Taiwan is holding routine military exercises this week. But while routine, the exercises happen to come at a time of increased tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Chinese war planes have entered Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone or crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait 33 times since September 16.
Elementary schools have decided that the exercises are a good opportunity to have children show support for the nation’s military.
Children in Pingtung County gather in front of their school waving the national flag to show their support for the nation’s troops. This is the first time they have gotten to see military tanks up close.
He said it was good to see and tanks are really big!
The soldiers and tanks have made quite an impression on other children, too. Another child says she wants to show her support for the army.
It's Combat Readiness Week and Taiwan’s troops are using real weapons to train for combat.
Wan Long Elementary School brought its students out to help them see what national defense involves.
School Supervisor Lin Yung-min says the exercises are a good opportunity for the students to show support for the troops and for the school to educate children about national defense.
Pingtung isn't the only place where schools are bringing their students out to cheer the troops on. A group of children in Yunlin are also waving national flags to show their support for the army. As one clouded leopard armored vehicle after another passes by, the children hold up signs that read “Go Armed Forces!”