President Lai urges lawmakers to support Armed Forces

President Lai urges lawmakers to support Armed Forces

2026-03-06

President Lai Ching-te has unveiled Taiwan’s next push into cutting-edge technology during a visit to the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Center. Lai announced expanded support for a national quantum computing strategy, highlighting recent breakthroughs such as the development of a 20-qubit superconducting quantum chip. But while the focus of the visit was tech, Lai also spoke about national defense. Lawmakers have advanced three competing versions of a special defense budget that vary dramatically in size. As such the president urged the opposition-controlled legislature to support the Armed Forces with the special budget in full and ensure that Taiwan’s security is not compromised.

President Lai Ching-te visited the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Center for the launch of a national strategy on high-speed quantum computing. During the visit, he toured exhibits featuring superconducting computers and qubit technology, and reaffirmed a promise he had made to National Science and Technology Council Head Wu Cheng-wen.

Lai Ching-te
President
The promise I made to Mr. Wu in private doesn’t count, but I would like to announce publicly again that we will strongly support the second phase of the plan. In January, we officially unveiled a 20-qubit superconducting quantum chip, allowing the world to see that Taiwan has entered the quantum technology race. Not only can we develop the technology ourselves, we can also manufacture quantum computing chips and have the ability to build quantum computers. As long as we unite and everyone across different fields gives their full effort, Taiwan will hold a highly competitive position in the future.

Though technology was the focus of the visit, Lai also addressed national defense. On Friday, the Legislative Yuan sent three versions of a special defense budget bill directly to a second reading, proposals from the Executive Yuan, the KMT caucus and the TPP caucus. The Executive Yuan’s proposal totals NT$1.25 trillion. The KMT caucus version, originally NT$350 million plus an unspecified amount, has been increased to NT$380 million plus the additional sum. The large gap between the proposals has raised concerns about Taiwan’s combat readiness. Lai called on lawmakers to support the Armed Forces.

Lai Ching-te
President
I also hope the review will be conducted based on professional judgment and the needs of the country. In particular, I hope that lawmakers, regardless of party affiliation, will demonstrate support for the Armed Forces and ensure that our national security is not discounted.

Amid rising political pressure and military intimidation from China, debate over Taiwan’s defense spending continues to intensify.

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

#nationaldefense #taiwan #defense #Laichingte #armedforces #賴清德

國防特別預算逕付二讀賴總統:國家安全維護不打折

2026-03-06

總統賴清德今天（6日）到新竹出席高速量子運算國家戰略發布會，量子運算和矽光子被視為台灣下個護國神山，總統強調台灣已具備自製量子運算晶片能力，也能打造量子運算電腦，只要國家團結就會很有競爭力；立法院今天將政院版及藍白兩黨國防特別預算逕付二讀，總統也喊話期盼不分朝野，都能展現對國軍支持，對國家安全維護不打折。

總統賴清德到台灣半導體研究中心，出席高速量子運算國家戰略發布會，參觀超導電腦、量子位元成果展，總統現場爆料、國科會主委吳誠文一上任，就開口要經費。

[[總統賴清德]]
“私底下跟吳主委承諾的不算，我今天再度宣布，我一定大力支持第二期的計劃，1月正式發布20位元超導量子晶片，讓世界看見台灣已經進入量子科技的賽道，我們不僅僅可以自研，還可以自製量子運算的晶片，也有能力打造量子運算的電腦，我們只要團結，各領域大家都拿出全力來，台灣在未來會處於，很有競爭力的地位”

國家科技發展要顧，國家安全也不能罔顧，週五立法院朝野協商決議將院版1.25兆、藍白黨團三個版本國防特別預算逕付二讀。其中，國民黨的縮水版本從3500億+N變成3800億+N，恐導致我國戰力大減，賴總統也喊話朝野共同支持國軍。

[[總統賴清德]]
“我也希望後續的審查，能夠根據專業以及國家的需要，特別是希望立法院不分朝野，都能夠展現對國軍的支持，以及對國家安全的維護是不打折的”

在中國對台文攻武嚇、國防預算逐年增加的此刻，台灣國防安全不能等，國防預算更不容打折。

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The door swings open and a monkey casually walks inside. Caught on a security camera, he makes himself right at home.

The big macaque jumps on the table and is joined by a smaller one, both looking for food. Startled by a noise outside, they jump off the table. But the big one comes back a bit later, taking some snacks off the table.

One monkey enjoys its stolen snack outside while the other sits close by. When the homeowner came back with a long pole to scare them off, one smacked her on the head.

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Monkeys broke in home
It took my egg rolls out here to eat and had some chips too. Two inside were eating fish crackers.

This incident occurred on the foothills of Shoushan in Kaohsiung. The homeowner’s children were sleeping when the monkeys broke in and stole food. It seems more macaques have been coming down the mountain looking for food lately.

Homeowner
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It’s been more common over the last two or three months. Even if we close the doors and take out the trash, they still come here to cool off.

Lin Mei-yin
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If a monkey breaks into your home, remember to actually open all the doors and windows, then hit the ground with a pole to scare it away from people and children.

