Friday, June 30, 2006

News of the Day (June 30)

As the next post will be on Monday, July 3, yours truly would like to wish an early Happy Canada Day to all the readers from north of the 49th.

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Shaun Kenney notes the Communist crackdown on blogs (related item, the a House subcommittee unanimously passed the Global Online Freedom Act - CNET, office of Congressman Christopher Smith). The Korea Liberator has more on the possible Stalinist missile launch (see also Washington Times), the latest round of "reunions" (see also Daily NK), another group of refugees headed here, more maddening South Korean dovishness (and voter anger at same), Stalinist slavery, and other Stalinist North Korea news.

More on Communist China and the United States: Vietnam's new president wants closer ties with the U.S. and Communist China (Washington Times). An attempt by Irvine, CA, to establish a sister city relationship with Xuhui, Shanghai, becomes a political nightmare (Epoch Times).

Communist Chinese military wants closer relations with Japan: The call for closer military ties came from Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Xu Caihou (United Press Int'l via Washington Times).

Beaten activist slowly recovering; assailants still unknown: Fu Xiancai, an activist for families flooded out of their homes by the Three Gorges Dam who was beaten into temporary paralysis (ninth item), is "gradually recovering his health and limited movement" (Boxun). Meanwhile, the local cadres' "investigation" of the attack has largely been focused on Fu himself, rather than those who attacked him. As such, said attackers are still at large.

Don't forget the Hong Kong march tomorrow (seventh item): The South China Morning Post (via Asia Media-UCLA) reports on the upcoming pro-democracy demonstration in the city.

Hu Jintao rips "rampant" corruption: The Communist leader talked of "'profound international changes' and 'deepening domestic reforms'" (BBC), but said nothing about removing the Communist monopoly on power, in a rant against corruption. The remarks came on the heels of the public acknowledgement of Deputy naval commander Wang Shouye's embezzlement (tenth and eighth items).

Thursday, June 29, 2006

News of the Day (June 29)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: The Korea Liberator comments on yet another call for "engagement" with Stalinist North Korea, the trail of Tongsun Park, South Korea paying more of its own way, and a hard anti-Stalinist coming to the State Department; here's TKL contributor James Na's Seattle Times column on SNK's possible missile launch.

More on the Communists' Korean colony: The colonial masters offer some boilerplate language on the missile flap (Washington Post, third item), while Australia's Defense Minister calls for UN involvement on the issue (AAP via Epoch Times). Meanwhile, Stalinist abduction victim Kim Young-nam "said his former wife Megumi Yokota, a Japanese woman the North admitted to kidnapping, was dead" (BBC), but he also insists he wasn't abducted. Daily NK reports on persecution in SNK.

Canada file: Communist China won't allow former Canadian MP David Kilgour to visit Sujiatun; Kilgour talked to the Epoch Times about the Communist intransigence. Meanwhile, Caylan Ford (Epoch Times) gives the background on the case of Huseyincan Celil, the East Turkestan escapee and Canadian citizen who was sent back to the Communists by Uzbekistan, and faces execution (seventeenth and sixth items).

Koizumi visits United States: Outgoing Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is now in Washington to begin what is expected to be his last official visit to America (BBC, Daily Standard, thirteenth item). Meanwhile, Patrick Goodenough (Cybercast News) profiles Koizumi's likely successor: anti-Communist Shinzo Abe.

More on Communist China and the United States: Congressman Dana Rohrabacher sounds a wake-up call (literally) for his fellow Americans about "the very threatening rise of communist China" (The Hill).

Qinghai-Tibet railroad angers Tibetans: Wen Lon, Epoch Times, has the details (see also seventh item).

Anson Chan to join pro-democracy march in Hong Kong: The annual July 1 march in the city will include, for the first time, Hong Kong's widely respected former official (second item) who served as top bureaucrat during the end of British colonial rule and the beginning of the Communist regime under Tung Chee-hwa (Asia News).

Communist Deputy naval commander fired for corruption: Although followers of this space knew of Wang Shouye's crimes last month (tenth item), the cadres waited until today to publicly fire him (BBC).

More on corruption in Communist China: David Lague, International Herald Tribune, reviews the nearly half-billion-dollar Bank of China embezzlement case (fourth and sixth items).

Enlightened Comment of the Day: He Qinglian wins today's prize with the excellent Epoch Times column on the Communist regime's recruitment of gangsters to intimidate dissidents while keeping its hands clean.

More on persecution in Communist China: A city in Guangdong province remembers the Cultural Revolution - sort of (Epoch Times).

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

News of the, well, Week (June 23-28)

Communist China helping Hamas: Bill Gertz and Rowan Scarborough (Washington Times, last item) cited an unnamed "Paris-based intelligence newsletter" that reported on a Communist intelligence officer - Gong Xiaosheng - who is "covertly aiding the ruling Palestinian Hamas terrorist group."

