Taiwan is the publishing hub of the Chinese-speaking cultural sphere, and ranks second in the world in the number of titles published. Where do we go from here? How about even further abroad? Taiwan caught the interest of the international community during the Covid pandemic. As the pandemic waned, that global attention then transformed into something of a Taiwan craze in neighboring nations and international book markets.

Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim were sworn in as the 16th-term ROC (Taiwan) president and vice president, respectively, May 20 in Taipei City, with Lai pledging to create a democratic, peaceful and prosperous future for the country’s 23 million people.

The arrival of 508 guests from 51 foreign delegations to the May 20 presidential inauguration ceremony and related events is sincerely welcomed by the government and people, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs May 17 in Taipei City.

On the morning of May 20, ROC 16th-term President Lai Ching-te, the First Lady, and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao attended inaugural celebrations in the plaza fronting the Presidential Office Building. President Lai delivered his inaugural address titled “Building a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous new Taiwan.”