Wednesday, August 31, 2005

News of the Day (August 31)

On Communist leader Hu Jintao: A Nine Commentaries forum in Washington, DC, heard sharply differing views on Hu Jintao. Epoch Times columnist Zhang Tianling came dangerously close to having the Ignorant Comment of the Day by holding out hope that Hu “could have his own choice,” and move away from the Chinese Communist Party. On the more realistic side was Wei Jingsheng, who addressed the forum by phone. Wei cited abundant evidence that Hu “is preparing for a war with Taiwan” (Epoch Times), which supports earlier reports of a planned Communist invasion of the island democracy by 2012. Meanwhile, Zheng Ming and Luo Bing (Epoch Times) detail Hu’s recent crackdown on dissent, and Alex Gnessin (Epoch Times also) reviews the issues likely to come up in Hu’s summit meeting with President Bush.

U.S. turning away Communist persecution victim? The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals denied an asylum request by Li Xiaodong, a Christian who escaped Communist China after being tortured for his beliefs (World Net Daily). Unless the decision is reversed, Li could follow in the bloody footsteps of Xiaoping Hu and Jiang Renzheng (fourth item).

Attacker of anti-CCP van in Australia is arrested: Police in New South Wales, Australia, arrested the unnamed man who was “caught on video tape damaging a vehicle that is a mobile ‘Quit the CCP (Chinese Communist Party)’ centre” (Epoch Times). The owner of the van, Grant Liu, suspects “links to the Chinese Consulate in Sydney.”

San Francisco Councilwoman gives in to Communists on art exhibit: San Francisco City Councilwomen Fiona Ma told Victor Yu, organizer of a Chinese art exhibit in the city, “that she withdrew her support due to pressure from the Chinese Communist government” (Epoch Times). The art is owned by Mei-Ling Dai, who has “been outspoken about the Chinese Communist government’s persecution of Falun Gong.”

Communist prosecutor sued in Denmark: Falun Gong practitioners in Denmark have filed lawsuit against the Jia Chunwang, Chief Prosecutor of Communist China, for “leading activities that persecute practitioners of Falun Gong in China” (Epoch Times).

Communists order 7,000 mines closed: Communist China has ordered 7,000 mines “to suspend production by the end of the year” (BBC) due to safety concerns. Mining has become very dangerous in Communist China, thanks in large part to the fact that the mine’s “owners” are local cadres who flout safety regulations (next to last item).

Communist China invites HK legislators to Beijing, just before shooting down vote: Communist China invited the entire city legislature “to tour the neighboring province of Guangdong next month” (Washington Post). The invitation extends to “pro-democracy lawmakers who have been banned from the mainland for more than a decade.” However, the move “appeared timed to soften the impact of a soon-to-be-released report in which Tsang is expected to reject popular demands for direct elections to choose the territory's next chief executive.” One country, one-and-a-half systems rolls on.

Ignorant Comment of the Day: Today’s winner is Harlan Ullman, Washington Times, who joins the folks calling on President Bush to make a deal with Stalinist North Korea on the latter’s nuclear weapons – largely on the latter’s terms. Will they never learn?

More commentary on Communist China:
The Epoch Times runs Chen Yonglin’s speech to a Chinese community meeting in Melbourne, Australia. Wu Fan, from the Alliance for a Democratic China, reveals the differences between Communist China’s real economy and the false one the Communists present to the world in the Epoch Times. Charles R. Smith, Newsmax, details the latest arms sales from Russia to Communist China. Donna Borak, United Press Int’l (via Washington Times), examines the fate of Communist textile talks with the European Union and the U.S.

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

News of the Day (August 30)

Hu Jintao to speak at Yale; Falun Gong wants Bo Xilai out of delegation: The news that Communist Commerce Minister Bo Xilai will come with Hu Jintao for the regime leader’s trip to the U.S. has angered Falun Gong practitioners. Before becoming Commerce Minister, Bo was Governor of the thoroughly corrupt Liaoning Province, and oversaw the local persecution of Falun Gong, which was especially brutal. The spiritual movement is hoping Bo is denied and entry visa (Epoch Times). One early flashpoint is sure to be Hu’s scheduled speech at Yale (Voice of America via Epoch Times).

Now the U.S. tries textile talks: After the EU couldn’t reach a deal with Communist China on the latter’s surge in textile exports to the former (sixth and eighth items), the U.S. is beginning its own talks with the cadres (BBC). The U.S. slapped restrictions on Communist textile exports after the end worldwide textile trade curbs on January 1 (fifth item) led to a Commnunist export surge that has, among other things, crowded out exporters from developing nations in the process (fifth, fourth, and second items).

Communist China finally lets UN torture rep visit: After years of stalling, Communist China “agreed to allow visits by senior United Nations human rights officials – including, for the first time, an expert who focuses on allegations of torture” (Cybercast News). The torture official Australian lawyer, Manfred Nowak, said he would visit, among other places, the occupied nations of Tibet and East Turkestan.

Ethan Gutmann rips American tech sector for aiding in Communist censorship: The author of Losing the New China, speaking at a forum in Taipei, “criticized American corporations for facilitating the world's largest ‘big brother’ Internet by pointing an accusing finger at Cisco Systems, Microsoft, and search engine Google” (Taiwan News).

Ignorant Comment of the Day: Buried in an otherwise very good piece on Communist China’s cyberwarfare capabilities, Peter Brookes, New York Post, unleashes this clunker: “China isn't necessarily America's next enemy.” One assumes he hasn’t read this.

More Commentary on Communist China: Liu Guifu is one of the many Falun Gong practitioners suffering in Communist labor camps. Her daughter, Purdue University student Meng Xiangji, spoke the Epoch Times about her plight. Meanwhile, Rupert Murdoch, in his desperate attempt to make money selling programming in Communist China, followed the Communist party line faithfully – and nauseatingly – for years. As Time Asia’s Matthew Forney discovered, it has practically come to naught. Finally, Communist China’s continued reach into Africa (third, sixth, sixth, seventh, sixth, ninth, and twelfth items) caught the attention of Fred Bridgland, Sunday Herald (Scotland).

More on Stalinist North Korea: As Representatives Tom Lantos (D-California) and Jim Leach (R-Iowa) visited SNK to prod the regime back to the overhyped six-party talks on its nuclear weapons (BBC), the U.S. military “is making significant changes in strategy and would rely largely on sensors, smart bombs, high-speed transport ships and other hi-tech assets in any conflict with North Korea” (Newsmax).

Monday, August 29, 2005

News of the Day (August 29)

Former Communist military officer says troops in East Turkestan want to go home: For all of us who have lamented the brutal occupation of East Turkestan (“Xinjiang”) by Communist China comes news from former military officer Li Qike on the views of the forces the cadres have stationed there. According to Mr. Qike, morale is low, many of the troops “are stationed . . . for life” (Epoch Times) and unable to go home, and the Communists “basically turned the corps into a concentration camp where they persecute innocent people.” Thus not only to the people of East Turkestan want the occupiers to leave, the occupiers themselves are desperate to get out and go home.

