Lai Ching-te Vows to Seek Opposition Cooperation Amidst Taiwan's Political Divisions

President Lai Ching-te acknowledged Taiwan's internal political divisions, stating that cooperation between the ruling party and opposition is crucial for national interests. He noted that the current political landscape, with the Democratic Progressive Party controlling the presidency and opposition parties holding a legislative majority, presents a new challenge.

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Unity is strength. If Taiwan's ruling party and opposition parties can reach a consensus and prioritize national interests and the people's rights, it will be very helpful for the country to face various challenges.

Lai pointed to a lack of trust between the parties as a reason for stalled cooperation efforts over the past two years. He recalled inviting opposition leaders to a national security briefing last year, which they declined. He also mentioned a bipartisan meeting of the five branches of government during the Lunar New Year, where a consensus was reached for the legislative speaker to invite him for a state of the nation report. However, this also did not proceed smoothly.

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The trust between the ruling and opposition parties is currently insufficient. This is why my attempts to promote cooperation with opposition parties over the past two years have not been successful.

Despite these setbacks, Lai emphasized his unwavering commitment to seeking cooperation with opposition parties. He believes that while political competition is inevitable in a democracy, the nation's interests must not be sacrificed. He hopes to foster better interaction and collaboration based on this principle, aiming for unity in national development while allowing for political rivalry.

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Regarding seeking cooperation with opposition parties, this effort will not change, nor will I give up. We hope that in the future, there will be opportunities for the ruling and opposition parties to unite for the country's future development.