Tuesday, January 31, 2006

News of the Day (January 31)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth weighs in on the Google's surrender with an endorsement of anti-Communist technology firm Dynamic Internet Technology (the founder of which, Bill Xia, comments on the Google outrage to the Epoch Times. One Free Korea sees hopeful signs that the Bush Administration has had enough of Stalinist North Korea's antics.

Canada file: Calgary Sun columnist Paul Jackson joins the Stockwell Day for Foreign Minister campaign.

More news on the satellite states: Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il's decision to bring his brother-in-law back into the fold has Jong-Heon Lee (United Press International via Washington Times) talking about a possible return to "reforms" (they never learn). Meanwhile, the press is all agog about Communist China's decision to let the issue of Iran's nuclear ambitions "be passed to the Security Council" (Washington Times); however, the Council can't take up the issue until March, at the earliest (UPI via Washington Times, CNN), and there is no guarantee the Council will actually do anything. Finally, William R. Hawkins, of the U.S. Business and Industry Council, laments Communist China's support for its two satellites, and the Bush Administration's weak response to it, in National Review Online.

More on human rights in Communist China: The Weekly Standard slams Google; the Committee to Protect Journalists (via Boxun) rips the arrest of Yang Tianshui (last and third items); and Al Santoli, editor of the Asia America Initiative's China Focus, has a good overview of the Communist media crackdown, while giving the Bush Administration a well-deserved rhetorical double-barrel for its silent response.

Bolivia looks to Communist China for security aid, may get missiles from cadres: Bolivian President Evo Morales "expelled 28 generals from the police, army, navy and air force" (Washington Times) in what many are considering an anti-American purge. In a more ominous sign that he won't follow this quarter's advice, Morales aide Juan Ramon Quintana dismissed the idea of American security aid: "He said "security assistance 'without conditions' can be obtained elsewhere, and mentioned China as a source." The Communists offered missiles to Bolivia "at no cost during talks with Mr. Morales in his recent visit to Beijing."

Taiwan's President repeats vow to change constitution, adds plan to scrap unification body: President Chen Shui-bian announced "three major tasks for the year ahead - finalizing a new constitution ahead of a referendum next year; applying to join the United Nations under the name Taiwan; and considering scrapping guidelines on unification with the communist mainland, as well as the body that created them" (Cybercast News). The firs two have long been priorities for Chen; the last one would end the National Unification Council, whose "guidelines" predate the island's move to democracy.

Enlightened Comment of the Day: Today's winner is MIT Sloan School of Management Professor Yasheng Huang, for seeing the difference between Communist China and India and recognizing the true power of the latter: "Unless China embarks on bold institutional reforms, India may very well outperform it in the next 20 years" (Yale Global, hat-tip to Daniel McKivergan and Dan Twining, Weekly Standard).

Monday, January 30, 2006

News of the Day (January 30)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth reprints a Guardian (UK) interview with Gao Zhisheng (see also Epoch Times, sixth, tenth, fifth, lead, third, last, twelfth, eighth, third, second, third, eighth, eleventh, eighth, fourth, fourth, last, fourth, fifth, twelfth, fifth, and second items) on the horrendous record of the Chinese Communist Party. One Free Korea notes with approval a U.S. move toward punishing Stalinist North Korea for its mass counterfeiting (there is a lot more on this from the Winston Salem Journal, the Washington Times, the Taipei Times, and Time Asia), rips dovish South Korea for its terrible treatment of SNK refugees, and wonders about an arrest of a prominent Stalinist by the colonial masters.

New Friendly Blog Gathering Opponents of Google's surrender to Communists: The new, highly recommended blog is, simply, Open Letter to Google; be sure to check out the new Friendly Site Friends of Falun Gong, which provided the heads-up on the aforementioned blog.

More on Google's surrender: The reaction to Google just doesn't seem to stop (nor should it). As the firm's CEO tried to excuse the move with a ridiculous reference to an "evil scale" (Macworld), it also took down it's "we don't censor" boast (Say Anything, hat-tip Jonah Goldberg, National Review Online's Corner). Meanwhile, Evan Coyne Maloney (Brain Terminal author), Jay Ambrose (Washington Times), and Stephen Gregory (Epoch Times) lambasted Google. As for Google's defenders (yes, sadly, there are some) Sebastian Mallaby, Washington Post, is at least intelligent enough to notice that it is dangerous "to pretend that all China engagement is positive." This keeps him clear of the Ignorant Comment of the Day, which goes narrowly (over another dubious competitor below) to Bill Thompson (BBC).

More on human rights and repression in Communist China: Freedom House (via Boxun) lamented, among other things, the end of Freezing Point (seventh, third, and sixth items). Meanwhile, whatever one thinks of Brokeback Mountain (and my guess is the membership would split like a ripe melon on the film), a ban is a ban, which is what the Communists have imposed on the film (BBC).

More on the satellite states: Stalinist North Korea's plutonium is catching the eye of the Iranian mullahcracy (Times of London, World Net Daily). Meanwhile, Robert Kagan (Washington Post) runs away with the Enlightened Comment of the Day for his detailed and passionate call for the liberation of Iran. He even did a better job than yours truly, who reviewed Gordon Chang's Nuclear Showdown: North Korea Takes on the World in the Epoch Times.

Communist China looking to clean up military spending: Central Military Commission member Liao Xilong, director of the Communist military's General Logistics Department, announced "plans to audit more than 4,000 officers responsible for making purchasing decisions, including 100 above the rank of army commander" (United Press International via Washington Times), in an attempt to ensure money spent on the military actually goes to improving its ability to challenge America - ahem, modernizing itself.

Communists' words on aiding peasantry fall short, to say nothing of actions: Remember the speech by Wen Jiabao in which he cautioned against "an historic error over land problems" (sixth item)? Well, it turns out he forgot something: "Wen did not refer to the role of corruption in land confiscations, although farmers routinely cite it as a reason for their violent protests" (Washington Post). Meanwhile, the Communists are trying to appease the peasantry by ending a centuries-old agricultural tax, which sounds nice, but has nothing to do with the land seizures that have put the rural interior in an uproar.

More on the State of the Workers in the Workers' State: The editors of the Epoch Times lament the rise of gang violence and crime in Communist China, and note how cadres have used them to enforce their reign of terror. Meanwhile, an anonymous former university student tells her sad tale of regime-imposed poverty, debt, and unhappiness to ChinaEweekly (via Epoch Times).

