Monday, January 31, 2005

News of the Day (January 31)

Zhao funeral held in Beijing: Communist China allowed a no-frills funeral for Zhao Ziyang – the man forced to resign as leader of the Chinese Communist Party and placed under house arrest until he died for refusing to support the Tiananmen Square massacre – on Saturday. Only those “on an officially-approved guest list” (BBC) were allowed to attend. Everyone else was kept away, including at least 10,000 would-be mourners (Epoch Times), several reporters (Taiwan Central News Agency via Epoch Times), and, of course, dissidents within Communist China (Epoch Times). Bao Tong, Zhao’s longtime chief aide, was allowed to pay his respects at Beijing hospital, after being under house arrest for over a week (Epoch Times). Also reporting: Cybercast News

Washington, DC memorial also held: Several dissidents, human rights activists, and other anti-Communists (including yours truly) held their own memorial for Zhao on Saturday. Among those who spoke was House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (CNN).

Perspectives on Zhao: Zhao’s daughter, Wang Nannan, told the Epoch Times that “My family and I both think that the common people and history will eventually draw a just conclusion” about her father. Of course, she couldn’t say much else. Others who gave their views about Zhao were former cadres Li Pu (Epoch Times), Gao Wenqian (CNA via Epoch Times), Li Rui, and Chang Zhonglian (Epoch Times), as well as pro-democracy activist Zhang Lin (Epoch Times). The editors of the Epoch Times had their own opinion on what Zhao’s death meant, as did their columnists Zhang Jielian and Zhao Liang.

E-mail blocked in run-up to funeral: In the days prior to the funeral, the Communists exerted “strict control over electronic mail traffic, and blocked all messages that contained such sensitive words as ‘Zhao,’ ‘Ziyang,’ or even ‘News’” (CNA via Epoch Times). It was one of the tightest restrictions on e-mail by the Communists in quite some time, and “clearly showed their caution and fear.”

Woe Canada! Judi McLeod, Canadafreepress.com, details the ties between Communist China and the leaders of the Canadian Liberal Party, and how an investigation into the Communists’ spy network in North America nearly suffered a fatal blow because of it.

Another warning on the threat from Communist China: Newsmax’s Geoff Metcalf

Some tsunami aid is better than others: Clifford May, of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, blasting the disrespect given Taiwan, includes as evidence this stunner: “the United Nations was refusing more than $50 million in (tsunami) aid. Why? Because the offer came from Taiwan, and the Chinese rulers in Beijing do not want this island nation playing an independent role on the world stage - not even a charitable one.”

Cadre reads Nine Commentaries, admits to corruption, and quits CCP: An unnamed cadre, inspired by the Epoch Times Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party, admitted to taking “tens of millions of yuan” in corrupt gains and resigned from the CCP. Events such as these, albeit small, are why so many believe, in the words of author Gordon Chang, “The collapse of the CCP is a matter of time” (Epoch Times).

First direct flights to Taiwan: Communist China began allowing direct flights to Taiwan – and vice versa – on Saturday (they wouldn’t be trying to distract attention from anything, would they?). The flights will continue through the Lunar New Year (BBC).

More business deals with Communist China: Two more large firms decided to lay down with the devil. Boeing inked a deal to sell 60 Dreamliner aircraft to several Communist airlines (BBC), while Marconi announced a “long and mutually beneficial” (BBC) deal with Huawei Technologies, previously known for helping Saddam Hussein integrate his air defenses and building a telephone network in pre-liberation Kabul.

Zeng Qinghong sued in Peru by Falun Gong Practitioners: Communist Vice President Zeng Qinghong was among four cadres sued by the Peru Falun Dafa Association last week (Epoch Times). The suit was filed during Zeng’s visit to Peru; the other defendants are Commerce Minister Bo Xilai, Politburo Standing Committee member Luo Gan, and Jiang Zemin, the former leader of Communist China who authored the brutal crackdown against the Falun Gong community of faith in 1999.

Communist stock market in the doldrums: For over four years, Communist China’s stock markets have been “Asia's most catatonic” (Time Asia). Among the reasons for the weak record was this critical fact: “the majority of companies' hitting China's bourses are command-economy-era, state-owned enterprises (SOEs): many of them have limited growth prospects, while others, hopelessly uncompetitive, may be destined to fail.”

Meanwhile, in Stalinist North Korea, is a change coming? A remarkable story by Michael Sheridan of the London Sunday Times finds Kim Jong-il’s regime fraying at the edges, Christianity on the rise, and “faith, crime and sheer cold are eroding the regime’s grip at a speed that may surprise the CIA’s analysts: facts that should give ammunition to conservatives in Washington who call for a hardline policy” (that would be us).

Another SNK kidnapping? Prosecutors in democratic South Korea have indicted a captured Stalinist agent with “for alleged involvement in a kidnapping ring that is suspected of seizing at least 16 people in China, including” Reverend Kim Dong Sik, who was helping “children who have fled from North Korea” (Time Asia). Despite the outrage over the thirteen Japanese abductees (next to last item), and “an estimated 468 kidnapped South Koreans,” clearly “Pyongyang hasn't kicked its kidnapping habit.”

South Korea says nuclear deal could be soon: As this was unfolding, the dovish South Korean government was still talking about a possible deal with SNK on ending the latter’s nuclear weapons program (Agence France Press via Washington Times), despite the fact that previous talks have led to nothing but U.S. concessions.

Charles Robert Jenkins in Japan: The BBC talks to the Army deserter-turned-Stalinist prisoner (Other American-Related News).

Friday, January 28, 2005

News of the Day (January 28)

The real Hu Jintao (again): Perhaps I should start Jintaholics Anonymous, for recovering admirers of the Communist leader – then again, I wouldn’t qualify as a member since I never believed the hype. In any event, let’s welcome Julie Chao, Cox News (via Washington Times). For those who still can’t bring themselves to admit they have a problem about the “reformer” Hu, I have three words: Hanyuan County Massacre.

Communist to hold limited Zhao funeral: Communist China will hold a small and very restricted funeral at 9PM this evening (9AM Saturday Beijing time) for Zhao Ziyang. Whether of not the Communists will rip Zhao for opposing the Tiananmen crackdown at his own funeral is still up in the air, but the regime is “forbidding current government officials from all levels from attending” (BBC), which while expected is certainly not a good sign. Several dissidents remain under house arrest, and thus unable to attend the “body farewell ceremony.” Among them are Bang Tao, Zhao’s former top aide; Ding Zilin, founder of the Tiananmen Mothers, and AIDS activist Hu Jia (Epoch Times 1). The Communists also removed nearly all wreaths – and mourners – from Zhao’s courtyard, where hundreds had lined up to pay their respects (Epoch Times 2).

Rally held in Los Angeles: A large collection of dissident groups, including two exiled leaders of the Tiananmen Square protests, gathered last week in Los Angeles to mourn Zhao and call on the Communist Party to surrender power (Epoch Times).

More on Zhao: Epoch Times columnist Chen Yangchao weighs in on what Zhao’s death means for Communist China.

Communists write fake “Nine Commentaries”: In a desperate attempt to stem the support for the Epoch Times’ Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party, Communist China has created a falser version of the commentaries. What exactly the false commentaries say was not mentioned in the Epoch Times report.

The plight of the Uighurs, as told through an exile: Ehrling Hoh, Washington Times, speaks to Sultan Kurash a leading activist for Uighur people of occupied East Turkestan, before and after he was sent into exile. East Turkestan, just north of Tibet, was an independent country until the Communists invaded in 1949. The occupation has been beyond brutal. Adding insult to injury, Communist China claims the overwhelmingly Muslim Uighurs are bin Ladenite terrorists, whereas in reality they are arguably the most pro-American Muslims on Earth (see News on Communist China, East Turkestan, and the Terrorist War in these links: here, here, here, and here).

