President Lai: Taiwan Cannot Be Held Hostage by Fear; Parties Should Unite for National Interest

(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."