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Ceremonial functions

Military honors for foreign guests of state

The President welcomes foreign guests of state with full military honors.

Any reference to a "visit to the Republic of China by a foreign guest of state" means a formal visit to the ROC by a top-level official of a country that maintains formal diplomatic relations with the ROC. The President attaches great importance to each visit by a foreign guest of state and personally leads high-ranking civilian and military officials in welcoming the guest with military honors.

A 21-gun salute commences the military honors in a show of respect to the visiting leader.

A 21-gun salute commences the military honors in a show of respect to the visiting leader. The firing of the cannons is the highlight of military honors, and is done to enhance ceremonial pomp and express the highest regards to the visitor. The salute is carried out by an army artillery company, which employs four sets of 105 mm howitzers. Regulations governing ceremonial shots by the army, navy, and air force require that 21 shots be fired for foreign heads of state. Shots are fired at three-second intervals, in synch with salute music played by the military band. The first shot must coincide with the first musical note.

Throughout the playing of the national anthems, the leaders of the two nations stand at attention with their right hands placed over their hearts.

Upon completion of the cannon salute and music, the band plays the national anthem of each country, with the anthem of the visitor's nation played first, followed by the ROC national anthem. During the ceremony and throughout the playing of the national anthems, the leaders of the two nations stand at attention with their right hands placed over their hearts.

The President escorts the visitor past the band and the honor guard.
The President escorts a visiting leader of state past a tri-service honor guard.

After the anthems, the President escorts the visitor past the band and the honor guard, led by the captain of the honor guard. The makeup of the honor guard and its size vary based on the person receiving the honors. A foreign head of state is greeted by a tri-service honor guard comprising a platoon each from the army, navy, and air force, and the head of the honor guard is a colonel. The honor guard represents the military, and each individual is carefully selected and must undergo strict training and pass many hurdles before being deemed qualified. In addition to offering the highest respect to the visitor, the honor guard demonstrates the fine training and strength of our nation's armed services. In so doing, it displays the nation's might and bolsters troop morale.

The President delivers welcome remarks for foreign guests of state.
The visiting leader of state delivers remarks.

After inspecting the troops, the President delivers welcome remarks, after which the foreign leader speaks. A foreign head of state who is officially visiting the ROC for the first time receives a key to the city from the mayor. Due to Taipei City’s limited land area, surroundings, and traffic conditions, there are very few sites suitable for the conduct of military honors. Most ceremonies are held at the main Plaza of the National Performing Arts Center in downtown Taipei, and the mayor of Taipei presents the key to the city.

Delegation members accompanying a foreign leader of state to the ROC are introduced to the President.

After that, the Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of Protocol then leads the dignitary's delegation to a spot in front of the dais, where he/she introduces each person to the ROC President. The director then leads officials from the ROC and members of foreign diplomatic corps to the dais, where he/she introduces them to the visiting leader.

After that, the ROC President escorts the visiting leader behind the dais to board a vehicle and leave the premises. The entire military honors ceremony, solemn and grand, takes about 30 minutes and enables the dignitaries to experience a cordial welcome to the ROC.

Code Ver.:F201708221923 & F201708221923.cs
Code Ver.:201801051632 & 201801051632.cs