Japan gets tougher on SNK, but U.S. Congressman wants softer rhetoric: As Japan’s government gave “its clearest signal yet that it might impose economic sanctions against North Korea” (Voice of America via Epoch Times) for its heinous treatment of the issue of eight missing Japanese abductees (next to last item), one of the leading supporters of a 1994 Agreed Framework redux with the Stalinist regime – Pennsylvania Republican Congressman Curt Weldon – publicly called for President Bush to whisper sweet nothings into Kim Jong-il’s ears during the upcoming State of the Union address. According to the Washington Post, “he hopes the reference to North Korea in the speech will sidestep the problems in the country and focus instead on ‘the need for dialogue to resolve the problems.’” Three previous attempts at “dialogue” resulted nothing but in U.S. concessions. This, in part, is why this quarter sees only one real solution: liberation.

Thursday, January 27, 2005

News of the Day (January 27)

A memorial service for Zhao Ziyang will be held on Saturday (1-4 PM) on Capitol Hill, in Washington, DC. Yours truly has decided to merge his postponed memorial with this event. Information courtesy of the China Support Network, which also includes calls for a restoration of Zhao’s reputation and a tougher Communist China policy from the U.S.

Hostages going to jail? That remains a possibility as Communist China insisted that “any illegal activity” regarding how the eight ex-hostages in Iraq left Communist China “will be dealt with according to law” (United Press Int’l via Washington Times). Thus the fact that the eight hostages escaped Communist China, rather than leave at its behest, may land them in another prison (third item).

Terrorist scare in Boston a hoax: The FBI publicly disavowed supposed information on a terrorist threat in Boston involving a “dirty bomb” and 14 people from Communist China. The information was shown to have “no credibility” (Epoch Times).

Arnaud de Borchgrave joins the CCP: The gentleman’s Newsmax column ripped President Bush’s inaugural address on several fronts, but it was this sentence that turned my stomach: “If China followed Mr. Bush's remedy of freedom and democracy, a unitary state of 1.3 billion people would fall apart and communist-style warlords would be back in business.” The CCP will be happy to know how much Mr. de Borchgrave agrees with them on democracy.

What’s President Bush doing to Taiwan? That’s what Dan Blumenthal, American Enterprise Institute, and Randy Scheunemann, the Project for a New American Century, are asking in their call for him to return to his 2001 insistence that the island democracy will be defended “whatever it takes,” lest the Communist conclude that “President Bush's commitment to defend Taiwan is no more than a poker player's bluff.”

Date for Zhao Ziyang’s funeral set: Communist China announced it will bury Zhao Ziyang on Saturday in a “low-key ceremony . . . rather than a state funeral” (BBC). Of course, “only a limited number of people who have registered ahead of time will be able to go,” i.e., no one who would mourn Zhao for his courageous refusal to support the Tiananmen massacre of 1989. Instead, they get beaten too a pulp with an eye knocked out of its socket (World Net Daily).

Mourners still honor Zhao: The Communists have tried to prevent anyone from giving Zhao the honor he deserves, but many are still able to do in their own way. One Tiananmen survivor had his picture taken with pro-Zhao posters: “Zhao Ziyang’s soul sees me from heaven” (Epoch Times). Others formed the Zhao Ziyang Memorial Committee – one of their members spoke to Sound of Hope Radio. Finally, of course, there is Saturday’s event in Washington, DC.

Wednesday, January 26, 2005

News of the Day (January 26)

Congressmen express concern over IBM-Lenovo deal: Three influential voices were added to the chorus against the sale of IBM’s personal computer unit to Communist-owned Lenovo: House Small Business Committee Chair Donald Manzullo, International Relations Committee Chair Henry J. Hyde, and Armed Services Committee Chair Duncan Hunter (Bill Gertz, Washington Times). The chorus includes the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security (and us).

Tibetan monk’s sentence commuted from death to life: Communist China has formally commuted Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche's death sentence to life imprisonment (BBC). While this was welcome news, it doesn’t obscure the fact the Tibetan monk should not be in prison at all – he was convicted for a bombing in Sichuan province during a trial roundly derided as staged. Fellow Tibetan defendant Lobsang Dhondup was executed two years ago, while Tashi Phuntsog, another monk who worked with Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche, was released after three years in prison during which time he was beaten so badly he “can no longer walk or speak clearly” (BBC 2).

Communist Party still skittish on Zhao funeral: The Chinese Communist Party is still holding off on a funeral for Zhao Ziyang, as his family continues to refuse any service which allows the regime to slander Zhao for his opposition to the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989 (MSNBC, Taiwan Central News Agency via Epoch Times). One of the major headaches for the regime is that “there are plenty of Zhao sympathizers within the CCP” (Epoch Times 1). Although all of the high-profile once are retired cadres with little real power left, their prestige is still considerable enough to give current Communist leader Hu Jintao pause. Meanwhile, one more exile added his name to the list of those asking the Party to “restore his reputation” (Epoch Times 2). According to Sound of Hope Radio, Zhao’s family will maintain as much of an open door as it can to those who wish to pay their respects at his home until the regime accept their funeral arrangement terms.

More mourners beaten (and killed), reporters arrested: One thing the Communists are not skittish on is the brutal treatment of would-be mourners, and those who wish to bring their story to the outside world. At least one mourner was killed in a hit-and-run that “seemed to be an intentional murder, rather than a mere accident” (Epoch Times 1) – one reason for this assumption: “The man wore a white flower, which clearly identified him as a mourner.” Another visitor to Zhao’s home was beaten “so severely that his eyeball was knocked from its socket” (Epoch Times 2). Meanwhile, the number of Zhao mourners never to be seen again jumped to eight or nine hundred (Epoch Times 3). Journalists were not immune: reporters from Hong Kong’s Ming Pao were held for questioning before making hasty departure from Beijing (CNA via Epoch Times).

Outgoing Ambassador gives Japan some bad advice: As Communist China “overtook the US to become Japan's biggest trading partner in 2004” (BBC), Howard Baker, outgoing Ambassador to Japan, told his hosts to “face the reality that China ‘is growing in economic and political interest’” (Washington Times) quietly. Is Baker suggesting this (International News) be forgotten?

Mexico hosts Zeng Qinghong: Communist China’s Vice President visited Mexico to sign trade deals already ripped as “too little, too late” (United Press Intl./Washington Times). Communist imports have wrecked Mexico’s economy in recent years (International News here and here).

Russian bombers for Communist China: Charles Smith, Newsmax, weighs in on the possible high-tech air sale (fourth item).

Ex-hostages now back in Communist China: One of the eight former captives said he was happy to be home (BBC), which may or may not be true, given that they had escaped Communist China with outside help in order to get to Iraq in the first place (second item).

Tuesday, January 25, 2005

News of the Day (January 25)

More Zhao fallout: The Washington Post has more details on the argument between Communist China and Zhao Ziyang’s family on arrangements for his funeral. In addition to resisting the Communist demand that they slander Zhao for his support of the Tiananmen Square protestors during his own memorial, the family is asking “to open the funeral to the public and invite the hundreds who have visited Zhao's home over the past week to pay their respects.” Given that Communist China has already arrested over 300 people for making that visit to Zhao’s family (Epoch Times 1) I think we already know the regime’s answer to that one. Several other pro-democracy activists are in prison “for organizing activities to commemorate Zhao” (Epoch Times 2), and Tiananmen Mother co-founder Ding Zilin was banned from Zhao’s home – and any other Zhao events (Epoch Times 3).

Meanwhile, some of the twenty-two cadres who called for Zhao to be rehabilitated are no longer anonymous – two of them were once Politburo members - former Parliamentary Chairman Wan Li, and former Vice Premier Tian Jiyun (Epoch Times 4). They were joined by Tiananmen Mother Zhang Xianling (Sound of Hope Radio via Epoch Times).

Straw’s attempt to sell EU embargo life falls flat: British Foreign Minister Jack Straw tried to bring Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice on board with the “code of conduct” (Washington Times) cover for lifting the European Union’s arms embargo with Communist China, but Rice didn’t buy it. Britain is the latest nation to joing France and Germany’s efforts to lift the arms embargo (second item, fifth item) – over American objections (fourth item). However, all European Union members must support lifting the embargo, or it stays in place. At present, Sweden, the Netherlands, Poland, and the Czech Republic refuse to go along.

India-Communist China talks end: Communist China’s talks with longtime rival India ended, and while both sides praised the results, neither was willing to tell the outside world what was actually discussed. India and Communist China fought a border war in 1962 during which the Communist seized 40,000 square kilometers (yesterday’s 40,000 square mile reference was erroneous) of Indian territory, and still “lays claim to a wide swathe of territory in Arunachal Pradesh” (United Press International/Washington Times).

Communist China 9.5% growth: Driven largely by deliberately devalued exports, (fifth item) Communist China reported economic growth of 9.5% for 2004 (BBC, UPI/Washington Times). The geopolitics of the Communist currency aside, the regime has a history of fudging economic data (Other Mainland News), so these numbers must be taken with a grain of salt.

Frank Hsieh nominated Prime Minister of Taiwan: As expected, President Chen Shui-bian has nominated Frank Hsieh, mayor of Kaohsiung, as Prime Minister. Hsieh may have some tough sledding getting his nomination approved in the opposition-controlled legislature, which “had nominated its own candidate for prime minister” (BBC). Chen is the first president in Taiwan’s history to be elected to the post. His predecessor, Lee Teng-hui, was appointed by the Nationalist Party, but put himself up for election to the voters for his last term in 1996. Lee has since bolted the Nationalists, formed his own party, and allied it with Chen’s Democratic Progressive Party. Taiwan’s democracy should be a marvel of the world. Sadly, due to Communist bullying, it is only a marvel to those who are willing to see it – such as National Review Online’s Cliff May.

Monday, January 24, 2005

Stop the Lenovo-IBM Deal

Yours truly feels compelled to begin this call for activism with an apology: the IBM-Lenovo deal was announced over a month ago, and while this quarter was certainly upset about it, cynicism overcame any attempt to stop it. Fortunately, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States does not wait for my e-mail, and as such it has raised a red flag on the deal.

The last time CFIUS was examining a deal such as this was Hutchison Whampoa’s attempt to buy Global Crossing, which had it gone through would have put the only American firm with a global fiber optic network into the hands of a notorious Communist sympathizer, HW head Li Ka-shing. In this case, the IBM piece up for sale would go to a firm whose parent company is owned by a branch of the Communist regime itself.

The Hutchison deal fell through; the firm pulled out just after a China e-Lobby campaign to stop the deal. So it’s time to get the e-ball rolling on this one (actually it’s well past time, as mentioned in the first paragraph).

As in 2003, Gay Hartwell Sills is the Staff Chair and main point of contact for CFIUS. This link goes to a sample letter for anyone who would like to use it – feel free to copy as is, amend, or ignore. Just remember: (a) this was the office whose objections scared away HW two years ago, so some praise is in order, and (b) stick to national security issues, they are what’s most important to CFIUS.

With enough effort and a little good fortune, we may stop this deal yet!

News of the Day (January 24)

The Fredericksburg commemoration for Zhao Ziyang was cancelled due to inclement weather – at least that’s what the hosts said when they closed for the day. If the event is rescheduled, future entries will have the requisite information. Stalinist North Korea News is at the end of this entry.

IBM sale to Communist-owned Lenovo his national security snag: It appears someone in Washington is actually doing their job. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (the consortium of agencies which was examining the Hutchison Whampoa-Global Crossing deal when it fell through) is expressing concern over Lenovo’s bid to buy IBM’s personal computer division. Unnamed sources “familiar with the matter” told Bloomberg News (via New York Post) that fear of the Communists “using stolen technologies for military purposes.” The lead objections are coming from the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security. One other strike against the deal may be the market reaction – shares of the Communist-owned, market traded Lenovo actually rose upon hearing the deal might go south (BBC).

Communists put Zhao memorial on hold, go after mourners: Communist China’s insistence on slandering Zhao for his support of the Tiananmen Square protestors during his own memorial has, to the surprise of no one, ensured that no timetable has been set for any commemoration of him (Epoch Times 1, BBC). In its place, the Communists have maintained official silence (Cybercast News), and struck out against those who would mourn him, from individual dissidents (Epoch Times 2) to, in at least one case an entire village (Epoch Times 3). Few are surprised by this: one would have a hard honor Zhao properly without undermining the Communists’ rationale for continued power. The Epoch Times heard from four more people who put the spotlight on the Communists’ (well-deserved) dilemma: Princeton Professor Andrew J. Nathan, one of the editors of the Tiananmen Papers; Hua Feng; exile Wang Juntao; and his fellow dissident Wu Guoguang.

Communist China finds released hostages: Communist China found the eight former hostages released by a terrorist group last week (BBC). Given that the eight most likely escaped from Communist China, rather than come at its behest, it’s unsure if they actually wanted to be found – the Washington Times examined just how much people escaping Communist China will sacrifice to get out. As for Iraq, Communist China had a long history with Saddam Hussein, including turning oil-for-food into oil-for-missile-parts.

Straw now in Washington for talks: UK Foreign Minister Jack Straw has left Japan for the U.S., and his government’s support for ending the European Union arms embargo on Communist China – against American wishes (fifth item) – is sure to be major issues in the talks (Cybercast News).

Senators Schumer and Graham to resubmit tariff bill on Communist imports: Last year, four Senators, including New York Democrat Charles Schumer and South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham, submitted a bill calling for a corrective tariff against Communist China so long as it continued to deliberately devalue its currency – which makes its imports cheaper. Schumer announced he and Graham would resubmit the bill this year (Epoch Times).

The Communist currency is currently set at 12 cents; its real value is closer to 16 cents. That means imports into the U.S. – and anywhere else – are up to 25% cheaper than they should be. The result: a U.S.-Communist China trade imbalance of over $150 billion, and Canada becoming the only nation that exports more to the U.S. than the Communist regime.

Bank corruption – one dirty cadre jailed, another two go missing with $120 million: As Communist China announced it had sent Liu Guangyi to jail for life for embezzling over $13 million from the regime-owned China Construction Bank (BBC 1/23), two officials at another regime-owned bank – Bank of China – have gone missing, along with $120 million (BBC 1/24). Both banks “shared a $45bn state bailout in 2003, to help clean up their balance sheets in preparation for a foreign stock market debut.” They may want to hold off on any IPOs. Masha Loftus, also in the Epoch Times, cited the banky-panky as a chief reason Communist China’s economy is more fragile than the regime would like to admit.

India and Communist China in talks: Communist China and its longtime rival India are holding another round of talks “on bilateral relations, including in particular on preparations for the forthcoming visit of China's Premier Wen Jiabao to India” (BBC). India and Communist China fought a border war in 1962 during which the Communist seized 40,000 square miles of Indian territory, and is claiming even more Indian land.