On Communist China's banking system: Economist-turned-dissident He Qinglian, sticking with her learned craft, has a devastating critique on the Communist banking system, and what it means for foreign investors, in the Epoch Times.

Bird flu, schmird flu; Communist still keep Taiwan away from WHO: The World Health Assembly, the weeklong meeting of the World Health Organization, will focus primarily on bird flu. One of the most vulnerable areas, however, will be frozen out of the discussion: the island democracy of Taiwan, courtesy of Communist China (Cybercast News), which has a long history of putting politics before the people's health (sixth, fourth, and eighth items).

San Francisco parade controversy continues: The Chinese Chamber of Commerce, organizer of the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco, continues to refuse to allow Falun Gong to participate. As a result, the city council is now being asked to withdraw its funding for the parade (Epoch Times).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Francesco Sisci, Asia editor of La Stampa (Italy), writes a silly column on Communist China's rise in the Asia Times. Ralph Peters, while dealing with several military subjects, does much better in talking about the Communist threat to the U.S. in the Weekly Standard, although some separation between the Chinese people and the CCP would be in order.

Friday, January 27, 2006

News of the Day (January 27)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth takes note of Communist plans to crackdown on protests in the rural interior, the reaction to Freezing Point's shutdown (seventh, third, and sixth items), and Ambassador Mark Palmer's Breaking the Real Axis of Evil. Democratic China has some comments on the duplicity of Hu Jintao and the regime he heads. One Free Korea praises the U.S. resoluteness on Stalinist counterfeiting ("If only we were this hard-headed about international nuclear proliferation") and Christopher Hitchens' comments on human rights in the Stalinist North. OFK also notes the non-effects of Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il's trips to his colonial masters and relays GOP Vixen's excellent rant against Google's surrender to the Communist censors (see also Thomas Lipscomb, Editor and Publisher).

Canada file: The Stockwell Day for Foreign Minister campaign lands Friendly Blog Small Dead Animals and yours truly in Macleans blogger/Rescuing Canada's Right co-author Adam Daifallah's field of vision.

Communist China goes to bat for its would-be colony on counterfeiting: Communist China "has asked the Bush administration to ease some of its financial sanctions on Pyongyang" (United Press Int'l via Washington Times). The sanctions are in reaction to the Stalinist plot to flood the U.S. with fake $100 bills (next to last item). We eagerly await One Free Korea's reaction to this news.

Another rally for the seven million ex-Communists was held in Miami over the weekend (Epoch Times), complementing the Auckland, New Zealand rally (next to last item). The number of former cadres who have left the CCP in reaction to the Nine Commentaries is now over 7.5 million.

Dr. Charles Lee grants his first interview since his prison term in Communist China ended (Epoch Times). Dr. Lee, an American citizen, was imprisoned by the Communists for three years for trying to expose the Communist persecution of Falun Gong (sixth, third, and fourth items).

More on human rights and persecution in Communist China: The Committee to Protect Journalists (via Boxun) joined the chorus of critics against Communist China's imprisonment of Fuzhou Daily reporter Li Changqing (seventeenth, eighteenth, seventh, sixth, fifth, sixth, fourth, and sixth items). Howard W. French, International Herald Tribune, laments the lack of speech and protest rights in Shanghai, Guangdong, and everywhere else. Sonya Bryskine, Epoch Times, talks to Li Cunxin, a ballet-dancer and refugee from Communist China.

On Communist China and the United States: Newsmax's Lev Navrozov sounds the warning bell once more on the Communist threat to the U.S.

Thursday, January 26, 2006

News of the Day (January 26)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth has the latest on Communist China's Falun Gong War (Canada Front), which saw good news (from the Ontario Human Rights Commission) and bad news (via cell phones). Meanwhile, One Free Korea combines all the recent news into a "sick day post."

Communist China stands by Iranian regime, which still stands on its bus drivers: As the Iranian mullahcracy's chief nuclear negotiator visited Communist China (United Press International via Washington Times), his hosts reaffirmed their support for the Khomeinist regime with yet another statement of opposition to "using sanctions or threats of sanctions" (BBC) to convince the mullahs' to end their nuclear ambitions. Meanwhile, Iran is quickly acquiring another characteristic of its Communist sponsor: protests from workers (in this case, bus drivers) demanding the right to unionize, better conditions, and an end to "the persistent imprisonment of their colleagues" (Student Movement Coordination Committee for Democracy in Iran - h/t Michael Ledeen, National Review Online). As stated earlier, this quarter stands with the Iranian people (bus drivers included) in their struggle to liberate themselves from Khomeinism.

Speaking of uprisings, Jennifer Chou, Weekly Standard, has the latest on how the cadres plan to combat the protests in Communist China's rural interior. As on would expect, it's not through dialogue.

Other satellite state news: Zimbabwe strongman Robert Mugabe is pushing for "students from all Zimbabwe's universities" (BBC) to learn Chinese "to promote tourism and trade between the two countries." The Zimbabwe National Association of Student Unions panned the move as a "political gimmick to lure the Chinese into this country to bankroll their bankrupt regime . . . at the expense of students." Meanwhile, inside the would-be colony of Stalinist North Korea, the suffering Korean people are taking a liking to non-Stalinist radio, including Open Radio for North Korea and Voice of America, despite the prospect of punishment for listening to it by the regime (Daily NK).

Google continues to reap the whirlwind: The decision by Google to submit to Communist censorship of its search engine came in for more criticism, from Reporters Without Borders (BBC), the Free Tibet Campaign (Cybercast News), and Human Rights Watch (United Press International via Washington Times).

More media crackdown criticism: Reporters Without Borders (Boxun) ripped the jail sentence of Fuzhou Daily journalist Li Changqing (seventeenth, eighteenth, seventh, sixth, fifth, sixth, and fourth items). More interestingly, Hu Jintao's decision to shut down Freezing Point (seventh and third items) was openly criticized by the publication's own editor, Li Datong, who wrote "an open letter circulated on the internet" in which he "said he did not know whether to laugh or cry" (BBC).

New Zealand celebrates seven million ex-Communists: A rally was held in Auckland, New Zealand to celebrate "7.35 million people who have renounced membership in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) over the past year" (Epoch Times). The number of ex-Communists has since risen to nearly 7.5 million.