More on the Uighurs: There can be no better way to see the differences between the United States and Communist China their reaction to the outrage over the treatment of Uighurs in Guantanamo. The U.S. “moved five ethnic Uighurs into a less restrictive area of the prison while the United States tries to find a way to free the Chinese separatists in a third country” (Washington Post). The cadres smeared longtime Uighur activist Rebiya Kadeer (fifth item) “of engineering a terrorist plot” (Weekly Standard, second item).

Able Danger “restructured” over chart on Communist China links: According to the New York Post, the contractor working Able Danger data-mining program – which its staffers say tagged 9/11/01 hijacker Mohammed Atta over a year before the terrorist attack occurred – was fired in May 2000 due to “a particularly controversial chart on proliferation of sensitive technology to China” that traced “Chinese strategic and business connections in the U.S.” – and included current Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and ex-Defense Secretary William Perry. The chart “was separate from the counter-terrorism assignment” that nailed Atta, and made “no suggestion that Rice or any of the others had done anything wrong.” It simply included the officials “by linking their associations at Stanford, along with their contacts with Chinese leaders.” While the Post seems to focus Rice’s mention as the red flag, the timing leads this quarter to believe Perry’s name may have been the problem. In any event, that would be a chart worth seeing.

On Communist Chinese espionage: Time’s Nathan Thornburgh gives a detailed view of Communist China’s massive cyberhack operation – dubbed Titan Rain. Meanwhile, India – a longtime Communist rival – is looking into “a highly classified report from its China experts warning against allowing the Chinese to surge into the country’s strategic sector without putting in place a foolproof mechanism of checks and balances” against Communist spying (Rajeev Sharma, The Tribune, India).

UPI notices Communist refurbish of Russian carrier – two weeks later: United Press International (via Washington Times) cited MosNews in reporting the Communists’ plans to turn the dilapidated Russia Varyag aircraft carrier into “China's first aircraft carrier.” Of course, readers of this blog have known about that for two weeks (fourth item).

More on Communist China and the United States: Admiral Gary Roughhead, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, asks Richard Halloran (Washington Times), “What do [the Chinese] see as the intended use of that navy?” Albert Santoli, of the Asia America Initiative, testifies before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission on Communist China’s growing influence in Latin America, and what it means for the U.S. Lev Navrozov, Newsmax, is appalled at American Joseph Bosco’s willingness to parrot Communist propaganda. Nathan J. Muller, For the Cause, examines how Communist China’s use of piracy and extortion as political weapons. Finally, the Asia-Pacific Post (Canada) runs a Mata Press Service column on the history of Hu Jintao – soon to visit the U.S. and Canada (although it forgot the Hanyuan County Massacre).

Falun Gong practitioners released in Hebei; fate of Ling Na Rong still up in the air: Two Falun Gong practitioners, Mr. and Mrs. Huang Wei, were released from jail due to the bold action of their attorney, Gao Zhisheng, who captured international attention with an open letter to the cadres (Epoch Times). Meanwhile, Ling Na Rong, the practitioner Britain almost deported back to Communist China, is still in the UK, but her fate is uncertain. Simon Veazey, Epoch Times, calls on Britain to grant her asylum.

European Union talks with Communist China on textiles end: The European Union “concluded five days of talks in Beijing” (BBC) on Communist textile exports after an earlier deal to limit imports (sixth item) went awry. Communist China’s textile exports to the EU surged after worldwide textile trade restrictions ended on January 1 (fifth item), crowding out several developing nations in the process (fifth, fourth, and second items). This round of talks left the Europeans “hopeful,” but without a deal.

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Former 610 officer Hao Fengjun “outlined a plan that the Chinese government has hatched to attack and neutralize foreign media as part of its overall efforts to control public opinion outside of China” (Epoch Times). Liu Zongqi, Epoch Times, finds the Royal Bank of Scotland’s investment in the corruption-plagued Bank of China (eleventh, sixteenth, nineteenth, sixth, seventh, last, and tenth items) to be sadly typical.

Blind peasant to lead class-action against Communist China’s “one child” policy: Chen Guangcheng, a blind peasant in his thirties, has chosen to represent women forced into having abortions and men forced into sterilizations in a class-action lawsuit against the cause of these crimes: the Communists’ hideous “one child” policy. Philip P. Pan, Washington Post via MSNBC, presents his story, and those of the victims he champions.

Resignations from CCP inspired by Nine Commentaries approach four million: A rally in their honor was held in Los Angeles a week ago (Epoch Times).

Bishop Xie dies: Bishop Xie Shinguang, a leader in the “underground” Catholic Church who “served four separate prison terms” (BBC) in Communist China, has died. Bishop Xie was pressured to enter the Communist-run “Patriotic” church; he chose jail rather than putting the Party between himself and his God. The news comes as the Catholic Church is hinting at a possible reconciliation with the Communists.

More on religious persecution inside Communist China: Feng Changle, Epoch Times, examines the battle between Communist China and the “underground” Christians who, like the late Bishop Xie, refused to submit to its dictates on faith.

Has the Communist media had enough? There are rumblings in the Communist-controlled media: “editors of The Beijing Economic Observer collectively resigned from their posts” (Epoch Times), while the senior editor the China Youth Daily publicly called out the regime for “the movement to enslave and vulgarize reporters of the China Youth Daily.” Meanwhile, the Communists “succeeded in preventing any first-hand media coverage of an environmental protest in which thousands of villagers clashed with riot police” (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times) in Zhejiang.

Communists likely to kill Pop Idol next year: Communist China’s version of Pop Idol (called American Idol here, Super Girl 2005 over there) is not likely to have a repeat performance due to “censors . . . concerned that the democratic methods used to select the winner from 120,000 entrants could stir trouble” (London Telegraph).

On the “China bubble”: Andrea Mandel-Campbell, Macleans (Canada), concludes her two-part series on Communist China (for part one, see fourteenth item) by casting her eyes on the impoverished, and seething, peasantry.

On Jiang Zemin: The editors of the Epoch Times release Chapters 14, 15, 16, and 17 in their biography of the former cadre leader and author of the Falun Gong crackdown.

SNK postpones talks, rips U.S. envoy on human rights: Stalinist North Korea pushed the start of the next round of six-party talks on its nuclear weapons into mid-September “at the earliest” (BBC). Stalinist Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun “blamed the delay on military drills taking place between the US and South Korea” (for more on the exercises, see second item). The Stalinist press also ripped the Bush Administration for appointing Jay Leftkowitz as the official U.S. envoy on human rights in SNK (Cybercast News). However, Communist China once again insisted a deal was “very close” (Washington Times), as if that was good news.

