On Taiwan Restoration Day, KMT chair Cheng Li-wun said Taiwan must be able to defend itself while still working to avoid war, a message aimed at balancing national pride with calls for peace.

• Cheng marked the 81st anniversary of Taiwan's handover from Japanese colonial rule, tying it to her own family's history, including her grandfather being sent to fight in the Pacific during World War II.
• She said Taiwan's future needs security, dignity, and peace, and that the island must build the ability to defend itself while also finding ways to ease hostility with rivals.
• She called for people to set aside differences over identity and political background, saying both Taiwanese identity and loyalty to the Republic of China can coexist.
• The speech comes as cross-strait tensions with China remain a constant backdrop to Taiwanese politics, with the KMT trying to position itself as both patriotic and peace-focused.

Outlook: Expect continued messaging from Taiwan's political leaders balancing deterrence against China with calls to avoid conflict, especially as cross-strait tensions remain unresolved.