- Title: TAIWAN: Demining project sees warming ties with China
- Date: 27th May 2009
- Summary: KINMEN, TAIWAN (RECENT) (REUTERS) BARRICADES AND MINE FIELD ALONG THE COASTLINE SOLDIER BESIDE A MINE FIELD ON THE COAST A ROAD BESIDE A MARKED MINE FIELD THE SIGN READS "DANGER MINES" AN EXCAVATOR DIGGING THE EXCAVATOR FILTERING OUT DEBRIS OF EXPLODED MINES THE EXCAVATOR ON THE MINE FIELD SOLDIER DIGGING THE SOLDIER DIGGING AROUND THE MINE SOLDIER WALKS AWAY FROM A MINE VARIOUS OF TEST EXPLOSION ANOTHER TEST EXPLOSION (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) MILITARY SPOKESMAN YU SY-TUE SAYING: "First we responded to the international action of the mine removal trend to reduce deaths by accident. Second, the cross-strait atmosphere has gradually eased tensions, in this situation, the Defense Ministry, as part of the government body, wishes China to see demining as a good will gesture. Third, we wish to release more useable land by demining." THE SIGN OF KINMEN NATIONAL PARK TOURISTS WALKING BEHIND THE SIGN READS: KINMEN WU TSENG-DONG MAKING KNIVES OUT OF BOMBSHELLS THE KNIFE BEING SHARPENED THE BOMBSHELLS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) KNIFE MAKER WU TSENG-DONG SAYING: "Although landmines and bombshells are both war relics, bombshells can be made into cooking choppers, land mines can't. Even after 40-50 years, the land mines buried underground are still very dangerous. Also, Kinmen has beautiful beaches comparable to Yehliu or Kenting in Taiwan, removing the mines will return the original look of the beaches." WU TSENG-DONG SHOWING KNIVES TO PHOTOGRAPHERS AND VIDEO JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) TOURIST FROM CHINA, MR. CHING SAYING: "Now the mine fields are fenced and clearly marked, telling us there are mines or bombs. Basically if we follow the instructions and not go inside, it shouldn't be dangerous at all." (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) TOURIST FROM CHINA, MR. BAI SAYING: "I don't feel scared. In the past there were misunderstandings, we didn't understand each other, after we knew each other this won't happen again. We attack you on even days and you attack us on odd days, or vise versa, I think this will never happen again."
- Embargoed: 11th June 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA4JEYP6VTHIIGPRTLFB2PEB006
- Story Text: On an island less than ten kilometers away from China, Taiwan's military outpost is in the process of removing more than 73,000 land mines.
Displayed with old cannons, mortars and other wartime relics, Kinmen has attracted tourists from China and elsewhere around the world with its wartime exhibitions in an atmosphere still filled with tension as live mines still exist.
The presence of land mines has been a hindrance to Kinmen's development.
Gunfire exchange between China and Taiwan stopped nearly 30 years ago, but stories of triggered land mines are still common in Taiwan's current news bulletins.
Since 2007, the Taiwan government has started the landmine removal project. Approximately, a third of the 154 mine fields have already been cleared.
"First we responded to the international action of the mine removal trend to reduce deaths by accident. Second, the cross-strait atmosphere has gradually eased tensions, in this situation, the Defense Ministry, as part of the government body, wishes China to see demining as a good will gesture. Third, we wish to release more useable land by demining," said Military spokesman, Yu Sy-tue.
China has claimed sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan since 1949, when Mao Zedong's Communists won the Chinese civil war and Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists (KMT) fled to Taiwan.
Due to its proximity to China, Taiwan considered Kinmen a frontline to stave off its Communist foes, and built up a large military complex there, including miles of tunnels in the years after its 1949 retreat.
But since Ma Ying-jeou took office in May 2008, relations with the mainland have improved significantly.
With easing tensions, Kinmen, the island known to history buffs as Quemoy is now removing land mines to welcome tourists from China.
Local vendors welcome the idea of removing land mines.
"Although land mines and bombshells are both war relics, but bombshells can be made into cooking choppers, land mines can't. Even after 40-50 years, the land mines buried underground are still very dangerous. Also, Kinmen has beautiful beaches comparable to Yehliu or Kenting in Taiwan, removing the mines will return the original look of the beaches," said Wu Tseng-dong, who runs a workshop specializes in making knives from artillery shells, a popular tourist souvenir.
Since the end of 2004, when the Chinese were first allowed to enter the island on tourist permits, Kinmen has seen a sharp increase in the number of Chinese visitors.
In April 2009, Kinmen, with its local population of 87,000, had a flow of approximately 30,000 Chinese people in the month, which was almost the total number in 2005, the Kinmen County Government said.
And the clearing of the mines locals feel, has made all the difference.
"Now the mine fields are fenced and clearly marked, telling us there are mines or bombs. Basically if we follow the instructions and not go inside, it shouldn't be dangerous at all," said Mr. Ching, a tourist from China.
"I don't feel scared. In the past there were misunderstandings, we didn't understand each other, after we knew each other this won't happen again. We attack you on even days and you attack us on odd days, or vise versa, I think this will never happen again," said Mr. Bai, also from China.
The demining project, which will clear out the remaining 126 minefields with more than 50,000 mines, is scheduled to be completed in 2013.
The government also plans to remove a section of the barricades along the shore in August to host a cross-strait swimming competition. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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