More on Communist China and the War on Terror: Remember when it looked like the five Uighurs sent to Albania from Guantanamo Bay were no longer welcome there (fifth item)? It turns out the Washington Times had a little explaining to do: "we seem to have gotten Mrs. Totozani (Albania's former commissioner for refugees) fired by suggesting it was she, not the Uighurs' lawyers, who was seeking a new home for the men outside Albania . . . we readily apologize to Mrs. Totozani for the trouble she has suffered and hope she gets back her job." This quarter joins in that apology and extends it to all of Albania for the erroneous implication it was not welcoming of the Uighurs.

On the Iranian satellite regime: U.S. Army General George Casey calls out the Communist-backed mullahcracy for supporting anti-American terrorists in Iraq (Washington Times). Meanwhile, calls for liberation come from Richard Perle, Abbas Milani, and Michael McFaul (Washington Post), while Post columnist David Ignatius scores the Ignorant Comment of the Day with this idiotic call for talks (Ayatollah Ali Khameini rejected the idea - Washington Times, second item). Israeli officials tell Kenneth R. Timmerman (Newsmax) that Tehran "could have a nuclear weapon in 2007." The editors of National Review Online examine the weakness of the United Nations on the subject.

From the China Support Network comes a call to join the July 6 Blog for Tibet and ten reasons to stay away from the Beijing Olympics (which reminds me . . .).

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth reacts to Canada's head-tax apology (BBC) and laments Communist China's latest attempt to get Falun Gong banned in Hong Kong. The Korea Liberator makes an excellent case against recent calls to bomb Stalinist North Korea's ICBM test site (such as this one: Newsmax), then does an equally terrific job taking down the latest call for negotiation with the Stalinists. TKL also takes note of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez lusting for SNK missiles (see also Cybercast News), more South Korean silliness, and how the SNK missile flap has benefited - the United States. As for Kim Jong-il's colonial masters, TKL laments at how the Communists have managed to overshadow Taiwan (see also Weekly Standard) and takes note of the Communist banking disaster (see also Washington Post via MSNBC). China Intel returns to blogging with an observation on U.S. Patriot missiles being deployed on Japanese soil.

Uzbekistan sends Canadian Uighur to Communist China - and a death sentence: Uzbekistan sent Huseyincan Celil back to Communist China, despite a death sentence handed him by the cadres and the fact that Celil is a Canadian citizen (United Press Int'l via Washington Times). Jason Kenney, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's parliamentary secretary, was livid (Hamilton Spectator, see also seventeenth item).

More on Communist China and Canada: Several Canadian companies involved in a Communist railway project in occupied Tibet are hearing criticism from a new source - their shareholders (National Post). Meanwhile, as the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission ponders Communist China's attempt to get on TV in the Great White North (second item), Jan Jekielek and Jason Loftus (Epoch Times) reveal how the Communist networks "feigned news stories, threatened interviewees with labour camp sentences, and even subjected them to mental and physical torture."

More on the SNK missile issue: The U.S. is not looking to bomb the Stalinist missile site (BBC, Newsmax, Voice of America via Epoch Times), but intercepting the missile after it takes off is another story (Washington Times). Both Japan (Time Asia, Washington Times, second item) and South Korea (Asia News, BBC, VOA via Epoch Times) warn the Stalinists against the ICBM launch. Former negotiator "Jack" Pritchard joins TKL in opposing a pre-emptive strike against the site, but his reasoning is far worse (Washington Post); Michael O'Hanlon and Mike Mochizuki are somewhat better in the Washington Times, but neither come close to Hwang Jang Yop's incisive reasoning (Daily NK). The discussion over the possible launch has made missile defense all the rage (Cybercast News, National Review Online, Washington Post). Eric Margolis (Toronto Sun) and Arnaud de Borchgrave (Newsmax) ponder why Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il is threatening this, and oddly enough, Margolis has the slightly better analysis here. Kelley Beaucar Vlahos (Fox News) and Michael Crowley (The New Republic) survey the views of the punditry. Senate Democrats express their dissatisfaction with the Bush Administration's SNK policy (National Review Online). London's Daily Telegraph (via Washington Times ponders the effect on Japan. William Arkin (Washington Post) and Claude Salhani (Washington Times) compare SNK and Iran.

More on the Communists' Korean colony: Professor Kim Youn Chul accidentally reveals the weaknesses of the conventional wisdom on Stalinist North Korea (Daily NK). Daily NK also examines the plight of refugees. Jay Lefkowitz - the U.S. human rights envoy for SNK - will visit Kaesong next month (UPI via Washington Times). Yang Jung A (Daily NK) calls for Korean liberation. Andrei Lankov, from Australian National University (Asia Times), wonders why there is so little anti-Stalinist radio broadcasting in SNK (but he ignores Open Radio for North Korea - fourth item). A South Korean abducted by the Stalinists nearly 30 years ago sees his mother for the first time since that day (BBC, UPI via Washington Times). Also in the spotlight was South Korea's economy (UPI via Washington Times), the rapid demise of Kim Dae-jung's visit to the North (Daily NK), and the latest in weird Stalinist propaganda (The New Republic).

