Tuesday, May 31, 2005

News of the Day (May 31)

This Friday, commemorations of the Tiananmen massacre will take place throughout the world, including in Washington, D.C., from 11:30 AM to 2PM (China Support Network).

Resignations from CCP pass 2 million: The number of Communists who have resigned from the Party in the wake of the Nine Commentaries passed 2 million today. More importantly, the news of the mass exodus is not only spreading throughout Communist China itself, but has also reached Israel and Canada (all links from Epoch Times).

Journalist jailed in Communist China: Ching Cheong, a reporter for Singapore’s Straits Times, is in a Communist jail for, you guessed it, “allegedly obtaining state secrets” (Voice of America), the catch-all charge for revealing anything embarrassing about the cadres. In this case, Ching was on to something very embarrassing: transcripts of interviews with the late Zhao Ziyang, the Communist leader placed under house arrest for refusing to support the Tiananmen Square massacre. Also reporting: BBC

Doctor who practices Falun Gong has passport cancelled: Communist China has refused to renew the passport of Dr. Wenyi Wang, a Falun Gong practitioner who has been in the United States for several years. She tells her story to the Epoch Times.

The velvet crackdown gets smoother in Hong Kong: Communist China’s easing out of former Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa has, for now, taken a good deal of wind out of the sails of the pro-democracy movement. Chaim Estulin, Time Asia, examines the effects of the cadres’ more streetwise version of one country, one-and-a-half systems.

Never mind, Communist China cancels export taxes: Communist China reversed course and cancelled its much-heralded export taxes on textiles (BBC). The reversal is in retaliation for U.S. tariffs on Communist exports (second item) and European threats of the same (fifth item). The U.S. and Europe are reacting to huge increases in textile exports from Communist China after the end of worldwide trade restrictions ended this past January (fifth item). Due to Communist China’s combination of prison labor, a complete lack of independent unions, and a deliberately undervalued currency, it has not only damaged U.S. and European producers, but is also crowding out nearly everyone else on the globe, including the highly-praised Cambodian industry (BBC).

Communist China-Japan tensions continue: Talks between Communist China and Japan on the fate of disputed areas of the East China Sea, and the resources under them, went nowhere (BBC). This comes amid the continuing back-and-forth over the cadre-inspired anti-Japan riots and other territorial disputes (twenty-sixth item, third item). The overall rift has engendered the usual soft-headed commentary (Lucille Craft, Washington Times), plus some more sensible words (Yomiuri Shimbun via Washington Times).

Chen Shui-bian wants free trade pact with United States: Taiwan’s elected President Chen Shui-bian called for a free trade pact with the U.S. “to maintain Taipei's economic and national security as well as regional stability” (Cybercast News).

Taiwan’s National Assembly convenes: Taiwan’s National Assembly (fourth item) “has begun work” (BBC) on proposed changes to the constitution. They’re expected to pass, since both the ruling Democratic Progressives and the opposition Nationalists back them.

On Communist China and the United States: Randall Parker, Parapundit founder (and Member since 2003), discusses Robert Kagan’s seminal work on the folly of “managing” Communist China (twelfth item). Richard Brookes, of the Heritage Foundation, details the large and growing Communist espionage threat in the U.S. and beyond (Town Hall). Alan Reynolds, Cato Institute, resorts to the standard free-trade arguments on Communist China in the Washington Times, while Jonathan Anderson, chief Asian economist at UBS, explains in the Far Eastern Economic Review (via Taiwan Security Research) why Communist China is anything but standard. Yours truly explains in the Epoch Times how Newsweek could get the state of the CCP so thoroughly wrong (second item).

Woe Canada! Aidan Maconaghie details Prime Minister Paul Martin’s ties to Communist China in the Western Standard weblog.

More on the Falun Gong War: Liu Guifu, in jail since February, “refused to sign a statement to renounce Falun Gong.” Her daughter discussed how the Communists tortured Liu in response, and the efforts to save her, with the Epoch Times.

Other Commentary on Communist China: Hans Bengtsson, Epoch Times, reports on a Swedish seminar on the crimes of the CCP. Yang Jingduan, also from the Epoch Times, reprints a lecture from Dr. Yang Jingduan on one of the cadres’ many psychological weapons against their own people: the use of the “Stockholm Syndrome.” Barry Peterson, CBS, compares the prosperous Potemkin cities with the impoverished rural interior. Hongchun, Epoch Times, rips the Communist academia as “embarrassingly ignorant of traditional Chinese culture,” and lays the blame for this at the feet of the CCP for its “society-wide destruction of traditional culture.” Jin Huan, also in the Epoch Times, examines the Communist real-estate bubble, and what its collapse could mean.

Iran “equipped for atomic weapon,” thanks to Stalinist North Korea: The Iranian mullahcracy “already has completed all of the elements required for an atomic bomb” (World Net Daily). The finishing touches were courtesy of Stalinist North Korea, which “transferred components to Iran to assemble a plutonium-based nuclear warhead.”

Vice President Cheney rips Kim Jong-il, but won’t mention L-word: In an interview with CNN’s Larry King, Vice President Dick Cheney blasted Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il (Agence France-Presse via News.com – Australia), but refused to endorse liberating northern Korea from his grip. He also insisted Communist China must “understand that it's incumbent upon them to be major players here.” Sigh. Will they never learn?

On the SNK refugees: Nicholas Eberstadt, American Enterprise Institute, calls on South Korea to be more receptive to escapees from the Stalinist North in a speech to the Kim Koo International Symposium. The Daily Standard excerpted this excellent address.

Friday, May 27, 2005

News of the Day (May 27)

Next Friday, June 3, commemorations of the Tiananmen Square massacre will take place throughout the world, including in Farragut Square, Washington, D.C., from 11:30 AM to 2PM. For more, see this announcement from the China Support Network.

Treasury Secretary hears it from Senate on currency: Senator Deborah Stabenow (D-Michigan) ripped Communist China for its deliberately devalued currency, calling it “an illegal subsidy to exports and . . . an illegal tariff on imports” (Voice of America via Newsmax). Senator Charles Schumer (D-New York) demanded “retaliatory action.” A Senate vote on a currency corrective tariff will come no later than July 27 (second item).

Bolton vote delayed: Senate Democrats delayed the vote to confirm United Nations Ambassador-designate John Bolton into next month (Fox News). While the delay was ostensibly due to a spat between the Democrats and the White House on documents pertaining to Bolton’s views of intelligence analyses, opponents have ripped him for being tough on Communist China and honest about Stalinist North Korea (fifth item).

India to conduct counterterrorism exercises with Communist China: The Communist charm offensive with India continued with proposed “joint counter-terrorism and peacekeeping training programs” (United Press Int’l, via Washington Times, second item). India’s military quickly accepted the offer. The cadres are trying to erase a 1962 border war in which they seized almost 40,000 square miles of India’s territory.

Communists resorting to Internet propagandists to control debate: Several cities in Communist China have created “a special team of Internet commentators” (Epoch Times) for the purpose of “guiding public opinion on the internet.”

On Communist China and the U.S.: The indomitable Lev Navrozov (Newsmax) warns once again of the danger Communist China poses to America. Richard Holbrooke’s Washington Post column leaves far more to be desired. Austin Bay sees the moves against Communist China’s currency (see above) as an attempt to force the Communists to make Stalinist North Korea behave (Washington Times). Will they never learn?

