I'm back.
I want to thank everyone who participated in the contest. There were quite a few laughs, and quite a few good suggestions. Let's get right to it:
Best Paul Martin impersonation: "Let me be very very clear. Fundamentally, in fact, I have always been very clear in my preference to have that money funneled directly into Liberal Party coffers." - Raging Ranter
Best analysis of where the money, sadly, is going: "Better than giving the money to China, eh? The bar is pretty low; how about setting the money on fire..." - pwyll
Most altruistic: "How about food and shelter for the homeless? There are 25,000 homeless people in Canada." - Solange
Most, um, practical: "Well, that 50 million would make a fine addition to my bank account. Might even make me vote liberal!" - Well, that rules you out as a recipient, Biggie Rection!
Most bizarre: "Donate 50 million dollar bill-sized sheets of toilet paper to the 'Keep Sheik Hook's butt clean fund'?" - Aeolas, here's the story to which he refers
Funniest (this was not easy, but . . .): "$50 million... one 40th of the cost of our new space weapons registry." - Andrew. Good call, morison.
Now for the big ones.
Best American answer: "Use the $50 million to continue and expand Radio Canada Intl. shortwave broadcasts to China and N.Korea." - Paul Clark
And since the best one came from the Great White North itself . . .
Best (and most moving) answer: "I'm currently Canadian and I think that the $50,000,000 could be used to properly equip and man a Canadian Frigate or Destroyer to be attached permanently to whichever U.S. Navy Carrier group is currently defending Taiwan." - You brought a tear to my eye, John Chittick.
Your's truly's next vacation will be sometime this spring. With any luck, there will be a much more cheerful subject on which to base the ensuing contest. Until then, thanks again!
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
News of the Day (January 17)
From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth has the latest on Communist China's plans to upgrade its paramilitary police, celebrates the discovery of a lost passport issued by Tibet's last independent government, and relays a lament at the silence of Canada's would-be leaders on Communist China (although this quarter maintains cause for optimism with the Conservatives). One Free Korea was its usual active self, taking note of the latest battle between the Communist police and the citizens of Guangdong Province (Sanjiao, more on that below), and Kim Jong-il's visit to his colonial masters (also reporting: BBC). As for the Stalinists themselves, OFK looks at two American bureaucrats dealing with SNK who have disappointed him, and notes the growing awareness that the Stalinist regime is a financial disaster area for outside investors (original link: Washington Post) - the blog's view on this news of Stalinist Viagra (Newsmax) is eagerly anticipated. Of course, OFK is much happier with U.S. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow, and not so happy with the shenanigans of the dovish clique in charge of South Korea, and on that he is in esteemed company. Finally, Shaun Kenney approvingly notes Pope Benedict XVI's veiled criticism of Communist China and Iran, which brings us to our top story.
Communist China OK with words against Iran, but not actions: American media (namely the Washington Post and United Press Int'l via Washington Times) focused on Communist China's willingness to criticize the Iranian mullahcracy's nuclear ambitions. The BBC, however, noticed that said willingness did not extend to the U.S. demand that the mullahs' nuclear weapons program be punished by the United Nations Security Council: "China said it would do everything to achieve a diplomatic solution." Communist China has a Security Council veto it can use to protect Iran, whose nuclear ambitions have been fed by the cadres.
Another village in Guangdong falls to Communist police brutality: Communist China sent in police to violently suppress another peaceful protest, this time in Sanjiao Town (Zhongshan City). A sit-in protest by villagers calling for fair compensation in a land dispute (sound familiar?) led the cadres to send in the police. At least one protestor was murdered (Epoch Times). The regime, of course, insists all is well (BBC).
Gao Zhisheng arrested, then released: Communist police briefly detained human-rights attorney Gao Zhisheng (sixth, tenth, fifth, lead, third, last, twelfth, eighth, third, second, third, eighth, eleventh, eighth, fourth, fourth, and last items), and later released him (Epoch Times). Gao also had a few things to say about the police that had tailed and now arrested him (Epoch Times), who are also watching his colleague, Taishi hero Guo Feixiong (Epoch Times).
