TAIWAN: A large peace bell to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of artillery duel with Communist China with Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou

Record ID: 187091

  • Title: TAIWAN: A large peace bell to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of artillery duel with Communist China with Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou
  • Date: 24th August 2011
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF MA AND FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT FREDERIK WILLEM DE KLERK AND ANTI-LAND MINE CAMPAIGNER SONG KOSAL STANDING FOR PHOTO
  • Embargoed: 8th September 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Taiwan, Province of China
  • Country: Taiwan
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA6KUF2Q3MXQB2WBY3EOAMKWKSS
  • Story Text: Taiwan commemorated its 53rd anniversary of artillery duel with Communist China by ringing a large peace bell on Tuesday (August 23).
    Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou along with two Nobel Peace laureates, South African President Frederik Willem de Klerk and anti-land mine campaigner Song Kosal rang the bell, made out of bomb shells from the 44-day battle during the ceremony.
    Over 400 Taiwanese soldiers were believed to have been killed and about half a million artilleries fired at the Kinmen island located just 200 kilometres (124 miles) away from the mainland during the cross-fire in 1958.
    The island has been a popular tourism attraction since 2003.
    Ma said the transformation of the island is the sign of improved cross-strait relations.
    "The Kinmen Island has already transformed from a bloody battle field into the route for cross-strait peace. Everyday, in average, about 3,600 tourists come to Taiwan through Kinmen and more than 130,000 tourists (from mainland) visits Taiwan. The Kinmen Island has become the channel for the Three Links. People in the past could not even imagine this would happen", said Ma.
    Kinmen County, an island chain with a population of 76,000, caters to Chinese tourists by converting military facilities into tourist attractions.
    The artillery shells, which once devastated the island, are now being recycled and can be purchased as souvenirs along with other items.
    Ties have improved rapidly since Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou took office in 2008 and signed a series of landmark trade and tourism agreements with Beijing.
    But Beijing has not ruled out using force to bring the island under its control, and Taiwanese officials have said Beijing has over 1000 missiles aimed at the island from the mainland coast, just 160 kilometres (100 miles) away.
    "We know that the peaceful cross-strait ties have only begun and the basis of the mutual trust is still weak. Only through bi-lateral long-term effort and will can the peace be sustained. We have to keep up with our military capability and purchase necessary weapons. This is a compulsory mean to maintain peace," Ma added.
    The United States maintains support for Taiwan through the Taiwan Relations Act that obliges it to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons however any fresh U.S. arms support to the nation is likely to raise hackles in Beijing.
    China has threatened to attack if the island tries to declare independence, and it has been outpacing it in military build-up.
    The United States switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979 and recognizes Beijing's "one China" policy. But it is also Taiwan's biggest ally and arms supplier and is duty-bound by legislation to help the island in the event of attack.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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