🌩⚡️- More than 1 million people are reportedly without power in Florida due to Hurricane Milton, according to Florida Power and Light.

🌩⚡️- Hurricane Milton has been downgraded to a Category 2 storm.

🇹🇼⚡- Lai Ching-te's speech has begun.

"Today, we gather together to celebrate the birthday of Taiwan, praise the beautiful Taiwan of today, and usher in the better Taiwan for tomorrow," - Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan.

🇹🇼⚡- "One hundred and thirteen years ago, a group of people full of ideals and aspirations rose in revolt and overthrew the imperial regime," - Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan.

🇹🇼⚡- "People who carried the dream of democracy and the ideal of freedom, through valiant sacrifice and devotion, gave their lives to open the door to democracy," - Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan.

🇹🇼⚡- "Over more than a century, the people’s desire to master their own destiny has finally been fulfilled," - Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan.

🇹🇼⚡- "My fellow citizens, though Taiwan was driven out of the international community, the people of Taiwan have never exiled themselves," - Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan.

🇹🇼⚡- "When our friends face disasters we do not hesitate to extend a helping hand. 'Taiwan Can Help' is not just a slogan," - Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan.

🇹🇼⚡- "Taiwan’s chip technology drives the whole world, and has become a global force for prosperity and development," - Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan.

🇹🇼⚡- "The people of Taiwan are diverse, and they are fearless," - Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan.

🇹🇼⚡- "I want to thank generation after generation of fellow citizens for coming together and staying together through thick and thin," - Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan.

🇹🇼⚡- "On this land, democracy and freedom are growing and thriving. China has no right to represent Taiwan. The 23 million people of Taiwan, now more than ever, must reach out our branches to embrace the future," - Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan.

🇹🇼⚡- "My fellow citizens, we have overcome challenge after challenge. All along, Taiwan has shown steadfast resolve," - Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan.

🇹🇼⚡- "As President, my mission is to ensure that our nation endures and progresses. I will uphold the commitment to resist annexation or encroachment upon our sovereignty," - Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan.

🇹🇼⚡- "However, Taiwan faces relentless challenges," - Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan.

🇹🇼⚡- "Expanding authoritarianism is posing a host of challenges to the rules-based international order, threatening our hard-won free and democratic way of life," - Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan.

🇹🇼⚡- "Taiwan is resolved in our commitment to upholding peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and achieving global security and prosperity," - Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan.

🇨🇳🇹🇼⚡- "We are willing to work with China," - Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan.

🇨🇳🇹🇼⚡- "For a long time now, countries around the world have supported China, invested in China and assisted China. This was done out of the hope that China would join the rest of the world," - Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan.

🇨🇳🇹🇼⚡- "Instead international tensions are on the rise, and each day countless innocents are suffering injuries or losing their lives in conflict," - Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan.

🇹🇼⚡- "In an era when the international landscape is becoming increasingly chaotic, Taiwan will become more calm, more confident, and stronger," - Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan.