Veterans to attend Taiwan military parade marking 70th anniversary of Japan’s defeat
Hundreds of veterans of Second Sino-Japanese War to take part in event featuring fly-past by 67 military aircraft, including US-made F-16s and Apache attack helicopters on July 4
Taiwan said today that hundreds of veterans who participated in the bloody battles during the second Sino-Japanese War will be invited to the island’s first military parade marking the 70th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in 1945.
A total of 67 military aircraft, among them US-made F-16s and Apache attack helicopters, as well as French-made Mirage 2000-5s, will fly in formation at a military base in the northern Hsinchu county on July 4.
“Hundreds of veterans who had participated in the war against Japan, including some living in Taiwan and others abroad, will be invited,” defence ministry spokesman David Lo said.
“Those living in the mainland are also welcome to join the event.”
The remarks come as Taiwan vies with China over the history of the conflict.
Taiwan’s government is concerned that the role played by Chiang Kai-shek’s Kuomintang troops in defeating Japan could be forgotten as the communist government in Beijing lauds the part played by Mao Zedong’s forces.