More on Stalinist North Korea: More South Koreans are growing weary of Stalinist double-talk on prisoners of war and abductees – there are hundreds, if not thousands, of Koreans from the democratic South that the Stalinists have kidnapped (UPI via Washington Times). Sadly, this didn’t stop some South Koreans from becoming Stalinist propaganda tools – ahem, “tourists” (Washington Times). Will they never learn?

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Remembering the plight of East Turkestan

Due to a family vacation, the next News of the Day will be on Monday, August 29. However, tomorrow – or to be more exact, this afternoon in the Eastern U.S./Canada Time Zone – will be the anniversary of the death of independent East Turkestan. In honor of those who died that day, and all those murdered since, yours truly presents the following:

Fifty-six years ago today, a plane carrying the leadership of the Republic of East Turkestan was on its way to Beijing for talks with Mao Zedong. In circumstances that can at best be called suspicious, the plane crashed, killing everyone on board. Upon hearing the news, Mao sent in the Communist military, and the occupation of East Turkestan began.

In the more than half century since, the people of East Turkestan – known generally as the Uighurs, although there are also ethnic Kyrgyz, Tajiks, and Kazakhs there – have been brutally persecuted. Mosques have been razed to the ground. Political prisoners have been shot – after show trials in which they are branded as terrorists. In a pattern Tibet watchers will find all too familiar, the Communists have sent wave upon wave of Han Chinese to East Turkestan to reduce the Uighur majority there (this has been so successful the Uighurs are soon to become a minority in their own land, if they aren’t already). Large-scale development projects, ordered by the Communist leadership in Beijing, are set up as economic colonies, with all the jobs going to ethnic Chinese. In some of the major cities in East Turkestan, ethnic Chinese outnumber native Uighurs by 9 to 1. Even the name East Turkestan is nearly lost to history; Communist China has insisted all call the occupied nation “Xinjiang.”

Many who have suffered under Communist persecution, especially ethnic minorities within Communist China and occupied Tibetans, have similar experiences, but the East Turkestani people have two other painful effects that are all their own – nuclear fallout, and the Communist slander of “terrorism.”

For nearly four decades, Communist China has conducted nuclear testing in East Turkestan. Most of these tests were conducted above ground, in open air, with no concern for those who would suffer from the nuclear fallout. Over 200,000 have died, and tens of thousands more have fallen ill with cancer.

For over five decades, Communist China desperately tried to keep all of this a secret, let anyone feel sympathetic to the anti-Communist resistance in East Turkestan. On September 11, 2001, that all changed. While America licked its wounds, and the people of East Turkestan expressed their sympathy and support for the United States to anyone who would listen, Communist China saw an opportunity to smear the entire occupied nation for its own benefit. Suddenly, resistance to Communism in East Turkestan was supposedly everywhere, and according to Beijing, all it was tied to and supported by Osama bin Laden. Never mind that bin Laden himself never uttered one word about East Turkestan. Never mind that bin Laden himself was allowed to use Communist Chinese front companies on stock exchanges around the world to launder drug money for his terrorist operations. Never mind that East Turkestanis have shown themselves to be the most pro-American Muslims on Earth, to the point that in cities and towns throughout the occupied nation, the most popular scarf is modeled on the Stars and Stripes (third, third, second, second, and second items).

However, today’s significance goes far beyond the Communist occupation of what was once a free land. As America fights the terror triumvirate of Wahabbism, Ba’athism, and Khomeinism, her people have asked: where are the Muslims who don’t hate America? Where are the Muslims who do not see the fulfillment of their faith in emulating the hijackers of September 11, 2001? Where are the Muslims who understand us, our vision, and our desire for freedom for all?

Those of us fortunate enough to know the people of East Turkestan do not ask these questions. We don’t have to ask them. We see these Muslims every day; we work with them; we are proud to call them our friends. We also know who Communist China considers its friends. It has signed economic agreements with Wahabbists in the Taliban (second and third items), and helped Osama bin Laden launder money. It has sold arms to Saddam Hussein, in some cases for millions of dollars in oil-for-food-vouchers. It has been involved in every major step of Iran’s nuclear weapons program, and has been the Khomeinist regime’s largest missile parts benefactor.

While Communist China fights phantom terrorists in East Turkestan, it arms and enables real terrorists throughout the world as “some kind of check on U.S. power.” Thus East Turkestan’s resistance to Communist China is in fact the complete opposite of what the Communists say it is. By forcing Zhongnanhai to divert its energies, the East Turkestanis have limited, not enhanced, the anti-American forces of terrorism. In resisting Communism, East Turkestanis make America safer every day.

Last September, East Turkestan found its voice again, with the formation of the East Turkestan government in exile. If you have any time this weekend, please take a look at what they are trying to do to resist the occupation of their homeland, and the systematic annihilation of their people.

Fifty-six years ago today, Communist occupation of East Turkestan began. On this day, let us join them in their sorrow, and let them know they will never be forgotten. God Bless the American, Chinese, and Uighur peoples.

News of the Day (August 25)

The slow-motion Roman Catholic surrender continues: Among the throngs at Pope Benedict XVI’s World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany were “a group from China -- a mixed party consisting of members of the ‘underground’ Catholic Church, which the Beijing government refuses to recognize, and others belonging to the ‘patriotic’ church that is not in union with Rome . . . traveling together with government approval” (United Press Int’l via Washington Times). The apparent reconciliation would eventually include diplomatic ties, to which Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, the Vatican’s de facto Foreign Minister, saw “no insurmountable problems.” Every time I see a story like this, the (badly lapsed) Catholic in me remembers the tens of millions of Protestant Christians who face arrest and torture for refusing to attend the Communist-controlled “patriotic” Protestant church (and the island democracy on Taiwan the Vatican appears ready to throw under the bus) – and cringes.

Communist hackers striking at systems across U.S. government: Several government agencies, including the Departments of Defense, State, Energy, and Homeland Security, have been targeted and penetrated by Communist Chinese hackers. In one case, the hackers “”used a Trojan horse – a program containing malicious code in an e-mail or adware – to obtain data on a future Army command and control system” (Federal Computer Week). The hack attacks go back several years. Although several from outside Communist China could be using compromised machines, the Communist military has been examining “viruses to attack enemy computer systems and networks” (Washington Post via MSNBC), and other “offensive operations” in cyberwarfare.

New Communist computer chip has technology stolen from MIPS: Meanwhile, the latest Communist domestic computer chip, the Godson-2, “is an unauthorized variation of the US-developed MIPS architecture” (Epoch Times), and as such it would “breach intellectual property laws if ever released outside China.” Of course, the Communists would never do that, right?

