【Article by IMAS】

Following the Kinmen conference in April 2025, the International Master’s Program in Asia-Pacific Studies (IMAS) organized a second “Island Classroom” program. This time, the chosen location was the Matsu Islets, Taiwan’s northernmost territory, situated less than ten kilometers from mainland China. In addition, as Professor Andrew J. Nathan of Columbia University is set to assume the role of Adjunct Chair Professor at IMAS, the program also provided an opportunity to familiarize him with IMAS’s teaching style.

The four-day itinerary was organized around four themes: military, politics, culture, and academia. The first theme focused on the military. During the Cold War, Matsu served as the front line in confronting Communist China and continues to be Taiwan’s foremost defensive outpost today; consequently, military-related activities formed the core of the itinerary. As most IMAS students are foreigners, special permission from the Ministry of National Defense was required. Accompanied by military personnel, IMAS participants visited the 240-millimeter artillery emplacement and Yuntai Mountain. The former represents one of Matsu’s counterstrike capabilities in the event of an attack from mainland China, while the latter offers a vantage point for observing Chinese naval deployments.

Students also visited other former military sites open to the public that do not require approval from the Ministry of National Defense. Particularly notable were tunnels capable of accommodating naval vessels, as well as a former military-operated brothel, established in response to the large number of male soldiers stationed on the islands. In addition, due to concerns over food shortages during wartime, sika deer were released on a small island to serve as a potential food source in the event of encirclement. After the military withdrew, the deer population expanded rapidly, becoming a distinctive legacy of the Cold War.

In terms of politics, because Matsu is geographically close to mainland China and maintains close economic ties with it, Taiwan’s current ruling party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), finds it difficult to gain local support. As many IMAS students come to Taiwan with a strong interest in cross-strait relations, a visit was therefore arranged to the DPP office in Matsu, along with an interview with the party’s only elected township representative in the area.

Both party officials and the local representative noted that although the DPP is the ruling party in Taiwan, they rarely emphasize party ideology in Matsu. Instead, they focus on serving local residents, improving infrastructure, and promoting checks and balances of power. The IMAS group found their situation highly intriguing, and many questions were raised, including by Professor Andrew Nathan. 

In terms of culture, the trip introduced students to three distinct layers of cultural understanding. First is Mazu, a deity revered by Chinese communities around the world, who is believed to have been buried here more than a thousand years ago—hence the archipelago’s name, which shares an almost identical pronunciation. Mazu symbolizes the protection of life at sea and has therefore traveled with Chinese migrants across the globe.

Second, students learned about the production of Matsu Kaoliang liquor. Its origins date back to the Cold War, when scarce local resources led residents to distill alcohol as a means of bartering for goods from Taiwan. Over time, it became a strong spirit famously shared by two leaders from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, Xi Jinping and Ma Ying-jeou. Finally, the IMAS group explored contemporary art. Also shaped by limited resources, Matsu has sought to promote tourism by inviting international artists to create artworks symbolizing the islands, which are now displayed throughout the area.

The most important component of Matsu trip was the academic exchange with National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU). NTOU operates a branch campus in Matsu that offers a master’s program, with most students being local civil servants and military personnel. IMAS students joined one of the research methods classes, during which Professor Andrew Nathan shared insights drawn from more than six decades of academic research. Students from both IMAS and NTOU found the experience highly rewarding.

In addition, a workshop titled “Heritage Walks through Matsu and Beyond” was held with NTOU students to exchange perspectives on post-battlefield regeneration in different countries. On the NTOU side, one Japanese student and one Taiwanese student explored potential directions for further developing tourism in Matsu. From National Chengchi University, Aileen Towner presented a paper titled “From Ruins to Recreation: The Reconstruction of Harpers Ferry’s Legacy,” offering a clear data-driven analysis of the economic growth of Harpers Ferry—an important birthplace of the American Civil War—following cooperation between government and civil society. Mikołaj Kacper Staniczek presented “Battlefield of Grunwald: Past and Present,” examining how this pivotal fifteenth-century battle has been incorporated over time into national historical memory and cultural tourism policy. 
Because this academic exchange was particularly distinctive, it also attracted coverage from the local newspaper.

This visit encompassed three different islands in Matsu, enabling students to gain insight into the distinctive characteristics of Taiwan’s northernmost territory and its connections with the wider world. The experience broadened students’ perspectives and enhanced the value of their studies in Taiwan. IMAS Director Philip Hsiaopong Liu noted that learning does not have to take place solely on campus; the “Island Classroom” embodies IMAS’s distinctive educational philosophy. Through repeated exchanges in different regions of Taiwan, IMAS has successfully strengthened students’ research interests and welcomes young people from around the world to participate and experience the program firsthand.

▶ Visit IMAS: https://imas.nccu.edu.tw/