Taiwan’s Cabinet resigns: In reaction to the “pan-blue” opposition holding its majority in legislative elections, Taiwan’s entire cabinet resigned. President Chen Shui-bian, who anti-Communist “pan-green” coalition was on the wrong end of same legislative elections, “is expected to name Frank Hsieh, the mayor of Kaohsiung city, as his next prime minister.” The BBC does not mention that Hsieh is also from a faction of Chen’s Democratic Progressive Party which is less enthusiastic about formal independence than Chen (allegedly) is.

The Washington Post notices petitioner abuse: In the final weeks of the Update, Communist China’s abuse of petitioners regularly made an appearance in Human Rights and Freedoms News. So it’s good to see the Washington Post finally start to notice.

Is there a labor shortage in Communist China? That’s what Neil Gough, Time Asia, sees, and as he doesn’t overlook the Communists’ union-busting, the piece is not half-bad.

Another Hu-wasn’t-what-we-thought-he-was story: Matthew Forney and Susan Jakes, Time Asia, joins the chorus of those disappointed by Hu’s recent crackdowns (although they seemed inexplicably missed the Hanyuan County massacre).

Eric Margolis, Toronto Sun, is one of the few who ties Communist China’s economic surge to its anti-American geopolitical ambitions.

Eight SNK refugees in Japanese Embassy in Beijing: Eight refugees from Stalinist North Korea – “five women, two girls and one man” (CNN) – are in a school in the Japanese Embassy in Beijing, joining sixteen others who have escaped Kim Jong-il’s regime, only to find that in Communist China – SNK’s half-decade-plus ally and partner in capturing refugees – they are forced to live as nonpersons.

Stalinist North Korea cuts food rations to 250 grams: Kim Jong-il’s regime reduced daily food distribution to just 250g per person, or “just half the amount recommended by the World Food Programme” (BBC). The previous number, 300g, was less than two-thirds the recommended amount as it was. Such is the result of a crippling famine made worse by a regime that has stolen international food aid from its own people to feed itself and its military. Perhaps this is why dissidents inside SNK are no longer a myth (Time Asia).

SNK insists its nuclear weapons are “defensive”: KJI’s Vice Foreign Minister, Kim Kye-gwan, told Congressman Kurt Weldon that the Stalinists’ nuclear weapons are “defensive in nature,” and that the regime hopes to get rid of them someday (Washington Times). There was no word as to whether the Pennsylvania Republican – who has publicly called for a deal with the regime (Other Nuclear News) – believed them.

Sunday, January 23, 2005

News of the Day (January 22/23)

On Zhao Ziyang: Of course, the big news remains the passing of Zhao Ziyang (if you’re seeing this on Sunday morning, you can still make the memorial in Fredericksburg). While Communist China is still haggling over details of the “funeral” service with Zhao’s family (Epoch Times), the regime is hard at work: arresting and torturing dissidents who only crime is wishing to pay their respects to Zhao in person (Epoch Times has several stories on this: here, here, here, here, and here), demanding high-level cadres come to Zhongnanhai to pledge their “loyalty” (Epoch Times again), changing the subject with more propaganda against Falun Gong (Epoch Times here and here), and sending waves of “plainclothes police” to the square that made Zhao a hero (care to guess?).

Meanwhile, democratic officials and media expressed their sorrows, including U.S. Congressman Henry Hyde and Canadian Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew (both Epoch Times), who was trying to make up for Martin’s terrible performance in Beijing in contrast to the brave action of Jason Kenney, an opposition MP who accompanied him. The editors of the Washington Times and Asahi Shimbun (via the WT) honored Zhao with praise for his courage in not supporting the Deng Xiaoping-inspired bloodbath. The people made clear where they stood: over 10,000 in Hong Kong rallied to remember Zhao, while several dissident groups made their farewell in Washington, D.C. (both stories are from the Epoch Times). Even on the mainland, the Communists – seeing the hand writing on the wall – allowed visitors to mourn at his home/prison (Epoch Times).

On the analysis side, Mikhail Gorbachev (through Hu Ping of the Epoch Times) reveals Zhao’s support for multi-party democracy because of this question: “Can the one-party system ensure the development of democracy? Can it effectively overcome negative actions and corruption in the party and the government? If it cannot, then we should bring up the issue of multi-party systems.” The Epoch Times editors discuss who Wen Jiabao, once Zhao’s right-hand man and now Communist Premier, chose to keep quiet and advance rather than share Zhao’s fate. Liu Qing, Chairman of Human Rights in China, talks to the Epoch Times about why the Communists are deeply skittish about Zhao.

Hostages freed after Communist China tells its people to stay away from Iraq: After Communist China “warned its citizens not to travel to Iraq” (BBC), the terrorists who were holding eight Chinese hostage let them go. At present, however, Communist China could not find them, which may not be an accident, given that the eight people in question probably “paid human traffickers for their passage to Iraq.” Communist China had several arms deals with Saddam Hussein and bitterly opposed his dethronement.

Communist China going back into space next fall: The regime announced plans for its second manned space flight, which “could launch as early as September” (BBC), about two years after the first one. Communist China has ambitions to reach the moon by 2010.

India to attend its first G-7 summit: Great Britain, host of the annual meeting of officials from the world’s top economies, extended the invitation to the world’s largest democracy, although its role will mostly involve talks with its longtime rival Communist China, “to be held separately from a regular meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States” (Washington Times). To this quarter, that sounds rather disrespectful.

The UK’s support for Communist arms buying is our fault? That what Newsmax’s Arnaud de Borchgrave would have us believe. Mr. de Borchgrave sees the UK’s support for ending the EU arms embargo on Communist China (fifth item) stemming from an October decision by two Congressman not to allow the UK to buy U.S. weapons without licensing restrictions. Never mind that the UK had hinted at this move last June.

On President Bush’s Inaugural: Many analysts have noted Communist China as a strange exception to the dramatically pro-democracy theme of the President’s address. Robert Kagan, Washington Post, believes this will, in time, be resolved with “a strategic reevaluation that places democratic allies, not China, at the core of American strategy.”

Yang Jianli’s wife finally gets to see him: Yang Jianli, a former exile now in a Communist prison cell after returning to help labor dissidents in 2002, saw his wife for the first time since his arrest. His wife found him to be in terrible health, and as such “plans to seek medical parole for her husband” (Washington Times, fifth item).

Friday, January 21, 2005

News of the Day (January 21)

Reminder: a commemoration for Zhao Ziyang will be held at the Caroline Street Library, in Fredericksburg, VA, on Sunday the 23rd from 1 to 3 PM (see here for more information). See below for more on the ramifications of Zhao’s death.

Washington Post columnist gets it: Charles Krauthammer is known as a leading foreign affairs pundit and analyst. His most recent column explains why. It was a clarion call to America to be prepared for a hostile, rising Communist China aided by Russia, its largest arms supplier. He also noted the Communists’ growing closeness to Iran and “various self-styled, anti-imperialist flotsam as Syria, North Korea, Cuba and Hugo Chavez's Venezuela . . . the beginnings of a significant ‘anti-hegemonic’ bloc – aimed at us . . . waiting for us on the day the war on terrorism is won, and perhaps even before.” Now, if we can just talk to Krauthammer about that “waiting” part . . .

Other commentary: Due to Krauthammer’s moment of clarity, the commentaries precede the news today. Also on the electronic menu: the Epoch Times gives a quick anatomy of a Shanghai scandal; Radio Free Asia (along with ET) marvels at the narcissism surrounding Communist China’s coverage of the Indian Ocean tsunami; Lev Navrozov of Newsmax writes an open letter to “any Chinese man or woman” on the understated power of democracy; and Rachel DiCarlo, Weekly Standard calls for the release of jailed dissident Yang Jianli.