Russia-Communist China exercises wind down: The joint Russia-Communist China military exercises ended today with both still insisting the war games were “based on a scenario in which the two countries, acting under U.N. authority, aim to stabilize a country in the midst of ethnic strife” (Cybercast News). Russian media wasn’t buying it, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, called it an anti-American “World War III” drill, while Izvestia hinted at something less dramatic, but just as disturbing: “China and Russia could be practicing a mission to invade North Korea, should Kim Jong-il's leadership collapse.” A more open secret was Russia’s desire to showcase high-tech weaponry for future sales to Communist China (United Press Int’l via Washington Times). Meanwhile, Ariel Cohen, of the Heritage Foundation, has a very good analysis of the “historic rapprochement” (Washington Times) between Moscow and Zhongnanhai, and how to confront it.

Talks on Stalinist North Korea’s nukes to start on September 2, or not: Communist Chinese envoy Wu Dawei told Japan’s Social Democratic Party – of all people – that the six-party talks on Stalinist North Korea’s nuclear weapons program “may resume on 2 September” (BBC). However, Wu “later admitted the date was still not confirmed,” and that the date was just his “personal idea” (UPI via Washington Times).

Australian business worried about possible free trade deal with Communist China: Businesses in Australia “have raised serious concerns about the obstacles in the areas of regulations and restrictions they have to overcome before they can benefit from a free trade agreement with China” (Epoch Times). Among their worries were “the policing of intellectual property piracy” and “the way provincial Chinese Communist governments make their own interpretations of rulings made by Beijing.”

Cadres made quick buck off currency change: Communist China’s infinitesimal change in its currency rates did little to stop its effect on U.S. manufacturing and other Asian export sectors. However, cadres who knew of the move before it became public managed to exchange enough dollars to score “a profit of 3.78 billion Yuan in only 90 minutes” (Epoch Times). Wen Jiabao supposedly hit the roof upon hearing this.

Communists tweak tax rates to help impoverished interior: Communist China has recently acknowledged massive poverty in its rural interior, to the point where major revolts could occur in five years (fourth item). Have they decided to pay promised pensions and salaries while going after the corrupt and greedy cadres? Nah, much easier to announce “a plan to raise the income tax threshold for low- and middle-earners, while at the same time strengthen the tax collection from high earners” (BBC).

Ignorant Comment of the Day: Today’s winner is Pete Engardio (BusinessWeek via MSNBC), whose piece on the rise of Communist China and India not only completely ignores the slew of problems within the Communist regime, but includes nothing about the security threat the Communist regime poses to the U.S. – or India, for that matter.

Other Commentary on Communist China: Let’s give credit where it’s due, an unnamed BusinessWeek analysis on Communist China and India ends thusly: “As the global economic balance shifts toward Asia in the decades ahead, China and India may well cooperate in many spheres. Energy, clearly, will not be among them (emphasis added).” Meanwhile, Professor Ching-hsi Chang, Epoch Times, takes note of the myriad problems in Communist China’s economy: the mass protests (fifth item), the fudged statistics (sixth and last items), etc., while Charles R. Smith of Newsmax has his usual terrific piece on Communist China, its ties to anti-American regimes, and the maddening, mindless appeasement of the cadres by so many in the U.S. business community.

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

News of the Day (August 24)

Fifteen Uighurs at Guantanamo are cleared, but have nowhere to go: This is a heart-rendering piece by Robin Wright, Washington Post (via MSNBC), for several reasons: the plight of the fifteen Uighurs who had no intention to harm a single American soul; the idiocy of the Bush Administration’s treatment of them (is there nowhere in Guantanamo where they can be housed besides the prison?), and the lingering annoyance of Wright calling them “Chinese Muslims.” Their actual nationality is East Turkestani.

Commission on Communist China hit for ignoring certain issues: The K Street project has criticized the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission for focusing on trade issues and becoming “a lobbying arm of the AFL-CIO, usurping 3 million (in) taxpayer dollars” (Bill Gertz, Washington Times). The Project called on Congress to “restore the security requirements of the commission so that it conducts more research into Chinese military issues.” It should be noted that while the concern on the Communist military is certainly not without merit, the K Street Project “is affiliated with Americans for Tax Reform, headed by conservative activist Grover Norquist,” and known for opposing any action against Communist China’s predatory trade policies.

Communist Chinese ally admits his scientist sent centrifuges to SNK: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf admitted to Japan’s Kyodo News Agency that A.Q. Khan, the now-disgraced scientist who was the father of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program “supplied North Korea with centrifuges and their designs” (BBC). While Musharraf tried to down play Khan’s role, even he admitted such a transaction meant Khan had a role in “enriching the uranium to weapons grade.” Both Pakistan and Stalinist North Korea have been allies of Communist China for over half a century.

Kazakh Foreign Minister tried to get U.S. bid for PetroKazakhstan: Sometimes, when news such as PetroKazakhstan’s sale to Communist China (third item) comes to light, one is tempted to wonder what the host country (the Canadian firm operated entirely in Kazakhstan) is thinking. Well, Kazakh Foreign Minister Kasymzhomart Tokayev gave the Washington Times the answer: “he encouraged a U.S. executive to bid on PetroKazakhstan, but the executive told him, ‘It's very difficult to compete with the Chinese.’” The unnamed executive’s timidity aside, one has to admit the Kazakhs at least tried to keep the firm out of Communist hands. As for the Canadian government, well, let’s just not go there (third and third items).

Other “Great Game” (Central Asia) News: It was a busy day in Central Asia, where the geopolitical battle between the U.S. and Communist China has brought back the nineteenth century phrase “the Great Game” (thus its place in the title). Cao Gangchuan, Communist Defense Minister and Deputy Chairman of the Central Military Commission, “met with Tajik, Kyrgyz and Kazakh defense officials observing Sino-Russian military exercises” (United Press Int’l via Washington Times) and called for closer military ties with the fellow Shanghai Cooperation Organization (third item) members (UPI via Washington Times, last item). Russia seemed to be on board (Newsmax), but Kazakhstan may be getting skittish – its aforementioned foreign minister rebuked an earlier SCO call (third item) for a U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan (Washington Times).

Communist China has 10 to 1 edge in science graduates: In an address to the AFCEA Technology Showcase conference in Fort Lauderdale, USMC Lt. Gen. Robert M. Shea noted that Communist China graduated 600,000 students in hard sciences, a number 10 times the size of the graduates in the United States (UPI via Washington Times).

What happened to the other seven percent? A poll sponsored by the Communist newspaper China Daily found that “more than 93% of the Chinese people questioned said Japan should take most or all of the responsibility for the worsening of relations” (BBC). The fate of the nearly seven percent brave enough not to blame Japan was not discussed.

Communists prepare for another money grab: Of course, they’re calling it a “sale of state-owned shares” (BBC). Over 1,300 firms will sell pieces of themselves on the market, but “there were few details of how this would be done,” and, of course, no mention of any firms that would put up a majority stake.

On Communist China slamming the door shut on foreign media: Meanwhile, Xiang Ling, Epoch Times, gives foreign media a well-deserved blast for being so “willing to grovel before this tyranny” in the hope of entering the Communist media market – a market the Communists recently slammed shut (second item).

