News of the Day (April 14)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth relays an Amnesty International call for President Bush to "use his April 20 meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao to encourage China to honor its commitment to initiate human rights reform prior to the Olympics." China Intel comments on the Communists' latest censorship recruitment efforts, relays a report of growing Pentagon concern about the Communists, excerpts a report on Chen Shui-bian's participation in a Taiwanese military drill, and makes a rare slip-up on the Iran issue (although, as one can see from the fifth item here, it's not entirely his fault).

More on Communist China and the United States: Jennifer Chou, Radio Free Asia, has another issue for President Bush to bring up with Hu - political prisoners (Weekly Standard). The flap over whether or not Hu is making a "state visit" to the U.S. (eleventh item) is on again (Cybercast News). Martin Walker (United Press Int'l via Washington Times) provides some disappointing analysis on the upcoming summit. Meanwhile, the Communists "will let companies and individuals make investments overseas for the first time" (Washington Post); the move will supposedly force Communist China's deliberately devalued currency to inch upward, but some analysts have their doubts.

More on Taiwan: Lien Chan, former leader of Taiwan's pan-reds - ahem, pan-blues - is repeating his Beijing debacle of last year, completely "ignoring China's military threat" (BBC), and instead letting loose this whopper: "Faced with China's rise, we should be benign, optimistic and focused on co-existence and shared prosperity" - so much for worries about the cadres' military build-up and the fate of Taiwan's democracy.

More on the satellite regimes: The Communists' Korean colony talked out of both sides of their mouths on the abduction disputes (UPI via Washington Times, Washington Times, second item, and fourth item). U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill gives the Stalinists a hint of what's coming if they continue refuse to abandon their nuclear ambitions (Washington Times). Daily NK has the latest machinations from the Stalinists' rubber-stamp parliament.

Communist media banned from using foreign reports: The Communist regime "has told local TV stations not to use video from foreign sources to produce news bulletins" (BBC). From now on, "only use news reports provided by the state-run China Central Television and China Radio International" can be used.

Groups call for Falun Gong rescue: An open letter "addressed to organizations, media companies, governments and all social sectors throughout the world" (Epoch Times) "calling for an urgent rescue of Falun Gong practitioners suffering genocide in China" has been signed by over 170 organizations (including this quarter).

More on human rights abuses in Communist China: Sky News has video footage from the victims of the cadres' land seizure policies. Zhao Zifa (Epoch Times) interviews human-rights attorney 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, eighth, ninth, lead, sixth, eighth, seventh, fifth, fourth, last, fifth, seventh, next to last, and fourth items).