Analysis. Not a week goes by without news reports of escalating tensions with China. Recently, news outlets reported that an unprecedented number of Chinese nationals were caught crossing the U.S. border illegally through the Darien Gap. Though they claim to be refugees from China, it is far from certain that they are. Most of those detained are single men of military age, and they are most likely beholden to the CCP because the families left behind are under threat of severe repercussions.

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These reports come on the heels of news about Chinese “police stations” in the U.S. that monitor and harass dissidents to Xi Jinping’s Communist Party. In addition, our nation was recently shaken up by a Chinese spy balloon flying over U.S. soil for several days before it was finally shot down. The balloon was allegedly equipped with high-tech observation gear that may well have collected sensitive military data. That incident heightened alarm over Chinese businesses with ties to the CCP buying up farmland near U.S. military bases.

Meanwhile, China is flexing its muscles in East Asia, too. Its jets are probing Japanese airspace with increasing frequency, and the People’s Liberation Army is holding military exercises near Taiwan, which it still regards as part of China and wants back.

Dr. Kevin Roberts of The Heritage Foundation says in his foreword to The Asia Report: Winning The New Cold War that China’s plans are clear. Xi’s government wants to weaken and supplant American political and economic influence and establish global hegemony. And China’s tactics seem to veer increasingly toward the threat of military conflict. For example, China recently bolstered military recruitment to prepare for future conflict.

According to China expert Gordon Chang, almost everything the Xi government does should be seen as a preparation for war — a war similar to the one being waged in Ukraine, a war aimed at taking back Taiwan by force and expanding Chinese military power in the Far East. After all, communism is expansionist, driven by ideology and a hunger for totalitarian power. Efforts by the U.S. and others to sway China toward capitalism and democracy have failed miserably, the Heritage Foundation says, producing instead only overt economic and military harassment.

Connecting the Dots

The increasing alarm in U.S. military, security, and political circles is well founded. We have seen a progression of Chinese activities that should be considered hostile to the U. S. To break it down:

• China played a role in the 2020 presidential elections, by which a candidate whose cognitive ability was repeatedly called into question and who ran the laziest campaign in election history from his basement nevertheless won the presidency. Not surprisingly, Joe Biden and his family love China.
• One of his first acts was to dismantle the protection of our southern border. Not only did this trigger the influx of millions of undocumented immigrants, it opened the door for unprecedented quantities of fentanyl, a deadly opioid similar to morphine but 50 to 100 times more potent. It is flooding the country and wreaking havoc on an anxious, drug-hungry population. Fentanyl is produced in — you guessed it — China, and it is sold cheaply to the Mexican drug cartels. Moreover, the open border has made it easier for Chinese operatives to enter the U.S., as noted above.
• The release of fentanyl, the spying activities, and the expansion of socioeconomic influence in the U.S. could have a dual aim: spying on the nation’s will and ability to enter into an armed conflict and undermining its strength from the inside out. That is classic cloak-and-dagger activity ahead of a superpower’s military action.
• The Chinese activities on American soil coincide with the weakening of America’s socioeconomic strength and national security. Preoccupation with mounting inflation and growing, often drug-related, homelessness that has reached crisis proportions would potentially seriously undermine enthusiasm for an (expensive) war overseas. Meanwhile, the rise of wokeism has fueled a “defund the police” movement, resulting in an exodus of law-enforcement personnel and in problems recruiting new staff. Consequently, violent crime is rising sharply in most major U.S. cities. Wokeism has also altered the culture in the military and discouraged many from enlisting. As a result, our armed forces are now struggling with a critical personnel crisis.

What we have discussed so far is but the tip of the iceberg. For an in-depth analysis of what China is doing and what the U.S. can do about it, read the full report on the Cold War with China by the Heritage Foundation.

The Spiritual Significance

Intercessors know that the cloak-and-dagger stuff on earth hides a battle in the spiritual realm: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).

We also know the reason: Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us” (Psalm 2:1–3).

That’s right. China’s schemes are demonically driven and ultimately aimed at preventing the advance of the Gospel. Through the infiltration of communist ideology and expansionism, Satan wants to turn the nation pledged to be one under God against the Gospel of the very God whose principles are embedded in the Constitution and that has had a significant influence on world mission. What better way to do that than to influence that nation’s politics to embrace and codify “woke-ism” and cause its people to turn on the Church as an institution that hinders progressive thinking? Meanwhile, Xi Jinping is turning on Christians in China like never before. Churches are being razed, Christian symbols outlawed, and pastors arrested like never before. Wouldn’t it be a coup for the devil if the “nation under God’ became friends with the nation that is anti-God, took counsel against His Anointed One together, and turned on what it sees as bonds and cords restraining progressive woke thinking that has no place for morals, holiness, and relationship with God?

Ah, but God. The devil is already a defeated enemy. His schemes on earth are limited by God’s plans to work through them in His own favor. Persecution begets passion. As a result, the Chinese Church is growing like never before and aims to outgrow CCP membership, weakening China’s communist ideology from the inside out. And the growing woke-driven persecution here in the U.S. only serves to awaken the Church to its kingdom power and mission while driving confused, worried, and increasingly hopeless unbelievers into the arms of Christ.

And this gives us great hope as we pray about this cold war with China that is heating up:

1. We pray that the Chinese Church will keep growing, in numbers and in depth, until the CCP is overrun by a people desperate for hope and change.
2. We pray that what is hidden in darkness may come to light — the exposure of Chinese operatives and activities on American soil aimed at weakening our national security and socioeconomic fabric.
3. We pray that the crises fueled by the Chinese will shake our nation awake to the point of turning to Christ and seeking God for answers to our growing problems.
4. We pray this word over world leaders: Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled (Psalm 2:10–11).

Father, we confess that Your beloved Son Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords — exalted far above the cloak-and-dagger schemes of the leaders of this earth. We pray that You will bring to light what they do in darkness. Above all, we pray that all these plots against You may result in large numbers of people turning to the light of Christ, both in China and here in the United States. Awaken Your Church to recognize the forces of evil at work and to take up the armor You have provided to resist the devil and advance Your kingdom through the power of prayer. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

How are you praying for truth and justice concerning the CCP and its schemes? Share this article to encourage others to pray.

Remco Brommet is a pastor, spiritual-growth teacher, and prayer leader with over 40 years of experience in Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa, and the U.S. He was born and raised in the Netherlands and pastored his first church in Amsterdam. He moved to the U.S. in 1986. He and his wife, Jennifer, live north of Atlanta. When not writing books, he blogs at www.deeperlifeblog.com and assists his wife as a content developer and prayer coordinator for True Identity Ministries. Jennifer and Remco are passionate about bringing people into a deeper relationship with Christ. Photo Credit: Getty Images.