Smarter News Now
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact Us
  • Email Whitelisting
No Result
View All Result
  • Top News
  • Economy News
  • Forex News
  • Investing News
  • Stock News
  • Politics News
  • Editor’s Pick
  • Top News
  • Economy News
  • Forex News
  • Investing News
  • Stock News
  • Politics News
  • Editor’s Pick
No Result
View All Result
Smarter News Now
No Result
View All Result
Home Investing News

‘Nowhere to hide’ if war comes to Taiwan’s front-line islands

by
August 18, 2022
in Investing News
0
‘Nowhere to hide’ if war comes to Taiwan’s front-line islands
0
SHARES
9
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
A lighthouse in Dongyin island, the northernmost territory Taiwan controls. — Ying-lung Lu/CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikimedia Commons

NANGAN/DONGYIN, Taiwan — On Taiwan’s windswept Matsu islands, close to China’s coast, one topic has been driving conversations in recent days: prospects of an invasion by China since it began military exercises in response to visits to Taiwan by US lawmakers. 

Held by Taiwan since the defeated Republic of China government fled to Taipei in 1949 after losing a Chinese civil war, the archipelago of small islands, less than 10 kilometers from China’s coast at the closest point, would probably be an early target for Beijing in the event of conflict. 

China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, has carried out extensive military exercises this month after a visit by US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was followed by five U.S. lawmakers on Sunday and Monday. 

Taiwanese forces have closely monitored China’s moves, scrambling fighter jets and deploying warships to keep guard against the Chinese navy. 

While there has been no heightened sense of alarm among the people of Taiwan, the tension has highlighted the Matsu islands’ vulnerability. 

“I don’t feel particularly safe — after all this island, Dongyin, would be the front line of the battlefield,” said Dora Liu, 27, from Dongyin island, the northernmost territory Taiwan controls and home to a major military base. 

“A small island like ours could be taken down in a moment,” she said. “If there is a war, there would be no place to hide. No matter how many tunnels we have, if they really occupied us, there would be no use in having tunnels.” 

The rocky Matsu islands, like the rest of Taiwan, have lived with the threat of Chinese invasion since 1949. 

The islands were regularly bombarded by China at the height of the Cold War. 

Today, they are a fashionable tourist destination, with hip coffee shops and boutique hotels, visitors being drawn by the islets’ stark natural beauty and wartime past. 

HOPE FOR COMMUNICATIONThough the military presence is much more low-key than it was at its height in the 1950s and 1960s, signs of conflict are all around, from old bomb shelters to propaganda signs hewn out of the rock with messages like “save our mainland compatriots”. 

Chien Chun-te, 40, who runs a breakfast stall outside a market on the main island of Nangan, said the new crisis was more worrying than previous tension. 

“I think a war is possible,” Chien said. “But I hope people in the two countries, and also both the governments, can communicate more. Having no communication would only lead to hatred.” 

Despite the recent tension, the islands are brimming with tourists from Taiwan’s cities, an important plank for the local economy, and flights are hard to book. 

Huang Tzu-chuan, 30, who works in communications in Taiwan’s Taoyuan city, opted to spend a month this summer working at a guesthouse in a village on Nangan overlooking a scenic bay. 

Like most Taiwanese, Mr. Huang has followed the Chinese military drills closely and considered what his response would be in the event of war. 

“If one day it really happens, I will of course fight for my country,” said Mr. Huang. 

He drew a parallel between Taiwan’s challenges and the war in Ukraine after Russia invaded. 

“We feel our relationship between Taiwan and China is just the same as theirs.” — Reuters

ShareTweetPin

Related Posts

Stocks decline on profit taking, recession fears
Investing News

Stocks decline on profit taking, recession fears

August 23, 2022
Peso climbs vs dollar as RTB offer starts
Investing News

Peso climbs vs dollar as RTB offer starts

August 23, 2022
PNR cancels bids for 3 projects after finding them ‘non-feasible’
Investing News

PNR cancels bids for 3 projects after finding them ‘non-feasible’

August 23, 2022
Senate grills Rodriguez on approval procedures for sugar import order
Investing News

Senate grills Rodriguez on approval procedures for sugar import order

August 23, 2022
Trade dep’t expecting sugar price monitoring report by Friday
Investing News

Trade dep’t expecting sugar price monitoring report by Friday

August 23, 2022
Fisherfolk seek halt to reclamation on municipal fisheries
Investing News

Fisherfolk seek halt to reclamation on municipal fisheries

August 23, 2022
Next Post
Ofgem director Christine Farnish quits in protest over energy price cap

Ofgem director Christine Farnish quits in protest over energy price cap

Get the daily email that makes reading the news actually enjoyable. Stay informed and entertained, for free.
Email Address *
Your information is secure and your privacy is protected. By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Remember that you can opt-out any time, we hate spam too!
 

Recommended

BPI AMTC welcomes new President and CEO

BPI AMTC welcomes new President and CEO

July 7, 2022
Economic recovery on track despite slower Q2

Economic recovery on track despite slower Q2

August 3, 2022
Thrower Asusano captures lone gold for PHL bets in 11th ASEAN Para Games

Thrower Asusano captures lone gold for PHL bets in 11th ASEAN Para Games

August 3, 2022
PHL Senate fails to ratify RCEP

PHL Senate fails to ratify RCEP

June 1, 2022
US official says will respond forcefully if North Korea holds nuclear test

US official says will respond forcefully if North Korea holds nuclear test

June 7, 2022
Inflation, transportation, internet, and outgoing secretaries

Inflation, transportation, internet, and outgoing secretaries

June 27, 2022
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact Us
  • Email Whitelisting

Copyright © 2022 SmarterNewsNow.
All Rights Reserved.

Disclaimer: SmarterNewsNow.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice.
The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Email Whitelisting
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Thank You

Copyright © 2020 SmarterNewsNow. All Rights Reserved.