Why did the former battlefield front become a popular place for Taiwanese politicians to punch in? Artillery | Politics | Taiwan
According to local media reports, on the upcoming August 23rd, island politicians such as Lai Ching te, Ko Wen je, and Hou You yi will go to Kinmen to participate in the 65th anniversary commemoration of the 823 Artillery Battle.
On May 30 this year, Lai Qingde, Ke Wenzhe, Gou Taiming and other political figures in the island had just arrived in Jinmen to punch cards and participate in the migration ceremony of the Chenghuang Temple in Wudao, Jinmen County, which is also the annual religious activity of the City God's "outing" ceremony.
△ Jinmen Wudao Chenghuang Temple
What signals do island politicians frequently check in on Kinmen, a former battlefield, reveal? Ren Dongmei, Associate Researcher at the Taiwan Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that in addition to "riding on hot topics", it also reflects the mainstream public opinion on the need for peace and cross-strait exchanges on the island.
![Why did the former battlefield front become a popular place for Taiwanese politicians to punch in? Artillery | Politics | Taiwan](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/ada5a14adde591310c825a5c80b4915d.jpg)
Q: Why is it said that going to Kinmen is a "hot spot"?
Ren Dongmei: First of all, because August 23rd is the 65th anniversary of the shelling of Kinmen, it will inevitably attract a lot of media attention and coverage. Politicians on the island will naturally not miss this good opportunity to "grab" hot topics, brush their presence, and greatly increase exposure.
Secondly, it is due to Kinmen's special position in cross-strait relations. Whether it was the landing of Kinmen in 1949 or the shelling of Kinmen in 1958, both are unforgettable historical memories for the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.At present, these political figures heading to Kinmen all want to use this location to respond to the question of where cross-strait relations will go.
△ Aerial photography of Kinmen
![Why did the former battlefield front become a popular place for Taiwanese politicians to punch in? Artillery | Politics | Taiwan](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/9c84ea4e6854f23ac48e0e1b720e79db.jpg)
Does it indicate that the current public opinion on the island is urgently concerned about whether the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will fight or reconcile in the future?
Ren Dongmei: Yes, very obvious.
From a historical perspective, the 2024 Taiwan leadership election is a choice of "war and peace".
△ Anti landing barriers on the Kinmen Coast
![Why did the former battlefield front become a popular place for Taiwanese politicians to punch in? Artillery | Politics | Taiwan](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/c57cfc0c6d79f47e980f110df7688aba.jpg)
Q: Kinmen was once the forefront of cross-strait confrontation, but now it is the forefront of cross-strait exchanges. What insights should Kinmen's development bring to cross-strait relations?
Ren Dongmei: On January 2, 2001, the first passenger ship departing from Kinmen to Xiamen officially launched the "Little Three Links". The "Three Links" not only bring convenient transportation to compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, but also bring comprehensive economic and social prosperity to Kinmen. According to the statistics of the Kinmen County Government, as of July 4, 2023, the cumulative number of tourists after the opening of the "Little Three Links" has exceeded 20 million, bringing great assistance to the tourism industry and economic development of Kinmen. The sorghum wine, tribute sugar, and kitchen knives in Kinmen have been selling well due to the influx of tourists from the "Little Three Links", and the restaurants and real estate market in Xiamen have also become popular due to the popularity of the people in Kinmen. Nowadays, Xiamen and Kinmen have become highly concentrated counterparts between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, and through long-term exchanges and cooperation, they are forming a common economic and living circle.
On January 7, 2023, the Xiamen Jin "Little Three Links" passenger route officially resumed operations
Kinmen was once a war-torn military front, but now it has become a thriving frontier for cross-strait exchanges and cooperation. This precisely shows that good cross-strait relations are the only way for the people of Taiwan to be good, and Taiwan has a future. If the DPP authorities ignore the public opinion of their Taiwanese compatriots and deviate from the interests of the Taiwanese people, they will become historical criminals.
![Why did the former battlefield front become a popular place for Taiwanese politicians to punch in? Artillery | Politics | Taiwan](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/58f335f8439156a1fc616f0b14df7540.jpg)