President Lai has attended the centennial of a military academy with roots in China. In a speech, he vowed to safeguard Taiwan's sovereignty in the face of Chinese threats.
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00:00These are celebrations to mark 100 years of this military academy.
00:05It was founded in China, then moved to Taiwan by Chiang Kai-shek and his nationalist forces
00:11after they lost the civil war to the communists in 1949.
00:19After inspecting the troops, Taiwan's new president, Lai Ching-de, said today's army
00:24still faces challenges from the communist party.
00:28Thousands of cadets and some veterans took part in a parade.
00:46The centennial celebrations also showed off the academy's uniforms through the ages.
00:52Away from here, China is holding its own celebrations in southeastern Guangdong province, where
00:58the academy started, and has invited Taiwanese veterans to attend.
01:03Taiwan says that's a political move aimed at promoting unification.
01:07Lai has a history of promoting Taiwanese independence, and that's why this event may be viewed as
01:13awkward for him because it showcases Taiwan and China's shared history.
01:19Yet the president has used the occasion to insist that Taiwan will defend its sovereignty
01:25against threats from China.
01:27Alex Chen and Louise Watt in Kaohsiung for Taiwan Plus.