Wikipedia has a great map [0] and 1960s context [1] on Quemoy and Matsu. Broadly speaking, the ROC controlled them, the CCP attempted to seize them [2] in the

Wikipedia has a great map [0] and 1960s context [1] on Quemoy and Matsu. Broadly speaking, the ROC controlled them, the CCP attempted to seize them [2] in the 1950s, and the US threatened involvement (including nuclear). Then everyone settled down to just lobbing artillery at each other. In modern times, they're more of a symbol than an asset, in that if the CCP made moves to seize them, the US would assume an invasion of Taiwan was imminent, and bad things would ensure for everyone. Consequently, the CCP has no real reason to care about them until they're also willing to invade the main island of Taiwan. [0] https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Nationalist_China_-_administrative_divisons._LOC_2007633622.jpg/790px-Nationalist_China_-_administrative_divisons._LOC_2007633622.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Na... [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matsu_Islands#Republic_of_China https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matsu_Islands#Republic_of_Ch... [2] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Taiwan_Strait_Crisis https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Taiwan_Strait_Crisis https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Taiwan_Strait_Crisis https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Taiwan_Strait_Crisis