Attending Spring Banquet of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lai Ching-te: Taiwan Will Continue to Strengthen National Defense

【Epoch Times, March 14, 2025】Taiwan President Lai Ching-te attended the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spring Banquet on the 13th and delivered a speech, emphasizing that Taiwan will continue to strengthen its defense capabilities, standing shoulder to shoulder with democratic countries to collectively exert deterrence.

President Lai Ching-te attended the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spring Banquet on the evening of the 13th, accompanied by Vice President Hsiao Mei-chin, Presidential Office advisor Tian Hung-mao, Secretary-General of the National Security Council Wu Zhao-xie, Political Deputy Minister of the Executive Yuan Liu Ching-ching, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung, Minister of National Defense Koo Li-hsiung, Minister of Digital Development Huang Yan-nan, Minister of Labor Hung Shen-han, as well as various foreign envoys such as Ambassador to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Andrea Clare Bowman who were present at the event.

In his address, President Lai Ching-te expressed his pleasure in meeting and exchanging views with distinguished guests from various countries and friends from all walks of life domestically. He noted the rapid global changes over the past year, with geopolitical fluctuations, supply chain restructuring, and technological advancements profoundly affecting each country’s strategic layout. He took the opportunity to thank allied and like-minded countries for continuously showcasing their support and importance to Taiwan on various international occasions.

“We have observed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait in the recent joint statements by the leaders of the United States and Japan, the joint statements by the foreign ministers of the United States, Japan, and South Korea, as well as the G7 foreign ministers’ joint statement. These statements underscore Taiwan’s significant role in the global progress and prosperity. I also want to express special thanks to the representatives of the foreign envoys in Taiwan, who have worked diligently with us to establish closer partnerships between our countries,” said President Lai Ching-te.

He firmly believes that a stronger Taiwan can make greater contributions to the world. Therefore, since taking office, he has established the “National Climate Change Response Strategy Commission,” the “Whole Society Defense Resilience Committee,” and the “Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee” in the Presidential Office to address global issues continuously. They also seek to address the most critical issues affecting the Taiwanese people, aiming to rally various forces to strategize for national development and deepen Taiwan’s cooperation with the international community.

President Lai Ching-te mentioned his visits to the Pacific allies – the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Tuvalu, and the Republic of Palau last year. He expressed deep gratitude for the warm reception and felt a sense of being a part of a family with these allied friends. Through field visits and mutual exchanges, they not only reinforced friendship and cooperation but also demonstrated Taiwan’s determination to work together with allied countries to address various challenges such as climate change, zero net emissions transition, and digital transformation.

“At the beginning of this month, the ‘Global Cooperation and Training Framework’ (GCTF) workshop held in Taiwan was the first to discuss the topic of whole society defense resilience, with the participation of experts and scholars from 30 countries. I would like to thank the support and assistance of the representatives again. Moving forward, we look forward to expanding cooperation opportunities with other countries in various fields to jointly promote democracy, peace, and prosperity in the region and the world,” President Lai Ching-te said.

In the face of authoritarian expansion, President Lai Ching-te stated that Taiwan will continue to strengthen its defense capabilities, stand side by side with democratic countries, jointly exert deterrence, collaborate in building a “non-red supply chain,” enhance economic resilience, and promote the “Global Semiconductor Democratic Supply Chain Partner Initiative” to ensure sustainable technological and economic development.

On January 1st of this year, President Lai Ching-te mentioned in his New Year’s speech that there are even more exciting Taiwan stories to share with the world in the new year. He expressed gratitude to everyone present for their dedication to Taiwan, connecting Taiwan with the world through various means and showcasing Taiwan’s diverse stories to the world. He believes that through deeper and broader cooperation, there will not only be more exciting Taiwan stories but also a brighter future, wishing everyone a very pleasant evening tonight.