Taipei:Major cities across Taiwan held flag-raising ceremonies on Saturday morning to commemorate the 115th National Day of the Republic of China (ROC), Taiwan's official name.
According to Focus Taiwan, several mayors participated in what would be their final National Day ceremonies in office. Taiwan is set to hold local elections on November 28, and mayors who have completed two consecutive four-year terms are not eligible to run again. Their successors will assume office on December 25.
In Taichung, Mayor Lu Shiow-yen led a ceremony where a drone carrying the national flag flew over the plaza in front of city hall. Lu, concluding her second term, highlighted her administration's achievements, such as improvements in air quality, reinstating health insurance premium subsidies for seniors, and constructing the Taichung International Exhibition Center. She emphasized the importance of cooperation between the city government and council to ensure the continuation of public works projects.
Taipei's Mayor Chiang Wan-an, who is seeking re-election, led attendees in singing the national anthem in front of city hall. The Taipei City government also offered an entertainment area where visitors could claim free ice cream by taking photos at designated spots, including a large sculpture of the city's mascot, Bravo Bear. Chiang expressed hopes for prosperity and happiness for the ROC and aimed for Taipei to become a key player in artificial intelligence and establish itself as an international city.
In Tainan, the ceremony began with a performance by Kang Ming Senior High School's marching band. Mayor Huang Wei-che, also leaving office in December, spoke about the nearing completion of the first phase of the city's underground railway project, expected to improve urban connectivity and spur development. Huang emphasized combining resilience with innovation to enhance Tainan's cultural heritage and technological strengths.
In New Taipei, Mayor Hou Yu-ih presided over his last National Day flag-raising ceremony after eight years in office. The event was held at the city's second administrative center in Sanchong District for the first time. Hou discussed plans for balanced development with the opening of the second center and the future establishment of additional centers to serve various districts.
Kaohsiung's Mayor Chen Chi-mai, also nearing the end of his term, expressed pride in the city's progress during his tenure. Under his leadership, Kaohsiung attracted significant investments, including from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., expanding the AI ecosystem and creating approximately 100,000 jobs. Chen also highlighted the city's increased revenue from hosting numerous concerts, which drew millions of attendees and generated substantial revenue.