Democracy and a strong military are key to safeguarding the nation, as it cannot be achieved by groveling and begging for peace, Vice President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday.
Lai, who has received the Democratic Progressive Party’s nomination to run as its presidential candidate in next year’s election, made the remarks at the launch of his “Support Lai for President” campaign in Tainan organized by the nation’s gasoline service station proprietors.
“Our mother is the mountain and the ocean... From our great-grandparents to today, these generations have been nurtured by Mother Taiwan,” Lai said, referring to a 1990s democracy movement song, Mother’s Name is Taiwan.
Photo: Hung Jui-chin, Taipei Times
“We have all grown up on this land, but now we are facing China as the biggest threat to our existence. We must fight together shoulder to shoulder to defend our homeland, to safeguard peace in Taiwan through democracy and by having a strong military defense,” he said.
China’s military is looming, and it is using cognitive warfare and disinformation against Taiwan, he said.
“I ask that people be prudent and not believe dubious messages and false information that are circulating online,” he said, adding that “peace cannot be achieved by kneeling and groveling, it cannot be granted by the enemy invading our homeland.”
If elected president, Lai said he would upgrade the petroleum industry and maintain its role in promoting economic growth and social stability.
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