BBC: William Lai, who China sees as ‘troublemaker’, wins Taiwan election

William Lai, a China skeptic with a track record supporting independence, won the Taiwanese presidential election on Saturday after both his rivals conceded, in a result that risks inflaming tensions between Beijing and Washington.@POLITICOEurope https://t.co/6vF4YzfEIN

— Stuart Lau (@StuartKLau) January 13, 2024

COGwriter

The election results in Taiwan are in:

Taiwan’s Lai Ching-te wins presidential vote, vows to defend island from China threats

Taiwan’s ruling party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), secured a historic third term on Saturday as Vice President Lai Ching-te won the country’s widely watched presidential election with 40.5 percent of the vote. …

Lai, along with his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim – Taiwan’s former representative to the United States – won a total of more than 5.5 million votes. …

Speaking as last results trickled in, Lai told a press conference that the election was a victory for Taiwan’s democracy.

“We are telling the international community that between democracy and authoritarianism, we will stand on the side of democracy,” he said.

In an election framed as a choice between “peace and war” by China, which deems the DPP’s governance as “incompatible” with cross-strait peace, Lai’s victory comes at a crucial moment amid rising tensions between Taipei and Beijing.

Claiming the island as part of its territory, Beijing responded to the election results by saying that “reunification” with Taiwan is still “inevitable”. https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20240113-taiwan-s-ruling-party-secures-record-third-term-as-vp-lai-ching-te-wins-presidential-vote

William Lai, who China sees as ‘troublemaker’, wins Taiwan election

13 January 2024

The DPP’s William Lai is set to be Taiwan’s next president, after his closest rival, the opposition Kuomintang, conceded defeat

Lai has been labelled a troublemaker by China, who warned people against voting for him, while KMT had promised better ties with Beijing and peace in the Taiwan Strait

A third party, the Taiwan People’s Party, was on the ballot – but its leader has also now conceded to the DPP

Taiwan is a democratic island that governs itself – but it is claimed by mainland China and has no international recognition as a country https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-asia-67954619?src_origin=BBCS_BBC

Well, Taiwan was recognized as a country, but influence from China has all but eliminated its recognition.

A couple of days ago, Michael Snyder posted the following:

China has literally framed this election as “a choice between war and peace”…

Taiwan presidential front-runner Lai Ching-te’s lead over his main opposition rival has narrowed significantly, setting the stage for a close race in the final weeks before the pivotal vote.

Lai’s ticket, representing the ruling party, leads with 37.3% of support followed by Hou Yu-ih’s of opposition Kuomintang (KMT) with 33.4%, according to a survey conducted between Dec. 19 and Dec. 21 by pollster My Formosa. Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People’s Party trails with 17.7%.

If Lai Ching-te wins, a Chinese invasion becomes very likely.

And the moment that China invades Taiwan, the U.S. and China will be at war. https://endoftheamericandream.com/what-do-you-call-a-war-with-china-plus-a-war-with-russia-plus-a-colossal-war-in-the-middle-east/

Well, William Lai Ching-te won.

China believes that there is one China and that Taiwan is part of China. The USA officially has a “One China policy”–meaning that it officially does not recognize Taiwan as independent from China.

Notice:

The One China policy refers to a United States policy of strategic ambiguity regarding Taiwan.^[1] In a 1972 joint communiqué with the PRC, the United States “acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China” and “does not challenge that position.”^[2]

(One China. Wikipedia, accessed 12/21/23)

One issue here is USA hypocrisy.

China’s leader wants the USA to come out and support the actual meaning of “one China,” and the USA does not want to as it does not really stand behind that principle, which is supposed to be its official policy.

That is not posted here to justify any military action by either side.

But it may be of interest to note that the Bible, KJV translation, predicts the end of “an hypocritical nation” (Isaiah 10:5-11).

Notice also the following related to China’s position on Taiwan as well as Taiwan’s concerns about China:

Xi warned Biden during summit that Beijing will reunify Taiwan with China

December 20, 2023

Chinese President Xi Jinping bluntly told President Joe Biden during their recent summit in San Francisco that Beijing will reunify Taiwan with mainland China but that the timing has not yet been decided, according to three current and former U.S. officials.

Xi told Biden in a group meeting attended by a dozen American and Chinese officials that China’s preference is to take Taiwan peacefully, not by force, the officials said.

