News of the Day (June 3)

Commemorations of the Tiananmen massacre are today (China Support Network).

Ching Cheong was eyeing manuscript claiming support for Tiananmen protestors: The Christian Science Monitor uncovered the real reason Straits Times reporter Ching Cheong is sitting in a Communist jail for “obtaining state secrets” (second item) – he was on the trail of “an unpublished manuscript titled Conversations with Zhao Ziyang Under House Arrest.” The work contained this bombshell: “the demand by students for greater openness and democracy was the same demand being made by wide swaths of mid-level and high-ranking party members in Beijing.” As the anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre approaches; it can be easily seen by Hu Jintao et al didn’t want that getting out.

Zhao Yan case in prosecutor’s hands: Meanwhile, Communist China’s Foreign Ministry announced that the case of Zhao Yan – the reporter forced out of China Reform for his anti-corruption zeal (eighteenth item) and now in jail for, you guessed it, “leaking state secrets” while at the New York Times –Beijing prosecutors. Just yesterday, the cadres added fraud to the list of charges in order to keep him in jail without trail longer. Zhao’s attorney “said he had been unable to visit his client since he was arrested and has not been informed of what evidence the investigators have” (Washington Post).

Communist China still tight-lipped about epidemics: Amid reports that Communist China is trying to hide a foot-and-mouth outbreak outside Beijing (seventh item), the Epoch Times finds that the cadres are also trying to block news of a bird flu outbreak.

As Communist China rips U.S. textile quotas, India probes possible silk dumping: Communist China “attacked the US for imposing new restrictions on textile imports” (BBC) in response to a currency-devaluation/wage-suppression surge in Communist textile exports (second item, fifth item). Perhaps it was hoping to divert attention from the news that India “is charging 100 Chinese exporters with dumping products valued at US$180 million” (Epoch Times). The products in question were “silk and satin.”

Committee to Try Communists for Crimes against Humanity in the works: A number of unnamed activists are coming together to form an International Judicial Committee for Bringing the Chinese Communist Party to Trial (Epoch Times). This corner was asked to sign up as a supporter of the effort, and cheerfully did so.

Henry Kissinger remains his usual unhelpful self: In a speech largely focusing on energy, former Secretary of state Henry kissinger felt the need to rip those of us hoping an India-U.S. alliance can help keep Communist China in check: “India will be concerned with its own security and independence and should not be part of an American desire to counterbalance China” (Financial Times, UK, via MSN). Thanks, Henry.

On the Cultural Revolution: Edward Cody, Washington Post, details how a retired cadre is trying to reveal the truth about the Mao’s last bloody avdenture against his own people, and how the Party is subtlely trying to stop him.

Other Commentary on Communist China: Lev Navrozov of Newsmax – every bit the opposite of the aforementioned Mr. Kissinger – shifts his view to the Communist China’s trade relationship with the U.S., and is justifiably alarmed. Cameron Stewart, in the Australian, examines Communist China’s espionage activities in Australia.

Stalinist North Korea advancing in cyberwarfare: The ability of the Stalinist regime to disrupt American communications now includes “an elite hacking unit of 600 soldiers” (United Press International via Washington Times, second item) which is “now able to seriously interfere with U.S. military networks” on the Korean peninsula.

Rumsfeld to meet Japanese and South Korean counterparts: U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld “will meet with defense ministers from across the region” (Cybercast News) at an Asian security meeting. Rumsfeld will meet, among others Japanese Defense Minister Yoshinori Ohno and South Korean Defense Minister Yoon Kwang Ung. Stalinist North Korea “is expected to take center stage” as a topic.

SNK demands apology from Cheney, praises Bush: The Stalinist regime continued to blast Vice President Dick Cheney for his criticism of Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il (next to last item, last item), and is now saying “it will not return to the nuclear bargaining table unless the United States apologizes for disparaging remarks about its leader” (UPI via Washington Times). Oddly enough, SNK went on to give “a rare positive appraisal of US President George Bush, welcoming his use of the title ‘Mr.’ when referring to leader Kim Jong Il” (The Scotsman, UK), and said it may come back to the talks after all.

Bad column on SNK: Susan E. Rice, assistant secretary of state during the Clinton Administration, calls for “intense bilateral diplomacy” with the Stalinists to convince them to end their nuclear weapons program. While Rice’s Washington Post piece does include some sober realization of Communist China’s real interests on the subject, her “three options” for the U.S. do not include the only one that will work: liberation.