Zimbabwe, Part II: Roger Bate, American Enterprise Institute, continues his study of Communist China’s support for the Mugabe regime (third item) in the Daily Standard.

World Food Program makes another plea for SNK aid: The UN World Food Program “repeated its warning of a food crisis in North Korea” (BBC) without donations from the rest of the world. However, the WFP continued to (last item) ignore what turned off the donors in the first place: SNK using food as a political weapon (fifth item) and stealing food aid from its own people to feed itself and its military (fifth item, ninth item).

Fashion show bombs: A South Korean firm held a fashion show to higlight the Western apparel made in its SNK-based factory. The Stalinists, still nervosuly taking their cue from Kim Jong-il to hate anything “foreign” (Washington Times), were not impressed.

Thursday, May 26, 2005

News of the Day (May 26)

Next Friday, June 3, commemorations of the Tiananmen Square massacre will take place throughout the world, including in Farragut Square, Washington, D.C., from 11:30 AM to 2PM. For more, see this announcement from the China Support Network.

O Canada! Stockwell Day, Canada’s foreign policy spokesman for the opposition Conservative Party, forces us to lead with the commentary section today. In a speech at the Future of Communism in China forum, Day pays tribute to the Epoch Times, the Nine Commentaries (here), and all of those fighting for freedom in China. He also whacks the Communists and their enablers in the rest of the world. In short, he was terrific.

Newsweek misses the story: All you need to know about Melinda Liu and Jonathan Ansfield’s Newsweek piece on the Chinese Communist Party is this – no mention of the Nine Commentaries. Thus it is easy to see how they could say the Party “added 2 million new members since 2003.” What about the nearly 2 million it has lost since November?

More Commentary on Communist China: Roger Bate, American Enterprise Institute, details Communist China’s growing support for Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe in the Daily Standard. Meanwhile, John Tamny once again ignores the national security implications of our trade imbalance with Communist China in National Review Online.

Communist China testing AWACS: Communist China has achieved its long-sought goal of developing Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) planes. The first of them is being tested at a Communist military base near Nanjing. The new planes “are expected to join a growing force of advanced aircraft poised to take Taiwan by storm” (Newsmax). The Communists had been trying to develop AWACS for years, nearly buying the necessary radar systems from Israel until U.S. pressure killed the deal.

EU tariffs against Communist China won’t last: Peter Mandelson, the European Union’s lead trade negotiator, “has said any measures to curb Chinese exports” on textiles will be temporary” (BBC), and explicitly ruled out a return to pre-January restrictions (fifth item) despite the tremendous damage lifting them has done.

Australia fetes torturer of Falun Gong practitioners: Melbourne’s city council hosted Dai Xianglong, the Communist Mayor of Tianjin whose tenure has included over 30 deaths of Falun Gong practitioners from police torture. Report: Epoch Times

Communists hiding news of foot and mouth disease: An outbreak of foot and mouth disease broke out in farms just north of Beijing. The Communists “killed and buried the ill cattle” (Liberty Times via Epoch Times) and also “prohibited reporting of the news and enforced martial law to stop traffic from going in and out of the town.”

Severe drought afflicts river in East Turkestan: Communist China is once again diverting water from Bositeng Lake to preserve the Tarim River in occupied East Turkestan. The river “has been drying up for a long time due to climate changes, irresponsible development and poor use of the water and soil resources” (Epoch Times). Thus we can add the ecology to the millions of human victims in East Turkestan who have suffered under the brutal Communist occupation that has lasted for over 55 years.

U.S. halts prisoner of war recovery work in Stalinist North Korea: The United States “temporarily halted missions in North Korea to recover remains of U.S. troops missing since the Korean War” (CNN) due to “restrictions placed on the US teams inside North Korea” (BBC) that “were too great to make recovery operations feasible.”

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

News of the Day (May 25)

Supporter of EU arms ban on Communist China leading German polls: According to a Politbarometer poll in Germany, Chancellor Gerhardt Schroeder, Jacques Chirac’s partner-in-crime on lifting the European Union arms embargo against Communist China, is more than twenty points behind his leading opponent, Angela Merkel (Cybercast News). Merkel has come out against Schroeder’s unsuccessful efforts to kill the embargo, saying the move “would endanger trans-Atlantic defense cooperation.” Schroeder has set in motion a procedure to force an election this fall, one year early.

Uzbek leader gets full Communist backing for crackdown: Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov is in Communist China, where he won full support for “a bloody crackdown on protesters at home” (BBC), in the midst of what U.S. State department spokesman Richard Boucher called “increasingly organized and increasingly persistent” calls for an investigation into the crackdown. The Communists also trumpeted “its own crackdown on alleged Muslim militants” in East Turkestan, the independent nation are suffering under Communist occupation for 56 years (twelfth item, next to last item).

Communist China shuts out NTDTV from Australia event: Wu Bangguo, head of Communist China’s rubber-stamp parliament, visited New South Wales Governor Marie Bashir. Media coverage of the event was to include New Tang Dynasty Television, until Communist China got a hold of the media list; the dissident-run network was then told they were “not allowed because there was no room” (Epoch Times).

Tibetan monks sent to jail for flying their nations’ flag: Lobsang Khedrup and Gyalpo are two Tibetan Buddhist monks sentenced to prison for 11 years. Their crime was flying the Tibetan national flag (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times). Like East Turkestan, Tibet is an independent nation that has been occupied by Communist China for over 50 years.

Hong Kong acting Chief Executive begins “campaign” for post: Donald Tsang, the acting Chief Executive of Hong Kong ever since Tung Chee-hwa resigned, “stepped down to start campaigning for the permanent job as leader” (BBC). Given that Tsang has the backing of the Communists who control the 800-person panel that “elects” the Chief, the outcome is not in doubt. However, many in the city “resent the interference of Beijing in an issue they argue should have been left to Hong Kong to decide.”

Wei Jingsheng examines the state of affairs: In an excellent, wide-ranging interview with Wang Lulu (Epoch Times), exiled dissident Wei Jingsheng discusses Communist China’s thirst for Taiwan, the likelihood of war, the role of Stalinist North Korea, and how it could all lead to World War III unless the Communists are removed from power.

On Trade with Communist China: Robert Samuelson, Newsweek, and George Mason University professor Anthony Williams, in World Net Daily, lament those of us who worry about the yawning trade deficit with Communist China. Although Samuelson acknowledges the Communists’ deliberately devalued currency is an issue that must be address, neither examine the national security implications of the trade imbalance.

Woe Canada! The Kevin Steel, Western Standard (Canada), gives damning detail of Communist China’s ties to Canada’s governing Liberal Party.

Another attempted resignation from beyond the grave: Chen Difei tells the story of his father Chen Xinpan, both a Party member and Party victim, and in a touching gesture makes a “withdrawal from the party on my father’s behalf, hoping that his soul can be soothed and extricated from the evil’s shackles for ultimate rebirth” (Epoch Times).

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

News of the Day (May 24)

Communist China angry over Japanese shrine: Communist China, while still insisting Deputy Premier Wu Yi had to cut short her visit to Japan for domestic reasons (Voice of America via Epoch Times), hinted at the real reason, via Communist Foreign Ministry mouthpiece Kong Quan): “during Vice-Premier Wu Yi's stay in Japan, Japanese leaders repeatedly made remarks on visiting the Yasukuni shrine that go against the efforts to improve Sino-Japanese relations” (BBC). The Communist press likewise blasted Koizumi, while Japanese press was, as expected in a free country, divided (BBC). Wu was supposed to begin healing rifts from a slew of Communist-inspired anti-Japan riots.

