President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) presided over the opening ceremony of the military officer advanced education program at the National Defense University on Monday, September 7. In his speech, the president stressed that only by strengthening national defense autonomy can peace be guaranteed, especially facing the rapidly changing international situation and the increasingly severe threat from China.

Lai emphasized that the National Armed Forces must continuously upgrade and transform to become a new generation of troops capable of responding to various challenges. He said, "All of you trainees have rich military experience. Returning to school today represents the nation's higher expectations for you. Advanced education is not about accumulating academic qualifications, but about raising the level of thinking, cultivating cross-service and cross-domain integration capabilities, and preparing you for more important positions in the future."

The president also stated that leaders must actively absorb new knowledge, be courageous in innovation and change, and assume leadership responsibilities to build team trust. He concluded by reminding all military officers that "even in times of peace, forgetting war is dangerous," emphasizing that the will to safeguard peace across the Taiwan Strait must not be weakened. The president expressed his hope that all cadets, after undergoing rigorous training at the National Defense University, will become a vital force in the modernization of the military.