Kinmen County moved a step closer to World Heritage listing following the inaugural meeting Feb. 19 of a local government-organized committee tasked with this goal.
“With its rich battlefield culture and treasure trove of Chinese-style red brick architecture, Kinmen has the best chance of all potential sites in Taiwan to be selected as a World Heritage Site,” said Li Wo-shi, committee chairman and county magistrate.
The committee, which includes members from Kinmen National Park headquarters and Kinmen Defense Command, believes that tunnels and other military installations should be protected.
“Fortress Kinmen is an important link in the world’s battlefield culture,” it said in a statement. “The island’s clan culture is also quite special and an asset worthy of protection.”
Echoing these remarks, Kinmen Defense Command said it fully supports the county’s efforts to win designation as a World Heritage Site.
In addition, the Ministry of National Defense has agreed to release another 68 pieces of military equipment by March at the earliest to bolster Kinmen’s appeal as a battlefield tourism destination.
The Council for Cultural Affairs has nominated Kinmen’s battlefield culture as one of 12 potential World Heritage Sites in Taiwan. It later adjusted this to include Matsu.
(This article orginally appeared in The Liberty Times Feb. 20.)