Communist China warns against textile tariffs as EU agrees to talks: Communist China threatened to “scrap recently agreed plans to increase export tariffs on textiles should the European Union and US also impose quotas on imports” (BBC). Communist textile exports have surged in recent months, crowding out both domestic producers and other exporters. Meanwhile, European Union envoy Peter Mandelson won approval for talks with the Communists on the textile issue (United Press Int’l via Washington Times).

Resignations pass 1.8 million: As the withdrawals from the Communist Party inspired by the Nine Commentaries approaches two million, Friends of Falun Gong take note of the cadres’ response: a major crackdown against the Commentaries. Meanwhile, Epoch Times columnist Shaogong talked of the “crooked logic” this is the Chinese Communist Party at a Nine Commentaries seminar in Ohio.

On Communist China’s repression: New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof earns himself an honorable place in this corner with this quote on the Communists’ battle with the web: “President Hu has fulminated in private speeches that foreign ‘hostile forces’ are trying to change China. Yup, count me in – anybody who loves China as I do would be hostile to an empty Mao suit like Mr. Hu.” Sharon Kilarski, Epoch Times, recaps the history of New Tang Dynasty Television. Luo Na, zhengjian.org (via Epoch Times) discusses the cadres’ use of “labels” to divide and terrify the Chinese people.

On Communist China and the United States: Dave Eberhart, Newsmax, reviews the late Constantine Menges’ China: The Gathering Threat. Shang Nong, Epoch Times, explains why the cadres cannot afford the risk from a free-floating currency, while Irwin M. Stelzer, Daily Standard, gauges the anti-Communist coalition – which he calls a “protectionist coalition” – that is rising as a result. Stephen Gregory, American editor of the Epoch Times, laments the popularity of “Uncle Joe” and other Communists.

On Stalinist North Korea: Patrick Goodenough, Cybercast News, examines the Stalinists’ reluctance to return to the much-overhyped six-party talks on its nuclear weapons. Norm Scheiber, who has a blog in The New Republic, discusses the latest in dissident video to come out of Stalinist North Korea.

Monday, May 23, 2005

News of the Day (May 23)

Pelosi blasts U.S. policy toward Communist China: In what is arguably the most comprehensive criticism of “engagement” to come form a leading Washington politician, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-California) ripped PNTR and “all those geniuses who told us that if we just continue to engage in the same trade relationship with China that there would be freedom in China, and it would stop the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and they would stop engaging in unfair trade practices” (Agence France Presse via Taipei Times). She did not spare her own party, either, “The China policy of the United States – Democrats’ and Republicans’ alike – has been a total failure.” Pelosi has always been one of the most anti-Communists members of the House of Representatives; her words were music to our ears.

Eutelsat extends NTDTV negotiations to June 6: Eutelsat, the French satellite company that nearly cut off transmission of the dissident network New Tang Dynasty Television (sixth item, third item, eighth item), has extended the deadline for a new contract with the network to June 6, just after the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre (Epoch Times, which also had an editorial on what’s at stake).

Communist China will act against U.S. efforts to protect satellites: Communist China “takes U.S. plans to boost its space military capabilities very seriously and is likely to respond with energetic counter-measures of her own” (United Press Int’l via Washington Times). Of course, the Communists are spouting their desire to avoid “an arms race in outer space,” which would supposedly be triggered by American efforts to protect its communications satellites against attack. Care to guess who is most likely to attack?

Communist-owned oil firm may go after Unocal: The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) may take advantage of a floundering deal between Chevron and Unocal to make “a competing offer” (Time Asia) for Unocal, the ninth-largest oil firm on the planet. If successful, it would be a major coup for the Communist-owned CNOOC.

Communist Vice-Premier cancels meeting with Koizumi: Communist Vice-Premier Wu Yi “cancelled talks with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi which had been aimed at easing troubled ties” (BBC) stemming from cadre-inspired anti-Japan riots in Beijing and other cities. Wu claimed “domestic duties” forced her to return home. Shinzo Abe, a high-ranking official in Koizumi’s Liberal Democratic Party, scored the understatement of the day, “many people in Japan may feel it is rude.” Indeed.

Cadres to allow mainlanders to visit Taiwan, but elected government still shafted: Communist China has decided “lift a decades-old ban on mainland tourists visiting political rival Taiwan” (Washington Times, third item). However, given that “Taiwan has its own rules restricting mainland visitors,” this is likely just a public relations ploy. The Communists have repeatedly tried to divide Taiwan’s people from its elected government (lead item and second item). David Tawei Lee, Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to the U.S., talked to the Washington Times about how Communist China really treats the island democracy, as does the Taipei Times (via Washington Times). Roy Clancy (Calgary Sun) visits Taiwan and sees for himself the constant threat its people face.

Resignations pass 1.7 million: The Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party has now inspired over 1.7 million Party members to resign. Among them are branch secretary Zhao Jun and Hua Yi. Meanwhile, pro-democracy activists talked about the importance of the withdrawals to the Epoch Times (the source for the above links).

On Communist China and the United States: John Kusumi, Director Emeritus of the China Support Network, has a surprisingly soft column advocating a “nuanced way” of dealing with the Communists. Still, it’s better than William S. Lind, of the Free Congress Foundation, who throws Taiwan under the bus in the Washington Times. William Hawkins, of the U.S. business and Industry Council, does a far better job dealing with the diplomatic battle in Latin American (Washington Times). Michael Powell, Washington Post, examines the plight of one of the many victims of Communist China’s growing domination of the textile industry: Chinatown, New York.

Other Commentary on Communist China: Annette Lu, Vice President of Taiwan, presented the case for the island democracy having never been a part of Communist China to students of National Chengchi University. She cited the much discussed San Francisco Peace Treaty of 1952, which according to Richard Hartzell makes the case for Taiwan as a U.S. territory (next to last item). Lu sees it more as justification for Taiwanese independence (Epoch Times). Hannah Beech, Time Asia, examines the Communists’ growing influence on the economies of Southeast Asia (in particular Vietnam). Zengni, Epoch Times, details how Communist China’s stock markets have taken investors to the cleaners.

On Communist China and Stalinist North Korea: Roland Flamini (UPI/Washington Times), examines the state of the diplomacy on Stalinist North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, and finds that the Bush Administration “has recently toned down its anti-Pyongyang posture” in part to “encourage the Chinese” on this subject. Will they never learn?

SNK rips Japan for possible sanctions, U.S. for wrong Newsweek story: The Stalinist regime threatened a “dangerous phase of explosion” (Washington Post) if Japan imposed sanctions against the regime, something Japan has avoided despite “anger in Japan over Pyongyang's abduction of Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s combined with concern over its nuclear arms programs.” Meanwhile, the regime also parroted the Newsweek charge – since retracted – of American military desecration of the Muslim Koran (World Net Daily). Does anyone want to guess how the Stalinists would react to the mere presence of the Koran in northern Korea?

Mass shipment of fertilizer from South Korea to SNK begins: The first shipment of the nearly 200,000 tons of fertilizer promised to the Stalinists by the dovish government of South Korea is being loaded for delivery (CNN), despite the fact that South Korea received no promise for SNK to attend the floundering talks on its nuclear weapons.

