As the 20th anniversary of China’s enactment of the Anti-Secession Law approaches, President Lai Ching-te convened a high-level national security meeting today and delivered an open address afterward. President Lai stated that China continues to escalate its strategy of “integrated development” toward Taiwan, employing various tactics that align with the definition of a “foreign hostile force” under Taiwan’s infiltration laws. He emphasized that Taiwan has no choice but to adopt more proactive measures. The government, he announced, will introduce 17 response strategies to address the five major national security and united front threats currently facing Taiwan.
President Lai:
Fellow compatriots, friends from the media present here, and friends watching the live broadcast online, greetings to you all.
Recently, on many occasions, numerous compatriots have expressed the same concerns to me. They see active and retired military personnel being bought by China, selling intelligence, and even forming armed forces with plans to harm their own country and people. They see cultural and artistic workers, for the sake of personal career interests, willingly complying with Beijing’s directives, saying that their own country is not a country. They also notice that messages from Chinese official media aimed at stirring internal divisions in Taiwan are always quickly spread through specific channels. Some even make a living assisting Chinese official media in producing united front programs, spreading notions that democracy is useless, sowing doubts about the U.S. and our military, and manipulating division and confrontation. Many are worried that our country, along with the hard-won freedom, democracy, and the prosperity and progress we’ve built together, will gradually erode due to these united front manipulations.
As the renowned strategist Kerry K. Gershaneck has analyzed regarding China’s united front tactics, he said: “China seeks to divide and conquer us through subversion, infiltration, acquiring media, launching media wars, psychological warfare, and legal warfare.” Their intent is to plant seeds of discord in our society, keeping us preoccupied with internal conflicts while ignoring the real threats from the outside.
The Grave Threat China Poses to Taiwan’s Security
For decades, China’s ambition to annex Taiwan and eliminate the Republic of China has never wavered for a single day. Not only does it persist with verbal attacks and military intimidation, but its united front infiltration into Taiwanese society has grown increasingly severe. Since 2005, when China enacted the so-called Anti-Secession Law, treating the forcible annexation of Taiwan as a national mission, to last June, when it issued the so-called “22 Measures to Punish Separatists,” designating anyone who does not accept that “Taiwan is part of the People’s Republic of China” as a target for “punishment” and an excuse to harm the Taiwanese people, and more recently twisting UN General Assembly Resolution 2758—all these actions demonstrate China’s increasingly urgent threat to Taiwan’s sovereignty.
During this period, China has further exploited the freedom and diverse openness of democratic Taiwan, co-opting gangsters, media, commentators, political parties, and even active and retired military and police personnel to carry out division, sabotage, and subversion within our society.
According to a report from the National Security Bureau, last year (2024), 64 individuals were indicted in espionage cases involving China—three times the number in 2021. Among them, cases involving the Chinese Unity Promotion Party, the Rehabilitation Alliance Party, and the Taiwan Military Government developing treasonous organizations and building armed forces for China are unthinkable in a free and democratic society, yet they genuinely exist in Taiwan today.
China has also meticulously conducted infiltration and espionage activities targeting our military. Last year, among those indicted in espionage cases, 15 active-duty military personnel (23%) and 28 retired military personnel (43%) were involved, accounting for a staggering 66% of all such cases.
We have also become aware that Beijing has recently been widely issuing Chinese passports and enticing our citizens to apply for Chinese “residence permits,” “settlement permits,” and “identity cards” in an attempt to confuse Taiwanese people’s sense of national identity.
China also views cross-strait exchanges as a channel for united front operations against Taiwan, dividing Taiwanese society into “us” and “them,” weakening our sense of adversary awareness, and attempting to hollow out governmental authority while creating the illusion that China is already “governing” Taiwan, thereby expanding its influence within our society.
We have also observed that China continues to expand its integrated development strategy toward Taiwan, employing various means to demand and coerce Taiwanese businesses to increase investments in China, luring Taiwanese youth to develop careers there, and unscrupulously coveting Taiwanese talent and stealing critical technologies. This affects Taiwan’s economic security and significantly heightens the risks for Taiwanese youth going to China.
