Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

On the night before Lunar New Year’s Eve, President Lai Ching-te wished his fellow citizens a happy Year of the Horse via video. In his recorded remarks, President Lai thanked people in Taiwan working and living earnestly with their feet firmly on the ground, saying that it is their hard work that contributes bit by bit to our strongest power. The president emphasized that the government will continue to strengthen Taiwan’s national defense capabilities and public security efforts, steadily advance economic development initiatives, and bolster social investment and welfare programs. He stated that the government hopes to protect people’s livelihoods, and provide a stage for the driven and hope for the diligent, as we all move forward together, hand in hand, to greet an even better year ahead.

A translation of the president’s full remarks is as follows:

My dear fellow citizens: Good evening.

This is Xiaoxueshan Radar Station. Located on the mountain peak at 3,020 meters above sea level, it is the highest-altitude naval unit in Taiwan. I am here to share a holiday meal with the officers and personnel of our armed forces and offer them some words of encouragement. 

During Lunar New Year, as families gather together to celebrate, many of our citizens are just like the troops stationed here, steadfastly working hard at their posts. I want to thank our troops and our men and women in the coast guard for their around-the-clock efforts to protect our homeland. I also want to thank our dedicated staff in police and firefighting services, healthcare, customs, immigration, environmental protection, public utilities, and public transportation for keeping society running smoothly and enabling our people to enjoy the holiday with peace of mind.

Over the last year, Taiwan faced several challenges; but we grew with every trial, taking each as an opportunity to enable our nation to stand taller, see farther, and become more resilient. Taiwan’s most beautiful scenery is found not just in our mountains and seas, but also in the silhouettes of all the people who stand by one another through adversity.

We have seen rescue teams and superhero volunteers coming from all over to provide aid to disaster areas; we have also seen the engineers braving bad weather to repair roads and water, electric, and communications facilities. Most of all, we will remember the heroes who sacrificed their lives in the disaster response and the brave citizens who risked all to protect strangers. All of this has deeply moved us and filled us with gratitude. 
 
There are also the countless unsung heroes, the micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) that hold up half of our economy; these unsung heroes are the people in all sectors and professions in Taiwan working and living earnestly with their feet firmly on the ground. It is their hard work that contributes bit by bit to our strongest power.

In the year ahead, I will lead my administration to continue our hard work without breaking stride.

We must continue to strengthen our national defense capabilities and public security efforts to safeguard national security and maintain social stability.

Even more importantly, we must steadily advance our economic development initiatives, ensuring that Taiwan maintains its leading edge among the global competition in technology and industry.

We must lend a helping hand to our industries as they expand their global presence, and provide more tangible, robust support to MSMEs to create more opportunities for Taiwanese businesses.

At the same time, we must boost development across central and southern Taiwan to achieve our goal of a balanced nation.

Furthermore, we must continue to advance social investment and welfare programs to support disadvantaged groups. Starting this past January, total maternity benefits and birth subsidies have been increased to NT$100,000 per newborn. Low-income households will receive an additional NT$1,000 per person per month, while medium-low-income households will receive an additional NT$750 per person per month.

The Executive Yuan has also approved raising the welfare allowance for elderly farmers from NT$8,110 to NT$10,000 per month, while national old-age pension benefits will rise from NT$4,049 to NT$5,000 per month. These increases will take effect once they are deliberated and passed by the Legislative Yuan.

The government must not only protect people’s livelihoods, but also provide a stage for the driven and hope for the diligent. It must also ensure that those without family support and people with disabilities are cared for.

My dear fellow citizens, in the new year, I pray for our nation’s peace and prosperity. I wish you all a happy Lunar New Year – may everyone stay safe and every family find happiness and joy with the arrival of spring. Let us move forward together, hand in hand, to greet an even better year ahead!