CHINA - The Sanctions War
China sanctioned 12 U.S. defense-related companies and 10 executives over arms sales to Taiwan in retaliation for earlier American sanctions on Chinese companies tied to Russia.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the measures came after the U.S. “indiscriminately imposed illegal unilateral sanctions on a number of Chinese entities on the grounds of so-called Russian-related factors” and that the U.S. “continued to sell arms to China’s Taiwan region.”
China claims the self-governed island as its own territory, to be annexed by force if necessary. It has long opposed any weapon sales by the U.S. to the island. While the U.S. does not recognize Taiwan as a country, Washington is obligated by a federal law to ensure the island’s government has the means to defend itself.
-abcnews.go.com, 22 May 2024
Arno's Commentary
What we know from past experiences is that sanctions rarely work. It’s always a lose-lose, politically implemented spectacle.
The importance of China is self-evident. Back in January 1979, the US established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and terminated official diplomatic relations with Taiwan (ROC).
Since that time, China has developed into a super-successful, economic giant.
According to WorldPopulationReview.com, China’s percentage of global manufacturing for 2024 is 31.6%, distantly followed by the USA at 15.8%. That is a steep decline from 2002, when US global manufacturing share was 28%.
Unfortunately, many well-meaning Christian media entities are busy fanning the flames with anti-China rhetoric. So, our question: What is the future? To find the answer, we must go back to the prophet Isaiah, who over 2,700 years ago analyzed the nations of the world: “All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity” (Isaiah 40:17).
That message is to be realized within the Church: In plain words, your nation (by whatever name) has no future, nor does the entire planet earth.
Never must we allow the deceptive thought to enter our mind that our nation is different, is better, is greater; not so. Mankind is sinful. There is no natural righteousness. Planet earth is subject to 2 Corinthians 4:4: “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
The good news, however, is that the Church in China is growing leaps and bounds, although unofficial. The Church in the West is in significant decline.
When analyzing geopolitical statements, we must always do it from the spiritual aspect. What nations do and don’t do does not change our position. Philippians 3:20 declares: “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
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.
