Wuqiu, Kinmen

History

In the early 1400s, Wuqiu was known as a marker on the sailing route between China and the Ryukyu Islands.

As of 1843, a "considerable fishing village" existed in Ockseu (Wuqiu).

The Wuqiu Lighthouse was built in 1874, directed by David Marr Henderson.

In September 1910, the center of a typhoon swept over Niushan Island (Turnabout Island) and Wuqiu (Ockseu) or a few miles to the southeast.

Wuqiu Township was originally part of Putian County with many of its residents emigrating from the county. After the end of Chinese Civil War in 1949, Wuqiu became disconnected from Putian. Control of Ockseu and other insular areas was shared between the KMT and anti-Communist guerrillas.

In June 1954, the township was provisionally reassigned to Kinmen (Quemoy) County.

In 1954, Wuchiu was shelled and attacked by the Chinese Communists on several occasions.

On February 25, 1955, Chinese Communist ships shelled Wuchiu.

On June 21, 1955, Nationalist planes heavily damaged a 40-ton tugboat at Wuchiu.

In February 1956, there were reports that the 480-man guerrilla force on Wuchiu would be evacuated. The Wuchiu Islands were seen as "highly vulnerable to Communist strikes" and "of little military value to the Nationalists."

Once the War Affairs Committee was founded in July 1956, strong and complete foundation for war affairs was built in the township.

In February 1957, the British cargo ship Hydralock ran aground off Ockseu Island. All 31 crew abandoned ship, but then disappeared. They were later discovered safe on Haitan Island.

In the summer of 1965, then-Minister of National Defense Chiang Ching-kuo visited the island as part of an inspection.

Late on the night of November 13, 1965, the Nationalist patrol boat Yungtai and the minesweeper Yungchang were on patrol southwest of the islands covering amphibious boats that were unloading supplies to Wuchiu. At just after midnight, eight Chinese Communist boats (three escort destroyers and five gunboats) coming from Quanzhou (Chuanchou) attacked the two Nationalist boats (烏坵海戰). The Yungchang was sunk almost immediately with fifteen survivors who were rescued by the USS O'Brien. Yungtai sunk four of the Communist gunboats but was scrapped due to excessive damage from the engagement.

In the early morning of March 20, 1974, Lt. Wu Miao-huo defected to the PRC. He took a rubber speedboat from Wuchiu to Nanjih Island. Wu wasn't able to get along with his superior officers.

Martial law was lifted from the township on 7 November 1992.

On 29 January 1994, Wuqiu residents had their first election to elect the fourth head of Wuqiu Township. And on 16 July 1994, the residents had their first election to elect the fourth village heads of Daqiu Village and Xiaoqiu Village.

In November 1994, General Li Kai, commander of the troops at Wuqiu, committed suicide.

During the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1996, military sources in Taipei expected China to attack a small Taiwan-held island. The most likely target was Wuchiu, then garrisoned by 500 soldiers. The outlying islands were placed on high alert.

In 1998, Zero Chou produced a documentary about the islands called Yi Shi Zai Hai Xia Zhong ("Lost in the Strait") (Chinese: 遺失在海峽中：烏坵, 48 mins).

On December 26, 2001, President Chen Shui-bian visited Wuqiu and delivered remarks. Chen was the first president to visit Wuqiu during their presidency.

In 2012, Wuqiu, along with Daren Township in Taitung County, was proposed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs as the candidate of the new disposal site of nuclear waste after the Lanyu Storage Site in Orchid Island, Taitung County. This proposal however received heavy objection from the local Wuqiu residents.

On July 23, 2017, after a period of sixty years in which the lighthouse remained disused, the Wuqiu Lighthouse resumed service.

On August 24, 2017, Chen Fu-Hai, then-magistrate of Kinmen County, visited the Wuqiu Township Office.

On the night of August 2, 2019, a cargo ship in port at Wuqiu struck a tetrapod in choppy waves. The ship sank but the thirteen crew members were rescued by the Wuqiu Islands Garrison Command.

In March 2020, the Kinmen County Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine Office (金門縣動植物防疫所) sent five persons to Wuqiu to sterilize five dogs on the island in order to prevent the dogs from breeding and causing problems for the residents.

