<blockquote>“Against all odds, the frameworks of the world’s economic, political, and social systems are being shaken and are beginning to crumble.”
<p style="text-align: right;">-Jim Bakker in “Prosperity and the Coming Apocalypse”</p>
</blockquote>

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman stated their unity with Russia in opposing any outside intervention in the looming civil war in Syria. The spokesman urged support for the peace plan offered by the UN that has proven unable to stop the violence as government troops have continued to massacre citizens.

China currently holds the presidency of the UN Security Council’s rotating presidency and has long resisted pressure to remove Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over actions taken by his government.

The statement came as Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing for meetings with his Chinese counterpart. The talks were expected to concentrate on oil and gas deals to enhance the trading between the countries, which reached a level of $84 billion last year.

However, pressure from international sources might force the two allies to adopt a different position on the deteriorating situation in Syria. After the Free Syrian Army announced late Monday they were no longer committed to the cease fire, the possibility of the UN’s plan succeeding appears remote.