Navigating emotional resistance:‘Affective Atmospheres’ and rationality in maritime border policing around Kinmen

This study investigates the role of affective atmospheres in shaping resistance to maritime border policing around Kinmen, Taiwan, focusing on the 2024 Kinmen maritime incident, where a Taiwanese Coast Guard pursuit led to the deaths of two Chinese fishermen. Using a mixed-methods approach, it analyses 2020–2025 vessel tracking data, Taiwan Coast Guard reports, and media sources. Findings show a strong correlation (r ≈ 0.85) between incidents and increased maritime incursions, with fear and frustration fueling resistance to rational enforcement. A feedback loop between enforcement and emotions undermines governance. Recommendations include community forums, transparent incident reporting, and empathy-driven policies like joint fishing zones to reduce tensions. Limitations include incomplete data, media bias, and lack of primary interviews, suggesting future ethnographic research. The study highlights the need for empathy-driven governance in contested maritime spaces.