President Tsai Ing-wen has led the annual Armed Forces Day ceremony at the National Revolutionary Martyrs’ Shrine in Taipei.
The ceremony was held Saturday morning. It was the first time that Tsai has presided over the shrine’s annual ceremony. Tsai was joined by the heads of Taiwan’s five branches of government- the Cabinet, the Legislature, the Judicial Yuan, the Control Yuan, and the Examination Yuan.
The Martyrs’ Shrine honors those who have died defending the Republic of China since the 1911 revolution that led to its establishment. Taiwan is still officially known as the Republic of China today, though the Republic has not ruled Mainland China for more than sixty years.
Tsai presented incense and a wreath of flowers to the enshrined spirits. She then read out a ceremonial text remembering the sacrifices of those honored in the shrine and praising freedom and democracy.