Kinmen Island
Kinmen Island, administered by Taiwan, is a potential flashpoint in East Asia due to its proximity to China's Xiamen city
The Kinmen Island, located just 2 miles from China's Xiamen city, is a sleepy fishing island that could become a major flashpoint in East Asia. According to a fisherman on the island, life is peaceful, and residents keep to themselves, taking pride in their local identity.
Geography and History
The island is part of China's Fujian province but is administered by Taiwan. In 1949, China's Nationalist Party, led by Chiang Kai-shek, retreated to Taiwan and held on to Kinmen and Matsu islands as strategic footholds. The islands were constantly bombarded by the People's Republic of China, but Chiang held on to them, believing they would offer an advantage when launching an attack to retake China.
Economic Development
The outlying islands, including Kinmen, were largely cut off from Taiwan's economic boom in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, the lack of modern infrastructure is evident, with worn-out roads and limited amenities. The island has no ride-hailing services, and residents rely on taxis or scooters for transportation. Mom-and-pop businesses dominate the island, with few large chains present.
Remnants of War
The island still bears remnants of the Cold War, with old rusted anti-tank spikes and abandoned dug-out turrets along the beach. Some military installations have been turned into tourist attractions, such as the tunnels at Shi Shan, where daily reenactments of Nationalist soldiers firing a huge Howitzer gun toward China are carried out. A huge loudspeaker on the island once broadcast a message from Taiwanese pop singer Teresa Teng to China, promoting freedom and democracy.
The coastline of Kinmen is a stark contrast to the modern city of Xiamen, with its wide boulevards and glass skyscrapers. The island's proximity to China makes it a sensitive location, with fishermen sometimes crossing the maritime border and facing detention. The Chinese authorities have plans to build a bridge linking Xiamen airport to Kinmen, which could further increase tensions between China and Taiwan. On the Chinese side, a large propaganda sign reads 'unite China under one country two systems,' a message to the people of Taiwan that if they return to the motherland, they will be governed similarly to Hong Kong.
