President William Lai’s (賴清德) first Double Ten National Day address had two strategic goals.
For domestic affairs, the speech aimed to foster consensus on national identity, strengthen the country and unite the Taiwanese against a Chinese invasion.
In terms of cross-strait relations, the speech aimed to mitigate tensions in the Taiwan Strait and promote the coexistence and prosperity of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in China and the Republic of China (ROC).
Lai is taking a different stance from previous Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administrations on domestic political issues.
During his speech, he said: “The PRC could not be the motherland of the people of the ROC,” commemorating our forebears’ overthrowing of the imperial regime and the establishment of a democratic republic. He also mentioned the Battle of Guningtou 75 years ago, the Aug. 23 Artillery Battle 66 years ago, the Kaohsiung Incident 45 years ago and the democracy movement.
Lai compared Taiwan to the early ROC by saying that our forebears, like the Taiwanese of today, carried the dream of democracy and the ideal of freedom. This was meant to remind the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) of the democratic progress that Taiwan has made over time, from overthrowing the Qing government and the rise of anti-communist and pro-Taiwan ideologies to more recent parliamentary election reforms. The message is that we must unite against any attempt by China to invade Taiwan, and protect the nation’s sovereignty and liberal democratic system.
He encouraged unity among supporters of the ROC, “the ROC on Taiwan,” and Taiwan, with a macro-narrative of the country’s history that emphasized a shared dream of one Taiwan.
Lai vowed to promote the “five plus two” innovative industries plan and the “six core strategic industries” policy; develop Taiwan’s “five trusted industry sectors,” including semiconductors and artificial intelligence; and help expand their global presence to bolster the local economy.
He also promised to advance the “Healthy Taiwan Cultivation Plan,” build a stronger social safety net, improve care for the disadvantaged and elderly people, and fight housing speculation.
Lai’s emphasis on people’s livelihoods was a call for opposition parties to prioritize social well-being over power struggles and work with the DPP, so that the government can implement its agenda in the national interest.
On cross-strait relations, Lai stressed that the ROC and the PRC are not subordinate to each other and that China has no right to represent Taiwan. Lai also called for Beijing to live up to the international community’s expectations of being a positive force for global peace and prosperity, after everything the world has done to help lift up China.
Taiwan is willing to work with China in maintaining regional security, and pursuing peace and prosperity for the all people across the Strait, Lai said.
Lai also said he wanted to move beyond the constraints of the Strait and make his appeal from a wider international perspective. He stressed Taiwan’s role in maintaining world peace with its strategically important geopolitical position. His call for cross-strait cooperation on regional security aligns with the international community’s hope for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
His attempt to de-escalate cross-strait tensions by suggesting “mutual assistance and mutual benefit” and the “coexistence and prosperity” of China and Taiwan was strategic.
Lai’s speech revolved around connecting Taiwan with the ROC, uniting the Taiwanese, safeguarding democracy, resisting annexation, and sustaining peace and prosperity on both sides of the Strait. It should help Taiwan garner international support.
Michael Lin is a retired diplomat, formerly posted in the US.
Translated by Fion Khan
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