Many people found that the tone of President Lai Qingde's Double Ten speech this year was different from the past two years. Japanese political scholar Yoshiyuki Ogasawara believes that from the strategic perspective of Taiwan's ruling party, "this was a smooth and successful National Day speech." In fact, what behind this Double Ten speech is to present a more confident Taiwan, a Taiwan that abides by its international responsibilities, and a Taiwan that can be trusted.
Comparing Double Ten in 2024, President Lai used "the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China are not affiliated with each other" and "the People's Republic of China has no right to represent Taiwan" to emphasize the positioning of cross-strait sovereignty. On Double Ten in 2025, President Lai called on China to stop distorting UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 and historical documents of World War II, and to counterattack based on international legal principles and history.
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When it comes to related issues this year, President Lai only defined the vision with the word "city on a hill", which is extremely subtle and euphemistic, but does not lose its firmness and persistence, because everyone who knows knows: in 1930, a group of Puritans left England and immigrated to the Americas to establish their own Christian New World. What was demonstrated through biblical metaphors at that time was the founding spirit of the United States. Therefore, "Taiwan is a sovereign and independent country" is not what President Lai wants to say without going into details.
Professor Ogasawara analyzed that the reason why President Lai's speech style has changed so much may be related to the recent increase in Lai Qingde's support and the fact that the situation in the nine-in-one local elections has developed in a direction favorable to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. He did not approve of such an adjustment.
Furthermore, what President Lai highlighted is that a Taiwan whose national power is rising will better assume its regional and international responsible role, ensure that the status quo is not undermined, and work with everyone. After all, Taiwan has become the fourth largest stock market in the world last month. At the same time, it is an indispensable key player in the global high-tech supply chain. Such Taiwan, as well as his role as head of state, will and must use a higher international structure to position Taiwan's international presence, and on this basis, develop the country and protect its citizens.
Therefore, the Double Ten speech did not use heavy language throughout, but it tried to clearly position Taiwan in the world, as a rising country that is confident and responsible, and as a collaborator who is committed to development and fulfills its international responsibilities. Democracy and efficiency are not inconsistent with each other.
At this moment, we strive to reflect the confidence of the head of state and the country. More importantly, we can make Taiwan a "control group" and state to the world: Xi Jinping's China, which claims to be "rising in the east and falling in the west," deprives human rights and ignores rules. It considers itself "the rise of a great power" but yet raises unrest and threats to the region. This is completely different. This is significant.
