation and developing more resilient models for sustainable development, further aiding global disease prevention efforts. Also in attendance at the meeting were R4R Commissioners former Vice President Chen Chien-jen and Acer founder Stan Shih (施振榮), as well as Prof. Chang-Chuan Chan (詹長權), Prof. Syaru Shirley Lin (林夏如), John Tzuchiang Li (李自強), and Prof. Chou Kuei-tien (周桂田), who serve, respectively, as Advisory Board Chair, Chair and Convenor, Executive Director, and research partner of the R4R Asia-Pacific Hub.

President Tsai Ing-wen attended a press conference announcing investment from Microsoft in Taiwan on the afternoon of October 26. In remarks, she commended their increased investment, and said that Microsoft will be an excellent partner for Taiwan, allowing us to make an international impact together, which is a powerful and crucial aspect of expanding Taiwan-US collaboration. Microsoft's latest Taiwan investment plan will give the Taiwan-US partnership a jolt of added vitality across the board, and will certainly be to the benefit of both sides. A translation of President Tsai's remarks follows: I am delighted to join you here today to witness this momentous occasion as Microsoft increases its investment in Taiwan. First, I would like to thank Microsoft for its long-standing optimistic approach to Taiwan, and its willingness to invest resources and make long-term commitments to Taiwan as an important partner. During my first term of office when we promoted our 5+2 innovative industries plan, Microsoft led the way in responding to our Asia Silicon Valley Development Plan by announcing the establishment of an IoT Innovation Center. Microsoft then continued to expand its investments in Taiwan. In 2018, the company set up Asia’s first artificial intelligence R&D center in Taiwan, and announced another major increase in investment this year. The current pandemic has led to massive changes in the global economy, and sped up the reorganization of global supply chains. This critical moment is the best time to deepen Taiwan-US cooperation. Taiwan holds a key advantage in high-end hardware manufacturing, and is a reliable and secure partner to the US, and other technologically-advanced countries, in information security and intellectual property rights protection. The US is the global leader in high-tech development. By combining Taiwan and the US’s respective strengths and enhancing our cooperation in supply chain realignment, those nations can make great leaps in technological advancement and an immense positive economic impact. Microsoft’s increased investment in Taiwan is a powerful and crucial aspect of expanding Taiwan's global collaboration, especially with the US, as Microsoft is a global leader in so many different technological fields. I am certain that Microsoft will be an excellent partner for us, working with Taiwan to make an international impact. Taiwan and the US are committed partners in developing global markets. Together we can create a global sales network, enter and establish ourselves in the Indo-Pacific region, build brand new supply chains, and develop vast new business opportunities. This latest Taiwan investment plan Microsoft is announcing today will play a key role in strengthening Taiwan-US cooperation. What is more, it is an important milestone in our joint efforts to build a "digital Taiwan." Microsoft's plans for Taiwan include the establishment of its first regional cloud data center as well as the expansion of its cloud hardware team. These investments can effectively drive the development of Taiwan's cloud industry, boost innovative momentum in our industries, and ensure that the world is aware of Taiwan's formidable R&D capabilities. On the industrial front, further enhancing 5G, AI, and AIoT industrial applications can spur digital transformation in medicine, the financial sector, and smart government. Beyond that, it can also drive robust development for enterprises throughout our economy. And finally, I would like to thank Microsoft for its exciting plans over the next several years to cultivate 200,000 digital professionals in Taiwan, provide more than 30,000 job opportunities, and generate more than NT$300 billion worth of industrial output. I firmly believe that this latest Taiwan investment plan of Microsoft's will give Taiwan-US cooperation a jolt of added vitality across the board, and will certainly be to the benefit of both all involved. President Tsai then joined the guests present in the launch ceremony. Among those on hand for the ceremony were American Institute in Taiwan Deputy Director Raymond Greene and Microsoft General Manager Ken Sun.  