Former defense analyst admits to giving information to Communists: Ronald N. Montaperto, a former Defense Intelligence Agency analyst who "was part of an influential group of pro-China academics and officials in the U.S. policy and intelligence community" (Bill Gertz, Washington Times) admitted in court to "passing 'top secret' information to Chinese intelligence officials." Charles R. Smith (Newsmax) puts Montaperto's career in context.

U.S.-India nuclear deal wins House committee approval: The House International Relations Committee overwhelmingly voted in favor of the deal (Cybercast News). Meanwhile, two friendly voices have divided on the agreement (second, sixth, and seventh items). In favor is William R. Hawkins of the U.S. Business and Industry Council (National Review Online); Henry Sokolski of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center opposes it (also in NRO).

More on Communist China and the United States: Frank Gaffney (National Review Online) continues to sound the alarm on Henry Paulson (sixth item). A Communist military delegation observes American exercises in Guam (Washington Times). Communist China is upset at U.S. technology export restrictions, despite the fact that said restrictions have not even been revealed yet (Financial Times, UK). The editors of the Epoch Times express gratitude that Dr. Wenyi Wang (third and second, fourth, third, fourth, third, fourth, sixteenth, and fourth items) will not go to prison. A New York resolution condemning Communist China's persecution of Falun Gong hits a very large obstacle - Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (Epoch Times).

As Junichiro Koizumi wraps up his tenure as Japan's Prime Minister, Duncan Currie (Weekly Standard), Anthony Faiola (Washington Post), and Jim Frederick (Time Asia) examine his geopolitical legacy. Philippa Fogarty, BBC, looks at the lighter side of the trip: Koizumi's upcoming visit to Graceland.

Wen Jiabao finishes Africa visit: The Communist premier's tour of the continent spurred some more analysis of the cadres' policies there (BBC, Time Asia, see also ninth, fourth, last, fifteenth, sixth, lead, ninth, eighth, fifteenth, seventh, twelfth, last, fourth, fourteenth, and sixth items).

Taiwan news: As expected, the Taiwanese opposition did not have the votes to force President Chen Shui-bian's recall (BBC, Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times); Professor Chang Cheng-shuh sees a deeper bias in the political battles of the island democracy (Taipei Times); Terry O'Neill (Western Standard) wonders what it will take to get Taiwan into the World Health Organization.

Vatican holding more talks with Communist China: These talks are once again focused on the Communists' insistence on putting themselves between Catholics and God (Asia News).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: European Parliament Vice-President Edward McMillan-Scott (fourth, seventh, tenth, eleventh, and second items) laments the Communist arrest of his interviewee (Epoch Times). Xin Haonian, Editor-in-Chief of Huanghuagang Journal, talks to the Epoch Times about the perverse appeal of Communism in the democratic world.

Cadres considering fining reporters for unauthorized disaster stories: Any reporter in Communist China looking to report on an emergency situation would first need "permission from local authorities" (Boxun). Those who refuse "could face fines of more than $10,000" (BBC).

Zeng Jinyan wins award: Although her husband (AIDS activist Hu Jia - Epoch Times) is better known, Zeng is an activist in her own right, and for that, the Foundation for China in the 21st Century honored her with the Fourth Victims' Family Members Award (Boxun, which also carried her acceptance remarks).

Expectant mother forced to abort two months before child was born: Wang Liping "could not receive a government permit to give birth" (Epoch Times) because her boyfriend couldn't afford to marry her yet. Two months before she was to give birth, family planning cadres forcibly took her to a hospital where she suffered a forced abortion.

Li Changqing's sentence upheld: A Communist appeals court upheld the three-year jail term for cyberdissident Li Changqing (Boxun, see also seventeenth, eighteenth, seventh, sixth, fifth, sixth, fourth, sixth, and sixth items).

A primer on getting past the Great Red Firewall comes to us via Bruce Schneier (link courtesy Brian McAdam).

Communist China may be covering up bird flu - again: News that Communist China may have suffered "more - and earlier - human bird flu cases . . . than Beijing has admitted" (Washington Post) are the subject of a major controversy over whether or not the source of that information asked for its retraction (he insists he did not, for now). Sadly, this is far from the first account of a Communist bird-flu coverup (eleventh, lead, second, last, lead, and ninth items).

Communist China makes a military nanotech advance: Researchers at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology "have used nano-technology to create fibers for strengthening bulletproof vests" (UPI via Washington Times). Pundits have sounded the alarm about the Communist desire to militarize nanotech; Lev Navrozov has focused on it for years.

Communists admit to more corruption: Various cadres "misappropriated 5.51bn yuan ($685m; £376m) from the central budget" last year (BBC). Meanwhile, Chen Weijian, Epoch Times, examines corruption's role in preserving Communist power.

More on the Chinese Communist Party: Pei Minxin, Taipei Times, believes democracy in China may be inevitable, but doesn't expect the Chinese Communist Party to have anything to do with it. Horizon in the Dusk, also in the Epoch Times, follows the entourage of a Vice Governor. Two analysts help An Pei (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times) debunk the Communist myth that Party membership is rising. Guangdong Province, home to Taishi, Shanwei, Sanshan (fifth item), and Sanjiao (third item), finally decides against shooting farmers who were protesting a local land seizure; however, the regime "did not settle the land conflict that has embittered this village-turned-suburb 25 miles south of Guangzhou" (Washington Post via MSNBC).

