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Syongfong 2e missiles not to be displayed in National Day parade

ROC Central News Agency

2007-10-09 21:37:37

    Taipei, Oct. 9 (CNA) The locally developed Syongfong 2e missiles will not be displayed in the military display in the Double Ten National Day celebration rally Wednesday, because it is an attack weapon that can reach Shanghai, Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng, the rally's chief organizer, said Tuesday.

    It could be "too sensitive" to display such a weapon of aggression in the military parade, Wang said during a meeting with representatives of Taiwanese expatriates living in New York who were invited to attend the Oct. 10 celebration.

    However, the anti-ship Syongfong III missiles, as well as the Sky Bow and Patriot missiles, will be displayed, along with Mirage 2000 fighters, F-16 A/B jet fighters and Indigenous Defense Fighters, Wang noted.

    Referring to a planned skydiver display, Wang said the weather conditions will govern whether or not that show can take place.

    Speaking of the controversial issue concerning the decoration of the Presidential Office's central tower building, which was hung with a plaque carrying the slogan "Taiwan joins the U.N., " instead of the traditional "Republic of China National Day Celebration, " Wang said that this year is a "special" year and that the host of the official National Day celebration ceremony -- the Presidential Office -- has insisted on the U.N. message.

    It is the first time since the seat of the ROC government was relocated to the island in 1949 that the tower building will not be decorated with the placard reading "ROC National Day celebration."

    Wang also noted President Chen Shui-bian will not address the National Day rally in front of the Presidential Office.

    The message the president wants to deliver to the nation will be expressed in a meeting held within the Presidential Office prior to the rally, despite long observance of the practice of the president addressing the National Day rally, according to Wang.

(By Elizabeth Hsu)

ENDITEM/J