Vice President Encourages Youth to Embody 'Battle Cat Spirit' and Become Taiwan's Most Precious Asset
Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim delivered a speech at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, encouraging young people to embody the 'Battle Cat Spirit' by remaining flexible, steadfast in their goals, and strengthening their capabilities. She urged them to actively participate in public affairs and become Taiwan's most precious asset.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 19:13
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Central News Agency (CNA) reporter Wen Kuei-hsiang, Taipei, May 12 – Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim today visited National Pingtung University of Science and Technology to attend a celebrity lecture. She delivered a speech titled 'The Future Navigator: Youth Public Participation from a Battle Cat Perspective,' encouraging young people to remain flexible, steadfast in their goals, and strengthen their capabilities, actively participate in public affairs, leverage their expertise in different fields, and become the nation's most precious asset.
The Presidential Office today issued a press release stating that the Vice President said in her speech that many people often only associate public affairs with elections, but the scope of public affairs is actually quite broad. In addition to needing people to determine the direction of the country through elections, a democratic system also requires professionals from various fields to participate together. Whether it is striving in their professional fields to make the world see Taiwan, or engaging in policy promotion, these are all important contributions to the country.
She pointed out that there are different roles in public affairs. Some people participate in elections to become politicians, while others serve as staff or technocrats in the government system, assisting in policy formation and implementation. In addition, non-profit organizations, industries, and civil groups can also influence public policies.
Speaking about the international situation and diplomatic challenges Taiwan faces, the Vice President encouraged young people to remain flexible and creative with the 'Battle Cat Spirit.' She mentioned that when China suppressed Taiwan's pineapples in the past, the government actively explored international markets, not only gaining support from Japanese consumers but also further entering the U.S. market through processed products. At that time, she promoted Taiwanese dried pineapples at the Twin Oaks Estate, the residence of Taiwan's representative to the U.S., and entertained guests with pineapple cocktails, successfully attracting international friends' attention to Taiwan.
The Vice President also shared three characteristics of the 'Battle Cat Spirit.' The first is 'remaining flexible and elusive.' She described cats as seemingly gentle but capable of demonstrating astonishing abilities at critical moments. Although Taiwan is a small country, it should also possess resilience and strength beyond external imagination.
Second is 'firm confidence and clear goals.' She pointed out that promoting diplomatic work is not just because Taiwan is kind and willing to make friends, but more importantly, to safeguard national interests, including national security, economic prosperity, and expanding international space. Even when facing obstacles, one must steadfastly move towards goals and flexibly adjust methods.
Third is 'always keeping sharp claws.' The Vice President said this does not encourage confrontation but reminds Taiwan that it must possess sufficient strength and tools to protect itself when threatened, while continuously strengthening national competitiveness and resilience.
The Vice President cited Pingtung's industrial transformation as an example to illustrate the connection between public affairs and local development. She pointed out that Pingtung was once an important betel nut producing area, but the betel nut industry caused public health and environmental problems. Therefore, the local government promoted 'betel nut conversion to cocoa' and proposed policies such as 'Three Reds, Three Blacks, Treasures of Pingtung,' guiding farmers to switch to planting high-economic value crops such as cocoa and coffee, gradually establishing processing, branding, and international marketing capabilities, successfully driving local industrial upgrading.
She stated that industrial transformation is not just about farmers changing crops; it also involves technology research and development, brand building, processing design, and market expansion, requiring the joint efforts of government, academia, and industry. Public affairs participation is therefore inextricably linked to everyone's life.
The Vice President stated that although a democratic system is full of different voices, it is precisely because democracy guarantees people's freedom of speech and space for creativity that it is even more precious. She encouraged students to cherish democracy and freedom, be proud to be Taiwanese, leverage their strengths in different fields, participate in public affairs, and become Taiwan's most precious asset. (Editor: Hsieh Chia-chen) 1150512
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The Presidential Office today issued a press release stating that the Vice President said in her speech that many people often only associate public affairs with elections, but the scope of public affairs is actually quite broad. In addition to needing people to determine the direction of the country through elections, a democratic system also requires professionals from various fields to participate together. Whether it is striving in their professional fields to make the world see Taiwan, or engaging in policy promotion, these are all important contributions to the country.
She pointed out that there are different roles in public affairs. Some people participate in elections to become politicians, while others serve as staff or technocrats in the government system, assisting in policy formation and implementation. In addition, non-profit organizations, industries, and civil groups can also influence public policies.
Speaking about the international situation and diplomatic challenges Taiwan faces, the Vice President encouraged young people to remain flexible and creative with the 'Battle Cat Spirit.' She mentioned that when China suppressed Taiwan's pineapples in the past, the government actively explored international markets, not only gaining support from Japanese consumers but also further entering the U.S. market through processed products. At that time, she promoted Taiwanese dried pineapples at the Twin Oaks Estate, the residence of Taiwan's representative to the U.S., and entertained guests with pineapple cocktails, successfully attracting international friends' attention to Taiwan.
The Vice President also shared three characteristics of the 'Battle Cat Spirit.' The first is 'remaining flexible and elusive.' She described cats as seemingly gentle but capable of demonstrating astonishing abilities at critical moments. Although Taiwan is a small country, it should also possess resilience and strength beyond external imagination.
Second is 'firm confidence and clear goals.' She pointed out that promoting diplomatic work is not just because Taiwan is kind and willing to make friends, but more importantly, to safeguard national interests, including national security, economic prosperity, and expanding international space. Even when facing obstacles, one must steadfastly move towards goals and flexibly adjust methods.
Third is 'always keeping sharp claws.' The Vice President said this does not encourage confrontation but reminds Taiwan that it must possess sufficient strength and tools to protect itself when threatened, while continuously strengthening national competitiveness and resilience.
The Vice President cited Pingtung's industrial transformation as an example to illustrate the connection between public affairs and local development. She pointed out that Pingtung was once an important betel nut producing area, but the betel nut industry caused public health and environmental problems. Therefore, the local government promoted 'betel nut conversion to cocoa' and proposed policies such as 'Three Reds, Three Blacks, Treasures of Pingtung,' guiding farmers to switch to planting high-economic value crops such as cocoa and coffee, gradually establishing processing, branding, and international marketing capabilities, successfully driving local industrial upgrading.
She stated that industrial transformation is not just about farmers changing crops; it also involves technology research and development, brand building, processing design, and market expansion, requiring the joint efforts of government, academia, and industry. Public affairs participation is therefore inextricably linked to everyone's life.
The Vice President stated that although a democratic system is full of different voices, it is precisely because democracy guarantees people's freedom of speech and space for creativity that it is even more precious. She encouraged students to cherish democracy and freedom, be proud to be Taiwanese, leverage their strengths in different fields, participate in public affairs, and become Taiwan's most precious asset. (Editor: Hsieh Chia-chen) 1150512
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you provide is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.