Monday, June 26, 2006

Weather problems affecting posting

We've been experiencing wacky weather in my area, which made posting rather difficult. Things should be back to normal tomorrow (Tuesday).

Thursday, June 22, 2006

The parent org has its own blog!

The China Support Network blog is up and running.

News of the Day (June 22)

More SNK missile news: Calls to blow up Stalinist North Korea's ICBM before it is test-launched come from Newt Gingrich (The Korea Liberator) and Clinton-era Defense officials Ashton Carter and William Perry (Washington Post). Meanwhile, efforts to figure out what the Stalinists are hoping to gain from this continue (TKL, BBC). The U.S. again warns against the launch (BBC), wins European support for its stance (Washington Post), and rejects a Stalinist request for talks (Washington Times). Dovish South Korea tries to play against type, and fails (BBC, TKL). The U.S. "is reinforcing its naval presence in the western Pacific" (United Press Int'l via Washington Times).

More from the China Freedom Blog Alliance: The Korea Liberator catches CBS in a major faux pas.

More on the satellite regimes: Not even an ICBM launch can keep some people from Kaesong (UPI via Washington Times). CNN profiles Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il. The Communists arrest three more refugees from the Korean colony (Daily NK). Arnaud de Borchgrave (UPI via Washington Times) doesn't see many options for the U.S. regarding either SNK or Iran (he stays silent on liberation for either). Speaking of the Communist-backed mullahcracy, Kenneth Timmerman (Newsmax) gets conflicting information on the regime's plans, while Rusty Humphries scores the Ignorant Comment of the Day by suggesting Communist China can be helpful vis a vis Tehran (Newsmax).

Charges against Dr. Wenyi Wang put in deep freeze: The charges against the Good Doctor who spoke truth to power (third and second, fourth, third, fourth, third, fourth, and sixteenth items) will be put off for a year, and if she remains law-abiding, they will be dropped entirely (Epoch Times).

More on Communist China and the United States: Professor Stephen Blank, of the US Army War College, examines the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and its anti-American tenets in China Brief. William R. Hawkins, of the U.S. Business and Industry Council, racks up another Enlightened Comment of the Day with an excellent review of the battle in Washington between "engagement" supporters and anti-Communists (China Brief). Meghan A. O'Connell (UPI via Washington Times) examines Communist China's increasing military power. The BBC, of all people, focuses on Communist China's espionage threat in the U.S.

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Dr. Wenran Jiang, a professor at the University of Alberta, becomes the latest to examine Communist China's increasing influence in Africa (China Brief, see also ninth, fourth, last, fifteenth, sixth, lead, ninth, eighth, fifteenth, seventh, twelfth, last, fourth, and fourteenth items).

Communists bring back search engines after making them more tightly censored: Sina and Sohu "were back in operation on Wednesday after they were upgraded to censor Internet content more effectively" (South China Morning Post via Asian Media-UCLA, link courtesy Kathryn Jean Lopez, Editor of National Review Online and member since 2002).

More on Communist censorship of the web: Ramkumar Srinivasan, Epoch Times, sums up the dilemma facing Google co-founder Sergey Brin thusly: "sticking with Google's principles or accommodating demands by the Chinese Communist regime that he knows are evil in the hopes of making money in China."

Hong Kong Legislative Council member backs Kilgour investigation: Ho Chun-yan "expressed his support to the Canadian independent team investigating claims that the Chinese Communist Party is harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners in forced labor camps and then killing them" (Epoch Times). Said "team" is the probe led by former Canadian MP David Kilgour (fourth item).

Is a Henan-like AIDS epidemic coming to Guizhou? Henan cadres turned an unhygienic blood collection scheme into an AIDS epidemic that infected one million people in that province alone (sixth, fourth, and sixth items). AIDS activist Hu Jia told Radio Free Asia (via the Epoch Times) the same thing may be happening all over again in Guizhou Province.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

News of the Day (June 21)

Will U.S. respond to SNK missile test with a missile defense test? While the first report on this popped up yesterday, the possibility of America shooting down a Stalinist missile test in mid-flight ensured wall-to-wall coverage (CFBA member Korea Liberator, Angry in the Great White North, BBC, Daily NK, MSNBC, National Review Online, Tech Central Station, United Press Int'l via Washington Times, Washington Times, World Net Daily).

More from the China Freedom Blog Alliance: The Korea Liberator is up an running at full steam, with comments on the World Cup (well, sort of), refugee news, the Kaesong outrage, and SNK human rights abuses.

More on the Communist Korean colony: Kim Dae-jung, the dovish former South Korean President who authored the "sunshine" policy, "cancelled a planned trip to the North Korean capital" (BBC). Daily NK reports on the inaugural "leadership camp" for defectors currently enrolled in South Korean universities.

