View source for Matsu Islands

{{Short description|Offshore archipelago governed by Taiwan}}
{{Redirect|Lienchiang County|a county of Fujian of the same name in the People's Republic of China|Lianjiang County}}
{{Other uses|Matsu (disambiguation){{!}}Matsu}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Lienchiang County
| official_name      = <!-- Official name in English if different from 'name' -->
| native_name        = {{nobold|{{lang|zh-hant|連江縣}}}}
| other_name         = Matsu Islands, Ma-tsu
| settlement_type    = [[Counties of Taiwan|County]]
| image_skyline      = Matsu Montage.png
| image_caption      = Top: Magan Tianhou Temple in Nangan, Bottom left: Matsu display monument in Nangan, Bottom upper left: Lin Moniang Tomb in Mazu Temple, Bottom lower right: [[Dongyong Lighthouse]]
| image_flag         = Flag of Lienchiang County.svg
| image_seal         = Emblem of Lienchiang County.svg
| seal_type          = Emblem
| image_map          = Taiwan ROC political division map Lienchiang County.svg
| image_map1         = {{maplink|frame=yes|frame-width=260|frame-align=center||plain=yes|type=shape|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|zoom=8}}
| image_blank_emblem = File:LIENCHIANG COUNTY GOVERNMENT.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| map_caption        = 
| coordinates        = {{Coord|26|09|04|N|119|55|38|E|region:TW_type:isle|display=title}}
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{ROC-TW}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of China#ROC provinces|Province]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Fuchien Province, Republic of China|Fukien]] (nominal subdivision)
| subdivision_type2  = [[Counties of Taiwan|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = Lienchiang County
| iso_code           = TW-LIE
| seat_type          = Seat
| seat               = [[Nangan, Lienchiang|Nangan Township]] (Nankan)
| seat1_type         = Largest city
| seat1              = 
| parts              = 4 [[Township (Taiwan)|rural townships]]<br />22 [[Village (Taiwan)|rural villages]]
| parts_type         = Divisions
| governing_body     = {{unbulleted list
  |[[Lienchiang County Government]]
  |[[Lienchiang County Council]]}}
| leader_title       = County Magistrate
| leader_name        = [[Wang Chung-ming]]
| leader_party       = [[Kuomintang|KMT]]
| area_total_km2     = 29.60
| area_footnotes     = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.matsu.gov.tw/chhtml/Detail/371030000A/580?mcid=6340|script-title=zh:生態環境|language=zh-tw|date=9 January 2017|access-date=22 August 2019|website={{lang|zh-tw|馬祖-連江縣政府}} LIENCHIANG COUNTY GOVERNMENT|quote={{lang|zh-tw|終於讓專家學者在經過2年研究後，發現了全新品種的雌光螢，命名為北竿雌光螢和分布於東莒島的黃緣雌光螢，這對於總面積僅29.6平方公里的馬祖來說，是極為珍貴的物產。}}}}</ref><ref name="health">{{cite web|url=http://www.matsuhb.gov.tw/2009web/friendly_index.php|script-title=zh:城市介紹|language=zh-tw|access-date=23 August 2020|website=Matsu Health Bureau Web site 連江縣衛生福利局|quote=列島的陸域面積為29.60平方公里，全縣各島海岸線總長為 133 公里|archive-date=19 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219140404/http://www.matsuhb.gov.tw/2009web/friendly_index.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| area_water_percent = 
| area_rank          = [[List of administrative divisions of Taiwan|22 of 22]]
| population_total   = 12716
| population_as_of   = June 2016
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.matsu-news.gov.tw/2010web/news_detail_101.php?CMD=open&UID=186188|script-title=zh:截至106年6月底 馬祖總人口數12716人|language=zh-tw|quote={{lang|zh-tw|　總計：2768戶，12716人，男性7244人，女性5472人。}}|website=[[Matsu Daily]]|date=14 July 2016|access-date=8 September 2019}}</ref>
| population_rank    = [[List of administrative divisions of Taiwan|22 of 22]]
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone           = [[Time in Taiwan|NST]]
| utc_offset         = +08:00
| website            = {{URL|https://www.matsu.gov.tw/Enhtml/Index|Matsu.gov.tw}}
| footnotes          = 
| module             = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
| flower  = [[Bougainvillea glabra|Hairy bougainvillea]] (''Bougainvillea glabra'')
| tree    = Australian laurel ([[Pittosporum tobira]])
| bird    = [[Chinese crested tern]] (''Sterna bernsteini'')
 }}
{{Infobox islands|embed=yes
| coastline_km        = 133<!-- or |coastline_km=  -->
| coastline_footnotes = <ref name="health"/>
 }}
| population_demonym = Matsunese
}}

{{Infobox Chinese
| title = Matsu Islands
| t = {{linktext|馬祖|列島}}
| s = {{linktext|马祖|列岛}}
| bpmf = ㄇㄚˇ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄗㄨˇ<br />ㄌㄧㄝˋ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄉㄠˇ
| w = Ma³-tsu³ Lieh⁴-tao³
| p = Mǎzǔ Lièdǎo
| tp = Mǎzǔ Lièdǎo
| mps = Mǎtzǔ Lièdǎu
| gr = Maatzuu Liehdao
| myr = Mǎdzǔ Lyèdǎu
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|m|a|2|.|z|u|3|-|l|ye|4|.|d|ao|3}}
| poj = Má-chó͘&nbsp;&nbsp;Lia̍t-tó
| tl = Má-tsóo Lia̍t-tó
| phfs = Mâ-chú Lie̍t-tó
| buc = Mā-cū liĕk-dō̤
| j = Ma<sup>5</sup>-zou<sup>2</sup>-lit<sup>6</sup>-dou<sup>2</sup>
| altname = Lienchiang County
| t2 = {{linktext|連江|縣}}
| s2 = {{linktext|连江|县}}
| psp2 = Lienkong Hsien
| bpmf2 = ㄌㄧㄢˊ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄐㄧㄤ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄒㄧㄢˋ
| w2 = Lien²-chiang¹ Hsien⁴
| p2 = Liánjiāng Xiàn
| mi2 = {{IPAc-cmn|l|yan|2|.|j|yang|1|-|x|yan|4}}
| tp2 = Liánjiang Siàn
| mps2 = Liánjiāng Shiàn
| gr2 = Lianjiang Shiann
| myr2 = Lyánjyāng Syàn
| showflag = wpbuc
| poj2 = Liân-kang-koān
| tl2 = Liân-kang-kuān
| phfs2 = Lièn-kông-yen
| buc2 = [[:cdo:Lièng-gŏng-gâing|Lièng-gŏng-gâing]]
| j2 = Lin<sup>4</sup>-gong<sup>1</sup>-jyun<sup>6</sup>
| l = [[Mazu|Matsu]] Islands
}}

The '''Matsu Islands'''{{efn|{{zh|t={{linktext|馬祖列島}}|w=Ma³-tsu³ Lieh⁴-tao³<!--The English language term is directly derived from this romanization.-->|hp=Mǎzǔ Lièdǎo}}; [[Foochow Romanized]]: Mā-cū liĕk-dō̤}} ({{IPAc-en|UK|ˌ|m|æ|t|ˈ|s|uː}} or {{IPAc-en|US|ˌ|m|ɑː|t|ˈ|s|uː}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Longman |first1=J.C. |title=Longman Pronunciation Dictionary |date=2008 |publisher=Pearson Education ESL |isbn=978-1405881173 |edition=3}}</ref>), officially '''Lienchiang County'''{{efn|{{zh|t={{linktext|連江|縣}} |w=Lien²-chiang¹ Hsien⁴<!--DO NOT REMOVE The English language term is directly derived from this romanization and readers who are not familiar with Wade-Giles need to see this to understand where this term comes from.-->|p=Liánjiāng Xiàn}}; [[Foochow Romanized]]: [[:cdo:Lièng-gŏng-gâing|Lièng-gŏng-gâing]]}} ({{IPAc-en|l|j|ɛ|n|ˈ|dʒ|j|ɑː|ŋ}}), are an [[archipelago]] of 36 islands and [[islet]]s in the [[East China Sea]] governed by the [[Taiwan|Republic of China (Taiwan)]], situated alongside the southeastern coast of [[mainland China]]. The archipelago forms the smallest [[counties of Taiwan|county]] in the [[free area of the Republic of China|ROC-controlled territories]] by area and population, as well as one of two counties that is a part of the nominal [[Fuchien Province, Republic of China|Fuchien Province]].

The current Lienchiang County of the ROC was once part of an intact Lienchiang County of [[Fujian]] before its effective partition in 1949 following the [[Chinese Civil War]], which resulted in the [[Lianjiang County|mainland portion of the county]] being controlled by the [[China|People's Republic of China]] (PRC), while the offshore islands of Matsu remained under ROC control. The circumstance has made the county the only former geographical unit with the same name that is now divided between the administrations of [[two Chinas|the ROC and the PRC]].

