Xiamen, an island city in Fujian Province, and once the home of pirates and rebel leaders, is now covered with road and airport infrastructure further symbolizing China's rapid economic progress. Recently, with the political situation in Taiwan unclear, National Defense Projects in Xiamen City are springing up everywhere.

As reported from the Asian Times, the current construction along the seashore in the city focuses on national defense works. All large-scale construction projects have been halted. Yet air-raid shelters, with the capacity to hold thousands of civilians, dot the coastline according to an eyewitness.

The Strait of Taiwan is the only separation between Xiamen City of Fujian Province and Jinmen City of Taiwan, and locals in the two cities can almost see each other. A Xiamen City taxi driver speeding along the scenic Seashore Boulevard, notes, “Along the opposite side, on the Bold Island of Jinmen City, stands a monument, a wall for the purpose of psychological warfare. On the wall are Chinese characters which read, ‘Civil Rights, Democracy and Livelihood Unifies China.’ We have the same kind of wall on our side. It says, “One Nation with Two Systems Unifies China.” You can see that wall, several hundred meters away, more clearly if you travel by water. Right now, it’s a tourist spot in Xiamen City.” (Editor’s note: Civil rights, democracy and livelihood are the three principles of Sun Yat-sin, founder of the KMT, the long-term ruling party in Taiwan.)

The Xiamen City residents also said that although there are beautiful spots along Seashore Boulevard, no plans for building in the area are in sight because residents are afraid of an imminent war with Taiwan. For this reason, all the highway tunnels in Xiamen City have large-scale air-raid shelters.

All the major travel agencies in Xiamen City offer the popular, “Golden Xiamen City Sea Areas Tour,” which starts from Xiamen Island and ends at Bold Island of Jinmen City. The tourists not only see the inscription, “Civil Rights, Democracy and Livelihood Unifies China,” on the wall in Jinmen City, but can also enjoy the beautiful scenery of both coastlines along the Taiwan Strait, all for only 100 yuan (US$12.07).

On the other side of the Strait, the Taiwanese government opened Bold Island and Erdan Island in Jinmen City for tourism in 2002, as part of their “front line against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party.)” At that time, all Taiwanese troops withdrew from the area.

But given the cloudy political situation, tourism is not a major concern. There are only a few days before May 20, the day that the President of Taiwan, Chen Shuibian, will hold his Inauguration. Chen has implied several times that during his second term, he will accelerate the move toward “direct voting for a new Taiwanese Constitution.”

Since the contents of a proposed constitution are still unclear, both the United States and China wonder what Taiwan’s new status will be. Analysts say that if mainland China authorities believe the new constitution will change the status of Taiwan’s sovereignty, China may attack Taiwan.

Soldiers run to the US-made Hawk missile during a drilll at Li Tse Chien beach in Ilan county, northern Taiwan. Photo Sam Yeh/AFP/Getty Images

In recent years, Xiamen City began sounding aerial defense alarms at night. Xiamen media claimed the military exercises combined preventative measures for war and natural disasters. These exercises include rescue operations for collapsed houses and taller buildings and even the sensitive practice of landing troops and civilians onto the opposite shore.

On October 24, 1949, the 24th day after Mao Zedong declared that the Chinese people had obtained independence, 9,000 soldiers launched the battle of Jinmen City. Three regiments of the 28th Army of the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) of Mainland China crossed the Taiwan Straits to attack Jinmen City. They fought bitterly on the island for three days and three nights. Since backup troops could not reach them, they all perished, making it the one and only crushing defeat since the PLA was formed. The Jinmen Battle established the psychological foundation for the Kuomintang to govern Taiwan.

The Chinese citizenry is aware of and concerned about the growing number of defense projects. Nine cities along China’s southeastern shoreline, including Xiamen City, announced recently that they would seek funding to build a 550 kilometers long railway connecting them, costing 30 billion yuan (US$3.6 billion). The implication of this project provoked heated discussions between supporters and opponents. The opponents believe such a plan would allow Beijing to launch a Taiwan Straits War at any time. Spending 30 billion yuan (US$3.6 billion) would only buy them trouble. Supporters, on the other hand, firmly believe that a railroad along China’s southeastern shores would ease military logistics. It would be like adding another “Great Wall” of defense to the Chinese seashores.

Most agree, however, that by 2006, Mainland China’s military force will have an overwhelming advantage over Taiwan.