News of the Day (March 3)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth approvingly reprints Agence France Presse's account of International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) rhetorical double-barrel at the Communists for their intimidation campaign against the Epoch Times. The Korea Liberator has the latest news and comments on Senator Sam Brownback's well-founded concern on the World Food Program and Stalinist North Korea.

State Department report highlights cadre crimes in Communist China and SNK: The State Department’s Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs released a report detailing how in Communist China moneys from "tax evasion, recycled through offshore companies, often return [to China] disguised as foreign investment, and, as such, receive tax benefits" (Financial Times, UK). The lax finance enforcement in Communist China has also led to money-laundering by drug cartels, but that wasn't quite news. The report also detailed "more specifics with more confidence on North Korea's suspected activities" (Korea Herald) including counterfeiting and drug-running. The Stalinists responded by claiming the counterfeiting was "by accident" (Daily NK) and complaining about U.S.-South Korean military exercises (Washington Post, eighth item).

U.S. eyes military jet sale to India in nuclear deal afterglow and Pakistan-CCP ties: As reaction to the U.S.-India nuclear deal comes in (Hindustan Times, National Review Online, NRO's Rich Lowry, NBC via MSNBC, Washington Post), the U.S. is already looking past it - to bringing American firms into the bidding war with Russians and Europeans for the Indian military - in particular, "one of the biggest fighter plane deals in more than a decade" (Cybercast News). Meanwhile, Robert T. McLean, of the Center for Security Policy, examines the ties between Communist China and its longtime ally Pakistan, and sees the two dictatorships tightening their embrace (Front Page Magazine).

Taiwan calls for talks with Communists as U.S. State Department froths at NUC move: Joseph Wu, the lead policy-maker on Communist China for Taiwan's elected President Chen Shui-bian, asked the Communists to engage in talks with the island democracy "order for China to better understand Taiwan" (Washington Times). Meanwhile, the State Department made silly demand of Chen; calling on him to say the National Unification Council (seventh and fourth items) is not dead (BBC).

Tortured practitioner - now suing Communists from Australia - wants court papers delivered: Zhang Cuiying "was tortured for 8 months in a Chinese labour camp for practicing Falun Gong" (Epoch Times) before escaping to Australia in 2000. Four years later, she filed suit against Jiang Zemin. She is now seeking an order forcing the Australian government to deliver the suit papers.

Hu Jintao to tells cadres press and internet crackdown not tough enough: Willy Lam, in World Tribune, reports that Hu demanded his fellow Communists "do a more thorough job in exterminating 'heresies and dangerous ideas [from the West].'" The man Lam dubs a "Chinese Putin" also "gave instructions to security and propaganda cadres to 'pay more attention to, get rid of, and impose tighter control over' politically incorrect elements in the media, particularly the Internet."

More on the lack of freedom in Communist China: The China Aid Association rips the lack of religious freedom in Communist China (Cybercast News).

Regarding the hunger strike: Chen Yanhong, Epoch Times, ponders why the Communists fear the relay hunger strikers, while Gao Zhisheng (sixth, tenth, fifth, lead, third, last, twelfth, eighth, third, second, third, eighth, eleventh, eighth, fourth, fourth, last, fourth, fifth, twelfth, fifth, second, lead, next to last, seventh, last, next to last, lead, second, last, sixth, and tenth items) marks his 100th day under the cadres' "gangster surveillance" (Epoch Times).

Communists admit Huang Ju is ill, but some suspect political machinations: Huang Ju was supposedly about to retire due to pancreatic cancer (fourth item). However, the Washington Post reports that Huang's troubles may actually be due to an "investigation for corruption." The cadres themselves are only saying Huang was ill, but "is currently recovering." Huang is a leading figure in the Shanghai faction of Jiang Zemin.