On the 36th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square incident today, President of the Republic of China, Lai Ching-te, shared a photo on Facebook with the caption “Confronting history is the way towards the future.” His post emphasized the refusal to forget history and mentioned that “Taiwan stands at the forefront of the global democratic line, firmly safeguarding democratic freedom.”
President Lai Ching-te stated that on June 4th, 36 years ago, the world witnessed the Tiananmen Square incident in China. In the global wave of democracy, numerous young students took to the streets; their courage and sense of responsibility in pursuing ideals left a profound testimony for humanity.
Lai Ching-te mentioned that the insistence on human rights principles is a shared value between Taiwan and the global democratic society, transcending different generations, nations, and boundaries. Every year on June 4th, Taiwanese society, based on universal values, lights candles in remembrance.
“Commemorating the Tiananmen Square incident on June 4th is not only to mourn history but also to continue this memory,” Lai Ching-te pointed out. Authoritarian governments often choose to remain silent and forget about historical choices; democratic societies, however, choose to preserve the truth, refusing to forget those who have sacrificed for human rights ideals—and the dreams they held.
He expressed that Taiwan has experienced the White Terror period and continues efforts to implement transitional justice; Taiwan has also undergone democratization baptism and transitioned from authoritarianism to democracy at the watershed of history. “We honor the sacrifices and contributions of our predecessors, deeply appreciate the value of freedom, and cannot ignore the expansion of authoritarianism and its impact on global democracy and the rule of law.”
After 36 years, he said that the threats posed by authoritarianism remain a challenge that the international community must collectively address; whether it is military intimidation against democratic countries, harassment in gray areas, or infiltration and surveillance of free societies, violating human rights through means such as long-arm jurisdiction and cross-border oppression, endangering the cherished way of life in Taiwan.
Lai Ching-te pointed out that Taiwan stands at the forefront of the global democratic line, and will continue to work shoulder to shoulder with all like-minded partners to firmly maintain the status quo and safeguard democratic freedom. “We not only refuse to forget history but also strive to uphold core values every day, holding onto confidence and resilience to ensure that generations grow and thrive on the land of freedom.”