On Taiwan: Ben Hurley, Epoch Times, rips the Australian government for doing the Communists’ bidding and helping them isolate the island democracy from the world.

Where not to eat: A Washington Post review of TemptAsian Café unwittingly gives the reason no one should eat there: “a framed photograph of the new restaurant's chef, Peter Chang, alongside a beaming Hu Jintao.” Hasn’t Chang heard of the Hanyuan Massacre?

More on Stalinist North Korea: Representatives of SNK and South Korea’s Red Cross organizations met for “three days of talks expected to focus on hundreds of South Korean prisoners of war and abductees believed held in North Korea” (Mainichi Group, Japan). Over 500 South Korean veterans of the Korean War are still in SNK prisons, and nearly 500 civilians from the democratic South have been abducted by the Stalinists.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

News of the Day (August 23)

We have a new Friendly Blog: Dictator’s Daily, by Curry Kenworthy, Executive Director of the China Support Network.

Russia-Communist China military exercises to last until Thursday: The joint military exercises between Communist China and Russia (second and second items) will wrap up on Thursday after three days (starting today) with “more than 7,000 Chinese troops and 1,800 Russian soldiers . . . in live-fire combat practice” (BBC). The cadres still insist the drills are aimed at “ethnic separatism, religious extremism and international terrorism.” Even Russia’s Nezavisimaya Gazeta isn’t buying that, since “international terrorists had yet to acquire any naval or air forces” (United Press Int’l via Washington Times).

U.S. getting more annoyed at Taiwan’s lack of defense spending: American officials “have been warning Taiwan that it must do more to prepare its own defense against a potential attack from China rather than rely largely on the United States” (Washington Times). The U.S. is particularly upset that the island democracy has not approved an arms package proposed by the President over four years ago. President Chen Shui-bian backs the arms offer enthusiastically, but the Kuomintang-dominated legislature has blocked it. Of course, the effect the Bush Administration’s terrible recent treatment of Chen has had on support for him at home seems to have been lost on Washington.

Oil shortage spreads: The oil shortage that has led to mass gasoline shortages in Guangdong (ninth, sixth, and third items) has reached Heliongjiang and has “also begun to appear in other regions such as Yunnan province, Beijing and Shanghai, suggesting the possibility that China may soon be in the midst of a nationwide oil shortage” (Epoch Times). The oil shortage is the latest example already crippling energy shortage in Communist China (tenth, sixth, eighth, and sixth items).

Rural poverty “to hit the red-light scenario after 2010”: Communist China is publicly admitting that “the growing gap between rich and poor” (London Telegraph) could risk “social meltdown within five years.” The report itself said the regime is “going to hit the red-light scenario after 2010” – just before the planned invasion of Taiwan and the subsequent “Emergency Act” confiscation of bank accounts.

Huawei reveals investment plans in India – which may still block them: Huawei Technologies – the folks who helped to integrate Saddam Hussein integrate his air defenses (sixteenth item) – revealed its plans for $100 million investment in India (UPI via Washington Times). The investment is dependent at least in part on the Indian government, which is still holding up any Huawei investment in India due to concern over possible Communist espionage (third item).

EU wants more textile talks with Communist China: European Union bureaucrats “are to fly to China on Wednesday” (BBC) in an attempt to come to a new agreement on textile imports as “75 million items such as shirts and bras are being held at EU ports after China exceeded import quotas.” Said quotas came from an earlier deal to limit imports (sixth item). Communist China’s textile exports to the U.S. and EU surged after worldwide textile trade restrictions ended on January 1 (fifth item), crowding out several developing nations in the process (fifth, fourth, and second items).

On the 2008 Olympics: Maoman, on Flickr, presents his nominee for the symbol of the Games (courtesy Andrew Stuttaford, National Review Online and Member since 2002). This reminds me – have you signed up for the boycott petition yet?

On Malaysia and the Epoch Times: Cindy Drukier & Jan Jekielek defend their paper and blast Malaysia for cowering to the Communists in banning it (ninth and fifth items).

On the destruction of Tibet: Kang Shiren, Central News Agency (Taiwan), examines how rampant Communist overdevelopment has polluted the Lhasa River (Epoch Times).

On Stalinist North Korea: As he visited Washington for talks with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki Moon told CNN that he was “more or less optimistic” (Voice of America via Epoch Times) that the Stalinists would agree to end their nuclear weapons program. We ask again: Will they never learn?

Monday, August 22, 2005

News of the Day (August 22)

Another Falun Gong practitioner deported: Unless someone knocked some sense into the British Home Office, practitioner Ling Na Rong was sent back to Communist China yesterday (Epoch Times). The Home Office “asserts that she does not face danger, as she is not a Falun Gong leader.” Have the bureaucrats in that office heard of the late Gao Rongrong? As the Epoch Times notes, she wasn’t a Falun Gong leader, either.

Russia-Communist China military exercises continue: The joint military exercises between Communist China and Russia (second item) continued into the weekend (Washington Times). Meanwhile, the editors of the Washington Times note the “better-coordinated and more formidable counterweight” to the United States in East Asia.

Woe Canada! PetroKazakhstan agrees to CNPC takeover: Canadian oil firm PetroKazakhstan chose the China National Petroleum Corp (parent company to Petrochina – eighth item) over two other takeover suitors (BBC). It was yet another move forward in Communist China’s Canada energy grab (third and third items).

Disney to examine conditions at factories in Shenzhen: A factory in Shenzhen that produces book for the Walt Disney Company forced staff to work “up to 13-hour days for less than the minimum wage”, according to the National Labor Committee (cited by the BBC). Disney “said it planned to launch a full investigation.”

Singapore joins Malaysian effort to strong-arm Epoch Times: The government of Singapore extended the Epoch Times’ license, but “the extension period was reduced from one year to three months.” A Singapore official blamed the paper’s content for the reduction in the license renewal. Meanwhile, Li Rulan, Epoch Times, rips Malaysia for caving into Communist China by banning the paper (ninth item).

Ignorant Comment of the Day: Today’s winner is Dan Griffiths, BBC, for his piece on “China's information revolution” that is breathless in style, and thoughtless in content.

On Hao Fengjun: Zeng Zheng, Epoch Times, followed in awe of the former anti-Falun Gong 610 officer in Australia as he continued to expose Communist China abuses against its own people and its overseas espionage network.

More on the China bubble: Peter Goodman has two excellent pieces on the hazards of doing business in Communist China (Washington Post and Post via MSNBC). Liu Zongqi, Epoch Times, finds the Yahoo! investment in Alibaba (fifth item) to be a lot less than meets the eye. On the flip side, Chen Pokong, Epoch Times, examines the motives behind the cadres’ Western corporation shopping spree.

An open letter to the UN Commissioner for Human Rights: Over six hundred and fifty extremely brave dissidents call on UN Human Rights Commissioner Louise Arbour to demand the Communists improve the treatment of their own people (Boxun).

