Morning World: President Reaffirms Taiwan's Sovereignty and Commitment to Regional Stability in Press Briefing

President Lai Ching-te held a press conference with international media on the 18th, emphasizing that Taiwan's sovereignty rests with its people and that the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China are not subordinate to each other. He echoed G7's stance on maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, reiterating Taiwan's willingness to collaborate with the international community to maintain the status quo. President Lai noted that U.S. arms purchases signify Taiwan’s strategic commitment to national security and responsibility.

The 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking placed Taiwan 4th globally, its best performance to date. President Lai attributed this to Taiwan's resilient democracy and industrial ecosystem. Premier Cho Jung-tai highlighted Taiwan's competitive edge through its robust systems and flexible enterprise layouts.

To continue advancing domestic defense, the Executive Yuan passed the "Special Act for Indigenous Defense Unmanned Vehicle Procurement," allocating NT$210 billion. The initiative aims for localized supply and maintenance of coastal surveillance and attack drones.

The Central Bank maintained its policy interest rate for the ninth consecutive meeting, citing limited housing price corrections. Meanwhile, the Executive Yuan passed amendments to combat drug-related traffic offenses, including permanent license revocation for fatal accidents and the implementation of saliva-based testing.

Finally, the 2027 QS World University Rankings saw four Taiwanese universities enter the top 200, a record high, reflecting Taiwan's ongoing investment in research and strategic talent cultivation.