TAIPEI -- People interested in seeing Taiwan's most advanced helicopter, the AH-64E Apache, will have a chance to do so later this year when the military will hold open days at two of its bases, the Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday.
The helicopters will be put on display Oct. 24 at Tsoying Naval Base and Nov. 21 at Hsinchu Air Base for public viewing, according to MND spokesman Luo Shou-he.
Apart from the open days, visits by agencies, schools and registered groups that apply ahead of time may be allowed once there is no disruption of the training, daily routine, or rights and interests of the soldiers, Luo said.
Mainland Chinese, Hong Kong and Macau citizens, however, are not permitted to visit Taiwan's military bases, he said.
Luo also said visitors are not allowed to engage in campaigning activities or to bring campaign vests, flags or banners onto military bases.
There has been increasing public interest in the AH-64E Apache since Lt. Col. Lao Nai-cheng a qualified Apache pilot, gave a local TV personality and other civilians access to the helicopter in March.
Lao has since been removed from his post as deputy head of a helicopter squadron in Taoyuan under the Army Aviation Special Forces Command.
His case was referred to Taoyuan prosecutors, who decided on Aug. 21 after months of investigation not to indict him or any of the visitors he allowed onto the base.
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