On March 29, 2020, at about 3:55 PM, a capsized ship from mainland China, Haifa 88 (海發88), which had entered Wuqiu's restricted waters on March 9, broke free from the anchorage holding it in place and floated away. On March 9 at 7:32 AM, the ship had been in a collision with another larger ship from mainland China, Minshiyu 07725 (閩獅漁07725), in Wuqiu's restricted waters, and the four man crew of the ship were rescued at that time.

In late April 2020, Magistrate Yang Cheng-wu visited Wuqiu for the first time as magistrate and stayed overnight.

In May 2023, Mayor Tsai Yen-Ming (蔡燕明) was convicted of violating elections law and sentenced to three years and two months in prison.

Geography

Wuqiu consists of Greater Qiu Islet (大坵嶼, Dàqiū yǔ) and Smaller Qiu Islet (小坵嶼, Xiǎoqiū yǔ, Hsia Hsü 下嶼) with a total area of 1.2 km2, not to be confused with two islets Daqiu Island () and Xiaoqiu Island () lying off the north coast off Beigan in the Matsu Islands (Lienchiang County). The islands are considered a basepoint of the Chinese territorial sea by the PRC.

Greater Qiu Islet lies 9 nmi from Luci Island (Lusi Island), 12 nmi from Nanri Island, and 18 nmi from Meizhou Island, all in Xiuyu District of Putian, Fujian, China (PRC). It is distant from other territory in Taiwan (ROC) being 72 nmi from Kinmen, 86 nmi from Nangan in the Matsu Islands, and 73 nmi from Port of Taichung on Taiwan.

Government and politics

Administrative divisions

Wuqiu township is made up of two rural villages:

• Daqiu Village ({{linktext|大坵|村}})
• Xiaoqiu Village ({{linktext|小坵|村}})

Elections

Presidential elections

113 residents of Wuqiu participated in the 2020 Taiwanese presidential election.

Mayors

• Yang Jui-Ta (楊瑞大)
• Li Yi-chiang{{cite journal |orig-date=18 March 1996
• Tsai Yuan-Chen (蔡元珍)
• Chen Hsing-Chiu (陳興坵)
• Tsai Yung-Fu (蔡永富)

Military

The Wuqiu Islands Garrison Command (烏坵守備大隊 - Wūqiū Shǒubèi Dàduì) defends the islands. The Republic of China Navy has deployed twenty XTR-102 systems in Wuqiu.

Demographics

|1977 |229 |1978 |227 |1979 |203 |1980 |194 |1981 |188 |1982 |194 |1983 |191 |1984 |171 |1985 |169 |1986 |152 |1987 |147 |1988 |133 |1989 |116 |1990 |105 |1991|98 |1992 |85 |1993 |105 |1994 |98 |1995 |90 |1996|93 |1997 |126 |1998 |383 |1999|383 |2000 |374 |2001 |362 |2002 |378 There are 400 people with household registration in Wuqiu Township. The total population living on the islands fluctuates with the seasons.

Economy

Due to its location surrounded by ocean, fishing is the primary source of income for its residents.

Infrastructure

Drinking water is provided to the residents by using reverse osmosis equipment. Generators are used to improve power shortages.

Transportation

Ferry services and resupply between Greater Kinmen and Daqiu is run by the military every fifteen days. Transportation between Daqiu and Xiaoqiu (900 meters apart) was historically carried out by sampan. In 2008, the county government received a subsidy to build a boat for the township.

Ferry connection is available to the Port of Taichung on Taiwan.

Culture

The languages spoken in Wuqiu are the native Pu-Xian Min (Hinghwa dialect) and Mandarin Chinese. The residents of other islands in Kinmen (Quemoy) County speak Quanzhou dialect of Min-Nan (Hokkien).

