Taiwan president unveils light show celebrating 30 years of direct elections

2026-10-08 16:19 Eloise Phillips

President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Wednesday attended the opening of a light show projected onto the Presidential Office Building, marking the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s first direct presidential election.

The 2026 National Day Presidential Office Building light show, titled “Democratic Taiwan: Heartbeat of the World,” is being staged along Ketagalan Boulevard from October 7-10. The National Cultural Association of Taiwan (NCAT) is organizing the event under the guidance of the Presidential Office. Special guests including 2024 RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Nymphia Wind, fire juggler and 2026 Britain’s Got Talent finalist Yang Li-wei (楊立微), and Deputy Leader of Coming True Fire Group, Lai Kuan-zhi (賴寬誌) attended the event.

In remarks at the lighting ceremony, Lai said voters have cast more than 100 million ballots since Taiwan’s first direct presidential election in 1996. If stacked together, the ballots would reach nearly three times the height of Yushan, Taiwan’s highest mountain.

Lai emphasized that one person’s strength may appear small, but the choices of 23 million people can together create Taiwan’s future. “Each of us is a builder of Taiwan's democracy!” he said.

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the Presidential Office light show. Lai said its themes have expanded from film, television, literature and photography to national defense, sports and daily life, turning the century-old building into a “glowing storybook.”

The show runs from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with performances every 30 minutes. Since 2017, it has attracted more than 600,000 visitors to over 300 performances.

Source: Rti (opens in a new window)

US delegation visits Taiwan ahead of Double Ten, pledging support for a democratic Taiwan

A delegation led by Brendan Boyle, the ranking Democrat on the United States House Budget Committee, is visiting Taiwan ahead of Double Ten Day. Boyle indicated that the purpose of the trip is to demonstrate the U.S.’s firm commitment to supporting a democratic Taiwan. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) welcomed the delegation with a luncheon this Wednesday afternoon, where the two sides held in-depth talks on Taiwan-U.S. economic, trade, and technology partnerships and regional security, among other issues. Lin shared the results of his recent trip to the U.S. leading an industry delegation, as well as the unveiling ceremony of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Phoenix, Arizona. He expressed hope that the U.S. Congress will continue to support resolving the Taiwan-U.S. double taxation issue in order to further strengthen two-way investment. The delegation also met with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on the same day, who emphasized the importance of Taiwan-U.S. cooperation in national security and defense technologies. “We aim to move beyond military procurement toward joint research, development, and production, mutually enhancing our respective defense industries. We look forward to greater cooperation with the United States, especially in the development of drones and anti-drone systems, as well as the use of AI to assist in military decision-making and improving logistical and operational efficiency,” the president said. In his remarks, Boyle emphasized that freedom and democratic ideals are shared convictions that Taiwan and the U.S. must never take for granted and continue to deepen. He also expressed his hope that the visit would further deepen Taiwan-U.S. relations and extended his best wishes for a successful Double Ten Day celebration. Boyle’s delegation, which includes U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas and Tim Kennedy and other staff members, landed in Taiwan on Tuesday and will depart on Friday. The trip marks Boyle’s first ever visit to Taiwan.

2026-10-08

Taiwan High Speed Rail to add more trains for Double Ten Day traffic

Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) will be adding two more trains per hour to southbound routes during the peak rush on October 8, all with unreserved seating, excluding business class cars. THSR stated that the evening rush hour of 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. each week is already a busy period for operations, and when it coincides with a major long weekend, the number of passengers in unreserved seats typically surges. The addition of more trains is in response to public complaints over this year's Mid-Autumn Festival and Teachers' Day long weekend, which ran from September 25 to 28. THSR stations saw a large influx of passengers, with a record-breaking 348,000 passengers on September 24, and over the entire holiday weekend, THSR transported nearly 1.79 million passengers. During this period, not only were reserved-seat passengers nearly unable to board, but business-class passengers also reported overcrowding in unreserved seats. To increase capacity, the THSR will implement a rapid turnaround system, which involves trains turning back directly from the platform – this is expected to save time and create more capacity during peak hours. Furthermore, THSR stated that it will add an extra late-night train on October 8 and an extra northbound train on October 10.

2026-10-05

Aerial drill for National Day celebrations rescheduled due to weather

The National Day Preparatory Committee announced that the Monday, October 5, full aerial drill for this year’s celebrations was suspended due to rain. Pending a flight safety assessment, the drills will be held on Wednesday, October 7. In the announcement, the planning committee explained that all drills prioritize flight safety, with adjustments made based on real-time weather conditions, visibility, and other factors that would impact flight conditions. The third full-scale aerial drill is currently rescheduled for Wednesday, from 6:05 a.m. to 7:40 a.m. – but may be adjusted again, depending on conditions day-of. The committee said preparations and rehearsals for the National Day celebrations are continuing, with plans for subsequent aerial drills to proceed as scheduled. They note that all updates will come through official National Day channels, advising the public to stay informed to avoid unnecessary panic.

2026-10-05

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