News of the Day (March 9)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth reprints a terrific Wall Street Journal column that analyzes how Communist China's claims of newfound concern for the peasantry rings hollow (Chris Bowlby, BBC, has more on the plight of the peasantry; see last item for more). The Korea Liberator has the perfect reaction to White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card's recent comments on Stalinist North Korea ("White House Finally Says What It Should Have Said Five Years Ago"). TKL also commented on an apparent SNK missile test (see also BBC, Voice of America via Epoch Times, and Washington Times), provided some background on the Stalinist missile program and its military in general, expands the "China Hype" into a series (the first installment can be found here), reprints the State Department's report on Stalinist abuses of human rights, and has the latest news.

Iran offered support to the Taliban in October of 2001: According to documents cited by the Weekly Standard, the Iranian mullahcracy - the beneficiary of Communist Chinese help for its nuclear weapons program (fourth item) - "pledged to assist the Taliban in their war with the United States" in October of 2001.

Japanese Foreign Minister calls Taiwan a "country;" Communists livid: Taro Aso, Foreign Minister of Japan, referred to the island democracy of Taiwan as "a law-abiding country" and "a country that shares a sense of values with Japan" (BBC). Upon hearing the word "country," the Communist regime started complaining about "crude interference in its internal affairs." As Edward Lanfranco of United Press Int'l (via Washington Times) noted in the Enlightened Comment of the Day, such blunderbuss is hardly unusual.

Communists rip U.S. comments on human rights as death camp for Falun Gong is exposed: The Communist regime took issue with the U.S. State Department's report on its abuses of human rights (BBC, UPI via Washington Times), but also faced the exposure of its secret Sujiatun prison camp in Shenyang (Liaoning). The prison camp, "totally sealed off from the outside" (Epoch Times), houses "over 6,000 Falun Gong practitioners," who, according to the unnamed reporter who blew the whistle on it, "are killed for their organs" (emphasis added).

Anti-Communist Chinese-American leader murdered: Police in San Francisco are investigating the murder of Allen Leung, head of the fraternal organization Chee Kung Tong. Many suspect Leung was killed because of his longtime anti-Communism (Epoch Times). If so, it would be the most dramatic in a series of ominous turns in the CCP's intimidation campaign to silence overseas ethnic Chinese (lead, second, sixth, and last items).

Practitioners visiting American territory seek asylum: A group of tourists from Communist China to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands have applied for asylum in the United States. Sadly, authorities in the CNMI - which is an American territory - seem more interested in trying "to make sure that the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands does not become an avenue for everybody who wishes to air grievances against the Chinese government" (Marianas Variety via Pacific Island Report) than helping people escape persecution. The case is still unresolved as of this hour.

More on Communist China and the United States: A Taiwanese student at the University of Auburn runs into constant resistance in her attempt to organize "Getting Closer to China: Critical Issues on Culture, Religion and Environment." Her event started getting into trouble when it became clear she wouldn't follow the Communist Party line on Falun Gong (Epoch Times). Meanwhile, a firm helping Communist China create a nationwide ID system "will have a role in providing all U.S. citizens with their future passports" (Canada Free Press), thanks to a federal court order.

Talks for Communist China-News Zealand free trade agreement begin anew: The sixth round of free-trade talks between the Communist regime and New Zealand "began in Beijing this week" (Dominion Post, New Zealand, via Stuff).

Hunger strike news: Ying Tang, Epoch Times, talks to British strikers; 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, tenth, eighth, second, and eighth items) recounts the incident that led to be his detainment last weekend (Epoch Times).

Hunan residents refuse to bow to cadres and their real estate buddies: The collusion of cadres and real estate developers in Hunan New City lead to the beating of Li Gang (seventh item). However, other locals are coming to his defense and aid: "We will not be intimidated" (Epoch Times).