"Republic of China (ROC)" will be written on a backdrop hanging at the back of the stage at Double Ten National Day celebrations on Wednesday, authorities announced after criticism over a decision not to display placards with the national title.
"We have decided to put `the Republic of China' on the backdrop," said Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
Wang convened an extra committee meeting following its announcement on Thursday that festive placards that say "Celebration of the Republic of China's National Day" would not be displayed as had been the case in the past.
This will be the first time the Presidential Office will not be decorated with placards displaying the nation's official name on the national holiday.
Wang said the reason the banner wouldn't be suspended this year was because the Presidential Office wanted to keep the banners that read "Taiwan's entry into the UN" which have hung on the front of the building since last month.
"The [Presidential Office] building is owned by the Presidential Office. What can you do when the owner declines to lend you the central tower?" Wang said yesterday.
Wang said on Thursday said that President Chen Shui-bian (
President Chen's speech to the nation will be delivered at a meeting inside the Presidential Office prior to the rally, which is a departure from tradition, Wang said, adding it was for security reasons.
All through the day yesterday in the legislature, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and People First Party (PFP) lawmakers lashed out at the committee for its compromise over the banner.
KMT Legislator Joanna Lei (
PFP Legislator Liu Wen-hsiung (
"The day commemorates the establishment of the ROC. What will it look like if the ROC is invisible? It is not a rally for the government to promote its idea of applying for UN membership under the name `Taiwan,'" Liu said.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wang Tuoh (王拓) called on opposition lawmakers to "calm down," saying that legislators should "put substance over formality."
"Joining the UN under the name `Taiwan' reflects the real difficulty" facing Taiwan, Wang said.
Meanwhile, KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (
"Double Ten National Day celebrates the birth of the ROC. Refusing to show the national title at the celebration is disrespectful," Ma said yesterday during an interview with a local radio station in Taoyuan County.
Ma said he had not received an invitation from the Presidential Office and would therefore not attend.
KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (
"I refused to attend a ridiculous and confusing ceremony," he said.
Wu accused the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of turning the ceremony into a political issue and creating social conflict to win over voters.
Additional reporting by Mo Yan-chih and CNA
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