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Obama Put Taiwan on ISIS Radar

EconMatters's picture




 

 

 

By EconMatters

One big news widely reported in Taiwan right now is that the national flag of the Republic of China (R.O.C. Taiwan) appears on ISIS web site video. Above is a screenshot of the video with Taiwan's flag prominently displayed along side that of the U.S. and U.K. The flags are supposedly in alphabetical order by country name. The video was posted on ISIS web site on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2015.

According to a partial video on a Taiwan TV news show, ISIS also sends this errie message:

Our number only increases with faith. And we are counting your banners, which our prophet says when it reaches 80, then the Blaze of War will find you.

 

You might wonder how ISIS came as far as seeing Taiwan as an equal threat as the U.S.? Taiwan's news media linked ISIS's sudden recognition of Taiwan to a statement made by U.S. President Obama at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Malaysia last week. Obama said that Taiwan was one of the Asia-Pacific countries in a coalition against ISIS.

It is true that Taiwan's military and Special Forces have heavy American military DNA. Due to the constant threat from China across a narrow strait, Taiwan has relatively heavy military defense (for a small island). A lot of Taiwan's defense miliary technology is supplied by the U.S. companies. Taiwan regularly sends military personnel to train in the U.S. while Taiwan's media reports U.S. Navy SEAL also sends trainers every so often to train one of the island's elite special forces units.

In response to Obama's latest 'recognition', Taiwan governmnet simply said its current focus is on providing humanitarian assistance (i.e., We are NOT involved with Obama's 'Coalition'). Indeed, Taiwan's involvement with the chaos in the Middle East has been humanitarian aid to the region such as donating 300 prefabricated houses and nearly US$10 million in medical supplies to the refugees.

This stance is understandable as Taiwan had an ISIS panic attack when in February 2015, ISIS official Twitter channel twitted a picture of what looks like Taipei 101 Building (never confirmed) under atack. This out-of-nowhere recognition by ISIS has prompted the Taiwan government to step up security measures, while President Ma Ying-jeou urged the public not to panic (Good luck with that).

Ever since the Chinese Nationalists Party (KMT) retreated to Taiwan in 1949, it goes without saying that China has always viewed Taiwan as a renegade province that may be reclaimed by force if necessary. In the 60+ years since then, the tiny island country has transformed itself quite successfully thanks to a series of financial and economic reforms by the Nationalist Party (KMT), while millions were killed by Mao's Cultural Revolution and the Great Leap Forward. (On a side note, I'm not sure how the UK shadow chancellor thought it was funny to quote Mao in the Spending Review meeting.)

 

On the diplomatic front, Taiwan has sufferred many losses and betrayals. Despite the fact that the Republic of China (Taiwan) was one of the the five founding and PERMANENT members of the United Nation (U.N.), Taiwan was ousted by the U.N. on Oct. 25, 1971 when U.N voted to recongnize Mainland China and to expel the R.O.C Taiwan. Today, people in Taiwan still remember it as the day when the world sold R.O.C. out.  Since then, U.N. only recognizes the Communist China as the only lawful representative of China and has rejected calls to make Taiwan a member. And Taiwan has almost always been excluded in any international economic pac (such as the TPP or AIIB) due to China's influence.

Taiwan instead strives to maintain extensive unofficial ties with countries that do not recognise it, focusing on trade, investment, culture and cooperation in non-political areas. Today, Taiwan has more than 100 representative offices in over 70 countries, including four offices in Australia (hense this detailed Taiwan brief on Australian Government site).

 

 

The sad fact remains that currently only 22 states (most of them you have never heard of) in the entire world recognize Taiwan as the Republic of China (ROC). I guess the number should be 23 now, adding ISIS?

Citizens in Taiwan actually do not appreciate Obama's sudden 'warm and fuzzy' officially putting the island on ISIS radar. After all, the U.S. does not even recognize Taiwan nor has helped Taiwan in anything of real economic or polical benefits. And now Taiwan is suddenly 'an ally' of the U.S. in a 'coalition' against ISIS? But of course.

ISIS already angered China after executing a Chinese captive last week. Then, there's rising tension between China and U.S. over disputes in the South China Sea and The East Pacific. So when Obama opens his mouth 'recognizing' Taiwan, ISIS jumps on it just to provoke China even more.

This is a chess match between ISIS, China and the U.S. using Taiwan as a game piece. If ISIS strikes Taiwan (think the casuaties at Paris in the much larger and stronger France), on whose hands will the blood be?

 

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Fri, 11/27/2015 - 13:28 | 6846295 the grateful un...
the grateful unemployed's picture

the connection between Islamic terrorists and the communists in Bejing gets more interesting all the time. Bush called on Taiwan to embrace reconciliation with the mainland. the Chinese were backing the genocide in Darfur, and a couple of Republican Senators reported that to their Republican President, who was preparing to invade Iraq, where there were no terrorists at all. It's all been a huge shell game for nearly twenty years. everyone is lying and the least scrupulous player is China. one suspects that Taiwan will be targeted in an attack, not for being an American ally, it's only an honorary title. Obama is ready to concede Taiwan just as Bush gave Spain to Al Qaeda in order to form his coalition of the willing in the ME. now the refugee chickens have come home to roost and Europe has regrets about Iraq, and that has something to do with Brexit, since it was Blair who was the accessory to war crimes. the Brits are being exit-ed. now i have a new thing to worry about, the EU and Merkel may no longer play who's go the QE, so that one hand washed the other. no one in Europe wants war, Ukraine bubbles, and US has LNG to offer Europe, and Japan. extortion is such a dirty word, and natural gas is clean. Obama has been careful to avoid China, as long as Yellen manages the bond market, and Congress raises the debt ceiling without being asked, we can continue to monetize military spending, for every one dollar they get the entitleists get two, but those are stock market dollars. it's all going to crash and just like last century Europe will do the crashing. the Chinese are the new Axis power.