Friday, May 20, 2005

News of the Day (May 20)

Communist China places taxes on its textile exports: The Communists will implement an export tax to appease European and American concerns over its recent surge in textile exports (BBC) since the end of worldwide textile trade restrictions this January (fifth item). The U.S. has already imposed some trade restrictions (second item), and the European Union threatened to do the same (fifth item). Meanwhile, several developing nations are finding their textile sectors under threat from the Communists (BBC).

Communist China not happy at U.S. plans for space: Communist China blasted a Pentagon report that recommended the U.S. “needed ‘superior space capabilities’ to prevent and defend against hostile acts ‘in and from space” (World Net Daily). Communist foreign ministry mouthpiece Kong Quan insisted, “We are opposed to the militarization of outer space.” Of course, the fact that Communist China is one of the regimes most likely to commit said “hostile acts” had nothing to do with Kong’s reaction.

Ishihara visits Okinotoris and calls for 2008 Olympic boycott: China e-Lobby favorite Shintaro Ishihara (third item, ninth item, twelfth item), visited the Okinotori Islands (BBC), whose resource-rich waters are one of many sea disputes between Japan and Communist China. Meanwhile, the Tokyo Governor has also “suggested that Japan consider boycotting the 2008 Olympics” (Washington Times). Did someone say boycott?

Epoch Times staffers beaten in France: Members of the Epoch Times volunteer staff were beaten by “a group of Chinese visitors from Wenzhou City” for showing a video on the Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party. Several people were injured.

Looking to fight corruption, Nanjing aims at cadres’ mistresses: Cadres in Nanjing have demanded their fellows “admit to any extra-marital affairs they may be having” (BBC). The move is being sold as an effort to fight corruption (usually how high-ranking cadres fund their affairs), but the reaction in the city has been skeptical, to say the least.

Commentary on Communist China and Stalinist North Korea: Krishnadev Calamur (United Press Int’l via Washington Times) praises this week’s U.S.-SNK talks (last item). Michael Moran, MSNBC, has a conventional wisdom column on the ramifications of a nuclear Stalinist North Korea. Christopher Brown, Hudson Institute, has a better column in National Review Online, but all make the same mistake: the assumption Communist China can be pushed into making the Stalinists behave. Will they never learn?

More commentary on Communist China: Donna Borak (UPI via Washington Times) talks to U.S. Chambers of Commerce head – and, of course, big-time “engagement” backer – Thomas Donohue on U.S.-Communist China trade. One can easily guess how that column read. Lian Chen (not to be confused with Taiwan’s Communist enabler Lien Chan) emphasizes the difference between what Communist China says and what it actually does in the Epoch Times. Said paper’s editors go further in this vein in two specific areas: the price of rural education and the struggling telecommunications sector.

Thursday, May 19, 2005

News of the Day (May 19)

Communist China cancels rights conference: Communist China cancelled a conference on human rights and democracy “just days before it was scheduled to convene” (New York Times via International Herald Tribune). While there was no reason given, the proximity of the Tiananmen massacre anniversary certainly had a role.

Communists lash out at European Union and United States: Efforts by the European Union to get Communist China to restrict its textile exports (fifth item) were rejected by Communist Commerce Minister Bo Xilai (BBC). Bo also ripped new U.S. restrictions (second item) on Communist exports (United Press International via Washington Times). Bo did not mention his regime’s deliberately devalued currency, which has hurt domestic manufacturers (especially in the U.S.) and other textile exporters around the world.

Tokyo Governor Ishihara to visit disputed islands: Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara (easily this quarter’s favorite Japanese politician – third item, ninth item, and twelfth item) is headed for the Okinotori Islands, a set of reefs in the Pacific Ocean also claimed by Communist China. He previously “funded expeditions there by fishermen and scientists” and “talked of building a lighthouse or power station” (BBC) on the islands.

Indonesia and Communist China to cooperate on missiles: Far less helpful is the government of Indonesia, which has agreed to help Communist China “develop short-range guided missiles” (Washington Times, last item). It should be noted that some Indonesian politicians have a more clear-eyed view of their neighbors (second item).

On Lien and Soong’s trips to Communist China: Xiu Wenli, one of the founders of the Chinese Democratic Party – for which he was sent to prison – and current head of the Overseas Exiles Branch, tells Xin Fei, Epoch Times, that the cadres hosted People First leader James Soong (second item) and Nationalist leader Lien Chan “to foster a false sense of cross strait unity and to draw attention away from its eroding power base.” Thankfully, the Taiwanese people didn’t fall for it (fourth item).

On trade with Communist China: Daniel Ikenson, of the Cato Institute, can’t seem to fathom why anyone would consider Communist China “unfriendly,” but he does have a halfway decent idea – a tariff to correct against Communist subsidies of exporters – in his Washington Times column. The editors of the Washington Post, however, have no such redeeming qualities in their horrid editorial on trade with the cadres.

Talks between SNK and South Korea end; U.S. acknowledges bilateral talks: Talks between dovish South Korea and Stalinist North Korea ended “without a breakthrough on Pyongyang's nuclear plans” (BBC). There will be more talks in June, and the South still agreed to give the Stalinists 200,000 tons fertilizer despite getting no pledge from SNK to re-enter the floundering six-party talks on its nuclear weapons programs. The U.S. also admitted to “working-level talks with the North Koreans last week in New York,” but insisted they were only “used to convey messages about US policy, not to negotiate.” Will they never learn?

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

News of the Day (May 18)

Communists to U.S. on currency change – buzz off: Communist China “rejected U.S. criticism that its currency policy has turned China into a ‘manipulative trade partner’” (CNN). The U.S. Treasury Department warned the Communists that their deliberate currency devaluation “will be cited for violations” (Washington Times) of American trade laws. Communist China has pegged its currency to roughly 12 U.S. cents; most believe it is actually worth 15 or 16 cents. The peg has led to a flood of imports from Communist China at the expense of other Asian exporters, including many U.S. allies, and American manufacturing. The U.S. Senate is at most two months away from a vote on a currency-corrective tariff (second item). Also reporting: BBC

Australian anti-dumping provisions expanded to Communist China: Meanwhile, Australia’s government “has changed its anti-dumping regulations to include countries that have been granted ‘market economy’ status” (Epoch Times). This means goods from Communist China, recently minted a “market economy” by Australia, can once again be subject to restrictions and tariffs due to the cadres’ “influence on costs and prices.”

Activist under house arrest: Qi Zhiyong, a democracy activist disabled in the Tiananmen Square massacre, spent “Handicapped People-Aid Day” under house arrest. He colorfully called the Communist regime “a thug dressed in a suit” (Epoch Times).

As resignations reach 1.6 million, paper vows to keep publishing: Among the new members of the ex-Communist Party are a lawyer from Liaoning and his wife (Epoch Times). Meanwhile, the Epoch Times – which published the document that began the exodus, the Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party, vowed to “continue to publish no matter kind of setbacks it may encounter” (e.g., this).

Donald Tsang has two challengers for HK top job: The Communist choice to fill out Tung Chee-hwa’s term as Chief Executive of the city – acting Chief Donald Tsang – has two publicly declared opponents – Democratic Party city legislator Lee Wing-tat and “maverick stockbroker Chim Pui-chung” (BBC). Most expect Tsang to be “elected” by the 800-strong panel largely appointed by Communist China itself.

