On October 10, the Republic of China celebrated its 66th founding anniversary with parades, demonstrations, public performances, fireworks, and most important, with a National Day rally in the Plaza in front of the Presidential Office. This rally was participated in by more than 250,000 people, including civic leaders, citizens, students, soldiers and overseas Chinese. A formation of light airplanes flew over the Plaza as the rally started, dropping leaflets and releasing trails of colored smoke. Opening the rally, Nieh Wen-ya, president of the Legislative Yuan and chairman of the rally, said that over the past 66 years, the Chinese people have encountered many difficulties, but they have never lost their self-confidence.
Nieh also stressed that the nation's destiny is in the hands of its people. Lt. Col. Fan Yuan-yen, a former Chinese Communist pilot who defected to the Republic of China with an MIG 19 last July, was introduced to the rally by Nieh. In a speech on behalf of freedom seekers, Fan said that the main reason he fled the mainland was to tell the world of the evil system of the Chinese Communists. He told over 250,000 people that he believed sooner or later, "We will celebrate the Double Tenth at Nanking, Canton, Chungking and in all parts of the China mainland." President Yen Chia-kan delivered the National Day message at the rally and expressed his confidence in the recovery of the mainland of China. He told his countrymen to keep calm under all circumstances and to be self-reliant to safeguard Taiwan and the peace of the Asia and the world. After the rally a parade left the Presidential Plaza and passed through Taipei streets.
In the evening, songs and dances were the highlight of activities at the Chunghua Sports Stadium, as thousands of people took part in a rally. A firework display at the No. 6 Watergate attracted thousands of people to the banks of the Tamshui River. A total of 20 items, with titles such as "Blossoms," "Sparkling," "Joy to the World," and "All for One," were included in the display. More than 20,000 overseas Chinese returned home for the October celebrations, in a show of support for the Republic of China. As well as attending National Day events, they also toured southern Taiwan, visiting military bases and economic establishments. During the tour, they said they were impressed to find that everyone in the Republic of China was working hard for the nation.
Another important activity just before National Day was an island-wide military exercise, code-named "Chin Tang No. 2," which successfully tested the readiness of the reservists. The date of the exercise, October 8, was announced only the day before on television, radio and in the newspapers. Despite the short notice, more than 99.7 per cent of the 200,000 reservists called up reported on time to the designated district according to their orders, military sources disclosed. Those who did not report were all seriously ill, with some of them actually undergoing operations at the time. All the reservists who reported had placed their loyalty to the country above their personal affairs. Immediately after reaching their duty stations, they changed into military uniforms and started combat exercises, showing the nation's reservists have the potential to handle any emergency.
The parade included school bands, members of the armed forces' academies, overseas Chinese representatives, freedom seekers and members of other organizations. One of the most eye-catching contingents was the women's defense teams from Kinmen and Matsu demonstrating the defensive strength of the offshore islands. In the afternoon, a public performance of traditional Chinese songs and dances, including dragon and lion dances, was performed by representatives of some 20 schools, civic organizations and military units in the Presidential Office Plaza. At the same time, a combat skill demonstration was given on the Tamshui River by members of the armed forces, including frogmen and paratroopers.
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