On the Falun Gong War - inside Communist China: Practitioner and Communist prisoner Liu Ruping (fifth and second items) hoped to have fellow attorney Yang Zaixin represent him, but the Communists had other ideas (Epoch Times). Meanwhile, He Di, also in the Epoch Times, details how the Communists' anti-Falun Gong 610 office is dividing families in Communist China.
On the Falun Gong War - outside Communist China: In an ungodly and sickening perversion of "art," Communist China is taking part of its brainwashing tour on the road (Global Service Center for Quitting Chinese Communist Party and Epoch Times). Meanwhile, one of the Thailand protestors talks to the Epoch Times from his new home - in New Zealand.
Cleared Uighurs held in Guantanamo Bay take case to Supreme Court: Attorneys for Uighurs held in Guantanamo bay despite being cleared of any ties to anti-American terrorism are going to the Supreme Court ahead of schedule in the hope on ending their clients' imprisonment (Washington Post). The U.S. has acknowledged that the Uighurs have no ties to terror, and have correctly refused to send them back to occupied East Turkestan. Unfortunately, the Administration won't let them come to the U.S. either, and has been unable to find anyone else willing to take them in (fifth and thirteenth item).
Microsoft hears it again for aiding Communist repression, and the Wall Street Journal found they weren't the only ones "cooperating with repressive regimes" (Central News Agency, Taiwan, via Epoch Times).
Journalist scares Communist Ambassador away from press conference: Guess which paper spooked the cadre in London.
Taiwan's ruling party chooses new leader; Prime Minister steps down: Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party began (we hope) its recovery from last month's local election drubbing (sixth item) with a new party chairman (BBC). Meanwhile, Prime Minister and DPP heavyweight Frank Hsieh also quit today (BBC). The DPP is still looking for the person to run for President in 2008 to succeed Chen Shui-bian, who carried the party's anti-Communist banner during his victories in 2000 and 2004.
Communist foreign reserves grow: Communist China's holdings of foreign currencies (also known as foreign reserves) "jumped 34% to a new record of $818.9bn (£462.5bn) last year" (BBC). Such an increase in foreign currency holdings is a necessary part of holding one's currency at a deliberately cheap exchange rate - one that has damaged American manufacturing and our allies' export markets. Also reporting: UPI via Washington Times
Communists tell firms to be "low-key" when buying up other companies: Communist China "has warned its companies to keep a low profile when trying to buy a foreign firm, so as not to stir up anti-Chinese feeling" (BBC). The Communists believe "the growing strength of China's economy and the surge in Chinese exports" has "caused political suspicion." Of course, the Communists are certain that their support for terrorists had nothing to do with it.
Australian biscuit-making jobs go to Communist China: Over 150 workers in Melbourne, Australia became economic victims of the Communists' cheap currency and lack of union rights: their biscuit factory was shut down "in order to move production to China" (Epoch Times).
Hong Kong leader drops faux reforms: Donald Tsang, the Communist-anointed leader of Hong Kong, has decided to drop his "reforms" of city government (BBC). Said "reforms" were pilloried, and defeated, by the pro-democracy movement in the city (tenth, second, seventh, and eighth items).
On the Nine Commentaries: Professor Yuan Hongbin (second item) tells a Nine Commentaries seminar in Sydney, Australia that the Chinese people have become "conquered" (Epoch Times) by the Communists. Meanwhile, Zhang Tianliang, also in the Epoch Times, sees the Commentaries as the foundation for a post-Communist China.
On Communist China and the outside world: Oliver North is growing more worried about Communist China's growing influence in Latin America (Washington Times), while the Epoch Times reprinted yours truly's concern about Bolivia in particular. Charles R. Smith, Newsmax, notes the cadres' ties to the murderous regime in Sudan.
Communist China OK with words against Iran, but not actions: American media (namely the Washington Post and United Press Int'l via Washington Times) focused on Communist China's willingness to criticize the Iranian mullahcracy's nuclear ambitions. The BBC, however, noticed that said willingness did not extend to the U.S. demand that the mullahs' nuclear weapons program be punished by the United Nations Security Council: "China said it would do everything to achieve a diplomatic solution." Communist China has a Security Council veto it can use to protect Iran, whose nuclear ambitions have been fed by the cadres.
Another village in Guangdong falls to Communist police brutality: Communist China sent in police to violently suppress another peaceful protest, this time in Sanjiao Town (Zhongshan City). A sit-in protest by villagers calling for fair compensation in a land dispute (sound familiar?) led the cadres to send in the police. At least one protestor was murdered (Epoch Times). The regime, of course, insists all is well (BBC).
Gao Zhisheng arrested, then released: Communist police briefly detained human-rights attorney Gao Zhisheng (sixth, tenth, fifth, lead, third, last, twelfth, eighth, third, second, third, eighth, eleventh, eighth, fourth, fourth, and last items), and later released him (Epoch Times). Gao also had a few things to say about the police that had tailed and now arrested him (Epoch Times), who are also watching his colleague, Taishi hero Guo Feixiong (Epoch Times).
On the Falun Gong War - inside Communist China: Practitioner and Communist prisoner Liu Ruping (fifth and second items) hoped to have fellow attorney Yang Zaixin represent him, but the Communists had other ideas (Epoch Times). Meanwhile, He Di, also in the Epoch Times, details how the Communists' anti-Falun Gong 610 office is dividing families in Communist China.
On the Falun Gong War - outside Communist China: In an ungodly and sickening perversion of "art," Communist China is taking part of its brainwashing tour on the road (Global Service Center for Quitting Chinese Communist Party and Epoch Times). Meanwhile, one of the Thailand protestors talks to the Epoch Times from his new home - in New Zealand.
Cleared Uighurs held in Guantanamo Bay take case to Supreme Court: Attorneys for Uighurs held in Guantanamo bay despite being cleared of any ties to anti-American terrorism are going to the Supreme Court ahead of schedule in the hope on ending their clients' imprisonment (Washington Post). The U.S. has acknowledged that the Uighurs have no ties to terror, and have correctly refused to send them back to occupied East Turkestan. Unfortunately, the Administration won't let them come to the U.S. either, and has been unable to find anyone else willing to take them in (fifth and thirteenth item).
Microsoft hears it again for aiding Communist repression, and the Wall Street Journal found they weren't the only ones "cooperating with repressive regimes" (Central News Agency, Taiwan, via Epoch Times).
Journalist scares Communist Ambassador away from press conference: Guess which paper spooked the cadre in London.
Taiwan's ruling party chooses new leader; Prime Minister steps down: Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party began (we hope) its recovery from last month's local election drubbing (sixth item) with a new party chairman (BBC). Meanwhile, Prime Minister and DPP heavyweight Frank Hsieh also quit today (BBC). The DPP is still looking for the person to run for President in 2008 to succeed Chen Shui-bian, who carried the party's anti-Communist banner during his victories in 2000 and 2004.
Communist foreign reserves grow: Communist China's holdings of foreign currencies (also known as foreign reserves) "jumped 34% to a new record of $818.9bn (£462.5bn) last year" (BBC). Such an increase in foreign currency holdings is a necessary part of holding one's currency at a deliberately cheap exchange rate - one that has damaged American manufacturing and our allies' export markets. Also reporting: UPI via Washington Times
Communists tell firms to be "low-key" when buying up other companies: Communist China "has warned its companies to keep a low profile when trying to buy a foreign firm, so as not to stir up anti-Chinese feeling" (BBC). The Communists believe "the growing strength of China's economy and the surge in Chinese exports" has "caused political suspicion." Of course, the Communists are certain that their support for terrorists had nothing to do with it.