The Chinese leader also referenced public predictions by U.S. military leaders who say that Xi plans to take Taiwan in 2025 or 2027, telling Biden that they were wrong because he has not set a time frame, according to the two current and one former official briefed on the meeting. …

Xi’s private warning to Biden, while not markedly different from his past public comments on reunifying Taiwan, got the attention of U.S. officials because it was delivered at a time when China’s behavior toward Taiwan is seen as increasingly aggressive and ahead of a potentially pivotal presidential election in the self-governing democratic island next month.

After the initial publication of this story, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., issued a statement calling for Republicans and Democrats to work together to deter China. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/china/xi-warned-biden-summit-beijing-will-reunify-taiwan-china-rcna130087

December 20, 2023

The news of Xi’s message to Biden comes as Taiwan prepares for presidential and parliamentary elections on Jan. 13.

China has ramped up military pressure to assert its claims over Taiwan, including two major war games in the past two years.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has appealed to voters to remember what had happened to Chinese-controlled Hong Kong.

“I want to ask you all here, does anyone want war? Nobody does,” she said on Dec. 3. “Look at Hong Kong and think of Taiwan. We don’t want Hong Kong-style peace. We want dignified peace.”

Hong Kong, a former British colony, was returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the promise of wide autonomy under a “one country, two systems” framework, which China has also offered to Taiwan — with little support on the island.

Xi, speaking at last year’s Chinese Communist Party Congress, said China would attack Taiwan militarily if it declares independence with foreign support. https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/china-reunify-taiwan/2023/12/20/id/1146605/

China has long wanted Taiwan back, so the above is not a surprise.

China is right that some type of reunification with Taiwan is inevitable.

China does have the military ability to take over Taiwan. And it has repeatedly made it clear that it expects Taiwan to reunify.

China has been biding its time, while also planning various ways to get Taiwan to reunify with it.

For many years, my position has been that Taiwan will end up aligning with China.

Why?

Because of certain biblical prophecies such as the following:

12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. (Revelation 16:12)

Perhaps it should be mentioned that instead of “kings of the east,” that part of Revelation 16:12 is more literally, “kings of the sunrise”:

12 And the sixth poured out his bowl upon the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way might be prepared of the kings of the rising of the sun. (Revelation 16:12, Berean Literal Bible)

12 The sixth poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates. Its water was dried up, that the way might be made ready for the kings that come from the sunrise. (Revelation 16:12, New Heart English Bible)

12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial into the great river Euphrates; and its water was dried up, that the way of the kings from the rising of the sun might be prepared. (Revelation 16:12, Jubilee Bible 2000)

12 And the sixth poured out his bowl upon the great river, the river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way might by made ready for the kings that come from the sunrising. (Revelation 16:12, American Standard Version)

12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon that great river Euphrates; and dried up the water thereof, that a way might be prepared for the kings from the rising of the sun. (Revelation 16:12, Douay-Rheims Bible)

12 And the sixth messenger did pour out his vial upon the great river, the Euphrates, and dried up was its water, that the way of the kings who are from the rising of the sun may be made ready; (Revelation 16:12, Young’s Literal Translation)

Taiwan is even further east, an earlier ‘sunrise’ location, than China.

Plus, China is clear that it wants Taiwan.

China could decide now to impose a naval blockade or take stronger military steps.

It may figure that the USA does not really want a war with it and may take steps to takeover Taiwan now.

Or it could wait until after the USA is conquered (Daniel 11:39) when those in Taiwan would be more willing to attempt to make a deal with the People’s Republic of China (PRC)–a deal that will make Taiwan formally part of the PRC.

In the future, the Bible shows that massive army will gather. China and Taiwan would be expected to provide troops for the coming 200 million man army the Bible warns will form and be involved with Armageddon:

13 Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. 18 By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed–by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths (Revelation 9:13-18).

China must be involved as only China, and possibly India and others in Asia (which seemingly will also align themselves with Russia against the European Empire per Jeremiah 50:41-42), is capable of fielding a two hundred million man army. Closer ties between the Asians, despite occasional setbacks, will result in the fulfillment of biblical prophecies.

So, yes, there will be increased cooperation between Taiwan and China in the future.

Chairman Mao allegedly boasted in the 1960s he could raise up an army of two hundred million men, and according to one source, he referenced that prophecy in Revelation.

While Mao is gone, the population of China has risen since, making the raising of such an army even more feasible.