On Communist China and the United States: Dan Sanchez, Epoch Times, reports on former Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui's visit to the U.S., during which he called "for a quick rise of cooperation among free democracies" in "the final confrontation between freedom and tyranny." Donna Borak, UPI (via Washington Times) has a more conventional (that is to say, much worse) examination of Communist China's rise.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Advice to Mr. Harper: Stockwell Day for Foreign Minister

Less than 48 hours ago, Canadian voters narrowly chose the Conservative Party to govern their country. From the other side of the 49th parallel, we naturally viewed this result with joy. We endorsed the Conservatives when the campaign began, and we were happy to do it.

That said, the victorious Prime Minister-elect, Stephen Harper, has now moved past the celebration and into the difficult task of forming his government. We are already hearing whispers about the post that is of greatest importance to us - Foreign Minister - and we are getting very worried. Admittedly, Canada's government is, in the final analysis, Canada's business. However, a Foreign Minister represents Canada to the rest of the world, and as such, as an American, yours truly is a one of many who inhabit that space. Therefore, for whatever value this has, I would plead with Mr. Harper to appoint Stockwell Day as Foreign Minister.

Most Canadians, including many Conservatives, might be surprised to read that, since Day was best known for his admittedly sub-par performance as leader of the Canadian Alliance from 2000 to 2002. However, since 2002, he has served ably as the CA/Conservative Foreign Affairs critic. In fact, he has become one of the most knowledgeable and eloquent Canadians on the horrific tyranny that is the Chinese Communist Party, as he showed in a speech given last year at the University of Toronto (which I now recommend for the fourth time at least).

Therefore, those of us in the pro-democracy/anti-Communist community, both native born (such as myself) and exiles from Communist China, know Stockwell Day very well. Many of us supported the Conservatives in no small part due to the expectation that Day would become Foreign Minister. To saw we would be sorely disappointed is an understatement.

However, Mr. Harper and his fellow Conservatives should not merely given Mr. Day the portfolio simply because a bunch of Americans and Chinese exiles want it. Mr. Day should receive the post because he is the most qualified person for the job, and not only because he has served so well as Foreign Affairs critic for nearly four years.

Canada has always prided itself, and not without reason, as the conscience of the free world. In recent years, as Jean Chretien and Paul Martin repeatedly embarrassed themselves (to say nothing of their fellow Canadians) in their dealings with Communist China, that role has been lost. Stockwell Day's appointment, all by itself, would put the tyrannies of the world on notice that Canada's new government will no longer look the other way on human rights and security threats to the democratic world. Days' appointment would bring immense hope not only to the long-0suffering Chinese people, but also to many others who suffer under tyranny in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and even parts of Europe.

I understand that the "politically safe" move would be to appoint someone else to the Foreign Ministry, but that is due to how (some) Canadians see Mr. Day, not how we see him from outside Canada. The Foreign Minister represents Canada to the globe, and the globe knows - and admires - Stockwell Day a great deal.

Again, this decision is ultimately up to the man Canada chose to make it: Stephen Harper. This is as it should be. However, if he is interested in what the outside world thinks about his future Foreign Minister, it would be this: you can do far, far worse than Stockwell Day, but it is highly doubtful that you could do better.

News of the Day (January 25)

Google joins the crackdown: Internet search engine Google "rolled out a China-based version of its popular Web site - one that bows to Beijing's censorship laws and will edit the content of its results" (CNN). The firm tried to justify its decision with this laughable excuse: "While removing search results is inconsistent with Google's mission, providing no information (or a heavily degraded user experience that amounts to no information) is more inconsistent with our mission" (BBC, which was among the many that fell victim to Google's surrender). The backlash was swift. Reporters Without Borders (quoted in the Guardian, UK), Jonah Goldberg (National Review Online), and Mike Langberg (Mercury News, reprinted by China Freedom Blog Alliance Member Between Heaven and Earth, all ripped the firm for caving into Communist pressure.

Communists continue to harass Gao Zhisheng: This time, the cadres "found yet another method to harass" (Epoch Times) the human-rights lawyer (sixth, tenth, fifth, lead, third, last, twelfth, eighth, third, second, third, eighth, eleventh, eighth, fourth, fourth, last, fourth, fifth, twelfth, and fifth items): they have resorted to phone calls containing "streams of abuse at him." This is a tactic very familiar to victims of Communist persecution (fourth item).

Freezing Point shutdown likely authorized by Hu himself: The Washington Post has more details on the cadres' decision to shut down Freezing Point (item), "a four-page weekly feature section of the state-run China Youth Daily that often tested the censors and challenged the party line." Given that "China Youth Daily is the official newspaper of the Communist Youth League, a power base for President Hu Jintao," the shutdown of the news section (mislabeled as a magazine in the seventh item, mea culpa), "would almost certainly require his approval." In other words, Hu Jintao's "personal support for a tightening of controls on the media" continues apace.

Li Changqing sentenced to three years in jail: The sentence against the Fuzhou Daily reporter who supported whistleblower Huang Jingao (seventeenth, eighteenth, seventh, sixth, fifth, and sixth items), was reported by Boxun.

Open letter on Shanwei massacre: Last month, in reaction to the Shanwei/Dongzhou massacre, a number of academics and writers demanded the truth from the Communists about the bloody outrage. Their open letter was reprinted on Press Interpreter.

Communist China signs "oil for missiles" deal with Saudi Arabia: Communist China "signed a deal on energy co-operation yesterday" (Asia News) with Saudi Arabia during the visit of King Abdullah to Beijing. The deal also, according to Richard Russell of the National Defense University, includes upgraded Communist missiles for the Saudi Kingdom, whose support for America in the War on Terror has long been suspect (Wall Street Journal).

More on Communist China and the War on Terror: Pakistan, ally to both Saudi Arabia and Communist China, has been trying to play on both sides in the War on Terror for years. The editors of the Washington Post have taken notice.

Communist military hopes "charm offensive" will end global fears: Communist China is realizing its military modernization has made much of the rest of the world skittish, so they're trying to spread the good word about their military, in particular the reduction of actual troops (Asia Media). Why the world should ignore "the People's Liberation Army's transformation into a more hi-tech fighting force" was not discussed.