On the morning of September 24, President Tsai Ing-wen met with directors and supervisors from SEMI and the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association (TSIA), as well as other top executives of semiconductor enterprises from home and abroad. The president emphasized that SEMICON Taiwan being held as usual this year despite the pandemic highlights not only Taiwan's achievements in controlling the spread of COVID-19, but also the resilience of our semiconductor sector. She expressed hope that through the concerted efforts of our government and private sectors, the industry will continue to boost competitiveness, and remain a global leader. A translation of President Tsai's remarks follows: I attended the SEMICON Taiwan Leadership Gala Dinner with many of you yesterday, and I am delighted to host you today here at the Presidential Office so we can communicate further. Every year in September, the SEMICON Taiwan international semiconductor exhibition is a major event that receives a lot of attention in Taiwan, as well as global semiconductor industry circles. This year, as we face the challenges of a global pandemic, everyone either holding or participating in this exhibition is putting in a lot of extra effort. To serve international firms that could not come to Taiwan, this year there is a completely new, hybrid physical-virtual exhibit platform to help visitors from around the world overcome travel limitations and access the latest market information. Everyone has worked so hard to overcome existing obstacles for one purpose: to increase the competitiveness and impact of Taiwan's semiconductor industry. Last Tuesday, under the leadership of SEMI Taiwan President Terry Tsao (曹世綸), SEMI announced the establishment of a high-tech innovation and entrepreneurship platform. During the current SEMICON Taiwan exhibition, SEMI also held a semiconductor matchmaking event to support startup enterprises and help Taiwan enter global markets. Beginning last month, TSIA Chairman Mark Liu (劉德音) also began his term as this year's global chairman of the World Semiconductor Council (WSC). This year, TSIA also held the WSC annual meeting for the third time, with Chairman Liu taking on great responsibilities, which I am sure will strengthen the Taiwan semiconductor industry's international connections. I would like to take this opportunity to offer a special thanks to SEMI and TSIA for their contributions, and to all of you for your tremendous efforts to spur overall industry development. Taiwan's semiconductor industry is a key force in global supply chains. We see semiconductors as a critical strategic industry, and will actively assist industry players to resolve difficult problems to continue consolidating domestic semiconductor industry advantages, and even more importantly, accelerating transformation and development. In my 2020 inauguration speech, I mentioned that our Six Core Strategic Industries include many semiconductor-related industries, which are key industries for our next generation of industrial development and a top priority. We are addressing the talent issue that everyone is concerned about. Our Executive Yuan, through cooperation among government agencies including the National Development Council, Ministry of Economic Affairs, and Ministry of Education, has recently discussed various ways to meet industry needs, including setting up an advanced semiconductor education program, and increasing the number of faculty and students in related academic departments. So wherever you want to go, we will be able to send talent there. We are also continuing to implement our plan to make Taiwan an advanced manufacturing center for semiconductors. Focal points for future development include the localization of material supplies, boosting technological autonomy, the localization of foreign equipment manufacturing, and increasing domestic production of advanced packaging equipment. We will implement these initiatives one-by-one to give Taiwan's semiconductor industry more potent technological capabilities and more complete industry supply chains, enhancing our key position in global supply chains. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of SEMI, and its half-century of history makes this an especially significant year. The fact that SEMICON Taiwan was held as usual this year amidst a pandemic highlights not only Taiwan's achievements in controlling the spread of COVID-19, but also the resilience of our semiconductor sector. Through this exhibition, Taiwan's semiconductor industry provides access to the latest industry trends and market opportunities, promoting international cooperation and exchanges while accelerating the global economic recovery. This is the impact of Taiwan's semiconductor industry. In the future, I hope that through the concerted efforts of our government and private sectors, the industry will continue to boost competitiveness, and remain a leader in the global semiconductor industry. Also attending the meeting were TSIA Chairman Mark Liu, ASE Technology Holding Company Director and Chief Operating Officer Tien Wu (吳田玉), SEMI Taiwan President Terry Tsao, and Etron Technology Chairman & CEO Nicky Lu (盧超群).