Although Armageddon is at least seven years off, China’s interest in Taiwan, its economic might, and its ‘Silk Road’ project are helping set the stage for it.

Even though it has some hope in the USA, Taiwan will NOT be able to rely on the USA for anything at all, too many years from now, as we are getting closer to the end of the USA and the start of the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21-22; watch also Is the USA prophesied to be destroyed by 2028?).

Despite what Taiwan’s current leaders may say, Taiwan will align with the PRC.

China is trying to rise up and spread its influence. It is not pleased with interference from the USA or its British-descended allies–here are links to two items from earlier this year: Reuters: US, Canadian navies stage rare joint mission through Taiwan Strait and War involving Taiwan Could Devastate Australia.

The various conflicts between the USA and China have been tending to drain USA military resources away from Europe. This is making the USA weaker in Europe and has helped motivate the Europeans to strive to become more militarily independent from the USA.

That is actually consistent with something that the old Plain Truth magazine published back in 1984:

Drifting Away from Europe

It is a fact of immense importance, though recognized only faintly by most Americans, that culturally, economically — and soon strategically as well — the United States is drifting out of the Atlantic orbit.

For years now there has been a perceptible shift in the United States away from its historic attachment to Europe into a much closer relationship with the nations of the Pacific basin.

“The overwhelming European influence on our culture is on the wane and giving way to the Orient,” Frederick Allen, Morgan Guaranty Trust Co. vice-president, commented in an interview published early in 1983.

Franc Viviano, an editor of Pacific News Service in San’ Francisco, added that “once the word ‘immigration’ was synonymous with the arrival of Europeans, and later with Latin Americans. Today two of every five newcomers to the United States are Asian.

“Consider the fact,” added Mr. Viviano, in echoing Premier Zhao’s remarks, “that in 1982-83, for the first time in history, overall U.S. trade with Pacific nations exceeded that with Atlantic nations, registering a record $121,200,000,000.”

This shift toward the Pacific, in turn, plays a significant role in the rift now developing between the United States and its Western alliance allies in Europe.

“Our future lies in Asia” is the recurring theme in some influential economic and political circles in the United States. This viewpoint is usually coupled with the call for the United States to eventually cut defense ties to Europe, to pull United States troops out of the Continent. … then let the Europeans either defend themselves or make their own security arrangements with the Soviet Union.

The end result will be a Europe cut off from America — but a Europe eventually becoming a “third force” superpower of its own rank. (Hogberg G. The “NEW CHINA” Reaches Out. Plain Truth, April 1984)

The USA has been pivoting towards Asia for some time. Yet, Taiwan will one day unite with China, irrespective of what the USA may or may not do. And yes, Europe still is intent on being a “third force,” a superpower in its own right.

Anyway, China will end up controlling Taiwan.

Steps towards this are occurring and YOU can rely on properly interpreted biblical prophecies.

Some items of related interest may include:

Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about the peoples of Africa, Asia, South America, and the islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon; When Will the End of the Age Come?; Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon? Here is a link to a related sermon: Asia in Prophecy. Two YouTube video are Is China THE Threat to the United States of America? and China: A King of the East.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters Where did the Chinese people come from? Japeth, Javan, Magog? Is there evidence that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel? What do Chinese writings and characters help show? What about the Garden of Eden, Noah’s Flood, and the Tower of Babel? Here is a link to a version of this article in Spanish: ¿Prueban los caracteres chinos la exactitud de la Biblia? A related sermon is also available: China’s biblical past and prophetic actions.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? What about the Apostle Thomas? Did Confucius say anything to get the Chinese to possibly consider Christianity? Is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath? What about the Ten Commandments? What type of Church of God witness has there been to China? What has been happening with China that ties it together with prophecies in Revelation? What about the 200 million man army and Armageddon? What about the Belt and Road Initiative and end time Babylon the Great? A related sermon is also available: China’s biblical past and prophetic actions. Watch also China’s Silk Road and Babylon the Great.
Armageddon Who is involved and when will this gathering happen? Here is also a video from Dr. Thiel, from Tel Megiddo in Israel: Armageddon. Other videos include: Armageddon Will it come on Trump’s watch?, Iraq, Armageddon, & Prophecy, Freemasonry, Armageddon, and Rome, Is China paving roads to Armageddon?, and Jordan, Petra, and Armageddon.