Number of “dirty bomb” suspects from Communist China up to 14: Law enforcement in Boston is now looking for as many as fourteen people from Communist China who may be involved in a “dirty bomb” plot against the city. Meanwhile, the source of the information – still “uncorroborated” – said the group was awaiting the delivery of a chemical called “nuclear oxide.” The fact that no such chemical exists has many wondering what the deal is. Reports: New York Post, Washington Times

Hostage-takers make another death threat: The terrorists who have taken eight Chinese escapees hostage (sixth item) in Iraq made another threat to kill the hostages unless Communist China “issue a statement saying it will not allow its citizens to work for Americans in Iraq” (CNN). Communist China had several arms deals with Saddam Hussein and bitterly opposed his dethronement, but the eight hostages were not sent to Iraq by Communist China, but escaped despite the Communist regime (third item).

UK Foreign Minister, in Beijing, stands by plans to lift Communist China arms embargo: British Foreign Minister Jack Straw defended his government’s support for lifting the European Union arms embargo against Communist China (second item), despite opposition from United States (fourth item), Japan (BBC 1), and human rights groups (although Sky News didn’t name them). Straw also managed to get Communist China to label his nation as an “approved destination” for tourists (BBC 2). Also reporting: Washington Times

Canadian PM shames himself again in Beijing: Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin continued embarrassing his country while in Communist China. Martin, who publicly praised the “global power” of Communist China yesterday (fifth item), insisted that the regime was making “considerable progress” (Canadian Press) in human rights – never mind the continuing crackdown after Zhao Ziyang’s death, and of course, the Hanyuan County massacre. It led Bob McDonald, Toronto Sun columnist, to lament the shameful performance of his nation’s leader.

Canadian opposition MP pays respects to Zhao Ziyang: It was not all “Woe Canada.” Jason Kenney, a Canadian MP from the opposition Conservative Party who traveled with Martin, took time to visit the late Zhao Ziyang’s home to pay his respects. According to the Canadian Press, Kenney was “believed to be the first western politician permitted to make such a visit”. Of course, no cameras were permitted, but Kenney did have this to say of his visit: “I think it's an appropriate way to express Canada's solidarity with the brave Chinese youths who gave their lives 15 years ago for the sake of democracy in this country.” He might want to brief Martin on that “solidarity.”

More respects (and lack thereof) for Zhao: Among those who paid their respects personally to the late leader was exiled dissident Wang Dan, through his mother (Epoch Times 1), who went in his place (that’s meant as no insult to the Tiananmen survivor, given the likely fate that awaits him if he ever returned to a Communist-controlled China). Princeton Professor Perry Link called Zhao’s year-and-a-half as CCP General Secretary “most open 18 months in politics since the Chinese Communist Party seized power” (ET 2).

As for the Communists themselves, they are trying everything they can to draw attention away from Zhao. While they agreed to hold a no-frills funeral for him (Washington Post), they have refused to make clear any details – even to Zhao’s family. Meanwhile, the regime is ripping up mail for foreign embassies that mentions Zhao (ET 3), arresting and detaining domestic mourners (Taiwan Central News Agency via Epoch Times), and readying Zeng Qinghong, chief protégé of Falun Gong murderer Jiang Zemin, to write an “evaluation” (CNA/ET) insisting that that Zhao’s support for the 1989 protests was a “serious mistake.” Jiang, who was handpicked by Deng Xiaoping to lead the CCP after Zhao was purged, is for obvious reasons adamantly opposed to any attention brought to Zhao (ET 4).

Thursday, January 20, 2005

News of the Day (January 20)

Terrorists from Communist China coming to Boston? Federal and local law enforcement in Boston are looking for four alleged terror suspects from Communist China, based on a tip from a source at the Mexican border who said the four were looking to set off a radiological bomb in the Massachusetts capital. All who talked to the press on the subject insisted the information was “uncorroborated,” so there is the possibility the “source” is sending everyone on a snipe hunt. Still, the fact that Boston – home of several Chinese dissidents and the family of imprisoned dissident Yang Jianli – was the alleged target greatly increases the possibility that these four (Zengrong Lin, Wen Quin Zheng, Xiujin Chen and Guozhi Lin) had at least some encouragement from the regime. Reports: CNN, New York Post, Epoch Times, BBC

If the above is true (and the part about the Communist regime is only yours truly’s speculation as of 1:30 PM), then the long history of Communist China’s support of terrorism might finally get the attention of decision-makers in Washington.

On the late Zhao Ziyang: The Communists are now reversing course on a funeral for Zhao Ziyang; “a ceremony” (BBC) now will be held. Of course, the regime is hedging its bets by detaining dissidents, including Lin Mu (his daughter told the harrowing story of his arrest to the Epoch Times). Communist consulates abroad followed suit, even rejecting flowers presented in Zhao’s memory. The Communists have good reason for this: their own survival as a regime has been greatly enhanced by the complete ignorance of the post-Tiananmen generation about Zhao (Louisa Lim, BBC); no need to risk millions of twenty-somethings finding out the truth.

Still, others were able to give their condolences, including Mikhail Gorbachev, who visited Beijing during the protests and called Zhao “the most sympathetic towards the protesters of all the CCP leaders and the most accepting of the concept of democracy.” Those who mourned Zhao had little love for the regime that imprisoned him. Exiled dissident Su Shaozhi told the Epoch Times of regime: “Couldn't it be said that the CCP is evil?” Sun Guangwen, a student at Shandong University and an Epoch Times columnist railed at the Party for its poor treatment of Zhao, as did columnist Lin Baohua. Links not specifically referenced are also from the Epoch Times.

Reminder: a commemoration for Zhao will be held at the Caroline Street Library, in Fredericksburg, VA, on Sunday the 23rd from 1 to 3 PM (see here for more).

Hostages in Iraq were smuggled out of PRC: It turns out that the eight hostages in Iraq “paid human traffickers” (BBC) to get out of Communist China. This might explain why the Communists, who had several arms deals with Saddam Hussein and bitterly opposed his dethronement, were caught flat-footed by the abduction (sixth item).

U.S. still fighting EU plans to lift Communist China arms embargo: Unnamed U.S. officials ripped British Foreign Minister Jack Straw’s support for lifting the European Union arms embargo against Communist China (second item), flatly saying Straw and other embargo opponents “reflected a lack of strategic thinking about the consequences of boosting Beijing's ability to attack Taiwan” (United Press Intl./Washington Times). They were joined by the Washington Post’s Jim Hoagland, who blasted those looking to lift the embargo.

Paul Martin, Woe Canada: Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin embarrassed his country while on a trade mission to Communist China today. Martin publicly praised the Communists becoming “a global power” (Canadian Press-1), while his Natural Resource Minister signed a resource cooperation agreement the regime (CP-2). This was especially galling given the Communists’ plans to buy out a major Canadian mining corporation (Noranda, see next to last item, Top Story).

Communist companies told to buy up outside firms: Communist China is heavily encouraging its firms to buy up companies in the rest of the world, according to Time Asia. The Communists are hoping to ease pressure on their deliberately devalued currency, and of course to “make China a strong country,” i.e., grow and sustain the Communists’ power.

Communist China may set up post office in Antarctica: Communist China’s grip on the bottom of the world – it already has an Antarctic scientific station – may expand with a new post office (BBC). Yours truly will resist the heartless impulse to say something nice about global warming.

IEA says Communist China could gobble up 5.7% more oil this year: According to the International Energy Agency, Communist Chinas’ consumption of oil in 2005 “would be a healthy 5.7 percent over 2004” (UPI/Washington Times). Communist China already consumes over 2 billion barrels a year, nearly half of that imported. This is one of the two critical reasons (the other being the anti-U.S. cold war) that Communist China is flexing its muscles in the Middle East and elsewhere (fifth item, Parapundit’s commentary).