Australian biscuit-making jobs go to Communist China: Over 150 workers in Melbourne, Australia became economic victims of the Communists' cheap currency and lack of union rights: their biscuit factory was shut down "in order to move production to China" (Epoch Times).
Hong Kong leader drops faux reforms: Donald Tsang, the Communist-anointed leader of Hong Kong, has decided to drop his "reforms" of city government (BBC). Said "reforms" were pilloried, and defeated, by the pro-democracy movement in the city (tenth, second, seventh, and eighth items).
On the Nine Commentaries: Professor Yuan Hongbin (second item) tells a Nine Commentaries seminar in Sydney, Australia that the Chinese people have become "conquered" (Epoch Times) by the Communists. Meanwhile, Zhang Tianliang, also in the Epoch Times, sees the Commentaries as the foundation for a post-Communist China.
On Communist China and the outside world: Oliver North is growing more worried about Communist China's growing influence in Latin America (Washington Times), while the Epoch Times reprinted yours truly's concern about Bolivia in particular. Charles R. Smith, Newsmax, notes the cadres' ties to the murderous regime in Sudan.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
As I prepare for vacation, here are some recommended sites, and a contest!
Starting tomorrow morning, I will be on vacation until late Monday afternoon; the next News of the Day, therefore, will be on Tuesday, January 17.
In the meantime, however, please check out our Unofficial Back-up site Between Heaven and Earth. Despite having started only month and a half ago, this blog has become one of my go-to sites (and it should be one of yours, too). Of course, there are also the other members of the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Democratic China, One Free Korea, and ShaunKenney.com.
Ironically, this blog may be more well-known in Canada than here in the U.S. For that, I have to thank Friendly Blog Small Dead Animals and the good folks at the Western Standard, so be sure to stop by those sites over the next few days at least.
In fact, it is the northern neighbor that provided the inspiration for this weekend's contest. Last summer, Canada's lead opposition party (the Conservatives) called for the elimination of Ottawa's $50 million aid package to Communist China. The governing Liberals dismissed them out of hand. For anyone interested in where the money went, Terry O'Neill, Western Standard, has the details.
So, here's the contest question: What would have been a better way to spend the $50 million in Canadian taxpayer money that went to Communist China last year?
Please use the comments section to place your entries. Feel free to be humorous or serious, but please be civil. Also, let me know whether you are Canadian, American, or neither (Canada and the U.S. will likely have their own categories). The deadline is 9AM, Eastern Standard Time, on Tuesday the 17th.
Depending on how many entries come in, the winners will be decided sometime between Tuesday and - let's be ridiculously optimistic on the entry number here - February. The categories will be multiple and diverse (i.e., they have not fully formed in my head yet). The winners will have their names (or noms de cyber) and entries announced to the world, and that's about it.
With that, see you on Tuesday!
In the meantime, however, please check out our Unofficial Back-up site Between Heaven and Earth. Despite having started only month and a half ago, this blog has become one of my go-to sites (and it should be one of yours, too). Of course, there are also the other members of the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Democratic China, One Free Korea, and ShaunKenney.com.
Ironically, this blog may be more well-known in Canada than here in the U.S. For that, I have to thank Friendly Blog Small Dead Animals and the good folks at the Western Standard, so be sure to stop by those sites over the next few days at least.
In fact, it is the northern neighbor that provided the inspiration for this weekend's contest. Last summer, Canada's lead opposition party (the Conservatives) called for the elimination of Ottawa's $50 million aid package to Communist China. The governing Liberals dismissed them out of hand. For anyone interested in where the money went, Terry O'Neill, Western Standard, has the details.
So, here's the contest question: What would have been a better way to spend the $50 million in Canadian taxpayer money that went to Communist China last year?