More commentary on Communist China: Jose Rivera, Epoch Times, interviews Ethan Guttman, author of Losing the New China and Member since 2004. Raza Naqvi, Washington Times, examines the troubling rise of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (third item). Eric Margolis, Toronto Sun, becomes one of the few observers of the rising tension in East Asia to avoid blaming Japan for it all (Ignorant Comment of the Day).

On Stalinist North Korea: As President Bush took the very important step of naming Jay Lefkowitz as his special envoy on human rights in North Korea (Washington Times), the Stalinists “reactivated a nuclear reactor that could be used to refine materials for nuclear warheads” (Voice of America via Epoch Times). Meanwhile, Communist China managed to score some political points when Hu Jintao “urged Pyongyang to accept a Chinese plan that called on it to dismantle not only all its nuclear weapons but also strictly limit peaceful use of nuclear power” (Chosun Ilbo, South Korea) – never mind that the Stalinists have already demanded the “peaceful use of nuclear power” as part of their price for nuclear disarmament. If that wasn’t enough to turn the stomach, Christopher Hill, the lead U.S. negotiator in the six-party “process” (Washington Times) on the Stalinists’ nukes, actually called it “a sort of embryonic structure for Northeast Asia It can serve to create new ties – new bilateral ties and a new multilateral momentum for the region.” We have asked before, but must ask again: Will they never learn?

Friday, August 19, 2005

Ignorant Comment of the Day

It came a little late, and truth be told, I like Eric Pfeiffer, our correspondence, such as it is, has been quite friendly, but the National Review Online "Buzz" blog writer really dropped the ball here. He quotes from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who spoke to the New York Times on Communist China:

(Pfeiffer): Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told the New York Times that China must make “significant structural changes” in its economic policies to avoid remaining “a problem for the international economy.” Rice said the White House is also concerned about China’s military buildup, its human rights record, and restrictions on religious freedom. The Times writes:

Her unusually sharp criticism was a clear indication of the administration's ambivalence and frustration with China, even as officials prepare for a state visit next month by the president of China, Hu Jintao, his first visit since taking office in 2003. …

"The relationship with China is just big and complicated, and it's got good parts and it's got not so good parts," [Rice] said. "But what we are trying to stay focused on is the understanding that China is going to be influential in international politics one way or another. It's a major power, and it's going to be an even more major power."

Pfeiffer titled the post, “Rice Talks Tough on China.” If this is what he considers tough talk, he more than deserves today’s dubious honor.

News of the Day (August 19)

Another day, another slew of arrests: The cadres have certainly kept themselves busy: Xie Chunren, a Chinese-born American citizen, is behind bars in Communist China, “accused of spying for Taiwan” (BBC); 32 members of “underground” Christian churches in Henan Province, including five Americans, were arrested for refusing to put the Chinese Communist Party between themselves and their God (World Net Daily); activist Feng Bingxian, who “led investors throughout the country in a civil suit that accuses the Shaanxi government of illegally seizing thousands of oil wells from them worth as much as $850 million” (Washington Post, see fourth item for more on the wells), is now in a Shaanxi prison; and dissident Zhang Lin “was recently sentenced to five years of imprisonment on charges of inciting subversion” (Epoch Times).

Sound of Hope radio blocked in Communist China: Communist China added Sound of Hope Radio to Radio Free Asia and Voice of America on the list of radio networks jammed by Communist China. Reporters Without Borders ripped the move (Boxun).

Gas shortage sends police to Guangzhou: The shortage in gasoline in Guangdong Province (ninth and sixth items) is now so bad the cadres have “sent thousands of police to petrol stations in the southern city of Guangzhou to prevent social unrest” (Gateway Pundit via Friendly Blog Small Dead Animals). Guangzhou is Guangdong’s capital.

On the “China bubble” – China Aviation Oil fined for hiding losses: The central bank of Singapore “has fined the owner of China Aviation Oil (CAO) for selling shares in the crisis-hit firm a month before its collapse” (BBC). The Communist-owned China Aviation Oil Holding Company was fined nearly $5 million for hiding $550 million in company losses during the stock sale (twelfth and seventh items).

Nine Commentaries wins literary award; broadcast gets into Communist China: As the Asian American Journalists Association granted the anonymous authors of the Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party its top Asian American Issues – Online award (Epoch Times), a two-hour television documentary on the Commentaries was broadcast into several provinces in Communist China (Epoch Times).

Mayor Ma takes over Kuomintang, vows to follow in Lien Chan’s footsteps: Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou was officially sworn in as head of Taiwan’s lead opposition party: Kuomintang. His first pledge: “I will do my best to carry on and push for Lien Chan's policies” (BBC). That’s the same Lien Chan whose less-than-hostile attitude toward Communist China cost his party millions of voters in the island democracy.

On Communist China and the rest of the world: Chen Yonglin talks to the Epoch Times about Communist efforts to silence him. Fellow defector Yuan Hongbing reminds an Australian audience that Communist China’s plans to invade Taiwan “will not be for the purpose of safeguarding China’s sovereignty and land . . . It is only for preserving the benefits of the privileged and for resuming its dictatorship” (Epoch Times). Quentin Sommerville, BBC, gives a badly needed warning to the Royal Bank of Scotland (seventh item) and everyone else eyeing investments in Communist China. Nick Childs, also from the BBC, examines the fallout from the joint Russia-Communist China military exercises (second item) – the headline does not do the piece justice.

On Made in . . . : Kerry Diotte, Edmonton Sun, laments the prominence of the “Made in China” label in his hometown stores.

On the Falun Gong War – the youngest victims: Chug Rung, Epoch Times, highlights and laments the plight of the children of jailed, tortured, and murdered practitioners.

On Stalinist North Korea: Cable News Network founder Ted Turner told JoongAng Ilbo (cited by Cybercast News) that President Bush “ought to allow Pyongyang as a face-saving measure to keep a civilian nuclear program.” Will they never learn?

Thursday, August 18, 2005

News of the Day (August 18)

New Friendly Site: In case you haven’t noticed, there’s a new addition to the Friendly Site list: the Jamestown Foundation, which was added due to their China Brief. Here are some highlights from the last two issues: Willy Lam on Hu Jintao’s push for the Communist military buildup, and what he hopes to get from next month’s summit with President Bush; Former U.S. defense attaché to Beijing Dennis Blasko on the Pentagon’s Communist military report; Canadian military analyst Nathan Nankivell on the politics of Communist China’s terrible water pollution; Monash University Research Associate Sharif Shuja on how Communist China’s “reforms” are hitting the wall; and Northwestern University Professor Victor Shih on the Communist banking system.