Grenada dumps Taiwan: The Caribbean island best known for being liberated in 1983 switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to Communist China. The move came after Grenadian Prime Minister Keith Mitchell “said he was hoping that China could offer reconstruction aid to help Grenada repair damage caused by Hurricane Ivan” (BBC). Wonder what the sale price was?

Confirmation that Communist China is losing capital: Despite tricking Wall Street and other financial sectors who should know better out of billions in investment money, Communist China is experiencing capital flight. In part, this is due to corrupt cadres looking to hide their ill-gotten gains, but Duetsche Bank analysts (that’s Germany’s central bank) “observed that many companies were beginning to question whether the profit of investing in China is proportional to the risk” (Epoch Times). Are the smoke and mirrors finally losing their effectiveness?

More troubles in Hong Kong: Communist China’s puppet government in Hong Kong has always maintained close ties with the wealthy “tycoons” in the city, in part to ensure the city’s financial elite follow the Party line. Time Asia has noticed an unintended consequence: many residents of the former UK colony (Epoch Times historical account) are now adding to their numerous, well-deserved complaints about the regime that it has grown “too close to the business community.”

Reflections on the Nine Commentaries: The Epoch Times’ seminal work on the true nature and history of the Chinese Communist Party brings back painful memories of repression for Anna Yang and Alexandria Scott (nom de cyber), and wins high praise fro Zhang Lin.

Other Human Rights stories: The Epoch Times presents the data revealing the supposed Falun Gong self-immolation of 2001 to be a hoax. Dr. Viviana Galli of China Mental Health Watch blasts the World Psychiatric Association for caving into Communist China regarding its persecution of Falun Gong practitioners (Epoch Times). Hao Wang – Yale Daily News (via Epoch Times) – talks about her new American citizenship and her mother’s suffering during the Cultural Revolution. Bruce Einhorn, Dexter Roberts, and Matt Kovac – BusinessWeek via MSNBC – see and lament the real Hu Jintao.

Wednesday, January 19, 2005

News of the Day (January 19)

The Zhao Ziyang fallout: Zhao Ziyang, the Communist Party chief during the Tiananmen Square protests who was placed under house arrest for refusing to support the June 4 massacre, won more posthumous praise from dissidents Fang Lizhi, Wang Dan, and Gao Zhicheng, as well as Epoch Times columnist Tian Zhengjiang. A petition has begun to ask the Party to restore Zhao’s reputation and admit that the Tiananmen massacre was a mistake. Even high-ranking cadres – at least 20 of them – asked for Zhao to be given a state funeral. Other dissidents are asking for the right to attend Zhao’s funeral – state-run or otherwise (Zhao’s family has since decided not to ask for a state funeral that would likely never be granted, choosing instead to hold a private ceremony at his former home. The Communists made clear their intent on that request – they have prevented Zhao’s former top aide-turned-post-Tiananmen-dissident Bao Tong from stepping foot in Zhao’s home. Part of the reason for the near-total silence from the Communists is the obvious fear of the people’s already mournful reaction to the death. All of the above links, plus this one showing a pictorial of a Hong Kong commemoration of Zhao, are from the Epoch Times.

The Communists are also, as one would expect, continuing to keep a close eye on all mourners and would-be mourners of Zhao (BBC), several hundreds mourners in Shanghai were arrested and beaten by police (Human Rights in China via Epoch Times). Several survivors of Tiananmen Square are now under house arrest – specifically to ensure they never get to pay their respects (Central News Agency, Taiwan, via Epoch Times), or perhaps join others in calling for Zhao’s reputation to be resorted (CNA via Epoch Times). For over fifteen years, Zhao could have ended his house arrest by recanting his opposition to the Tiananmen massacre. He never did.

Reminder: a commemoration for Zhao will be held at the Caroline Street Library, in Fredericksburg, VA, on Sunday the 23rd from 1 to 3 PM (see here for more).

Condoleezza Rice lists “outposts of tyranny,” but Communist China is missing: According to Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice, there are six “outposts of tyranny” (Washington Times): Stalinist North Korea, Iran, Burma, Belarus, Cuba and Zimbabwe. As for Communist China, Rice preferred “building a candid, cooperative and constructive relationship with China that embraces our common threats but still recognizes our considerable differences about values” (Cybercast News). Never mind that the Communists have several economic and/or military ties to all six “outposts,” and that their treatment of their own people qualifies for nothing but tyranny.

Bush defends sanctions against Communist arms suppliers to Iran: President Bush, speaking to Fox News, said recent sanctions against Norinco, Great Wall Industry and several other Communist firms (see fourth item) would help “ward off trade in equipment that could be used in weapons programs” (Washington Post). The fact that Norinco is owned by the Communist military, and that a tougher policy on the regime as a whole would be in order, was apparently not discussed.

Russia looking to sell more advanced military hardware to Communist China: Already Communist China’s largest arms supplier, Russia appears ready to offer the regime strategic supersonic Tu-22M3 bomber planes, which “could pose a threat to U.S. aircraft carriers in the Pacific” (Cybercast News). In other words, the advanced bombers could be just what the Communists need to thwart any possible American move to protect Taiwan from invasion.

So who’s invited to the inauguration? That’s a sore subject between Communist China and Taiwan. The Communists insist they talked to the Bush Administration, which told them in no uncertain terms that the island democracy was “not invited” (Newsmax). Taiwan dismissed the Communist claim: “How could we attend the celebration without an invitation? It's not possible.”

Twenty-six power plants suspended: Communist China “ordered a halt to construction work on 26 big power stations, including two at the Three Gorges Dam” (BBC). The reason was a true shocker: the affected projects “had failed to do proper environmental assessments” – Three Gorges already has a well-earned reputation as an ecological disaster.

Wild Swans: Randall Effner, Epoch Times, reviews the 1991 book and finds that with its accounts of Communist persecution, it “seems more relevant today than when it was first published.”

Red China going gray? That’s what Francis Markus (BBC) finds, due to the hideous “one child policy” and its destruction of younger generations.

Tuesday, January 18, 2005

A January 23 Memorial to Zhao Ziyang in Fredericksburg

A commemoration of the late Zhao Ziyang will be held at the Caroline Street Library in Fredericksburg, Virginia from 1 to 3 PM EST on Sunday, January 23. The memorial will honor Zhao’s life, especially his brave decision to speak truth to power and refuse to support the Tiananmen massacre of June 4, 1989 – a decision for which he spent the last fifteen-and-one-half years of his life under house arrest.

Among those scheduled to attend and speak is Shengde Lian, executive director of the Free China Movement, a coaltion of thirty Chinese pro-democracy organizations around the world. He is also the author of Freedom Fighter (an autobiography) and a survivor of the Tiananmen massacre.

For those who can attend, thank you, and here are the directions:

FROM I-95 (north or south): take exit 133A (US Rte. 17 Business - Falmouth). Take 17B to intersection with U.S. Rte 1, and take a right (US 1 South). Take US 1 South over the bridge to Princess Anne Street, and take a left. Take Princess Anne to Lewis Street, and take a left. Take Lewis Street to Caroline Street - the Library is at the corner of Lewis and Caroline.

