KINMEN (TVBS News) — President Tsai Ing-wen presided over a memorial ceremony commemorating the 65th anniversary of the 823 Artillery Bombardment at Kinmen’s Taiwushan Cemetery on Wednesday (Aug. 23).
This marked President Tsai's third participation in the ceremony in Kinmen. Her presence was noted during both the 2019 and 2020 events. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her visits to Kinmen were curtailed in 2021 and 2022.
The ceremony maintained a solemn atmosphere, though Tsai made a rare joint appearance alongside Kuomintang (KMT) presidential hopeful Hou Yu-ih. Their brief exchange was observed during the proceedings.
Hou arrived in Kinmen on Tuesday, where he paid visits to former Army Commander-in-chief Chen Chen-hsiang and the Kinmen Bridge. On the other hand, President Tsai arrived on Wednesday morning.
Both Tsai and Hou took the opportunity to express gratitude to wartime veterans and current service members. They underscored the nation's imperative to bolster its military capabilities and uphold the principles of freedom.
Chang Tun-han, secretary-general to the president, reported that President Tsai's engagements extended beyond interactions with Hou. She also met with Kinmen Magistrate Chen Fu-hai, addressing topics ranging from Kinmen Bridge maintenance to strategies for boosting tourism after the bridge's inauguration in 2022.