Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Double Ten National Day should be celebrated by the entire nation, but, due to discord between the pan-blue and pan-green camps, and the ongoing tension between unification and independence supporters, the annual celebrations are typically overshadowed by debates about the nation’s political future.

President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) administration this year chose an unconventional stage design for the celebrations — one that features no red “double ten” symbols and no national flags — drawing ire from the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT).

Depending on the setting, the nation could be referred to by scores of different names.

Taiwan’s formal title is the Republic of China (ROC), but it is called “Chinese Taipei” at the Olympic Games, the “Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu” in the WTO and the “Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office” in Washington.