D.J. McGuire, Co-founder and President: China e-Lobby
For further questions, feel free to reach me at china_e_lobby@yahoo.com

Fallout from the Zhao Ziyang’s Death (and other news from January 18)

Communist China is already getting nervous about the aftermath from the passing of Zhao Ziyang, the national Party boss deprived of his post and placed under house arrest for opposing the Tiananmen massacre. A Communist mouthpiece has already insisted to the BBC (1/18) and others that the June 4, 1989 spilling of blood “was right.” Anybody within Communist China who thinks otherwise will face a regime that is already on the lookout for any “‘hostile foreign forces’ and disaffected elements within the country” (Willy Lam: CNN) willing to honor Zhao’s memory, which by itself challenges the legitimacy of the Chinese Communist Party. Most analysts expect the Communists will be happy to never hear Zhao’s name again (BBC 1/17). Several internet articles mourning him were posted on the Communist Chinese web, only to vanish within seconds (Epoch Times 1/18). Several Chinese paid there respects with flowers to Zhao’s home; one man even reached Tiananmen Square to stage a protest before the police got to him (Washington Post via MSNBC). In Hong Kong and Taiwan – where the press have more freedom to maneuver – the praise for Zhao was almost universal (BBC collection of quotes).

While the Communists kept a wary eye on their own people, everyone else is watching them. The travel risk assessment firm iJet went so far as to issue a travel advisory because “the authorities may take actions to disburse the demonstrators” honoring Zhao (Epoch Times 1/17). Note: news on Stalinist North Korea comes after the remaining news on Communist China.

Death sparks calls for change in Communist China: The Communists’ reaction will reflect upon them – badly, in the view of most analysts (United Press International/Washington Times). Several dissidents called for genuine Chinese democracy. The Epoch Times’ Xin Fei spoke to Yan Jiaqi and Lin Mu, both former cadres and current dissidents (Yan is in exile). Bai Zhi uses his Epoch Times column to call for an outright end to Communism.

Cybercast News gave the entire quote from Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi: “Unlike Japan, China is not a country with several political parties or free elections. I know it will be difficult, but I want China to make an effort toward democracy.” The Communists have yet to verbally smack him for those remarks – but rest assured; it’s coming.

Crackdown against China Democracy Party in Zhejiang: In Zhejiang Province, it was business as usual: ten members of the local branch of the China Democracy Party have been summoned to trial for their role in crafting and submitting a Law on China’s Political Parties (Epoch Times).

More sanctions against Communist firms for Iran nuclear sales: The Bush Administration slapped sanctions against seven firms from Communist China for “selling nuclear weapons technology to Iran” (BBC). Among the familiar names were Norinco and Great Wall Industry.

Communist China flexing its muscles in Asia and Latin America: Communist China is expanding its influence in southern Asia and the Middle East “to project its power overseas and protect its oil shipments,” according to a Pentagon report cited by Bill Gertz (Washington Times). Meanwhile, largely for the same reasons (geopolitical ambition and energy needs), the Communists have forged strong ties to Venezuelan caudillo Hugo Chavez (UPI/Washington Times). As a result, Chavez has begun shifting his oil sales from the U.S. to Communist China.

Eight workers from Communist China abducted in Iraq: A terrorist group in Iraq has abducted eight workers from Communist China and demanded the regime “‘clarifies its role’ in Iraq” (BBC) or the hostages will be killed. Communist China opposed the liberation of Iraq, and in fact the aforementioned Norinco sold Saddam Hussein missile parts for oil-for-food vouchers.

From Stalinist North Korea . . . a protest! For the first time, a videotape of an anti-Stalinist demonstration inside Kim Jong-il’s regime has reached the outside world. Included in the video were pro-democracy dialogue and a portrait of the Stalinist-in-chief scrawled over with the words: “Down with Kim Jong-il. Let's all rise to drive out the dictatorial regime” (London Telegraph).

KJI regime calls abduction issue “settled”: That’s right, Stalinist North Korea will no longer listen to Japan’s demands for a true accounting of the eight still missing Japanese abducted by the regime (BBC). KJI has insisted the eight are dead (next to last item; five were let go and are now back in Japan), but the evidence to back up that claim has been exposed as fakery – twice.

Human Rights Watch is taken to task by the editors of the Washington Times for not paying enough attention to the plight of the people of northern Korea. Meanwhile, many more Koreans in the democratic South, less and less aware of just how much better they have it compared to their suffering brethren in the north, are losing their appreciation for the commanding American general who helped keep them free: Douglas MacArthur (Washington Times).

Monday, January 17, 2005

Zhao Ziyang Dies

There was plenty of other news this weekend: a Communist bank executive was indicted for embezzling $85 million (Epoch Times); two Canadian reporters were barred from following Prime Minister Martin on his trip to Communist China (Epoch Times); the mainland and Taiwan agreed to Lunar Year direct flights (Time Asia); and anti-Communist rally was held in Washington (Epoch Times); and the U.S. reacted to Stalinist North Korea’s apparent willingness to return to talks on its nuclear ambitions (BBC). Several issues were analyzed as well: the aforementioned nuclear talks (Time Asia); the fate of Falun Gong practitioner and Communist prisoner Charles Li (Epoch Times); the recent Taiwanese legislative elections (Jamestown Foundation via Epoch Times) and the prospect of a cross-strait war (World Net Daily); the fate of prisoner Dilkex Tilivaldi (third item) and his fellow Uighurs (Washington Post); Japan’s growing concern about Communist China and SNK (Washington Times); and how Communist China’s incompetence has led to a crippling power shortage (Epoch Times). None of it, however, compares with the biggest, and saddest, story of the week: the death of Zhao Ziyang (CNN, Time Asia, Epoch Times).

In the spring of 1989, as the students, workers, and others reached one million strong in Tiananmen Square demanding change in China, the leaders of the Chinese Communist Party decided to answer with hot lead. Spearheaded by Central Military Commission Chair Deng Xiaoping and Premier Li Peng, the Communist leadership brought the protests to their infamous and bloody end. However, the decision was not unanimous. Zhao Ziyang, the General Secretary of the CCP, had other ideas. He refused to go along with the crackdown – for which he lost his post and his freedom. The last anyone saw him in public, he addressed the million in Tiananmen to warn them of the upcoming slaughter, and to tearfully apologize for failing to dissuade Deng to stay the military’s hand: “I have come to late.”

Zhao never rescinded his opposition to the crackdown, and for that he was under house arrest for the rest of his life. The Deng-Li clique replaced him with Jiang Zemin, who has since secured his place in the Communist Hall of Shame with, among many other things, a major Communist military buildup and a brutal crackdown against non-Communist Christians and Falun Gong.

As one would expect, many dissidents were saddened at Zhao’s death, and took the opportunity to praise him posthumously (BBC, Free China Movement via China Support Network). Several groups have also requested “a nationwide week of mourning for Mr. Zhao, from January 17 until January 24” (Epoch Times). Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi noted Zhao’s passing with a call to Communist China to make “efforts at democratisation (UK sp)” (BBC). One can only imagine the vituperations headed Koizumi’s way from Zhongnanhai.

On a personal note, as a co-founder of the China e-Lobby, I consider June 4, 1989 (Flashback reports: Time Asia, BBC 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) to be one of the most important and tragic dates in the history of the world. It was in the aftermath of the Tiananmen massacre that the Communists resorted to radical, anti-American nationalism to justify their rule. It didn’t have to be that way. Zhao Ziyang and his top aid Bao Tong, who was sent to prison, were the last true reformers within the CCP. Unlike Mikhail Gorbachev, Zhao was comfortable with the CCP ceding control of the government, at least in part. Had he the chance, Zhao could have steered China in an entirely new direction. Instead, his fall made clear once again the most important rule of Communist dictatorships: you can be an honest man, or you can be a Communist, but you can never be both.

