Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen attended the Police College graduation ceremony today (June 10th), where he encouraged the graduates to continue learning, treat the people as family, unite and help each other to ensure national security and social stability.
President Tsai Ing-wen attended the graduation ceremony of the 42nd class of police officers from the Taiwan Police Specialist School this morning. The event was also attended by Deputy Minister of the Interior Ma Shiyuan, Director-General of the National Police Agency Chang Rongxing, Deputy Director-General of the Coast Guard Administration Xie Qingqin, Deputy Director-General of the Fire Department Jian Wanyao, and President of the Taiwan Police Specialist School Fang Yangning.
Upon arrival, President Tsai presented graduation certificates to representatives of the graduates. In his speech, he congratulated the students of the 42nd class for their two years of hard work and rigorous training and expressed his honor to attend their graduation ceremony. He emphasized that as they graduate, they are taking on the important responsibility of safeguarding national security, disaster relief, and defending maritime borders.
President Tsai noted that the work of police officers, firefighters, and coast guards is not just a job but a vital mission to safeguard the lives and properties of the people. He thanked the students for choosing this challenging path and contributing to the country and society.
He also expressed gratitude to the parents for supporting their children’s choices, helping them pursue their dreams, and to the teachers for guiding the students with professionalism and wisdom to become important guardians of the people.
President Tsai mentioned that the work of police officers, firefighters, and coast guards is demanding, but the sense of mission and dedication to serving the people shown by the students and alumni present is commendable. He thanked all the colleagues in the public safety sectors for their hard work.
President Tsai stated that as the students step out of the school gates today, he has three expectations for them. Firstly, graduation is not the end of pursuing knowledge and expertise but the beginning of lifelong learning. He urged the students to remain curious about new developments, especially in the face of evolving technologies, changing crime patterns, climate challenges, and the expansion of authoritarianism that threaten people’s safety.
In light of these emerging challenges, he emphasized the importance of acquiring professional knowledge and skills from various sources and utilizing AI technology and big data to continuously learn and protect the people’s safety.
Secondly, he expects the graduates to recognize their responsibilities in meeting the needs of the people. Just as Pope Francis said, “A good shepherd should smell like the sheep.” The public authority bestowed upon them is meant to protect the vulnerable, uphold the rights of the people and promote fairness and justice. He believed that they could live up to this responsibility by treating the people as their own and continuing to improve their service to the people.
Thirdly, he urged the graduates to unite and help each other, standing together in challenging times. Since taking office last year, he has been committed to enhancing Taiwan’s societal defense resilience through strengthening national defense, livelihood, disaster prevention, and democracy. This requires cross-agency, cross-disciplinary, cross-professional collaboration, and public-private partnerships. He stressed the importance of teamwork to enhance administrative efficiency, ensuring national security and social stability.
President Tsai emphasized that the government will establish a more resilient public safety security system, ensuring that those at the front lines of duty feel valued by the country, supported by society, and protected by the system. Resources will be continuously invested to improve working environments, enhance welfare, and upgrade duty equipment for police, firefighters, and coast guard personnel, empowering them with greater support to fulfill their duties effectively.
In conclusion, President Tsai wished the graduates success in their future endeavors and excellence in their careers. He also extended his best wishes to their parents, friends, and teachers for health, happiness, and prosperity.