News from the Long Weekend (September 5)

From the China Support Network: The parent org finds some disturbing parallels between the current Permanent Normal Trade Relations debate on Vietnam and the 2000 PNTR debate on Communist China.

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: A group of Communist thugs attack a practitioner in Vancouver (Between Heaven and Earth). South Korea's government runs interference for the Stalinists (The Korea Liberator, see also Daily NK) even as its dovishness encounters more resistance in Washington (TKL) - and among the Korean people (TKL, see also Daily NK). Stalinist North Korea may be prepping another missile test (TKL), perhaps to recover the lost prestige among terrorists and tyrants over the July 4 launch failure (TKL). The Stalinists have also shut down tours from Communist China (TKL); and here's anything that was left out (TKL).

More on the overseas Falun Gong War: A practitioner who was at Heathrow Airport to be sent back to Communist China by British authorities staged a sit-in protest - and was granted asylum during it (Hampstead & Highgate Express). Meanwhile, Jaya Gibson and Steven Smith (Epoch Times) has the latest from the Singapore trial (last item).

More on the Communists' Korean colony: An American missile defense test against a would-be Taepodong missile hits and destroys it (BBC, Bill Gertz - Washington Times, and Newsmax). Communist China says SNK will return to the six-party talks one year after the agreed statement debacle (Daily NK); the news comes as U.S. envoy Christopher Hill visits Beijing (BBC). Defector Hwang Jang Yop labels the Stalinist regime "in the process of ruin" (Daily NK), something Shiokaze director Araki Kazhiro said was absolutely necessary before any resolution of the issue of abducted Japanese was solved (Daily NK). Speaking of Japan, the Stalinists' aggressiveness on the nuclear and missile fronts has "prompted Tokyo to seek even closer operational military ties with its American ally" (Washington Times). As for life within Stalinist North Korea itself, Daily NK relays tales of radios deliberately broken so that only Stalinist propaganda can be heard, and a would-be college student blackballed because his grandfather defected to South Korea.

Enlightened Comment of the Day: The prize goes to Jerome Corsi (World Net Daily), who calls for the liberation of the Communist-backed mullahcracy - and quickly.

More On Middle Eastern proxy number one (Iran): The Communist-backed mullahcracy thumbed its nose to the nations of the world on its nuclear ambition, and the nations of the world chose to do - nothing (Newsmax and Voice of America via Epoch Times). Of course, there were recommendations from pundits (none as good as Corsi): Michael Coren (Toronto Sun) calls for a nuclear response, but says nothing about liberation; Newt Gingrich prefers liberation, but says nothing on the possibility of the military version if the mullahs get too close to developing nukes (Worldwide Standard); while Michael Rubin (American Enterprise Institute) makes clear that talking to the mullahs should not be an option. The visit of former Iranian President Mohammed Khatami - he who appointed the Iranian hostage-takers spokeswoman as Vice President (second item) - riled more than a few people (New York Sun, Newsmax, United Press Int'l via Washington Times, and Washington Times). Meanwhile, current mouthpiece Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is demanding a purge of non-radical professors (Luiza Ch. Savage - Macleans, Phi Beta Cons - National Review Online), perhaps to keep them from mentioning to students that his "election" promises were about as real as his "election" (Newsweek). The aforementioned Ms. Savage is also tracking the latest on Ramin Jahanbegloo (sixth item).

On Middle Eastern proxy number three (Hezbollah): This corner still believes Hezbollah won its recent battle with Israel because the terrorist group survived - when it should have been wiped out - but those who would disagree are increasing in number (National Review Online, Washington Post, and Washington Times). The terrorists made clear that any attempt to disarm them will fail (UPI via Washington Times). Oliver North (Washington Times) sees the terrorists as master manipulators; UPI (via Washington Times) isn't so sure.

Ignorant Comment of the Day (tie): Normally, given the "engagement" sickness that infects the Cato Institute, one of their columnists would run away with the dubious honor. However, when faced with two pieces extolling "engagement" from a Cato alumnus (Doug Bandow - Taipei Times) and a Cato VP (James A. Dorn - Washington Times) respectively, yours truly is throwing up his hands.

U.S. won't sell F-16s to Taiwan: In a move that "will be greeted with toasts in Beijing as a great propaganda victory" (Washington Times), the United States has decided "not to approve new F-16 sales to Taiwan to avoid upsetting China."

Chen Shui-bian more politically isolated at home: A leading member of President Chen Shui-bian's own Democratic Progressive Party is calling on him to resign over a slew of corruption scandals that have hit his relatives - but not Chen himself (Washington Times). Most Taiwanese appear to agree with him, despite the fact that "there has been no evidence to tie the President directly to any wrongdoing" (Time Asia).

On Communist China and India: Cait Murphy (Fortune via Taiwan Security Research) says democracy will make India more prosperous than Communist China. Meanwhile, the editors of the Washington Times come out swinging for approval of the U.S.-India nuclear power deal.

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: The cadres scored a victory in the international financial power game under a new International Monetary Fund voting scheme which gives Communist China's vote more heft (BBC). The Communists also "called on the US and the European Union to make fresh concessions to help revive stalled global trade talks" (BBC), but offered no concessions of their own. Yomiuri Shimbun (via Washington Times) notes Communist China's "skyrocketing" labor costs. The cadres may soon be importing uranium from Australia (AAP via Epoch Times). Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez gives Communist China majority control of a joint development fund in his country (Washington Post, second item).

David Kilgour comes to the United States: The former Canadian MP who co-authored the Kilgour-Matas report was in Irvine (California) to discuss his report on Communist organ harvesting (Epoch Times). Wenyi Wang was also in California (San Francisco Bay Area - Epoch Times).

Ching Cheong appeals: The Straits Times reporter sent to prison for looking for a compilation of interviews with the late Zhao Ziyang, ahem, "spying fort Taiwan" (second item) is appealing his conviction (BBC). Meanwhile, his employer "urged China to consider freeing him on medical parole" (The Times of London), and human rights groups ripped the conviction (BBC).

Gao Zhisheng's nephew arrested: The relative of the jailed human rights attorney was himself detained for trying to arrange legal representation for his uncle (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times).

More on human rights abuses in Communist China: A dissident candidate for office in Wuhan City "was assaulted and intimidated by unidentified assailants" (Epoch Times). Film Director Lou Ye is banned from filmmaking in Communist China for five years - because he did not win the cadres' approval to send one of his movies to the Cannes film festival (BBC).

More on matters inside Communist China: A pension scandal envelops Shanghai (Time Asia); such corruption comes as no surprise to an anonymous contributor to the Epoch Times. The cadres are testing new history book in Shanghai which airbrushes Mao's fiascos out of history (New York Times via Taiwan Security Research) - perhaps a test to see if they can try it with the pension scandal!