News of the Day (June 28)

Hao Fengjun hit by Communist propaganda: Communist China finally took notice of Hao Fengjun, the former officer in the ant-Falun Gong 610 unit who exposed Communist espionage in Canada (third item), and aimed their propaganda at him (Epoch Times). This corner once again calls on the U.S. to grant Hao and Chen Yonglin asylum.

Communist China may offer $20 billion for Unocal: Communist-owned China National Offshore Oil Corporation “will probably lift its bid to $20 billion,” according to a PetroOverseas cited by the Communist news agency Xinhua (cited by the United Press Int’l via Washington Times). Meanwhile, a cadre mouthpiece insisted that the proposed takeover is “normal commercial activity” (BBC). Also reporting: NBC via MSNBC

What’s with those bomb shelters? Communist China is planning “to open up massive bomb shelters to the public, ostensibly to provide a respite from summer heat” (World Net Daily). However, some analysts think the move is designed to disguise a genuine future evacuation to the shelters in preparation for war as “militarily insignificant.”

Communist China furious at Harpy cancellation: Israel’s cancellation of Harpy radar upgrades for Communist China (sixth item) “caused irritation in Beijing” (Washington Post). The Communist aimed their ire at the “carping” U.S.

Land seizure protest hits Beijing: Thousands of peasants infuriated over the seizure of their land by corrupt local Communists “converged on the state-run institutes, U.S. and French Embassies in Beijing to give voice to their extreme anger at the Chinese Communist Party and its bureaucracy” (Epoch Times). The embassies were targeted not out of anger, but to ensure news of the protest would reach the outside world. One protestor railed against the regime: “Why does the government silently allow the anti-Japan protest, but doesn’t hesitate to arrest us? This is indeed too unreasonable!”

Resignations approach 2.6 million: Those inspired by the Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party to quit the Party include a former Youth League member from Guangzhou (Epoch Times), and several members in the provinces of the north, according to Li Yangtian (Epoch Times). A rally was held in Chicago for the ex-cadres (Epoch Times: this was the rally at which Ethan Gutmann spoke – fifth item), and endorsed by Illinois State Senator Dan Rutherford (Epoch Times).

Relatives of flood victims blame Communists: Two hundred lives were lost in the Shalan River flood – a natural disaster according to the Communists (Epoch Times). Local residents paint a different picture. Some claim “the reason for the flood was the lack of repair to the Hesheng Dam on the upper Shalan river, which collapsed under pressure;” others say “the dam did not release the floodwaters due to lack of warning.”

Bird flu spreading in Communist China: The World Health Organization found “5,000 migratory birds had died” (BBC) in Qinghai province from the H5N1 bird flu virus, “five times China's estimate.” H5N1 is the virus that can now resist amantadine, thanks to Communist China’s widespread and improper use of human antiviral drug on poultry (tenth, fourth, and fifth items).

On Communist China and the United States: Frank Gaffney, of the Center for Security Policy, rails against CNOOC’s bid for Unocal, and the “see-no-evil” (National Review Online) attitude of Treasury Secretary John Snow and Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan. Wes Vernon, Newsmax, takes note of the news uncovered by Bill Gertz. Friendly Blog Small Dead Animals hears from “Joe,” who details the Communists’ use of radical nationalism and anti-Americanism (also posted on Shotgun).

On Tibet: Ngawang Sangdrol, the Tibetan nun who has spent half of her life in prison (she’s 28) talks to the Independent (UK) about her ordeal, and the plight of her people – who have suffered under Communist occupation for over half a century.