News of the Day (March 17)

This is why we started the China Freedom Blog Alliance: CFBA members were on top of several things this day. Between Heaven and Earth reprints China Support Network's Canadian Director Brian McAdam's speech at the Ottawa anti-Sujiatun rally (second item); this comes as a new witness came forward to confirm the organ-harvesting, Falun Gong practitioner-cremating camp (Epoch Times) and Australians call on their government to investigate the camp (Epoch Times). China Intel has Senator Lindsey Graham's excellent comments on the Communist regime, warns about the growing ties between Communist China and Russia (something echoed by two pieces from United Press Int'l via Washington Times), sounds the warning on Communist China's alliance with Pakistan, and looks forwad to closer U.S- India ties (although the Communists are trying to use the business card to stop that - UPI via Washington Times). The Korea Liberator has the latest news, the schedule for Abdcution (this second item blurb in the Washington Times on U.S. support for Japanese abduction victims gives some idea why the film is a must-see), and more evidence that the South Korea's dovish Uri Party is imploding (the Unification Minister's press comments were relayed by Daily NK).

Communists drop case against New York Times staffer, but another internet writer is jailed: The Communist regime "has agreed to drop charges against a Chinese journalist who worked as a researcher for the New York Times" (CNN). Said researcher, Zhao Yan, "was likely to be released within days" (UPI via Washington Times). Meanwhile, Ren Zhiyuan, a teacher who posted an essay "which argued that people had the right to violently overthrow tyranny" (BBC) was sentenced to ten years in prison (Human Rights in China via Boxun, UPI via Washington Times).

CDP member released: Tong Shidong, retired professor anda member of the China Democracy Party, was released three years ahead of schedule, a move that the Washington Times (second item) hinted was linked to Hu Jintao's upcoming visit to the United States.

As the Three Gorges Dam prepares to open, two pieces look at the victims of the monstrosity. Clifford Coonan (Independent, UK) examines the ecological fallout, while Craig Simons (Washington Times) measures the human toll in homes lost and homeless people created by the project.

Rice tries to make Communist China feel better about U.S. ties in Asia: The Secretary of State "sought to assure Beijing that Washington's efforts to solidify its alliances with Japan and Australia and to build up India and Indonesia as Asian powers are not aimed at encircling China with pro-U.S. states" (Washington Times). Given that one of the alliances at issue is with Australia, the Communists may already have reason to breathe easy (Christian Science Monitor, lead, last and tenth items).

Foreign firms in Communist China need private eyes to protect assets, but some still invest: American and other international firms doing business in Communist China are resorting to hiring private investigators to protect themselves against their own domestic - and usually Communist-owned - partners (CNN). This would normally lead some to think twice about throwing good money after bad in Communist China, bit not if your Motorola or Unisys (UPI via Washington Times).

More on Communist China and the United States: Linda Chavez (Washington Times) takes aim at Google; a "snakehead" people smuggler is sentenced to 35 years in prison (BBC).