THOUGHT THAT COUNTS:The new president presided over a tribute service at the Martyr’s Shrine that was a stark contrast to those held by former president Ma Ying-jeou
Taipei Times
Date: May 24, 2016
By: Stacy Hsu / Staff reporter
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday upheld precedent and paid tribute to Republic of
President Tsai Ing-wen, second right, and Vice President Chen Chien-jen, right, yesterday stand before a portrait of Republic of China founding father Sun Yat-sen at the National Revolutionary Martyrs’ Shrine in Taipei. Photo: CNA
China (ROC) founding father Sun Yat-sen (孫逸仙) at the National Revolutionary Martyrs’ Shrine in Taipei, but the traditionally formality-rich ceremony was reduced to just six minutes.
Tsai was greeted by an honor guard representing the three branches of the nation’s armed forces as she arrived at 10am along with Vice President Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁), Presidential Office Secretary-General Lin Bih-jaw (林碧炤), and the heads of the five branches of the 0government.
The ceremony consisted of three parts, including the playing of national anthem, presentation of a floral wreath, and three bows to the altar. Neither Tsai nor the heads of the five government branches sang the anthem during the event, but Chen did.
The Presidential Office also canceled a traditional ritual called yaoji — meaning paying tribute to the tomb of someone from afar — to Sun, who was buried in Nanjing, China, as well as civilian and military “martyrs” who died during several wars and rebellions before and after the founding of the ROC in 1912. [FULL STORY]
