President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) urged for solidarity in his inaugural address on Monday. Emphasizing the importance of unity in facing external challenges, Lai said that no country can stand alone, and a society cannot succeed if divided. Saying that Taiwan belongs to all of its inhabitants, regardless of ethnicity and irrespective of the year of settlement, Lai advocated for unity for the nation’s survival and development.
Lai reiterated that, as outlined in the first chapter of Taiwan’s constitution, Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other. He highlighted that Taiwan as a nation is rooted in its sovereignty and that this belongs to all its citizens - pointing to Taiwan’s democratic values. He cautioned political parties against sacrificing national sovereignty for political power and underscored how parties ought to oppose annexation.
President Lai added that as more countries support Taiwan’s meaningful international participation, it is evident that Taiwan stands as a credible and dependable contributor to global peace and prosperity. He called for people to unite and collectively progress towards global integration, so that Taiwan can become a respected nation on the international stage.