Taiwan's foreign ministry has put out its National Day film for this year, a soft-power piece framing the island as a resilient democracy and a core link in the global chip and AI supply chain.

• The film, titled "The Nation's Album," marks 30 years since Taiwan's first direct presidential election in 1996.
• It uses AI to blend old footage with new interviews, told through a military veteran who served during the Taiwan Strait missile crisis.
• The story runs from Taiwan's expulsion from the UN in the 1970s through martial law ending, the 1999 earthquake, legalizing same-sex marriage, and the pandemic.
• It also showcases recent diplomacy, including the vice president's speech at the IPAC forum and a Taiwanese health-tech expo held alongside the World Health Assembly.
• Released in 13 languages, the film is aimed squarely at foreign audiences and democratic partners rather than voters at home.

Outlook: Expect Taipei to keep leaning on its chip and AI role as its main diplomatic lever ahead of the October 10 National Day celebrations.