Erdan Island, Military island in Lieyu Township, Taiwan
Erdan Island is a small island near Kinmen located roughly 12 kilometers from the larger island and about 4 kilometers from mainland China. The terrain is hilly with its highest point reaching roughly 55 meters and covers less than half a square kilometer in total.
In 1942, more than fifty resistance fighters were executed on this island during the Japanese occupation. Later the military transferred control to civilian authorities, who recognized it as an important site for this wartime chapter.
The island holds deep meaning as a place where resistance fighters lost their lives, and visitors encounter this solemn history through the landscape itself. Walking through the terrain, one senses the weight of what happened here.
Access requires special permits since it remains a sensitive military site with restricted areas. Visitors should arrange authorizations in advance to plan a visit properly.
The island gained attention in 2022 when soldiers on duty fired warning shots at an approaching aircraft. This moment illustrates the tense situation that continues to shape this small place.
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