President Tsai delivers National Day Address: "2020 Proud of Taiwan"
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
President Tsai delivers
Newsletter 421,
National Day
Special,
National Day Address:
October 12, 2020
“2020 Proud of Taiwan”
T
oday (October 10th) is the 109th National Day
of the Republic of China. This year, because of
the pandemic, we have scaled back our cele-
bration. But our fellow citizens, no matter where
they are, all extend their heartfelt congratulations
to the Republic of China (Taiwan) for making it
through a year full of challenges.
Due to the threat of COVID-19, 2020 has been a tur-
bulent year for Taiwan and the world. This global
crisis, however, has allowed the international com-
munity to see Taiwan’s unique character and capa- trol measures in an orderly manner.
bilities as an Island of Resilience. We also saw that citizens returning from abroad fol-
We did not lock down our cities, or close down our lowed home isolation and quarantine regulations.
schools. With pandemic control measures in place, The hotel industry provided quarantine lodging,
we were one of the few countries in the world to still the car rental industry provided transportation
play professional baseball, and hold major arts and for people under quarantine, and restaurants and
cultural events. We also showed impressive nation- entertainment venues implemented name-based
al strength by sending pandemic prevention sup- tracing systems. Through unity and a single-mind-
plies to countries around the globe. ed purpose, we held the line in the fight against the
pandemic and made Taiwan a global model.
Since March of this year, Taiwan’s pandemic control
performance has been covered in over 3,300 inter-
national media reports. This has helped the world
“We are well aware of the
to see Taiwan more clearly, and our international importance of defending
image has never been better.
These achievements are a tribute to the unity and our homeland”
cooperation the people of Taiwan have shown. In
addition to the medical and quarantine personnel I know the Taiwanese people were inspired when
who have worked so hard, we also thank the manu- former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori,
facturing industry for cooperating to produce pan- Czech Republic Senate President Miloš Vystrčil,
demic prevention supplies, the high-tech industry and US Secretary of Health and Human Services
for developing apps, our pharmacists and conven- Alex Azar and Under Secretary of State Keith Krach
ience store employees for helping distribute face all visited us to convey their respect for Taiwan.
masks, and the public for following our disease con-
Our successful response to the challenges of the
pandemic has proven our nation’s viability during
times of adversity and boosted public confidence.
More importantly, we have united, because we
are well aware of the importance of defending our
homeland. So this year has been decidedly difficult,
but also very rewarding.
For this year’s National Day Celebration, we have
invited heroes in the fight against COVID-19 from
all walks of life to lead us in singing the national
Last week, Taiwan and the United States jointly an-
anthem. We know many of their stories well, like nounced the signing of a Framework to Strengthen
nurse Lai Pi-lien wearing the pressure marks from Infrastructure Finance and Market Building Coop-
her face mask as a badge of honor, and the touchingeration. Under that agreement, we will jointly par-
tale of nurse Chang Wan-erh who escorted a child ticipate in infrastructure projects in the Americas
with hemophilia back to Taiwan, but hid her mis- and the Indo-Pacific region. The deepening of Tai-
sion from her family. wan-US economic cooperation has thus entered
the action phase – the beginning of our pursuit of
And there are many more unreported stories about comprehensive breakthroughs in international
unsung heroes in the battle against COVID-19, too economic and trade cooperation.
many to tell. Please join me in giving them a warm
round of applause, and thank them once again for
all they have done for Taiwan. “The future holds even
Because the pandemic was properly controlled, Tai- greater challenges waiting to
wan became one of the few countries in the world
that maintained positive economic growth. We be overcome”
have also prepared for economic development in
the post-pandemic era, proactively planning and But I also want to remind everyone: The global pan-
promoting our Six Core Strategic Industries. We demic is not over yet. The complex economic and
have already planned out the step-by-step alloca- social challenges it has brought to all countries re-
tion of our Forward-looking Infrastructure Devel- main severe.
opment Program special budget, and stepped up
The future holds even greater challenges waiting
the pace of implementation.
to be overcome. Post-pandemic global economic
What inspires us most is that our citizens and com- recovery, lifestyle changes, dramatic changes in
panies have more confidence in Taiwan’s economic global and regional trade, and the realignment of
development. The long-term capital outflow trend the global economic order will all test our economic
has been completely reversed. staying power and overall adaptability.
We have been welcoming the largest wave of re- To address the greatest internal and external chang-
shoring in decades by Taiwan companies, with es we have seen in decades, Taiwan will continue to
investments worth more than NT$1 trillion, along show resilience, and the government will take the
with over a hundred billion NT dollars in overseas helm and lead the way forward with three major
funds being repatriated. Many foreign companies strategies to create the new Taiwan economy we all
and well-known multinational corporations are aspire to.
also increasing their investments in Taiwan. And
First, we will fully and comprehensively participate
all of these are on-going right now.
in supply chain reorganization. The rapid disman-
We have also made substantive progress in interna- tling and realignment of global supply chains is now
tional economic and trade cooperation. Taiwan and irreversible, and Taiwanese businesses around the
the United States will hold a high-level economic di- world are moving toward segmented markets, pro-
alogue to identify future cooperation opportunities duction base migration, and reshoring to invest in
in the realignment of global supply chains, techno- Taiwan at an ever-faster pace.
logical cooperation, infrastructure, and other areas.
