President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Tuesday called for greater cooperation between Taiwan’s ruling and opposition parties in a national address marking his first year in office.
Lai emphasized that democracy is Taiwan’s core value and part of its national strength, stressing the importance of finding unity in differences. He also highlighted Taiwan’s transformation from a country under martial law to a beacon of democracy in Asia, crediting both past and younger generations for their efforts in defending freedom. He stressed that democracy in Taiwan is built not on hate, but on civic participation and shared values.
Lai also announced plans to brief opposition leaders on key national security issues, stating that leaders should prioritize the national interest and protect national security regardless of their political stance.
Opposition lawmakers welcomed the proposed dialogue but voiced concerns about past political conflicts. KMT legislators expressed support for dialogue but questioned how past conflicts between parties would be addressed moving forward. The TPP’s Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) stressed that cross-party talks should proceed without preconditions in order to genuinely solve problems. Meanwhile, the ruling DPP emphasized the need for stable governance, calling on the opposition to play a constructive role rather than placing all blame on the president.