In response to President Lai Ching-te's National Day speech, Kuomintang Chairman Cheng Lai-wen said that National Day is a day that belongs to all Chinese people. Regardless of party affiliation or position, everyone should jointly wish the Republic of China a prosperous national destiny. President Lai proposed the vision of building a "city on a hill" and hoped that Taiwan would become a model of democracy, prosperity and peace. Such an ideal is worth pursuing together.
Cheng Lai-man said that President Lai said that the gates of the "city on the hill" should be freely open to the world, but we cannot ignore the fact that there are still many different voices in the country. The preciousness of democracy does not lie in the fact that everyone supports the president, but that those who oppose the president are equally respected. The pattern of a president does not lie in how many high walls he builds, but in how many doors he is willing to open to people with different opinions. If the city gate is open to the world but closed to 60% of the people in the country, no matter how beautiful the democratic vision is, it will be difficult to convince the people.
Zheng Liwen pointed out that Legislative President Han Kuo-yu reminded President Lai earnestly at the National Day Convention today that the confrontation between the executive and legislative chambers cannot continue indefinitely, otherwise it will not only harm the well-being of the people, but may also shake the credibility of the democratic system. Dean Han’s call for progress through conflict and compromise is not only a reminder to the president, but also a responsibility that all politicians should bear. Cheng Lai-wen also called on President Lai to take the initiative to invite the government and the opposition to sit down and talk together, and conduct substantive dialogue on constitutional disputes, people's livelihood bills and major national policies.
Cheng Lai-wen further said that President Lai used eye-catching economic data to depict a vision of prosperity, but the achievements of the technology industry should not obscure the pressure faced by traditional industries and grassroots families. What Taiwan needs is not only the height of economic growth, but also the depth that allows everyone to share in the results. A city on the top of a mountain should not only have a dazzling skyline, but also give hope to the people at the foot of the mountain.
Cheng Lai-wen said that President Lai is willing to see the United States and China manage competition through dialogue. This shows that even if there are major strategic differences, communication is still an important way to reduce the risk of conflict. Peace across the Taiwan Strait cannot only rely on military deterrence, but also requires political wisdom and crisis management. Dialogue is not to ensure a conclusion every time, but to reduce crises that could otherwise be avoided. Ideologies may have boundaries, but peace cannot be without a way out; only through continuous communication and enhanced understanding can we gradually accumulate goodwill and create more possibilities for peace.
Cheng Lai-man stressed that the differences left by history should not be a reason to refuse dialogue. History cannot be repeated, but the future can be chosen. Peace is never an easy road. It requires patience, wisdom, and more importantly, leaders who have a mind that goes beyond immediate political victory or defeat. The road can be walked slower and the issues can be discussed for a longer time, but the door of peace cannot be closed by our generation.
Zheng Liwen finally said that princes and ants will eventually become dust. The power will eventually be returned, and the applause will eventually dissipate. Today's ruling and opposition parties will eventually change positions, and the current political grievances will eventually become history. However, the choices made by leaders at critical moments may affect the fate of several generations. I sincerely appeal to President Lai to put aside unnecessary political prejudices, open the door to dialogue between the government and the opposition, and preserve a path for cross-strait peace to continue. May what we leave to the next generation is not a high wall that separates us from each other, but a home with doors, roads, and hope for peace.
