TAIPEI (TVBS News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) inspected the National Development Council's National Archives Administration on Monday (July 15), the same day of Taiwan's 37th anniversary of the lifting of martial law, emphasizing the need for proactive measures in the pursuit of transitional justice.
Echoing President Lai's sentiment, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) asserted that democracy and justice require continuous defense and effort, stressing, "Democracy doesn't fall from the sky, and justice doesn't always exist."
"Only through our collective efforts to safeguard, defend, and fight for justice and democracy can we continue to progress through generations of reform," he added.
Earlier that day, the military honor guard began their new routine on Democracy Boulevard, symbolizing a step toward transitional justice after being withdrawn from the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (中正紀念堂) since its placement in 1980.
President Lai swiftly implemented the removal of the honor guard from the statue hall upon taking office. He chose the anniversary of the lifting of martial law to highlight this commitment. During his speech at the National Archives Administration, Lai stated, "We do not want anyone to use democracy against democracy in a democratic society."
The honor guard's patrol and performance will occur hourly from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., each lasting about 15 minutes, weather permitting. This change ends 44 years of the guard's presence in the statue hall, representing a new phase in Taiwan's commitment to transitional justice.