Lai outlines plans for new defense, health care and climate committees

Taipei, June 19 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Wednesday outlined plans to establish three special committees to improve Taiwan’s defense, promote health care and tackle climate change.

The National Climate Change Response Committee, the All-Society Defense Resilience Committee and the Taiwan Healthy Promotion Committee will be established under the Presidential Office and chaired by Lai himself.

According to the plans, representatives from the government, industry and academia will also be present in the commissions, which will meet every three months.

However, the Presidential Office has not yet announced when the three committees will be officially established.

Lai, who was speaking at his first press event since taking office on May 20, told reporters that the committees would be tasked with formulating strategies for national development, increasing communication with the public and speeding up the implementation of policies.

The president added that the committees will aim to “deepen cooperation with the international community”.

According to Lai, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴), National Security Council Secretary General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) and President General Secretary Pan Men-an (潘孟安) will sit on the social stability committee as deputy convenors. .

Lai did not elaborate on what the committee would seek to achieve, but stressed the need to expand the training and applications of “civilian forces”, ensure sufficient stockpiles of essential supplies and shelters, and strengthen the security of energy and critical infrastructure.

He also stressed the “need to conduct a comprehensive review” of the current situation and propose solutions and approaches for strengthening Taiwan’s national defense and disaster prevention capabilities.

“Only when all members of society have a strong will for self-defense and full confidence in themselves, they can effectively respond to various disasters and dangers,” Lai added.

Meanwhile, the health care committee will have former Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), currently a minister without portfolio under Executive Yuan, as one of its deputy chairmen.

Chen will be joined by Wong Chi-huey (翁啟惠), president of the Institute for Biotechnology and Medicine Industry, and Chen Jyh-hong (陳志鴻), a cardiologist at Tainan An-Nan Municipal Hospital.

According to Lai, the committee will work to speed up the implementation of policy proposals made during his presidential campaign, including the creation of a NT$10 billion (US$309 million) fund to fight cancer.

The committee will not only aim to improve health care services for everyone in Taiwan, but also seek international cooperation in the post-pandemic era, he added.

The third climate change response committee will be tasked with policy strategy to increase the country’s resilience to potential future extreme weather events and help facilitate the policy target of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, according to the president.