Such a China has already become what our Anti-Infiltration Law defines as a “foreign hostile force.” We have no choice but must take more proactive measures. This is precisely why I convened this high-level national security meeting today. It is time for us to adopt corresponding preventive measures, strengthen our democratic resilience and national security, and protect the freedom, democracy, and way of life we cherish!
Below, I will provide a detailed explanation of the five major national security and united front threats Taiwan currently faces, along with the seventeen response strategies.
First, Regarding the Threat to National Sovereignty from China
Sovereignty defines a nation; only with Taiwan can there be the Republic of China. As I stated in my inauguration speech on May 20 last year and my National Day address, since the first democratically elected president of Taiwan took office in 1996, we have conveyed to the international community that Taiwan is a sovereign, independent democratic nation. Our compatriots and international friends refer to our country as the Republic of China, Taiwan, or the Republic of China (Taiwan). The Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China are not subordinate to each other. Taiwan’s sovereignty must not be violated or annexed. The future of the Republic of China (Taiwan) must be decided by its 23 million people. This is the status quo we must defend.
The greatest consensus in Taiwanese society is to safeguard democracy, maintain sovereignty, preserve our democratic and free way of life, and坚决 oppose Taiwan’s annexation by China.
Strategy 1: I request the National Security Council, the Ministry of National Defense, and the administrative team to fully promote the “Four Pillars of Peace Action Plan,” demonstrating the unified national consensus and firm resolve of the entire country in opposing China’s annexation of Taiwan.
Strategy 2: I request the National Security Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to formulate an action plan, working with allied nations to convey to the world our national will and societal consensus against China’s annexation of Taiwan, countering China’s ambition to eliminate Taiwan and diminish its sovereignty in the international community.
Second, Regarding the Threat of China’s Infiltration and Espionage Against Our Military
Strategy 1: Comprehensively review and amend the Military Trial Law to restore the military trial system, bringing military judges back to the front line to collaborate with investigative and judicial authorities in handling criminal cases involving active-duty military personnel accused of rebellion, aiding the enemy, leaking secrets, neglecting duties, or disobeying orders. In the future, military crime cases under the Criminal Code of the Armed Forces committed by active-duty personnel will be adjudicated by military courts.
Strategy 2: Implement related supporting reforms, including enacting the Military Judge Personnel Regulations and laws governing the organization of military courts and military procuratorates. Upon completing all planning and final discussions, the Ministry of National Defense will provide a full explanation and communication to society, ensuring that the restoration of the military trial system earns public trust and full support.
Strategy 3: To effectively curb controversial statements and actions by active and retired military personnel that severely undermine military morale, the Ministry of National Defense must study adding penalties for “declaring allegiance to the enemy” to the Criminal Code of the Armed Forces and revise regulations concerning retirees receiving benefits, to effectively maintain military discipline.
Third, Regarding the Threat of China Confusing Our People’s National Identity
Strategy 1: I request the Ministry of the Interior, the Mainland Affairs Council, and other relevant agencies to continue necessary inspections and management of compatriots applying for various Chinese identity-related documents, including passports, identity cards, settlement permits, and residence permits—especially for military, public servants, and teachers who owe loyalty to the nation—to strictly prevent and deter China from using “integrated development” as a pretext to further distort our people’s national identity through united front tactics.
Strategy 2: Regarding the naturalization and integration of Chinese, Hong Kong, and Macao individuals into Taiwanese society, while balancing societal development and individual rights, additional national security considerations are needed:
Individuals originally from China applying to settle in Taiwan must renounce their Chinese household registration and passport in accordance with our laws and cannot hold dual identities.
For Hong Kong and Macao individuals applying to reside or settle in Taiwan, long-term residency provisions will be added to meet practical needs.
Fourth, Regarding the Threat of China’s United Front Infiltration Through Cross-Strait Exchanges
Strategy 1: Given the rising risks of traveling to China (since January 1, 2024, the Mainland Affairs Council has received reports of 71 Taiwanese citizens who went missing, were detained, questioned, or imprisoned in China, with unreported cases potentially several times higher—including three elderly Yiguandao members detained since December last year and still not released), relevant agencies must raise public awareness of the risks of traveling to China, enhance public communication, and enforce registration systems to reduce potential incidents and risks.
