The view from abroad

So long as the Chinese Communist regime refuses to submit itself to the will of the people (in other words, for as long as it continues to exist), it will need to rely on the approval of foreign leaders to enhance its own reputation and pretend it is making China "respectable" (in fact, the only thing not respectable about China is the CCP, but that's for another day).

From that perspective, today was a bad day for the Communists.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced his new cabinet, and it was much improved from his last one. The move that most especially please me was Stockwell Day going to the Ministry of International Trade (Steven Taylor). To have a dedicated anti-Communist in this position is a genuine coup; that the Asia-Pacific Gateway was added to his portfolio is an unexpected bonus.

Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, greeted the news that the CCP wants more talks with him by hinting he might allow full independence for his occupied homeland to be part of his agenda (BBC). Clearly the Korea colony's wildly successful use of threats to get what it wants (One Free Korea) rubbed off in a way Beijing did not expect.

Not that they've learned anything from it, given their saber-rattling on global warming (BBC).

Meanwhile, the American election hasn't focused on Communist China much (Washington Times), but more attention is being paid to the cadres' ambitions in the Caribbean (Times again).

Finally there is - or is supposed to be - the world financial crisis, and the Communists' chance to stride the world stage and help alleviate it. That may not be in the cards, though, given their own economic straits (Epoch Times) and the continuing melamine fall-out (BBC).

Clearly, anti-Communism was on the march today. Whether it stays there will likely be up to the Tibetan monk and the Trade Minister.