News of the Day (January 31)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth weighs in on the Google's surrender with an endorsement of anti-Communist technology firm Dynamic Internet Technology (the founder of which, Bill Xia, comments on the Google outrage to the Epoch Times. One Free Korea sees hopeful signs that the Bush Administration has had enough of Stalinist North Korea's antics.

Canada file: Calgary Sun columnist Paul Jackson joins the Stockwell Day for Foreign Minister campaign.

More news on the satellite states: Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il's decision to bring his brother-in-law back into the fold has Jong-Heon Lee (United Press International via Washington Times) talking about a possible return to "reforms" (they never learn). Meanwhile, the press is all agog about Communist China's decision to let the issue of Iran's nuclear ambitions "be passed to the Security Council" (Washington Times); however, the Council can't take up the issue until March, at the earliest (UPI via Washington Times, CNN), and there is no guarantee the Council will actually do anything. Finally, William R. Hawkins, of the U.S. Business and Industry Council, laments Communist China's support for its two satellites, and the Bush Administration's weak response to it, in National Review Online.

More on human rights in Communist China: The Weekly Standard slams Google; the Committee to Protect Journalists (via Boxun) rips the arrest of Yang Tianshui (last and third items); and Al Santoli, editor of the Asia America Initiative's China Focus, has a good overview of the Communist media crackdown, while giving the Bush Administration a well-deserved rhetorical double-barrel for its silent response.

Bolivia looks to Communist China for security aid, may get missiles from cadres: Bolivian President Evo Morales "expelled 28 generals from the police, army, navy and air force" (Washington Times) in what many are considering an anti-American purge. In a more ominous sign that he won't follow this quarter's advice, Morales aide Juan Ramon Quintana dismissed the idea of American security aid: "He said "security assistance 'without conditions' can be obtained elsewhere, and mentioned China as a source." The Communists offered missiles to Bolivia "at no cost during talks with Mr. Morales in his recent visit to Beijing."

Taiwan's President repeats vow to change constitution, adds plan to scrap unification body: President Chen Shui-bian announced "three major tasks for the year ahead - finalizing a new constitution ahead of a referendum next year; applying to join the United Nations under the name Taiwan; and considering scrapping guidelines on unification with the communist mainland, as well as the body that created them" (Cybercast News). The firs two have long been priorities for Chen; the last one would end the National Unification Council, whose "guidelines" predate the island's move to democracy.

Enlightened Comment of the Day: Today's winner is MIT Sloan School of Management Professor Yasheng Huang, for seeing the difference between Communist China and India and recognizing the true power of the latter: "Unless China embarks on bold institutional reforms, India may very well outperform it in the next 20 years" (Yale Global, hat-tip to Daniel McKivergan and Dan Twining, Weekly Standard).