President Lai opens the new year with a speech calling to bolster resolve and defense. Thousands wake up early to attend a flag-raising ceremony in Taipei headed by Lai. And a new social welfare policy that raises the minimum wage and grants day leave for parents comes into effect, although some doubt their effectiveness. Plus: - Analysis: TaiwanPlus sits down with defense expert Shen Ming-shih to explore what China's joint branch exercises mean for Taiwan in the wake of China's "Justice Mission 2025." - An Indigenous community in southeastern Taiwan works hard to repopulate a species of large clams, but storms and poaching pose serious challenges. - A massive wind turbine project has gotten the go-ahead, angering some residents in central Taiwan.