Was official who raised suspicions about a possible Communist spy drummed out of NSA? That is the question to ask after several former National Security Agency employees "told Cybercast News Service that the agency frequently retaliates against whistleblowers by falsely labeling them 'delusional,' 'paranoid' or 'psychotic.'" This was how Russell D. Tice was drummed out of NSA after reporting a possible Communist Chinese spy at the Defense Intelligence Agency. Tice is better known now for revealing the Bush Administration's "secret NSA surveillance program that was used to monitor the electronic communications of Americans suspected of contacts with terrorists."

U.S. and others rebuffed on demand for Communist answers on intellectual property theft:
Joined by Japan and Switzerland, the United States "had set a January 23 deadline for China to respond to a request for detailed information on how China is using its regulatory and criminal procedures to crack down on intellectual property violations" (Financial Times, UK). In response, the Communists "rebuffed an initial request from the office of the US trade representative and . . . even questioned the US right to ask for such information."

U.S. and India continuing to warm to each other: Unfortunately, it takes John Lancaster nearly until the end of his Washington Post piece to mention the common threat to both (Communist China).

More on Communist China and the United States:
William R. Hawkins, of the U.S. Business and Industry Council, wins the Enlightened Comment of the Day with his excellent piece on Communist China's threat to America (American Economic Alert). A New York Times columnist's attempt to downplay Mao: The Unknown Story irks Jay Nordlinger (National Review Online, third item). Finally, Peter Baker, Washington Post (via MSNBC), examines the Bush Administration's global democracy push - and its conspicuous absence regarding Communist China.

Taiwan swears in new cabinet: As reported earlier (tenth item), Su Tseng-chang is the island democracy's new Prime Minister (BBC).

Arrested refugees in Thailand safe in Norway: The plight of four Falun Gong practitioners arrested by Thailand and slated for deportation due to Communist pressure to stop a protest in Bangkok (third, fourth, fifth, sixth, sixth, and sixth items) is over; they are all safe in Norway (Epoch Times).

The Communist war on art - Australian dancers feel pressure; "Same Song" bombs: Communist China has "applied pressure on two dancers from the Australian ballet to withdraw their participation in a Chinese New Year Gala" (Epoch Times) because the gala "has been organised (Australian sp) by an independent Chinese language TV station," namely New Tang Dynasty Television. Meanwhile, the despicable "Same Song" concert (sixth, lead, and fourth item) "greatly disappointed much of the audience, with many leaving halfway through the show" (Epoch Times).

Communist economy continues to grow, according to the Communists: Communist China has claimed its "economy maintained its stellar growth last year . . . expanding 9.9% in 2005" (BBC). However, the cadres still have not revealed how much of that is either figure-padding or useless industrial construction (fifteenth, twenty-ninth, thirtieth, tenth, sixth, last, last, and seventh items).

Communist corruption now includes selling of offices: Also not included in the figures were the, ahem, valued added to the economy by "a series of cases where officials sold government posts to the highest bidder" (Asia News).

Communists reduce AIDS victim levels, remain silent on Henan: Communist China has now decided it only has 650,000 AIDS sufferers within its borders (BBC). Once again, as can be discerned from the figure itself, the one million sufferers in Henan province were left off the rolls, and for good reason: they had largely been infected by an unhygienic Communist blood-drive (sixth, fourth, and sixth items).

Dovish South Korean President lashes out against "some" who support liberation for North: Dovish President Roh Moo-hyun insisted there were "no differences with the United States on the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue" (United Press Int'l via Washington Times). However, he did express disagreement "with some forces in the United States that raise issues about North Korea's regime, put pressure on it and apparently desire to see its collapse" (note: that would be this quarter, among others). Perhaps if Roh had taken the time to talk to the nearly 1,400 fellow Koreans from the Stalinist North who defected during the last calendar year (Asia News), he wouldn't be so dismissive of liberation. Also reporting: Cybercast News

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

News of the Day (January 24)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth highlights a petition calling on the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce to allow Falun Gong to participate in the city's Chinese New Year parade (yours truly signed). Meanwhile, in BHaE's home country (Canada), our friends carried the day (CBC).

Communist China labeled sixth-worst dictatorship in the world: The next five items make clear why the regime made the list (Newsmax); the would-be colony of Stalinist North Korea was number two.

Communists arrest over 18,000 Uighurs in occupied East Turkestan last year: Communist China "arrested 18,227 Uygurs for 'threatening national security'" (Asia News) in occupied East Turkestan during 2005 alone. As usual, anyone who speaks out against the brutal Communist occupation is dubbed a "terrorist." Moreover, "Beijing . . . arrests all those who speak with foreign press accusing them of revealing state secrets." In fact, East Turkestanis are among the most pro-American Muslims on the face of the earth (third, third, second, and second items).

Charles Lee speaks out: American citizen and Communist torture victim Charles Lee (sixth and third items) made his first remarks about the abuse he suffered: "Talking about his experience in the prison, Lee said that eight to ten prisoners watched him in turn. They were forbidden to talk to him. If he practiced the Falun Gong exercises, these people would immediately pounced on to stop him. The CCP tried to torture him to death. At one point he developed an acute heart condition." Report: Epoch Times

Police beat petitioner and send her to a mental hospital against her will: Liu Xinjuan, a Shanghai resident petitioning Zhongnanhai to rectify a decision made by a hometown cadre judge on her divorce settlement, was "badly beaten by police as they detained her in Qibao township and she was admitted to the Beiqiao Psychiatric Hospital in Mingxing district" (Asia News). Her son was never given any documentation about his mother's supposed mental illness; in fact, the cadres "never informed him of his mother's admission to a hospital."

Protestors in Chengdu injured by "baton-wielding police": That's how the Washington Post (third item) described the force sent by the cadres to disperse a group who had gathered to protest the sale of military factory number 354 in Chengdu.

Communists order magazine to shut down: Freezing Point was the victim (Boxun).

On Communist China, Hong Kong, democracy, and the United States: Daniel McKivergan, on the Weekly Standard's blog, reprints Apple Daily columnist Kin-ming Liu's call for the U.S. to help the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong as one-country, one-and-a-half systems continues in the city.

