The Taiwanese island of Kinmen is something that has not been known in peaceful Western Europe for more than three decades: it forms the “front”, so to speak.
The city of Xiamen in the People's Republic of China is within sight of the island.
And it is precisely from there that, from a Taiwanese perspective, the threat to democracy in Taiwan has recently increased again.
Visually, the mainland looks peaceful.
An imposing skyline as a trademark of a modern city.
The messages that the mainland sends to the islands, however, are less peaceful.
Beijing insists that Taiwan is a "breakaway province" and therefore "reunification" is imperative.
The People's Republic of China no longer expressly excludes bringing about this through military action.
There have been many military demonstrations this year in particular.
Chinese aircraft repeatedly violated Taiwanese airspace.
That's why it's not only the old wrecks on the beach that are reminiscent of the times when Kinman and other islets were under constant fire from mainland artillery.
Even today, the Taiwanese armed forces are always on their guard and ready for anything.
They would probably not be able to withstand a seriously led invasion by the continental “People's Liberation Army” in the long term.
But a military “walk” would not be an attempt at conquering the People's Republic either.
We show impressions from a world between hope and fear.