Vladimir Putin recently invited Xi Jinping, his Chinese counterpart, to make a state visit to Russia in the next several months. Facing growing international isolation over the war in Ukraine, Moscow is seeking to deepen its ties with China. “We are expecting you, Mr. Chairman, dear friend, we are expecting you next spring on a state visit to Moscow,” Putin told Xi in a statement recently broadcast on Russian state television.
For his part, Xi is leading China toward an “increase in strategic cooperation with Russia, to be global partners for the benefit of the peoples of our countries and in the interest of stability around the world.”
Analysts watch closely, however, for any sign that China is reevaluating its relationship to Putin as Russia struggles in its war against Ukraine. “Everyone wants to see if Xi is having buyer’s remorse about Putin,” said Alexander Gabuev, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “But today’s call indicates that ties between two countries will continue to grow in the coming years,” Gabuev added. Gabuev pointed to the economic cooperation between the two countries since the war with Ukraine started, with China now accounting for more than a quarter of Russia’s total imports, according to the Washington-based Institute of International Finance.
However, the growing alliance between Russia and China also has biblical prophetic significance. In the latter days, a massive army will come against Israel. Armies will come from the north, south and east. In other words, the armies coming against Israel in that battle will be a coalition of forces such as the world had never seen. The current realigning of nations will have greater significance as a great divide between Russia and China and the western nations increases.
Since the close of WWII, China has mostly refrained from direct military action. However, signs of growing animosity with the west are unmistakable. Former US national security advisor, H.R. McMaster recently stated that China’s leader, Xi Jinping, “is preparing the Chinese people for war.” He added that the leader of China has been posturing aggressively in recent speeches and making his intent clear. “China has become increasingly aggressive, not only from an economic and financial perspective and a wolf-warrior-diplomacy perspective, but physically, with its military, McMaster added.
Those with spiritual discernment will watch for the increasingly hostile posturing of these nations.
by Pastor Rich Jones | February 28, 2023