TAIPEI (TVBS News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) emphasized the importance of democracy as a vital asset for Taiwan on Thursday (Feb. 20), urging universities to be aware of risks when engaging with China to protect the core technologies and research achievements.
Speaking at the "2025 National University and College Principals' Conference"(114年全國大專校院校長會議) at National Ilan University in Yilan (NIU, 宜蘭大學), Lai highlighted the establishment of a Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee (全社會防衛韌性委員會) to counteract China's united front tactics and infiltration, saying that the committee aims to enhance public defense awareness to safeguard democracy and national security.
Moreover, Lai emphasized that education represents an investment in the country's future, adding that he has initiated measures to reduce the tuition gap between public and private universities and increase subsidies for disadvantaged students.
Lai also expressed his vision for Taiwan's higher education to provide equal development opportunities for all children, regardless of their socioeconomic background or location. He called on the Ministry of Education (MOE, 教育部) to support the collaborative development of public and private universities.