On Communist China and Iran: More evidence of Communist Chinese military aid to Iran, including WMD technology, comes courtesy of Charles R. Smith (Newsmax). Meanwhile, Fox News gathers together the leading voices for Iranian liberation.

Taiwan legislature begins recall debate: As mentioned earlier (tenth, fifth, seventh, seventh, nineteenth, last, eighth, seventh, twelfth, and third items), the motion is unlikely to pass, as the opposition needs a 2/3 majority to force a referendum on President Chen Shui-bian's fate (BBC). The "pan-blues" slim majority is far below 2/3.

Organ harvesting gets more international attention: The Pastors of St. Nicholas Church and St. Thomas Church (both in Leipzig, Germany) called for more attention to Falun Gong practitioners killed for their organs (Epoch Times). Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister John Howard is asked to "request the Chinese authorities to open-up all the doors of concentration camps and labour camps and all jail systems and hospitals to allow third party investigations into the persecution of Falun Gong members" during his upcoming visit to Communist China (Epoch Times).

More support for the U.S.-India nuclear deal: Former Defense Secretary William Cohen endorses the deal (second and sixth items) in the Washington Times.

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: SK Telecom strikes a deal with China Unicom, a Communist telecommunications firm (UPI via Washington Times). Attorney and former prisoner Zheng Enchong (tenth, twenty-sixth, fifth, ninth, fourteenth , and fifth items) writes to the United Nations Human Rights Council on the difficulties of being a human rights lawyer in Communist China (Epoch Times).

Chen Guangcheng's relatives seized: The mother and son of rights activist Chen Guangcheng "were abducted outside the home of Beijing-based lawyer Teng Biao's in Huilongguan District" (Epoch Times). Chen is currently in jail for his activism on behalf of victims of the Communists' hideous "one child" policy (tenth, second, ninth, ninth, thirteenth, lead, tenth, fifth, tenth, and sixth items).

AIDS now in every Communist province: Communist China is now confronting AIDS "in all 31 provinces and municipalities," according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (Newsmax).

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

News of the Day (June 20)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: The Korea Liberator comments on the latest in South Korean dovishness (see also Newsweek Int'l) and begs the Stalinists to launch the Taepodong 2 (see also BBC, Bill Gertz - Washington Times, Daily NK, National Review Online, and the Washington Post).

South Koreans pray for their northern brethren outside Communist Chinese consulates: The Communist embassy in Seoul and the consulate in Pusan witnessed prayer meetings by human rights activists (Daily NK).

An embattled President Chen defends himself in nationwide address: President Chen Shui-bian denied the latest rumors, these surrounding his wife, and insisted that "Clean government is my highest principle" (BBC). Chen addressed the nation just before the pan-blue-controlled legislature began debate on a recall motion against him (tenth, fifth, seventh, seventh, nineteenth, last, eighth, seventh, and twelfth items).

Taiwanese democracy debated: The Communists are using current imbroglio on Taiwan "to assert that a freewheeling, democratic system is not suitable for Taiwan, and, by extension, for China" (Chiu Hei-yuan, who debunks that silliness in Time Asia). Meanwhile, Pepperdine University's Taiwan forum examined the political situation there (Epoch Times).

On Communist China and Russia: The Communist-owned oil firm "is buying 96.9 percent of OAO Udmurtneft from Russian oil major TNK-BP" (United Press Int'l via Washington Times). Meanwhile, Dmitry Kosyrev of the RIA Novosti news examines the Shanghai Cooperation Organization from Russia's point of view (UPI via Washington Times).

On the United States and India: Meghan A. O'Connell (UPI via Washington Times), examines elite opinion on the U.S.-India nuclear deal (second item).

On corruption in the Chinese Communist Party: He Qinglian, Epoch Times, details how local cadres are continuing to enrich themselves through land seizures, and recommends the following: "The only way to fundamentally solve the land enclosure problem is by giving land ownership to individuals. If land is privately owned, local government would be unable to get away with selling land for their own profit." Meanwhile, Du Zongyi, Cheng Ming Journal via Epoch Times, highlights another avenue for cadres to line their pockets - placing their rank and connections in the party as collateral for bank credit.

Monday, June 19, 2006

News of the Day (June 19)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth keeps up the fight for the Vancouver Falun Gong exhibit (CKNW, online petition).

Vatican emissaries sent to Beijing: The Vatican has begun talks with Communist China to obtain the release of seven bishops jailed for refusing to submit to the Communist-controlled "Patriotic Catholic" church (Cathnews). Millions of Chinese Catholics refuse to put the Party between themselves and God, and thus remain loyal to Pope Benedict XVI.

Pastor in Huainan arrested for distributing Bibles: Wang Zaiqing, a disabled Christian pastor in Huainan city, Anhui, is now in jail for "illegal business practices," i.e., "printing and disseminating the Bible and Christian literatures" (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times).

More on human rights in Communist China: CNN's Anderson Cooper examines Communist China's organ harvesting, but ignores Sujiatun. An anonymous former Communist military officer reveals the cadre's assassination scheme (Epoch Times).

