In the face of a probable Chinese invasion, Taiwanese military forces displayed confidence by showcasing some of the most deadly anti-aircraft weapons to the media.

The remarks were made while some of Taiwan’s most powerful defensive weapons were being displayed on the chain of Matsu islands, which are located less than six miles from China’s shore. Despite the military’s assurance in the face of the current rise in regional tensions, many island residents worry that they would be on the front lines if a Chinese invasion ever materialized.

“I don’t feel particularly safe – after all this island, Dongyin, would be the front line of the battlefield. A small island like ours could be taken down in a moment… 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,” Dora Liu, a resident of the island said.

Following House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent trip to Taiwan, which China perceived as an escalation, these worries have suddenly become more justified. Beijing regards the autonomous island as a part of its own territory.

Given that they were the scene of shellings during heightened tensions in the 1950s and 1960s, the Matsu islands represent a potential first target in a Chinese invasion. The islands now have a strong tourism business, but the inhabitants are becoming more aware of their vulnerability.

However, other Taiwanese people, especially the military, adopt a more defiant stance. After spending a month working on the islands, Huang Tzu-chuan compared the situation to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year.

Like the Russian invasion, a Chinese invasion would compel the Taiwanese to defend their nation.