Three small links fail to excite Kinmen

Betting on the future

One potential fix to the problem favored by a majority of residents is gambling. In May of this year, Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) threw his support behind the legalization of "entertainment-style" casinos that offer more than just gambling and could be enjoyed by whole families. Previously, only the islands of the Penghu archipelago were being considered for such development. The bill, however, has run into opposition in the legislature.

"The people of Kinmen are literally stuck in the middle," Lee said, adding that he wishes the island could have a greater say in its own future beyond what the government allows.

But not everyone is unhappy with the current situation and these people say living standards have improved drastically since the days when Kinmen was a fortified bunker and the closest target for aggression from China.

"All you hear about is how businessmen in Kinmen can't make money," said a life-long resident who gave his name as Huang. "But life here is better than it has ever been and they're still richer than businessmen in Fujian."

He mentioned the birds that every year fly from China to Kinmen's wetlands and the fact that this, as last year, they bring with them the specter of avian flu. "If a disease like that came to Kinmen it would ruin us economically if it didn't kill us. People think that if weren't for politics we could be a lot closer to China, but I think there is more than one reason to keep our distance."