Communist China opposes expansion of Security Council: Remember when Communist China insisted it supported India, Brazil, and Germany’s bids to the United Nations Security Council? Well, the cadres are now saying the expansion “could ‘undermine’ the broader effort to reform the world body” (Cybercast News). The Communists, in fact, effectively killed the expansion last month (eighth item), but now their double-cross is out in the open for everyone to see.

Jiang Zemin “friendship trees” cut down in Japan: Two “friendship trees” planted in the Japanese cities of Sendai and Kofu were cut down “by locals upset by recent anti-Japanese protests in Mainland China” (Epoch Times). For more on those riots, look here.

On Zhang Chunqiao: Thomas Olivier, Epoch Times, examines the life and times of the late vicious Cultural Revolutionary and “Gang of Four” member (ninth item).

Taiwan as U.S. territory? Taipei lawyer Richard Hartzell insists Taiwan is actually a U.S. territory, and as such is entitled to American protection, in the Taipei Times. While the legal evidence could be compelling, Hartzell should be cautious – far too many “engagement” supporters would see this as a chance to give Taiwan to the Communists!

Stalinist North Korea/South Korea talks extended: The talks between Stalinist North Korea and democratic, but dovish, South Korea (next to last item) “have been extended for an extra day” (BBC). The news comes amid reports of “a massive aid package” from South Korea if the Stalinist regime would return to the floundering six-party talks on its nuclear weapons programs. Will they never learn?

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

News of the Day (May 17)

Yesterday’s News of the Day was, of course, for May 16, not 14; apologies to all.

Communist China keeping Tiananmen massacre soldiers in isolation: An unnamed laborer told the Epoch Times that Communist China has herded all of the military personnel who took part in the June 4, 1989, Tiananmen Square massacre into isolated compounds. The anonymous source said he was told this by the person who recruited him to work one of the “farms.” The recruiter told him that “the Chinese communist government forced them to live together and brought their family members to stay with them. They were labeled as workers at the farm but in fact they had nothing to do. Namely they had freedom but in reality they are put under house confinement. They have not been able to go anywhere for more than ten years and they never had a chance to go home after the June 4th Incident.” Why was this done? The answer is painfully simple: “to prevent these soldiers from spreading the truth of the June 4th Incident to the public and create possible social and political turmoil after their demobilization.”

Communists and World Health Organization collude to block Taiwan bid: In its efforts to keep Taiwan out of the World Health Organization, Communist China took a creative approach, signing “a memorandum of understanding allowing the health agency to send experts to Taiwan in a health emergency” (Cybercast News). At present, the WHO has not released the memorandum, but it was enough to shut down the island democracy’s effort. Communist China continues to insist it is the only legitimate ruler of Taiwan, despite having never set foot there.

Hu Jintao wants $4 billion economy by 2020: Chinese Communist leader Hu Jintao announced his regime wants “to lift the size of its economy to $4 trillion by 2020” (CNN, CNN transcript of full text). Hu set the goal while addressing the Fortune Global Forum. What no one bothered to notice was that this would require economic growth of nearly 10% annually, well above the Communist target of 8%.

Communist China sends wrong official to visit Japan: Communist Vice-Premier Wu Yi is in Japan “for a week-long visit which could help repair damaged relations between the two countries” (BBC) stemming from the Communist-inspired textbook riots. There’s only one problem: “(Japanese) Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had actually invited her boss, Premier Wen Jiabao.” Can you say “snub”?

European Union may follow U.S. on Communist Chinese textiles: European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson demanded Communist China “start urgent, formal talks on ways to restrict imports of two types of Chinese textiles or face penalties” (BBC). The U.S. already imposed restrictions on Communist imports last weekend (second item) in reaction to a dramatic rise in said imports after world restrictions on the textile trade were lifted this past January (fifth item). The Communists have also crowded out numerous developing nations: “EU imports of T-shirts from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have all fallen.”

Another cadre goes down to corruption: Lu Jianzhong, former Deputy Mayor of Heyuan City (Guangdong Province), is headed to jail for “taking bribes of 1.62 million yuan (approximately 196,000 US$)” (Epoch Times).

Did the editors not catch the election returns? The Washington Times embarrasses itself with a column from John Hall, Media General News Service, with nice words for Lien Chan and James Soong’s visits to Communist China (lead item, second item). Among other things, Hall misnames President Chen Shui-bian’s Democratic Progressive Party (calling it the “Independence Party”) and says of last Saturday’s National Assembly elections: “The timing of Mr. Lien's visit was moved up ahead of this weekend's constitutional elections in Taiwan, which the Nationalists appear to be on the verge of winning.” In fact, they lost (fourth item).

A bad column on Communist China, Taiwan, and Stalinist North Korea: Fareed Zakaria’s Newsweek piece on SNK starts out well (“The problem is not that the United States has a flawed policy on this issue, but that it has no policy on it at all”) and gets progressively worse (“now is a good moment to try to forge a common Sino-U.S. position”) before finally flaming out with praise for the Administration’s worst moment: his verbal slap at Taiwan’s elected President Chen Shui-bian. Will he never learn?

Other Commentary on Communist China: Wang Zhen, Epoch Times, notes the passage of the anniversary of Falun Gong’s founding (eleventh item). The BBC notes the ten-year anniversary of the Communist arrest of Tibet’s Panchen Lama, who became a political prisoner at age six (thirteenth item). CNN interviews the first basketball player from Communist China to come to the United States: Ma Jian – since he came without the consent of the Communists, he is now a nonperson.

World Food Program wants more SNK food aid: The leader of the Stalinist North Korea mission for the United Nations World Food Program “told the BBC that without new contributions famine-like conditions would be likely to reappear.” Donations from the rest of the world “have slowed in the last two years.” Left unmentioned was the regime’s practices of using food as a political weapon (fifth item) and stealing international food aid from its own people to feed itself and its military (fifth item, ninth item), which might have had something to do with the donation fall-off.

Monday, May 16, 2005

News of the Day (May 14)

U.S. demands Communist China stop selling weapons to terrorists: An unnamed State Department official told Newsmax that the Administration sent this message to Communist China: “Stop selling advanced weapons technology or face tough sanctions.” Of particular concern are the Communists’ past weapons sales to Iran, Pakistan and Stalinist North Korea. The cadres’ involvement with Iran is quite extensive, as is, of curse, their ties to the Stalinist regime.

U.S. imposes restrictions against Communist textiles: A surge in textile exports from Communist China that followed the end of worldwide textile trade restrictions (fifth item) could be stemmed by new restrictions by the Bush Administration to “limit annual growth in Chinese imports to as little as 7.5 percent a year” (Washington Post). U.S. textile firms were not alone in struggling against the Communists’ combination of union-less wages, prison workers, and the artificially cheap currency (fourth item); “Central America and Bangladesh were preparing for devastating competition from China.”

U.S. court grants political asylum to all “one child” victims: Those who have suffered forced sterilization under Communist China’s hideous “one child” policy, along with their husbands, are now entitled to political asylum in the United States under a Ninth Circuit Appeals Court ruling. Communist China’s “one child” outrage has also included forced abortions, infanticide, and murder. Report: Los Angeles Times via Guardian (UK)

Taiwan rejects mainland-hoppers Lien and Soong in National Assembly elections: Despite all of the fawning press Nationalist leader Lien Chan and People First leader James Soong received from their visits to Communist China, Taiwanese voters stuck with the anti-Communist “pan-green” parties in the vote for the National Assembly, a body elected to consider changes to Taiwan’s Constitution. The lead “green” party – President Chen Shui-bian’s Democratic Progressives – led the field with 42.5%, followed by Lien’s Nationalists at 38.9% (BBC). People First plummeted to 6% (Time Asia), and was beaten by Lee Teng-hui’s “pan-green” Taiwan Solidarity Union, who scored 7% (Washington Post). It was the first time formed by the former Nationalist President had come in third place.

