Taiwan & Puerto Rico: forbidden symmetry

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[9]In Episode 63 [10] of the CounterVortex podcast [11], Bill Weinberg draws a parallel between the self-determination struggles in Taiwan and Puerto Rico. Each is an island nation in the "backyard" of an imperial power, struggling for independence. Taiwan is de facto independent from China, with a movement to make it official. Puerto Rico is a de facto colony (officially an "unincorporated territory") of the United States, with a movement for independence. Taiwan is being particularly threatened [12] at this moment by the imperial power that covets it; Puerto Rico being particularly fucked over [13] at this moment by the imperial power that controls it. Yet the emergence of Taiwan-Puerto Rico solidarity is held back by the fact that their respective imperial metropoles are rivals on the geopolitical chassboard—another illustration [14] of how a global divide-and-rule racket is the essence of the state system. Listen on SoundCloud [10] or via Patreon [15]. (Image: Wang LeWei [16], Josh MacPhee [17], Mac McGill [18] via Art for a Free Taiwan [19])

In Episode 63 [10] of the CounterVortex podcast [11], Bill Weinberg draws a parallel between the self-determination struggles in Taiwan and Puerto Rico. Each is an island nation in the "backyard" of a great imperial power, struggling for its independence. Taiwan is de facto independent from China, with a movement to make it official. Puerto Rico is a de facto colony (officially "unincorporated territory") of the United States, with a movement for independence. Taiwan is being particularly threatened [12] at this moment by the imperial power that covets it; Puerto Rico particularly fucked over [13] at this moment by the imperial power that controls it. Yet the emergence of Taiwan-Puerto Rico solidarity is held back by the fact that their respective imperial metropoles are rivals on the geopolitical chessboard—another illustration [14] of how a global divide-and-rule racket is the essence of the state system.

Listen on SoundCloud [10] or via Patreon [15].

Books discussed: Taiwan's 400 Year History [20] by Su Beng [21]; Decolonization Models for America's Last Colony: Puerto Rico [22] by Angel Collado-Schwarz [23]

Production by Chris Rywalt [24]

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