CIA Map of Territorial Claims in the South China Sea
Although China was dealt a legal blow from the United Nations related to its presence in the South China Sea last month, Russia and China have decided to hold a joint military exercise there:
July 28, 2016
China and Russia will hold “routine” naval exercises in the South China Sea in September, China’s Defence Ministry said on Thursday, adding that the drills were aimed at strengthening their cooperation and were not aimed at any other country.
The exercises come at a time of heightened tension in the contested waters after an arbitration court in the Hague ruled this month that China did not have historic rights to the South China Sea and criticized its environmental destruction there.
China rejected the ruling and refused to participate in the case.
“This is a routine exercise between the two armed forces, aimed at strengthening the developing China-Russia strategic cooperative partnership,” China’s defense ministry spokesman Yang Yujun told a regular monthly news conference. …
The United States has sought to assert its right to freedom of navigation in the South China Sea with its patrols and denies taking sides in the territorial disputes.
Russia has been a strong backer of China’s stance on the arbitration case, that was brought by the Philippines. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-southchinasea-china-drills-idUSKCN1080O8
The USA has long believed that China’s intentions in the South China Sea are militaristic:
June 4, 2016
SINGAPORE—
China “could end up erecting a Great Wall of self-isolation” if it continues with provocative militarization of disputed islets in the South China Sea, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Saturday.
Carter told Asian defense ministers, security analysts and scholars attending the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore there is “growing anxiety” about Chinese actions in the strategic waters and elsewhere.
Of particular concern is whether China will conduct dredging on Scarborough Shoal, 200 kilometers west of Subic Bay and also claimed by the Philippines.
Carter said such an action would be “provocative and destabilizing.”
Speaking with reporters later in the day, the U.S. defense secretary said such a move by China would prompt reactions from the United States and others.http://www.voanews.com/content/us-defense-secretary-cautions-china-about-great-wall-of-self-isolation/3361542.html
Many in the region are concerned.
But Russia has decided to offer its show of support to China.
The Bible tells of a time when there will be a confederation of the ‘kings of the east’ that will get together (Revelation 16:12). This will include Russia, China, Korea, Japan, possibly even the Philippines. Things will one day dramatically change, militarily, in Asia, in terms of cooperation (Revelation 16:12).
Notice also the following:
50:41 “Behold, a people shall come from the north,
And a great nation and many kings
Shall be raised up from the ends of the earth.
42 They shall hold the bow and the lance;
They are cruel and shall not show mercy.
Their voice shall roar like the sea;
They shall ride on horses,
Set in array, like a man for the battle,
Against you, O daughter of Babylon.43 “The king of Babylon has heard the report about them,
And his hands grow feeble;
Anguish has taken hold of him,
Pangs as of a woman in childbirth…”(Jeremiah 50:41-43).
Russia is in the north. A confederation led by Russia and a great nation (seemingly China as it is the greatest nation in terms of population), and various others “from the ends of the earth” will get together. From the vantage point of the Middle East, Russia and China are “from the ends of the earth.”
Notice that one day, this will concern the “daughter of Babylon.” The end time Babylonian power, will be European (watch also Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?). It will one day be very concerned about what this force will do. This is also shown in other scriptures (cf. Daniel 11:44-45; see also The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy).
Thus, the European empire is to be destroyed by a northern led force.
We continue to see signs of military cooperation between Russia and China.
Another reason to mention all of this about the South China Sea prophetically is to emphasize that the USA has been involved in a ‘pivot’ towards Asia and it hoped the U.N. decision, which went against China (see U.N. court rules in favor of the Philippines on the South China Sea, but China says it will ignore the decision), could resolve some of the issues there. Yet, the United Nations is not particularly capable of stopping Russia and China militarily, and they know it.
The USA, itself, is concerned about China and Russia and that is part of why it has been implementing its so-called ‘Asian pivot’ strategy as advocated by former US Secretary of State, now Democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton. This ‘Asian pivot’ strategy has greatly concerned the Europeans who are trying to decide how to live WITH Russia and China, while also trying to figure out how NOT to be subordinate to the USA (see http://www.courcyint.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&Itemid=6&id=65978&full=true&uid=55646&acc=1&cat_id=798851). Europe is considering how to better arm itself, and that will not end well for the USA militarily per Daniel 11:39.
Russia and China do not just want territory and influence. They both want to dethrone the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency. But they also apparently wants to start to send a message that they do not fear the U.N., or the USA for that matter. While that may not be entirely correct, all should realize that China and Russia hope to become strong enough that the USA would not dare to take military steps that could provoke them.
The USA, itself, tends to be focusing on how to deal with China and Russia and the Middle East, which is part of why it will not see what is happening in Europe. The current world order dominated by the USA, and formerly by the UK is being changed.
The Bible shows that the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7) is getting nearer–and that will greatly affect the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand which have descendants from Jacob also known as Israel. The Bible also tells of the final time of the Gentiles. (Luke 21:23-24; Revelation 11:2), which means the time when the descendants of Israel will no longer dominate the world scene. We are getting closer to that time (see also When Will the Great Tribulation Begin?).
Russia and China are taking steps leading towards the fulfillment of end time prophecies.
News presenter: John Hickey
