On Taiwan’s frontline outposts, Ukraine war raises fears about their own fate

Name: Taiwanese march in solidarity with Ukraine as Russian invasion seen as wake-up call for island
Uploaded: 2022-03-25T07:41:54.000Z
Duration: 3 min 21 s
Description: Taiwanese march in solidarity with Ukraine as Russian invasion seen as wake-up call for island

The Matsu Islands have targeted before and could be in the firing line again if mainland China attacked

Nevertheless, the area has become home to a budding arts scene and desire to preserve its culture

Reading Time:3 minutes

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Reuters

Published: 3:41pm, 25 Mar 2022

Lin Jih-shou was brewing tea last month in his popular breakfast place when he heard the buzz of a plane – a rare sound on the remote Taiwanese-held island of Dongyin near the mainland Chinese coast.

The island does not have an airport and Lin, 64, rushed outside, seeing only the shadow of what the government later described as a small, propeller-driven mainland aircraft that most likely was testing Taiwan’s military response.

It was a stark reminder to residents of Dongyin and Taiwan’s other islands off the mainland coast of the threat from their huge neighbour, which considers Taipei’s democratically elected government illegitimate and Taiwan a rogue province to be taken by force if needed.

The Matsu Islands were regularly bombarded by mainland China at the height of the Cold War, and the history of conflict has focused minds on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and whether the same fate may befall them.

“When we watch Russia and Ukraine fighting, our hearts hurt,” Lin said. “War is too scary. There’s no need.”

03:21

Taiwanese march in solidarity with Ukraine as Russian invasion seen as wake-up call for island

Taiwan has raised its alert level since the invasion, but has not reported any signs of imminent attack.