Communists admit over 100 chemical plants risking water supply: While that may sound like an admission of a serious problem in light of recent chemical disasters (seventh, fourth, ninth, fourth, fourth, fifth, fourth, fifth, third, seventh, tenth, and eighth items), one has to wonder about what they won't reveal: "a total of 21,000 chemical factories had been found to be located along China's rivers and coastline" (BBC). Meanwhile, Melinda Liu, Newsweek, examines Communist China's efforts to clean up its ecological mess, and how the regime repeatedly gets in its own way on the subject.

Communist China volunteers to slow down textile exports to South Africa: The Communists have turned their massive crowding out of developing nations' textile sectors (fifth and second items) into a geopolitical advantage in South Africa, where the regime will "voluntarily reduce its clothing and textile exports" (Business Day, SA).

Communist China "on the hunt for oil": Carl Limbacher (Newsmax) provides the turn-of-phrase, and the details behind it.

Monday, January 23, 2006

News of the Day (January 23)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth reprints a Vancouver Sun column by Daphne Bramham on Communist China's attempt to get its propaganda broadcast in Canada (where it's election day), and an Agence France Presse piece on what the Communists do to their star athletes, in particular Houston Rockets star Yao Ming. Meanwhile, One Free Korea was its usual prolific self, with advice for folks looking to do more for the long-suffering people of northern Korea, a comment on Japan's growing maturity, and more posts examining the disconnect between the U.S. and dovish South Korea, including the flap over Stalinist counterfeiting (see BBC for more on this).

McCain warns Communists of "consequences" if it sticks with Iranian mullahs on nukes: Arizona Senator and Republican presidential front-runner John McCain called the Khomeinist regime's quest for nuclear weapons "the most serious crisis we have faced - outside of the entire war on terror - since the end of the Cold War" (Newsmax). He also had this to say about Communist China, one of the mullahs' lead allies and nuclear helpers: "If China and Russia want to be on record as being supportive of Iran in their nuclear ambitions, then I think that obviously has consequences as well." What he meant by "consequences" is not known. Sadly, he was silent on the question of liberation.

Charles Lee returns home as anniversary of "self-immolation" hoax is marked: American citizen and Falun Gong practitioner prisoner Charles Lee is home after three years in of "mental and physical abuse" (Epoch Times) by the Communists. Meanwhile, today is the fifth anniversary of the shocking, "self-immolation" incident (sixth item), during which the Communists literally forced five people into faking a suicide attempt so it could be blamed on Falun Gong - which opposed suicides (Epoch Times).

Organizers of anti-Falun Gong show running into numerous problems: It couldn't happen to better people. The organizers of the hideous, Communist-funded, anti-Falun Gong "Same Song" concert are now facing an FBI investigation (Epoch Times), a lawsuit (Epoch Times), a demand from New York State Senator Ruben Diaz that is be shut down (Epoch Times), a performers' strike (Epoch Times), and the walkout of one of the organizers (Epoch Times). For reasons why this show is so despicable, check out these pieces by Huang Boshen and Zeng Zheng (both in the Epoch Times).

Gao Zhisheng comes home, co-founds human rights group for Chinese Christians: Human-rights attorney Gao Zhisheng (sixth, tenth, fifth, lead, third, last, twelfth, eighth, third, second, third, eighth, eleventh, eighth, fourth, fourth, last, fourth, fifth, and twelfth items) "returned to his hometown to commemorate his mother's passing" (Epoch Times). Before leaving, he signed on as a co-founder of Association of Human Rights Attorneys for Chinese Christians (China Aid via Epoch Times).

More on human rights in Communist China: The Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders criticized the arrest of journalist Li Changqing (sixth and fifth items). Lin Huixing (Epoch Times) talks to Wang Zhihua, son-in-law to the late Zhao Ziyang. The Jamestown Foundation's China Brief examines the growing economic protests in Communist China (Professor Wenran Jiang, Professor David Kelly, and Li Fan).

Cadres tell Japan to muzzle its media; Yamaha busted for helicopter sale to Communist China: Cui Tiankai and Kong Quan, cadres in Communist China's Foreign Ministry, stunned the Japanese people by demanding its government give "give 'instructions' to its country's media" (Epoch Times) to stop publishing negative stories about the Communist regime. Meanwhile, Yamaha, best known here in the U.S. for motorcycles, had its offices raided by Japanese authorities for the export of "pilot-less helicopters" (BBC) to Communist China. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe based the action on the concern "that the unmanned helicopters 'could be diverted to weapons of mass destruction.'"

Communist China and India agree to share oil and gas price information: The two longtime rivals have agreed to "collaborate on their quest to increase the world's energy supply" (Epoch Times) by sharing "information on foreign oil and gas prices." The deal was made by Indian ministers more friendly with Communist China than the rest of their country.

Outgoing PM hits Chen on Communist China: Frank Hsieh, Taiwan's outgoing Prime Minister "some of (President) Chen's hardline policies on China were not in tune with what Taiwanese people wanted" (BBC). While this might surprise some, given Hsieh is a member of President Chen Shui-bian's Democratic Progressive Party, it should be noted that Hsieh hails from a different faction within the party. More importantly, he is also former Mayor of Kaohsiung, where a major scandal damaged the DPP greatly in recent elections (fifth item).

More on Communist China vis a vis the rest of the world: Former Communist consulate officer Chen Yonglin provided a detailed description of how Communist China "has plans to make Australia its strategic partner" (Epoch Times) and, as such, "has carried out infiltration of Australia in all aspects of its society, including politics, economic trade, culture, ideology, etc."

President Bush reading Mao: The Unknown Story: The International Herald Tribune and World Net Daily took not of the President's high praise for Jung Chang and John Halliday's Mao: The Unknown Story, a biography which shatters several myths about Mao and the early Chinese Communist Party. Yours truly has also just finished this work, and at some point my (highly positive) views of this stunning book will make a later post. In the meantime, get a copy as soon as you can.

Pfizer loses Viagra patent in Communist China: Communist China "overturned the patent for erectile dysfunction drug Viagra" (Business Report, South Africa). Pfizer, Viagra's creator, charged the Communist court that ordered the patent deletion with "applying the wrong standards retroactively."

Communists to attempt fusion: Communist China will build a "superconducting experimental Tokamak fusion device, which aims to generate infinite, clean nuclear-fusion-based energy" (Angola Press) by March or April. If successful, the "artificial sun" would be the first functional fusion energy producing device.