Tourist attractions

• Wuqiu Lighthouse

References

References

1. link. (18 August 2020). Central News Agency]]
2. link. zh-tw. 行政區 面積（單位：平方公里）{...}烏坵鄉 1.2000. zh-tw. 金門縣政府民政處 Civil Affairs Department, Kinmen County Government. (29 January 2019)
3. link. zh-tw. 金門縣政府 KINMEN COUNTY GOVERNMENT
4. (1843). "Sailing directions to accompany seven charts of the coast of China, between Amoy bay, and the Yángtsz' kiáng". [[The Chinese Repository]].
5. Edward Stanford. (1908). "Atlas of the Chinese Empire".
6. link. [[The Commercial Press]]. (1917). zh-hant. 地方名 Open Port. {{lang. zh-hant. 通商口岸 Prefecture. {{lang. zh-hant. 府 District. {{lang. zh-hant. 縣{...}{{lang. zh-tw. 烏邱嶼，烏龜嶼 Ockseu ...... Foochow .... {{lang. zh-tw. 興化府 蒲田縣
7. W. Z. Mulder. (1942). "The "Wu Pei Chih" Charts". [[T'oung Pao]].
8. (5 December 1952). "Australia Station Intelligence Summary". Naval Intelligence Division Navy Office Melbourne.
9. (1954). "NG 50-16 CHIN-CHIANG". [[Army Map Service]].
10. Theresa Levitt. (April 2014). "The Lighthouse at the End of the World Illuminating the French and British Empires". [[Itinerario]].
11. (2014). "Breaking with the Past: The Maritime Customs Service and the Global Origins of Modernity in China". Columbia University Press.
12. 小米粥. (26 August 2015). "Don't tell my mother that I'm in Ockseu!".
13. "Wuqiu Township".
14. (8 December 2017). "kinmen awareness". [[Kinmen County Government]].
15. (February 2018). [[National Museum of Taiwan History]]. zh-tw. 烏坵（金門）{...}（金門縣代管）烏坵)
16. "Wuqiu Township".
17. link. [[:zh:中華民國海洋委員會. 中華民國海洋委員會]], [[:en:Ocean Affairs Council. Ocean Affairs Council]]. zh-tw. 一、島嶼位置 烏坵嶼東離台灣新竹約 81 浬 （約 150 公里）、西距中國大陸湄 洲島約 20 浬（約 37 公里）、離大 陸（鷺鷥島）最近距離約 9 浬（約 17 公里）、南下金門約 70 浬（約 130 公里）、北至馬祖約 72 浬（約 133 公里）、位處金門與馬祖中心 點，與中國大陸南日島相隔 10.6 浬 （約 20 公里）。
18. link. (28 July 2017). zh-tw. 金門縣烏坵鄉公所 Wuqiu Township Office, Kinmen County. zh-tw. 東距台灣省台中七十三海浬、東北距基隆一八○海浬、東南距澎湖九十三海浬、左營一四五海浬、高雄一八二海浬、西距湄洲島十八海浬、西北距鷺鷥島九海浬、西南距金門七十二海浬、北距南日島十二海浬、馬祖八十六海浬、位處金門縣與連江縣中心點。
19. (24 July 2017). "Wuqiu Lighthouse resumes service after 6 decades in Kinmen".
20. Rev. José Coronas, S. J.. (1919). "The "Quantico" Typhoon December 25, 1918". Bureau of Printing.
21. link. (31 July 2017). zh-tw. 金門縣烏坵鄉公所 Wuqiu Township Office, Kinmen County. zh-tw. 烏坵鄉原隸屬於福建省莆田縣，居民主要從閩中莆田地區遷居而來，母語為興化語。由於大陸淪陷，於民國四十三年奉國防部命令設鄉，劃歸金門縣政府指揮監督，
22. link. (25 January 2018). 李錫南. [[Kinmen Daily News]]
23. (1 December 1954). "CHINESE OFFSHORE ISLANDS".
24. Herman R. Allen. "North Anchor of Chiang's Outposts". [[Daily Colonist]].
25. (1955). "1955 Britannica Book of the Year". Encyclopaedia Britannica.
26. (13 December 1954). "Nationalists Sink Two Red Chinese Ships". [[Kansas State Collegian]].
