In 1955, the defense ministry designated September 3rd as Armed Forces Day to commemorate the victory against Japan’s invasion of China during WWII. It was on that day in 1945 that Japan delivered a letter of surrender to the Republic of China government in Nanjing, signaling the end of WWII. The Republic of China is Taiwan’s official name.
Every year on Armed Forces Day, the president and other high-ranking officials visit Martyr’s Shrine to pay tribute to the servicemen enshrined there, who sacrificed their lives for the nation.
As off-duty soldiers get a day off for Armed Forces day, President Tsai Ing-wen urged them to “go for a stroll” in uniform with their family members and loved ones. She said wearing the uniform in public is an honor but it also entails responsibility. Tsai also said that when soldiers “bravely walk in public in their uniform and the public welcomes them with open arms,” the military will be one step closer to regaining public respect after a series of scandals.
Tsai, the commander-in-chief, said that the military has been under tremendous pressure because the public is watching closely for any minor lapses. Trusting that the armed forces will receive recognition if they do their best, Tsai said the “military needs applause.”
The scandal-hit military has hit a low point since Tsai took office less than four months ago. In June, the torturing and killing of a dog by a group of marines enraged the public. A few weeks later, the accidental firing of a supersonic anti-ship missile killed one civilian. More recently, an army tank overturned into a river after a drill. The accident killed four soldiers.
The military released a three-minute video entitled “Sorry” before Armed Forces Day. After a string of apologies, this video has helped renew the military’s image. It features soldiers saying sorry to their family members because they are always absent because of their service to the country.