Taiwan President calls for calm over flag in I.S. video

The appearance of Taiwan’s flag in a new Islamic State (IS) propaganda video prompted President Ma Ying-jeou to appeal to the public for calm yesterday.

The video, featuring images of explosions and flames, displays in one frame the flags of dozens of members of the American-led coalition against IS, with Taiwan’s flag shown next to that of the United States.

Calling it a “coalition of devils”, the video’s narrator said, “Your numbers only increase us in faith. And we’re counting your banners, which our prophet said would reach 80 in number, and then the flames of war will finally burn you on the hills of Dabiq. Bring it on.”

Mr Ma sought to reassure the public, noting that he held a National Security Council meeting last week, soon after the Nov 13 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people, and said that he has ordered the relevant government agencies to remain alert.

Defence Ministry spokesman Major General David Luo Shou-he told a press conference that his ministry will “make appropriate responses” in accordance with government instructions and continue to monitor the development of the situation.

General Luo emphasised that the role Taiwan plays in the US-led global counterterrorism effort is to provide humanitarian and emergency assistance, not military help. KYODO NEWS