Power vacuum

China’s rise as a global economic and military power was not an accident.

Its coercive and aggressive actions in the South China Sea and in Taiwan are clear indications of China’s desire to consolidate power in the region and expand around the world.

By 2049, Beijing hopes to dominate the world as the number economic and military power, surpassing the United States, which some political analysts say could plunge into a possible civil war due to widening polarization after the November 2020 presidential elections.

The domestic political issues and a cooling economy have been disrupting erica s efforts to intervene in so e distant lands to keep global stability and security.

For instance, the United States retreated from the world stage during Donald Trump’s presidency, withdrawing from Afghanistan and putting doubt on its capability to face conicts on two fronts.

The last time Washington fought wars in two separate theaters was in the Second World War – helping the British and the Russians in defeating Nazi Germany and its Italian ally in the European theater and bringing down the Japanese to liberate China and most Southeast Asian countries in the acific theater.

In the later part of the 20th century, there were pockets of con icts in the alkan peninsula and the iddle ast. t fought wars against drug cartels in Latin America and intervened in ethnic con icts in frica.

Washington abandoned Southeast Asia, pulling out from its two large overseas military bases in Clark and Subic.

t focused on the iddle ast and other inor threats, like drug tra cking, sla ist ilitancy and preventing ussia from regaining its strength after the disintegration of the old Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and its satellite states in Eastern and Central Europe.

For instance, in the Philippines, the United States, if it really wants to stay in its bases, could do some arm-twisting and pressure tactics. What could 12 senators actually do to a country that overwhelmingly loves the Americans?

ut, at that ti e, the ericans were confident they could leave the region because there were no outside powers that would step into their shoes and the American economy was falling.

The US was wrong. It was a catastrophic and strategic blunder.

China took advantage of the situation and deceived the United States and its allies that its intentions are peaceful.

Beijing has mastered the deception that it was able to acquire modern military technology from the Americans to build up its own armed forces, telling Washington that China could be a friend against the Russians.

China pitted the Americans against the Russians while harvesting crucial and strategic technology to build ships, planes, tanks, and missiles. It was also stealing and doing reverse technology to learn how sophisticated weapons systems were made.

China ooded erican universities with researchers and bought some obscure US companies with tie ups with defense manufacturing industries, like Singer sewing machines. A unit of Singer was producing important parts for sophisticated weapons systems.

Washington did not pay attention to Chinese threats until 1995 when it occupied a half-submerged shoal in the South China Sea. The Philippines discovered that China has built a akeshift fisher en s shelter on ischief eef after a ilipino fighter pilot ew reconnaissance ights in the disputed waters.

The Philippine Navy was not able to send patrols in the area during the harsh monsoon season because it lacked ocean-going vessels.

ost of its platfor s are orld ar destroyer escorts and minesweepers. They cannot endure two to three weeks sea duties in the vast exclusive economic zones.

The United States treated China as a key ally against ussia as well as with sla ist ilitants in the iddle ast because China has its own proble s in in iang with uslim Uyghurs.

(Continue on page 27)

Historicity of Jesus - lasting gift and must reading for the Lenten Season

During the Lenten Season, millions from the “Christendom” will be celebrating Palm Sunday, oly Thursday, ood riday and Resurrection Sunday to commemorate the Death, Burial and Resurrection (DBR) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Health & Wealth

As book author, columnist and active Evangelist with the GOLDEN GATE C C C T in an rancisco, California, offer and reco end the ourteenth rinting copies of T C T subtitled “Facts and Evidences for Agnostics, Atheists, Believers and Christians” to our readers and the general public. atest edition copies of T C T are now available in ardcover, aperback and -book through Amazon and Restoration Books (website: www.restorationboos.church) Foreword was written by Atty. Junas T. Sagurit, President, Asian Christian University in Bugallon, Pangasinan, Philippines.

The back cover has the group picture of then Congressman and enator anny ac uiao with the e bers of the C inistries Tea during the Courtesy Call and rayer Session inside his mansion last February 19, 2016 in General Santos City, Sarangani, Philippines. The members of the WE C inistries Tea include arry est, Cole obertson with the popular TV Show Duck Dynasty, Steven Prine, Erben Gonzales and yours truly.

ere are so e co ents and reviews on the book. This book can help bring millions of Filipinos to Jesus, the Prince of Peace, for salvation and spiritual awakening,” wrote C . . , or er Chair, egulatory oard of Librarians; Director of Libraries, Lyceum of the Philippines niversity, anila, hilippines.

“This is a special book which merits devoted attention The devastation caused by COVID-19 and the following new strains reveals more than ever how desperately we need to fellowship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” echoed T. , lder, C C C T, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. eading T C T should ake it ipossible for the smallest seed of doubt to be sown in anyone’s mind,” said JUANITA ROBERTSON, Retired Professor, City College, San Francisco, California USA.

“This timely book is a must read for agnostics, atheists, believers and Christians, I encourage my INC friends to purchase their own copies, read with open mind and then share with others, a r ed . , ., for er C e ber and now vangelist and inister, C C C C T, anchai, ong ong.

The T C T is a agnificent read and teaching tool filled with valuable notes and historical information. I commend it highly, “ said ERLINDA A. BIANAN, R.N. author of the best-selling book “Nurses Notes on edical, urgical and Critical Care ursing, acra ento, California USA.

“This book evidently represents that there is a Jesus Christ in the history of mankind. Only a plain ignorant would claim that there had never been a an who once walked on this earth. I use and master this book to make myself ‘be ready to give a defense’ to anyone who asks me for the truth,” confir ed TT . . , eal state roker ppraiser, awyer inister, T C C C T, Tan a, Cavite, hilippines.

To commemorate our 49th Wedding Anniversary with y beloved wife irginia i ene adlaing on ay , 2 23 Cinco de ayo , a offering autographed copies ofT C T 326 pages, a on price in ardcover- $18.95; Paperback -$14.95; and E-book-$8.95 per copy respectively, plus shipping and handling) at discounted price to our readers and the general public. This pecial ffer is good only in the nited tates until ugust 18, 2 23, y 76th Birthday.

For your autographed copies, you can choose between the ardcover 12. per copy, shipping handling or Paperback $10.95 per copy, FREE shipping handling) as additional book in your personal library and/or lasting gifts to your FRANC (Friends, Relatives, Acquaintances, Neighbors, Co-Workers). To get