TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) listed three key elements to building comprehensive resilience during the National Whole-of-Society Resilience Committee’s inaugural meeting on Thursday (Sept. 26).
The National Whole-of-Society Resilience Committee was established by Lai on June 19. It aims to improve societal resilience in the face of disasters caused by earthquakes and climate change. The committee also seeks to address external forces that disrupt regional peace and stability.
Lai said the first is to prepare for the worst and ensure safety. “We must engage in comprehensive and proactive preparations to strengthen the nation's capabilities and bolster the people's confidence,” he said.
The government and the public should be able to react quickly and maintain a functioning society during an emergency or natural disaster.
Enhancing responsiveness is another important aspect, Lai said. “We must expand civilian training and mobilization” to boost stockpiles of vital supplies, ensure the operation of energy and critical infrastructure, and improve social welfare, healthcare, and evacuation facilities, among other societal priorities. These initiatives are essential to improving Taiwan's emergency response capabilities, the president said.
Lai also emphasized achieving whole-of-society resilience step by step. “By working together systematically and professionally, we can identify issues, devise solutions, and implement them effectively to address challenges,” he said. The president said central and local governments must conduct wide-ranging evaluations and drills and deepen collaboration with civil organizations.
The National Whole-of-Society Resilience Committee consists of 23 members, including Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄), Minister of Economic Affairs Kuo Jyh-Huei (郭智輝), and Minister of Transportation Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱).
