News of the Day (May 23)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: The Korea Liberator reacted to several developments regarding the Communists' Korean colony. Among them were four Korean refugees entering the U.S. consulate in Shenyang (for those who don't remember, Shenyang was the city where Japan's consulate was invaded by Communist China to seize Korean refugees in 2002 - Epoch Times) and more reports on the first group of refugees to be allowed in the U.S. (see also Daily NK and second item). TKL also interviewed Daily NK President Han Ki-Hong, who talked about South Korea's resurgent anti-Communism. Speaking of which, Grand National Party bigwig Park Geun-hye was stabbed (TKL, BBC, and United Press Int'l via Washington Times). TKL also has the latest on the "Battle of the Hump" and the plans of Liberation in North Korea (a.k.a. LiNK).

Other news from Stalinist North Korea: The Stalinists appear to be ready to test the Taepodong-2 missile (UPI via Washington Times, Chosun Ilbo). Defectors tell Daily NK that Stalinists is losing its allure with the people of northern Korea. Associated Press opens a TV bureau in SNK (Washington Times). The U.S. bans its companies from owning SNK-registered flags (Bill Gertz, Washington Times). Daily NK reports on the Stalinists' latest export: faux Japanese cigarettes.

On Communist China's future: The BBC recently did a piece on what Communist China and India could become in 2026. The news service projected Communist China would have the largest economy by then, but Quentin Sommerville listed the things that could hold its economy back (and forgot to mention the chief obstacle - the regime itself). An interview with a farmer was also of interest. The rest were puff pieces.

From Gao Zhisheng: The human rights attorney (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, fourth, sixth, fourth, sixth, eleventh, and eleventh items) talks again to the Epoch Times about the surveillance net around him.

Yang Xiaoqing goes on trial: The former reporter for the China Industrial Economy News was charged with extortion, his actual crime was "investigative reports of corruption among local officials in Longhui County, Hunan Province" (Epoch Times, see also fourth and tenth items).

Blogger denied access to lawyer: Hao Wu has still not been allowed to see a lawyer for reasons of "national security." Reporters Without Borders ripped the Communists for this action (via Boxun).

Shanghai students arrested for broadcast film on Tiananmen massacre: The student club also launched a website - now blocked (Epoch Times).

On the "Great Red Firewall": The Australian has the latest on the Communist internet crackdown.

Words the Communists never want to hear: "in some villages . . . the church leaders are more powerful than the CCP cadres" (Epoch Times).

Deputy Chief of Communist Navy caught embezzling $19 million: Wang Shouye, who stole the money when he was Vice Logistics Minister and Construction Minister for the Communist military, had reached the rank Deputy Chief of Staff of China's Navy before he was busted (Chengming Magazine via Epoch Times).

Three Gorges Dam completed: The BBC has two pieces on the Dam and the damage it has done.

Communists claim no geopolitical interest in Africa and Latin America: At least that's what they told U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Shannon, Jr. Sadly, Shannon appears to have bought it (Washington Times). Meanwhile, the cadres offered Nigeria a $1 billion railroad-building loan (BBC).

Dr. Wenyi Wang's trial postponed again: The Good Doctor (third and second, fourth, third, fourth, third, and fourth items) is still facing charges for speaking out against Communist organ harvesting and persecution of Falun Gong practitioners (Epoch Times).

Communist currency manipulation criticized from both sides of the Pacific: Asahi Shimbun (via Washington Times, second item) led the criticism in Japan; Senators Jim Bunning (R-Kentucky), Richard Shelby (R-Alabama), and Charles Schumer (D-New York) sounded off in Washington, and also beat up the Administration for refusing to see Communist China's actions for what they really are (Washington Post).

More on Communist China and the United States: Gerald M. Steinberg, editor of NGO Monitor, wonders why Human Rights Watch is so good on Communist China and, in his view, so bad on Israel (National Review Online). Meanwhile, P.J. O'Rourke (Weekly Standard) is his usual funny self, but his slip into Kudlowism was the Ignorant Comment of the Day.

Taiwan presents security plans; wins U.S. praise: The island democracy "unveiled its first formal national security policy Saturday, pledging to increase defense spending by 20 percent and urging China to cooperate in establishing a military buffer zone to lower tension in the Taiwan Strait" (Washington Post). Stephen Young, the de facto U.S. Ambassador to Taiwan, "praised Chen's government for laying out its security thinking for the public in Taiwan and abroad" and "called on China to do the same." Good luck with that.

German leader visits Communist China: Angela Merkel, despite moving her country in a more anti-Communist direction (fourteenth item), still went to Beijing for "a multitude of business deals" (UPI via Washington Times).