Defense is to be the theme of this year’s Double Ten National Day celebrations, the preparatory committee announced yesterday as it unveiled a logo resembling a shield.
The logo conveys the sense of uniting the strengths of Taiwan’s sectors and becoming a bulwark against aggression, National Day Preparation Committee secretary-general Chen Tsung-yen (陳宗彥) said.
The design stemmed from the concept of “dynamic parts congregating together for a brighter future,” Chen said, adding that the colors of the stripes focusing inward create the imagery of a strong shield and medal of honor.
Photo: CNA
The design has four main colors — orange-yellow, cyan, light blue and grass green — with the green and blue representing the natural environment of Taiwan, and cyan and orange-yellow symbolizing bravery through unity.
The celebrations on Oct. 10 would also observe the theme “Protecting our land together,” Chen said.
Asked whether the theme was influenced by increasing Chinese aggression, as opposed to the themes in 2020 and last year, which touted democracy and international matters, Chen said that the design seeks to reflect domestic situations with international affairs being a factor, but not a primary consideration.
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of the Interior
Designs in the previous two years were based on the government’s desire to connect with the international community under the backdrop of the COIVD-19 pandemic, but this year, it considered international and domestic changes, he said.
Asked if this year’s events would have relaxed pandemic regulations, Chen said that there would be criteria for visiting dignitaries, while there would be 10,000 seats at the main event in Taipei, up from 6,000 last year.
The committee is also mulling online raffles for seats, he said.
The committee and the General Assembly of Chinese Culture have also invited the Kyoto Tachibana High School band from Japan to perform, he said.
The band is expected to arrive on Oct. 5 and is to undergo quarantine according to regulations, Chen said, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would oversee the arrangements for foreign dignitaries.
The Overseas Community Affairs Council said that about 1,200 Taiwanese living overseas are expected to return to attend the ceremony.
This year’s National Day is to be the first such event to be held after the promulgation of the Development of National Languages Act (國家語言法), meaning it will be aired simultaneously in Mandarin, Hoklo (commonly known as Taiwanese), Hakka, all registered indigenous languages and English.
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