Tsai Ing-wen at Taipei Medical University: Change Begins When People Are Willing to Listen to Each Other

Former President Tsai Ing-wen was invited to give a speech at Taipei Medical University today. She mentioned that the world is changing rapidly, as is technological development, leading to more diverse and quickly evolving social opinions. Many things cannot be completely changed by one person, one generation, or even within one government's term. Change never happens instantly; it often begins when a group of people is willing to listen to each other. Tsai Ing-wen also spoke about her experience with TMU's professionalism and dedication, particularly their long-term medical team deployment to diplomatic ally Eswatini. A few years ago, as president, she visited Eswatini and personally toured the capital hospital, witnessing the long-term achievements of the TMU medical team there. She noted that TMU's medical work not only treats diseases but also helps a nation build a more resilient healthcare system, which deeply moved her. This demonstrates that Taiwan's strength is not just technological or economic, but also the power to care for people. Although Taiwan is not large, it is willing to use its professionalism and goodwill to assist the world. She quoted the TMU student association's message for the speech: "We cannot change the world immediately, but at least we can start by being willing to dialogue." Tsai Ing-wen found this statement excellent and very suitable for the occasion, especially in a volatile era where people often feel a sense of powerlessness. She stressed that in a changing world, rationality and dialogue are crucial. In recent years, the world has become increasingly unstable due to geopolitical tensions, making Taiwan acutely aware that peace is never a given. In such times, a nation's most important capability is "resilience." Resilience, she explained, is not about never getting hurt, but about having the ability to stand up after being hit; it's about not being easily defeated when encountering difficulties; it's about being able to steadily move forward even as the external environment constantly changes.