==Name==
Lienchiang County, Taiwan (R.O.C.)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.matsu.gov.tw/enhtml/|title=Lienchiang County|website=Lienchiang County|access-date=22 August 2019|quote=Address：No.76, Jieshou Village, Nangan Township, Lienchiang County 209, Taiwan (R.O.C.) {...} Lienchiang County Copyright ©2016 Lienchiang County Government.}}</ref><ref name="moi">{{cite web|date=16 June 2011 |script-title=zh:臺灣地區鄉鎮市區級以上行政區域名稱中英對照表 |url=http://placesearch.moi.gov.tw/translate/Admin1000616.pdf |language=zh-tw,en|page=14|publisher=Online Translation System of Geographic Name, [[Ministry of Interior of the Republic of China|Ministry of Interior]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325205328/http://placesearch.moi.gov.tw/translate/Admin1000616.pdf|archive-date=25 March 2012 |df=dmy-all |quote=縣市鄉鎮區別 國際慣用名 漢語拼音譯寫 備註{...}連江縣 Lienchiang County Lianjiang County直轄市、縣(市)級以上行政區域名稱係依國際慣用方式譯寫}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.president.gov.tw/Page/106|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906010240/https://english.president.gov.tw/Page/106|archive-date=6 September 2020|url-status=live|title=Local governments|access-date=11 October 2020|website=Office of the President, Republic of China (Taiwan)|quote=Lienchiang{...}Lienchiang County}}</ref><ref name="matsuisland"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/cs/profiles/Taiwan-new.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215044742/https://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/cs/profiles/Taiwan-new.pdf|archive-date=15 February 2017|url-status=live|title=Country Profile: Taiwan|date=March 2005|access-date=12 October 2020|publisher=[[Federal Research Division]], [[Library of Congress]]|page=20}}</ref> uses the [[traditional Chinese characters]] name ({{lang|zh-tw|連江縣}}) and the [[romanization|romanized]] name Lienchiang which is derived from the [[Wade-Giles]] romanization (''Lien²-chiang¹'') of the [[Taiwanese Mandarin|Mandarin]] pronunciation for those Chinese characters that also refer to [[Lianjiang County]], [[Fuzhou]], [[Fujian]] in [[mainland China]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/indextopostalwor00chin/|title=Index to the Postal Working Map|date=1904|via=[[Internet Archive]]|location=[[Shanghai]]|publisher=Inspectorate General of Customs|quote=Lienchiang-hs. 連江縣|pages=[https://archive.org/details/indextopostalwor00chin/page/41/ 41], [https://archive.org/details/indextopostalwor00chin/page/87/ 87]}}</ref><ref name="gazetteer"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/CIA-RDP80-00810A002600870002-6/page/n1|title=Chinese Communist Highway Construction and Repair|page=2|via=[[Internet Archive]]|date=2 November 1953|access-date=22 August 2019|quote=4. On 1 June the construction of a highway from [[Fuzhou|Foochow]] to [[Luoyuan County|Loyuan]] (N 26-30, E 119-32) via [[Mawei District|Mawei]] (N 26-00, E 119-26) and [[Lianjiang County|Lienchiang]] (N 26-12, E 119-31) was scheduled to begin.|publisher=[[CIA]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|via=[[Internet Archive]]|url=https://archive.org/details/CIA-RDP79T00975A002400150001-8/page/n4|page=4|title=Current Intelligence Bulletin|date=7 February 1956|publisher=[[CIA]]|quote=Lienchiang|access-date=22 August 2019}}</ref> Lienchiang has also been written as '''Lien-chiang''' and '''Lienkiang'''<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://archive.org/details/chinesereposito111unse_11/|title=Topography of Fukien; situation and boundaries of the province; its area and population; subdivisions, mountains, rivers, harbors &c.|date=December 1842|volume=11|issue=12|journal=[[The Chinese Repository]]|quote=6 連江 Lienkiáng|page=[https://archive.org/details/chinesereposito111unse_11/page/652/ 652]|via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/pictorialhistory02taip/|title=A Pictorial History of the Republic of China : Its Founding and Development|volume=2|year=1981|location=[[Taipei]]|publisher=Modern China Press|page=[https://archive.org/details/pictorialhistory02taip/page/528/ 528]|quote=Outlying the island of Kinmen, the Matsu Islands are well known to the world because of its valiant defense. These consist of Kaoteng, Peikan, Nankan, Tungchuan and Sichuan<!--西犬--> and spread out at the mouth of the Min River. They form a part of Lienkiang county, Fukien.|via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book
|url=https://archive.org/details/administrativesu0000lawg/
|year=1999
|title=Administrative Subdivisions of Countries : A Comprehensive World Reference, 1900 through 1998
|author=Gwillim Law
|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]
|page=[https://archive.org/details/administrativesu0000lawg/page/357/ 357]|via=[[Internet Archive]]|quote=The other is Lienkiang (islands of Matsu, Changhsu Chan, Tungyin Tao, Tungchuan Tao).}}</ref> and by a [[postal romanization]] of the local language pronunciation '''Lienkong'''.<ref name="gazetteer"/> The term Lienchiang can also refer to the homophonous [[Lianjiang, Guangdong|Lianjiang]] in [[Zhanjiang]], [[Guangdong]], [[China]]<!-- and some other smaller towns and townships-->.<ref name="gazetteer">{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/shinachimeishsei00japa/|title=A Gazetteer of Chinese Geographical Names|via=[[Internet Archive]]|date=1938|quote=Lienkong-hsien 連江縣 福建省東部福州の東北 (Lienchiang){...}Limkong-hsien 廉江縣(石城) 廣東省西南部廣東灣の北方 (Lienchiang)|pages=[https://archive.org/details/shinachimeishsei00japa/page/156/ 156], [https://archive.org/details/shinachimeishsei00japa/page/158/ 158]}}</ref>

The Matsu Islands<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.matsu.gov.tw/enhtml/content/371030000A/118|title=About Matsu|website=Lienchiang County|access-date=22 August 2019|quote=Matsu islands|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821230226/https://www.matsu.gov.tw/enhtml/content/371030000A/118|archive-date=21 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.matsu-nsa.gov.tw/user/Article.aspx?a=22&l=2|title=History and Customs|date=19 January 2019|access-date=22 August 2019|website=Matsu National Scenic Area|quote=The oldest traces of settlements in the Matsu Islands were on the island of Dongju, and have been determined to be relics from the Neolithic era.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912131328/https://www.matsu-nsa.gov.tw/user/article.aspx?a=22&l=2|archive-date=12 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="matsus">{{cite web|url=https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1955-57v02/d158|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804054712/https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1955-57v02/d158|archive-date=4 August 2020|url-status=live|title=FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, 1955–1957, CHINA|volume=2|website=[[Office of the Historian]], US Department of State|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]|date=16 March 1955|access-date=28 August 2019|quote=158. National Intelligence Estimate{...}3.In the context of this estimate the term "Matsu Group" or "Matsus" denotes those Chinese Nationalist-held islands lying essentially between 25 and 27 degrees north latitude and consisting of Tung-yin Shan, Lang Tao, Kao-teng Hsu, Pei-kan Tang, Matsu Shan, {{sic|Pai-chuan and Lieh Tao|expected=Pai-chuan Lieh Tao}} (White Dogs), Wu-chiu, and Hsia Wu-chiu. "Matsu" used singly applies only to Matsu-Shan proper.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2015-12/26/content_22813693.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008231818/https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2015-12/26/content_22813693.htm|archive-date=8 October 2020|url-status=live|author1=Hu Meidong |author2=Lin Shujuan|title=Further options open for Straits travel|date=26 December 2015|access-date=16 March 2020|website=[[China Daily]]|quote=A passenger ferry route between Huangqi in Fujian province and Matsu has allowed tourists and commuters a cheaper and faster choice for cross-Straits travel. Huangqi, a port under the administration of the capital Fuzhou, is the closest mainland port to Matsu, which has also been connected with Mawei port in Fuzhou since 2001. A direct passenger ferry trip along the latter route takes around 90 minutes. Each trip along the Huangqi-Matsu route, which crosses an 8-kilometer strip of sea, takes 25 minutes and costs 135 yuan ($21). "The Huangqi-Matsu route has made daily commuting between Lianjiang and Matsu much easier," said Yang Wenjian, head of Lianjiang-Matsu Cultural Research Society, an NGO dedicated to promoting civil exchanges between the two places.}}</ref> are named after the main island, [[Nangan, Lienchiang|Nangan]] (Nankan). Nangan is also named Matsu Island<ref name="matsuisland">{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Matsu-Island|title=Matsu Island|access-date=12 October 2020|website=[[Encyclopædia Britannica Online]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104091143/https://www.britannica.com/place/Matsu-Island|archive-date=4 November 2019|url-status=live|quote=Matsu is the main island of a group of 19, the Matsu Islands, which constitute Lien-kiang (Lienchiang) ''hsien'' (county).}}</ref> because of a temple on the island which is supposed to be the burial site of the similarly named goddess [[Mazu]] ({{lang|zh-tw|媽祖}}).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.matsu.idv.tw/topicdetail.php?f=206&t=124539|script-title=zh:「馬祖」地名由來(連江縣志續修-地理志初稿)}}</ref> Matsu is the [[Wade-Giles]]-derived romanization of the [[Taiwanese Mandarin|Mandarin]] pronunciation (''Ma³-tsu³'') for the Chinese character name ({{lang|zh-tw|馬祖}}) of the islands. The Matsu Islands are also known by other Chinese-language names including {{zh|t=馬祖群島|hp=Mǎzǔ Qúndǎo}} and {{lang|zh-hant|馬祖島}}; [[Foochow Romanized]]: Mā-cū dō̤).

In April 2003, the Lienchiang County government considered changing the name of the county to Matsu County in order to avoid confusion with the nearby Lianjiang County on the mainland. Then-Magistrate [[Chen Hsueh-sheng]] said some local people opposed the name change because they felt it reflected the [[Taiwan independence|pro-independence]] viewpoint of the [[Democratic Progressive Party]].<ref name=identity>{{cite news |title=Cases of mistaken identity perplexing Lienchiang County |author=Sandy Huang |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/04/06/201011 |newspaper=[[Taipei Times]] |date=April 6, 2003 |access-date=January 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316183649/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/04/06/201011 |archive-date=March 16, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==

===Yuan dynasty===
[[Chinese people|Chinese]] from [[Fujian]] and [[Zhejiang]] started migrating to the islands during the [[Yuan dynasty]]. Most of the people on Matsu came from Houguan ({{lang|zh|侯官}}) (today [[Changle District|Changle]], [[Fujian]]). The popular net fishing industry established the base for development of Fuao settlement and industrial development of the region over several hundred years.

===Ming dynasty===
Some crewmen of [[Zheng He]] temporarily stayed on the islands.

===Qing dynasty===
[[File:Fujian quan tu LOC 96685903.jpg|thumb|The historical Fujian Province including the Matsu Islands (1864)|left]]
During the early [[Qing dynasty]], [[pirate]]s gathered here and the residents left temporarily. In contrast with [[Geography of Taiwan|Taiwan]] and [[Penghu]], the Matsu Islands were not ceded to the [[Japanese Empire]] via the [[Treaty of Shimonoseki]] in 1895. Due to its strategic location along the only route for the spice traffic, the [[British Empire|British]] established the [[Dongyong Lighthouse]] in [[Dongyin, Lienchiang|Dongyin Island]] in 1912 to facilitate ships navigation.<ref name="fkpg.gov.tw">{{Cite web |url=http://www.fkpg.gov.tw/Lienchiang.php |title=福建省政府 |access-date=2014-09-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924013546/http://www.fkpg.gov.tw/Lienchiang.php |archive-date=2015-09-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Republic of China===
In 1911, the Qing dynasty was toppled after the [[Xinhai Revolution]] on 10 October 1911 and the [[Republic of China (1912–49)|Republic of China]] (ROC) was established on 1 January 1912. Matsu Islands were subsequently governed under the administration of [[Fujian Province, Republic of China|Fukien Province]] of the ROC. On 1 August 1927, the [[Nanchang Uprising]] broke out between the ruling [[Kuomintang|Nationalist Party of China]] (KMT) and [[Chinese Communist Party]] (CCP) which marked the beginning of [[Chinese Civil War]].

Sheng-Chang Lin, a graduate student writing for the [[University of Nottingham]] Taiwan Studies Programme<!--Keep British spelling as it's a proper name-->, noted that in the pre-1949 period, the Matsu Islands did not have a significant relationship with Taiwan, which at the time was a colony of the [[Empire of Japan]]. Additionally, he stated that the islands at the time had separate identities and did not have a collective identity as the Matsu Islands. Previous groups of islanders perceived themselves as Fujianese.<ref name=TaiwanInsightedge>{{cite web|last=Lin|first=Sheng-Chang|url=https://taiwaninsight.org/2021/09/13/at-the-edge-of-state-control-the-creation-of-the-matsu-islands/|title=At the Edge of State Control: The Creation of the "Matsu Islands"|work=Taiwan Insight|publisher=[[University of Nottingham]] Taiwan Studies Programme|date=2021-09-13|access-date=2023-05-21}}</ref>

On 10 September 1937, Japan occupied Beigan and Nangan via the [[Collaborationist Chinese Army]], making the islands the first in Fujian to fall to Japan.<ref name="17to49">{{cite web|url=http://board.matsu.idv.tw/board_view.php?board=24&pid=23127&link=23127&start=0|script-title=zh:北竿鄉志 大事記（民國十七年至四十九年）|trans-title=History of Beigan Major Events (1928-1960)|language=zh-tw|website={{lang|zh-tw|馬祖資訊網}}|access-date=2 September 2019|quote={{lang|zh-tw|二十六年<br />九月十日<br />北竿、南竿被日軍侵占，成為福建最早淪陷的島嶼。}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|script-title=zh:馬祖歲月印記|language=zh-tw|author={{lang|zh-tw|林金炎}}|quote={{lang|zh-tw|0910 日軍透過偽軍侵佔馬祖列島的南、北竿島，成為福建最早淪陷的島嶼。《連江縣志，大事紀P.34，連江縣地方志編纂委員會，2000.6，方志出版社。》}}|date=15 September 2014|page=46|publisher=財團法人台北市道元社會福利慈善事業基金會出版 |isbn=978-986-90943-0-6}}</ref> The islands were not occupied by Japanese troops during [[World War II]] because they were not important militarily. The Lienchiang County seat was moved to Danyang Township on 19 April 1941 until the [[Surrender of Japan|Japanese surrender]] on August 15, 1945.

As a result of the [[Chinese Civil War]], in 1949 the [[Chinese Communist Party]] (CCP) took over [[mainland China]] from the [[Kuomintang|Chinese Nationalist Party]] (Kuomintang, KMT). The CCP established the [[People's Republic of China]] (PRC) on 1 October 1949, which included administration of today's [[Lianjiang County]] of [[Fujian]]. The KMT retreated from mainland China to Taiwan at the end of 1949, but retained some of the offshore parts of Lienchiang County (namely, the Matsu Islands), and also most of [[Kinmen|Kinmen County]] (Quemoy). On 15 December 1950, the Matsu Administrative Office ({{lang|zh-tw|{{ill|馬祖行政公署|zh|vertical-align=sup}}}}) of [[Fujian Province, Republic of China]], was established, including modern-day Lienchiang County (the Matsu Islands), as well as several islands in present-day [[Haidao Township]] ([[Xiapu County]]) and Taishan ({{lang|zh|台山}}) ([[Fuding|Fuding County]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.matsu-news.gov.tw/news_info.php?CMD=open&UID=128174|script-title=zh:馬祖紀事－1950 ／林金炎|author={{lang|zh-tw|林金炎}}|language=zh-tw|date=24 June 2011|access-date=21 February 2020|quote={{lang|zh-tw|12月15日、福建省政府成立「馬祖行政公署」，行政區以島為單位，改設馬祖為八區，即「南竿」、「北竿」、「白肯」、「東湧」、「四礵」、「岱山(台山)」、「西洋」、「浮鷹」區，}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.matsu.idv.tw/print.php?f=4&t=57357&p=1|script-title=zh: 請問：連江縣政府的沿革|language=zh-tw|date=25 June 2008|access-date=22 February 2020|website={{lang|zh-tw|馬祖資訊網}}|quote={{lang|zh-tw| 鄉政沿革<br />39年12月15日，「馬祖行政公署」成立於南竿，將原設之區署及鄉公所撤銷，行政區域改以島為單位，改設南竿、北竿、白肯、東湧、四霜、西洋、浮鷹、岱山等8區，各區設區公所，區下設村、伍，為地方基層行政組織。}}}}</ref> which were lost to the PRC in 1950 and 1951.<ref name="biojyu">{{cite book|script-title=zh:莒光鄉志|trans-title=The Biography of Jyuguang Township<!--This is the English language title as written on the book itself.-->|language=zh-tw|isbn=986-00-5026-0|date=2006|editor=林金炎|pages=460–61}}</ref>

In early July 1953, [[KMT|Chinese Nationalist]] guerillas retreated from islands in the Xiyang Island (Chihchutao) area of present-day Haidao Township (PRC), and the area came under the control of the PRC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/CIA-RDP80-00810A002400130005-6|title=Chinese Communist Treatment of Coastal Islanders, Fukien|date=16 September 1953|access-date=21 February 2020|via=[[Internet Archive]]|publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]|pages=1–2|quote=''[Sanitized]'' Comment. The Chinese Nationalist guerrillas withdrew from islands in the Chihchutao area in early July ''[sanitized]'' and are now concentrated on Yinshan (N 26-22, E 120-30). Chihchutao, Shuangfengtao, Machick, and Chuishan are now Chinese Communist controlled although not occupied by troops. The Nationalist have lost control over these islands and it is extremely difficult for them to return to the area.}}</ref> In June 1955, the PRC undertook considerable road and military construction around [[Haitan Island]], Pingtan County, Fuzhou, Fujian, China, including roads leading to possible artillery positions on the mainland. Those positions might have been used to protect the Haitan Strait, which was considered a favorable staging area for amphibious operations against the Matsu Islands.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/CIA-RDP79-00927A000500120003-3|title=Current Intelligence Weekly Summary|date=30 June 1955|publisher=[[CIA]]|via=[[Internet Archive]]|page=[https://archive.org/details/CIA-RDP79-00927A000500120003-3/page/n11 2]}}</ref> In July 1958, the PRC began massing forces opposite Kinmen (Quemoy) and Matsu (Lienchiang) and began bombarding them on 23 August, triggering the [[Second Taiwan Strait Crisis]]. On 4 September 1958, the PRC announced the extension of its territorial waters by 20 kilometres (12&nbsp;mi) to include the two islands. However, later that month, after talks between the United States and the PRC in [[Warsaw]], [[Polish People's Republic|Poland]], a ceasefire was agreed and the status quo reaffirmed.<ref>A Study of Crisis, Michael Brecher, 1997, p. 385</ref>

The phrase "[[Kinmen|Quemoy]] and Matsu" became part of American political language in the [[1960 U.S. presidential election]]. During the debates, both candidates, Vice President [[Richard Nixon]] and Senator [[John F. Kennedy]], pledged to use American forces if necessary to protect Taiwan from invasion by the PRC, which the United States did not recognize as the legitimate government of China. However, in the second debate on 7 October 1960, the two candidates stated different opinions about whether American forces should also be used to protect [[Taiwan]]'s forward positions, Quemoy and Matsu.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://americandiplomacy.web.unc.edu/2010/11/quemoy-and-matsu/|title=A Historical Footnote Revisited|date=November 2010|author=Robert B. Norris|access-date=4 October 2020|publisher=[[UNC-CH]]}}</ref> Senator Kennedy stated that these islands — as little as 9 kilometres (5.5&nbsp;mi) off the coast of China and as much as 170 kilometres (106&nbsp;mi) from Taiwan — were strategically indefensible and were not essential to the defense of Taiwan. Vice President Nixon maintained that, since Quemoy and Matsu were in the "area of freedom", they should not, as a matter of principle, be surrendered to the Communists.<ref>{{Cite journal| last=Norris | first=Robert B. | url=http://www.unc.edu/depts/diplomat/item/2010/0912/comm/norris_quemoymatsu.html | date=November 29, 2010 | title=Quemoy and Matsu: a historical footnote revisited | journal=American Diplomacy | access-date=2014-04-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020144403/http://www.unc.edu/depts/diplomat/item/2010/0912/comm/norris_quemoymatsu.html|archive-date=20 October 2018}}</ref>

Earlier in the debate, Nixon said:
{{blockquote|In the Truman Administration 600 million people went behind the [[Iron Curtain]] including the satellite countries of Eastern Europe and [[Loss of China|Communist China]]. In this Administration we have stopped them at Quemoy and Matsu, we have stopped them in [[French Indochina|Indo China]], we have stopped them in [[1958 Lebanon crisis|Lebanon]], we have stopped them in other parts of the world.}}

Later in the debate, [[Edward P. Morgan]] asked Senator Kennedy:<ref>{{cite video|title=OCTOBER 7, 1960 Presidential Candidates Debate|via=[[C-SPAN]]|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?33149-1/1960-presidential-candidates-debate|time=52:34|access-date=December 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416080346/https://www.c-span.org/video/?33149-1%2F1960-presidential-candidates-debate|archive-date=April 16, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><!--<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-4VeDta7Mo|title=John F. Kennedy vs Richard Nixon - Second Presidential Debate 1960}} (starting at 50:00)</ref>--><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/archives/JFKCAMP1960/1052/JFKCAMP1960-1052-002|title=TELEVISION DEBATES: TRANSCRIPT: SECOND DEBATE|pages=53, 58–61|website=[[John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum]]|access-date=2019-08-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821110144/https://www.jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/archives/JFKCAMP1960/1052/JFKCAMP1960-1052-002|archive-date=2019-08-21|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RLYjAQAAMAAJ|title=The Joint Appearances of Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard M. Nixon and Other 1960 Campaign Presentations|date=1961|via=[[Google Books]]|publisher=[[US Government Printing Office]]|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=RLYjAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA163&lpg=PA163 163]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ARqaAAAAQBAJ|title=Chris Matthews Complete Library|author=[[Chris Matthews]]|date=October 2013|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=ARqaAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT653&lpg=PT653]|publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=9781476764696}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/presidential-debate-washington-dc|title=Presidential Debate in Washington, DC|access-date=4 October 2020|date=October 7, 1960}}</ref>
{{blockquote|Senator, Saturday on television, you said that you had always thought that Quemoy and Matsu were unwise places to draw our defense line in the Far East. Would you comment further on that, and also address to this question: couldn't a pull-back from those islands be interpreted as [[appeasement]]?}}
[[File:Nationalist China - administrative divisons. LOC 2007633622.jpg|thumb|MA-TSU LIEH-TAO (Matsu Islands) including: TUNG-YIN LIEH-TAO (Dongyin), Lang Tao (Liang Island), Ch'ang-hsü Shan (Beigan), Ma-tsu Shan (Nangan), PAI-CH'ÜAN LIEH-TAO (Juguang)<br/>"The Nationalist-held islands off the Chinese mainland are nominally a part of Fukien Province, but are presently under military administration." (1962)]]
Kennedy's response was:
{{blockquote|Well, the United States has on occasion attempted, mostly in the middle '50s to persuade [[Chiang Kai-shek]] to pull his troops back to Formosa. I believe strongly in the defense of Formosa. These islands are a few miles, five or six miles{{efn|[[Gaodeng Island]] is 5.75 miles from the Beijiao Peninsula. In Kinmen County, the northern coast of Greater Kinmen (Quemoy) is about five or six miles from the nearest point on mainland Asia in places. Some ROC-controlled areas are closer than five miles from PRC-controlled areas. For instance, Jiaoyu in [[Dadeng Subdistrict]] is a little more than one mile from the tip of Greater Kinmen in [[Jinsha, Kinmen|Jinsha Township]].}} off the coast of Red China within a general harbor area, and more than a hundred miles{{efn|[[Juguang, Lienchiang]] and [[Dongyin, Lienchiang]] are a little more than ninety miles from the closest point on the main island of Taiwan (Formosa), and [[Wuqiu, Kinmen]] is about eighty miles from the closest point. The main islands [[Nangan, Lienchiang|Nangan]] (Matsu) and [[Kinmen|Greater Kinmen]] (Quemoy) are over one hundred miles from Taiwan Island.}} from Formosa. We have never said flatly that we will defend Quemoy and Matsu if it is attacked. We say we will defend it if it's part of a general attack on Formosa, but it is extremely difficult to make that judgment.<br/>Now, Mr. [[Christian Herter|Herter]], in 1958, when he was [[United States Under Secretary of State|Under Secretary of State]], said they were strategically indefensible. Admiral [[Raymond A. Spruance|Spruance]] and [[J. Lawton Collins|Collins]] in 1955 said that we should not attempt to defend these islands in their conference on the Far East. General [[Matthew Ridgway|Ridgway]] has said the same thing. I believe that when you get into a war, if you're going to get into a war for the defense of Formosa, it ought to be on a clearly defined line. One of the problems, I think, at the time of South Korea was the question of whether the United States would defend it if it were attacked. I believe that we should defend Formosa, we should come to its defense. It leaves this rather in the air that we will defend it under some conditions but not under others, I think it is a mistake.<br/>Secondly, I would not suggest a withdrawal at the point of the Communist guns. It is a decision finally that the Nationalists should make and I believe that we should consult with them and attempt to work out a plan by which the line is drawn at the Island of Formosa. It leaves 100 miles{{efn|The island of Taiwan is separated from the southeast coast of [[China]] by the [[Taiwan Strait]], which ranges from {{convert|220|km|mi|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} at its widest point to {{convert|130|km|mi|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} at its narrowest.}} between the sea. But with General Ridgway, Mr. Herter, General Collins, Admiral Spruance and many others, I think it is unwise to take the chance of being dragged into a war which may lead to a world war over two islands which are not strategically defensible, which are not according to their testimony, essential to the defense of Formosa.<br/>I think that we should protect our commitments. I believe strongly we should do so in [[West Berlin|Berlin]]. I believe strongly we should do so in Formosa and I believe we should meet our commitments to every country whose security we've guaranteed. But I do not believe that that line, in case of a war, should be drawn on those islands, but instead on the island of Formosa. And as long as they are not essential to the defense of Formosa, it has been my judgement ever since 1954, at the time of the [[Eisenhower Doctrine]] for the Far East, that our line should be drawn in the sea around the island itself.}}

Vice President Nixon retorted:
{{blockquote|I disagree completely with Senator Kennedy on this point.<br>
I remember in the period immediately before the Korean War, South Korea was supposed to be indefensible as well. Generals testified to that, and Secretary [[Dean Acheson|Acheson]] made a very famous speech at the [[National Press Club (United States)|Press Club]] early in the year that the Korean War started, indicating in effect that South Korea was beyond the defense zone of the United States. I suppose it was hoped when he made that speech that we wouldn't get into a war, but it didn't mean that. We had to go in when they came in.<br/>Now I think as far as Quemoy and Matsu are concerned, that the question is not these two little pieces of real estate- they are unimportant. It isn't the few people who live on them- they are not too important. It's the principle involved. These two islands are in the area of freedom. The Nationalists have these two islands. We should not force our Nationalist allies to get off of them and give them to the Communists. If we do that, we start a chain reaction, because the Communists aren't after Quemoy and Matsu, they're after Formosa. In my opinion, this is the same kind of woolly thinking that led to disaster for America in Korea, I'm against it, I would never tolerate it as President of the United States, and I will hope that Senator Kennedy will change his mind if he should be elected.}}

[[File:Commemorative NT$10 Coin in Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Taiwan's Retrocession.png|thumb|Matsu Islands in the upper left of the map on the obverse of the commemorative [[New Taiwan dollar|NT]]$10 coin celebrating the 50th anniversary of Taiwan's retrocession]]

After the third debate on 13 October 1960, Kennedy's advisers spoke with then Secretary of State Herter and said that Kennedy was willing to revise his position on the Quemoy and Matsu issue so as not to give the Communists the impression that the United States would not stand united against aggression. Nixon pointed out the change in Kennedy's position but decided not to press the point due to the importance of the United States' role in what was an extremely tense situation.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/memoirsofrichard00nixo|page=[https://archive.org/details/memoirsofrichard00nixo/page/272 272]|url-access=registration|publisher=Simon & Schuster|isbn=0-446-93259-0|title=RN: The Memoirs of Richard Nixon|author=[[Richard Nixon]]|date=1978|via=[[Internet Archive]]|quote=Once again I hit hard on the Quemoy-Matsu issue, stating that Kennedy's willingness to surrender the islands to the Communists under threat of war was no different from submitting to blackmail. Shortly after the third debate I learned that one of Kennedy's top foreign policy advisers had telephoned Secretary of State Herter to say that Kennedy did not want to give the Communists the impression that America would not stand united against aggression and was therefore prepared to revise his position in order not to appear to oppose the administration on this issue. I saw this as Kennedy's way of trying to slide away from an unpopular position, and my immediate inclination was not to let him get away with it. But the Quemoy-Matsu situation was so tense, and the importance of America's role in discouraging Communist aggression was so great, that I decided not to press the point if Kennedy modified his stand. I pointed out how his changed attitude reflected his lack of experience, and then let the issue drop.}}</ref> Polls of Republicans and Democrats showed overwhelming support for Nixon's position.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/jfkmanmyth00lask|page=[https://archive.org/details/jfkmanmyth00lask/page/444 444]|date=1963|author=[[Victor Lasky]]|title=J.F.K. : the man and the myth|via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>

Sheng-Chang Lin stated that the Matsu Islands gained a collective identity during the Cold War period. Additionally, the islands gained significant relationships to Taiwan, now sharing a government with them. By 2021, younger people identified as being from the Matsu Islands specifically.<ref name=TaiwanInsightedge/>

Self-governance of the county resumed in 1992, after the cessation of political warfare with the mainland and the abolition of Battle Field Administration on 7 November 1992.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtcc.gov.tw/en/matsu.html|title=Lienchiang County Council - Introduction to Matsu|work=mtcc.gov.tw|access-date=2015-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325073700/http://www.mtcc.gov.tw/en/matsu.html|archive-date=2015-03-25|url-status=dead}}</ref> Afterwards, local construction picked up pace. In 1999, the islands were designated as the Matsu National Scenic Area Administration.<ref name="fkpg.gov.tw"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=175597&ctNode=428 |title=Matsu tourism heralds new dawn for Lienchiang County - Taiwan Today |access-date=2015-12-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208093450/http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=175597&ctNode=428 |archive-date=2015-12-08 |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2001, direct cargo and passenger shipping started between Matsu and Fujian Province of the PRC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gwytb.gov.cn/en/Headline/201103/t20110316_1787640.htm|title=Headline_Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council PRC|access-date=2014-07-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714173713/http://www.gwytb.gov.cn/en/Headline/201103/t20110316_1787640.htm|archive-date=2014-07-14|url-status=live}}</ref> After 1 January 2015, tourists from mainland China could directly apply the [[Exit & Entry Permit (Republic of China)|Exit and Entry Permit]] upon arrival in Matsu Islands. That privilege also applied to [[Penghu]] and Kinmen, as a means to boost tourism in the outlying islands of Taiwan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/acs/201412300006.aspx|title=Annual ridership on Kinmen-Fujian ferry services tops 1.5 million|date=30 December 2014 |access-date=2015-01-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231232924/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/acs/201412300006.aspx|archive-date=2014-12-31|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2015, the [[Huangqi, Lianjiang County|Huangqi]]-Matsu ship route was introduced as part of the Mini [[Three Links]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20151224000903-260302|script-title=zh:北竿到黃岐 小三通再添新航線|language=zh-tw|date=24 December 2015|access-date=19 March 2020|website=[[China Times]]|author=Chen Chien-Yu {{lang|zh-tw|陳建瑜}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://xiamen.chinadaily.com.cn/2019-12/16/c_432509.htm|title=Huangqi-Matsu route sees increasing traffic|date=16 December 2019|access-date=19 March 2020|website=[[China Daily]]|quote=the Huangqi-Matsu ship route{...}was first introduced in December 2015,{...}The Huangqi-Matsu ship route, the fastest route between the mainland and Matsu, is one of Fujian province's four "Mini Three Links",}}</ref>

In 2020, rampant [[sand theft|illegal sand mining]] by Chinese ships in the waters around the Matsu Islands<ref>{{Cite web|title=Taiwan coastguard 'drives away' Chinese vessels including sand dredger|url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/taiwan-coastguard-drives-away-chinese-134319949.html|access-date=2021-01-14|website=sg.news.yahoo.com|language=en-SG|archive-date=2021-01-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116103922/https://sg.news.yahoo.com/taiwan-coastguard-drives-away-chinese-134319949.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> caused concern in the islands and in the [[Executive Yuan]] about damage to the marine environment, possible damage to underwater telecommunications cables, and the potential for coastal erosion. Auctioning impounded ships was seen as an easy way for the dredging companies to get their ships back via intermediaries, hence sinking the impounded ships was under consideration.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2020/08/from-taiwan-to-the-philippines-chinese-illegal-dredging-ships-wreak-environmental-havoc/|title=From Taiwan to the Philippines, Chinese Illegal Dredging Ships Wreak Environmental Havoc|author=Wen Lii|website=[[The Diplomat]]|date=12 August 2020|access-date=23 August 2020}}</ref>

In 2021, it was reported that hundreds of Chinese squid fishing boats surrounded Matsu, and the lights from the boats to attract the squid lit up the local sky in green at night.<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/taiwan-china-squid-boats/2021/10/15/a63aa1f4-1f44-11ec-a8d9-0827a2a4b915_story.html|title= Green sky at night over Taiwan's islands heralds a different kind of squid game |date=2021-10-15|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

In February 2023, two submarine cables between Matsu and Taiwan island were completely cut, causing Matsu residents' communication services to be affected.<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/03/09/taiwan-matsu-internet-access-china-fishing/|title= Internet outage has Taiwan worried about threat from Chinese sabotage|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=2023-03-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/remote-corner-of-taiwan-confronts-wartime-scenario-life-with-no-internet-bb7346c0|title= Taiwan Confronts Wartime Scenario: Life With No Internet|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=2023-03-07}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Dapu Village, Dongju, Matsu, Taiwan.JPG|thumb|Dongju Island]]
The Matsu Islands comprise 19 islands and islets,<ref name="roughguides.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.roughguides.com/destinations/asia/taiwan/taiwan-strait-islands/matsu-islands/|title=The Matsu Islands|access-date=2014-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102142708/http://www.roughguides.com/destinations/asia/taiwan/taiwan-strait-islands/matsu-islands/|archive-date=2015-01-02|url-status=dead}}</ref> which include five major islands, which are [[Nangan, Lienchiang|Nangan]], Dongju and Xiju (both in [[Juguang, Lienchiang|Juguang]] Township), Beigan and Dongyin.<ref name="matsus"/> Minor islands include [[Liang Island]], [[Gaodeng Island]], [[Daqiu Island]] and Xiaoqiu, which are part of [[Beigan, Lienchiang|Beigan Township]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.land.moi.gov.tw/ngis/chhtml/main.asp?area=ZA02&type=byArea|script-title=zh:連江縣土地段名代碼表|publisher=[[:zh:內政部地政司|Department of Land Administration]]|date=16 May 2012|access-date=27 August 2019|language=zh-tw|quote={{lang|zh-tw|地政事務所名稱(代碼) 連江(ZA) 鄉鎮市區名稱(代碼) 北竿鄉(02) 段 小段 代碼 備註{...}大坵 0020 無名島 0021 高登 0022 峭頭 0023 進嶼 0024 亮島 0035 調整 浪岩 0036 調整 三連嶼 0039 中島 0040 調整 白廟 0041 調整 老鼠 0042 調整}}}}</ref> The shortest distance between [[Huangqi, Lianjiang County]] and the Matsu Islands is also the shortest distance between China (PRC) administered territory and territory in the ROC (Taiwan)-administered Matsu Islands.<ref name="govhq">{{cite web|url=http://ljx.fuzhou.gov.cn/xjwz/zwgk/jgzn/xz/201906/t20190613_2914931.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804044410/http://ljx.fuzhou.gov.cn/xjwz/zwgk/jgzn/xz/201906/t20190613_2914931.htm|archive-date=4 August 2020|url-status=live|script-title=zh:黄岐镇|trans-title=Huangqi Town|language=zh-hans|date=13 June 2019|access-date=18 March 2020|quote={{lang|zh-hans|'''对台优势。'''黄岐镇与马祖列岛一衣带水，两岸最近处仅距离8000米，素有"里山"、"外山"之称，是祖国大陆离马祖最近的地方，也是环马祖澳旅游区的核心区域。}}|website={{lang|zh-hans|福州市连江县政府}}}}</ref><ref name="xzqhhq">{{cite web |url=http://xzqh.org/html/show/fj/8545.html|script-title=zh:黄岐镇 |trans-title=Huangqi Town |publisher=XZQH.org |date=13 November 2008 |language=zh-hans |access-date=18 March 2020|quote={{lang|zh-hans|南与马祖列岛隔海相望（两岸最近处仅距离8000米，是祖国大陆离马祖岛最近的地区），}}}}</ref>

Dongyin is the northernmost and Dongju is the southernmost.

* Dongyin is 100 [[nautical mile]]s (190&nbsp;km) from [[Keelung]], Taiwan, 180 to the [[Penghu]] islands, and slightly over 10 nautical miles (19&nbsp;km) from [[mainland China]].
* The soil is not ideal for [[farming]].
* The highest point is on Beigan, 298 metres (978').

Areas: 
* Nangan: {{convert|10.43|km2|abbr=on}}
* Beigan: {{convert|8.86|km2|abbr=on}}
* Dongyin: {{convert|4.35|km2|abbr=on}}
* Juguang islands: see [[Juguang, Lienchiang|Juguang]]

=== Geology ===
The islands are predominantly composed of [[Jurassic]] and [[Cretaceous]] [[Intrusive rock|intrusive]] (emplaced ≈160 Ma, ≈130 Ma and ≈94 Ma) [[granite]] and [[diabase]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Chen|first1=Jing-Yuan|last2=Yang|first2=Jin-Hui|last3=Ji|first3=Wei-Qiang|date=December 2017|title=Ages and petrogenesis of Jurassic and Cretaceous intrusive rocks in the Matsu Islands: Implications for lower crust modification beneath southeastern China|url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1367912017305485|journal=Journal of Asian Earth Sciences|language=en|volume=150|pages=14–24|doi=10.1016/j.jseaes.2017.10.004|bibcode=2017JAESc.150...14C}}</ref>

===Climate===
Average annual [[temperature]] is 18.6&nbsp;°C (65&nbsp;°F), with the average low being at 13&nbsp;°C (55&nbsp;°F) and average high at 29&nbsp;°C (85&nbsp;°F). The daily temperature varies greatly during day and night. The region experiences subtropical maritime climate (''Cfa'' according to the [[Köppen climate classification]]), which is influenced by monsoon and ocean currents and its geographic location. Matsu has four seasons: during winter it is cold and wet, during summer and spring it is foggy, and during autumn the weather is generally stable.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.matsu-nsa.gov.tw/user/Article.aspx?a=25&l=2|title=Climate, Flora and Fauna - Matsu National Scenic Area|date=January 2010 |access-date=2014-09-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813015311/http://www.matsu-nsa.gov.tw/User/Article.aspx?a=25&l=2|archive-date=2014-08-13|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.matsu.idv.tw/gov/mtcc/en/matsu.htm |title=Introduction to Matsu |access-date=2014-08-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602075218/http://www.matsu.idv.tw/gov/mtcc/en/matsu.htm |archive-date=2013-06-02}}</ref>

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y 
|collapsed = Y
|location = Matsu Islands ([[Nangan, Lienchiang|Nangan]]) (2005–2020, extremes 2004–present)
|Jan record high C = 24.2 |Jan record low C = 0.3
|Feb record high C = 25.7 |Feb record low C = 2.1
|Mar record high C = 28.1 |Mar record low C = 1.5
|Apr record high C = 29.4 |Apr record low C = 7.3
|May record high C = 32.7 |May record low C = 12.0
|Jun record high C = 34.1 |Jun record low C = 16.4
|Jul record high C = 35.1 |Jul record low C = 21.0
|Aug record high C = 36.3 |Aug record low C = 22.0
|Sep record high C = 36.6 |Sep record low C = 18.3
|Oct record high C = 32.4 |Oct record low C = 13.7
|Nov record high C = 28.9 |Nov record low C = 8.9
|Dec record high C = 24.1 |Dec record low C = 3.2
|Jan high C = 	12.8
|Feb high C = 	13.3
|Mar high C = 	16.1
|Apr high C = 	20.6
|May high C = 	24.6
|Jun high C = 	27.8
|Jul high C = 	30.8
|Aug high C = 	31.4
|Sep high C = 	29.2
|Oct high C = 	25.0
|Nov high C = 	20.6
|Dec high C = 	15.5
|Jan mean C = 10.6
|Feb mean C = 10.6
|Mar mean C = 12.8
|Apr mean C = 17.1
|May mean C = 21.5
|Jun mean C = 25.2
|Jul mean C = 27.8
|Aug mean C = 28.0
|Sep mean C = 26.4
|Oct mean C = 22.7
|Nov mean C = 18.4
|Dec mean C = 13.3
| year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 	8.8
|Feb low C = 	8.5
|Mar low C = 	10.3
|Apr low C = 	14.4
|May low C = 	19.1
|Jun low C = 	23.1
|Jul low C = 	25.6
|Aug low C = 	25.8
|Sep low C = 	24.4
|Oct low C = 	20.8
|Nov low C = 	16.6
|Dec low C = 	11.4
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 	50.2
|Feb precipitation mm = 	74.5
|Mar precipitation mm = 	107.6
|Apr precipitation mm = 	117.4
|May precipitation mm = 	144.8
|Jun precipitation mm = 	181.9
|Jul precipitation mm = 	104.2
|Aug precipitation mm = 	117.1
|Sep precipitation mm = 	94.1
|Oct precipitation mm = 	38.2
|Nov precipitation mm = 	64.4
|Dec precipitation mm = 	46.0
|Jan humidity = 	80.8
|Feb humidity = 	84.2
|Mar humidity = 	83.1
|Apr humidity = 	83.9
|May humidity = 	86.9
|Jun humidity = 	88.0
|Jul humidity = 	85.8
|Aug humidity = 	86.4
|Sep humidity = 	82.4
|Oct humidity = 	76.6
|Nov humidity = 	80.4
|Dec humidity = 	77.7
|Jan precipitation days = 	8.3
|Feb precipitation days = 	11.4
|Mar precipitation days = 	14.6
|Apr precipitation days = 	13.6
|May precipitation days = 	15.5
|Jun precipitation days = 	13.5
|Jul precipitation days = 	6.1
|Aug precipitation days = 	9.9
|Sep precipitation days = 	9.6
|Oct precipitation days = 	6.0
|Nov precipitation days = 	8.5
|Dec precipitation days = 	7.3
|Jan sun = 	90.3
|Feb sun = 	73.4
|Mar sun = 	107.6
|Apr sun = 	120.7
|May sun = 	120.1
|Jun sun = 	146.0
|Jul sun = 	258.8
|Aug sun = 	235.0
|Sep sun = 	171.4
|Oct sun = 	160.3
|Nov sun = 	101.2
|Dec sun = 	108.7
|source 1 = Central Weather Bureau<ref name= CWB>{{cite web
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240319234416/https://www.cwa.gov.tw/V8/E/D/publication.html?key=13
|script-title=zh:94年–109年氣候資料年報-地面資料 : 467990 馬祖
|archive-date = 19 March 2024
|url = https://www.cwa.gov.tw/V8/E/D/publication.html?key=13
|publisher = Central Weather Bureau
|language = en
|access-date = 20 March 2024}}</ref><ref name=CWBrecordhighs1>{{cite web 
|url = https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_18.pdf 
|title = 氣象站各月份最高氣溫統計 
|publisher = Central Weather Bureau 
|language = zh 
|access-date = 9 February 2023}}</ref><ref name=CWBrecordhighs2>{{cite web 
|url = https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_19.pdf 
|title = 氣象站各月份最高氣溫統計(續) 
|publisher = Central Weather Bureau 
|language = zh 
|access-date = 9 February 2023}}</ref><ref name=CWBrecordlows1>{{cite web 
|url = https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_20.pdf 
|title = 氣象站各月份最低氣溫統計 
|publisher = Central Weather Bureau 
|language = zh 
|access-date = 9 February 2023}}</ref><ref name=CWBrecordlow2>{{cite web 
|url = https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_21.pdf 
|title = 氣象站各月份最低氣溫統計(續) 
|publisher = Central Weather Bureau 
|language = zh 
|access-date = 20 March 2024}}</ref>
}}

==Politics and government==
[[File:Lienchiang County Map (English).svg|thumb|left|Townships of Lienchiang County]]
[[File:Fuxing Village.jpg|thumb|[[Nangan, Lienchiang|Nangan Township]], the seat of Lienchiang County]]
[[File:王忠銘.jpg|thumb|[[Wang Chung-ming]], the incumbent Magistrate of Lienchiang County]]
[[File:(中华民国)连江县政府 - Lianjiang County (R.O.C.) Govenment - 2014.04 - panoramio.jpg|thumb|[[Lienchiang County Government]]]]
[[File:Lienchiang County Council 20120928 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Lienchiang County Council]]]]

The Matsu Islands are administered as Lienchiang County under the [[Fujian Provincial Government]]. [[Nangan, Lienchiang|Nangan Township]] is the county seat which houses the [[Lienchiang County Government]] and [[Lienchiang County Council]]. The county is headed by a magistrate, [[Elections in the Republic of China|elected]] every four years in the ROC local elections. The incumbent magistrate is [[Liu Cheng-ying]] of [[Kuomintang]]. The [[Lienchiang County Council]] seat is dominated by [[Kuomintang]] legislators.

===Administrative divisions===
Lienchiang County is divided into four [[Township (Taiwan)|rural townships]].<ref>{{cite web|date=16 June 2011 |script-title=zh:臺灣地區鄉鎮市區級以上行政區域名稱中英對照表 |url=http://placesearch.moi.gov.tw/translate/Admin1000616.pdf |page=14|publisher=Online Translation System of Geographic Name, [[Ministry of Interior of the Republic of China|Ministry of Interior]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325205328/http://placesearch.moi.gov.tw/translate/Admin1000616.pdf |archive-date=25 March 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> It is further divided into 22 villages and 137 neighborhoods (鄰). Lienchiang County is the only county in Taiwan which does not have a [[County-administered city|city]] or an [[Township (Taiwan)|urban township]]. The [[county seat]] is [[Nangan, Lienchiang|Nangan Township]] (Nankan).

{|class=wikitable
!Name!!Chinese!![[Wade–Giles]]!![[Pinyin]]!![[Foochow Romanized]]
|-
|align=center colspan=5|'''Rural townships'''
|-
|[[Beigan, Lienchiang|Beigan Township]]||{{linktext|lang=zh-tw|北竿|鄉}}||Pei³-kan¹ Hsiang¹||Běigān Xiāng||Báe̤k-găng Hiŏng
|-
|[[Dongyin, Lienchiang|Dongyin Township]]||{{linktext|lang=zh-tw|東引|鄉}}||Tung¹-yin³ Hsiang¹||Dōngyǐn Xiāng||Dĕ̤ng-īng Hiŏng
|-
|[[Juguang, Lienchiang|Juguang Township]]||{{linktext|lang=zh-tw|莒光|鄉}}||Chü³-kuang¹ Hsiang¹||Jǔguāng Xiāng||Gṳ̄-guŏng Hiŏng
|-
|[[Nangan, Lienchiang|Nangan Township]]||{{linktext|lang=zh-tw|南竿|鄉}}||Nan²-kan¹ Hsiang¹||Nángān Xiāng||Nàng-găng Hiŏng
|}

All the townships administer more than one island.

===Magistrates===
Before 1993, county magistrates were appointed.
*Elected magistrates
# Tsao Chang-Shun ({{lang|zh-tw|曹常順}}) (1993–1997) ([[Kuomintang|KMT]])
# Liu Li-Chun ({{lang|zh-tw|劉立群}}) (1997–2001) (KMT)
# [[Chen Hsueh-sheng]], also the current national representative of Matsu. (2001–2009) ([[People First Party (Taiwan)|PFP]], later KMT)
# [[Yang Sui-sheng]] (2009–2014) (KMT)
# [[Liu Cheng-ying]] (2014–2022) (KMT)
# [[Wang Chung-ming]] (2022–present) (KMT)

===Military===
The Matsu Islands are protected by the {{lang|zh-tw|{{ill|ROC Army Matsu Defense Command|zh|陸軍馬祖防衛指揮部|vertical-align=sup}}}}.

===Politics===
Lienchang County voted one [[Kuomintang]] legislator out of one seat to be in the [[Legislative Yuan]] during the [[2016 Taiwanese general election|2016 Republic of China legislative election]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://vote2016.cec.gov.tw/en/T1/n802010000000000.html |title=2016 the 14th Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and the 9th Legislator Election |access-date=2016-01-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304121543/http://vote2016.cec.gov.tw/en/T1/n802010000000000.html |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=live }}</ref>
While the [[Democratic Progressive Party]] have had difficulty winning a county-level election in this area, most of the competitions are among local strategies. In 2018, a [[Green Party Taiwan|Green Party]] member, {{ill|Su Bo Hao|zh|蘇柏豪|vertical-align=sup}} attempted to run for magistrate but failed.

===Cross-Strait relations===
{{citation needed span|The historical Lienchiang County roughly included the northern three townships of today's Matsu Islands (Lienchiang County) and the area of today's [[Lianjiang County|Lianjiang County of the People's Republic of China]] (PRC).|date=August 2020|reason=This is actually a pretty complicated claim. Was the Haidao Township area of today's Xiapu County also part of the historical Lienchiang/Lianjiang county? Also, Juguang Township was not in the original county, right? Various islands switched between counties. The statement should be better written, and a source added.}} The PRC claims the three northern townships of the Matsu Islands as ''Matsu Township'' ({{zh|labels=no |t=馬祖鄉 |p=Mǎzǔ Xiāng}}; Mā-cū hiŏng)<ref name="prcmap">{{cite map|url=http://ljx.fuzhou.gov.cn/xjwz/zjlj/201706/W020190627364931118747.jpg|script-title=zh:连江县地图|access-date=11 October 2020|website=People's Government of Lianjiang County, Fuzhou City 福州市连江县人民政府|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011221106/http://ljx.fuzhou.gov.cn/xjwz/zjlj/201706/W020190627364931118747.jpg|archive-date=11 October 2020|url-status=live|language=zh-hans}} (Note: In the map, the northern three townships of Lienchiang County, ROC (Taiwan) are explicitly included within the boundaries of Lianjiang County, PRC (mainland China) while the southernmost township of Lienchiang County, ROC (Taiwan) is explicitly not included within the boundaries of Lianjiang County, PRC (mainland China).)</ref><ref name="statlj">{{cite web|url=http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/tjbz/tjyqhdmhcxhfdm/2018/35/01/350122.html|script-title=zh:2018年统计用区划代码和城乡划分代码：连江县 |trans-title=2018 Statistical Area Numbers and Rural-Urban Area Numbers: Lianjiang County |language=zh-hans |publisher=[[National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China]] |date=2018 |access-date=22 August 2019 |quote={{lang|zh-hans|统计用区划代码 名称{...}350122400000 马祖乡|}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ljx.fuzhou.gov.cn/xjwz/zjlj/xqjj/jymj/200505/t20050510_700835.htm|script-title=zh:境域面积|website={{lang|zh-hans|福州市连江县政府}}|date=10 May 2005|access-date=22 August 2019|language=zh-hans|quote={{lang|zh-hans|全县总面积428平方公里（包括待统一的马祖列岛）。}}|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822054846/http://ljx.fuzhou.gov.cn/xjwz/zjlj/xqjj/jymj/200505/t20050510_700835.htm|archive-date=22 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="xzqhlj">{{cite web |url=http://www.xzqh.org/html/show/fj/9592.html |script-title=zh:连江县历史沿革 |trans-title=Lianjiang County Historical Development|publisher=XZQH.org |date=16 June 2015 |language=zh-hans |access-date=22 August 2019 |quote={{lang|zh-hans|1949年划为敖江、丹阳、东澳、琯头、筱定、黄苔6镇和荷山、浦洋、镜山、荻壶、潘溪、小沧、朱蓼、所南、象厦、官塘、竿塘、西洋12乡，后又并为8个区，31个乡（镇），其中马祖乡尚待统一。{...}2000年第五次人口普查，连江县常住总人口599962人，{...}（不含马祖乡）2003年末，连江县户籍人口61.31万人，其中非农业人口10.63万人。2004年，全县辖22个乡镇（不含马祖乡），268个村（居），总人口62万人。2007年末，连江县总面积1190.7平方千米（含马祖列岛23.5平方千米）。总人口为613354人（不含马祖列岛），其中城镇人口128298人。}}}}</ref> and the [[Juguang, Lienchiang|Juguang Islands]] (the southernmost islands, formerly named the Baiquan Islands) as part of [[Changle District]].<ref name="prcmap"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://clq.fuzhou.gov.cn/xjwz/zwgk/zfxxgkzl/zlszfgzbmxxgkml/zlsrmzf/gkml/gmjjhshfzghzxghqyghjxgzc/201708/t20170818_1609607.htm|script-title=zh:长乐市人民政府关于印发《长乐市气象灾害防御规划》的通知|date=28 March 2012|access-date=22 August 2019|language=zh-hans|website={{lang|zh-hans|福州市长乐区人民政府}}|quotation={{lang|zh-hans|全境陆地面积723平方公里，海岸线长103公里。有大小岛屿30余个，其中以白犬列岛最大。}}|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822113142/http://clq.fuzhou.gov.cn/xjwz/zwgk/zfxxgkzl/zlszfgzbmxxgkml/zlsrmzf/gkml/gmjjhshfzghzxghqyghjxgzc/201708/t20170818_1609607.htm|archive-date=22 August 2019|url-status=live}} Translation: "Changle covers an area of 723 sq km, and has 103 km of coastline. Changle includes more than thirty islands of various sizes. Among these, the largest are the Baiquan Islands."</ref>

Vessels from the Taiwan's [[Coast Guard Administration (Taiwan)|Coast Guard Administration]] (CGA) have confronted sand dredging by Chinese vessels near the Matsu Islands.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|title=Chinese sand dredging vessels dispersed near Matsu|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202010280016}}</ref> This dredging activity began in 2018.<ref name=":1" /> Since March 2019, the [[Lienchiang Cross-Strait Matters Forum]] started as an official forum between Lienchiang County of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and [[Lianjiang County]] of the [[People's Republic of China]] to discuss matters regarding the two sides.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Shao-fu|last1=Feng|first2=Emerson|last2=Lim|date=6 March 2019|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/acs/201903060020.aspx|title=Lienchiang Cross-Strait Matters Forum focuses on sea transportation|publisher=Focus Taiwan|access-date=7 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306212231/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/acs/201903060020.aspx|archive-date=6 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Demographics and culture==
[[File:Magang Mazu Temple, Nangan, Matsu, Taiwan.JPG|thumb|Matsu Nangan Tianhou Temple]]

===Population===
The majority of native Matsu Islands residents originated from Northern Fujian. Several of the islands of Matsu are not inhabited permanently. Some of these are garrisoned by soldiers from the [[Republic of China Armed Forces]] stationed in the county since the end of the [[Chinese Civil War]] in 1949 and during the [[First Taiwan Strait Crisis|First]] and [[Second Taiwan Strait Crisis]] in 1954 and 1958 respectively. Due to that high military demand large numbers of military personnel stationed on the islands produced unprecedented population growth in the county. The population reached its peak in 1971 with a total of 17,088 people. After those periods of high growth the population decreased year after year due to the poor economic growth which resulted in mass youth emigration due to lack of employment opportunities. In recent years the population in the county has gradually increased because of immigration. The population has stabilized due to the improved transportation between Taiwan Island and Matsu Islands as well as mass construction projects.<ref name="fkpg.gov.tw"/>

===Languages===
The native language spoken by Matsu residents is the [[Matsu dialect]], a subdialect of the [[Fuzhou dialect]], which is one of the statutory languages for public transport announcements in the Matsu Islands.<ref name="大眾運輸工具播音語言平等保障法">[[:s:zh:大眾運輸工具播音語言平等保障法|大眾運輸工具播音語言平等保障法]]{{Circular reference|date=May 2024}}</ref><ref name="roughguides.com"/> [[Mandarin Chinese]] is one of the official languages of Lienchiang County.

Previously the [[Eastern Min]] varieties in the Matsu Islands were seen as a part of general Fujian varieties. The establishment of the [[People's Republic of China]] in 1949 severed the Matsu Islands from the rest of Fujian province, and as communications were cut off between the Republic of China (now including Taiwan and without mainland China) and the PRC, the identity of the Matsu Islands specifically became established. Additionally, the varieties of Eastern Min on the Matsu Islands became seen as a Matsu dialect.<ref name=TaiwanInsightedge/>

===Name===
[[Chen (surname)|Chen]] (陳) is the most common [[Chinese surname|surname]], then [[Lin (surname)|Lin]] (林), [[Wang (surname)|Wang]] (王), [[Cao (Chinese surname)|Tsao]] (曹) and [[Liu]] (劉).

===Belief===
Matsu, though named after the goddess [[Matsu (goddess)|Matsu]], is written with a different character that has a different tone. But the Matsu Islands are not the birthplace of the goddess as the human Lin Muoniang - [[Meizhou Island]] is — but her death place (on a seaport named after her on Nangan Island).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.matsu-nsa.gov.tw/User/Article.aspx?a=22&l=2 |title=History and customs |date=January 2010 |publisher=Matsu National Scenic Area |access-date=February 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720150440/http://www.matsu-nsa.gov.tw/User/Article.aspx?a=22&l=2 |archive-date=July 20, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Matsu Nangan Tianhou Temple ({{lang|zh-hant|馬祖南竿天后宮}}), a temple dedicated to the goddess, contains the sarcophagus of Lin Muoniang. It is, however, not as popular as the Meizhou temple.

Most Taiwanese pilgrims to Meizhou start off their journey in the Matsu Islands because they are the closest ROC-controlled territory to Meizhou, which is controlled by the PRC.

==Economy==
[[File:Vegetable Farming Park, Nangan, Matsu, Taiwan.JPG|thumb|[[Shanlong Vegetable Park|Vegetable farming park]] in Nangan Township]]

Due to its geographically remote location, the manufacturing business of Matsu has never been fully developed. Among them, the wine making industry of [[Matsu Distillery]] is the most distinguished feature. Tourism has become a highly important feature of the economy.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|title=Taiwan's small islands turn to tourism to stay afloat|url=https://www.ft.com/content/e03b6dc8-c2ca-11e2-bbbd-00144feab7de|access-date=2021-01-14|website=Financial Times|date=3 June 2013 }}</ref>

However, most of its commercial trading focuses on retail businesses and restaurants for stationed military consumption. Farm products of Matsu include [[rice]], [[sugar cane]], [[tea plant]], [[Orange (fruit)|oranges]]. Sea animals, such as [[fish]], [[clam]]s, and [[jellyfish]], are also popular exports due to its nature as the major traditional industry in Matsu. However, the flourishing fishing ground is almost exhausted by arbitrary fish bombing by mainland China fishing boats, while the fish population is decreasing as well.<ref name="fkpg.gov.tw"/>

In July 2012, Matsu residents voted in favor of the establishment of [[casino]]s, which led to the prospect of gaming industries in the county and the passing of the Gaming Act ({{zh|c=觀光賭場管理條例}}).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2012/07/08/2003537221/1|title=Matsu votes to allow building of casino|date=8 July 2012 |access-date=2014-09-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102140259/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2012/07/08/2003537221/1|archive-date=2015-01-02|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==
[[File:協和發電廠珠山分廠.jpg|thumb|[[Zhushan Power Plant]]]]

===Power generation===
On 1 July 1975, the Matsu Power Company was founded to operate all of the power plants in the county. On 1 July 1986, the company was incorporated into [[Taiwan Power Company]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.taipower.com.tw/en/news_noclassify_info.aspx?id=4367&chk=0ba868a6-4e67-40d5-86e1-60f690751ad3&mid=5525&param=pn%3D1%26mid%3D5525%26key%3D|title=Hsieh-ho Power Plant - Zhushan Branch Power Plant|website=Taipower|date=7 September 2020 |access-date=7 December 2020}}</ref> The county is powered up by its fuel-fired (diesel) [[Zhushan Power Plant]] located in Cingshuei Village of [[Nangan, Lienchiang|Nangan Township]] with a capacity of 15.4 MW commissioned on 22 March 2010. The other power plants are [[Beigan Power Plant]] in [[Beigan, Lienchiang|Beigan Township]], [[Dongyin Power Plant]] in [[Dongyin, Lienchiang|Dongyin Township]] and Dongju Power Plant in Dongju Island and [[Xiju Power Plant]] in Xiju Island of [[Juguang, Lienchiang|Juguang Township]]. The county is also powered up by its [[photovoltaic system]] with a capacity of 0.074 MW.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.taipower.com.tw/en/page.aspx?mid=4495|title=Overview of the Development of Renewable Energy|website=Taipower|date=23 March 2020 |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref>

===Telecommunication===
For telecommucation, Matsu Islands is connected via three [[submarine communications cable]]s named Taima Cables ({{zh|t=台馬|p=Táimǎ}}). To Taiwan Island, the Taima Cable No. 2 connects [[Dongyin, Lienchiang|Dongyin Township]] in the county to [[Tamsui District]] in [[New Taipei]] and Taima Cable No. 3 connects [[Nangan, Lienchiang|Nangan Township]] to [[Taoyuan, Taiwan|Taoyuan City]]. As of 2023, the fourth cable is under construction with expected completion date in 2025. The first cable is no longer in use.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hioe|first=Brian|date=17 February 2023|url=https://newbloommag.net/2023/02/17/matsu-submarine-cable-cut/|title=Cut Submarine Cables between Taiwan and Matsu Raise Concerns about Chinese Interference|website=New Bloom|access-date=3 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Ting|first1=Yi|last2=Madjar|first2=Kayleigh|date=10 February 2023|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/02/10/2003794094|title=Damaged cables shut off Matsu Internet|publisher=Taipei Times|access-date=3 March 2023}}</ref>

===Pollution===
Generally, the environment of Matsu Islands is still well-preserved. The major source of pollution is from family and military household waste. There are, however, concerns that the continued lack of modern sewage facilities results in household waste seeping into groundwater.<ref name="fkpg.gov.tw"/>

==Tourism==
[[File:Beihai Tunnel, Nangan, Matsu, Taiwan.JPG|thumb|[[Beihai Tunnel (Nangan)|Beihai Tunnel]] in Nangan Township]]
[[File:Tungyin Tao Lighthouse.jpg|thumb|[[Dongyong Lighthouse]]]]

Tourism has become a critical sector in the local economy.<ref name=":0" /> Lienchiang County Government is making an effort to attract more visitors to the Matsu Islands, especially among foreigners.<ref>{{cite news |title=Matsu Island opens doors to tourists |url=http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=97102&ctNode=413 |newspaper=Taiwan Today |date=March 3, 2010 |access-date=February 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009014216/http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=97102&ctNode=413 |archive-date=October 9, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Matsu islands aim to attract more overseas tourists |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2010/08/29/2003481579 |newspaper=Taipei Times |date=August 29, 2010 |access-date=February 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100902174748/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2010/08/29/2003481579 |archive-date=September 2, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Dongyin Visitor Center]] is the main visitor center of the township.

Nangan is the capital of Matsu and it is noted for its granite tunnel and the [[Iron Fort]]. It has two interconnected main roads.

The Beihai Tunnels are manmade granite tunnels. Both tunnels were remarkable for their time, and they took great effort to construct. The [[Beihai Tunnel (Nangan)|tunnel in Nangan]] was built in 1968. The completion of Beihai Tunnel took the effort of thousands of men. The 700 metre (800 yard) tunnel has a width of 10 metres (33') and a height of 16 metres (52'). It was completed in 820 days with shovels, spades and explosives; the tunnel also took the life of a platoon of soldiers. The tunnel was considered a military location and was not opened to the public until 1990.

The Iron Fort is located on the Southwest side of Nangan island. Located by a small cliff, it is a vulnerable spot for outside attacks or illegal smuggling of materials. With that in mind, the fort was built for defence. It is equipped with multiple machinegun rooms and rudimentary living facilities. It is now open to the public, and although most of the equipment has been removed from the site, the site itself brings back a vivid image of what it was like for soldiers at that time.

Museums in Matsu including the [[Matsu Blue Tears Ecological Museum]], [[Matsu Folk Culture Museum]], [[Ching-kuo Memorial Hall]] and [[War and Peace Memorial Park Exhibition Center]].

===Nature===
Since 1990, the county manages the {{ill|Matsu Islands Bird Sanctuary|zh|馬祖列島燕鷗保護區}}, which spreads across eight islands and islets in Nangan, Beigan and Tongyin Townships. It contains 30 [[species (biology)|species]] in 15 [[order (biology)|orders]], mostly [[gulls]] and [[terns]]. In 2000, four pairs of the [[endangered species|critically endangered]] [[Chinese crested tern]], previously thought to be [[extinct species|extinct]], were discovered nesting on the Matsu Islands, giving them global conservation importance.

There are also [[moss]]es and [[fern]]s rare or absent elsewhere in the [[Republic of China|ROC]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.matsu-nsa.gov.tw/User/Article.aspx?a=25&l=2 |title=Climate, Flora and fauna |date=January 2010 |publisher=Matsu National Scenic Area |access-date=February 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720150144/http://www.matsu-nsa.gov.tw/User/Article.aspx?a=25&l=2 |archive-date=July 20, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Cetacean]] species that have become rare along Chinese coasts are still present here such as [[false killer whale]]s and [[finless porpoise]]s,<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Lienchiang County Government]]|title=A natural aquatic menagerie|url=http://www.matsu.gov.tw/en/page/news_cnt.php?id=3978|access-date=2015-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103143046/http://www.matsu.gov.tw/en/page/news_cnt.php?id=3978|archive-date=2015-01-03|url-status=dead}}</ref> providing opportunistic [[Whale Watching|observations]] at times.<ref>{{cite web|year=2014|script-title=zh:海洋生态宝库|url=http://www.mwnews.cn/html/53/2014-10-30/15590115316.shtml|publisher=The Midwest News|access-date=2015-10-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129003230/http://www.mwnews.cn/html/53/2014-10-30/15590115316.shtml|archive-date=2016-11-29|url-status=live}}</ref> Finless porpoises in this areas are generally smaller than other subspecies,<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Jefferson A.T. |author2=Wang Y.J.|year=2011|title=Revision of the taxonomy of finless porpoises (genus Neophocaena): The existence of two species|journal=Journal of Marine Animals and Their Ecology |volume=4 |issue=1 |publisher=The Oceanographic Environmental Research Society|url=http://www.oers.ca/journal/volume4/issue1/Jefferson_Galley.pdf.|format=PDF|access-date=2015-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103152421/http://www.oers.ca/journal/volume4/issue1/Jefferson_Galley.pdf|archive-date=2015-01-03|url-status=dead}}</ref> and it is unique that two subspecies inhabit in this region where Matsu region is the northern limit for one of them.

==Transportation==
[[File:Nangan Airport, Nangan, Matsu, Taiwan.JPG|thumb|[[Matsu Nangan Airport]]]]
[[File:Fuao Harbor, Nangan, Matsu, Taiwan.JPG|thumb|Fuao Harbor]]

===Air===
Both [[Nangan, Lienchiang|Nangan]] and [[Beigan, Lienchiang|Beigan]] have airports which are the [[Matsu Nangan Airport]] and [[Matsu Beigan Airport]] respectively. [[Dongyin, Lienchiang|Dongyin]] and [[Juguang, Lienchiang|Juguang]] (in Xiju Island) house heliports which only operate during winter time and priority is given to local residents to travel to [[Nangan, Lienchiang|Nangan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.matsu-nsa.gov.tw/user/Article.aspx?a=129&l=2|title=Island to Island Transport - Matsu National Scenic Area|date=January 2010 |access-date=2014-09-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911002022/http://www.matsu-nsa.gov.tw/user/Article.aspx?a=129&l=2|archive-date=2014-09-11|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Sea===
Due to the main airport being located in Nangan, boats are the main form of transportation between the islands in the county.

There are two ferry rides to mainland China. One arrives at [[Mawei District]] of [[Fuzhou]] and departs from Fuao Harbor at [[Nangan, Lienchiang|Nangan Township]] in which the journey normally takes 90 minutes while in Nangan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.matsu-nsa.gov.tw/user/Article.aspx?a=505&l=2|title=Three Mini-Links - Matsu National Scenic Area|date=January 2010 |access-date=2014-09-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102144817/http://www.matsu-nsa.gov.tw/user/Article.aspx?a=505&l=2|archive-date=2015-01-02|url-status=live}}</ref> Another arrives at [[Huangqi, Lianjiang County|Huangqi]] ({{lang|zh-hans|黄岐镇}}) of [[Lianjiang County|Lianjiang]] and departs from [[Beigan, Lienchiang|Beigan Township]] in which the journey takes only 20 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan-relations/2015/05/11/435733/New-Matsu-Fujian.htm |title=New Matsu-Fujian ferry route to be launched in July: Official - the China Post |access-date=2015-10-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022090633/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan-relations/2015/05/11/435733/New-Matsu-Fujian.htm |archive-date=2015-10-22 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Dongyin, Lienchiang|Dongyin Township]] houses the [[Zhongzhu Harbor]].

===Road===
Due to their size, travelling by motorized scooter is an ideal way to get around the main islands such as Nangan and Beigan, despite the steep hills. Both Islands have regular buses, and taxis are also economical. In October 2019, mainland China announced 'initial plans' to build a bridge linking [[Fuzhou]] to the Matsu Islands. Taiwan's [[Mainland Affairs Council]] (MAC) said that the plans were made unilaterally by Mainland's Fujian as part of its schemes to absorb Taiwan and divide Taiwanese society and that they see no need for bridges linking either Matsu or [[Kinmen]] to mainland China.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Pei-ju|last1=Teng|date=14 October 2019|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3795498|title=China announces 'initial plans' to build bridges to Taiwan's outlying islands Matsu, Kinmen|publisher=Taiwan News|access-date=15 October 2019|quote=A Chinese state-run news channel reported on Sunday (Oct. 13) that Beijing has completed "initial plans" for bridges linking the country to Taiwan’s outlying islands Matsu and Kinmen. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said on Monday that the plans were made unilaterally by China as part of its schemes to absorb Taiwan and divide Taiwanese society, reported Liberty Times. Beijing has long disregarded the existence of Taiwan and shown a lack of respect for its democratic values and system, the MAC said.{...}According to Communist China’s mouthpiece CCTV, a total of 40 experts from both sides of the Taiwan Strait gathered in Fujian’s provincial capital, Fuzhou, on Sunday to discuss plans for the bridges connecting Fuzhou to Matsu and Xiamen to Kinmen. }}</ref> Legislators representing Matsu have said that their thinking is different from the Mainland Affairs Council, and that they were optimistic about the idea of a bridge.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomson |first=Jono |date=2023-09-15 |title=China says its ready to build rail link to Taiwan |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4999714 |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=Taiwan News}}</ref>

==Notable persons==
* [[Chen Pao-yu]], Chief of Staff of the [[Republic of China Army]] (2019-)

==See also==
*[[Hong Kong]] (a special administrative region in China)
*[[Macau]] (a special administrative region in China)
*[[Kinmen]]
*''[[Matsu Daily]]''
*[[Lianjiang County]] (located in mainland China)
*[[Administrative divisions of the Republic of China]]
*[[List of Taiwanese superlatives]]
*[[List of cities in the Republic of China]]
*[[List of islands of the Republic of China]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{wikiversity|zh:连江福州话地名表}}
{{commons category|Matsu Islands}}
{{Wiktionary|Matsu|Lienchiang|Ma-tsu|Lien-chiang|Lienkiang}}
*{{Wikivoyage inline|Matsu}}
* [http://www.cnn.com/2001/ASIANOW/east/01/02/taiwan.china/map.taiwan.matsu.gif Smaller map] (from [[CNN]])
* [http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/04/06/201011 Name change]: ''[[Taipei Times]]'' article
* [http://www.matsu-nsa.gov.tw/User/Main.aspx?l=2 Matzu Scenic Area]
* [https://maps.google.com/?ll=26.193028,119.970016&spn=0.21195,0.378342&t=k Satellite image of the Nangan and Beigan islands by Google Maps]
* [https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/island-fantasia/D2F22090288A3E1F15DEBDD2735F5868 Island Fantasia: Imagining Subjects on the Military Frontline between China and Taiwan]

{{Administrative divisions of the Republic of China}}
{{Taiwan Outlying islands divisions}}
{{Territorial disputes in East and South Asia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Matsu Islands| ]]
[[Category:Fujian Province, Republic of China]]
[[Category:Islands of the East China Sea]]
[[Category:Archipelagoes of the Pacific Ocean]]
[[Category:Archipelagoes of Taiwan]]
[[Category:Taiwan Strait]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes of China]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes of the Republic of China]]
[[Category:Islands of Fujian, Republic of China]]