Taipei, Dec. 31 (CNA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced on Thursday that it will air this year's Taipei 101 New Year's Eve countdown fireworks show live via satellite and social media.
The live broadcast will begin at 11:55 p.m. (Taipei time) and Taiwan's representative offices abroad have provided satellite signal receiving parameters to foreign TV networks, MOFA spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安) said during a regular press briefing.
The fireworks can also be viewed on MOFA's YouTube channel, "Trending Taiwan," Ou added.
According to Ou, the iconic skyscraper, which has been holding New Year countdown displays since 2005, will be one of the few landmarks around the world that will proceed with the festivities as scheduled, as the COVID-19 pandemic has curtailed celebrations in many places.
Taipei 101 Chairman Chang Hsueh-shun (張學舜) told reporters on Dec. 16 that this year's theme for the fireworks show is "love."
A total of 16,000 fireworks will be used during the five-minute display, including red and blue heart shapes as a tribute to medical personnel around the world for their efforts to combat COVID-19, he said.
Aside from the fireworks display, the show will also incorporate live music in the plaza, light installations and a display of LED messages beamed from Taipei 101 itself, he added.
According to local officials, Taipei City Hall Plaza, Elephant Mountain, Maokong, the National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and various riverside parks are some of the ideal locations for viewing the fireworks show.
