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Brian Hioe

@brianhioe.bsky.social

4.1K followers 650 following 3.2K posts

Editor at @newbloommag.net, writes @thediplomat.com @flaminghydra.com, non-resident fellow at University of Nottingham's Taiwan Research Hub, ‪Taiwan Foreign Correspondents' Club board, freelance journalist, translator, DJ. Author of Taipei at Daybreak

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Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 58m

He says go Taiwan, go ROC, go ROC Taiwan--interesting framing. That's all

Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 58m

He says that this has allowed people across the world to realize what kind of place Taiwan is. Lai states that he continue to lead the country to bravely face a better tomorrow

Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 59m

Lai says that this shows the resilience and determination of Taiwanese to protect their homes when under threat. Lai thanks all those who have come from abroad, the military, firefighters, and police, both local and central governments focused on fighting disasters

Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 1h

Lai states that in spite of challenges, the Taiwanese people have not given up, that they have devoted themselves for the nation as seen in crowdfunding for campaigns for Taiwan to participate in the UN and the response to the Hualien typhoon

Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 1h

Military exercises, with regards to medicine, transportation, and other forms of whole-of-society defense will continue. Lai brings up the defense handbook rolled out recently, which will be distributed nationally

Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 1h

Taiwan will use a non-red supply chain and draw a line in the sand for democracy. Lai states that peace will be achieved through strength, but that this requires whole-of-society resilience, that the government seeks to connect local and central, civilian and military

Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 1h

Lai states that a new air defense system will be rolled out to protect Taiwanese people. Lai says that new smart technologies will be employed as part of assymetric warfare and that investment in military innovation will continue

Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 1h

He states that we don't hope for historical tragedies to repeat, that WWII shows the fate of aggressors. He says that the defense budget will accord to NATO standards and be 3% of GDP and will be 5% by 2030

Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 1h

Lai states that efforts will be made to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait. He states that he looks forward to China becoming internationally responsible, not distorting the history of UN Resolution 2758

Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 1h

Elderly will not be left behind either, with new care plans for them.

Lai brings up that this is the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. Lai states that this shows the fate of aggressors, that authoritarianism was defeated then

Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 1h

Efforts will be to provide subsidies to students for education, as well as in terms of going abroad to study and pursue their dreams. New measures will also be provided for single individuals, for families, for taxes, as well as further subsidies for new parents

Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 1h

Protecting the health of the people, giving young people more opportunities, those are responsibilities of the government. Outside of boosting medical sector, he touts the newly inaugurated Sports Ministry

Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 1h

This will become another Holy Mountain to protect the nation. Lai says that Taiwan belongs to all Taiwanese, that there cannot be any person left behind, and that economic development should benefit everyone.

Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 1h

Taiwan will also aim to boost the financial sector, to become a world financial center. Development in a healthy direction will benefit the people and further competitiveness. Taiwan will continue to cooperate with other countries and boost smart medicine

Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 1h

Taiwan will promote new infrastructure for AI, to allow Taiwan to become an AI power in the world. Robotics and other new technologies are to be focused on, the use of AI in various sectors will be promoted to allow for further scientific development

Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 1h

Efforts will also be made to boost international trade, emphasis on critical industries. More MOUs on trade will signed with other countries, tariff talks with the US will continue to resolve the trade deficit and allow for industrial cooperation

Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 1h

Policies will aim to boost Taiwan's competitiveness, promoting investment in Taiwan, creating jobs, pushing for innovation in industries. Tourism, the health sector, and transportation will be streamlined

Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 1h

This will help them adapt to the AI age. Policies will also be rolled out for traditional industries. Lai states that an era of change also provides opportunities for transformation, that there cannot be self-doubt in the face of this, but one must grasp opportunities

Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 1h

He states that SMEs and invisible heroes of Taiwan's economy, as well as farmers, face questions regarding rising costs, an increasingly elderly population. Lai states that his administration will assist them, that this is the government's responsibility, emphasizes subsidies

Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 1h

Lai praises Taiwan's semiconductor prowess and critical role in supply chains, that this is the property of all Taiwanese, and as president he must protect this, to allow for economic growth and a better future for Taiwan and the world

Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 1h

He touts Taiwan's economic growth as better than China this year, strong performance in stocks, as well as the lowest unemployment in 20 years. Lai frames this as the accomplishment of all Taiwanese

Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 1h

Lai states this is a year for Taiwan rising with Taiwan as a lighthouse for Asia in democracy. With the war in Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East, as well as shocks from US tariffs, Lai says that Taiwanese have not been shaken and Taiwan has continued to do well economically

Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 1h

He states that this signifies Taiwan's resistance to authoritarianism and its democratic future. Lai emphasizes resistance to external interference in maintaining sovereignty

Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 1h

Lai giving his National Day address now. Lai frames this year a historic one for Taiwanese democracy, as Taiwan has now spent more time after martial law was lifted than it spent during martial law

Brian Hioe @brianhioe.bsky.social · 1h

More comments leaning into partisanship now, saying that there cannot be a crisis in the Taiwan Strait and implicitly lashing out at the Lai administration, blaming it for a lack of cooperation in the legislature