My Way News - China says to boost defense spending in 2009
AP reports: "The increase to 480.68 billion yuan ($70.27 billion), follows a 17.6 percent increase last year, and 17.8 percent in 2007 - the biggest jump in more than a decade. It also marks the 19th double-digit percentage increase in the past two decades."

Comment: The rise of great military powers to the east of the Euphrates is one of the important prophetic trends to watch. I would certainly include China in that group, as well as India and Pakistan, though to a much lesser extent. I think that prophetic scripture is painting a picture of a time when military powers to the east seize an opportunity to take control of the Middle East after decades of Western control.