Issue 5.1 | April 2001 | Information in this issue may be out of date. Click here to link to the most recent issue.

Taiwan

History

In 1949, Mao Tse-Tong's Communist regime forced General Chiang Kai-shek's two million Chinese Nationalists to retreat to Taiwan and the surrounding islands. Later that year, Communist China attacked Kinmen Island (also known as "Quemoy"). Kinmen Island, closer to mainland China than Taiwan, is an island occupied by the Chinese Nationalists. The engagement, known as the Ku-Ning-Tou, lasted only 56 hours. The Chinese Nationalists defended the island and sent the Chinese Communists back to mainland China. Since this quick and decisive battle, the Chinese Communists have not set foot on Taiwanese land. The Taiwan-controlled islands closest to China, Kinmen and Matsu were then declared military zones. While Kinmen has since been opened to the public, Matsu remains a military zone. Since losing its seat in the United Nations to the People's Republic of China in 1971, Taiwan has lost almost all formal diplomatic relations with the world. While Taiwan is not acknowledged as a nation state, it also does not acknowledge China's claim that Taiwan is part of their "one" nation.

Landmine and UXO Overview

In March 1999, Taiwan announced that it had stopped the use and production of AP mines. Taiwan has never exported AP mines. Due to the history and location of Kinmen, this island was heavily mined during the 1950s. A number of other small islands off the coast of China were also mined. Because Kinmen is no longer a military zone and is currently being transformed into a national park, the presence of landmines poses a very serious threat to civilians.

Casualties

On Kinmen Island, a number of landmine incidents involving civilians have taken place. In fact, there are over 20 landmine survivors now residing on Kinmen Island. Recently, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense began providing a compensation package for landmine victims.

Demining

In 1996, the Ministry of National Defense conducted a mine field survey of Kinmen Island. The survey prioritized the clearing of six mine dumps and two mine fields. During the entire demining process, the Army was unable to provide data on the number and types of mines, the pattern in which mines were laid and the exact location of the mined areas. Because no relevant data exists, there is very little certainty that demining has been completed in the prioritized areas of Kinmen.

Reality Check

While China has not entered Taiwanese land since 1949, the presence of the military defenses in the strait separating the two countries indicates the looming threat of a possible conflict between China and Taiwan.

Contact Info

Robert Lin
International Campaign to Ban Landmines Campaign for Taiwan
Love Without Frontier - Activities (Eden Social Welfare Foundation)
B1, 19-6 Lane 60
Kwang Fu N. Road
Taipei, Taiwan Roc
Tel: +886-2-257733868 x 162
Fax: +886-2-2579-5814 / 2578-7803
E-mail: encorep@mail.eden.org.tw