Please use the comments section to place your entries. Feel free to be humorous or serious, but please be civil. Also, let me know whether you are Canadian, American, or neither (Canada and the U.S. will likely have their own categories). The deadline is 9AM, Eastern Standard Time, on Tuesday the 17th.
Depending on how many entries come in, the winners will be decided sometime between Tuesday and - let's be ridiculously optimistic on the entry number here - February. The categories will be multiple and diverse (i.e., they have not fully formed in my head yet). The winners will have their names (or noms de cyber) and entries announced to the world, and that's about it.
With that, see you on Tuesday!
News of the Day (January 12)
From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth takes note of the meaning of this year's calendar in Communist China, while One Free Korea comments on the latest in South Korean politics.
Canada file: Remember PetroKazakhstan, the Kazakhstan-based, Canadian owned firm that was sold to Communist China last year (third, fourth, and third items)? Well, now the Kazakhs are reduced to hoping the Communists will agree to let them buy a stake in PetroKaz (United Press International via Washington Times).
Looking for the Communists to push Kim Jong-il on his nukes? Don't hold your breath: That's the verdict from analysts interviewed by the Washington Times regarding the Stalinist-in-chief's visit to Communist China. How good does that Agreed Framework redux debacle look now?
Communist oil stake in Nigerian almost went to India: The Indian government almost bought the 45% stake in a Nigerian oil field project, but backed away "due to risk perceptions" (UPI via Washington Times). The stake is now in Communist hands, and has become another part of the cadres' growing clout in Africa (ninth item), as detailed by Jane Macartney, of the Times of London.
Dalai Lama speaks to Tibetan diaspora: Tibet's spiritual leader once again called for "genuine autonomy for Tibet" (UPI via Washington Times) during teachings held for "more than 100,000 Tibetans who have traveled from Tibet and from exile communities worldwide." Communist China has always insisted that the Dalai Lama supports independence, which he does not (although this quarter certainly does).
Thailand still holding Falun Gong prisoners: Despite intensive talks with United Nations officials, Thailand is still keeping five Falun Gong practitioners in prison (Epoch Times). Their only crime was protesting Communist China's brutal treatment of their faith at the Communist Embassy in Thailand, but it was enough to get the cadres' to pressure Thailand into arresting them (third, fourth, fifth, and sixth items).
New Zealand issues CCP resignation stamp: New Zealand's stamps now include a new stamp honoring those who have resigned from the Chinese Communist Party in disgust (Epoch Times).
Bird flu coverup - ongoing in Jiangsu - worries WHO: The World Health Organization and many others still have "concerns about the reliability of official information on the extent of bird flu among China's 1.3 billion residents" (Washington Post). Their fears were quickly confirmed by reports of a bird flu outbreak - and coverup - in Jiangsu Province (Boxun).
Enlightened Comment of the Day: Today's winner is Frank Gaffney, author of War Footing: 10 Steps America Must Take to Prevail in the War for the Free World. In an interview with Kathryn Jean Lopez of National Review Online, he gives a terrific answer to the question: "Should we be freaked out about China?"
On Communist China and the Internet: Reporters Without Borders asks for support for their proposals to keep American technology companies out of the repression business (Boxun); they also have an on-line petition campaign (yours truly has signed). Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists rips both Communist China and Microsoft for their treatment of dissident blogger Zhao Jing (Boxun).
More Commentary on Communist China: Sarah Schafer, Newsweek International, is the latest to notice Communist China's lack of concern over intellectual property rights. Edward Cody, Washington Post via MSNBC, gives more background on the Hunan cadmium spill (eighth item).
Canada file: Remember PetroKazakhstan, the Kazakhstan-based, Canadian owned firm that was sold to Communist China last year (third, fourth, and third items)? Well, now the Kazakhs are reduced to hoping the Communists will agree to let them buy a stake in PetroKaz (United Press International via Washington Times).