On the afternoon of March 13, President Lai Ching-te convened a high-level national security meeting, following which he held a press conference. In remarks, President Lai introduced 17 major strategies to respond to five major national security and united front threats Taiwan now faces: China’s threat to national sovereignty, its threats from infiltration and espionage activities targeting Taiwan’s military, its threats aimed at obscuring the national identity of the people of Taiwan, its threats from united front infiltration into Taiwanese society through cross-strait exchanges, and its threats from using “integrated development” to attract Taiwanese businesspeople and youth. President Lai emphasized that in the face of increasingly severe threats, the government will not stop doing its utmost to ensure that our national sovereignty is not infringed upon, and expressed hope that all citizens unite in solidarity to resist being divided. The president also expressed hope that citizens work together to increase media literacy, organize and participate in civic education activities, promptly expose concerted united front efforts, and refuse to participate in any activities that sacrifice national interests. As long as every citizen plays their part toward our nation’s goals for prosperity and security, he said, and as long as we work together, nothing can defeat us. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: At many venues recently, a number of citizens have expressed similar concerns to me. They have noticed cases in which members of the military, both active-duty and retired, have been bought out by China, sold intelligence, or even organized armed forces with plans to harm their own nation and its citizens. They have noticed cases in which entertainers willingly followed instructions from Beijing to claim that their country is not a country, all for the sake of personal career interests. They have noticed how messaging used by Chinese state media to stir up internal opposition in Taiwan is always quickly spread by specific channels. There have even been individuals making careers out of helping Chinese state media record united front content, spreading a message that democracy is useless and promoting skepticism toward the United States and the military to sow division and opposition. Many people worry that our country, as well as our hard-won freedom and democracy and the prosperity and progress we achieved together, are being washed away bit by bit due to these united front tactics. In an analysis of China’s united front, renowned strategic scholar Kerry K. Gershaneck expressed that China plans to divide and conquer us through subversion, infiltration, and acquisition of media, and by launching media warfare, psychological warfare, and legal warfare. What they are trying to do is to sow seeds of discord in our society, keep us occupied with internal conflicts, and cause us to ignore the real threat from outside. China’s ambition over the past several decades to annex Taiwan and stamp out the Republic of China has not changed for even a day. It continues to pursue political and military intimidation, and its united front infiltration of Taiwan’s society grows ever more serious. In 2005, China promulgated its so-called “Anti-Secession Law,” which makes using military force to annex Taiwan a national undertaking. Last June, China issued a 22-point set of “guidelines for punishing Taiwan independence separatists,” which regards all those who do not accept that “Taiwan is part of the People’s Republic of China” as targets for punishment, creating excuses to harm the people of Taiwan. China has also recently been distorting United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, showing in all aspects China’s increasingly urgent threat against Taiwan’s sovereignty. Lately, China has been taking advantage of democratic Taiwan’s freedom, diversity, and openness to recruit gangs, the media, commentators, political parties, and even active-duty and retired members of the armed forces and police to carry out actions to divide, destroy, and subvert us from within. A report from the National Security Bureau indicates that 64 persons were charged last year with suspicion of spying for China, which was three times the number of persons charged for the same offense in 2021. Among them, the Unionist Party, Rehabilitation Alliance Party, and Republic of China Taiwan Military Government formed treasonous organizations to deploy armed forces for China. In a democratic and free society, such cases are appalling. But this is something that actually exists within Taiwan’s society today. China also actively plots ways to infiltrate and spy on our military. Last year, 28 active-duty and 15 retired members of the armed forces were charged with suspicion of involvement in spying for China, respectively comprising 43 percent and 23 percent of all of such cases – 66 percent in total. We are also alert to the fact that China has recently used widespread issuance of Chinese passports to entice Taiwanese citizens to apply for the Residence Permit for Taiwan Residents, permanent residency, or the Resident Identity Card, in an attempt to muddle Taiwanese people’s sense of national identity. China also views cross-strait exchanges as a channel for its united front against Taiwan, marking enemies in Taiwan internally, creating internal divisions, and weakening our sense of who the enemy really is. It intends to weaken public authority and create the illusion that China is “governing” Taiwan, thereby expanding its influence within Taiwan. We are also aware that China has continued to expand its strategy of integrated development with Taiwan. It employs various methods to demand and coerce Taiwanese businesses to increase their investments in China, entice Taiwanese youth to develop their careers in China, and unscrupulously seeks to poach Taiwan’s talent and steal key technologies. Such methods impact our economic security and greatly increase the risk of our young people heading to China. By its actions, China already satisfies the definition of a “foreign hostile force” as provided in the Anti-Infiltration Act. We have no choice but to take even more proactive measures, which is my purpose in convening this high-level