AMNA NAWAZ: China removed its# top army general last weekend## in what many analysts see as a move to# cement loyalty to President Xi Jinping.

GEOFF BENNETT: It is rattling Taiwan# and one of its islands, Kinmen,## that is much closer to China than Taiwan,# amid already heightened fears that the U.S.## capture of Nicolas Maduro could embolden# China to mimic the move against Taipei.

Special correspondent Patrick Fok has more.

PATRICK FOK: In the distance, Xiamen, part# of mainland China.

On a day as clear as this,## you can see just how close it is.

This is# Kinmen, an archipelago administered by Taipei,## even though the main island of Taiwan lies# more than 100 miles away.

Its proximity to## the mainland has put it on the front# line of cross-strait confrontations.

These anti-landing spikes are remnants of its Cold## War defenses decades ago to prevent# an amphibious invasion by China.

TUNG SEN-PAO, Kinmen County Councillor# (through translator): Practically speaking,## its use is now limited.

Warfare has# changed cons.. this beach is a stark reminder of the battlefield.

PATRICK FOK: Tung Sen-Pao is a local# counselor.

He's lived here his whole life and,## like many people from Kinmen, is numb# to communist aggression.

Only weeks ago,## China launched some of its largest ever live-fire# war games, assimilating a blockade of Taiwan.

In recent years, Beijing's ramped up# its military muscle against the island,## which it considers its own, but# has stopped short of invading.## Since the shock capture of Venezuela's# leader, some believe that could change.

TUNG SEN-PAO (through translator): It's quite# possible that one day China might adopt a similar## approach or methodology to wage war, directly# targeting Taiwan's capital or presidential office.

PATRICK FOK: Washington's operation in# Caracas drew swift condemnation from China,## calling it a violation of international law.

SUN LEI, Deputy Permanent Chinese Representative#to ... Nations (through translator): The U.S.

has placed its ... multilateralism and military actions above## diplomatic efforts, posing a grave threat# to peace and security in Latin America,## the Caribbean and even internationally.

PATRICK FOK: But the rate has also drawn# comparisons at home in China on social media,## with many commentators saying it offers# a blueprint for Beijing to take Taiwan.## The prospect of a strike may# not be far from its sights.

2027 is widely cited by military analysts# and government officials as a critical## milestone for China's ambitions regarding Taiwan.## U.S.

intelligence believes that's when# President Xi Jinping has instructed## Chinese forces to be capable of what's termed# a strategic decisive victory over the island.

But there's another school of thought# on how the Trump administration's## show of force might make Beijing# reassess its designs on reunification.

Wang Ting-Yu is a Taiwan legislator and# believes America's decisive operation## in Venezuela may act as a deterrent.

He says,## if China had the ability to pull off something# similar, it would have done so a long time ago.

WANG TING-YU, Taiwanese Parliament# Member: China has intention.

They## are willing to do this from a long# time, they try to invade Taiwan,## annex Taiwan.

There is a gap between your# ambition, your intention and your ability.

PATRICK FOK: Still, China's military capabilities# are growing.

Over the past decade, average annual## spending on defenses has risen by about $100# billion.

Taiwan's government, meanwhile,## has proposed to beef up its own forces by nearly# $40 billion per year to counter the China threat.

But it's been blocked by the legislature,## controlled by an opposition that# favors closer ties with Beijing.

WANG TING-YU: We need to do more to enhance our# self-defense capability, to enhance multilateral## cooperation to deter China's ambition.

I think# that will be the true lesson we learn from this.

PATRICK FOK: In Kinmen, life goes on regardless.# By night, this group of islanders gathers to enjoy## the most American of pastimes, among them,# teachers, soldiers and ordinary workers,## with little concern about the powerful# geopolitical forces surrounding them.

CHEN SUI LIEN, Kinmen Resident (through# translator): What happens will happen.## There's nothing you can do.

Whatever# we say can't change the situation.

PATRICK FOK: Whatever their# fate, they hope this place## remains a baseball diamond and not a battlefield.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm# Patrick Fok in Kinmen, Taiwan.