Monkeys are often seen around here, as Shoushan is their natural habitat. Once, a driver in the area rescued a lone baby macaque and sent it to the Shoushan Zoo, where it recovered smoothly.

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If we see lone baby monkeys in the wild, there might be a community nearby, so it’s best for us not to get directly involved. In situations like this, we should just observe.

Macaques’ breeding season is from April to June, so the baby macaque was likely separated from its mother shortly after birth due to an emergency. Fortunately, the infant was safely rescued.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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Hospital superintendent leads staff in exercising

Even with his busy schedule, MacKay Memorial superintendent Chang Wen-han still exercises regularly by walking at least 7,000 steps a day inside the hospital. Chang, who hopes to lose 5kg this year, says that regular exercise can improve mental and physical health.

Superintendent Chang Wen-han walks into a hospital staff meeting. After taking his place, he leads everyone through some exercises.

Stretching their arms and moving their waists, MacKay Memorial Hospital staff join in aerobics exercises. Dr. Chang hopes that everyone can maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Chang Wen-han
MacKay Memorial Hospital superintendent
Sitting for long periods of time is not good for our staff, so we do some exercises before starting the meeting to improve our circulation and clear our minds.

Beyond leading staff through exercises, Dr. Chang also jogs daily. Years of experience have taught him the importance of fitness.

Chang Wen-han
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If you exercise at least 30 minutes a day for five consecutive days, the risk of sudden death would be far lower than those who do not exercise or exercise only one day.

Dr. Chang is an expert in emergency medicine and accustomed to high-stress situations. In recent years there has been a shortage of emergency room staff, so Dr. Chang offered advice to young doctors.

Chang Wen-han
MacKay Memorial Hospital superintendent
Saving lives in the ER lets you feel the joy of being a doctor. It inspires our spirit to keep growing. So, I encourage young people to come and help our world and do more. Emergency medicine is a great profession. You can do it!

- Climbing the stairs at an angle minimizes impact to the knees.

Sharing the best way to climb the stairs, Dr. Chang finds opportunities to exercise during ordinary days at the hospital.

Chang Wen-han
MacKay Memorial Hospital superintendent
I’ve calculated it, and between seeing patients and rounds, I walk about 7,000 steps a day at the hospital. I want to lose 4 or 5kg this year to meet my standards.

In the new year, Dr. Chang encourages everybody to exercise when they can and lead a healthy life.

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An MRT train is arriving. This one sports a colorful special livery, but the surprise doesn’t end here. There’s more inside.

Tsai Wan-chen
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There are lots of cute designs inside the train car, such as this illustration of Mazu. Passengers can mirror her pose and take a picture interacting with her.

Member of public
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It changes often. I do take note. That way, I’ll know what events are on.

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I like them. I think they are representative of your culture. I really like Taiwan and the MRT.

Taiwan’s Down Syndrome Foundation has teamed up with Beigang Chaotian Temple for this year’s World Down Syndrome Day campaign. The visuals feature four deities worshipped at the temple, including Mazu, Wenchang Dijun, Nezha and the Tiger Deity. Drawings by children with Down syndrome are also incorporated and featured on the Taipei MRT, taken by millions every day.

Lin Cheng-hsia
Down Syndrome Foundation ROC
In Taiwanese culture, temples are a place of gathering. We’ve incorporated temple culture with the idea of co-existence. We’re also inviting Beigang Chaotian Temple’s Mazu to travel north to Taipei. We also have a special MRT livery, so that everyone—from office workers, to grocery shoppers, to students—all the people who primarily take the MRT as a means of transportation, will get to understand our idea of co-existence, and thereby naturally become aware of Down Syndrome.

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The Maltese is like an adorable snowball. It’s no wonder a woman in Kaohsiung wanted to play and cuddle with one. But her advances weren’t welcomed. The dog bit her, leaving her at the risk of going blind in one eye.

She had lacerations on the eyelid, and a swollen and bleeding conjunctiva. The injury was worse than she or the doctor initially thought. When the doctor lifted the eyelid for an inspection, he found a mysterious white-colored shard lodged in the eye. It was a bit of a tooth from the dog.

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I immediately rinsed the site with saline solution to clean it, but she still felt that her eye was really swollen. I lifted the eyelid and saw this white-colored object.

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- I think it’s really fun.

Every three years, Jiali Jintang Temple in Tainan holds the Xialong Incense-offering Ceremony, which features the spectacular centipede parade. A total of 108 children under the age of 12 are carried on a chain of wooden planks stretching 201m. Each kid represents one of the 108 Stars of Destiny. They toss various auspicious items offered by their own parents at the crowd of worshippers, which included red envelopes and lobsters in some years. Some parents even offered items so generous as genuine US dollar bills and gold jewelry and nuggets.

I prepared some gold jewelry and home appliances.

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I got the feeling that the kid was about to toss something to me. I was really so lucky. I’m just about to travel to Germany to visit my daughter, and I got a US dollar bill. It’s really so great to win a US dollar banknote. I’m keeping it as a memento.

The offerings get people excited about the centipede parade every three years, and parents of the lucky children who get to role-play a deity are equally happy to contribute to this Lunar New Year festivity.

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