News of the Day (March 30)

Communist media crackdown expands: The Communist crackdown on media continues, with “warnings to three newspapers: the China Business News of Shanghai, the Economic Observer of Beijing, and the 21st Century Business Herald of Guangzhou” (Epoch Times) as well as Nan Fang Daily in Guangdong. To ensure their warnings are followed, “When the Propaganda Department finds fault with a reporter, editor, or supervisor, the Department also withholds several months of the individual’s pay.”

Professor fired for ripping Communist media control: Meanwhile, Beijing University Professor Jiao Guobiao has been fired for “an astonishingly bold paper” (BBC) he wrote last year “attacking the Communist Party's propaganda department.” Jiao “accused it of sheltering corrupt officials and compared the state censors to those in Nazi Germany.” Prior to getting canned, his books had already been banned, and “he was included in a blacklist of intellectuals forbidden from appearing in the media.”

Communist China comes to Kofi Annan’s defense: As United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan came under fire for the disastrous oil-for-food scandal, Communist China – whose military-owned firm pocketed over $300 million in oil-for-food vouchers for selling Saddam Hussein missile parts – loudly defended him (Cybercast News).

Whither India? In the geopolitical battle between the United States and Communist China - what this quarter calls Cold War II – the role of India is easily the most important in deciding who wins. India has considered Communist China its number one security problem, and the “Walker’s World” column (UPI/Washington Times) finds the regime to be a major reason behind the Bush Administration’s strong ties with New Delhi. Still, The Economic Times (India) finds that Communist China is leaving no stone unturned in its own attempt to win over the world’s largest democracy. If this Communist “charm offensive” is to be beaten back, the Administration must be more open and active about the Communist China threat, and thus make clear it shares India’s security worries.

Chinese Communist Party adds more members – without their knowledge: How can the Chinese Communist Party have over 66 million members? Well, according to Liu Yang (Epoch Times) gives two reasons: for survival – “many people join the CCP so as not to become its target” – and in some cases, people “join” the party without being told – “Mr. A was speechless, as without knowing, he had been a member of the party for several years.” That can certainly swell the Party ranks!

Nine Commentaries spread in Taiwan and Britain: The Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party continues to spread in ethnic Chinese communities around the world, including Britain. Even non-Chinese, such as the Reverend Frank Julian Gelli, were thrilled to see their publication. As one would expect, the Commentaries are very popular on the island democracy of Taiwan (all links from the Epoch Times).

On the State of the Workers (and their organs) in the Workers’ State: Feng Changle, Epoch Times, reveals the chilling story of Yang Jie, who was told she could donate part of her liver to her husband to help him live. After the operation, her husband was dead, while her liver was donated to others for “the expenses of your hospitalization for you.” She has since appealed to Beijing, where “I was detained for 12 hours by the police.”

On Taiwan: Frank Gaffney, Jr., of the Center of Security Policy, has high praise for House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on several issues, including the island democracy, in the Washington Times. On the opposite end, also in Washington Times, is Harlan Ullman, who in the midst of a column on many things includes an “analysis” of Communist China’s “anti-secession law” that borders on straight Beijing propaganda.

More Commentary on Communist China: Robert Samuelson (Washington Post) and Randall Parker (Parapundit founder and member since 2003) discuss the effect of the Communist thirst for oil on U.S. energy policy. John Patrick, China Support Network, rips columnist George Will for the latter’s naiveté on Communist China (fourth item).

Stalinist execution video taken to UN: The United Nations Human Rights Commission is taking up the issue of Stalinist North Korea today (Cybercast News). Among the things the commission will consider is the recent execution video smuggles out of SNK.

UN bird flu official visits SNK: Hans Wagner, dubbed a “senior United Nations bird flu expert” by the BBC, is in Stalinist North Korea to examine the spread of the disease which the Stalinists claimed they had already contained (last item).

CATO makes bad call on SNK: Ted Galen Carpenter, the CATO Institute’s vice president for defense and foreign policy studies, calls for the Bush Administration to “call North Korea’s bluff” and give the Stalinists what they want in exchange for their nuclear disarmament. As expected, his Fox News column says nothing about what happens if they turn down or break the deal – and liberation is never mentioned.