
AI-generated summary
Lai Ching-te delivered a speech on Double Ten Day, citing the biblical concept of "city on a hill", positioning Taiwan as a key force for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, and responding to the recent interactions between China and the United States.
Lai Ching-te's Double Ten speech: Force cannot override rules. Strengthening Taiwan's defense does not mean giving up dialogue - live broadcast replay
Lai Ching-te's Double Ten speech: Force cannot override rules. Strengthening Taiwan's defense does not mean giving up dialogue - live broadcast replay
Published 5 minutes ago
Taiwan held a National Day conference in 2026, the 115th anniversary of the Republic of China. President Lai Ching-te delivered a Double Ten Day speech, quoting the Christian Bible and proposing to build a "city on a mountain" and make Taiwan "a key force in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific."
In response to the recent interaction between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Trump, Lai Ching-te said that he was happy to see the United States and China manage competition through dialogue, but "distortion of the history of World War II must not be allowed, and the right of the Taiwanese people to survive must also be respected." He also said that Taiwan's strengthening of self-defense does not mean giving up dialogue, saying that "force cannot override rules" in mainland China, and "Taiwan is willing to communicate, but will not accept being dwarfed."
In a speech on Saturday (October 10), Lai Ching-te, who is also the chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party, said regarding the "nine-in-one" local elections to be held at the end of November that political parties can compete and have different opinions, but Taiwan should not be divided because of this.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Mainland China will respond to Lai Qingde's speech through military or diplomatic channels in the coming weeks.
Likely · Within weeks
Taiwan will announce specific defense budget increases or new weapons procurement plans in the coming months.
Possible · Within months

The U.S. Department of War plans to execute death row inmate Hassan by firing squad and broadcast it live online, sparking opposition from Republican lawmakers, religious leaders and international observers. Vice President Vance expressed skepticism, and President Trump said he deserved the punishment but had not yet decided whether to allow the live broadcast. Catholic and evangelical leaders and the United Nations Human Rights Office also expressed opposition. Many Republican members of Congress pointed out that live broadcasting of executions turned civilization into entertainment and that the families of the victims should feel respected rather than performed in public. Experts point out that the U.S. military has not executed anyone by firing squad since 1945, nor has it broadcast live broadcasts of executions.

Political leaders such as former President Chen Shui-bian, former Vice Presidents Annette Lu, Chen Jianren, and Chairman of the People's Party Huang Guochang attended the 115th National Day Convention of the Republic of China. Huang Guochang took the initiative to shake hands with Chen Shui-bian and talked about the budget. He called on President Lai Qingde to announce the law passed by Congress on the third reading in accordance with the law.

Wang Xinghuan, chairman of Taiwan's Foundation Progressive Party, pointed out that Taiwan's democracy has regressed in international comparisons in recent years, but the root cause is that the Blue and White parties used the majority in Congress to amend the Constitutional Procedural Law, boycott independent institutions, and pass controversial budgets, paralyzing the Constitutional Court. Legislative President Han Guoyu, as the gatekeeper of Congress, did not reflect on his own responsibilities and only accused others of undermining democracy at the National Day ceremony.

Kuomintang Tainan mayoral candidate Hsieh Long-chie criticized the current government when attending the flag-raising ceremony in Kaohsiung, saying that he would pass a special regulation on the third reading of the Legislative Yuan to issue a universal tax rebate of NT$20,000. If the Executive Yuan does not counter-sign, he called on voters to use their votes to deal with it.

Legislative Yuan Hanguo-yu criticized President Lai Qingde and Executive Director Zhuo Rongtai in his speech at the National Day Convention, and called last year's general recall a "political hunt." Legislator Wu Siyao quoted Taipei mayoral candidate Shen Boyang's response to Zhao Shaokang in the "Shaokang War Room" program, suggesting that Hanguo-yu watch the program to gain different inspirations, and questioned the compatibility between his remarks and his identity.

83-year-old Jiang Huangnu, nicknamed "Grandma of the Forest," decided to run for Kaohsiung's parliament because hundreds of hectares of green forest land in the Qiaotou Sugar Factory might be converted into residential and commercial land, making her the city's oldest candidate. On National Day, which is also her birthday, she went north to the Presidential Palace to ask Lai Qingde for help, hoping to designate the land as a state-owned forest. Members of groups such as the Green Consumer Foundation, Forest City Association and Garden for the Earth Project also supported its actions and criticized government development plans that destroy nature and the interests of future generations.