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Taiwan shows off arsenal at National Day military parade

ROC Central News Agency

2011/10/10 20:28:42

Taipei, Oct. 10 (CNA) Taiwan on Monday put on display some of the weapons it hopes can help stave off a Chinese attack at a military parade to celebrate the country's National Day, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and indigenous Sky Bow 3 missiles.

A total of 1,802 military servicemen from the Army, Navy and Air Force marched in the parade, which also included 168 military vehicles and a flyover of 71 jet fighters.

Leading the procession was a luxury sedan, followed by lines of motorcycles ridden by military police at 5 kilometers per hour. The Army's Special Forces and the Marines' amphibious corps marched closely behind.

Among the ground weapons on display was the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile launcher, an advanced surface-to-air missile carrier capable of firing anti-ballistic missiles.

Also shown was the Sky Bow 3 missile system, designed and manufactured in Taiwan and capable of intercepting rival fighters and cruise missiles.

Complete UAV systems were seen in public for the first time and demonstrated their ability to command and facilitate the movement of ground vehicles.

Though Taiwan has tried a more conciliatory approach toward China since Ma Ying-jeou became president in 2008, Beijing has continued a massive military buildup that is tilting the military balance in the Taiwan Strait.

China has refused to renounce the use of force to take Taiwan, which it claims as part of its territory.

The show of weapons attracted plenty of attention, but a group of military students wearing jackets and T-shirts stole the show, positioning themselves near the parade route to flash different Chinese characters in seconds.

One of the phrases they flashed was "Good day Mr. President" when President Ma appeared in the grandstand set up to watch the parade.

Following the procession, the president and Premier Wu Den-yih went to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall for a "double god" parade.

"San-tai-tzu," a well-known god from southern Tainan's Founding Martial Temple, and Matsu, the goddess from a temple in Chiayi, were the stars of the parade after having been carried in their sedan chairs from southern Taiwan to Taipei. (By Zoe Wei and Ann Chen) enditem/ls