Taiwan’s Legislature blasts Communist China for dissident arrests: Finally, Taiwan’s Parliament “unanimously passed a resolution calling on the international community to express its concern over China's continuing detention of Dr. Wang Bingzhang and other Chinese dissidents” (Worldrights via China Support Network, last item). It was “the first time such a resolution focusing on imprisoned Chinese dissidents has been passed by the Taiwan legislature.”

Lien and Communists ripped: Meanwhile, Lien received more criticism from Ruan Ming, a leading Taiwan analyst now in America (Epoch Times). Taiwanese Prime Minister Frank Hsieh, like Chen a Democratic Progressive, predicted “the future of the CCP is in doubt” (Epoch Times), but noted the cadres would conduct “aggressive gestures” to try and avoid that fate.

Cadre meets Castro: Jia Qinglin, member of the Communist Politburo Standing Committee, “met with President Fidel Castro during a visit aimed at cementing political and economic ties between the two communist nations” (Washington Post). Among the topics for discussion were Cuba’s nickel deposits (twenty-second item).

NTDTV faces Saturday deadline: Eutelsat is once again threatening to take New Tang Dynasty Television off the air, this time on Saturday, May 21. The last time the satellite firm tried to cut off the dissident station’s signal into Communist China (sixth item), 78 members of the European Parliament, longtime French anti-Communist and former Minister of Culture Jack Lang, and 53 members of Canada’s Parliament called for the signal to stay on the air (Epoch Times). Even the Pentagon, a major Eutelsat customer, weighed in on the station’s behalf (third item).

Post-Nine Commentaries resignations top 1.5 million: As a seminar spotlighting the victims of Communist persecution and the Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party met in Osaka (Japan), the number of Party members who have resigned as a result of the Commentaries has passed 1.5 million (both links via the Epoch Times).

Jewelry factory workers unpaid for almost a year go on strike: In reaction to the decision by Eryou Jewelry Material Limited that “forced all employees to take a leave without pay” (Epoch Times), the workers at the factory – already working without pay for “nearly a year” – went on strike, “took to the streets and blocked the main bridge and road in the township.” In Communist China, the only labor union allowed is the one now controlled by the Communists, who have now become strikebreakers (twelfth item).

Falun Gong marks thirteenth anniversary: Thirteen years ago Friday, the spiritual practice of Falun Gong born. The date was marked in Toronto, Philadelphia, Bangalore, and New York (both links via Epoch Times).

On “managing” Communist China: Robert Kagan, Washington Post, examines the school of thought that believes Communist China can be “managed” (i.e., “engagement” by another name), and gives it some well-deserved skepticism.

Capture of Panchen Lama (ten years ago tomorrow) noted: Olympic Watch took note of tomorrow’s significance: the tenth anniversary of the Communist capture of the Panchen Lama, “one of the most important figures of Tibetan Buddhism” (China Support Network). The lama, six years old when he was captured, has not been seen since.

Other Commentary on Communist China: Qi Zhiyong, Epoch Times, has high praise for Ding Zilin, founder of the Tiananmen Mothers group. The editors of the Epoch Times are far less happy with the embarrassing performance of “Doctor” Mao Xinyu: grandson of and apologist for Mao Zedong. Finally, Professor Stephan Garelli of the Institute for Management Development tells John Zarocostas (Washington Times) why Communist China is falling in his ratings of economic competitiveness: its terrible financial sector.

U.S. and Japan make vague threats against possible Stalinist nuclear test: Stephen J. Hadley, national security adviser to President Bush, “warned North Korea for the first time that if it conducted a nuclear test, the United States and several Pacific powers would take punitive action” (New York Times). What such “action” entailed was not explained. Japan was more specific: governing Liberal Democratic Party secretary general Shinzo Abe “noted that Japan would be capable of cutting off a considerable flow of money into North Korea sent by ethnic Koreans living in Japan.” However, both Abe and Hadley feel Communist China must be brought in to help (Will they never learn?). Japan also floated the idea of “five-party nuclear talks without North Korea if the communist nation continues its boycott of negotiations” (Washington Times, third item). The three previous rounds of talks include Stalinist North Korea, South Korea, Russia, the U.S., Japan, and Communist China; they didn’t go so well.

South Korea holding talks with SNK: Meanwhile, the dovish government of South Korea restarted talks with the Stalinist regime, and “offered new incentives for North Korea to return to six-party talks on its nuclear weapons programme (UK sp)” (BBC). Such a move is typical of the government of President Roh Moo-hyun, who was elected by younger and far less anti-Communist voters (Time Asia).

Well, we obviously can’t send him to the United Nations: Jasper Becker examines Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il in Rogue Regime (reviewed by Austin Ramzy, Time Asia), and opines: “After a succession of statesmen—Jiang Zemin, Vladimir Putin, Kim Dae Jung, Sweden's Goran Persson, Madeleine Albright—have returned home to tell us how rational, well informed, witty, charming, and deeply popular Kim Jong Il is, President Bush's judgment that Kim is loathsome seems the only honest and truthful one.”

Friday, May 13, 2005

News of the Day (May 13)

Communist China finds culprit in SNK fiasco – the United States: As Stalinist North Korea continue to keep the world guessing as to their intentions to test a nuclear weapon (United Press International via Washington Times), Communist China has decided whom to blame for “the unsuccessful effort” (UPI – Washington Times) to end the Stalinists’ nuclear ambitions: the United States. As for SNK, the cadres are more than happy to prop them up, as the editors of the Washington Times note. Sadly, there are still many who just don’t get it, such as Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-Maryland), who fingered UN Ambassador-designate John Bolton and his hard truths (fifth item) about the Stalinists as the reasons behind the failure of diplomacy (Fox News). Will they never learn?

Communist China makes cosmetic concessions just before Taiwanese election: Taiwan’s voters will elect a National Assembly – a body that will consider amendments to the 1947 constitution – tomorrow. Wouldn’t you know it; just before the vote, Communist China announced “a new formulation” (Washington Post) on “one China,” its permanent condition for any talks with the island democracy. The supposed change was a decision “to open talks if Taiwan accepted the principle of ‘two shores, one China’ while acknowledging that the two sides might differ on precisely what that term meant.” In other words, Taiwan can think whatever it wants about “China,” but the cadres won’t budge from insisting that they are its rightful rulers. President Chen Shui-bian dismissed the “shores,” noting that “China's basic attitude has remained the same” (BBC).

Japan and Communist China to hold talks: Communist China and Japan agreed to host each others’ negotiators “to improve relations” (Washington Post, fifth item) in the aftermath of the Communist-backed anti-Japan riots. Meanwhile, Murray Scot Tanner, RAND Corporation, has a spectacularly bad analysis of the brouhaha (UPI –Washington Times), largely due to his ridiculous belief that the cadres “did not initiate” the riots.

Another victim in the Falun Gong War: Xin Fei, Epoch Times, details the plight of Huang Xiong, a practitioner who “was abducted by Shanghai police and has been missing for two years with no clue of whether he is dead or alive.”

