World News and Trends: China's growing world influence
News that the Chinese and the Iranians have been in the process of forming a major alliance is just one more indication that China is increasingly at the fulcrum of much that is happening in the world.
News that the Chinese and the Iranians have been in the process of forming a major alliance is just one more indication that China is increasingly at the fulcrum of much that is happening in the world.
NewsMax reported "a major growing alliance between 'axis of evil' member Iran and communist China. The relationship which has been nurtured by both countries for decades, is growing exponentially now, primarily out of China's insatiable energy needs and Iran's increasing hunger for consumer goods, as the economies of both countries continue to expand . . . What it could mean for the long haul is a stronger, more menacing Iran and China, each buoyed by needs being met by the other . . ." (November 18, 2004)
"Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the growing Iran-China alliance is the Islamic republic's access to the improving technology being developed, deployed and utilized by the People's Liberation Army. Nowhere are U.S. concerns greater than in the area of ballistic missile technology" (ibid.).
At the same time, German Chancellor Schroeder is now making a strong bid to broaden Germany's trade with China. The Financial Times recently reported that "China's weight in global trade is so great that even a hiccup could shake some markets" (Dec. 7, 2004).
China's increasing global influence is even reflected by the supposition that "rising tensions with China may add impetus to Japan's gradual shift to a more assertive military" (Newsweek, Nov. 29, 2004). Add to that EU readiness to end the ban on weapons sales to China, threatening to cause a transatlantic rift with the United States.
It would be wise to watch events in China and Southeast Asia in general. (Sources: NewsMax, International Herald Tribune, Newsweek, The Financial Times [London].)
An Article from:
Good News Magazine: January - February 2005
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Jerold Aust
Jerold Aust has served in the ministry for 52 years, as a public speaker for 58 years, a published writer for 38 years, and is employed by UCG’s Media and Communications Services. He is a Senior Writer, interviewer, and editor for Beyond Today Magazine and has taught Speech Communication for UCG’s ministerial online program and the Book of Revelation for ABC.
Jerold holds a BA in theology from Ambassador College, Pasadena (1968), an MA in Communication from California State University, Fullerton (1995), a distance-learning Ph.D (2006), and a Famous Writers School diploma in non-fiction writing (1973). Additionally, he studied post-grad communication at University of Southern California (1995), radio, TV, voice-overs, and Public Relations at Fullerton College (1995-1996), and graduate communication at Wichita State University (1978). Jerold has taught communication at the University of South Alabama (7 years) and ABC (17 years). His published works include, Ronald Reagan’s Rhetoric: Metaphor as Persuasion and EZSpeakers: Public Speaking Made Easy in 7 Steps. Jerold's overarching goal is to share with humankind its incredible destiny!
John Ross Schroeder
John died on March 8, 2014, in Oxford, England, four days after suffering cardiac arrest while returning home from a press event in London. John was 77 and still going strong.
Some of John's work for The Good News appeared under his byline, but much didn't. He wrote more than a thousand articles over the years, but also wrote the Questions and Answers section of the magazine, compiled our Letters From Our Readers, and wrote many of the items in the Current Events and Trends section. He also contributed greatly to a number of our study guides and Bible Study Course lessons. His writing has touched the lives of literally millions of people over the years.
John traveled widely over the years as an accredited journalist, especially in Europe. His knowledge of European and Middle East history added a great deal to his articles on history and Bible prophecy.
In his later years he also pastored congregations in Northern Ireland and East Sussex, and that experience added another dimension to his writing. He and his wife Jan were an effective team in our British Isles office near their home.
John was a humble servant who dedicated his life to sharing the gospel—the good news—of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to all the world, and his work was known to readers in nearly every country of the world.