On the Communist economy: Hu Shaojiang (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times) details the effects of Communist China's credit crunch, and perfectly states the cause: "Credit is based on honesty. If the whole society is full of con men, how can we expect the companies to honor their debts?"

Friday, January 20, 2006

Who's scary again?

Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin has resorted to frightening as many voters as possible about a Conservative victory in Monday's election. Whether by coincidence or as a result of Martin's rhetoric, his governing Liberals have taken a slice out of the Conservatives' lead in the polls. Regardless of the state of the race, with the election just on the other side of the weekend, it seemed a good time to remind the Canadians among our readership why we endorsed the Conservatives in this vote.

The following is an updated version of an earlier post detailing Prime Minister Martin's record on Communist China, and "scary" doesn't even begin to describe it.

Espionage: Just this past summer, Hao Fengjun, the former official in the anti-Falun Gong 610 office who defected to Australia, revealed a Communist spy network in the Great White North that "he estimated as numbering 1000 agents" (Epoch Times). A former Canadian intelligence official estimated the economic damage to Canada at nearly $1 billion a month (CTV). However, another critical part of the espionage operation is to conduct chilling surveillance on Falun Gong practitioners in Canada. One woman who left Communist China for Ontario had her entire life revealed when Hao released her file to the media to prove his point (Epoch Times). The "scary" Conservatives demanded Prime Minister Martin take action (Hansard: One and Two). To date, Martin and his government have yet to even publicly raise the issue outside of answers forced out of them by said Conservatives (for those who worry about these things, the questioners ran right across the spectrum of Conservative MPs: from Peter MacKay to Stockwell Day). The intimidation, meanwhile, goes on to this day (Between Heaven and Earth).

Infiltration into Canadian resources: Communist China has become a large-scale investor in Canada's major resources, including Albertan oil (fourth item, Edmonton Sun), Saskatchewan oil and uranium (Globe and Mail), and Canadian held resources abroad (BBC). Prime Minister Martin and his government have said nothing, despite the obvious political gain of scoring points, as it were, against the gatekeeper of Alberta's oil, Premier and federal Liberal whipping boy Ralph Klein. Meanwhile, Martin's willingness to allow then-Canadian-owned PetroKazakhstan to be purchased by a Communist-owned firm forced the Kazakhs to ask Communist China to allow them to buy a piece of the company operating on their own soil (United Press International via Washington Times).

Forced repatriation of at least one Falun Gong practitioner to Communist China: You read that right. Practitioner Xiaoping Hu "was deported to China on August 5, despite protests from thousands of Canadians, NGOs and Members of Parliament" (Epoch Times). Meanwhile, Han Guangsheng - who, like Hao, was a former 610 officer who defected - may also be sent back by the Canadian government (Epoch Times). Prime Minster Martin, when pressed on the repatriation, denied it had ever happened (Epoch Times).

The elevation of business interests over human rights: Again, as an American, I must acknowledge that my own leaders have largely dropped the ball on this issue, but Mr. Martin is in a class by himself. During a trade mission to Communist China that just happened to coincide with the death of Zhao Ziyang, Jason Kenney - another "scary" Conservative MP - took the time to pay his respects at Zhao's family home. Prime Minister Martin "castigated Kenney for his visit, claiming that he himself had chosen not to pay tribute to Zhao because the family had requested privacy - which was later proven to be false" (Western Standard).

Taiwan: During the last Parliament, Jim Abbott - a Conservative MP - presented a bill designed to improve Canada's relationship with the island democracy of Taiwan. Dan McTeague, Liberal MP and Parliamentary Secretary to Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew, responded by slinging ad hominem attacks on a sympathetic committee witness that were so incoherent as to earn the wrath of Paul Wells.

Foreign aid to Communist China: At present, Canada sends over $50 million in foreign aid to Communist China (Terry O'Neill, Western Standard, details where that money goes), despite the Communist espionage network and resource grab. When International Trade critic Helena Guergis (Conservative from Ontario) demanded the "aid" stop (CBC), the governing Liberals dismissed her out of hand (Hansard). Of course, they have also refused to take up any of the suggestions offered by our readership for alternative uses of that money.

Head tax money goes to Communist-sympathizing group: Even the Liberals' attempt to atone for Canada's Chinese head tax could not escape Communist influence. The money paid for compensation for the tax - $2.5 million - will be sent in one lump sum payment to the National Chinese Canadian Congress, a group best known "for their cozy relationship with the CCP" (Epoch Times). Despite being criticized by both the Conservatives and the New Democrats for this, Prime Minister Martin himself ruled out paying any compensation to the actual victims of the head tax, or their descendants (Vancouver Sun).

Meanwhile, the Conservatives have largely called on the governing Liberals to give human rights more respect, end aid to the Communist regime, take action its espionage and economic infiltration, and establish friendlier ties with Taiwan. One additional point: those who would worry about the role of Stockwell Day (current Conservative Foreign Affairs critic) as Foreign Minister would do well to review the speech he gave at the University of Toronto last year (Between Heaven and Earth). It was arguably the most knowledgeable address on Communist China given by any Canadian politician in this young century.

As said before, the Canadian voters must decide for themselves how "scary" Stephen Harper's Conservatives are, but Prime Minister Martin's Liberals are still as terrifying today as they were when this campaign began.

News of the Day (January 20)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth calls for the Communist "Same Song" propaganda show (sixth item) to be shut down (the Epoch Times also has three good pieces on the outrageous perversion). One Free Korea, meanwhile, comments on the Sanjiao crackdown (third item, Panlong is the village within Sanjiao where the protest was put down with bullets), dovishness in South Korea's educational establishment, and the U.S. treatment of refugees from Stalinist North Korea.

Canada file: Judi McLeod (Canada Free Press), nearly wins Enlightend Comment of the Day for her missive against Microsoft's self-enlistment in Communist China's anti-blog crackdown - Richard Cohen (Washington Post) narrowly edged past her with his broader and more cutting slap against Microsoft and Yahoo; Christine Chiao (AsiaMedia) weighed in on the blogosphere's reaction.

Cyberjournalists in prison: Internet writer Zheng Yichun (seventh, ninth, tenth, and sixth items) was sentenced to seven years in jail for "subverting the state" (Epoch Times). The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN ripped the sentence (Boxun). Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists (via Boxun) revealed that fellow cyberdissident Yang Tianshui (last item) has been in a Communist jail for nearly a month.