national security meeting today. It is time we adopt proper preventive measures, enhance our democratic resilience and national security, and protect our cherished free and democratic way of life. Next, I will be giving a detailed account of the five major national security and united front threats Taiwan now faces and the 17 major strategies we have prepared in response. I. Responding to China’s threats to our national sovereignty We have a nation insofar as we have sovereignty, and we have the Republic of China insofar as we have Taiwan. Just as I said during my inaugural address last May, and in my National Day address last October: The moment when Taiwan’s first democratically elected president took the oath of office in 1996 sent a message to the international community, that Taiwan is a sovereign, independent, democratic nation. Among people here and in the international community, some call this land the Republic of China, some call it Taiwan, and some, the Republic of China Taiwan. The Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China are not subordinate to each other, and Taiwan resists any annexation or encroachment upon our sovereignty. The future of the Republic of China Taiwan must be decided by its 23 million people. This is the status quo that we must maintain. The broadest consensus in Taiwanese society is that we must defend our sovereignty, uphold our free and democratic way of life, and resolutely oppose annexation of Taiwan by China. (1) I request that the National Security Council (NSC), the Ministry of National Defense (MND), and the administrative team do their utmost to promote the Four Pillars of Peace action plan to demonstrate the people’s broad consensus and firm resolve, consistent across the entirety of our nation, to oppose annexation of Taiwan by China. (2) I request that the NSC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs draft an action plan that will, through collaboration with our friends and allies, convey to the world our national will and broad social consensus in opposing annexation of Taiwan by China and in countering China’s efforts to erase Taiwan from the international community and downgrade Taiwan’s sovereignty. II. Responding to China’s threats from infiltration and espionage activities targeting our military (1) Comprehensively review and amend our Law of Military Trial to restore the military trial system, allowing military judges to return to the frontline and collaborate with prosecutorial, investigative, and judicial authorities in the handling of criminal cases in which active-duty military personnel are suspected of involvement in such military crimes as sedition, aiding the enemy, leaking confidential information, dereliction of duty, or disobedience. In the future, criminal cases involving active-duty military personnel who are suspected of violating the Criminal Code of the Armed Forces will be tried by a military court. (2) Implement supporting reforms, including the establishment of a personnel management act for military judges and separate organization acts for military courts and military prosecutors’ offices. Once planning and discussion are completed, the MND will fully explain to and communicate with the public to ensure that the restoration of the military trial system gains the trust and full support of society. (3) To deter the various types of controversial rhetoric and behavior exhibited by active-duty as well as retired military personnel that severely damage the morale of our national military, the MND must discuss and propose an addition to the Criminal Code of the Armed Forces on penalties for expressions of loyalty to the enemy as well as revise the regulations for military personnel and their families receiving retirement benefits, so as to uphold military discipline. III. Responding to China’s threats aimed at obscuring the national identity of the people of Taiwan (1) I request that the Ministry of the Interior (MOI), Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), and other relevant agencies, wherever necessary, carry out inspections and management of the documents involving identification that Taiwanese citizens apply for in China, including: passports, ID cards, permanent residence certificates, and residence certificates, especially when the applicants are military personnel, civil servants, or public school educators, who have an obligation of loyalty to Taiwan. This will be done to strictly prevent and deter united front operations, which are performed by China under the guise of “integrated development,” that attempt to distort our people’s national identity. (2) With respect to naturalization and integration of individuals from China, Hong Kong, and Macau into Taiwanese society, more national security considerations must be taken into account while also attending to Taiwan’s social development and individual rights: Chinese nationals applying for permanent residency in Taiwan must, in accordance with the law of Taiwan, relinquish their existing household registration and passport and may not hold dual identity status. As for the systems in place to process individuals from Hong Kong or Macau applying for residency or permanent residency in Taiwan, there will be additional provisions for long-term residency to meet practical needs. IV. Responding to China’s threats from united front infiltration into Taiwanese society through cross-strait exchanges  (1) There are increasing risks involved with travel to China. (From January 1, 2024 to today, the MAC has received reports of 71 Taiwanese nationals who went missing, were detained, interrogated, or imprisoned in China; the number of unreported people who have been subjected to such treatment may be several times that. Of those, three elderly I-Kuan Tao members were detained in China in December of last year and have not yet been released.) In light of this, relevant agencies must raise public awareness of those risks, continue enhancing public communication, and implement various registration systems to reduce the potential for accidents and the risks associated with traveling to China. (2) Implement a disclosure system for exchanges with China involving public officials at all levels of the central and local government. This includes everyone