The Republic of China armed forces staged a military display on Saturday to mark the 70th anniversary of the ROC's 1945 victory in the War of Resistance against Japan.
The event, which took place at an Army base in Hukou, Hsinchu county, was presided over by Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou and attended by senior government officials, foreign officials posted in Taiwan and many others.In his address, Ma praised the contribution of ROC soldiers and officers who fought in the war and said they will never be forgotten.
He also added that Chiang Kai-shek led the ROC military in the eight-year war, fighting numerous battles before eventually securing victory.A total of 3,858 military personnel participated in the display, which featured a flyover, following a series of martial arts and marching band performances.
Sixty-four military aircraft participated in the flyover, including the US-made AH-64E Apache attack helicopter, the Army's most advanced attack helicopter; the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter and the P-3C submarine-hunting aircraft, also purchased from the US.Other helicopters taking part included the EC225 and S-70C, used for rescue missions, the OH-58D reconnaissance helicopter and the AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopter.The F-16, Mirage 2000-5 and Indigenous Defense Fighter jets–Taiwan's main combat aircraft–also participated.
During the parade that followed the flyover, weapons systems and aircraft used in the war against Japan passed the review stand, along with Taiwan's most advanced weapons systems and vehicles.
A total of 24 veterans who fought in the war participated in the parade, receiving tributes for their courage in defending the ROC.
Highlights of the military display included a rapid assault drill in which army special forces soldiers rapelled from three Black Hawk helicopters to the ground. They were joined by soldiers riding motorcycles from a CH-47SD transport helicopter after it landed to fight a simulated enemy force.
In 1937, the Chinese Communist Party and the ROC Nationalists agreed to work together to fight against the Japanese invasion of China, though that cooperation often existed more in name than reality.
The ROC government relocated to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war to the Chinese communist forces.
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