President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) acknowledged religious groups’ indispensable role in building social resilience Monday, while speaking at an I-Kuan Tao 120th anniversary ceremony. He said as Taiwan faces a myriad of challenges, the government is actively promoting resilience across society, a result which depends on all members of the public.

In his speech, Lai promised to do as much as he could as a leader to ensure Taiwan's security and stable economic development.

The global situation is changing rapidly, the president said, adding that he religious hopes can stand with the government for the shared goal of building a resilient society. He said, “I hope everyone understands that the current global situation is changing rapidly. Whether it's the challenges of geopolitics, or the complex disasters brought on by extreme weather, Taiwan faces severe tests. and religious groups are an indispensable part of building that resilience.”

Lai noted that, while religious centers often serve as emergency shelters, resource distribution centers, and places of comfort during disasters. He hopes that all levels of society will help the government to build a more robust disaster prevention system, which would allow them to be the stabilizing force for assistance and recovery when needed.