The DPP today held its first national party congress since President Tsai Ing-wen took office on May 20. In her opening address, President Tsai used four slides that included pictures of flooding at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and the China Airlines strike to show party delegates the challenges the DPP administration faced after taking office. She called on the party to take on the challenges ahead courageously and not be impatient but instead implement reform steadily. The party’s most important mission, she said, is to lead Taiwan out of difficulties. After a ceremony where party officials solemnly carried the party flag, President Tsai in her capacity as party chairwoman addressed delegates to a backdrop of four slides that revealed (recent incidents): the flooding at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, the China Airlines strike, the misfiring of a supersonic missile into the Taiwan Strait and the destruction of Taitung in the wake of Typhoon Nepartak, as she rallied the crowd with a rousing speech. Tsai Ing-wenDPP Chairwoman Reform definitely will be painful, reform will also cause some (officials and party members) to take the blame. For all kinds of reform needed in Taiwan, there is no room for a rushed approach. This has been reflected in the tempo of the ruling style the new government has adopted over the last two months. President Tsai also stressed that her plans had not changed when promoting a number of policies. Tsai Ing-wenDPP chairwoman Establishing a nuclear-free homeland by 2025 is our goal and this has not changed. With pension reform issues, many people have asked us now that the DPP is the ruling party, why don’t we take a top-down approach and make a final decision? Why must we take one year and hold so many conferences? This is the route we are taking as ruling party. Steady reform is not a simple path. Presdient Tsai concluded the party congress by shouting slogans with the delegates, taking the opportunity to boost the morale not just of party members but also her ruling team of officials.
