Speaking at the Double Tenth National Day celebrations, Legislative Yuan President and Preparatory Committee head Han Kuo-yu declared that Taiwan experienced a year of global visibility while urging political leaders to resolve institutional friction and prioritize national security.
The 115th National Day gathering brought together top political figures, foreign dignitaries, and citizens in front of the Presidential Office.
Semiconductors Drive Record Growth
In his address, Han pointed to surging economic indicators as evidence of the island’s growing international footprint. He emphasized that the semiconductor industry has positioned Taiwan at the very center of the global stage, driven by surging demand for advanced artificial intelligence hardware. Government forecasts cited during the event project annual economic growth to exceed 11 percent, marking a decades-high peak.
Tracing these achievements back through recent history, Han credited the strategic foresight of former leaders Chiang Ching-kuo and Sun Yun-suan during the 1970s with laying the groundwork for the modern protective industrial mountain ranges and silicon shield. At the same time, he cautioned that growth must remain balanced so that traditional manufacturing and regional industries do not lag behind high-tech expansion.
Han Outlines Three Wishes
Moving from national achievements to domestic concerns, Han outlined three core wishes for the country: national security, financial security for citizens, and the preservation of democratic institutions. He expressed deep concern over ideological divisions and recent legislative clashes involving unendorsed bills and political recalls.
If Founding Father Dr. Sun Yat-sen could travel through time and space to arrive at this very moment, and see today’s Republic of China and today’s Taiwan, he would surely be proud of the achievements we have created along the way.
Translation: If founding father Sun Yat-sen could travel through time to this very moment and see today’s Republic of China and today’s Taiwan, he would surely be proud of the achievements we have forged along the way.
Calling directly on political leadership to bridge the widening gap between the executive and legislative branches, Han warned that protracted institutional deadlock risks damaging public trust. He urged opposing factions to pursue compromise rather than escalation, reminding the assembly that the nation’s democratic foundation requires constant, bipartisan stewardship.