News about Chiang Kai-shek

On a tour of the Asian island of Taiwan, John Kampfner finds cool speakeasy bars, scenic national parks and a spectacular dragon boat festival. He writes: 'In the big cities of mainland China, you worry that someone is watching you, making sure you don't step out of line. Taiwan couldn't be more different.'

He writes of watching the first salvos blasting over the heads of the troops in landing craft heading - like 'ants' - for the French coast. He describes German torpedo attacks 'narrowly' missing his Royal Navy ship - three times. But what makes this previously unseen witness account of D-Day so remarkable is that it has been written by a naval officer - from China.

President Xi Jinping said the government will'never promise to give up the use of force' to unify Taiwan with the Chinese mainland. Alicia Kearns, chairwoman of the House of Commons foreign affairs committee, cautioned that Xi's language meant that the UK' must not be brace for more vigorous protests against Taiwan.'

The self-ruled, democratic island lives under a constant threat of invasion by China, which claims that it is part of its territory, which could be confiscated one day by force if necessary. Taiwan's defense officials said on Wednesday that if Beijing decides to move against the island, it would violate its right to self-defense. Taipei's ability to combat back seemed to have been demonstrated a day earlier, when Taiwan's military fired warning shots at Chinese drones flying over its outposts just off the Chinese coast. After drones were found hovering over the Kinmen island group, Taiwan's forces announced in a statement that troops took the initiative on Tuesday. Tensions in the Taiwan Strait have hit their highest rate in decades after China staged a remarkable show of strength in revenge for US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei earlier this month. China sent warships, missiles, and fighter jets into the waters and skies around Taiwan, where the drills and missile tests were condemned as preparations for an invasion. Pictured: On August 30, Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen (left) poses next to Air Force pilots.

IAN BIRREL: Kate Wang, 40, a cosmetics marketing executive, was one of a group of 60 people learning first aid in a largely democratic church near Taiwan's parliament building last week. However, Kate said she was gearing up for war, and after learning how to tourniquet a bleeding leg, she now wants to take firearms lessons in case she has to protect her country from the 'barbarians' reigning China.