Now, as the Chinese and American peoples are locked in a life and death struggle against their common enemy – the irredentist, tyrannical, and brutal Chinese Communist Party – the China e-Lobby joins those who mourn the passing of the man who could have prevented this: Zhao Ziyang.

Friday, January 14, 2005

News of the Day (January 14)

Communists say ROK MPs owe them an apology: The arrogance of Communist China was in full force in the immediate aftermath of its raid on a press conference by four members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea (a.k.a. the “South” Korean parliament) calling for the Communists to be more lenient toward refugees from Stalinist-controlled northern Korea. Upon hearing the demand for an apology by the assaulted MPs, Communist mouthpiece Kong Quan had the audacity to say “I think it is they who should apologize to China . . . These people are like traitors” (Voice of America via Epoch Times). As for the issue of the refugees themselves, Kong actually described Communist policy toward them – which is to send back any SCNK refugee they can find, and thus force the refugees to live as nonpersons or risk Stalinist imprisonment, torture, and/or murder – as “most humanitarian” (Washington Post).

The opposition Grand National Party – of which all four MPs involved are members – demanded the dovish ROK government take a tougher stand against the Communists, and one GNP spokesperson added that the regime “should not be able to host the Olympic Games” as a result of this outrage (United Press Intl./Washington Times). Also reporting: Chosun Ilbo, ROK

Communist China beefs up Beijing security over fears of Zhao Ziyang’s death: Mindful of the illness of deposed Communist reformist leader Zhao Ziyang (fourth item), and how the death of an earlier reform-minded Communist led to the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 which made Zhao a prisoner and a hero, Communist China is now sending a thousand extra policemen to the Tiananmen Square every morning “to prevent any dawn protests on the square” (BBC).

Uighur activist jailed after interview in occupied East Turkestan: In the fall of 1949, the Communists invaded the independent nation of East Turkestan, and have brutally persecuted its native Uighur people – arguably the most pro-American Muslims on Earth – ever since. PBS had a segment on Dilkex Tilivaldi, an anti-Communist Uighur activist imprisoned by the Communists as he was finishing an interview with the network. Also reporting: China Support Network

UK presents false benefits in exchange for EU embargo lift: Great Britain is trying to convince the rest of the world that its push to lift the European Union arms embargo against Communist China has some benefit: “adjustments to the European Union's code of conduct on arms sales to repressive regimes” (UPI/Washington Times) that would tighten them up for said regimes. However, given that UK Foreign Minister Jack Straw has already insisted Communist China is not such a regime (second item), what’s the point?

Communist China slaps BAT again: If the Brits thought the Communists would express their gratitude about the arms embargo with a more welcoming attitude on UK investment, they were in for a rude shock. Communist China flatly announced that its domestic monopoly on cigarettes would continue. This came as a surprise to British American Tobacco (BAT), which thought it had a deal to enter the Communist market “from ‘the highest levels of government’” (BBC).

Two Toronto Sun columnists comment on upcoming PM trip to Communist China: Peter Worthington repeats his earlier call (last item) for Prime Minister Martin to focus on Tibet’s plight – and adds a helpful reminder that Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s execution, while delayed, has not been cancelled. Bob MacDonald focuses on Communist China’s damage to the Canadian economy, and joins this quarter in marveling at Martin’s earlier, foolish comments (fourth item).

Speaking of economic damage, the 2004 U.S. trade deficit with Communist China now stands at $147 billion, and that’s with the December numbers still unreported (Washington Times).

Taiwan: The press reacts to Communist China’s “offer” for temporary direct flights, and the BBC talks to the much-reviled (and rightly so) leader of the Chinese Communist Party in Taiwan.

Stalinist-controlled northern Korea puts on its happy face: Kim Jong-il’s regime announced it was ready to call the United States “a friend unless the latter slanders the former's system and interferes in its internal affairs” (BBC), and was willing to restart talks on its nuclear weapons program (fifth item) once the president’s new foreign policy team was in place (that wouldn’t have anything to do with the imminent departure of longtime anti-Stalinist John Bolton (third item), would it?). The news came just after Representative Curt Weldon (R-Pennsylvania), who has publicly called for a deal with the regime (Other Nuclear News), held talks with high-ranking Stalinists (VOA via Epoch Times) that he called “outstanding and positive” (CNN). How nice.

Thursday, January 13, 2005

News of the Day (January 13)

Communists raid press conference by ROK opposition MPs: Four Members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea (a.k.a. the “South” Korean parliament), were holding a press conference in Beijing calling for Communist China to be more lenient toward refugees from Stalinist-controlled northern Korea. The Communists – who send back any SCNK refugee they can find, and thus force the refugees to live as nonpersons – responded with thirteen State Security Ministry thugs who cut power to the presser, assaulted and ejected reports (the Washington Post guy was able to stay inside), and “ordered the South Korean lawmakers to leave.”

All four are members of the opposition Grand National Party (GNP), which is far more pro-American and anti-Communist than the Uri Party of President Roh Moo-hyun. One of the GNP members at the aborted presser – Kim Moon Soo – said this: “I spent three years in prison while fighting for democracy in South Korea, but I have never experienced anything like this.” The Uri-dominated government promised to “take necessary measures.” The GNP demanded a harsher response. Nearly lost in all of this was the issue the lawmakers were discussing: the horrifying plight of SCNK refugees in Communist China, who if they’re lucky will only be imprisoned once they are handed back to the Stalinist regime, a Communist Chinese ally since 1949.

ROK government hopeful on talks, defensive about abductees: The aforementioned President Roh expressed hope that talks on Kim Jong-Il’s nuclear weapons programs could restart “once the re-elected Bush administration had chosen its foreign policy team” (BBC). Earlier rounds of talks – there have been three since the Stalinists admitted to violating a 1994 agreement not to pursue nuclear weapons – have ended in little but American concessions (fifth item). Meanwhile, a bureaucrat from the ROK’s Unification Ministry (the one that handles relations with SCNK) admitted to making no progress on the fate of nearly 500 Koreans abducted from the democratic “South” by the Stalinist regime over the last 50 years. That earned the well-deserved criticism of GNP head Park Geun-hye. The abducted Koreans haven’t garnered nearly as much attention as the Japanese who were kidnapped nearly three decades ago (next to last item), in large part because Japan has been far more forceful on the subject. Report: Washington Times

Outgoing Commerce Secretary given 70% approval by the Communists: Communist Commerce Minister told his visiting, soon-to-be-departing U.S. counterpart Don Evans that “70 percent of what you have done has been pretty good” (AP via Newsmax), leaving Evans flustered because he took the phrase as a criticism. Later, after an explanation by Bo, Evans “told The Associated Press that Bo meant the comment as praise.” Before Evans, who was supposed to be pushing his hosts to take action against piracy in Communist China, basks in any such “praise,” he might want to remember the 100,000 American jobs lost to the Communists every year since 1989 (pdf of Economic Policy Institute/U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission report) – to say nothing of Minister Bo’s previous history of persecuting Falun Gong practitioners.

Canadian PM says “all we should see is opportunity” in Communist China: In preparation for his trip to Communist China (he leaves next week), Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin insisted on playing Pollyanna – “all we should see [in China] is opportunity” (Epoch Times). Never mind the investment risks, which have caused foreign investment to fall by nearly half (fifth item), and the regime’s espionage activities and resource grabs in his own country (Top Story).

Surprise! Communist-owned firms engaged in widespread cheating: The cadres themselves were forced to acknowledge that firms owned by their regime had “widespread cases of incomplete reporting, serious asset losses and outright fabrications” (AP via Newsmax). The story specifically mentioned the chicanery at China Aviation Oil and Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group, noted earlier here (International News) and here (Corruption News).