More on Communist use of technology: United Press International, which tends to be a bit slow on noticing Communist China's darker side, misses the point on Communist China's desire to use and control telecommunications and other technology not once, but twice (both links via Washington Times). Meanwhile, Peter Warren (Guardian, UK) provides a chilling overview of Communist China's strategy of espionage via computer hacking.

More Communist actions against the free press: Three journalists at New China Youth "reported clashes in Lishui in May 2005 involving peasants who were protesting against the confiscation of their land" (Boxun); off to jail they went. Meanwhile, the Southern Metropolis News (a.k.a, Southern Metropolitan News: twentieth, nineteenth, and sixth items) and Beijing News (sixth and second items) have become shells of their former selves, thanks to "the Chinese authorities' hounding" of the papers' liberal reporters (Boxun). Finally, Edward Cody, Washington Post, gives some badly needed context on the arrest of Fuzho Daily reporter Li Changqing (sixth item). It turns out Li was a supporters of whistleblower Huang Jingao (seventeenth, eighteenth, and seventh items).

Public "disturbances" up in Communist China; Premier obliquely criticizes land grabs: Communist Premier Wen Jiabao finally noticed the surge in peasant anger over cadre land-grabs. In a speech given before Sanjiao (third item), but after Taishi, Shanwei, and Sanshan (fifth item), Wen called on his fellow Communists to avoid "an historic error over land problems" (BBC). Wen's speech happened to be published just after a new report revealed that "disturbances," as the Communists call them, rose to 87,000 - that's events, not people - in 2005 (BBC, Asia News).

More on the Shanwei massacre: Ding Xiao, Radio Free Asia, interviewed Jiang Guangge's widow. Jiang was "the first to be killed" (Epoch Times).

Communists look to "revitalize" Marxism: You read that right, the Chinese Communist Party "pledged 'unlimited' funds for reviving Marxism on the mainland" (Asia News). It's not as if the party has lost millions of members who have resigned in disgust lately - whoops, yes it has.

Taiwan releases satellite photos of Communist military buildup: The island democracy took the unusual step of releasing satellite photos showing "images of Chinese military bases which they said underscore the threat the island faces" (BBC). Said photos included apparent images of "Chinese fighter aircraft based across the Taiwan Strait and evidence of war gaming for an attack on Taiwan." The photos were released by the elected government to help convince the Parliament, controlled by the Nationalist-led opposition, to approve more arms for Taiwan (Asia News).

Other Taiwan news: President Chen Shui-bian appointed his former chief Su Tseng-chang, who is a former human rights lawyer (BBC). Meanwhile, the Chinese New Year mainland-Taiwan civilian flights are back on again (BBC).

Chi Mak's attorney on spy charges - who, him? Attorneys for Chi Mak, brother of Phoenix TV engineering/broadcasting director Tai Mak (second item), insisted the documents found at his home "dealt with electric power technology and not nuclear and weapons data" (UPI via Washington Times). Mak has already admitted to "passing data on U.S. Navy arms technology to China for 22 years, including information on next-generation destroyers, an aircraft carrier catapult and the Aegis weapons system" (third item) before being busted by the FBI.

Commentary on Communist China: The indomitable Lev Navrozov (Newsmax) provides another reminder as to Communist China's ambitions for the globe, and what they're willing to do to satisfy them. He Qinglian (Epoch Times) speaks up for human-rights attorney and would-be assassination victim Gao Zhisheng (sixth, tenth, fifth, lead, third, last, twelfth, eighth, third, second, third, eighth, eleventh, eighth, fourth, fourth, last, fourth, and fifth items). Daniel Kadlec (Time Asia), examines Communist China's thirst for U.S. dollars in its foreign reserves (eleventh item).

On the would-be colony (Stalinist North Korea): The "Kim Jong-il wants to reform" crowd is at it again - recent history notwithstanding (eighth item). This time it's Heejin Koo (Bloomberg) who falls for it. Meanwhile, Andrew Salmon (Washington Times) talks to Park Bu-seo, a secret de facto special forces veteran from South Korea, whose trying to get recognition and benefits for his fellow vets, and is getting the cold shoulder from South Korea's dovish government.

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Next News of the Day coming tomorrow

It appears the China e-Lobby's home base internet connection called in sick for much of the day. As such, I won' be able to squeeze out a News of the Day until tomorrow; apologies to all.

In the meantime, the History Channel is airing "Tiananmen Square Declassified." It's billing the one-hour show as an inside look at - if my memory of the 3AM ad is correct - "the corruption that led to the slaughter."

What the documentary actually says is, of course, unknown, unless his has been aired earlier and someone among the readership has seen it (if so, please feel free to review in the comments). Still, at the very least it will show us what the cable-watchers of America will see, and remember, of the massacre.

For those of you interested, it airs at 10PM and 2AM Eastern Standard Time (9/1 Central, 8/12 Mountain, 7/11 Pacific).

Until tomorrow . . .

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Iran must be liberated

The News of the Day can be found here.

The Khomeinist mullahs who have imprisoned the Iranian people for over a quarter of a century appear to be very close to becoming a nuclear power. This has forced many around the world to finally take notice of the regime, and ponder what should come next. Some have supported a negotiated solution of some kind, while others have advocated a limited military strike against Iranian nuclear facilities. Neither is acceptable. Iran must be liberated. In fact, freedom for Iran should be something all who want freedom for China should support.

Lest we forget, the mullahs' military might would not exist without Communist China and its would-be colony, Stalinist North Korea. Several firms owned by the Communists, including the military-owned Northern Industrial Corporation (Norinco) sold arms to the Khomeinist regime. The Islamic regime's nuclear weapons program has received substantial help from Communist China. Finally, thanks to the Communists' veto power on the United Nations Security Council, the mullahcracy has effectively neutered the international body by allying itself to the Chinese Communist Party. The mullahs now have military might and a powerful benefactor, while Communist China has turned one of the most anti-American regimes on Earth into a loyal ally and useful tool.

This information alone would justify liberation, for it would do more than simply remove a client state from the Communists' grasp. It would also send hope to those who suffer under dictatorships around the world, including China itself, for it would show them that neither the Chinese Communist Party nor its policy of making the world safe for dictators is invincible.

