Life on Taiwan's 'Pro-Beijing' Kinmen Islands

KINMEN, TAIWAN - MAY 11: Tourist take pictures near the anti-landing spikes at a beach where the Chinese city of Xiamen is visible from afar, in Kinmen, Taiwan, on May 11, 2025. The Kinmen Islands have become a focal point in rising Beijing-Taipei tensions. Some view Kinmen as a potential testing ground for Chinese aggression or even a 'Crimea scenario' for Taiwan. Despite the risks, the islands welcome 250,000 Chinese tourists annually, and many residents have family ties to the mainland. As of 2024, Kinmen's population stands at 144,019. Politically, it remains a stronghold of the pro-Beijing Kuomintang (KMT) party. (Photo by Daniel Ceng/Anadolu via Getty Images)