27. (2 March 1955). "CHINESE OFFSHORE ISLANDS".
28. (22 June 1955). "Damage Claim Is Made on Gunboat". [[Times-News (Idaho)]].
29. (7 February 1956). "Current Intelligence Bulletin". [[CIA]].
30. (27 February 1957). "British Ship Feared Lost Near China".
31. (28 February 1957). "British Ship's Crew Safe in China".
32. 金門縣文化局. 高丹樺. (2017). zh-tw. 蔣經國當時為國防部長，我和部長合影在一九六五年夏天。國防部長蔣經國先生到烏坵視察，視察的時候還有兩個上將陪同{...}烏坵鄉長李毅強致贈紫菜給前總統陳水扁，陳前總統是任內第一位到烏坵的元首。
33. (24 July 1978). "Translations on People's Republic of China No. 445". [[United States Joint Publications Research Service]].
34. Bruce A. Elleman. (April 2012). "High Seas Buffer The Taiwan Patrol Force, 1950-1979". Naval War College Press.
35. "Township Office".
36. Chong-Pin Lin. (June 1996). "The Military Balance in the Taiwan Straits". [[The China Quarterly]].
37. (25 February 1996). "Report: China expected to attack island". Times-News.
38. link. zh-tw. 中華民國總統府 Office of the President Republic of China (Taiwan). (26 December 2001). zh-tw. 中華民國90年12月26日 陳總統水扁先生今天上午在國防部長伍世文及參謀總長湯曜明等人的陪同下，前往烏坵地區，除聽取任務簡報外，也視察軍事據點、建設和官兵休閒設施。總統並於致詞中提出「精實戰備整備、確保國家安全」、「凝聚軍民情感，照顧戰地居民」、「發揮愛心耐心，防制危安事件」與全體官兵共勉勵。
39. (22 May 2012). "Referendums to decide Taiwan's nuclear waste storage site". Taiwan Today.
40. (25 October 2017). "Magistrate Chen visits Wuqiu to inspect residents' living environment".
41. link. (3 August 2019)
42. link. (14 March 2020). 蔡家蓁. 聯合新聞網]]
43. link. Li Chin-Sheng {{lang. zh-tw. 李金生. (29 March 2020). zh-tw. 烏坵離島與代管的金門相距72浬，當地海域常有大陸船隻經過。{...}大陸籍「海發88」貨船今（29）日在烏坵海域遭遇強風翻覆，不到1小時就漂離烏坵禁限制水域。
44. link. Li Chin-Sheng {{lang. zh-tw. 李金生. (30 March 2020). zh-tw. 烏坵離島與代管的金門相距72浬，當地海域常有大陸船隻經過。{...}大陸籍「海發88」貨船在本月9日於烏坵海域發生「撞船」事故，當天船上4名船員即由肇事漁船救走，船隻則直至昨（29）日下午斷纜漂離烏坵禁限制水域。
45. link. (28 April 2020). Tsai Chia-Chen
46. link. (18 May 2023). Tang Sheng-Yang 唐聲揚
47. "Geographic environment".
48. en
49. link. [[:zh:內政部地政司. Department of Land Administration]]. (8 August 2002). zh-tw. 地政事務所名稱(代碼) 金門(WA) 鄉鎮市區名稱(代碼) 烏坵鄉(06)段 小段 代碼 備註 大坵 0261 增編 小坵 0262 增編
50. link. zh-tw. 金門縣政府民政處 Civil Affairs Department, Kinmen County Government
51. link. [[Central Election Commission (Taiwan). Central Election Commission]]. zh-tw. 大坵村 小坵村
52. "2018 Local Elections". [[Central Election Commission (Taiwan).
53. link. (6 December 2003). Chuang Huan-Ning 莊煥寧
54. link. (24 December 2006)
55. link. (24 December 2005)
56. link. (21 April 2017)
57. 洪哲政. "東引後年部署12座遙控火砲 下階段部署淡水河口". UDN.
58. link. 舜程印刷有限公司. (January 2005). zh-tw. 福建往琉球，太武放羊，用甲寅針七更船取烏坵{...}根據田野調查顯示，實際常住於島上之居民僅30-40人，當中以老年人口居多，冬季並有自台灣返鄉、專門為了採收紫菜的回流人口。表一：烏坵人口歷年統計表
59. "Prospect".
60. Stephen Livingstone Baldwin. (12 November 1874). "Correspondence". [[Chinese Recorder and Missionary Journal]].
61. "Historic spot".