President Lai Ching-te presided over the Armed Forces Day memorial for the first time as head of state. In recent days, he's given speeches promoting the country's military and his commitment to strengthening the country's defenses.
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00:00September 3rd is Armed Forces Day in Taiwan, and President Lai Shing-te and Vice President
00:15Bi Kim-hsiao have come to the Martyrs' Shrine in Taipei to honor those who have served the
00:20country.
00:21The day also marks victory over Japan Day and the end of World War II in 1945.
00:26It's a day full of contradictions in Taiwan.
00:29The island was a colony of Japan during the war, and many Taiwanese fought in the Japanese
00:33army.
00:34But the Republic of China government was one of the major powers in the Allied victory
00:38in the Pacific, and it's that government that Lai leads today.
00:48Now this is Lai's first time presiding over the memorial as president, and for him it's
00:52a chance to show that he's a leader for the whole country.
00:55This Democratic Progressive Party is often seen as downplaying Taiwan's links to China,
00:59but an event like this is a reminder of the importance of that history even today.
01:05It's also in keeping with a theme in Lai's recent speeches, honoring those who have sacrificed
01:09themselves to keep Taiwan free, promoting peace through strength, and trying to unite
01:15the country at this moment.
01:17Andie Hsieh and Tiffany Wong in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.