Communist mouthpiece calls for clean elections - within CCP: As funny as this is, it's actually part of Hu Jintao's "intraparty democracy" charade (United Press Int'l via Washington Times).

Beijing cadre in charge of Olympic construction busted for corruption: Liu Zhihua was the vice-Mayor of Beijing, chiefly tasked with "overseeing the construction of Olympic venues for the 2008 Games" (London Times). He was fired after being caught with his hand in the till, and I'm cleaning up the metaphor here; Liu "built himself a pleasure palace filled with young concubines on the outskirts of the city."

Communist piracy costs film industry $2.7 billion a year: According to the Motion Picture Association, roughly "93% of all films sold in China are pirated" (BBC).

Communist China announces plan to tighten credit, without detail: The cadres "will strive to stop the 'excessive' availability of credit" (BBC), which has fueled a massive industrial expansion in surplus and useless goods (fifteenth, twenty-ninth, thirtieth, tenth, sixth, last, last, seventh, and last items).

Iran gives Communist China some bad PR; calls for liberation grow: Mullahcracy mouthpiece Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had some kind words for America's nuclear cave-in (BBC) while in Communist China; his hosts were hearing it from the U.S. for having him (Time Asia). Meanwhile, Kenneth R. Timmerman calls for liberation in the Washington Times, and is joined by the late Ayatollah Khomeini's grandson (World Net Daily).

Possible Stalinist ICBM test upsetting U.S. and Japan: The United States threatened to "consider new sanctions" (Mail and Guardian Online), and Japan promised its own "stern measures" (BBC) if Stalinist North Korea goes ahead with its intercontinental ballistic missile test (fourth, second, and third items). Meanwhile, the Stalinists are already reaping some benefit from the test - the Japanese yen is down (Financial Times, UK). Also reporting: Daily NK

More on the Communists' Korean colony: Gary Feuerberg, Epoch Times, questions the wisdom of South Korea's dovish "sunshine" policy. Han Young Jin, Daily NK, comments on the Stalinists' World Cup broadcasting decisions (U.S., Japanese, and South Korean wins are not televised).

Daily Kos contributor calls for U.S. to support Taiwan: I have no idea who "Vorkosigan" really is, but his review of Taiwanese politics is exceptional (note: I endorsed Chen Shui-bian's re-election in 2004).

More on Communist China and the United States: The man who tried to make Communist China a "stakeholder" in the world - Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick - is leaving (Washington Post).

Communist Premier visits Africa: Wen Jiabao held talks with Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak (BBC), trumpeted a $66 million loan to Ghana (BBC), and insisted there were no geopolitical objectives behind any of this (Agence France Press via Washington Times). Ben Bendig, Epoch Times, examines the damage to pro-Communist lobbyist Rose Pak after Fiona Ma (endorsed by yours truly) cruised to victory for San Francisco's seat in the California Assembly.

Communist Chin and India re-open trade link: The Nathu La pass, a trade route between India and Communist China that had been closed since the 1962 border war, has been re-opened (BBC).

Li Ka-Shing may bid for British port firm: The pro-Communist Hong Kong tycoon is already a major port player through Hutchison Whampoa (fourth and eighth items). Now, he may try to takeover Associated British Ports, which "operates 21 major ports around England and Scotland" (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia).

More on Communist China's arms sales: Tim Luard, BBC, examines some of the arms deals that upset Amnesty International (third item).

Friday, June 16, 2006

News of the Day (June 16)

SCO summit news: Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Iran "to remove the concerns of the international community and ensure the non-proliferation of nuclear weapon technology" (Voice of America via Epoch Times), putting him in the position of being less supportive of the mullahcracy than Communist China, the host of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit where Putin and mullahcracy mouthpiece Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Voice of America via Epoch Times).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Another international group, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, invites Communist China to be an observer (United Press Int'l via Washington Times). European Parliament Vice President Edward McMillan-Scott (fourth, seventh, tenth, and eleventh items) calls on the world to "shun" Communist China (Epoch Times); former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone seems to take the opposite view (Washington Times). The beating of Fu Xiancai (ninth and eighth items) raises German ire (Human Rights in China). Cary Dunst, Epoch Times, examines the seedy reality of Communist China's car industry as Chery (third item) begins plans to export to the U.S.

On the Communists' Korean colony: Possible Stalinist plans for a missile test (fourth and second items) irk South Korea (Washington Times, Daily NK). American economic restrictions on Stalinist North Korea "have cost the Pyongyang regime millions of dollars in lost cash over the past several months" (Bill Gertz, Washington Times).

Zhao Yan tried, no verdict yet: The New York Times staffer was charged with "providing state secrets abroad," i.e., revealing information the Communists didn't want anyone to see (BBC, see also second, sixth, tenth, and ninth items).

Yang Xiaoqing sentenced to a year in jail: The former reporter for the China Industrial Economy News has already contracted Hepatitis B while in prison before his trial (fourth, tenth, and fifth items). Reporters Without Borders (via Boxun) ripped the conviction of the anti-corruption journalist.

