evidence: Taiwan’s Matsu Islands prepare for a possible China invasion: ‘I don’t want to die, but we have to fight’ Beijing has been ramping up military pressure on Taiwan ahead of crucial elections next week. On the Matsu Islands – which would be the first line of defence if an attack were launched – Kim Sengupta speaks to soldiers and civilians preparing for China to make good on its threats to take control of the nation [...] Matsu and Kinmen, another island between China and Taiwan, experienced fierce fighting between the communist forces under Mao Zedong and the nationalist army of Chiang Kai-Shek as Chiang’s forces retreated from the mainland to Taiwan at the end of the civil war.