from administrative officials to elected representatives, from legislators to village and neighborhood chiefs, all of whom should make the information related to such exchanges both public and transparent so that they can be accountable to the people. The MOI should also establish a disclosure system for exchanges with China involving public welfare organizations, such as religious groups, in order to prevent China’s interference and united front activities at their outset. (3) Manage the risks associated with individuals from China engaging in exchanges with Taiwan: Review and approval of Chinese individuals coming to Taiwan should be limited to normal cross-strait exchanges and official interactions under the principles of parity and dignity, and relevant factors such as changes in the cross-strait situation should be taken into consideration. Strict restrictions should be placed on Chinese individuals who have histories with the united front coming to Taiwan, and Chinese individuals should be prohibited from coming to Taiwan to conduct activities related in any way to the united front. (4) Political interference from China and the resulting risks to national security should be avoided in cross-strait exchanges. This includes the review and management of religious, cultural, academic, and education exchanges, which should in principle be depoliticized and de-risked so as to simplify people-to-people exchanges and promote healthy and orderly exchanges. (5) To deter the united front tactics of a cultural nature employed by Chinese nationals to undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty, the Executive Yuan must formulate a solution to make our local cultural industries more competitive, including enhanced support and incentives for our film, television, and cultural and creative industries to boost their strengths in democratic cultural creation, raise international competitiveness, and encourage research in Taiwan’s own history and culture. (6) Strengthen guidance and management for entertainers developing their careers in China. The competent authorities should provide entertainers with guidelines on conduct while working in China, and make clear the scope of investigation and response to conduct that endangers national dignity. This will help prevent China from pressuring Taiwanese entertainers to make statements or act in ways that endanger national dignity. (7) The relevant authorities must adopt proactive, effective measures to prevent China from engaging in cognitive warfare against Taiwan or endangering cybersecurity through the internet, applications, AI, and other such tools. (8) To implement these measures, each competent authority must run a comprehensive review of the relevant administrative ordinances, measures, and interpretations, and complete the relevant regulations for legal enforcement. Should there be any shortcomings, the legal framework for national security should be strengthened and amendments to the National Security Act, Anti-Infiltration Act, Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, Laws and Regulations Regarding Hong Kong & Macao Affairs, or Cyber Security Management Act should be proposed. Communication with the public should also be increased so that implementation can happen as soon as possible. V. Responding to threats from China using “integrated development” to attract Taiwanese businesspeople and youth (1) I request that the NSC and administrative agencies work together to carry out strategic structural adjustments to the economic and trade relations between Taiwan and China based on the strategies of putting Taiwan first and expanding our global presence while staying rooted in Taiwan. In addition, they should carry out necessary, orderly adjustments to the flow of talent, goods, money, and skills involved in cross-strait economic and trade relations based on the principle of strengthening Taiwan’s foundations to better manage risk. This will help boost economic security and give us more power to respond to China’s economic and trade united front and economic coercion against Taiwan. (2) I request that the Ministry of Education, MAC, Ministry of Economic Affairs, and other relevant agencies work together to comprehensively strengthen young students’ literacy education on China and deepen their understanding of cross-strait exchanges. I also request these agencies to widely publicize mechanisms for employment and entrepreneurship for Taiwan’s youth and provide ample information and assistance so that young students have more confidence in the nation’s future and more actively invest in building up and developing Taiwan. My fellow citizens, this year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. History tells us that any authoritarian act of aggression or annexation will ultimately end in failure. The only way we can safeguard freedom and prevail against authoritarian aggression is through solidarity. As we face increasingly severe threats, the government will not stop doing its utmost to ensure that our national sovereignty is not infringed upon, and to ensure that the freedom, democracy, and way of life of Taiwan’s 23 million people continues on as normal. But relying solely on the power of the government is not enough. What we need even more is for all citizens to stay vigilant and take action. Every citizen stands on the frontline of the defense of democracy and freedom. Here is what we can do together: First, we can increase our media literacy, and refrain from spreading and passing on united front messaging from the Chinese state. Second, we can organize and participate in civic education activities to increase our knowledge about united front operations and build up whole-of-society defense resilience. Third, we can promptly expose concerted united front efforts so that all malicious attempts are difficult to carry out. Fourth, we must refuse to participate in any activities that sacrifice national interests. The vigilance and action of every citizen forms the strongest line of defense against united front infiltration. Only through solidarity can we resist being divided. As long as every citizen plays their part toward our nation’s goals for prosperity and security, and as long as we work together, nothing can defeat us.