President Lai: Taiwan Cannot Be Held Hostage by Fear; Parties Should Unite for National Interest
President Lai Ching-te delivered a speech at the Presidential Office on May 20, reportedly marking the second anniversary of his administration. He emphasized that Taiwan's future must be decided by its 23 million people, not by external forces, fear, or division. President Lai called on all political parties to unite and firmly stand for the national interest when facing external threats.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 20, 2026 at 11:17
- 🔍 Collected: May 20, 2026 at 11:31 (14 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 20, 2026 at 11:38 (6 min after Collected)
(CNA reporters Yeh Su-ping, Wen Kuei-hsiang, Kao Hua-chien, Taipei, 20th) President Lai Ching-te said today that Taiwan's future cannot be decided by external forces, nor can it be held hostage by fear, division, or short-term interests. Taiwan's future must be jointly decided by its 23 million people, President Lai stated, calling on the ruling and opposition parties: "We should all unite to defend our common bottom line and stand firmly on the side of national interest." President Lai delivered his speech marking the second anniversary of his administration at the Presidential Office in the morning, accompanied by Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an, and National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu. President Lai emphasized that he is well aware that in a democratic society, there will inevitably be different opinions and competition between the ruling and opposition parties. However, while parties can compete, the country cannot be divided. Positions can differ, but the commitment to defending Taiwan cannot. "When facing external threats, everyone should unite to defend our common bottom line and stand firmly on the side of national interest."