'No need to worry', tourism in Taiwan despite China's war drills

 Located just two miles off the coast of China, Taiwan's islands have become popular tourist destinations.

Beijing's massive military exercises this month have also failed to deter Chinese tourists from flocking to its neighbor.

According to the French news agency AFP, Lin, a former military officer from Pingtung County in southern Taiwan, refused to cancel his three-day visit, saying that he believed that China would only use a show of force to strengthen the nation in the country. Trying to please people with fanatical feelings.

"I think Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine has sent a warning to Chinese President Xi Jinping that taking over Taiwan will not be so easy," he said. It will cost a lot.

After the visit of the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, the relations between the US and China were strained.

Even after Nancy Pelosi's visit, China began military exercises and launched several missiles into the waters around Taiwan, as well as sending fighter jets and warships to blockade the island.

Despite this situation, tourism continues in Kinmen Island.

Kinmen is a former battlefield where residents suffered occasional shelling from Chinese artillery until the late 1970s.

But these islands were opened to tourists in 1993 and then the war days memorials became a tourist attraction.

"There's no point in worrying about a Chinese invasion," said Vanessa Chu, 52, who traveled from the coastal city of Xinchu. We should keep calm and move on with our lives.

He added that I hope for peace. Taiwan is a small country and if the tension continues, Taiwan will suffer more than China.

A smiling young bride poses for a photo shoot on the sand while a man offers tourists binoculars to observe the tiny islands bombed by China half a century ago. More than 600 people were killed in it.

An elderly tourist from Taipei, who did not want to be identified, said he believed China would not attack Taiwan directly because there would be too much damage.

Lin, a former army officer, said he was ready to fight if necessary. Taiwan is my home. If we don't protect Taiwan, who will protect us?'