Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) says women are a powerful and essential part of Taiwan’s continued development. Lai spoke with a delegation from the Global Federation of Chinese Business Women on Monday at the Presidential Office.
Lai says in Taiwan’s past, women traditionally stayed at home and relied on their husband’s income. But he says gender equality is much more prevalent now and women’s abilities have helped society progress.
The vice president says Taiwan society’s perspective of women has changed now. He gave the example that one year the highest ranked students in the air force, army, and naval academies were all women.
Lai says President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said in her National Day speech that Taiwan showed the world its strength during the pandemic’s challenges. Tsai said the world now sees that Taiwan is a vital part of the global supply chain, especially in terms of semiconductors.
Representatives from many countries have come to visit Taiwan recently because of increased cross-strait tensions. These foreign officials have all remarked that Taiwan is the first line of defense against authoritarianism, and that the nation’s liberalism and democracy have created a stronger economy.
He said he hopes everyone will continue to support President Tsai, Taiwan’s first female president, so she can help create a better world for future generations.