SHOTLIST TAIPEI, TAIWAN (MAY 20, 2025) (USERS MUST CREDIT “TAIWAN’S PRESIDENCY” HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO — EDITORIAL USE ONLY) 1. (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) TAIWANESE PRESIDENT WILLIAM LAI CHING-TE, SAYING: “The purpose of government is to serve the people. I want to thank the people of Taiwan for entrusting me, one year ago today, with the responsibility of leading the nation bravely forward. I want to thank all my fellow citizens for working hand in hand with the government over this past year. Together, we have overcome numerous challenges to ensure that our nation will keep moving forward.” 2. WHITE FLASH 3. (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) TAIWANESE PRESIDENT WILLIAM LAI CHING-TE, SAYING: “We are also hard at work to enhance our whole-of-society defense resilience. In addition to continuing to assess various aspects of preparedness at the national level and conduct field verification, we have concerted the efforts of various ministries to propose 17 major strategies to respond to national security and united front threats, uniting our people to resist division and protecting our cherished free and democratic way of life. Recently, the Executive Yuan made special budget allocations of NT$410 billion, of which NT$150 billion is aimed to enhance national resilience. On this, we look forward to mutual support from the ruling and opposition parties.” 4. WHITE FLASH 5. (SOUNDBITE) ( (Mandarin) TAIWANESE PRESIDENT WILLIAM LAI CHING-TE, SAYING: “Taiwan shares democratic values with our democratic partners around the world. When combined with our adherence to free market principles to foster mutual prosperity, those values are our greatest assets. They form a protective umbrella that allows Taiwanese businesses to unleash their vitality and energy. They are also the most significant mark of distinction between us and authoritarian regimes.” 6. WHITE FLASH 7. (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) TAIWANESE PRESIDENT WILLIAM LAI CHING-TE, SAYING: “Our past generations, through valiant sacrifice and devotion, bravely resisted authoritarianism and pursued democracy. Today's younger generations are able to proactively engage in politics, protect the nation, further entrench democracy, and strive for a diverse Taiwan through all manner of constitutional and legal means, without fear of difficulty. This is the democratic Taiwan we take pride in.” 8. WHITE FLASH 9. (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) TAIWANESE PRESIDENT WILLIAM LAI CHING-TE, SAYING: “I am confident that no one Taiwanese would give up their free and democratic way of life. And no president can abandon the values of freedom and democracy.” 10. WHITE FLASH 11. (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) TAIWANESE PRESIDENT WILLIAM LAI CHING-TE, SAYING: “I have always believed that democratic disputes are resolved through greater exercise of democracy. Over the past year, despite the domestic political situation, ruling and opposition parties formed a delegation to attend the inaugural ceremonies of the president and vice president of the US, demonstrating that democratic Taiwan stands united for deepening Taiwan-US ties. I also, in accordance with the powers granted me by the Constitution, convened a national policy meeting with the heads of the five branches of government, with the hope of achieving reconciliation and encouraging cooperation.” TAIPEI, TAIWAN (MAY 20, 2025) (USERS MUST CREDIT “TAIWAN’S PRESIDENCY” HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO — EDITORIAL USE ONLY) - Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te on Tuesday. May 20, called for internal unity and cross-party dialogue as he marked his first year in office. “Democratic disputes are resolved through greater democracy,” Lai said, adding that he convened a national policy meeting with the heads of Taiwan’s five branches of government to foster cooperation. With his party in the minority in the legislature, Lai urged all political leaders to prioritize national interests and work together to address Taiwan’s challenges. He also noted that the first round of trade talks with the US had concluded and that negotiations were ongoing, emphasizing the government would not sacrifice any sector. Lai did not mention China in his speech, but later told reporters that Beijing was threatening peace across the Taiwan Strait. “The aggressor is the one that undermines peace,” he said, while expressing openness to dialogue with China.