On the 36th anniversary of the June 4th Incident, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te posted messages in Chinese and English on social media platforms Facebook and X.
Lai Ching-te noted that 36 years ago on June 4th, the world-renowned Tiananmen Square Incident took place in China. Amidst the global wave of democracy, countless young students took to the streets; their courage and sense of responsibility left a profound testimony to humanity's pursuit of ideals.
In his article, he pointed out that adherence to the concept of human rights is a value shared by Taiwan and democratic societies around the world, transcending generations, nationalities, and borders. Every June 4th, Taiwanese society lights candles of commemoration based on universal values.
Lai Ching-te emphasized that commemorating the June 4th Tiananmen Square Incident is not only about mourning history, but also about perpetuating its memory. Authoritarian governments often choose to silence and forget history, while democratic societies choose to preserve the truth and refuse to forget those who dedicated themselves to the ideals of human rights—and the dreams they cherished.
Lai Ching-te cited Taiwan's experience, pointing out that Taiwan experienced the White Terror and has continued to work hard to implement transitional justice; after experiencing the baptism of democratization, at the watershed of history, it moved from authoritarianism to democracy, and deeply understands the value of freedom. It cannot ignore the infringement of global democracy and the rule of law caused by the expansion of authoritarianism.
He said that 36 years later, the threat posed by authoritarianism is still a challenge that the international community must jointly address, and it is endangering our cherished way of life.
Lai Ching-te concluded by noting that Taiwan stands at the forefront of the global defense of democracy and will continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder with all like-minded partners to firmly uphold the status quo and safeguard democracy and freedom. Taiwan not only refuses to forget its history but must also uphold its core values every day, maintaining confidence and resilience to ensure that generations to come can grow and thrive on this land of freedom.
