The Army Academy in Kaohsiung is to hold in mid-June a large celebration of the 80th anniversary of its founding, an occasion which will be President Chen Shui-bian's (
Chen will be asked to preside over the celebration, which will be the largest of its kind in four years.
Four years ago, the Army Academy was also the scene of Chen's first appearance before the military as the supreme commander of the armed forces, which he once strongly criticized as a lawmaker.
On that occasion, Chen shocked the military by announcing a new strategy of "offshore engagement."
Offshore engagement referred to engaging China in areas outside the territory of Taiwan, which contradicted the military's archaic strategy of repelling an amphibious assault.
The new strategy sparked a lot of debate in and outside the military. Minister of National Defense Tang Yao-ming (
Besides announcing the offshore engagement strategy, Chen also changed the military's decades-old slogans which are chanted at the end of every major military ceremony.
Chen added "Long live liberty and democracy!" and "Long live the people of Taiwan!" the slogans, which had never mentioned "Taiwan" before and which stressed unification with China.
To prepare for the occasion, the army's general headquarters said it has provided all necessary resources to the academy.
The June 16 anniversary celebration will feature demonstrations of combat skills by the 862nd Special Operations Brigade, defense sources said.
It would be the brigade's first public performance since activation six years ago. The brigade is the army's most combat-capable force.
The celebration four years ago highlighted a parade of cadets from not only the academy, but also other military institutes. The celebration this time will also involve a parade, but the cadets will not have to perform the goose-step any more. Goose-stepping has been banned in the military, with standard marching drill taking its place.
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