However, the role of Communist China is propping up the Iranian regime is not the only reason to support its toppling, for the Khomeinists are also the leading supporters of global terrorism outside of the Chinese Communist Party itself. The Islamic regime's history of support for Hezbollah and al Qaeda is already well-known. Its removal from the scene would dry up a major source of financial, political, and military support for both.

It is this last issue - military support, namely the possibility of nuclear weapons being included - that is driving the current interest in Iran. However, on this issue anything short of liberation would, well, fall short. For starters, a negotiated solution would require taking the Iranian regime at its word about ending a nuclear weapons program it kept secret for years. A limited strike, meanwhile, might damage Iran's nuclear facilities, but our history with Saddam Hussein showed that such a "reprieve" lasts no more than a decade.

More importantly, however, both actions would leave in place a regime that is not only willing to stand with Communist China and against the U.S., but one that also has the ability through its terrorist connections to wreak havoc against the democratic world, possibly even at the Communists' request - say, during the cadres' upcoming attempt to conquer Taiwan. Of course, an Iranian regime with nuclear weapons of some kind could do terrible damage to the democratic world. However, as we found out on 9/11/01, nuclear weapons are not required to cause such damage.

In fact, the Khomeinists' support for terrorists and its support from Communist China were a dangerous enough combination to make liberation the only proper alternative before the mullahcracy's nuclear ambitions were discovered. While the nuclear issue does make Iran's liberation more urgent for the democratic world and the pro-democracy, anti-Communist movement, it does not lessen the need for liberation.

Can this liberation be done peacefully, as in Lebanon last year? I, for one, share the optimism of Michael Ledeen (National Review Online) on this question, in large part due to the fact that the Islamic regime is universally despised by the people it has imprisoned for so long. That said, we who support liberation without military action must be prepared to accept it with military action if that becomes the only way. Moreover, there must also be a major effort put forward to liberate the people of China from the regime that is the mullahs' biggest benefactor: the Chinese Communist Party.

The most important issue at hand is the goal in mind. The democratic world cannot and must not strive merely for an Iran without nuclear weapons. It can, and it must, strive for an Iran without the despotic regime that gives aid and comfort to terrorists while it brings terror and suffering to the Iranian people. There's no way around it; Iran must be liberated.

News of the Day (January 18)

From the China Support Network: The "parent org" has an excellent piece by Demetrius Klitou on the dangers of Communist-stoked nationalism.

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: One Free Korea comments on Kim Jong-il's visit to Communist China (the silence of the colonizers was ripped by Reporters Without Borders and noted by the BBC), his now probable successor, the continuing minuet between the United States and dovish South Korea, and the internal squabbles among said doves.

Canada file: One year ago yesterday was the death of the last Communist reformer - former party boss, Tiananmen massacre opponent, and longtime political prisoner Zhao Ziyang. Li Jinping, despite being under arrest (second item) is still hosting a memorial to Zhao (Epoch Times). Last year, only one Western official came to Zhao's home to pay his respects: Canadian Conservative MP Jason Kenney.

Communist China "to become Iran's primary trade partner": The quote was a summary of comments by Leo Jen Tung, Communist China's Ambassador to Iran, as reported by the mullah's propaganda arm, a.k.a. the Islamic Republic News Agency. The comments came as Communist China is feeling the diplomatic squeeze on its ally, energy source, and nuclear beneficiary (BBC). Skepticism abounds; the most informed comes from Charles Krauthammer (Washington Post): "The Chinese in particular have secured in Iran a source of oil and gas outside the American sphere to feed their growing economy and are quite happy geopolitically to support a rogue power that - like North Korea - threatens, distracts and diminishes the power of China's chief global rival, the United States."

Car attempts to run over Gao Zhisheng , and nearly succeeds: Human-rights attorney Gao Zhisheng (sixth, tenth, fifth, lead, third, last, twelfth, eighth, third, second, third, eighth, eleventh, eighth, fourth, fourth, last, and fourth items), was nearly in a car accident yesterday (Epoch Times); when he got out of his own car tried to see the other car's license plate, the other driver nearly ran over him. Exile dissident Guo Guoting ripped the assassination attempt of his fellow lawyer in a statement sent to the Epoch Times.

Another journalist is charged in Communist China: This time it is Li Changqing, who was vice-director of interviewing department of Fuzhou Daily, and a contributor to Boxun.

Independent public broadcasting system in Hong Kong comes under scrutiny: The Hong Kong regime is about to "conduct a review of public service broadcasting" (BBC) in the city. Anywhere else, this would not be news. However, Hong Kong's public broadcasting is the only service of its kind in Communist China "editorially independent from its political masters." Many now fear this will change, as "supporters of Beijing have said the station should do more to promote the policies of the government funding it."

Libya to host President Chen: Muammar Qaddafi may be more serious about opening up to the West than this quarter thought; the Libyan strongman invited Chen Shui-bian, Taiwan's elected President, to visit (BBC). Meanwhile, Qaddafi and Taiwan will "open trade offices in their capitals." One wrinkle: "no date was announced for President Chen's visit, so it might yet be taken off the table at the bidding of Beijing." We'll be watching this one closely.

Doug Paal out next week: Meanwhile, Doug Paal, America's de facto Ambassador to the island democracy, will be leaving his post "next Wednesday" (Washington Times). While Paal's history gave many reason to worry (second item), his tenure didn't seem to rankle his hosts.

Saudi King to visit Communist China next week: King Abdullah, whose regime is already the brunt of much criticism in the U.S., will "discuss cooperation in oil and energy security" (Washington Times) with his Communist hosts.

Li Ka-shing enters India's cell phone market: Li's Hutchison Whampoa conglomerate, better known for controlling two container ports in the Panama Canal, acquired BPL Mobile Cellular (United Press Int'l via Washington Times). The move gives the Communist-sympathizing tycoon "a firmer foothold in the booming India market."

Enlightened Comment of the Day: Nudging out Charles Krauthammer (see above) is Tim Luard, BBC, for his near-perfect analysis of Guangdong Province: home of Taishi, Shanwei, Sanshan (fifth item), and Sanjiao (third item), or as Luard himself puts it, "the grim embodiment of all that is going wrong with China's unique blend of capitalism and communism."

On Communist China and the rest of the world: Donna Borak (UPI via Washington Times) weighs in on Communist China's increasing influence in Africa (see also ninth and fourth items).