Taiwan will mark its national day next week with its first military parade in 16 years in an attempt to rally patriotic sentiment ahead of tightly fought presidential elections next year.
The parade on Wednesday is part of efforts by the island’s ruling Democratic Progressive party and its outgoing president, Chen Shui-bian, to make a push for Taiwan’s formal independence from China. But it is likely to be seen by Beijing as one of the most provocative steps so far to take the agenda forward.
