News of the Day (July 28)

Stalinist North Korea wants end to “nuclear umbrella” over South: As reported earlier (second item), the Stalinists are indeed demanding the U.S. “remove its nuclear umbrella protecting South Korea” (Cybercast News), i.e., stop stationing American vessels capable of hitting the Stalinists with nuclear weapons and leave the democratic South with no nuclear deterrent-protection from a Stalinist invasion. It should be noted, that Communist China has a de facto “nuclear umbrella” of its own protecting the Stalinists (third item). Meanwhile, the U.S. held more bilateral talks with the Stalinist regime (South Korea, Japan, Russsia, and host Communist China are the other parties in the six-way talks) and “trying to draft a list of agreed principles to give new life to the deadlocked diplomacy” (BBC). Will they never learn?

Communist China may zoom past the U.S. in submarines: Communist China “already has more attack submarines that the United States” (United Press Int’l via Washington Times) and could have “a three-to-one advantage by 2025.” John Tkacik, of the Heritage Foundation, called the submarine gap a “home-field advantage” against the U.S. in East Asia, and noted that the regime “has already purchased four Russian Kilo-class boats, including the super-quiet Type-636 variant, and has eight additional boats on order.”

Communist China-Russia war games set for next month: Speaking of Russia – still Communist China’s largest arms supplier – the two militaries will conduct joint military excercises in Vladivostok, starting on August 18 (UPI via Washington Times).

Bush Administration considering curbs on high-tech exports to Communist China: A policy battle between “national security officials concerned about China's military threat and American companies increasingly dependent on overseas markets” (Bloomberg News) may get in the way of new export restrictions to Communist China. The Administration “plans to issue new rules by year's end imposing stricter limits on the export of civilian technology that can be exploited for military use,” for now.

U.S. and Communist China agree to “complement” Kyoto accord: Along with India, South Korea, Japan and Australia, Communist China and the U.S. “have announced a surprise pact to cut greenhouse gases which falls outside the Kyoto Protocol on climate change” (BBC). The deal calls for “collaboration” (Cybercast News) on several energy issues, such as “‘clean coal,’ carbon capture and storage, methane capture and use, civilian nuclear power, hydrpower, wind power and solar power.” While a number of environmentalists ripped the deal for its lack of hard-targets on emission reduction, this corner would like to know why helping the Communists become more efficient in energy production is anything but trouble for the U.S. and her allies in the future.

Communist China tries to block UN discussion of Zimbabwe: Communist China re-affirmed the importance of Zimbabwe strongman Robert Mugabe (third, sixth, sixth, and seventh items) in its policy to make the world safe for dictators by trying to block a United Nations report on Mugabe’s vicious “slum clearance” policy, “saying the body should not interfere in Zimbabwe's internal affairs” (Cybercast News). Roger Bate, of the American Enterprise Institute, examine the effects of the Communist embrace of Mugabe in the Daily Standard, as does Jill McGivering of the BBC.

As possible recess appointment nears, Democrats open new angle against Bolton: Two Senate Democrats are demanding to know if and when UN Ambassador-designate John Bolton testified before the grand jury investigate the leak of CIA employee Valerie Plame (Fox News). Meanwhile, two Senate Republicans called for President Bush to grant Bolton – who has engendered opposition in part for his toughness on Communist China and Stalinist North Korea (fifth item) – a recess appointment (Washington Times).

More on Communist China and the United States: Heide B. Malhotra, Epoch Times, examines the Communist China trade restriction bill by Representative Phil English (Republican – Pennsylvania), and finds it leaves a lot to be desired. Meanwhile, Rich Miller, Business Week, doesn’t see much change in Communist China’s currency.

On Pakistan and the terrorist war: Security analyst Kaushik Kapisthalam takes aim at Pakistan’s support for terrorism in the dispute Kashmir region, and calls on the U.S. and its allies to press the Communist Chinese ally to cut it out (UPI via Washington Times).

On the Falun Gong War: Li Zhen, Epoch Times, laments the continuing Communist persecution against Falun Gong, not only for the abuse done to practitioners but also for the resultant moral erosion of the Chinese people.