USA upset that China militarized island in South China Sea

Many nations have military presence in the South China Sea

The South China Sea has been in the news as the USA is upset that China has apparently placed missiles on at least one of the islands it has made claims for (claims that other nations do not accept):

February 17, 2016

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has criticized China for its “increase of militarization” in the South China Sea, following news that Beijing has deployed surface to air missiles on a disputed island it controls in the strategic waterway.

“We have said repeatedly with respect to China that the standard that should be applied to all countries with respect to the South China Sea is no militarization, Kerry said Wednesday. “But there is every evidence, every day that there has been an increase of militarization of one kind or another. It is of serious concern.”

Kerry added that he is confident that he will have a “further very serious conversation” with China about the issue. …

The deployment of Chinese missiles was first reported by American broadcaster Fox News, which based its report on images provided by a civilian satellite company ImageSat International. According to the report, the images show two batteries of eight surface-to-air missile launchers, as well as a radar system deployed on Woody Island. …

Woody Island (or Yongxing Island as it is known in Chinese and Phu Lam in Vietnamese) is the largest of the Paracel Islands and is located in the northernmost part of the South China Sea, east of the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang. Woody Island has been under China’s control since 1956, and is a prefecture level city of the southern Chinese province of Hainan.

The island is also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.

Chinese claims

China’s claim to almost all of the South China Sea and massive reclamation of formations further south has been a growing source of concern among its neighbors in the region, even as Beijing works feverishly to expand trade ties. In recent years, China has beefed up efforts to build runways and artificial islands to bolster its territorial claims.

Beijing has repeatedly said that it does not seek to militarize the South China Sea, but it has increasingly voiced concerns about U.S. freedom of navigation missions in the region, at sea and in the air.

What the missile deployment may mean

Alexander Huang, an assistant professor at Taiwan’s Tamkang University, said the deployment was sending a telling, albeit contradictory signal about China’s future intentions in the South China Sea.

Huang said the development sends a contradictory signal because China has repeatedly said that it would not militarize the disputed islands. Adding that while the dispute over Woody Island is largely between China and Vietnam and does not necessarily involve the United States, it “may serve as a prelude or indicator for the future militarization of the Spratlys.” http://www.voanews.com/content/china-established-missile-system-on-contested-island/3194362.html

February 17, 2016

Hong Kong (CNN) Chinese sea and air defenses on a disputed South China Sea island have been in place for years, Beijing says, but reports of their existence Wednesday alarmed the country’s Asian neighbors.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday it had confirmed that surface-to-air missiles had been deployed on Woody Island, part of the Paracel Islands chain in the hotly disputed sea.

U.S. officials told CNN that commercial satellite imagery showed the deployment of missile batteries. http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/16/asia/china-missiles-south-china-sea/

Now, I am not taking any sides on the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. It is my limited view that all the nations involved believe that at some point in time in history certain portions of the South China Sea were considered to be part of their territorial waters, and there is likely some truth in that.

The United Nations is looking into the region and will likely propose something, which could be good, bad, or a bit of both.

Despite what the UN does or does not do, 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 China, Korea, Japan, possibly even the Philippines. Things will one day dramatically change, militarily, in Asia, in terms of cooperation (Revelation 16:12).

The main 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.

The USA 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 presidential candidate, 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. Europe is trying not to unduly upset China, but also seems to want China to realize that until the territorial dispute is resolved, naval vessels do have the right to proceed in what many consider international waters.

China does not just want territory. It also wants to dethrone the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency. But it also apparently wants to start to send a message to the world that it does not fear the USA. While that may not be entirely correct, all should realize that China hopes to become strong enough that the USA would not dare to take military steps that could provoke it.

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?).

As far as China goes, it is having its own economic problems:

February 17/18, 2016

China is printing a lot of money.

In January, M2 growth — or cash in circulation, essentially — reached 14%, a 19-month high, exceeding analyst expectations of about 12%.

The money was injected into the economy in the form of renminbi loans.

In a note to clients, Deutsche Bank argued that this growth in cash was unsustainable and threatened financial stability.

According to data from Deutsche Bank and Macquarie:

New loans surged to 2.5 trillion renminbi, compared with 1.5 trillion in the prior year. The expectation was for only 1.9 trillion.

New loans set a record, more than quadruple the December total of 598 billion. http://www.businessinsider.com/china-m2-printing-money-2016-2?r=UK&IR=T

This seems to be an increase in the Chinese version of “quantitative easing.” While the USA has, for now, seemingly gotten away with doing this, China might not. Unlike the US dollar, China’s currency is NOT the reserve currency for most of the world, hence, in the short run, this could be riskier for China than it seems to have been for the USA.

That being said, China will have its own problems, nor will China, of itself, be the cause of the end of the USA–many of the Asians and the Europeans do want to see the end of USA dominance in the world, both militarily and economically, and that will happen–despite the fact that the USA has such a powerful military (cf. Daniel 11:39).

The ‘pivot’ of the USA towards Asia will not save it. But China’s movement of missiles will likely encourage the USA to remain more focused militarily on Asia than Bible prophecy deems wise.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters Where did the Chinese people come from? This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel. Here is a link to a version of this article in Spanish: ¿Prueban los caracteres chinos la exactitud de la Biblia?
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon? A YouTube video of interest may be Is China THE Threat to the United States of America?
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
Korea in Prophecy, Any Witness? Where did the Korean people come from? Does God have a plan for the Koreans? Is Korea mentioned in any prophecies? Will Koreans be among the first in the Kingdom of God? Here is a machine-translated link to that article in Korean: 한국의 언어로 : 한국 예언, 모든 증인에?; here is a link to that article in Mandarin Chinese: 在预言中的韩国：有任何证人吗？
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Any Witness? Where did the Japanese people come from? Have they had any witness?
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: Prophecy Japan in prophecy. What is prophesied for Japan? Will God save the Japanese?
Islands and Bible Prophecy What’s ahead for islands? What does the Bible prophesy about them?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2023 or 20xx? There is also a video titled The 6000 Year Plan: Is the end of humanity’s reign almost up? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2015, 2016, or 2017? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2015? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.
Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? There is also a video sermon available: Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy and a video sermonette available: Ukraine in Prophecy?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous. A related sermon is titled Ten Kings of Revelation and the Great Tribulation.
Hillary Clinton in Prophecy Prophecy, Hillary Clinton? Are there prophecies that Hillary Clinton may fulfill? Are there any prophecies that she has already helped fulfill? Could Hillary Clinton be apocalyptic? Could Hillary Clinton be the final Antichrist? A video of related interest is titled Hillary Clinton and Bible Prophecy.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin?
Prophecy Obama: Prophecies of Barack Obama? Reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. This article includes many biblical and non-biblical prophecies, from around the world, that seem to discuss Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist? Might Barack Obama set the stage for the kings of the North and South as at least one Shiite prophecy suggests? Read it and decide for yourself if President Obama seems to be fulfilling various prophecies. Watch also the YouTube Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.