News of the Day (May 20)

Communist China places taxes on its textile exports: The Communists will implement an export tax to appease European and American concerns over its recent surge in textile exports (BBC) since the end of worldwide textile trade restrictions this January (fifth item). The U.S. has already imposed some trade restrictions (second item), and the European Union threatened to do the same (fifth item). Meanwhile, several developing nations are finding their textile sectors under threat from the Communists (BBC).

Communist China not happy at U.S. plans for space: Communist China blasted a Pentagon report that recommended the U.S. “needed ‘superior space capabilities’ to prevent and defend against hostile acts ‘in and from space” (World Net Daily). Communist foreign ministry mouthpiece Kong Quan insisted, “We are opposed to the militarization of outer space.” Of course, the fact that Communist China is one of the regimes most likely to commit said “hostile acts” had nothing to do with Kong’s reaction.

Ishihara visits Okinotoris and calls for 2008 Olympic boycott: China e-Lobby favorite Shintaro Ishihara (third item, ninth item, twelfth item), visited the Okinotori Islands (BBC), whose resource-rich waters are one of many sea disputes between Japan and Communist China. Meanwhile, the Tokyo Governor has also “suggested that Japan consider boycotting the 2008 Olympics” (Washington Times). Did someone say boycott?

Epoch Times staffers beaten in France: Members of the Epoch Times volunteer staff were beaten by “a group of Chinese visitors from Wenzhou City” for showing a video on the Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party. Several people were injured.

Looking to fight corruption, Nanjing aims at cadres’ mistresses: Cadres in Nanjing have demanded their fellows “admit to any extra-marital affairs they may be having” (BBC). The move is being sold as an effort to fight corruption (usually how high-ranking cadres fund their affairs), but the reaction in the city has been skeptical, to say the least.

Commentary on Communist China and Stalinist North Korea: Krishnadev Calamur (United Press Int’l via Washington Times) praises this week’s U.S.-SNK talks (last item). Michael Moran, MSNBC, has a conventional wisdom column on the ramifications of a nuclear Stalinist North Korea. Christopher Brown, Hudson Institute, has a better column in National Review Online, but all make the same mistake: the assumption Communist China can be pushed into making the Stalinists behave. Will they never learn?

More commentary on Communist China: Donna Borak (UPI via Washington Times) talks to U.S. Chambers of Commerce head – and, of course, big-time “engagement” backer – Thomas Donohue on U.S.-Communist China trade. One can easily guess how that column read. Lian Chen (not to be confused with Taiwan’s Communist enabler Lien Chan) emphasizes the difference between what Communist China says and what it actually does in the Epoch Times. Said paper’s editors go further in this vein in two specific areas: the price of rural education and the struggling telecommunications sector.