Fri, 11/27/2015 - 11:32 | 6845831 Handful of Dust
Handful of Dust's picture

In Taiwan I can surf the net as I please. In China, 80% is blocked.

Fri, 11/27/2015 - 08:06 | 6845162 deimos178
deimos178's picture

The commies will move on Taiwan in the next 18 months. They know they may never have another chickenshit weasel in the White House again, although if it looks like the horny hillbilly's wife is gooing to get elected, they may wait and just demand she hands it over. With a weak foolish coward in charge the time is ripe for a global realignment of power. Not that I want it but as H.L. Mencken said, "“Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard.” He also said,  "As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."

Sat, 11/28/2015 - 17:35 | 6850568 Redneck Hippy
Redneck Hippy's picture

The only question left is whether the plain folks like Trump or Carson better.

Fri, 11/27/2015 - 11:19 | 6845786 Dr. Spin
Dr. Spin's picture

+1 for the "horny hillbilly" comment.  If the horny hillbilly's wife gets elected, there will be chickens running loose in the White House.  Oh, wait, there already are...

IDENTITY POLITICS IS COMPLETELY MORONIC!!! 

Spoctor Din

Fri, 11/27/2015 - 05:35 | 6844958 SmittyinLA
SmittyinLA's picture

BTW Taiwan has nukes

Fri, 11/27/2015 - 04:20 | 6844882 straightershooter
straightershooter's picture

TAiwan ( official country name: Republic of China), be afraid, be very afraid....no, no, no, not from ISIS per se, but from US of A, which had sold Taiwan numerous time since 1945...a backstabber

Ukraine....you are next....

and, of course, Thanksgiving day....Turkey.....is on queue

who else? Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Japan, Philippine, the list goes on and on.

You see, US of A has no choice but to strictly adhere to the guideline of US national interest if backstabber meets the national interest test....then so be it.

Fri, 11/27/2015 - 09:15 | 6845267 Caleb Abell
Caleb Abell's picture

With the lone exception of Israel, whose interests takes precedence no matter what the cost in blood and treasure to the US.

Fri, 11/27/2015 - 03:22 | 6844836 roddy6667
roddy6667's picture

This version of China vs. Taiwan is exactly the same one that the CIA was peddling in 1956. What are the odds of it being the truth and not propaganda? Slim to none, given America's track record. Why are the majority of Taiwanese citizens positive about a reunion with the mainland?

Fri, 11/27/2015 - 06:46 | 6845064 DIGrif
DIGrif's picture

Roddy.......I live in Taiwan, have for years, and what you just said is PURE BS.  The majority of Taiwanese do NOT want to be part of China.....

Sat, 11/28/2015 - 00:24 | 6848596 roddy6667
roddy6667's picture

Maybe not in the circles you travel in.

Fri, 11/27/2015 - 03:11 | 6844827 celticgold
celticgold's picture

ask not on whose hands the blood will be , it will be on yours.....

Fri, 11/27/2015 - 01:48 | 6844738 Flybyknight
Flybyknight's picture

Seems to me that ISIS (read CIA) needs every country to feel threatened by their HD videos and outrageous inhumanity. Why would that be? ....Oh I know. So we need the glorious USA to protect us. When are the American people going to rid themselves of these neocon parasites?

Hint. It won't be while Obama, Hilary, Rubio, Carson ,Sanders, Bush, Trump or any of the other ignorant corrupt candidates holds power.

Thu, 11/26/2015 - 23:36 | 6844465 Low IQ fan of VVP
Low IQ fan of VVP's picture

Wow this picture is just so BS. Saudi Arabia, Israel, Ukraine, and Turkey? Seriously? How come North Korea and India is not on there? Must get them to join! Oh and Bangladesh too. Did I miss anyone?

Fri, 11/27/2015 - 02:45 | 6844810 Rock On Roger
Rock On Roger's picture

South America

Thu, 11/26/2015 - 23:31 | 6844453 Berspankme
Berspankme's picture

The Kenyan squatter strikes again. The sheer volume of bullshit flowing from the magic negros lips is staggering

Fri, 11/27/2015 - 10:50 | 6845648 Dr. Spin
Dr. Spin's picture

He's not a Kenyan.  He is mongrel statist megalomaniac.

Spoctor Din

Thu, 11/26/2015 - 21:40 | 6844135 fudge
fudge's picture

on whose hands will the blood be?

Nope that's not the question that needs be asked > The question is and always was whose boots will be on that ground.


Thu, 11/26/2015 - 21:23 | 6844103 Fukushima Fricassee
Fukushima Fricassee's picture

Obama is a strange stupid queer pile of shit and I am being nice

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