Joint Communist China-Russia military exercises begin: The first major joint military exercise between Communist China and Russia began today, with 10,000 troops staging “a mock invasion of an imaginary country” (BBC). Such an exercise already has many analysts thinking “Taiwan” (Bill Gertz, Washington Times), or perhaps a broader shot across America’s bow for its “bases in Central Asia and presence in Asia.” The Communists states the exercises were mock actions against “international terrorism, extremism or separatism” (Cybercast News). Meanwhile, most agree that Russia is looking to impress its biggest arms customer with some new products. Of course, the Communists are also hoping “to establish a strategic partnership with Moscow to confront what it calls U.S. global hegemony” (James Hackett in Washington Times).

India halts Huawei investment: A deal to let Huawei Technologies (the folks who helped Saddam Hussein integrate his air defenses) “invest $60 million in foreign equity in one of its Indian units” (United Press Int’l via World Peace Herald) is now on hold amid questions of “China's focus on cyber warfare” and “possible espionage.”

Israel and U.S. agree to “process for consultation” on Communist arms sales: Israel has agreed to consult the U.S. on any future arms sales to Communist China (Voice of America via Epoch Times). Also reporting: Bill Gertz, Washington Times

Talks on textiles bring “hope,” but no deal: Two days of talks on restricting textile exports from Communist China to the U.S. ended “without agreement between the countries” (BBC), although chief U.S. negotiator David Spooner expressed “hope (that) we can resolve this in one more meeting.” Textile exports from Communist China “surged 54% year-on-year” after the expiration of worldwide textile trade restrictions on January 1. Many nations that hoped to benefit when the trade curbs ended have instead found themselves crowded out by Communist China (fifth, fourth, and second items).

The Australia file – NetRegistry blocked; van attacked: NetRegistry, an Australian firm that hosts over 10,000 websites, has discovered that Communist China is blocking all of them, due to the fact that one of them happens to be the site for Falun Gong practitioners down under (Epoch Times). Meanwhile, a man who has covered his van with “messages condemning human rights abuses in China” (Epoch Times) has seen it attacked fifteen times.

Royal Bank of Scotland leads group buying chunk of Communist-owned bank: RBS “is to lead a $3.1bn (£1.7bn) investment in the Communist-owned, corruption-racked Bank of China (eleventh, sixteenth, nineteenth, sixth, seventh, last, and tenth items), giving it control of a 10% stake in China's second-biggest lender” (BBC). Among the co-investors in the RBS group is none other than pro-Communist tycoon Li Ka-Shing.

PetroKazakhstan’s suitors – LUKoil, Oil & Natural Gas Corp. and Petrochina: Canada-based PetroKazakhstan announced it had received three takeover offers, from Russia’s LUKoil, India’s Oil & Natural Gas Corp., and Communist-run Petrochina. No details were forthcoming. Report: UPI via Washington Times, third item

Communists create “riot police” units: Communist China has created special police units to “deal with terrorism, violent crimes, riots and threats to public security” (BBC). Now we know who specifically will cause future Hanyuan County massacres.

Presidential shooting case “closed”: Taiwanese Prosecutor General Wu Ying-chao officially closed the investigation into last year’s election-eve shooting of President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu. Wu “said there was no evidence there were any accomplices” (BBC) working with the gunman, who later committed suicide. Chen and Lu narrowly won re-election; their opponents claimed the shooting was staged.

Ignorant Comment of the Day: There wasn’t much competition this time, but the prize goes to Gary Andres, Washington Times, for a column on Communist China and the U.S. that is practically Kudlowesque in its naiveté.

More (and better) commentary on Communist China and the United States: F. Andy Messing, Jr., joins the few analysts who see the danger in the Communist China-Iran axis (he even uses our favorite phrase, Cold War II), in the Washington Times. Stan Grant, CNN, has a cursory, but not dismissive, examination of the Communist arms buildup.

On Taiwan: William M. Reilly, UPI (via Washington Times), sounds the alarm on Communist China’s economic threat to the island democracy. Caroline Gluck, BBC, finds a rare black mark for Taiwan – its woeful policy toward mainland dissidents.

On Communist China and the rest of the world: Andrea Mandel-Campbell, Maclean’s (Cdn.), examines the “China bubble”. Luo Ya and Liang Yu, Epoch Times, report on the effect of Chen Yonglin’s defection on Australia. Thomas Zhu, Epoch Times, gives a sketch of the Stockholm forum on Communism and Human Rights in China.

On Communist China’s dangerous mines: Communist China has witnessed several harrowing mine accidents, and the cadres have been quick to blame unscrupulous mine owners. However, as the editors of the Epoch Times point out, “local officials' ownership of coalmine shares is an open secret.”

On Stalinist North Korea: The Stalinists scored a public relations bonanza by sending delegates to Seoul to mark the anniversary of V-J Day, including kind words from dovish South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun (Washington Times, UPI via Washington Times). Meanwhile, as the U.S. pushes for more talks with the Stalinists (Washington Times) and South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon prepare to come to Washington for more talks (UPI via Washington Times), Peter Baker and Dafna Linzer, Washington Post, take stock of the situation. We ask, again, Will they never learn? On the bright side, the anti-SNK Proliferation Security Initiative continues to progress (Cybercast News).

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Next News of the Day will be tomorrow

I'm a little under the weather today, so the next News of the Day will be posted tomorrow.

Apologies to all those who were waiting for one today.

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

News of the Day (August 16)

Are the Communists plotting to assassinate Chen Yonglin? Unnamed sources close to former Communist consular officer Chen Yonglin claim that “friends (of Chen) within the Chinese Foreign Ministry” (Epoch Times) have told them that the cadres are “planning to assassinate him,” as well as former 610 officer Hao Fengjun and law professor Yuan Hongbing, “to send a clear message to any other would-be defectors.”

As “pig fever” spreads, Communists ban press coverage: The disease Communist China insists is Streptococcosis Suis (“Pig fever”) “has now spread to 10 cities, with at least 200 infections and dozens of fatalities” (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times). The cadres have responded by going into full SARS-redux cover-up mode, with an order that “forbids local press from sending reporters to the infected areas or hospitals,” according to Ming Pao (cited by RFA). The World Health Organization has also been barred from examining the disease, which many believe could be a bird flu and at least one doctor diagnosed as Ebola (fourth item). Meanwhile, according to Boxun, the disease may have hit Shenzhen, the city next door to Hong Kong.

Communist China going after more Canadian energy projects: Communist China, licking its wounds from the Unocal debacle, is trying north of the 49th parallel; the Communist-owned PetroChina “plans to enter the bidding for PetroKazakhstan, a Canadian-owned company” (United Press Int’l via Washington Times). The oil itself is, of course, in Kazakhstan, who “wants to increase economic and political ties with the Chinese.” Communist-owned firms already have large chunks of Canadian oil projects (third item). Meanwhile, Li Ka-shing – Hong Kong’s leading pro-Communist tycoon – is “may invest in a 2,824-megawatt hydropower plant” in Newfoundland (Bloomberg).

Communist China becomes an issue in Japanese election: The opposition Democratic Party of Japan announced it “would adjust Koizumi's foreign policy, now centered on a strong alliance with the U.S. and pursue stronger ties with China and South Korea” (Bloomberg) if it defeated Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in the September 11 vote.

