Taiwan celebrated the 104th National Day of the Republic of China (ROC) on Saturday. The Republic of China was founded in 1912 by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, and is now the official name of the government of Taiwan.
The theme of this year’s celebrations is “Standing in Taiwan with an Eye on the World.” The official celebration in front of the Presidential Office Building in Taipei lasted for more than two hours. It featured a parade that mobilized nearly 7,000 people, and an official ceremony. There were also performances including dancing, singing, and a flyover by the airforce’s Thunder Tigers Aerobatic Team.
President Ma Ying-jeou gave a National Day address titled “Taiwan’s Future: Sustaining Peace and Prosperity.” Legislature President Wang Jin-pyng and an overseas Taiwanese representative from the Philippines also each gave a short speech.
About 4,000 overseas Taiwanese returned to Taiwan to celebrate the occasion. They come from the United States, the UK, Australia, Japan, Southeast Asia and other parts of the world, many participating in the celebrations for the first time.
Dignitaries from Honduras, Swaziland, Saint Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Guatemala, Japan and the United States were also in attendance.