TAIPEI, June 19 (Central News Agency) — President Lai Ching-te on Wednesday outlined plans to set up three special committees to strengthen Taiwan’s defence capabilities, promote health care and combat climate change.
The National Climate Change Response Committee, the All-Society Defense Resilience Committee, and the Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee have been established under the Presidential Office and will be chaired by Lai himself.
According to the plan, the committee would include representatives from government, industry and academia and meet every three months.
However, the presidential office has yet to say when the three committees will be officially established.
At his first press conference since taking office on May 20, Lai told reporters that the committee would be tasked with formulating a national development strategy, strengthening communication with the public and accelerating policy implementation.
The president added that the committee aims to “deepen cooperation with the international community.”
Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, Secretary-General of the National Security Council Nguyen Tsang-sop and Secretary-General to the President Pan Meng-an will serve as vice-chairs of the Social Resilience Committee, Lai said.
Lai did not go into detail about what the committee plans to accomplish, but stressed the need to expand the training and application of “civilian forces,” ensure adequate stockpiles of essential supplies and shelter, and strengthen energy and critical infrastructure security.
He also stressed the need to “comprehensively review” the current situation and propose solutions and approaches to strengthen Taiwan’s defense and disaster prevention capabilities.
“Only when every member of society has a strong will to protect itself and full confidence in themselves can it effectively respond to various disasters and risks,” Lai added.
Meanwhile, former Minister of Health Chen Shih-chung, who currently serves as Director-General without portfolio of the Executive Yuan, will serve as vice chairman of the Health and Medical Care Committee.
Chen will be accompanied by Huang Zhihui, director of the Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industry, and Chen Zhihong, a cardiologist at Tainan Municipal Annan Hospital.
Lai said the committee will work to speed up the implementation of policies proposed during the presidential election campaign, such as the establishment of a NT$10 billion (US$309 million) fund for cancer prevention.
He added that the committee will not only seek to improve medical services across Taiwan, but will also explore international cooperation in the post-pandemic era.
According to the President, the Third Committee on Climate Change Response will be tasked with developing policy strategies to strengthen the country’s resilience to future extreme weather events and facilitate the achievement of the policy goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
