In his Double Ten National Day address on Oct. 10 for the Republic of China’s 114th anniversary, President William Lai (賴清德) centered his message on democracy and sovereignty, providing a reminder that Taiwan’s emergence from the shadows of authoritarianism and its transcendence of martial law were not only political milestones, but also educational tasks.
Democracy cannot sustain itself — only through proper education can the next generation come to understand how precious freedom is and the responsibility that comes with it. Only then could the tree of democracy plant its roots and flourish. For educators, this moment presents a moment for reflection and a call to action. Schools must become places that foster civic awareness, social responsibility and humanistic values, and students must realize that democracy is more than just the right to vote, but also a commitment of action to defend the Taiwanese way of life.
“Taiwan belongs to all Taiwanese” is not only a political declaration, but an educational belief. If sovereignty is to endure, it must be transformed from learned knowledge into a lived attitude. School curricula should allow students to understand turning points in history, the diversity of languages and the independence of culture, allowing them to fully grasp the connection between self-identity and national consciousness.
Education is about more than imparting knowledge — it is about cultivating critical thinking and responsibility. Schools should improve democratic literacy, media literacy and national security education, while encouraging teachers and students alike to engage in discussion about public issues. The government’s continued promotion of educational measures should be supported, as only when education is rooted in sovereignty would the values of democracy be passed down for generations to come.
From an education perspective, national defense awareness goes beyond military training — it also includes cultivating psychological resilience and civic responsibility. Schools can integrate disaster prevention, medicine, cybersecurity and community cooperation into their curricula to help students understand the importance of crisis response, information security and collective action.
When citizens possess the power of critical thinking and take initiative, society as a whole forms an intellectual line of defense. True security does not rely on military strength — it must also be established on the foundation of democratic conviction and educational power. This is how the strongest national shield is built. Echoing Lai’s words: “We must rely on our own strength to achieve peace.” Education is the foundation of that strength.
As global tensions increase and authoritarian forces resurge, education remains Taiwan’s most stable form of strength. Through education, Taiwan can safeguard its borders and protect its precious values. This not only defends against external threats, but also fortifies each member of society.
As the government promotes national defense initiatives, it must also pursue educational reform to ensure that every citizen is equipped with the knowledge and courage to face the challenges that lie ahead.
Lai’s administration should be supported in its efforts to deepen democracy and national defense autonomy, and make education Taiwan’s most enduring line of defense. Only when knowledge becomes a shield, conviction a strength and when citizens unite as one can Taiwan move forward with resolve, allowing the nation to shine as a beacon of democracy amid the storm.
Pan Wei-yiu is a policymaker at the Taiwan Nation Alliance and president of the Union of Taiwanese Teachers.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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