China claims Taiwan as its own territory and threatens to use force to bring it under its control.
In an address to the island last week, President William Lai Ching-te reminded residents that Taiwan law designates mainland China as a "foreign hostile force" and said tougher measures were being taken to prevent Chinese subversion through the media and civic exchanges. Lai warned also of the danger of influential figures and serving and retired members of the military selling secrets to China.
Underscoring the apparent incompetence behind the incident, the Fengshan Marathon held near the major southern port of Kaohsiung wound its way through the Taiwanese Military Academy, the Army Infantry Training Command and the Chung Cheng Armed Forces Preparatory School, all affiliated with the Defense Ministry.
The Fengshan Road Running Association apologized for the use of the Chinese rifle and said a weapon had been selected because of this year race's affiliation with the military, but said nothing as to why a weapon in current use with China's ground forces was chosen.
The Defense Ministry was quoted by the official Central News Agency as saying it had provided facilities but had nothing to do with organizing the race or the choice of prizes.
Military service, now lengthened to one year, is compulsory for all Taiwanese men, making them familiar with rifles and other weapons used by the army.