TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's baseball team was greeted by F-16s releasing flares when returning to the country on Monday (Nov. 25).

Taiwan clinched its first win at a world-class national team-level baseball event by defeating Japan 4-0 during Sunday's WBSC Premier12 championship in the Tokyo Dome. President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) directed the Air Force to send four F-16Vs to accompany the flight, and a water salute was given upon their arrival, per Tai Sounds. 

Team captain and center fielder Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) made a speech on the flight saying, “Thank you to all the fans and tourists for accompanying us to witness history and create a miracle. From now on, the world will see Taiwan.”

When the plane arrived at Taoyuan Airport at 8:47 p.m., a “water gate ceremony” was held to welcome them. Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) and over 1,000 fans greeted the players as they got off the plane.

A parade will be held for the team at 3:20 p.m. on Tuesday starting at Ketagalan Boulevard and ending at the Presidential Office Building, where the team will pass through a saber arch formed by the honor guard. Lai and Hsiao will thank the team on behalf of the country.