On Taiwan’s frontline islands ‘life goes on’ as jets scream overhead
- In the sleepy fishing towns, many locals are sanguine, despite the frequent PLA fighters flying over the Taiwan Strait
- The archipelago’s location has always made it vulnerable to attack, with the Dutch, French and Japanese invading easily in the past
“If there’s a day where they don’t take off, it feels weird,” said Lin, an affable 61-year-old who runs a juice stall with his wife on the western Xiyu Islet.
The archipelago’s location about 50km (30 miles) out in the Taiwan Strait means it is likely to be on the front line of any potential attack from mainland China – a perennial possibility that has loomed ever larger in the past few years.
Beijing claims all of Taiwan as its territory, and its pledge to take it by force if necessary has begun to seem less far-fetched as China projects an increasingly aggressive stance on the world stage.
But in the sleepy fishing towns on the islands, many locals are sanguine despite the frequent – and noisy – reminders of the military threat.
“Everyone says tension between both sides is high now, but I am not worried,” said Lin. “I have confidence that our government is not beating the war drum.”