News of the Day (March 15)

Yesterday’s News of the Day should have been Dated March 14; apologies for the error.

Reaction to Communist China’s “anti-secession law”: Communist China’s “anti-secession law” was quickly denounced on Taiwan, both by elected President Chen Shui-bian and some of his leading political opponents. The position of Chen and his government is not news, but a number Chen’s opponents joined him; ripping the “law” as “neither necessary nor wise” (Washington Post). Meanwhile, a recent poll cited by the Post reported “that 93 percent of the public opposed China's threat, 84 percent rejected the law's claim that Taiwan is part of China and 56 percent believed Taiwan should respond by increasing defense spending.”

Communist China did claim some support from the law – from Russia, Syria, and Belarus – but then took it a little too far when it tried to add the European Union to the list. In fact, the European Union’s only reference to the law was negative (Cybercast News). Australia – caught between close ties with the U.S. and Communist China – nonetheless held out the possibility of cooperating with the U.S. to thwart a Communist invasion of the island democracy (Cybercast News). Calgary Sun columnist Paul Jackson also blasted the Communists for their threats against Taiwan, “anti-secession law” included.

On Communist China and the United States: Peter Brookes, Heritage Foundation, has an excellent column describing Communist China’s ambitions for Taiwan, how it is using its Stalinist North Korean and Iranian allies to fulfill those ambitions, and why the U.S. must stand fast and demand the Communists stop misbehaving (Cybercast News). Jonathon Beale, BBC, gives a conventional-wisdom analysis of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s trip to Asia. Wes Vernon, Newsmax, calls attention to Communist China’s extensive espionage network in the United States (see also fourth item).

Resignations the CCP near 300,000: OK, we didn’t hit 300,000 resignations yesterday, but as of 1 PM today, the number was 296,880. Ding Ke, a former special agent of the Security Department of the CCP, told Lu Qingshuang and Guo Re of the Epoch Times that the Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party had a tremendous impact. Stephen Gregory, also from the Epoch Times, also credits the Nine Commentaries. Meanwhile, the paper also reprinted a touching Communist Youth League resignation – from a fourteen year-old who chillingly remembers being told the red necktie symbolizing the CYL “was dyed in blood.” Meanwhile, the campaign against the party even reached the Communists’ own satellites, temporarily (Epoch Times).

On the Falun Gong War: The Epoch Times interviews Li Ying, a thirteen-year-old girl who lost both her parents to the Communist persecution against Falun Gong.

More on Communist China: Robin Lustig, BBC, finds Communist China very prosperous by all appearances, but he quickly notes it is just that: an appearance. Hu Ping, Epoch Times, answers those who argue against freedom for the Chinese people on the claim that “freedom” has no corresponding word in the Chinese language. Hu notes that humor also has no Chinese word, but the Chinese people know how to laugh.

Pro-U.S. South Korean opposition leader profiled: Park Geun Hye, whose mother was murdered in 1974 by a terrorist from Stalinist North Korea, is now head of South Korea’s pro-American opposition, the Grand National Party. Anthony Faiola, Washington Post, interviewed this leading opponent of dovish President Roh Moo-hyun.