Giant Taiwan flag flies from helicopter for national day, defying Beijing

Largely banned from display internationally due to Beijing's objections, a giant Taiwan flag suspended under a US-made Chinook helicopter and flown over Taipei is one of the most eye-catching moments of its national day.



Since 2019, as a way to boost unity amid rising Chinese pressure, Taiwan's army has every year flown a massive flag beneath one of its tandem-rotor Chinook CH-47SD helicopters over the presidential office while the national anthem is sung during the October 10 national day celebration.



President Lai Ching-te will give a keynote address mid-morning on Saturday, laying out policy objectives and addressing relations with China.



China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has ratcheted up efforts to stop countries engaging with Taipei, including preventing Taiwan's flag from appearing at sports events such as the Olympics, where it competes as "Chinese Taipei" and uses a different, custom-designed emblem.

Neither government formally recognises the other.