The vision of a president does not lie in responding to public opinion, but in leading the nation’s direction. If President William Lai (賴清德) wants to be a true leader, he must take the initiative to lay out a 10-year blueprint for Taiwan, acting as a clear guiding North Star to show the direction and presenting a flagship program for Taiwanese to follow.
Security resilience is a primary mission. As Taiwan confronts external threats, it must advance an all-out defense strategy and strengthen defense technologies, including drones, cyberwarfare and backup energy to ensure that people’s livelihoods and combat readiness are not paralyzed.
Taiwan needs a comprehensive upgrade to the economy. The semiconductor industry is a strength, but it is not enough to secure the nation’s future. Lai should oversee the legislative process to introduce policies that help small and medium-sized enterprises to adopt artificial intelligence, and chart new directions in net zero technology, biotechnology and cultural content to ensure Taiwan’s position in the global supply chain.
To give hope to young people, the government should propose a “national youth taskforce” to encourage young people to gain experience abroad, develop apprenticeships and support them to revitalize their hometowns. Also, the government should provide social housing and reform the tax system, enabling young Taiwanese to afford housing and have a more promising future.
Lai needs to rebuild integrity within the judiciary and finance. Public trust could be regained by introducing judicial evaluations and enhancing transparency. A fiscal policy for gold should be established to distinguish investment from expenditure, preventing public finances from being misused to solicit votes during elections, when financial issues are often reduced to campaign issues to debate and then forget.
Culture and language policy must reflect the identity of being Taiwanese. Although Taiwanese make up the majority of the population, there is still no government body or systematic cultural development to protect and preserve Taiwanese identity through culture and language. Taiwan should promote the Hoklo language (commonly known as Taiwanese) and collective memory, and encourage cultural diffusion to promote community cohesion.
Lai should declare Taiwan’s role in the democratic supply chain, pursue free-trade agreements and publish a national narrative white paper to demonstrate Taiwan’s international statehood.
The president should not passively respond to circumstances, he must lead. If Lai can deliver progress in security, income and culture, he could be a true leader who is capable of guiding Taiwan for the next decade.
Hsiao Hsi-huei is a freelance writer.
Translated by Lai Wen-chieh
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