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.