Hundreds of thousands Taiwanese joined the national day celebrations to mark the 101st anniversary of the its founding on Wednesday (October 10).
Speaking at the podium in front of the presidential palace, Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou pledged to improve the lives of the people.
Ma's speech was followed by a military air show with helicopters carrying Taiwanese flags and a "Happy Birthday" sign.
A military band performed in front of the presidential palace.
Taiwan split from mainland China in 1949 when republican forces lost the civil war to the communists and retreated to the island, whose official name remains the Republic of China.
Relations between Taiwan and China had been turbulent in the mid-90s as the island moved towards democracy, and again in the 2000s when Taiwan was under pro-independence leader Chen Shui-bian.
Ma, however, has been pursuing landmark trade deals with Beijing and maintaining the status quo under his three principles of "no unification, no independence, and no use of force".