Yahoo is worse censor in Communist China: Reporters Without Borders examined web search engines, Yahoo, Google, MSN, and Baidu. Not even the homegrown Baidu was censoring the internet within Communist China as much as Yahoo (Boxun).

More on human rights in Communist China: Feng Zhang-le, Epoch Times, talks to appellants (i.e., petitioners) about the new restrictions imposed on them by the cadres (see also eighth, second, fifth, fifth, seventh, ninth, seventh, eighth, thirteenth, and twelfth items). Marvin Olasky (Townhall) finds an unlikely group of underground Christians in Communist China: CEOs.

On "development" in Communist China: Hu Shaojiang, Radio Free Asia (via Epoch Times) continues a detailed review of the cadres' chaotic "regional development" schemes (see last item for Part I).

Thursday, June 15, 2006

News of the Day (June 15)

Shanghai Cooperation Organization invites Ahmadinejad to summit: The mouthpiece for the Iranian mullahcracy is hoping his regime will be admitted as a full member to the SCO (Front Page Magazine). Meanwhile, the group has garnered more attention as it becomes a vehicle for projecting Communist power (BBC, Cybercast News). As for Iran itself, the diplomatic cave-in to the mullahs came in for more criticism, this time from Michael Rubin of the American Enterprise Institute (Weekly Standard).

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: The Korea Liberator examines the possibility of a Stalinist ICBM launch (fourth item) and throws some cold water on a Pollyannaish report of Communist China's policy towards Taiwan (Washington Post).

More on the island democracy: The opposition Kuomintang Party goes for a less ostentatious headquarters in an attempt to win votes (Washington Times).

More on the Communists' Korean colony: Daily NK examines U.S. policy towards the Stalinist regime.

More on Communist China and the United States: William R. Hawkins, of the U.S. Business and Industry Council, scores the Enlightened Comment of the Day with an excellent profile of the growing connections between "engagement" supporters and opponents of a strong, pro-American Japan (Front Page Magazine). The editors of the Washington Times react on Amnesty International's report on Communist China's arms sales (third item). Charles R. Smith, Newsmax, comments on the Communist military's high-tech plane crash (thirteenth item).

Chen Guangcheng officially arrested by Linyi police as lawyers come to his aid: The blind activist for victims of the Communists' hideous "one child" policy (tenth, second, ninth, ninth, thirteenth, lead, tenth, fifth, and tenth items), has been behind bars in Linyi for nearly three months (Epoch Times). Meanwhile, "more than 10 lawyers plan to ignore the risks and travel to Shandong next week to argue Chen's case and call for fair human rights treatment" (United Press International via Washington Times).

Support from the 11 million ex-Communists comes from Chen Yonglin (Epoch Times). Meanwhile, Dr. Liu Jiesen, from Quality Software Developer, discusses how the number of people who leave the Party in disgust is tracked (Epoch Times).

More on human rights in Communist China: Efforts in Canada to get to the bottom of the Sujiatun outrage have "run up against a disobliging Chinese embassy in Ottawa" (Epoch Times). 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, fourth, last, twenty-first, twenty-second, seventh, fourth, sixth, fourth, sixth, eleventh, eleventh, fourth, last, sixth, eighth, tenth, thirteenth, and eleventh items) tells the Epoch Times that Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao have shown their true colors by refusing to address Sujiatun. Reporters Without Borders (via Boxun) rips the beating of Fu Xiancai (ninth item).

Cadre-run bank admits to embezzlement: The Bank of Communication (whose largest stockholder is the Communist Finance Ministry - third item) "that 200 million yuan (US$25 million) was embezzled from its clients" (Epoch Times).

Factory investment continues to grow: Communist China's efforts to end industrial investment continue to go poorly, as "spending on fixed assets like buildings and machinery rose 30.3% in the first five months of 2006, compared to the previous year" (BBC). A large part of that money is going into factories that will produce surplus and/or useless goods (fifteenth, twenty-ninth, thirtieth, tenth, sixth, last, last, and seventh items).

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

News of the Day (June 14)

Cave-in to Iran earns well-deserved criticism, but no cooperation from Communist China: In a move that should have surprised no one, Communist China is "not prepared to join the United States and Europe in a statement urging that Iran suspend uranium enrichment" (Voice of America via Epoch Times). The Communists were more than happy to sign on to America's diplomatic cave-in to the mullahcracy, which received the wrath of Tony Blankley (Washington Times) and Kathryn Jean Lopez (National Review Online, and member since 2002). Meanwhile, Newsmax reports the existence of a secret uranium enrichment facility in Iran built by an unnamed "Chinese contractor," and John Moody (Fox News) runs away with the Ignorant Comment of the Day with a puff-piece on the mullahcracy.

Japan stiffens diplomatic counter-espionage measures: The Japanese government "decided to strengthen protective measures for the country's diplomatic corps" (United Press Int'l via Washington Times, last item) in reaction to the suicide of a compromised official in its Shanghai consulate (seventh, seventh, and lead items).

