Lai meets lawmakers to represent Taiwan at Trump’s inauguration

Lai meets lawmakers to represent Taiwan at Trump’s inauguration

2025-01-16

President Lai Ching-te on Thursday met with a group of lawmakers who will represent Taiwan at Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration in the US. The atmosphere at the meeting was rather light-hearted, in sharp contrast with the intense standoffs between ruling and opposition lawmakers in the Legislative Yuan. In his speech, Lai underscored the importance of unity, which has been interpreted as his offering of an olive branch to the opposition.

Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu and seven lawmakers are soon to depart for the US to represent Taiwan at Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration. Two days before the trip, President Lai Ching-te invited the delegation for a chat over coffee at the Presidential Office, and presented them with gifts.

Han cracked a joke, getting laughs from everyone in the hall. The gifts included a vacuum flask to keep drinks warm and a pack of pocket warmers to keep the winter cold at bay in the US. The exchange also seemed to warm up the recent frosty relations between ruling and opposition parties.

Lai Ching-te
President
Amid the challenges we are facing in our country, I want to emphasize this. In Formosa, there is no grudge that cannot be put aside, and there are no grievances that can’t be overcome. The most important thing is unity. I look forward to seeing Taiwan unite. There is power in unity.

Han Kuo-yu
Legislative speaker
Taiwan’s security is like a four-legged table. The first leg is protecting the ROC. The second leg is protecting democracy and freedom. The third leg is maintaining Taiwan-US relations. And the fourth leg is maintaining cross-strait peace.

The delegation will set off on Saturday. Besides Trump’s inauguration they will also meet with other US officials and think tanks. Lai gave the group several missions for the visit.

Lai Ching-te
President
You must clearly convey Taiwan’s heartfelt blessings and our people’s unwavering commitment to democracy. We hope to set a new milestone in Taiwan-US relations.

Han Kuo-yu
Legislative speaker
Our delegation of four outstanding men and women each from the Legislative Yuan will do our utmost.

In contrast with the tense standoffs in the legislature, cordiality was in full display during the meeting between Lai and Han, showing the possibilities of cross-party cooperation. After their speeches, both sides held a half-hour meeting behind closed doors, giving rise to much speculation about what the two sides discussed.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

韓國瑜將率團"赴美" 賴清德請喝咖啡送保溫瓶.暖暖包

2025-01-16

總統賴清德指派立法院長韓國瑜率領慶賀團前往美國出席川普總統就職典禮，代表團後天就要出發，總統今天邀請團員們到總統府喝咖啡，談話緊扣團結二字，被解讀為遞出朝野和解的橄欖枝，賴總統還貼心提醒代表團華府天氣寒冷，送上暖暖包與保溫瓶，韓國瑜笑稱"你應該送我一頂假髮，很冷啊"。

立法院長韓國瑜和七名立委，即將代表台灣到美國出任務，祝賀川普總統就職。行前兩天，總統特地邀請一行人到總統府，坐下來喝咖啡聊一聊，還特別準備行前禮物。

韓國瑜一句話，引起全場哄堂大笑，其實總統送的"暖暖包"和"保溫瓶"，可不只要讓代表團在美國大雪時暖呼呼，似乎還想化解朝野立院冷冰冰的僵局。

[[總統賴清德]]
“在國家面臨艱難的挑戰之下，我要特別強調，在福爾摩沙沒有什麼仇恨放不下，也沒有什麼不快過不去。目前最重要的就是團結，我非常期待台灣能夠團結，團結真有力”

[[立法院長韓國瑜]]
“整個台灣的安全，就像一張桌子的四隻腳，第一隻腳保護中華民國，第二隻腳保護自由民主，第三隻腳維護美台關係，第四隻腳維護兩岸和平”

代表團將在18號啟程，此行重點除了慶賀川普就職，也會和美國政要智庫會面，賴總統當面交付三項任務。

[[總統賴清德]]
“一定要清楚傳達台灣人民衷心的祝福，傳達台灣人民對民主堅定的承諾，希望能夠建立台美關係的新里程碑”

[[立法院長韓國瑜]]
“立法院四龍四鳳、菁英全出，一定會全力以赴”

相較於立院劍拔弩張，賴韓會和氣一團，似乎成為朝野合作示範，檯面上如此，但致詞後雙方近半小時的閉門會議談了什麼，引發外界好奇。

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