News of the Day (May 7)

Is the Communist regime "a mature fascist state"? That's the question Michael Ledeen ponders in the Far Eastern Economic Review. Ledeen (one of yours truly's favorite writers) makes a compelling case (although I would quibble with his clean division of Communism and fascism), both in his analysis and his recommendations for American reaction (h/t Uyghur American Association). Columnist Kin-ming Liu sees similar parallels, and concludes: "I can only pray that the West will find another Churchill and Roosevelt" (Post Global via Boycott 2008).

Speaking of the Long Arm of Lawlessness, Wang Dan becomes a victim in New York (Epoch Times) as Makina (Between Heaven and Earth) laments its effects in Canada.

Ignorant Comment of the Day: I hate to do this to Joshua Kurlantzick, who usually is well-versed on the subject of Communist China. However, his discussion on the "young nationalists" (Los Angeles Times via UAA) makes no mention of the Long Arm of Lawlessness that represses overseas Chinese very day, and even falls for the foolish Enlightened Dictator nonsense that has polluted our policies on East and West Asia for decades.

Communists justify crackdown against Tibetans: The Communist regime insisted the brutal repression that began last spring was "completely correct" (Epoch Times), even as talks with the Dalai Lama's aides were being held. The regime threw in a few more lies about the Tibetan leader's "separatist activities" (Agence France Presse via UAA).

More Christians arrested in occupied East Turkestan: Nearly four dozen worshippers were arrested for refusing to put the Chinese Communist Party between themselves and God (One News Now via UAA).

Enterovirus-71 has now sickened over 15,000, of whom 28 have died (CNN). The virus deaths are now being reported in places far from the initial outbreak in Fuyang, Anhui. The cadres suppressed news of the virus for weeks.

Google Earth running afoul of the Communists: The cadres are apparently unhappy with the Google feature due to what they "could reveal . . . about aspects of Chinese life, from labour camps to military installations" (London Telegraph). While Google self-censors its China-specific site, "much of its operations are hosted on Google servers elsewhere, over which the Chinese authorities have no authority, though they can order them to be blocked by the so-called 'Great Firewall' of China."

South Koreans expressing more anger at Communist China's treatment of northern Koreans: In film and on the streets (One Free Korea), more and more Koreans from the democratic South are venting their fury at the Beijing regime that props up Kim Jong-il - in part by sending back any escapee it finds.

More news on "another Chinese province": The Singapore Surrender earns one more critic (Washington Post), while One Free Korea hears that military food supplies are being rerouted "to other members of the elite."

Hu Jintao warmly greeted by Japanese PM: The Koizumi era is definitely over (BBC and Washington Times).