Lai Honors Fallen Soldiers on Armed Forces Day, Pledges More Support for Troops

Taipei: President Lai Ching-te on Thursday paid tribute to Taiwan's fallen military personnel and pledged that his government would provide better care for the current armed service members, as the country marked its annual Armed Forces Day. During a ceremony in Taipei, the president laid flowers at the Martyrs' Shrine, which honors nearly half a million soldiers who died fighting during World War II for the Republic of China (ROC), now Taiwan's official name. Other senior government officials and descendants of the fallen soldiers also attended the 2026 Fall Martyrs' Commemoration Ceremony in the city's Zhongshan District. According to Focus Taiwan, earlier in the day, Lai thanked all of Taiwan's armed service members for protecting national security and defending the country's sovereignty. In a Facebook post, he said that over the past year, his administration has improved salaries and benefits for military personnel, including raising combat and professional allowances earlier in 2026. Starting next year, military personnel, civil servants, and teachers will receive a 4 percent salary increase, the president said. The government will continue to improve living and training environments for the nation's armed forces, while providing better support for service members' families, including childcare, so that military personnel can focus on their mission of protecting the country, he added. Armed Forces Day in Taiwan is celebrated annually on Sept. 3 to honor the ROC armed forces and the victory over Japan in World War II.