How Taiwan's National Day Went From Military Parade to Celebration of Country

TaiwanPlus News

Taiwan's National Day is in fact a commemoration of the founding of the Republic of China – the country's official name – and it originally served as a showcase of the country's military might. But over the years, the day has become an occasion to celebrate country's diversity and culture.

Transcript

00:00Wishing a happy National Day to Taiwan, with big festivities outside the presidential office,

00:09showing off the talents, diversity, and might of the nation.

00:23President Lai Qingze delivered his second National Day speech as head of state,

00:28with foreign dignitaries in attendance,

00:30ramping up promises of maintaining peace and security in the Taiwan Strait.

00:35He also had a direct message for China, which claims Taiwan as its own

00:39and has blocked the country from participating in major international organizations.

00:43We are also hoping that China can be a big responsibility.

00:50The decision of the 2758 meeting will stop the international meeting of the 2758th

00:53decision-making, and counteract historical documents,

00:58and will stop using武力-and-dose-dose way to change the台海 situation.

01:04That message was interpreted by some as Lai showing a softer attitude to Beijing,

01:08amid growing cross-strait tensions.

01:10I think Lai, bilaterally, he tried to be using more graceful language towards China.

01:16When he called on China to talk about assuming responsibility befitting of a great power,

01:23he's really calling on China to listen to the better angels of Beijing's nature,

01:27and the better angels that Lai still believes Beijing has.

01:31And when it comes to more multilateral terms, that's when he tried to be more deterrent-oriented.

01:37Defense was another focus of Lai's speech,

01:40especially as the country tries to prove its domestic capabilities

01:43and determination to international allies.

01:46Thank you very much.

02:16Taiwan's biggest partner, the U.S., has been urging Taipei to pursue asymmetric defense

02:27strategies and spend more on its defense. Lai mentioned that Taiwan's expected to raise

02:32the defense budget to over 3 percent of GDP next year and still has a goal of reaching

02:375 percent of GDP by 2030. Experts say, by putting Taiwan's self-defense capabilities first,

02:43Lai is trying to reassure partners that Taiwan has the intention to take care of itself,

02:48but that it's also trying to prove its pivotal role in regional peace,

02:52which other partners have an interest in. Lai is pretty comprehensive. He talks about

02:58strengthening internal balance and external balance. Internal balance in terms of strengthening

03:03Taiwan's own domestic defense system as they increase spending. Also, by external balance,

03:08that is leveraging more friends, partners from abroad so that they can lock themselves into a

03:14more sustainable, longer-term ecosystem of defense cooperation and thereby creating more path

03:19dependency that's going to sustain Taiwan's defensive commitments going forward.

03:25So international countries who are watching should be very emboldened by Taiwan's commitment

03:30to defense, judging from Lai's speech. But besides addressing an international audience,

03:35Lai also had a message for the people of Taiwan, urging them to show strength in the face of

03:40adversity and acknowledging their daily challenges.

03:42ئ.

03:43面对变局,我们不能自我怀疑举棋不定,而是要把握机会,展现自信,

03:53勇敢布局,不能故步自封走回头路。

03:58要更积极进取地向世界前进。

04:02As Taiwan celebrates another year as a free country, Lai's address shows the country's

04:18capabilities in self-defense and reminds the country's allies that Taiwan is a necessary

04:23part of the global supply chain and Indo-Pacific security.

04:27Joseph Wu and Tiffany Wong for Taiwan Plus.

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