News of the Day (January 20)

Terrorists from Communist China coming to Boston? Federal and local law enforcement in Boston are looking for four alleged terror suspects from Communist China, based on a tip from a source at the Mexican border who said the four were looking to set off a radiological bomb in the Massachusetts capital. All who talked to the press on the subject insisted the information was “uncorroborated,” so there is the possibility the “source” is sending everyone on a snipe hunt. Still, the fact that Boston – home of several Chinese dissidents and the family of imprisoned dissident Yang Jianli – was the alleged target greatly increases the possibility that these four (Zengrong Lin, Wen Quin Zheng, Xiujin Chen and Guozhi Lin) had at least some encouragement from the regime. Reports: CNN, New York Post, Epoch Times, BBC

If the above is true (and the part about the Communist regime is only yours truly’s speculation as of 1:30 PM), then the long history of Communist China’s support of terrorism might finally get the attention of decision-makers in Washington.

On the late Zhao Ziyang: The Communists are now reversing course on a funeral for Zhao Ziyang; “a ceremony” (BBC) now will be held. Of course, the regime is hedging its bets by detaining dissidents, including Lin Mu (his daughter told the harrowing story of his arrest to the Epoch Times). Communist consulates abroad followed suit, even rejecting flowers presented in Zhao’s memory. The Communists have good reason for this: their own survival as a regime has been greatly enhanced by the complete ignorance of the post-Tiananmen generation about Zhao (Louisa Lim, BBC); no need to risk millions of twenty-somethings finding out the truth.

Still, others were able to give their condolences, including Mikhail Gorbachev, who visited Beijing during the protests and called Zhao “the most sympathetic towards the protesters of all the CCP leaders and the most accepting of the concept of democracy.” Those who mourned Zhao had little love for the regime that imprisoned him. Exiled dissident Su Shaozhi told the Epoch Times of regime: “Couldn't it be said that the CCP is evil?” Sun Guangwen, a student at Shandong University and an Epoch Times columnist railed at the Party for its poor treatment of Zhao, as did columnist Lin Baohua. Links not specifically referenced are also from the Epoch Times.

Reminder: a commemoration for Zhao will be held at the Caroline Street Library, in Fredericksburg, VA, on Sunday the 23rd from 1 to 3 PM (see here for more).

Hostages in Iraq were smuggled out of PRC: It turns out that the eight hostages in Iraq “paid human traffickers” (BBC) to get out of Communist China. This might explain why the Communists, who had several arms deals with Saddam Hussein and bitterly opposed his dethronement, were caught flat-footed by the abduction (sixth item).

U.S. still fighting EU plans to lift Communist China arms embargo: Unnamed U.S. officials ripped British Foreign Minister Jack Straw’s support for lifting the European Union arms embargo against Communist China (second item), flatly saying Straw and other embargo opponents “reflected a lack of strategic thinking about the consequences of boosting Beijing's ability to attack Taiwan” (United Press Intl./Washington Times). They were joined by the Washington Post’s Jim Hoagland, who blasted those looking to lift the embargo.

Paul Martin, Woe Canada: Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin embarrassed his country while on a trade mission to Communist China today. Martin publicly praised the Communists becoming “a global power” (Canadian Press-1), while his Natural Resource Minister signed a resource cooperation agreement the regime (CP-2). This was especially galling given the Communists’ plans to buy out a major Canadian mining corporation (Noranda, see next to last item, Top Story).

Communist companies told to buy up outside firms: Communist China is heavily encouraging its firms to buy up companies in the rest of the world, according to Time Asia. The Communists are hoping to ease pressure on their deliberately devalued currency, and of course to “make China a strong country,” i.e., grow and sustain the Communists’ power.

Communist China may set up post office in Antarctica: Communist China’s grip on the bottom of the world – it already has an Antarctic scientific station – may expand with a new post office (BBC). Yours truly will resist the heartless impulse to say something nice about global warming.

IEA says Communist China could gobble up 5.7% more oil this year: According to the International Energy Agency, Communist Chinas’ consumption of oil in 2005 “would be a healthy 5.7 percent over 2004” (UPI/Washington Times). Communist China already consumes over 2 billion barrels a year, nearly half of that imported. This is one of the two critical reasons (the other being the anti-U.S. cold war) that Communist China is flexing its muscles in the Middle East and elsewhere (fifth item, Parapundit’s commentary).

Grenada dumps Taiwan: The Caribbean island best known for being liberated in 1983 switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to Communist China. The move came after Grenadian Prime Minister Keith Mitchell “said he was hoping that China could offer reconstruction aid to help Grenada repair damage caused by Hurricane Ivan” (BBC). Wonder what the sale price was?

Confirmation that Communist China is losing capital: Despite tricking Wall Street and other financial sectors who should know better out of billions in investment money, Communist China is experiencing capital flight. In part, this is due to corrupt cadres looking to hide their ill-gotten gains, but Duetsche Bank analysts (that’s Germany’s central bank) “observed that many companies were beginning to question whether the profit of investing in China is proportional to the risk” (Epoch Times). Are the smoke and mirrors finally losing their effectiveness?

More troubles in Hong Kong: Communist China’s puppet government in Hong Kong has always maintained close ties with the wealthy “tycoons” in the city, in part to ensure the city’s financial elite follow the Party line. Time Asia has noticed an unintended consequence: many residents of the former UK colony (Epoch Times historical account) are now adding to their numerous, well-deserved complaints about the regime that it has grown “too close to the business community.”

Reflections on the Nine Commentaries: The Epoch Times’ seminal work on the true nature and history of the Chinese Communist Party brings back painful memories of repression for Anna Yang and Alexandria Scott (nom de cyber), and wins high praise fro Zhang Lin.

Other Human Rights stories: The Epoch Times presents the data revealing the supposed Falun Gong self-immolation of 2001 to be a hoax. Dr. Viviana Galli of China Mental Health Watch blasts the World Psychiatric Association for caving into Communist China regarding its persecution of Falun Gong practitioners (Epoch Times). Hao Wang – Yale Daily News (via Epoch Times) – talks about her new American citizenship and her mother’s suffering during the Cultural Revolution. Bruce Einhorn, Dexter Roberts, and Matt Kovac – BusinessWeek via MSNBC – see and lament the real Hu Jintao.