Our on-going implementation of the 5+2 innova-
tive industries plan, Six Core Strategic Industries,
trillion NT-dollar investment program, New South-
bound Policy, Taiwan-US economic cooperation,
and participation in regional economic integration
are all closely related to supply chain realignment.
We will link all of these related policies and pro-
grams while integrating government and private
sector resources with cross-department capabili-
democratic values will not change, but we will also some time now, harassment by air and sea from the
maintain strategic flexibility and be responsive to other side has raised tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
changes. But our national military has closely monitored the
Second, we want to make Taiwan a hub for interna- situation and responded promptly, achieving their
tional capital, talent, and digital technology. In the defense mission.
future, the critical factors in supply chain realign- Over the past few years, whenever I have had time,
ment will be capital, talent, and core technologies I have visited the officers and enlisted personnel in
for the digital economy. our military units, from air force radar stations on
We will continue to deepen reforms and eliminate distant mountain tops to naval fleets patrolling the
obstacles to create an environment and legal struc- seas, and from army unit artillery drills in the field
ture to attract international capital and talent. We
will also actively cultivate domestic industrial tal- “I always have the future of
ent through international exchanges, industry-ac-
ademia cooperation, and a bilingual nation policy. our military and our military
In addition, we will leverage Taiwan’s strengths in of the future in my heart.”
ICT, semiconductors, the Internet of Things (IoT),
and artificial intelligence to develop and control to the academies training our young non-commis-
core technologies and accelerate digital transfor- sioned officers.
mation of industry and the economy.
I do that not only to thank our military personnel
Third, we will do our utmost to balance economic working around the clock to protect the nation, but
and social development. The post-pandemic econ- even more, to let citizens know that our military are
omy and industry run the risk of unbalanced de- our family, and the staunchest backers of our na-
velopment, while there may also be repercussions tional sovereignty, freedom, and democracy.
from a massive increase in capital supply. The gov-
Throughout my interactions with our men and
ernment will therefore put greater emphasis on the
women in uniform, many stories strengthened my
reasonable distribution of resources, take care of
confidence. I remember being in the alert room at
the disadvantaged affected by our economic trans-
an air force unit on the front lines where the pilots,
formation, strengthen and spur youth employ-
always prepared for emergency service, confidently
ment, and encourage and effectively utilize funding
told me that, “The air force has our air defense cov-
to bring back Taiwan’s economic growth dividend
ered.”
for everyone to share.
I also remember at an army engineer training center,
Of course, Taiwan’s economic prospects also de-
I saw a female officer lead her fellow engineers with
pend on regional peace and stability. We are aware
the kind of spirit that can carve a road through any
that showing weakness and making concessions
mountain or build a bridge over any body of water.
will not bring peace. Adequate preparation and
At the Navy Underwater Operations Unit, men and
reliance on the determination and strength of sol-
women wearing heavy equipment fearlessly dove
id national defense capabilities is the only way to
to the ocean floor to remove obstacles.
guarantee Taiwan’s security and maintain regional
peace. This is the Republic of China military. Whether they
are on the front line or in logistics, male or female,
The guiding principles behind our current national
they are all children of Taiwan and committed to
defense strategy are to enhance national defense ca-
safeguarding our nation.
pabilities and lower the risk of military conflict. For
In recent times, some of our brothers and sisters in
uniform were injured or even lost their lives while
carrying out their duties. We remember their dedi-
cation with gratitude, and are proud of our military
for their bravery and sense of responsibility.
As commander-in-chief, I always have the future
of our military and our military of the future in my
heart.
We will continue to modernize defensive combat national concern, it is clear that democracy, peace
capabilities and accelerate the upgrading of our and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific are currently fac-
asymmetrical capabilities to deal with military ex- ing serious challenges.
pansion and provocation from the other side of the
Countries in this region have forged various allianc-
Taiwan Strait. As we procure military hardware,
es to ensure that their national security and demo-
we still remain dedicated to promoting our nation-
cratic systems are not affected by external influenc-
al self-defense capabilities. We have also already
es. This has already caused unprecedented changes
made substantial progress in manufacturing ad-
to the region.
vanced training aircraft and submarines. We take
a dual-track approach to strengthening our defen- We must turn this testing time into a historical op-
sive capabilities. portunity. Our commitment to our sovereignty and
We have not only upgraded our military hardware
capabilities, but even more importantly, we are fo-
“We must turn this
cusing on cultivating high-quality personnel. In
addition to improving the professionalism of our
testing time into a historical
volunteer officers and soldiers, we need to establish opportunity”
an effective reservist system to enhance the quality
democratic values will not change, but we will also
and capabilities of our military personnel.
maintain strategic flexibility and be responsive to
I am sure that many reservists recently on active changes.
duty for training feel that the process has been
As circumstances change, advance preparation is
streamlined. Next on the agenda will be the rapid
the only way to exercise control over the future, and
implementation of reserve and mobilization sys-
not just drift with the current or have others decide
tem reforms based on the principle of integrating
our fate.
standing and reservist forces.
