Sawt Falasteen - Rockets, jets fuel unification hopes on Chinese island near Taiwan

Rockets streaked across the clear blue sky over Pingtan, just 130 kilometres (80 miles) from Taiwan and the frontline of ongoing Chinese military drills around the self-ruled island.

Onlookers brandishing phones and selfie sticks rushed towards the ocean to snap the projectiles, which left trails of smoke in their wake.

"Our country is becoming increasingly strong and prosperous... that's why it has the capabilities to do this," Chen, a 63-year old tourist, told AFP after witnessing the scene.

Chen, visiting from the southwestern province of Sichuan, said she had once enjoyed a trip to Taiwan and hoped "the ultimate outcome" for both sides would be "peaceful unification".

Nearby, a group of middle-aged women posed for a photo in front of the temple's entrance, before shouting in unison: "Unification of the motherland!"

They had travelled specially from Sichuan to visit China's nearest point to Taiwan.

"Looking from here, even if we can't see it, it feels like we are really close," a woman surnamed Zhang, 59, told AFP.

Zhang had also visited Taiwan and said her impression was that its cost of living was very high.

"Prices there are really expensive, and actually, the elderly there don't have as high a quality of life as we do," she said.

She said the drills were a "deterrent" to those advocating Taiwan independence.

"If we don't deter them, those Taiwan separatists will keep inciting their people and maintain a rebellious attitude towards us and the Chinese Communist Party."

- Hopes for peace -

AFP reporters saw two coast guard ships in the waters near Pingtan on Tuesday, as well as two fighter jets and a military vessel the previous day.

China has never ruled out using force to take Taiwan, the democratic island it views as part of its territory.

Taipei rejects that claim and regards itself as a sovereign nation.

Pingtan locals were less excited than the tourists, many having become used to seeing fighter jets flying past the island during drills over the past few years.

In a coastal village, some people drew water from a well while others watched television in their homes, brushing off AFP requests to discuss Taiwan.

A resident said he was unaware of the drills but that the island had been a popular destination for Taiwanese tourists in the past.

The man, who did not give his name, praised Taiwan's ex-president Ma Ying-jeou, who oversaw warmer relations with China.

"When he came to power, we all went over there (near Taiwan) to fish," but that has dried up under current leader Lai Ching-te, the 65-year-old told AFP.

A woman surnamed Nian said she occasionally followed news about Taiwan as her sister lives there with her Taiwanese husband.

If China ever takes over Taiwan by force, it would be "something they had no choice but to do", the 58-year-old told AFP outside her home.

"What we hoped for in our hearts was always peace and harmony."

M.AlAhmad--SF-PST