A giant Taiwan flag was flown beneath a US-made Chinook helicopter over Taipei for the island’s October 10 national day celebrations. Since 2019, Taiwan’s army has flown a massive flag over the presidential office while the national anthem is sung.

President Lai Ching-te will give a keynote address mid-morning on Saturday, laying out policy goals and addressing relations with China. Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory and did not respond to requests for comment.

China has worked to block Taiwan’s flag internationally, including at the Olympics, where it competes as “Chinese Taipei.” After Lai’s speech last year, Beijing called him a “troublemaker, creator of danger and a war-maker.”

Helicopter pilot Lin Chang-cheng, 40, told Reuters the flag is a “concrete symbol of national sovereignty,” calling the moment “extremely moving” given Taiwan’s international suppression. The day marks the 1911 uprising that ended China’s last imperial dynasty.