Simulations

China staged record war games around Taiwan on Monday.

Taiwan—an island democracy China has long claimed as its own and threatened to take by force—celebrated National Day last week, during which the Taiwanese president reaffirmed his commitment to “resist annexation.”

Four days later, China’s military simulated a blockade of Taiwan, surrounding the island with 153 aircraft plus 25+ aircraft carriers and ships. The large-scale drills were meant to warn against “separatist acts,” demonstrating China’s ability to choke access to food and fuel, as well as block Taiwan’s allies from coming to its aid. Then, Wednesday, Chinese President Xi made a rare visit to a Chinese island facing Taiwan, where he encouraged officials to bolster the “national identity of Taiwan compatriots.” 

Taiwan says the Red Dragon’s flex backfired, only making “the international community more supportive of Taiwan.”

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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
There may be good reasons to be worried about the future of your community or the global one. God does not promise good days, but he does promise his presence and a great eternity with him. Stay focused on him; it changes everything.

“Therefore we do not give up... For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (CSB) (read full passage)