Taiwanese will demonstrate to the world that their nation is capable of defending its sovereignty and ensure that the future of Taiwan will be decided by its people, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and Vice President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday in pre-recorded remarks at the Global Taiwan National Affairs Symposium.
Organized by Taiwanese independence groups, the symposium was themed “Uphold Taiwanese sovereignty, promote Indo-Pacific alliances.”
After the COVID-19 pandemic has caused changes to world affairs, the Russia-Ukraine war has shown that authoritarian states pose a threat to democracy, Tsai said, adding that many media reports have compared Taiwan to Ukraine.
Screen grab from YouTube
Taiwan is seeking to uphold its sovereignty, safeguard democracy and stand firm with nations that have similar values and ideals, she said, citing Taiwan’s assistance to Ukraine through donations and medical equipment as an example.
The solidarity of Taiwanese over the past few years has contributed to the development of Taiwan’s national defense industry and its overall economy, Tsai said, adding that only by growing stronger can Taiwan help others.
Increasingly more nations are speaking up for Taiwan and supporting its meaningful participation in international organizations, Tsai said.
“We have shown the world that we are resolved to defend ourselves, and that we can contribute to efforts to further freedom and democracy,” she said.
Lai called on the event for a moment of silence to honor late democracy pioneer Peng Ming-min (彭明敏) and to thank him for his contribution to furthering Taiwanese democracy.
Peng passed away at the age of 98 on Saturday last week. He and two of his students in 1964 published a manifesto, A Declaration of Formosan Self-Salvation, in which he and his coauthors said that Chiang Kai-shek’s (蔣介石) dream of “retaking the mainland” is unattainable. The declaration advocated for a “one Taiwan, one China” policy, a new constitution, joining the UN as “Taiwan” and creating a free nation.
Lai said that over the past few years, Taiwan’s standing has improved, despite global challenges and Chinese oppression, and it has bolstered collaboration with other countries in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as with the US and the EU.
Many international summits calling for “stability in the Taiwan Strait” is a sign of success for Taiwan’s diplomacy, he said.
Taiwan-US ties have improved greatly, including through former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo’s statements of support for Taiwan, as well as a delegation sent by US President Joe Biden, which underscored the US’ interest in a stable Indo-Pacific region, the vice president said.
Taiwanese must stand united, and uphold sovereignty and democracy to ensure that only they decide their country’s future, Lai said.
Taiwan is also pursuing international collaboration on carbon emissions reduction, as the nation is doing its part to conserve the environment, he said.
Such endeavors would also make Taiwan stronger, Lai added.
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off Yilan at 11:05pm yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The epicenter was located at sea, about 32.3km east of Yilan County Hall, at a depth of 72.8km, CWA data showed There were no immediate reports of damage. The intensity of the quake, which gauges the actual effect of a seismic event, measured 4 in Yilan County area on Taiwan’s seven-tier intensity scale, the data showed. It measured 4 in other parts of eastern, northern and central Taiwan as well as Tainan, and 3 in Kaohsiung and Pingtung County, and 2 in Lienchiang and Penghu counties and 1
A car bomb killed a senior Russian general in southern Moscow yesterday morning, the latest high-profile army figure to be blown up in a blast that came just hours after Russian and Ukrainian delegates held separate talks in Miami on a plan to end the war. Kyiv has not commented on the incident, but Russian investigators said they were probing whether the blast was “linked” to “Ukrainian special forces.” The attack was similar to other assassinations of generals and pro-war figures that have either been claimed, or are widely believed to have been orchestrated, by Ukraine. Russian Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, 56, head
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE: Beijing would likely intensify public opinion warfare in next year’s local elections to prevent Lai from getting re-elected, the ‘Yomiuri Shimbun’ said Internal documents from a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company indicated that China has been using the technology to intervene in foreign elections, including propaganda targeting Taiwan’s local elections next year and presidential elections in 2028, a Japanese newspaper reported yesterday. The Institute of National Security of Vanderbilt University obtained nearly 400 pages of documents from GoLaxy, a company with ties to the Chinese government, and found evidence that it had apparently deployed sophisticated, AI-driven propaganda campaigns in Hong Kong and Taiwan to shape public opinion, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported. GoLaxy provides insights, situation analysis and public opinion-shaping technology by conducting network surveillance
‘POLITICAL GAME’: DPP lawmakers said the motion would not meet the legislative threshold needed, and accused the KMT and the TPP of trivializing the Constitution The Legislative Yuan yesterday approved a motion to initiate impeachment proceedings against President William Lai (賴清德), saying he had undermined Taiwan’s constitutional order and democracy. The motion was approved 61-50 by lawmakers from the main opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), who together hold a legislative majority. Under the motion, a roll call vote for impeachment would be held on May 19 next year, after various hearings are held and Lai is given the chance to defend himself. The move came after Lai on Monday last week did not promulgate an amendment passed by the legislature that
RSS