News of the Day (May 2)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: The Korea Liberator comments on the continuing dovishness of South Korea's government (including a rather silly myth promulgated by its most radical supporters) and the growing respect for its critics. TKL also has the latest news, examines some Stalinist whispers, and reports what would be terrific news about American treatment of refugees from Stalinist North Korea.

More on the Communists' Korean colony: B.J. Lee (Newsweek Int'l) wrote the piece on the South Korean New Right that TKL discussed above. One piece TKL did not discuss (and yours truly can't wait until they do) is Harvard's Stalinist North Korea tour, which was deservedly ripped by Deborah Orin (New York Post). Meanwhile, Kim Dae-jung is visiting SNK again; defector Hwang Jang Yop comments (Daily NK).

U.S. and Japan call for Communist military transparency as they sign restructure deal: At an agreement clearing the way for "the most comprehensive rearrangement of U.S. military presence in Japan since the end of World War II" (Cybercast News), Japan and the United States asked Communist China "to explain its secret military buildup" (Bill Gertz, Washington Times).

Communist test fly new Russian-based jet fighter: Four Xiaolong/FC-4 jet fighters "successfully completed their first maiden test flight in southwestern Sichuan province" (United Press Int'l via Washington Times, last item). The Xiaolong, which is graded as "one generation behind the world's most advanced fighters" is "based on a Russian design." Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov hinted Communist China may have a role in developing Russia's "new-generation fighter."

Cardinal Zen calls for Vatican to break off talks with Communist China: The repercussions from Communist China's decision to consecrate a bishop in its "Patriotic Catholic" Church without Vatican approval was swift (thirteenth item); Joseph Cardinal Zen - Bishop of Hong Kong - asked Pope Benedict XVI to stop talks with the Communists regarding a possible rapprochement (BBC). My Charles V moment approaches.

House of Representatives calls on Communists to stop harassing Gao Zhisheng: The human rights lawyer (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, fourth, last, twenty-first, twenty-second, seventh, and fourth items) called it "both tragic and ironic that the basic rights of the citizens and lawyers in a country need to be attended to by the legislative body of a distant country" (Epoch Times).

Australian surgeon calls for action against Communist China organ harvesting: Dr. Scott Campbell, a transplant surgeon at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, does not expect his countrymen to stop getting organs from Communist China because so many are "in a desperate situation" (Epoch Times). Dr. Campbell recommended ideas to discourage people from taking organs that almost certainly came from executed prisoners, such as plans "to make it illegal in Australia for Australian citizens to obtain organs in a manner which is considered illegal in this country" and "to consider whether the Australia taxpayer should fund the aftercare of Australian citizens who have received organs from executed prisoners."

May 1 in Beijing - A day without petitioners: That's what the Communists hoped would occur; it was certainly why the regime arrested "at least over 10,000 petitioners" (Epoch Times) at Tiananmen Square in the week and a half leading up to May Day.

"One child" policy to stay in place: As one would expect, Zhang Weiqing, head of the Population and Family Planning Commission, insisted the policy that has led to forced abortion, infanticide, and murder would stay in place, and even be toughened against "wealthy Chinese who violated the one-child norm because they were not deterred by large fines" (Cybercast News).

On the state of the workers in the workers' state: An Pei, Radio Free Asia, interviews several peasants on why the Communist regime ignores them and their fellow farmers (Epoch Times).

Ignorant Comment of the Day: Kent Ewing sounds like an objective (if thoroughly mistaken) analyst for much of his Asia Times piece on Taiwan and Hong Kong - until he tips his hand by recycling the old anti-Chen Shui-bian canard about the "staged" assassination attempt from two years ago.