To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s passing, the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, under the Ministry of Culture, and the Air Force Institute of Aeronautics jointly hosted the “15th Symposium on Aviation Technology and Flight Safety” and the “13th Symposium on Aviation and Society” on April 25. The opening ceremony took place at 9 a.m. at the Chieh Shou Campus Library of the Air Force Institute.
Distinguished attendees included Director Wang Lan-sheng of the Memorial Hall, Superintendent Major General Lee Han-ting of the Air Force Institute, and Director-General Huang Li-chun of the Air Navigation and Weather Services (ANWS). Over 200 scholars, experts, and students participated in the event, which focused on the theme: “Generational Currents: The Role of Dr. Sun Yat-sen in the Development of the National Armed Forces.”
Director Wang emphasized that Dr. Sun’s vision of “national salvation through aviation” has left an indelible mark on modern aviation history. As a revolutionary and a pioneer of aviation development, Dr. Sun laid the foundation for both military and civil aviation in China with his forward-looking ideas—an influence that continues to shape Taiwan’s aviation progress to this day.
Superintendent Lee highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation between the General Education Center of the Institute and the Memorial Hall. This collaboration has broadened the academic horizons of the symposium by combining perspectives from history, politics, and military studies, enriching both scholarly resources and participants’ understanding of military development.
The symposium featured a keynote speech by Director-General Huang titled “An Overview of Flight Services in the Taipei FIR,” which discussed Taiwan’s strategies for adapting to global trends and enhancing its competitiveness in international air navigation services.
Several notable academic papers were presented, including:
- “From Romanticism to Realpolitik: Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Revolution through the Lens of the French Third Republic” by Associate Professor Shen Chung-heng of Fu Jen Catholic University;
- “On the Meaning and Essence of Military Moral Education” by Assistant Professor Yang Tsung-hsi and Ph.D. candidate Yang Chih-kai of the Air Force Institute;
- “A Democratic Perspective on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics through the Lens of the Three Principles of the People” by Dr. Lü Wei-hsien and Ph.D. candidate Li Po-yi of National Sun Yat-sen University;
- “The Indigenous Defense Aircraft Policy in the Context of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Doctrine” by Colonel Hsu Chen-wei and Lieutenant Colonel Huang Yao-hung of National Defense University.
In addition to academic exchanges, participants toured the Aviation Education Exhibition Hall and the Air Traffic Control Simulation Room, witnessing Taiwan’s advancements in aerospace education and air defense operations.
Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s legacy in aviation is profound. His principles of civil-military integration, international engagement, and prioritization of science and education have laid a modern framework for aviation development. His visionary proposals in The International Development of China—including postal and commercial aviation—remain relevant today and continue to inspire Taiwan’s thriving civil aviation sector.