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Not so with the 120,000 inhabitants of Kinmen Island — an outpost island Taiwan—China looms large both figuratively and geographically. (Read: The Chinese media have trolled Indonesia for opposing China’s claims in the South China Sea)
Kinmen Island is very close to mainland China, only 10 kilometers (Km) or with 10 clicks when the crow flies, the islanders can clearly see the flickering lights on the skyscrapers of Xiamen city in mainland China.
To make matters worse, the symbol of capitalism and democracy on Beijing’s doorstep is also within easy fire. The tank traps lining the Kinmen coast are not for show — the Chinese have tried to attack before.
With Beijing threatening to carry out forced unification with Taiwan, an expert on cross-strait relations said Kinmen was extremely “vulnerable”.
Not only for military action. Beijing is also trying more subtle ways to get the island into orbit and further away from Taiwan. (Read: Killed Nuclear Imuwan, Iran Urged to Attack Israel’s Haifa)
“On the one hand, Kinmen has been handed over at Chinam’s mercy” said Wen-Ti Sung, one visiting fellow at ANU Australian Center for China on the World, to news.com.au from the capital of Taiwan, Taipei, which was launched on Tuesday (12/1/2020).
When most people think of Taiwan, they probably think of a large island in the South China Sea.
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