A minimax converse for the identification via channels is derived. By this converse, a general formula for the identification capacity, which coincides with the transmission capacity, is proved without the assumption of the strong converse property. Furthermore, the optimal second-order coding rate of the identification via channels is characterized when the type I error probability is non-vanishing and the type II error probability is vanishing. Our converse is built upon the so-called partial channel resolvability approach; however, the minimax argument enables us to circumvent a flaw reported in the literature.