We will play an active role in establishing new re-
In order to avoid potential conflicts due to mis-
gional and international orders. We will forge al-
calculations or accidents, we will address threats
liances based on shared values and friendly ties
to regional peace and stability by upholding our
throughout the international community, and con-
principle of neither fearing nor seeking war. The
tinue to enhance partnerships with like-minded
Ministry of National Defense will report on Peo-
and friendly nations. We will also participate more
ple’s Liberation Army activities when appropriate,
actively in regional and international multilateral
exchange information with neighboring countries,
cooperation and dialogues.
and strengthen security partnerships. The Min-
istry will also keep the public informed about the The most important values the Republic of Chi-
situation in the Taiwan Strait, solidifying overall na (Taiwan) stands for in the region are upholding
national defense. peace and promoting economic development. We
want to be an advocate for the forces of good, and
For some time we have all been paying close atten-
share our progressive and good faith values with
tion to changes in regional security. From sovereign-
the whole world.
ty disputes in the South and East China Seas and the
China-India border conflict, to developments in the I am also aware that the leader across the Strait has
Taiwan Strait, as well as the “Hong Kong version of publicly stated in a video message to the United Na-
the National Security Law” that has garnered inter- tions General Assembly that China will never seek
hegemony, expansion, or a sphere of influence.
As countries in the region and around the world are
now concerned about China’s expanding hegemo-
ny, we hope this is the beginning of genuine change.
At this critical time when the entire world has grave
concerns about Indo-Pacific and cross-strait devel-
opments, if Beijing can heed Taiwan’s voice, change
the way it handles cross-strait relations, and jointly
facilitate cross-strait reconciliation and peaceful di-
alogue, I believe that regional tension can surely be
resolved. unify to address external issues, cooperating to lead
In addressing cross-strait relations, we will not act the country to rise above adversity.
rashly, and will uphold our principles. Maintaining Just like everything Taiwan has experienced over
stability in cross-strait relations is in the best inter- the past 71 years, hardships have forged our resil-
ests of both sides. We are committed to upholding iency, and challenges have inspired our resolve.
cross-strait stability, but this is not something Tai- This pandemic can consolidate a sense of unity
wan can shoulder alone; it is the joint responsibility among Taiwanese, and give us the courage to con-
of both sides. tinue moving forward.
At this stage, the most pressing cross-strait issue We have contained the spread of the virus, devel-
is to discuss how we can live in peace and coexist oped economic strategies, stabilized the region, and
based on mutual respect, goodwill and understand-
ing. As long as the Beijing authorities are willing to “All of our striving
resolve antagonisms and improve cross-strait rela-
tions, while parity and dignity are maintained, we is for Taiwan’s next
are willing to work together to facilitate meaningful
dialogue. This is what the people of Taiwan advo- generation”
cate, and it is a cross-party consensus. protected Taiwan’s security. For what reason? Be-
It is clear that public opinion in Taiwan about ex- cause we want to pass on a strong country to our
ternal relations and national security is now con- next generation.
verging. The Taiwanese people all hope for regional At this year’s Golden Melody Awards we witnessed
peace and prosperity that are stable and sustaina- the creativity and vitality of our dynamic younger
ble. generation. They used various musical styles, con-
The same is true for the ruling and opposition fidently singing in their native languages, which
parties. For example, an opposition party’s recent reflects their values on many different issues. This
resolutions to advance Taiwan-US relations were was especially evident for the album “Kinakaian
supported by both the ruling and opposition par- (Mother Tongue)”, which was honored as album of
ty caucuses, and passed without objection. The the year.
mayors of our six special municipalities also came Even though these young creatives have different
together in unanimous opposition when an inter- styles, they can all light up the stage with the finest
national organization downgraded Taiwan’s status, interpretations of Taiwan’s diverse cultures. And
and succeeded in getting that organization to cor- this is all supported by our free and democratic so-
rect the error. These are all examples of cross-party ciety.
cooperation, uniting to express our point of view.
All of our striving is for Taiwan’s next generation, so
Through these examples, I would like to appeal to that they and the generations that follow can show
and invite all of our domestic political parties to join their self-confidence through their creations. They
forces and work together. Domestically, we com- can be proud of the culture and values of our home-
pete with one another and have opposing view- land, and courageously engage with the world.
points—this is normal in a democracy. But for the
On this National Day, let’s all make a wish together.
nation’s continued survival and development, and
Let’s wish that 20 years from now, when Taiwanese
for the values of freedom and democracy, we should
look back on 2020, they will remember this as the
year we grasped a generational opportunity, brave-
ly forging ahead in rapidly changing times to over-
come challenges and throw off our shackles, giving
them a chance to determine their own future.
Starting today, let’s all join together, keeping in step.
If there’s a path, let’s follow it, singing along the way.
If there’s no path, let’s ford the stream, scale the hill,
and keep moving toward the light.
Happy birthday to the Republic of China! Thank
you.
You can also read