Strategy 2: Establish a disclosure system for central and local public officials participating in exchanges with China, from administrative officials to elected representatives, from legislators to village heads—all exchange information must be made public and transparent to be accountable to the people. The Ministry of the Interior should also establish a disclosure system for religious groups and other public welfare organizations engaging in exchanges with China to prevent Chinese interference and united front activities.
Strategy 3: Implement risk management for Chinese individuals coming to Taiwan for exchanges:
The review and approval of Chinese individuals visiting Taiwan should be limited to normal cross-strait exchanges and official interactions based on mutual dignity, taking into account factors such as changes in cross-strait dynamics.
Strictly restrict Chinese individuals with united front backgrounds from entering Taiwan and prohibit them from conducting united front-related activities in Taiwan.
Strategy 4: Cross-strait exchanges must avoid Chinese political interference and resulting national security risks. The review and management of exchange cases involving religion, culture, academia, and education should adhere to the principles of “depoliticization” and “derisking,” keeping civilian exchanges as simple as possible and aligned with the original intent of promoting healthy and orderly exchanges.
Strategy 5: To counter China’s use of cultural united front tactics to weaken Taiwan’s identity, the Executive Yuan should develop a plan to enhance the competitiveness of local cultural industries, provide stronger support and incentives for the domestic film, television, and creative sectors to deepen the advantages of democratic cultural creation, boost international competitiveness, and encourage research into Taiwan’s local history and culture.
Strategy 6: Strengthen guidance and management for entertainment industry professionals developing careers in China. Competent authorities should provide guidelines on behaviors to watch for and clearly define the scope of investigations into actions that harm national dignity, preventing China from pressuring our entertainment professionals into making statements or actions that undermine national dignity.
Strategy 7: Relevant authorities should take proactive and effective measures to prevent China from conducting cognitive warfare or endangering information security against Taiwan through the internet, applications, AI, and other tools.
Strategy 8: To implement the above measures, competent authorities should comprehensively review existing administrative orders, measures, and interpretations, improving relevant enforcement regulations. If gaps remain, further strengthen the legal framework by proposing amendments to the National Security Law, Anti-Infiltration Law, Cross-Strait Relations Ordinance, Hong Kong and Macao Ordinance, and Cybersecurity Management Law, while enhancing public communication for swift implementation.
Fifth, Regarding the Threat of China Using “Integrated Development” to Attract Taiwanese Businesses and Youth
Strategy 1: I request the National Security Council, in coordination with administrative departments, to conduct strategic structural adjustments to Taiwan’s economic and trade relations with China based on the economic strategy of “Taiwan first” and “立足台灣、佈局全球” (standing firm in Taiwan, expanding globally). Following the principles of “strengthening Taiwan’s foundation and managing risks,” necessary and orderly adjustments should be made to the flow of people, goods, capital, and technology in cross-strait trade to enhance economic security and effectively counter China’s economic united front tactics and coercion against Taiwan.
Strategy 2: I request the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Mainland Affairs Council, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and other relevant agencies, to comprehensively deepen education for young students on understanding China and the proper perspective on cross-strait exchanges, while widely promoting various mechanisms for youth employment and entrepreneurship in Taiwan, providing sufficient information and assistance to boost young people’s confidence in the nation’s vision and encourage their active participation in building and developing Taiwan.
Conclusion
Fellow compatriots, this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II. History tells us that any authoritarian aggression and annexation will ultimately end in failure. The only way to protect freedom and triumph over totalitarian aggression is through unity.
Facing increasingly severe threats, the government will not cease its efforts to fully ensure that national sovereignty remains inviolable and that the freedom, democracy, and way of life of our 23 million people endure as always. However, the government’s strength alone is not enough—we need the collective vigilance and action of all our citizens.
Every citizen is the first line of defense in safeguarding democracy and freedom. We can do this together: First, enhance media literacy and refrain from spreading or forwarding united front propaganda from Chinese official sources. Second, participate in or organize civic education activities to increase awareness of united front tactics and strengthen societal resilience. Third, promptly expose any collaborative united front behaviors, making all malicious intents impossible to advance. Fourth, refuse to participate in any activities that sacrifice national interests.
Every individual’s vigilance and action form the strongest defense against united front infiltration. Only through unity can we resist division. As long as every citizen plays their role in advancing the nation’s prosperity and security, working together, nothing can defeat us.
Thank you all.