TAIPEI, (Taiwan Today) – President Lai Ching-te said January 1 that the government is committed to building a safer, smarter, more resilient and more prosperous Taiwan, achieving more balanced development across the country and promoting democratic unity. Lai made the remarks in his New Year’s Day address at the Presidential Office in Taipei City. He first praised Taiwan’s achievements last year, including a 15-year high economic growth rate of approximately 7.37 percent and the launch of Formosat-8’s Chi Po-lin satellite.
The president promised that Taiwan would staunchly defend national sovereignty, strengthen national defense, enhance whole-of-society resilience and establish robust deterrence and democratic defense mechanisms. He also urged the passing of an eight-year special defense budget of NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.7 billion).
The government is working to make Taiwan an Asian asset management hub, Lai said, adding that plans such as the Ten Major AI Infrastructure Projects initiative ensure Taiwan retains its advantages. He noted that the government is also assisting micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises maintain their competitiveness during the transformation.
To promote democratic unity throughout Taiwan, Lai said he is prepared to deliver a state-of-the-nation address to the Legislative Yuan if requested to in accordance with the constitutional methods stipulated by Article 4, Paragraph 3 of the Additional Articles of the Constitution to promote cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties.
Lai concluded by noting continued international support for Taiwan, saying that countries including Japan, the EU, the UK and the US have all made statements on the importance of cross-strait peace and stability. He ended with a pledge to protect the country’s hard-earned free and democratic way of life and to lead the nation ever onward.
Meanwhile, Taiwan attained record recognition and support in 2025 on the strength of the government’s integrated diplomacy approach and the hard work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, (MOFA) and associated overseas offices to realise president Lai Ching-te’s goal of transforming Taiwan into a thriving global economic powerhouse.
According to the MOFA, the year 2025 was marked by increasing geopolitical turbulence, economic shifts and authoritarian expansion. China continues to use hybrid warfare to intensify pressure on Taiwan, posing severe challenges, it said.
In the face of these threats, Taiwan has continued to leverage its technological prowess and its critical role in non-red supply chains to deepen relations with diplomatic allies and like-minded partners, the ministry said. It cited foreign minister Lin Chia-lung’s visit to 11 allies and the successful implementation of the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project this year.
Other highlights include the Double-12 integrated diplomacy initiative proposed by Lin, which encompasses 12 like-minded countries key to Taiwan’s security in addition to Taiwan’s 12 diplomatic allies. They are the Group of Seven countries; fellow first island chain nations South Korea and the Philippines; and Australia, New Zealand and India.
The MOFA said progress is similarly reflected in the country’s ties with important partners such as Japan, the US and European countries, adding that the leaders, governments and lawmakers of these nations pay close attention to Taiwan’s security and have voiced opposition to any unilateral change in the cross-strait status quo.
Support for Taiwan’s global participation is on the rise, the MOFA said, citing backing from allies and partners in global venues such as meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, International Civil Aviation Organization and UN General Assembly.
Regarding economic diplomacy, Lin led delegations of business representatives to Palau, the Philippines and the US this year, the MOFA said. The ministry added that it launched an interministerial mechanism to promote health and sports diplomacy; focused on cultural and youth exchanges such as the Taiwan Culture in Europe initiative; and participated in international forums to raise global recognition of Taiwan issues.
Looking to 2026, the MOFA said it will continue to implement the integrated diplomacy approach with confidence and resilience and work with partners from home and abroad to safeguard the values of freedom and diplomacy while contributing more to regional and global peace, stability and prosperity.
