News of the Day (October 25)

Communist use anniversary of end of Japanese rule on Taiwan to rehash claim to it: Communist China marked the 6oth anniversary of Taiwan’s liberation from Japan to insist, again, that the island democracy is “an inalienable part of China's territory” (BBC), and thus must be under Communist control – despite the fact that the cadres have never set foot there. Taiwan’s elected President Chen Shui-bian took exception.

International Labor Organization notes, but discounts, Communist textile surge: The report published by the group found that “China's share of the global (textile) market has grown by 3% to 16% since January when global limits came to an end” (BBC). Despite the cheery comments, the ILO “was unable to give an exact figure on the number of jobs that had been lost.” What nations were part of the lost 13% of market share was not discussed (see also fifth, fourth, second, fifth, and third items).

Communist China angry at South Korea over report of contaminated food import: Communist China “is considering possible retaliation against South Korea” (United Press Int’l via Washington Times) after the South “announced Friday that it had found the eggs of parasites in kimchi, or spicy pickled cabbage, imported from China.” Of course, the cadres don’t like their own people hearing about tainted foods either (twenty-fifth item).

Cadres end “red chip” curb; defector warns against investing in Communist China: The Communists have junked a law that required domestic firms “to get their permission before setting up subsidiaries to list abroad” (BBC) for stock sales. Thus, will mean more “red chip” stocks will be available for investors. Before jumping in, they may want to hear from defector Chen Yonglin, who “warned Western businesses that they should not increase investment in China because the political environment there is dangerously unstable” (Epoch Times) due to a “totally corrupted” Communist regime.

Protestors on the rise in Tiananmen Square: The number of protestors in Tiananmen Square was over 300 last week, as appellants (petitioners) “after going through all levels of officials in the appealing process, have already lost hope in the Chinese government and are seeking more effective ways of protest in Beijing” (Epoch Times). In response, the Communist cops resorted to “dragging the protesters away like luggage,” including “a veteran who had fought against the Americans in Korea.”

Attorney calls for an end to Falun Gong War: Gao Zhicheng made his call in an open letter to Hu Jintao reprinted by the Epoch Times. Meanwhile, the founder of the spiritual movement predicts the regime that is persecuting his followers will fall (Clearwisdom).

On persecution of Christianity in Communist China: Life Site News comments of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China’s report (sixth item) on the Communists’ persecution of Roman Catholics. John Downing, Toronto Sun, weighs in on persecution of Christians in general. Andrew Carlisle, Epoch Times, examines why Communist regimes past and present have feared religion.

More on human rights in Communist China: Matthew Forney, Time Asia, suggests, convincingly, that the Communists’ “white paper” on democracy (fifth item) is more a deliberate rejection of outside calls for freedom than a false claim to providing it. Rebecca MacKinnon (Rconversation) finds the cadres’ battle to control the internet is, sadly, going very well. Tom Zeller, New York Times (via International Herald Tribune), examines the latest surge in anger at Yahoo’s sellout of Shi Tao (fourteenth, fifth, lead, third, eighth, seventh, third, and fifth items). Reporters Without Borders (via Boxun) rips the continuing imprisonment of Straits Times reporter Ching Cheong (sixth item).

Woe Canada! As part of a wider column criticizing the Canadian government of Prime Minister Paul Martin, the Calgary Sun’s Paul Jackson wants to know why “Communist China, with 1.2 million men and women in its armed forces, 700 missiles aimed at tiny democratic Taiwan, a space program that just sent two men into orbit, and a nation making multi-billion takeover bids for western companies, is the biggest recipient of Canada's foreign aid program.”

On the resignations from the Chinese Communist Party: Feng Changle, Epoch Times, relays the story of a student in Communist China who “openly submitted a withdrawal request to the CYL (Communist Youth League) Committee of his school.” Meanwhile, a rally for the five-million-plus ex-Communists inspired by the Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party was held in San Francisco (Epoch Times).

Now on to the northern Korean colony . . .

Stalinists admit to 21 South Koreans held: Stalinist North Korea “has admitted it is holding 21 South Koreans either captured during the 1950-53 Korean War or subsequently” (BBC). The dovish South Korean government, “wary of campaigning too hard” on behalf od abductees “for fear of damaging relations,” pressed SNK on “about 52 POWs and 51 citizens it believes were abducted after the war.” Most observers not interested in soothing Kim Jong-il’s feelings put the abductee numbers at roughly 1,000.

More on Stalinist North Korea: Friendly Blog One Free Korea has a two-part post on the “Mad Kingdom” (quotes are to attribute, not mock). One of OFK’s sources was the BBC's Andrew Harding. Donald MacIntyre made his own trip for Time Asia. Dave Eberhart, Newsmax, sees the U.S. “getting more defensive about North Korea” (until someone in the Administration publicly calls for liberation, this quarter remains skeptical.