China and U.A.E. to Hold First-Ever Drills
China and the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) will be holding their first-ever joint air force training in late August, China’s Ministry of National Defense announced Monday. “Falcon Shield 2023” will commence in Xinjiang Uygur, an independent region in northwestern China.
According to the statement, the collaboration aims “to deepen practical exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries and enhance mutual understanding and mutual trust.” Details about the exercises, such as duration and size, were not mentioned.
The U.A.E. is China’s second-largest trading partner in the Middle East. China is the U.A.E.’s top partner, making up 11.7 percent of its total foreign trade. The U.A.E. relies on China mainly for electronics; China gets fossil fuels from the U.A.E.
China’s foothold: Chinese influence in the Middle East is growing. It’s accomplishing this by strengthening economic ties as the number one exporter to the region, building its military presence, and acting as a mediator between smaller nations, a role usually played by the United States.
In 2017, we wrote:
China’s growing power in the Middle East and its attempts to exert ever more influence in the region are motivated largely by Beijing’s quest to rebuild the Silk Road. … Observers can plainly see that China’s control over such potential maritime choke points is rapidly increasing. Anyone can also see that the groundwork being laid by the Belt and Road Initiative—in the Middle East and beyond—is boosting China-Europe cooperation.
The U.A.E. sits in a strategic location in the Strait of Hormuz, a choke point for roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil trade. Strengthening ties with the U.A.E. increases China’s foothold in this key area.
Prophecy says: Isaiah 23 warned of a mighty trade alliance between China and Europe at America’s expense. China is connecting itself to Europe through the Middle East. The trade partnership will eventually collapse and be followed by the return of Jesus Christ. You can prove these bold claims in your own Bible. Read Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry’s article “China Is Steering the World Toward War” for a thorough explanation of these prophecies.
