MOFA launches short film, “The Album of a Nation,” to celebrate 2026 National Day

MOFA launches short film, "The Album of a Nation," to celebrate 2026 National Day

• Date：2026-10-02
• Data Source：Public Diplomacy Coordination Council

October 2, 2026

No. 477

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has produced a short film entitled "The Album of a Nation" to celebrate this year's National Day.

With 2026 marking the 30th anniversary of Taiwan's first direct presidential election, MOFA has turned to AI for the first time to help recount the story of Taiwan's democratic development. Combining archive material and an interview, the production portrays a journey in which adversity is overcome to achieve freedom, diversity, and glory.

"This is our family album. Its pages tell the story of Taiwan's journey to the present day." After opening with this voice-over, the film leads the audience through Taiwan's history from the perspective of Mr. Chang Yung-cheng, a military veteran.

In the 1970s, Taiwan withdrew from the United Nations, resulting in a wave of upheavals in Taiwan's diplomatic relations. Taiwan's isolation from the international community sparked public anger. Mr. Chang, who was young at the time, chose to serve and defend Taiwan at one of its most difficult moments.

Following the lifting of martial law, Taiwan experienced such social movements as the Wild Lily student protests, setting Taiwan firmly on the path toward democratization. A series of constitutional amendments in the 1990s established a system of direct presidential elections, the first of which was held in 1996.

However, in the days running up to the vote, Taiwan was tested by the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis. At that time, Mr. Chang was serving as a company commander at Gaodeng in Matsu. Even while posted on the front line, where tensions were high, he never forgot to urge his family to defend Taiwan by taking democratic action and casting their ballots.

The film interweaves the story of Taiwan's national development and Mr. Chang's life experiences, demonstrating that Taiwan never gave up hope but instead developed a stronger and more resilient sense of collective will in the face of adversity.

The film goes on to highlight Taiwan's confident presence on the international stage in recent years, including President Lai Ching-te's interactions with the heads of state of Taiwan's allies, Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao's speech at the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China summit, and Taiwan's first hosting of the Taiwan Smart Medical and HealthTech Expo during the World Health Assembly. These examples demonstrate that as a force for good, Taiwan has bravely and confidently strengthened its links with global democratic partners.

The film concludes with a retrospective look at critical moments in Taiwan's history through a cross-generational lens. Highlights include Yang Chuan-kuang, the "Iron Man of Asia," winning Taiwan's first Olympic medal in 1960; the lifting of martial law in 1987; the 1999 Jiji earthquake; Taiwan becoming the first Asian nation to legalize same-sex marriage in 2019; Taiwan's role as a positive force during the COVID-19 pandemic; and the vital part that Taiwan continues to play in 2026 through the global AI industry and semiconductor supply chains.

The people of Taiwan have persistently marched forward amid crises and challenges. Marked by both suffering and glory, the pages of history have forged Taiwan's national identity and nurtured the unique spirit of Team Taiwan. Going forward, Taiwan will continue to contribute to the world in such areas as technology, democracy, and economics.

The five-minute National Day video has been released in 13 languages, including Chinese, English, Spanish, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese, and launched on MOFA's website and social media platforms. People in Taiwan and overseas are encouraged to view, repost, and share the video and join MOFA in wishing a happy birthday to Taiwan-a nation that continues to be passionately safeguarded by its people. (E)