Looking for the Communists to push Kim Jong-il on his nukes? Don't hold your breath: That's the verdict from analysts interviewed by the Washington Times regarding the Stalinist-in-chief's visit to Communist China. How good does that Agreed Framework redux debacle look now?
Communist oil stake in Nigerian almost went to India: The Indian government almost bought the 45% stake in a Nigerian oil field project, but backed away "due to risk perceptions" (UPI via Washington Times). The stake is now in Communist hands, and has become another part of the cadres' growing clout in Africa (ninth item), as detailed by Jane Macartney, of the Times of London.
Dalai Lama speaks to Tibetan diaspora: Tibet's spiritual leader once again called for "genuine autonomy for Tibet" (UPI via Washington Times) during teachings held for "more than 100,000 Tibetans who have traveled from Tibet and from exile communities worldwide." Communist China has always insisted that the Dalai Lama supports independence, which he does not (although this quarter certainly does).
Thailand still holding Falun Gong prisoners: Despite intensive talks with United Nations officials, Thailand is still keeping five Falun Gong practitioners in prison (Epoch Times). Their only crime was protesting Communist China's brutal treatment of their faith at the Communist Embassy in Thailand, but it was enough to get the cadres' to pressure Thailand into arresting them (third, fourth, fifth, and sixth items).
New Zealand issues CCP resignation stamp: New Zealand's stamps now include a new stamp honoring those who have resigned from the Chinese Communist Party in disgust (Epoch Times).
Bird flu coverup - ongoing in Jiangsu - worries WHO: The World Health Organization and many others still have "concerns about the reliability of official information on the extent of bird flu among China's 1.3 billion residents" (Washington Post). Their fears were quickly confirmed by reports of a bird flu outbreak - and coverup - in Jiangsu Province (Boxun).
Enlightened Comment of the Day: Today's winner is Frank Gaffney, author of War Footing: 10 Steps America Must Take to Prevail in the War for the Free World. In an interview with Kathryn Jean Lopez of National Review Online, he gives a terrific answer to the question: "Should we be freaked out about China?"
On Communist China and the Internet: Reporters Without Borders asks for support for their proposals to keep American technology companies out of the repression business (Boxun); they also have an on-line petition campaign (yours truly has signed). Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists rips both Communist China and Microsoft for their treatment of dissident blogger Zhao Jing (Boxun).
More Commentary on Communist China: Sarah Schafer, Newsweek International, is the latest to notice Communist China's lack of concern over intellectual property rights. Edward Cody, Washington Post via MSNBC, gives more background on the Hunan cadmium spill (eighth item).
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
News of the Day (January 11)
From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth has the latest on the battle between Communist China and the Internet, and how U.S. technology companies are on the wrong side. BHaE also has the latest on the cadres' plan to destroy Falun Gong before the 2008 Olympics (all the more reason not to go).
The Canada file: Two pro-democracy activists in Beijing tried to mark the one-year anniversary of the death of Zhao Ziyang, the Communist Party boss who resigned and was placed under house arrest for over fifteen years for refusing to endorse the Tiananmen massacre. The cadres' responded by arresting Li Jinping and placing Liu Jingsheng under house arrest (Epoch Times). To date, the only Western official to pay his respects at the Zhao home is Canadian Conservative MP Jason Kenney. Meanwhile, have you asked the CRTC not to air Communist Chinese propaganda yet?
Communist Chinese military talks nice to United States: Communist Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan told a visiting Congressional delegation that "his country is ready to expand military ties with the United States" (United Press International via Washington Times). There was, however, no mention of the Communist militry cutting its ties to terrorists such as al Qaeda and Iranian mullahcracy. Charles R. Smith, Newsmax, provides some badly need context in that vein in a thumbnail sketch of the Communist-owned Norinco.
Stalinist-in-chief in Shanghai as Vershbow talks up South Korea: Kim Jong-il, the ostensible leader of Communist China's would-be colony, was in Shanghai as part of his trip to the base regime (Washington Post). