MATSU ISLAND

Wade-Giles romanization Ma-tsu Tao, Pinyin Mazu Dao, also called Nankan, small island under Nationalist Chinese jurisdiction in the East China Sea, lying off the Min River estuary of China and about 130 miles (210 km) northwest of Chi-lung, Taiwan. Its area is 5 square miles (12 square km). Once part of Fukien province, China, the island was occupied by the Nationalist Chinese when they were driven from the mainland to Taiwan in 1949. With Quemoy Island, Matsu came under heavy bombardment by Communist mainland troops in 1958, an incident that caused the redeployment of the U.S. 7th Fleet and provoked an international diplomatic crisis. The island remained under military rule until 1992. Matsu is the main island of a group of 19, the Matsu Islands, which compose Lien-kiang hsien (county). Matsu has a hilly terrain of igneous rock, and fishing is the main industry. The islanders also raise vegetables, grain, hogs, and chickens. Pop. (1990 est.) 3,145.