Good morning and thank you for tuning in to CTS News, I'm Cary Chuo.

President Ma Ying-jeou announced in his National Day Address yesterday that a "Human Rights Consultation Commission" will be set up, headed by vice-president Vincent Siew, to further ensure the freedoms to which all Taiwanese people are en

The themes of President Ma Ying-jeou's National Day address were "reform, new beginnings, and the pursuit of justice."

Apart from narrowing the wealth gap, Ma discussed recent corruption scandals in the judiciary and said that the formation of a new judicial team will hopefully restore the public's confidence in the judicial system.

On the democracy front, the president announced the establishment of a new Presidential Office human rights consultation commission aimed at raising Taiwan's human rights standards.

Ma's speech focused more on domestic issues than in years past, and he reiterated a commitment to strengthening Taiwan's national consciousness ahead of the nation's centennial celebrations next year.