Taiwan Culture

On Kinmen, Identity Is a Complex Question

Published

By Ryan Wu/Pichi Chuang/Cadence Quaranta

Open in App

On Taiwan's outlying Kinmen Islands, just kilometers away from China's coast and formerly the frontline of cross-strait conflict, the issue of identity is a complicated one.

*This AI-generated summary is based on reporting by TaiwanPlus and verified by newsroom fact checkers. Learn more about our policy here. 

A Cross-Strait Divide 

Kinmen, Taiwan  — Kinmen, like many of Taiwan’s outlying islands, has always been in a unique position. Governed by Taiwan but very close to mainland China, it was Taiwan’s first line of defense against China for years and was heavily shelled in the 1950s. But it’s also linked with China in some ways. Ferries run between Kinmen and the Chinese city of Xiamen, a journey of just 30 minutes, and Kinmen residents visit China often to visit family or go shopping. Some even own property there. In 2018, Kinmen began importing water from China as well. 

Kinmen's unique position means that for people living here, questions of identity are deeply complicated.  

Complex Identities 

Wang Ling, a local business owner who was born and raised on Kinmen, said she initially identified as Chinese. But her understanding changed, she said, after she moved to the main island of Taiwan for a few years. “Now, I identify as Kinmenese and Taiwanese,” she said. 

Wang said depending on people’s backgrounds and ages, Kinmen residents will have different understandings of their identities. 

Yen Chi-jen, a local Chinese medicine shop owner, said his ancestors came to Kinmen from southeast China. He visits family there often and still identifies as being from the Republic of China. 

“Because even though the Republic of China counts as Taiwan, we came from Tong’an [in Xiamen] to Kinmen, so both sides are our relatives. So, we think we are all from the Republic of China.” 

But his daughter gives a different response. “Whenever people ask me where I’m from, I might just say I’m from Kinmen,” she said. 

Identifying With Democracy 

Despite having different opinions on identity, Kinmen’s residents still largely identify with Taiwan’s democratic system.  

Li Chung-ling, a local business owner, says that although Kinmen is close to China, it has its own laws, constitution and voting rights. 

“We definitely identify with democracy,” he said. “If we didn’t, we’d have abandoned our citizenship and gone to the other side.”