Taiwan and Communist China reach agreement on expanded non-stop flights: The deal would make non-stop flights from the mainland to the island democracy (and vice versa) more frequent (BBC).

On the Communists' Korean colony: An Kyong Ho, a Stalinist who threatened to "cut off all dialogue channels and exchanges with the South if the opposition Grand National Party wins in the presidential election slated for December 2007" (United Press Int'l via Washington Times), visits South Korea as a guest of the dovish government. The U.S. threatens unnamed "appropriate measures" (BBC) against Stalinist North Korea should it go through with an ICBM test. James Hackett, Washington Times, says a missile test - or even a nuclear weapons test - should be expected. Daily NK examines the plight of a family of a man executed for helping Korean refugees and the health problems of children suffering under Stalinist rule.

Zheng Enchong, the Shanghai attorney who was imprisoned three years for defending residents evicted in corrupt real estate schemes by Zhou Zhengyi and his fellow Shanghai cadres (tenth, twenty-sixth, fifth, ninth, and fourteenth items), talks to the Epoch Times about the corruption that has ravaged his country.

Wei Jingsheng speaks in New Zealand: The exiled dissident who spent 18 years in prison spoke about "his 18-year ordeal in Chinese prisons and labour camps and his quest to speak out for democracy in China" (Epoch Times).

On "development" in Communist China: Hu Shaojiang, Radio Free Asia (via Epoch Times) begins a detailed review of the cadres' chaotic "regional development" schemes.

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

News of the Day (June 13)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: The Korea Liberator turns its attention to Iran, and coins the perfect slogan: "Liberation first." Amen.

The latest major source of pollutants in the western U.S. is - Communist China: The mountains of eastern California are dealing with a surge in coal-based air pollution. However, as editors of the Washington Times note: "the soot and toxic chemicals pervading the mountaintop detectors do not originate from Los Angeles automobiles or power plants serving California's urban areas. Rather, these pollutants are exported to the western United States by Chinese coal-fired power plants." How much of this would be reduced by the Kyoto Protocol? Zero - Communist China is not covered by Kyoto.

Canada file: Maurice Strong would like us all to believe he is an environmentalist through and through. So, of course, he would never consider investing in a company that (gasp!) "plans to export into the U.S. and elsewhere gas-guzzling SUVs" (World Net Daily) and is being sued by General Motors for piracy - unless of course the firm (Chery automotive, see also fourth item) is owned by his Chinese Communist hosts.

"If the British were our masters yesterday, the Chinese have come and taken their place." Those were the words of newspaper publisher Trevor Ncube, a native of Zimbabwe, and reflective of growing concern in Africa that Communist China has become the new colonizing force (Washington Post).

Uighurs sent to Albania won't be staying there: Albania is no longer seeing itself as the permanent home for the five Uighurs sent there by the United States from Guantanamo Bay (fifth, third, and third items). The Albanian government cited cultural differences as the reason. However, "Albanian officials insist that the men will not be sent to China in spite of intense pressure from Beijing" (Washington Times).

On Communist China and the United States: Ariel Cohen, of the Heritage Foundation, sounds a necessary warning about the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, but his recommendations leave a lot to be desired (Washington Times). Meanwhile, Frank Gaffney, Jr., scores the Enlightened Comment of the Day in his Washington Times review of Treasury Secretary-designate Henry Paulson's ties to Communist China: "Those ties have earned him the right to be a Friend of China. They should disqualify him from being Treasury secretary."

Taiwan opposition passes motion to consider Chen Shui-bian recall in Parliament: By a vote of 113-96, the pan-blue-controlled Taiwanese parliament chose "to hold hearings on whether Mr. Chen should be recalled" (BBC). The actual recall vote - driven by pan-blue politicians looking to make hay over the arrest of Chen's son-in-law (tenth, fifth, seventh, seventh, nineteenth, last, and eighth items) - requires a two-thirds majority, which few expect.

On the Communists' Korean colony: Japan prepares to impose sanctions on Stalinist North Korea for its pigheadedness on abductees (BBC), but throws cold water on reports of missile test by the regime (BBC). Meanwhile, the Stalinists claim to be open to Christianity (and are debunked by Daily NK) while Free North Korea Broadcasting receives a terror threat (Daily NK).

Activist for families displaced by Three Gorges Dam attacked: Fu Xiancai, an activist for families flooded out of their homes by the Three Gorges Dam, was attacked on his way home from meeting with Communist police. Fu "is currently paralyzed from his shoulders down and has lost control of all bodily functions except his ability to speak" (Boxun). The police demanded Fu meet them "to discuss an interview he gave to a German TV station about the dam" (BBC). Many of the families who lost their homes to the dam have been unable to get new ones due to corrupt cadres pocketing the promised relocation money (last item).

Biggest Communist-owned bank fleece investors - ahem, offer stock in itself: The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China is preparing to launch an IPO later this year (BBC). ICBC was likely inspired by its fellow Communist-owned bank: the Bank of China, which managed raise over $11 billion in its IPO despite a shady history (fifth, sixth, last, tenth, and fifteenth items).