The Characteristics of Lai Ching-te's 2024 Presidential Inaugural Speech in Taiwan: A Comparative Analysis with Past Presidents of the Republic of China

Abstract

Lai Ching-te was inaugurated as President in Taiwan on May 20, 2024. Lai was elected as President through democratic elections held in Taiwan, in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of China. Taiwan achieved political democratization in the 1990s. However, before that, it was governed under the one-party rule of the Chinese Nationalist Party. This paper examines the characteristics of Lai's inaugural speech by tracing the changes in frequently used words in the inaugural speeches of successive presidents of the Republic of China from 1948 to 2024.