Ukraine war reverberates on Taiwan’s ‘frontline of democracy’

By Sarah Wu

DONGYIN/NANGAN, Taiwan (Reuters) – Lin Jih-shou was brewing tea final month in his widespread breakfast joint when he heard the excitement of a airplane – a uncommon sound on the distant Taiwanese-held island of Dongyin close to China’s coast, which doesn’t have an airport.

Lin, 64, rushed outdoors, however solely noticed the shadow of what the federal government later described as a small, propeller-driven Chinese language plane that almost certainly was testing Taiwan’s navy response.

It was a stark reminder to residents of Dongyin and Taiwan’s different islands off China’s coast of the menace from their large neighbour, which considers Taipei’s democratically elected authorities illegitimate and Taiwan a rogue province to be taken by drive if wanted.

The Matsu islands had been repeatedly bombarded by China on the peak of the Chilly Battle, and the historical past of battle has targeted minds on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and whether or not the identical destiny might befall them.

“After we watch Russia and Ukraine preventing, our hearts harm,” Lin instructed Reuters. “Battle is simply too scary. There is not any want.”

Taiwan has raised its alert stage because the invasion, however has not reported any indicators of imminent assault.

Held by Taiwan because the defeated Republic of China authorities fled to Taipei in 1949 after dropping the Chinese language civil struggle, Matsu would most likely be a right away goal for Beijing in a battle, particularly Dongyin’s missile base.

But even with China’s elevated navy stress lately, the archipelago has seen fashionable companies and a nascent artwork scene spring up.

On the principle island of Nangan, former navy brothels and underground bunkers home displays that opened final month as a part of the inaugural Matsu Biennial artwork pageant.

“It is a solution to rebrand and retell the tales of Matsu,” mentioned Lii Wen, who established the native department of the ruling Democratic Progressive Occasion in 2020.

Taiwan’s outlying islands, lengthy often called navy strongholds, might be reframed as “a frontline of democracy,” Lii mentioned, as a Ukrainian flag fluttered outdoors his workplace window. Though their regional contexts differ, Lii mentioned, Taiwan stands in solidarity with Ukraine as a smaller democracy dealing with potential invasion.

BUNKERS AND WINE EVENINGS

Dongyin native Tsai Pei-yuan, born in 1993, the 12 months after Matsu’s strict navy rule ended, is a part of a era for whom struggle feels distant. Two years in the past, Tsai and two former classmates co-founded Salty Island Studio, a restaurant and neighborhood hub that has hosted arts workshops and performs.

“Extra pressing is attempting to protect our tradition, which is disappearing,” Tsai mentioned earlier than a wine-tasting occasion final week.

The Ukraine struggle is a typical matter of dialog for some – together with jokes about the place to cover if China invades.

“After we discover strongholds, we ask, if a struggle actually begins, which close by stronghold would we run to?” mentioned Chung Jing-yei, 26, who manages Nangan’s Xiwei Peninsula restaurant.

Chung mentioned it was solely after she moved to Nangan that she understood why so many right here need to preserve the established order.

“My perception that we ought to be an unbiased nation is resolute, however on the similar time, I do not need struggle to occur,” she mentioned.

Dotting the islands’ rugged coastlines are bunkers, deserted or reworked into vacationer locations and boutique motels.

Older Matsu residents have vivid reminiscences of hiding in shelters from Chinese language shelling and never being allowed to personal basketballs for worry that they might use them to drift throughout to China.

“I do not suppose the 2 sides will struggle,” Lucy Lin, a 62-year-old taxi driver and bakery proprietor, mentioned as a Chinese language radio station performed in her automobile. “So long as you do not step over the pink strains.”

Shih Pei-yin, who labored as an city planner in Taipei earlier than beginning Xiwei, is eager to play her half in bettering the lives of Matsu’s individuals.

“For so long as it’s attainable, we hope to work with the island’s residents to enhance this place,” Shih mentioned. “Even whether it is short-term, that’s okay. A minimum of we tried our greatest.”

(Reporting by Sarah Wu. Modifying by Gerry Doyle)