Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao Calls on NTNU Students to Meet Global Challenges with Confidence and Creativity
At a general education lecture hosted by National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) on September 30, Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao encouraged students to navigate a rapidly changing world with resilience, creativity, and a clear sense of purpose. Speaking on “On the World Stage, Youth Lead” she urged young people to use technology wisely, remain a “force for good,” and become problem solvers capable of shaping Taiwan’s future on the global stage.
Opening Remarks: International Experience and Taiwan’s Global Voice
NTNU President Cheng-Chi Wu opened the event by highlighting Vice President Hsiao’s extensive experience in international affairs, including her service as Taiwan’s Representative to the United States from 2020 to 2023. During her tenure, she advanced high-level Taiwan–U.S. exchanges, promoted the U.S.–Taiwan 21st Century Trade Initiative, and built bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress. The New York Times once described her as “one of Washington’s most influential foreign envoys,” despite not holding the formal title of ambassador. President Wu noted that Hsiao has helped ensure that Taiwan’s democratic resilience is recognized around the world.
President Wu also emphasized NTNU’s strong record of internationalization. This year, NTNU welcomed more than 2,000 international degree students making up 13.5 percent of total enrollment, and the Mandarin Training Center received about 10,000 learners of Chinese language and Taiwanese culture. NTNU currently maintains student-exchange partnerships with 358 universities worldwide. In 2023, the Ministry of Education designated NTNU a “Bilingual Benchmark University,” underscoring its leadership in global education.
At the same time, President Wu stressed the university’s commitment to Taiwan’s languages, culture, and social engagement. He noted that Vice President Hsiao is not only internationally experienced but deeply rooted in Taiwan, having served four terms in the Legislative Yuan and maintaining strong ties to local culture. Her English name, Bi-khim, was given by her mother using Taiwanese romanization, and she speaks Taiwanese Hokkien fluently.
Building Social Resilience in a Shifting Global Landscape
Vice President Hsiao centered her talk on the importance of social resilience. Drawing on her journey from Taiwan to the international stage and back, she encouraged students to find confidence amid uncertainty and to claim their place in a fast-changing world.
She noted that today’s global challenges of war, climate change, cybersecurity threats, and shifts in trade patterns, are all closely connected to Taiwan. Strengthening society’s capacity to withstand and respond to crises, she said, is essential to securing the nation’s future.
Hsiao observed that more than 100 countries have increased defense spending, including Taiwan, whose defense budget reached a record 3.32 percent of GDP this year. She also highlighted Taiwan’s formation of a “national drone team,” which has supported both defense operations and disaster relief. Drawing on examples from Sweden, Norway, and Estonia, she discussed how civic-defense education is integrated into daily life in many democracies, including through public survival handbooks.
Taiwan has issued the In Case of Crisis: Taiwan’s National Public Safety Guide, which remind the public that “if you ever hear that Taiwan has surrendered, it is definitely fake news,” a proactive response to modern disinformation.
Hsiao also explained the five missions of the government’s “Whole-of-Society Resilience Defense Committee”:
1. Civil-defense training and disaster-response preparedness.
2. Strategic stockpiling and distribution of essential supplies.
3. Maintenance of energy and critical infrastructure.
4. Preparation of medical and evacuation facilities.
5. Cybersecurity and financial security.
The goal, she said, is to strengthen citizens’ ability to protect themselves and support others during emergencies. Only with broad public participation can Taiwan build the resilience needed to withstand future crises.
Investing in Youth as Taiwan’s Long-Term Strategy
Turning to youth development, Vice President Hsiao emphasized that supporting young people is central to the government’s long-term strategy for national sustainability. She cited ongoing efforts to improve housing access, expand educational equity, strengthen mental-health support, and raise the minimum wage each year to ease financial pressure on young adults.
Additional initiatives include cultural coming-of-age bonuses, a draft Youth Basic Law, and the development of a Youth Policy White Paper. “Investing in youth,” she said, “is investing in the nation’s future.”
Hsiao highlighted new opportunities the government is creating through technology, innovation, and international cooperation. The 2025 Rocket Taiwan Cup, for example, aims to cultivate future aerospace talent and advance satellite communications, national-territory monitoring, and defense-industry development. Taiwan is also building strategic “non-red industries” through global partnerships.
In artificial intelligence, the government promotes public-private collaboration and the use of open data to create new applications and job opportunities. Hsiao also encouraged youth to engage in local initiatives and civil diplomacy, noting that grassroots action can strengthen Taiwan’s visibility internationally.
“Do You Dare to Dream?”: Encouraging Youth to Aspire and Act
Closing her talk, Vice President Hsiao asked students, “Do you dare to dream?” She pointed to the government’s NT$10-billion Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative, which helps young people pursue opportunities abroad and gain new insight through global exchange.
In a time of rapid, complex change, she said, young people have more tools and information than ever before. The challenge is not only learning how to use them, but transforming that ability into confidence, into the capacity to innovate, adapt, and confront uncertainty.
“Youth must not only be dreamers,” she said, “but also problem solvers. Turn your creativity into action and resilience into influence.” In doing so, they can help Taiwan demonstrate its unique strengths on the global stage.
Dialogue with Students
The session concluded with a conversation moderated by NTNU Dean of Academic Affairs Mei-Hui Liu, who gathered questions from students. Many asked how the vice president navigated her different public roles and whether she holds any constant beliefs. Hsiao replied that her guiding principle has always been to “give her utmost effort,” adding that only by engaging directly with communities can one understand their real needs.
When asked how young people can stay attuned to global developments, she encouraged students to start with the stories around them, use creativity and narrative skill to counter misinformation, and draw on civil diplomacy to help the world better understand Taiwan. While the world is far from tranquil, she said, confidence allows young people to “turn the small into the great” and become effective problem solvers. Creativity and imagination, she concluded, are this generation’s greatest assets, and are essential for keeping Taiwan visible on the international stage.