IS IT JUST METAPHOR? MANY ARE THOSE WHO SEE SIGNS FALLING IN PLACE THAT CHINA WILL 'INVADE'

IS IT JUST METAPHOR? MANY ARE THOSE WHO SEE SIGNS FALLING IN PLACE THAT CHINA WILL 'INVADE'

We've had articles on those who for years have felt (in a prophetic sense) that the U.S. will one day be "invaded" by China. It has been a common theme in alleged locutions since the early 1990s, if in fact there is validity to such locutions. Our take on this "impression" (especially visions of actual army hordes of Chinese, dressed in black) has been that they're symbolic; given our defense capability, an actual army invasion, at least at the present time, is, of course, impossible.

But indeed: what about metaphors?

China is well on its way to becoming a power equal to the U.S., if not greater. Just last week, Forbes Magazine rated Hu Jintao -- leader of China -- as the most powerful person in the world -- one place above President Obama! (The Pope came in fifth.)

Technologically, the Chinese are swiftly catching up to us as far as their space program and technology. They recently built the world's fastest computer, and Asian students -- already in prominence within U.S. technological circles -- lead the world in mathematical scores. As The Washington Times commented, "The atrophying U.S. space program suggests that America will be forced to cooperate with China in space, or else cede the high frontier of space to China altogether.

That does not sit well with the Pentagon, which is alarmed by the prospect. Its chief of U.S. Strategic Command, General Kevin Chilton, told reporters back a year ago: 'With regard to China's [space] capabilities, I think anyone who's familiar with this business ... would have to be absolutely amazed at the advancement that China has made in such a short period of time, whether that be in their unmanned program or the manned program.'" China is expected to be on the moon within ten years.'"

When it does come to actual military might, China -- at 3.5 million soldiers -- has the world's largest army (compared to America's 2.5 million), with the obvious capability of recruiting many more.  Let's make clear that there are many wonderful Chinese -- the majority. These are good, simple, diligent people, for the main part. But we cannot ignore the predominance of a totalitarian regime that is atheistic (or at best agnostic).

In an economic sense, there already are major incursions.

There is the invasion of products.

"Made in Japan" has been replaced by "Made in China." In a way, that's an invasion -- everything from toys and cribs to much of what we wear and even our wall plaster.

There are bonds. China owns a titanic portion, $900 billion worth, of American Treasury notes -- meaning it could sink us if it stopped buying and began dumping (as it has implicitly threatened).  Some put the figure [see below] at more than two trillion. "China owns the U.S.," is the way one major analyst recently put it, with a bit of hyperbole.

There is the currency. Both China and Russia -- along with other countries (like Venezuela) -- have been indicating that they may lobby for a new standard currency reserve to replace the dollar (which is losing value). Just this week, China complained  loudly that the United States is printing money to manipulate markets.

We should all recall how Japan, although far smaller in population and geographical size than the U.S., rapidly rose to nearly an even economic level. Japan's fortunes have since waned, but now we have China breathing down our necks at the same speed but with a far larger geographical area and a population (1.3 billion) more than four times the size of the U.S. When a nation has an economic engine in the style of Japan but with vastly more people, it is worth watching.

It is estimated that China will surpass Japan in wealth this year and speed past the U.S. economy in the next two decades; some believe it will be before. It is already in third place ahead of France (the wealthiest nation in Europe in total share of global wealth).

In 1832, China and India were the world’s two largest economies and by 2032; they will regain that status, he predicted.

The tremendous pace at which the Orient is gaining on or surpassing the West (South Korea is another rising giant) is worrisome because of China's incredible moral transgressions. Each year, an estimated 12 million babies are aborted (ten times the U.S. total) due to the country's "one family, one baby" policy whereby a single child is all a couple is allowed. Reports come periodically of would-be mothers dragged to clinics when they refuse to abort or beaten by police so they will miscarry; other reports have arrived of newborns drowned. Few nations have so little regard for the environment -- from gross air pollution to over-fishing or trashing Africa for specialty items like elephant tusks.

That's hardly to say the United States is the paragon of morality nor, ecologically, that it is pristine. Far from it. But a nation with such little current regard for humans and God's Creation has the potential for great evil -- never mind its antagonism toward Christianity (and particularly Catholicism). They arrest bishops in China. They jail folks for distributing Bibles. Catholics risk their freedom going to Mass. When apparitions and phenomena (including sun miracles) occurred at a shrine in Dong Lu (during a Mass on 23 May 1995 with 30,000 Catholics from the unofficial Church gathered and four bishops of the unofficial Church concelebrating), the government forbade further attendance. Meanwhile, its internal politics are not stable. No one knows what kind of government will evolve -- a free one or one that is even more dictatorial. And while a current military invasion is not possible, it might be in the wake of economic collapse or natural disasters.

Prayer need here. It was Maria Esperanza of Venezuela (now up for beatification) who once said the "yellow race" will "stand up" against the West.