News of the Day (February 1)

Putin and Communists go one way; Russian and Chinese peoples, the other way: Irwin M. Stelzer, Weekly Standard, has a critically important piece on the growing ties between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Communist China, especially involving oil. Meanwhile, Wu Xing, Epoch Times, sees the Russian and Chinese peoples coming together over something else entirely: the Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party and the disgust at the very Communists whom Putin is befriending.

The BBC drops the ball on Huawei: The BBC’s soft piece on Huawei Technologies’ entrée into Europe – sealed by its new deal with British telecommunications firm Marconi – (tenth item) briefly mentions the firm’s ties to the Communist military, but not its role in helping Saddam Hussein integrate his air defenses (American-Related News).

Boeing planes aimed at us? Meanwhile, just days after Boeing’s deal with Communist China for 60 planes (tenth item) was announced, Bill Gertz (Washington Times) reported that the U.S. is probing the possible conversion of earlier Boeing planes into Communist military aircraft. If the conversions – illegal under U.S. law – are proven to be true, “penalties could range from fines to the imposition of economic sanctions on China that would bar purchases of U.S. aircraft,” including the aforementioned Boeing deal.

Zhao’s relatives angry at Communists: The family of Zhao Ziyang – the former Chinese Communist Party leader stripped of his post and placed under house arrest for over fifteen years because he refused to support the Tiananmen Square massacre – is not happy with how the Party handled his funeral. Among other things, the Communists “took complete control” (Taiwan Central News Agency via Epoch Times), including banning from the funeral several personal invitees of the family.

Dissidents disappear, petitioners mourn: Several more dissidents who tried to pay their respects to Zhao “disappeared” (CNA via Epoch Times). They likely were all arrested; at least two were held by police upon their return home (Epoch Times). However, several “appellants” – those who are appealing their disputes with local cadres to Beijing, usually to no avail – were able to sneak out of their de facto detainment to reach just outside the funeral and pay their respects (Epoch Times).

More Perspectives on Zhao: The editors of the Washington Post and United Press International’s Edward Lanfranco (via Washington Times) weigh in on the Communists’ iron-fisted treatment of Zhao’s death. The China Support Network reprinted three addresses from Saturday’s Washington memorial to Zhao (second item): John Kusumi, exile Wei Jingsheng, and Worldrights Executive Director Timothy Cooper.

Cadres in Taiwan for funeral: Three unnamed cadres visited Taiwan to attend the funeral of Koo Chen-fu, “the former top negotiator on cross-Strait ties” (BBC). Wonder if they were trying to avoid another funeral closer to home?