Last week I mentioned a news story that quoted China’s National Defense Minister proclaiming that China must prepare for military conflict in all strategic directions within the next five years. In my article I wrote how I wouldn’t be surprised if the United States was one of China’s future opponents in armed conflict.
Yesterday Kyodo News reported that China recently may have taken a significant step towards increasing its willingness to nuclear weapons against potential, future foes. Kyodo News cited internal Chinese documents which suggested that the Chinese military is now opened to launching preemptive nuclear attacks if it faces a “critical situation” in a war against a nuclear state (i.e. the U.S.) Link
- Before yesterday’s report China was known to have a “non-first strike” policy, which implied that China would only use nuclear weapons if they were attacked first. Yesterday’s report raised enough eyebrows that China’s Foreign Minister Spokesman today issued a public denial in an attempt to calm people’s nerves.
I have not seen the internal documents that Kyodo News obtained nor do I have access to military intelligence, so I am in no position to claim that China is lying or the Kyodo News report is false. However, I would not be surprised if the report is true because the idea that China is now considering preemptive nuclear attacks is consistent with the idea that they are preparing for military conflict in “all strategic directions”.
- If the report is true, Chinese military officials seem to be able to envision a scenario where they are engaged in a war against a nuclear state. Although it is the job of military officials to prepare for any scenario, it’s probably disconcerting for the United States and for China’s neighbors to see reports that China may becoming more liberal with the way it uses its nuclear weapons in war.
I wrote last week that Japan and South Korea probably have no interest in fighting China. I believe this is true as long as China does not threaten these countries’ existence. However, China’s rapid military buildup and its national defense minister’s recent proclamation have China’s neighbors, particularly Japan, concerned-so concerned that they are beginning to take steps to guard against the potential threat of Chinese military aggression.
- Japan recently announced a significant change in its national defense strategy where it will move military-related resources away from guarding against Russian attack and move them towards guarding against Chinese attack.
- Earlier this week Japan reached out to South Korea in hopes the two countries could deepen military ties and cooperation.
I would not be surprised if this newest development pushes Asian countries like Japan to further prepare for a potential attack by China or to eventually “rearm” (Japan’s constitution allows the country to have just a self-defense force).
- I believe Japan will eventually pursue military rearmament if China continues to hint that armed conflict is coming through its actions and/or through its words. However, I wonder whether China will strike Japan before Japan completes its rearmament… I can envision China attacking Japan preemptively before Japan becomes a formidable foe…
War in Asia seems like an event that is so far away in the future that it’s not worth worrying too much about now. However, it’s hard to ignore the early signs that war in Asia is becoming a possibility as China’s military grows stronger and its neighbors take gradual steps to defend themselves. War in Asia is something we might see as part of the buildup to the End Times. After all, the Bible says we will see wars and rumors of wars…
- Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
