CHINA - Quest for Global Military Reach
China is methodically establishing military bases far beyond its borders, challenging the long-standing dominance of U.S. military influence worldwide.
In 2017, China marked a pivotal moment by setting up its first overseas military base in Djibouti, strategically positioned on the Horn of Africa.
China’s sights are not limited to Djibouti and Cambodia. From Pakistan to Bangladesh, from Myanmar to the strategic waterways of the Indo-Pacific, China is weaving a web of military influence.
These locations are no random picks; they are vital nodes in the global maritime trade that China aims to control and protect.
This is more than a regional shuffle; it is a recalibration of global power dynamics. China’s growing military network aims to protect trade routes and assert its global role.
As the century progresses, China’s strategy will impact global politics, economics, and security.
It’s a high-stakes global game that will shape the future of international stability and power balance.
-www.riotimesonline.com, 22 July 2024
Arno's Commentary
With an over 1.4 billion population, China is second behind India. The nation is by far the greatest manufacturer, taking first place at over 30% despite several hurdles, particularly those created during the Covid-19 years. China’s economy, according to the CIA Factbook, chalks up a growth of 5.2%.
Being the number one world champion in manufacturing, China is amassing unprecedented wealth, and quite apparently, will continue to do so.
Establishing overseas military bases is quite natural and follows the old British system—claim and conquer—later adapted by the United States.
One must also keep in mind that China is the major player in BRICS, a loosely organized economic association with Brazil, Russia, India, and South Africa. At this time, a number of other states are applying to join this BRICS club.
For us, of interest is that 5.1% of China’s population is listed as belonging to the Christian religion; that equals about 71 million people. Apparently, unregistered churches are not included, so in the not-too-distant future, China may have the largest church membership in the world. That is where our interest lies. Unregistered churches are illegal, and no doubt there is discrimination and suffering. Yet, according to church history, that’s always one key to the growth of the family of faith.
Of the Church born in Jerusalem, Acts 6:7 reports: “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”
When persecution came, as documented in Acts 8, it resulted in the evangelizing of the world: “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word” (verse 4).
China is also the world’s largest Bible producer. One source shows that over 50% of Bibles globally are printed in China.
Thebignewsletter.com reports: “Chinese printers have developed the technology and the artistry to produce the kinds of bibles people want which is why over 50 percent of the bibles published by ECPA members are printed in China. In fact, more bibles are printed in China than any other country on earth.”
The Bible is the all-time bestseller globally; in this case, the government that opposes religion has become the largest producer. Here we are remined of the words of Midnight Call’s founder, Wim Malgo: “God can hit straight with a crooked stick.”
Arno Froese is the executive director of Midnight Call Ministries and editor-in-chief of the acclaimed prophetic magazines Midnight Call and News From Israel. He has authored a number of well-received books, and has sponsored many prophecy conferences in the U.S., Canada, and Israel. His extensive travels have contributed to his keen insight into Bible prophecy, as he sees it from an international perspective.