Woe, Canada! Michael Mostyn, Director of the Canadian Coalition for Democracies, skewers lambastes his country’s Prime Minister, Paul Martin, for agreeing to “non-interference in each other’s internal affairs” with Communist China (Epoch Times). As Mostyn notes, “Many have interpreted this as political double-speak for Canada committing to sacrifice the human rights of 23 million peaceful Taiwanese for the enrichment of friends, families and corporations close to the Prime Minister, as there appears to be no other rationale for Canada’s China policy.” Well done, Michael.

On Communist China and Russia: The indomitable Lev Navrozov of Newsmax details the growing ties between Communist China and its biggest arms supplier, Putinist Russia.

Thursday, May 12, 2005

News of the Day (May 12)

Epoch Times squeezed by Communist pressure: In an open letter to residents of Hong Kong, the dissident-run Epoch Times (full disclosure: the overwhelming majority of my columns have run in this paper) announced that it has lost its printer because “the CCP has exerted hard and soft pressure on the printing house.” While the editions outside Hong Kong would be unaffected, it would be a crippling blow for the truth – and another example of one country, one-and-a-half systems – if the HK version were to go down.

As Taiwan fights to enter WHO, Soong fetes and criticizes Communist China: Just as Taiwan was preparing another attempt to enter the World Health Organization over the objections of Communist China (Cybercast News), Taiwan’s People First Leader and former 2000 presidential candidate James Soong “issued a joint statement” with Communist head Hu Jintao “virtually identical to one issued by Mr. Hu and Lien Chan” (BBC). Lien, the Nationalist Party leader who embarrassed himself in Beijing earlier this month, and Soong ran on the joint presidential ticket defeated by Chen Shui-bian, who ran on the more anti-Communist, pro-independent Democratic Progressive Party, last year. Still, Soong did advise Communist China to “change its approach to Taiwan, and stop taking measures that deepen the divide between the two rivals” (Voice of America via Epoch Times), something Lien could not bring himself to say.

Communist spy system third-largest in the world: Communist China “has developed the world's third-largest spy system, after the U.S. and Russia, according to the ‘Intelligence Threat Handbook’ distributed to Pentagon personnel” (Newsmax). The main source of strength for the Communists is their “far-flung human spy system in the U.S.”, although they are rapidly building up their technology-based espionage.

Communist China won’t revalue its currency: The Communist mouthpiece People's Daily announced that the regime would “revalue the yuan next week” (BBC), but the Communist central bank denied it, and the paper later issued a correction. The deliberately devalued currency – called the yuan or renminbi – has greatly damaged both U.S. manufacturing and the export sectors of America’s allies in Asia.

Man tortured into false confession of killing wife suing Communist China: She Xianglin is suing the regime for “mental damage and restrictions on his freedom” (BBC) after being tortured into falsely confessing to murder his wife and spending fifteen years in jail for killing her. How do we know he didn’t kill her? Simple, she’s not dead!

On Communist prison labor camps: Tim Luard, BBC, examines the state of Communist China’s labor camps, and the plight of those sent inside them.

On Communist China and Stalinist North Korea: The editors of the Washington Post and Concerned Women for America (via Newsmax) come out in favor of confirming UN Ambassador-designate John Bolton. The latter explicitly endorse Bolton’s tough talk on Stalinist North Korea, while the editors note that his most well-known critics are mainly upset about said tough talk, as well as Bolton’s belief in pushing Communist Chinese firms that sell weapons to terrorists and rouge states. Meanwhile, New York Times columnist Tom Friedman lays the blame for the SNK nuclear problem right where it belongs: Communist China. He is clearly starting to learn.

On Stalinist North Korea’s enablers: Anthony Faiola, Washington Post, details how Communist China, Russia, and dovish South Korea are trading with Stalinist North Korea, thus enriching the regime and effectively allowing it to “not feel as much of a need to address the nuclear issue.” Regarding the Communists, this should not surprise.

More on SNK: The BBC, CNN, and Jong-Heon Lee (United Press International via Washington Times) examine the reaction from the Stalinists’ removal of 8,000 rods of plutonium, which can now be weaponized, from its shut-down Yongbyon power plant.

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

News of the Day (May 11)

As SNK builds up its nuclear arsenal, Communist China sits on its hands: Communist China once again “ruled out applying economic pressure to compel its North Korean ally to return to stalled multilateral talks on its nuclear weapons programs” (Cybercast News), choosing instead to stick to its boilerplate call for “denuclearization” (Voice of America via Epoch Times), which may sound good but in fact assumes the U.S. should make a number of concessions to the Stalinists. The news came as a leading Stalinist called a nuclear weapons test “unavoidable” (BBC), and taunted visiting Japanese scholars about an upcoming test: “you'll find that out soon” (MSNBC). The regime also lashed out at President Bush, calling him “Hilter, Junior” (International Herald Tribune), and boasted that it had “finished extracting 8,000 fuel rods from its reactor at Yongbyon” (CNN). Out of the other side of its mouth, the Stalinists issued “the strongest indication yet that it is ready to return to six-party talks “ (Washington Times) by “insisting on two conditions Washington has already met: recognition of the North's sovereignty and bilateral discussions as part of a multilateral meeting.” The fact that Washington has met those conditions should be enough to make anyone wonder what good these talks will really do. Also reporting: VOA via Epoch Times, Newsmax

Taiwan arrests 17 spies: As part of an investigation into credit card fraud, the island democracy found “17 military officers and civilians suspected of passing military secrets to China” (BBC). Reports one of the agents “sold missile secrets to China” were denied.

Anti-Japanese activity hits the web: An army of hackers from Communist China has descended upon Japanese corporate and government websites, causing unspecified losses (Washington Post). This comes on the heels of Communist-supported anti-Japan riots last month. Meanwhile, yours truly reviews the history of Japan’s occupation of China during World War II – and finds the cadres should be grateful to Japan (Epoch Times).

As Pakistan buys our aircraft, its building more with Communist Chinese help: Communist China and jointly building a “mid-tech” (United Press International via Washington Times) military fighter plane with Pakistan, the same Pakistan that had been demanding, and finally won, the right to buy 24 American F-16 fighters.

Bolton controversy goes beyond SNK and reaches his views on Communist China: The swirling bruhaha over UN Ambassador-designate John Bolton has expanded past his insistence on telling the truth about Stalinist North Korea to his well-justified skepticism about Communist China’s “missile export controls” (all links from Washington Post).

Communists kill 350 Falun Gong practitioners, in one month: The month in question was this past April. The editors of the Epoch Times gave details on some of the victims.

Ex-Communist Party passes 1.4 million; Communists blocking Nine Commentaries: The number of Party members who resigned in the wake of the Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party has passed 1.4 million, and many of them are finding themselves under arrest for it. Meanwhile, according to a study by Harvard University, the Commentaries are “one of the top two most restricted topics singled out for Internet suppression.” The ex-Communists also won praise from exiled dissident Wei Jingsheng for making “their consciences clean” (all links from Epoch Times).

Hong Kong residents oppose Communist “election” panel: Nearly 200 residents of Hong Kong called for the Communist-picked panel that “elects” the city’s Chief Executive not to repeat the earlier rubber-stamp “votes” for the Communist-backed choice of Tung Chee-hwa. Tung’s Communist-blessed successor, acting Chief Donald Tsang, is sure to win just such a “vote” (Epoch Times).