Australians show support for ex-Communists: Over one hundred Australians marched in Brisbane to “show their support for the 3.5 million people who have withdrawn from the CCP” (Epoch Times); the number of Communists who have resigned in reaction to the Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party is now over 3.6 million.

On the Communist treatment of their military: As this letter to the Epoch Times reveals, the Chinese Communist Party has even abused members of its own military.

Ignorant Comment of the Day: Woe Canada! Today’s winner is P. J. Harston, London Free-Press (Ontario), for his puff-piece on a local who’s about to embark on a journey of bribing cadres, losing money, and all the other hijinks of “business” in Communist China.

Petitions: The China Support Network has put together seven excellent anti-Communist petitions (full disclosure, I had a hand in writing a few).

Monday, August 15, 2005

News of the Day (August 15)

V-J Day turns 60 – Japan apologizes; Communist threatens war: Yesterday marked the 60th anniversary of Japan’s surrender to Allied Forces in World War II. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi marked the day by expressing “our deep remorse and sincere apology” (Cybercast News) on behalf of his nation for “great damages and pain to people in many countries, especially our Asian neighbors, through colonization and invasion” (BBC). Communist China’s propaganda machine blasted Japan anyway – and last week a Commerce Department cadre “said in Hong Kong recently that a war could break out between China and Japan this year” (Epoch Times).

SNK marks V-J Day with South Korea, then rips it for military exercises: Stalinist North Korea and the dovish government of South Korea “joined together to mark 60 years since their liberation from Japanese colonial rule” (BBC) in official ceremonies. The joint events come on the heels of South Korea’s acceptance of the SNK’s “general right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes” (Washington Times), a break with the U.S. on the nuclear issue (last item). That didn’t stop the Stalinists from blasting South Korea for joint military exercises with the U.S. – or as the regime put it, “preparations for pre-emptive attack” (Washington Times) – and continuing it does not have a uranium weapons program (CNN). Meanwhile, former U.S. Ambassador Jack Pritchard had high praise for the Bush Administration’s recent behavior in the six-party talks on the Stalinists’ nuclear weapons program (Cybercast News). Will they never learn?

Communist to watch India’s drills as debate over U.S.-India deal continues: As Communist China prepares for Thursday’s joint military exercises with Russia (Washington Post), India invited it to view an Indian military drill showcasing “the Army's top-notch T-90s main battle tanks and the upgraded T-72 tanks of an armored division from one of three strike corps” (United Press Int’l via Washington Times). Meanwhile, the debate over the recent U.S.-India nuclear deal (second item) continues to rage: Selig S. Harrison defends it in the Washington Post (his old paper), and Eric Margolis criticizes it in the Toronto Sun.

Communist China rebuilding Russia aircraft carrier – for itself: A “badly damaged ex-Russian aircraft carrier” (World Net Daily) is getting a makeover, courtesy of Communist China, which is turning into its “first carrier.”

Communist China to send orbiter to the moon in 2007: The lunar orbiter mission will be the next step in the cadres’ plan to “send a lander to the Moon by 2010” (BBC).

Communist natural gas demand to surge: Communist China’s latest Five Year Plan (yes, it still has them) includes an increase in natural gas consumption to 130 billion cubic yards, roughly 2½ times its current level (UPI via Washington Times, third item). Among the places the cadres are looking for their natural gas supply is none other than Iran, a major beneficiary of the Communists.

Taiwan makes another pitch for UN membership, pushes Democratic Pacific Union: For the 13th consecutive year, the island democracy “is conducting a vigorous lobbying exercise for recognition” (Washington Times) at the United Nations. Given that Communist China opposes any diplomatic recognition for Taiwan, the effort “doesn't have a chance.” Meanwhile, the island democracy hosted the initial meeting of the Democratic Pacific Union, a coalition of over two dozen democracies that border the Pacific Ocean (UPI via Washington Times).

Tibetans in Australia establish cultural school: In an effort to preserve their native culture in the face of over fifty years of Communist occupation, exiled Tibetans in Australia “have come together to form a school” (Epoch Times) with “lessons on Tibetan customs, family structure, literature, writing and grammar, as well as on the nation’s ancient religion of Buddhism.”

Malaysia says Epoch Times ban due to papers anti-Communism: Malaysia admitted its democracy has limits, telling the Epoch Times that the paper was banned there because “the newspaper is against the policy of the Malaysian government to maintain the bilateral relationship between Malaysia-China.” The editors of the paper rightly blasted the Malaysian government for caving into the Communists.

Ignorant Comment of the Day: There was a lot of competition for this, as can be seen below. However, the prize goes to Ayako Doi and Kim Willenson, who were editor and publisher, respectively, of the Daily Japan Digest until last year for completely ignoring Communist China’s threats against Taiwan and its growing belligerency in their Washington Post column on what they call “new Japanese muscle-flexing.”

ICOD Runners-up: Donald Lambro, Washington Times, gets Pollyannaish on “engagement” with Communist China “slowly but surely breaking down old, encrusted obstacles to reform.” Almost as bad is Cato’s Alan Reynolds, also in the Washington Times, on the supposed non-danger of Communist Chinese holdings of American debt. Arseny Organesyan, RIA-Novosti, in sticking up for Uzbek tyrant Islam Karimov, sees radical Islamic terrorism as an enemy of the U.S. and Communist China (UPI via Washington Times), all evidence to the contrary where Communist China is concerned. Steve Tsang, Oxford University, tells the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission still holds out hope that the Communist Party regime can transform itself into something that is recognizably democratic, liberal and respectful of the rule of law.”

On Communist China and its make-the-world-safe-for-dictators policy: Christopher Brown, of the Hudson Institute, provides a much clearer analysis of Communist China’s courtship of Uzbekistan’s Karimov (Washington Times). The paper’s editors also weighed in. Meanwhile, Kelley Beaucar Vlahos, Fox News, becomes the latest to take note of the cadres’ growing involvement in Sudan and Zimbabwe.

On Communist China and the U.S.: Paul Craig Roberts, Newsmax, wants to know why President Bush is allowing “Westinghouse's sale of two nuclear reactors to China.”

On Jiang Zemin: The editors of the Epoch Times have Chapters 10, 11, 12, and 13 of their biography of the ex-Communist leader who started the hideous Falun Gong War.

On the corrupting nature of the Chinese Communist Party: Han Guangsheng, the former high-ranking Communist police officer who attempted to defect to Canada in 2001 to begin atoning for his crimes, speaks at the Nine Commentaries forum in Toronto (reprinted by the Epoch Times) on how the Party has thoroughly terrorized and corrupted China. Economist-turned-dissident He Qinglian detailed how the CCP “has not given the Chinese middle class any way to participate in public affairs” (Epoch Times), thus removing the chance of political reform coming from them as a group.