“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars : see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet” (Matt. 24:6).
Never before in the history of the world have there been such earth shaking events as we in this generation have witnessed. While conditions are still not settled in Iraq and Jordan, one can hardly find mention of them made in the newspapers in spite of the fact that just a few weeks ago the slightest change in conditions deserved a place on the front page. Times move swiftly. a sure indication that we are living in the time of the end.
The attention of the world has shifted to the Far East in the Formosa region, where Communist China is engaged in a vicious and relentless attack on the Nationalist-held islands of Quemoy and Little Quemoy. It has been Red policy to stir up disorder, unrest and threat of war in various areas of the free world in an attempt to wear down the smaller states in a war of nerves. So often since World War II the nations of the world have been perched on the very brink of war. There has hardly been a period of time when some Communist influenced aggression has not threatened the whole world with the possibility of World War III.
Behind each of the major conflicts can be seen the intent and purpose of the Kremlin to spread disorder and chaos throughout the world. The terrible spread of Communism among the nations of Europe and Asia are slowly preparing them for the great confederacy that is to come against the people of God in the latter days.
Red China’s attack on Quemoy has the full support and backing of Russia, who in effect has stated that a retaliatory attack against China would be considered to be a direct act of aggression against Russia. In such an event, Russia implied that a full-fledged war would ensue. Now, we see Formosa and Quemoy, the last of the Nationalist held islands, falling under one of the bitterest sieges history has seen. By air, the Reds bombarded the Quemoy Island with 300 Soviet-built MIG-17 jets. Red torpedo boats have almost completely succeeded in isolating the island from Formosa, and have hampered greatly the movement of reinforcements from the Nationalists.
For the third week, from 1000 emplacements, Soviet made artillery has hammered away at the island. The Red troops swarming into the Quemoy area have raised the number of troops there to 200,000 with another 700,000 in reserve in Southern China. The odds are overwhelming (the Nationalists have about 85,000 stationed on the island) and unless intervention is made by the United States it is almost certain that both Quemoy and Formosa will fall into Communist hands.
Aid to the distressed area seems impending, however, for Secretary of State Dulles, after conferring by phone for three days with President Eisenhower made known to the press the American policy in the Formosa crisis, which boiled down to the following :
- Because of the fact that the Communists have made it clear that the offshore islands are but the first steps to taking Formosa, the United States intends to go to the aid of the Chinese Nationalists “with fighting men,” if either Matsu (300 miles to the north) or Quemoy are attacked.
- The United States would not recognise the 12 mile limit set by the Chinese Reds in a maneuver to place America in the position of aggressors.
- In the case of counter-attack, Dulles made it clear that the United States would retaliate in much greater force than it got. Communist’s mainland bases would then be bombed.
- Any attempt at a hostile move against American ships engaged in getting supplies to the island would meet fierce retaliation. The possibility of a further counter-attack against the U.S. by Russia in the event of the above was weighed and allowed before the Quemoy decisions were made.
In brief, Dulles made it clear that the U.S. would fight if the Chinese Communists invaded Quemoy, Little Quemoy or Matsu. To add emphasis and effect to this policy, the U.S. 7th Fleet moved into position south of the Formosa straights. Nuclear air strike force with a quantity of deadly F104 Star fighter jets, the fastest in the world, moved into the area.
Also included were F-100 Super-sabre jets, destroyers, reconnaissance planes, cargo and tanker planes. Air bases, well within striking distance of the Chinese mainland in the Quemoy vicinity, are located at South Korea, the Philippines, Formosa and Japan.
All this adds up to an extremely difficult crisis. The problem becomes increasingly complex because both sides are stubbornly determined to maintain their positions to save face. Whether Red China will actually, even in the threat of war with the United States, attempt to take by force the Nationalists – held stronghold remains to be seen.
The Russians have succeeded again in bringing about a world crisis, as she has done in so many instances in the past. Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, and now Quemoy have all been influenced by ‘Communism. Her intents here seem to follow the same pattern as in the past ; to go as far as possible without actually precipitating a full-fledged war.
Already, Red China Premier Chou Enlai has responded to the Eisenhower-Dulles proposal that the two countries meet on a diplomatic level to discuss a Formosa solution. As this issue goes to press, a conference is underway to see if a peaceful answer can be reached to avert another war.
It may be possible that some solution can be formulated to temporarily avert World War HI. But all Bible students know and realise that real and lasting peace on this earth can only be possible with the presence of Christ, the Prince of Peace, who will surely return and set up a kingdom which shall never pass away, one whose outstanding virtue will be the peace and happiness it will bring to all peoples dwelling on the earth.
The nearness to war to which all of us have been subjected on so many occasions is merely another indication of the proximity of Christ, whose presence in the world is to be preceded by “wars and rumours of wars” and a time of extreme unrest among the nations coupled with a time of trouble such as the world has never seen.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One