Editor Al Santoli, who edits the China Reform Monitor, reports in his #570 report on China some startling observations about China's future as a world naval power. This is in keeping with the Book of Revelation prophecies about the Kings of the East fielding an army of 200,000,000 soldiers who figure in the end-time picture.

 

Santoli reports on an article by Richard Fisher in The Wall Street Journal. The article says that "China’s unprecedented naval buildup has implications far beyond an attack on Taiwan or energy conflicts with Japan over the East China Sea." A new naval base on Hainan Island in the South China Sea will allow the navy’s North Sea Fleet and South Sea Fleet to support new nuclear submarine operations, including deployments as far away as the Persian Gulf.

 

China’s new nuclear attack submarines will have the ability to hit India or the United States with multiple-warhead (MIRV) missiles.  By 2010, Beijing could have 50 to 60 of these vessels in active service. By utilizing stolen American military secrets, technology advice from U.S. companies, and Russian technology, Beijing could exceed the number of U.S. nuclear attack submarines and far exceed Japan’s 18 non-nuclear submarines.  Taiwan has no such vessels. Beijing is also exploiting advanced Russian technology to build a Type-093 nuclear attack submarine, which is expected to carry new land-attack cruise missiles. 

 

China recently launched the first of its second-generation 094 nuclear submarines, armed with 16 new JL-2 nuclear-ballistic missiles that have a range of 5,000 miles, marking China’s first nuclear “second strike” capability. By 2007, the PLA Navy will have 12 silent Russian Kilo Class conventional submarines armed with “Club” anti-ship missiles, with a range of 136 miles. In addition to “Song” class submarines - which resemble a French submarine model - the PLA started building a more advanced “Yuan” model in June, equipped with increased submersion time capabilities. These developments have left Japanese leaders of all major political parties fearful of an attack on their homeland, which has provoked the country to pursue a more assertive naval deterrence capability. End of quoted article.

 

German Der Speigel reports China is constructing a gigantic harbor in Gwadar, Pakistan to boost Beijing’s strategic position on the Arabic Sea. The harbor, which is solely designed for oil tankers and container ships, is China’s attempt at linking the country’s western-most provinces, which borders the Soviet Union, the Central Asian oil fields of Kazakhstan, to the Southwest Asian oceanfront through Pakistan.  Note especially in light of the Book of Revelation that Chinese construction teams are also building a 350-mile hard-surface highway connecting Karachi to Gwadar.  Karachi is on the peninsula facing the Baluchistan province, which links Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran.  Work will begin in January 2005 when Pakistan’s military president General Pervez Musharraf will preside over a ribbon cutting ceremony, after which some 500 Chinese construction engineers will bring in over 200 bulldozers to begin construction of the port.  When completed, the port will be capable of handling the world’s largest container ships. 

 

It was also reported on talk radio that the Walmart is China's largest buyer of Chinese products to the tune of 18 billion dollars a year- more than any single country in the world! The sleeping giant has begun to stir, and no one is prepared to say what the future holds for this power that is destined to surpass the USA in many areas. The charge is underway and bears constant vigilance as the giant gains new strength and influence.