Another member of the “Gang of Four” dies: Zhang Chunqiao, one of the “Gang of Four” that was the engine behind the hideous Cultural Revolution, died yesterday (BBC). The Cultural Revolution is criticized in Communist circles today, but only for leading to the deaths of so many cadres.

Boeing and Google make deals with Communist China: Boeing “won a $2.6bn (£1.4bn) order for 45 aeroplanes (UK sp) from China Southern Airlines and its Xiamen Airlines subsidiary” (BBC), while Google “secured a licence (UK sp) to operate in China” (BBC). The concessions Google gave to the cadres about censorship amid the continuing Communist web crackdown (third item, fifth item) were not mentioned.

Lenovo wants to take on biggest computer makers: Communist-run Lenovo, the firm that bought out IBM’s personal computer arm (second item), “has told staff it plans to double profits in three years” (BBC) and is hoping to pass Dell and/or Hewlett Packard, currently the top two computer makers in the world.

On Communist China and persecution: Gu Qinger, Epoch Times, talks to a family that lost twenty-five years to Communist prisons for refusing to renounce their Catholic faith. Nury Turkel, president of the Uyghur American Association, laments the persecution of his people in occupied East Turkestan (National Review Online).

On Communist China and the rest of the world: Dana Dillon, of the Heritage Foundation, details Communist China’s ties to the world’s other dictators in NRO. Jay Nordlinger, also in NRO (seventh item), thanks French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier for letting slip the ambition of the European elites and its moral equivalence toward the U.S. and Communist China. Yang Yufei, Epoch Times, examines Singapore’s willingness to follow Communist China’s brutal example on Falun Gong. Luo Gan, also in the Epoch Times, gives more evidence that outsiders looking to invest in Communist China should stay away.

Monday, May 09, 2005

News of the Day (May 9)

Yours truly will be traveling on business today and tomorrow. The odds of an entry tomorrow are fairly slim, but we should be back to normal on Wednesday.

James Soong rips independence; Lien and Chen are criticized for softness: James Soong, leader of Taiwan’s People First Party and another presidential candidate defeated by President Chen Shui-bian (in 2000), began his visit to Communist China by ripping those of his countrymen who seek the formal recognition of its independence (BBC). Meanwhile, Lien Chan, the Nationalist Party leader who visited Communist China last week, was criticized for his behavior by one of his own entourage: John Chiang, a high-ranking Nationalist who just happens to be the grandson of long time anti-Communist leader Chiang Kai-shek (Epoch Times). Even President Chen Shui-bian, who was elected twice for his willingness to stand up to Communist China, is losing support from within his Democratic Progressive Party for his recent overtures to the cadres (Washington Post). However, Soong has been more of a headache for the Communists, then Lien was – his repeated references to the “Republic of China” (Taiwan’s official name) was enough for the cadres to “suspend its live broadcast of a subsequent visit” (BBC).

Animal diplomacy between Communists and Nationalists anger environmentalists: The cadres’ gift of two panda bears for Lien was matched by Taipei Nationalist Mayor Ma Ying-jeou, who has offered Communist China “a rare snubnosed spider monkey” (Epoch Times). Taiwanese environmentalists are screaming foul at the “gifts,” saying the animals should be allowed to “stay in their original habitats.” Give credit where credit is due; this stand and the recent statements of German Green Party leader Joschka Fischer are causing this quarter to rapidly increase his esteem for environmentalism in general.

Communist military research head to visit Europe: Chen Bingde, director of Communist China’s General Armament Department and a member of the all-powerful Central Military Commission, “left Monday for a visit to Italy, Belarus and Britain at the invitation of the armed forces of the three countries” (United Press International via Washington Times). The General Armament Department “is responsible for updating China's defense industrial complex and managing its weapons research.” What the three European nations want with him is not clear, but it doesn’t sound good.

Communist China leading jailer of journalists: Communist China, with 42 reports behind bars, “continues to be the world's leading jailer of journalists,” according to a report from the Committee to Protect Journalists (quoted by the Epoch Times).

Guangdong cracking down on bulletin board sites: Guangdong province issued new regulations ordering “manual screening” (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times) of all articles submitted for posting on bulletin board sites. Any “harmful information” that gets through would get both the author and the webmaster/censor in trouble.

Communist China leading world in software sales, so long as hardware counts: Another example of Communist China’s willingness to fudge statistics came to light when a cadre at the Ministry of Information Industry proclaimed “that China’s software industry was worth 230 billion yuan (US$ 27.8 billion) in 2004 . . . and has exceeded that of India and Korea” (Epoch Times). The only problem was the Ministry’s definition of “software,” which included “hardware such as servers, Internet devices, memory chips, and switchboards.” Even cell phones were redefined as “software.”

Communist China lured young women to be raped for Soviet officials: Feng Qing tells the Epoch Times a horrifying tale relayed to him by his uncle of cadres who “asked single girls between 18 and 22 years old to fill in forms and have their health checked, luring them with the promise of being sent to college.” Instead, they were sent “to a secret place where Soviet Union officials would rape them.” The cadres insisted silence from all rape victims, those who talked “would be immediately killed.”

More on the Chinese Communist Party: Mark Steyn, Chicago Sun-Times, does not believe Communist China will remain Communist for very long. Dr. Jack Wheeler, publisher and Editor-in-Chief of To the Point and President of the Freedom Research Foundation, has similar optimism (none of which is anchored in the “engagement” foolishness) in remarks reprinted by the Epoch Times.

On Communist China and the United States: Stephen Roach, of Morgan Stanley, has no use for those of us worried about the massive trade imbalance with Communist China, and of course, his Time Asia column ignores the national security implications. Richard Fisher, of the International Assessment and Strategy Center, has a much more sober analysis of Communist China – and a stirring call to preserve Taiwan’s freedom – in remarks reprinted by the Epoch Times. The China Support Network has high praise for a bill from Republican Congressmen Tom Tancredo (Colorado) and Christopher Smith (New Jersey) calling on the 2008 Olympics to be moved out of Communist China.

Other Commentary on Communist China: Jason Loftus, Epoch Times, details the digital battle between the Communists and the “hacktivists.” Jay Nordlinger, National Review Online, laments the continuing imprisonment of dissident Yang Jianli (third item). Bill Powell, Time Asia, examines the rise of CapitalBio, and would like us to believe a cadre-funded state-of-the-art biotech firm is a good thing. Ming Shi, Epoch Times, warns investors away from Communist China’s chaotic and corrupt stock market. Finally, yours truly takes South Korea’s new “nationalists” to task for giving Communist China a pass despite its fifty-year-plus support for Stalinist North Korea (Epoch Times).

Speaking of Stalinist North Korea . . .

IAEA head calls possible SNK nuclear test “crying for help”: No, that wasn’t a typo; Mohammed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Stalinist North Korea, by possibly planning a nuclear weapons test (CNN), was actually “crying for help” (BBC). The United Nations official let loose this whopper while speculating that the Stalinists may have about six nuclear weapons. He also said a test “would have ‘disastrous political and environmental consequences’” (BBC).

Everybody wants SNK to come back to the talks: Meanwhile, a diplomatic chorus of foreign ministers begged the Stalinists to come back to the failed six-party talks on its nuclear weapons (BBC). According to another BBC report, even Hu Jintao supposedly “urged North Korea to return immediately to talks,” although no quotes were released.

South Korea still hoping Communist China will help on SNK: South Korea Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon pledged to “call on China to play a more active role [in getting North Korea back to stalled nuclear talks]” (Washington Times). Will they never learn?