Kinmen, Taiwan – On the sandy shores of Taiwan, Liu Xi Jiu puts on his swimming goggles as he prepares to compete in one of the world’s most challenging waters. Originally from Beijing, he is participating in a unique swimming event that spans seven kilometers from the Kinmen Islands to the Chinese city of Xiamen. Around him, 200 athletes from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau laugh and joke as they warm up before the demanding 90-minute swim. However, the warm weather and friendly competition hide the tense relations that characterize the strait separating democratic Taiwan from China, which views the island as part of its territory.According to Wu Zeng Yun, CEO of the Kinmen-Matsu Joint Services Centre (Kinmen-Matsu Fælles Tjeneste Center), Kinmen and its residents have always had a close relationship with China. “In the past, my uncles were in business in Tong’an on the mainland,” he said. However, everything changed after the Chinese Civil War in 1949, when the nationalist government fled to Taiwan and retained control over Kinmen. The island’s residents suddenly found themselves on the frontline of a political conflict between Taipei and Beijing. China regularly bombarded the island until 1979, and many still remember the shelters where they took cover as bombs fell.In mid-February, Kinmen once again became the center of tensions between the two sides after a clash between the Taiwanese Coast Guard and a Chinese fishing boat. This incident resulted in the deaths of two fishermen, and it was revealed that the Chinese vessel had been captured after colliding with the Taiwanese ship. Since then, the Chinese Coast Guard has increased its presence in the region. “The activities of the Chinese Coast Guard have changed significantly. They are now often patrolling our waters,” said local fisherman Lu Wen Shiung.Despite the rising tensions, there is hope that Kinmen can regain its reputation as a place of cooperation across the strait. After many months, agreements have been made to repatriate the bodies of the Chinese fishermen whose fate triggered the recent tensions. Back on the beach in Kinmen, Chinese swimmers stand side by side with their Taiwanese counterparts. For them, this event is more than just a swim; it symbolizes what cooperation can achieve. Liu expresses hope that such sporting events can help bridge the divide between the two sides.As the starting signal sounds, they dive into the waves and swim toward Xiamen, symbolizing a transition from past conflicts to a future shaped by peace and cooperation.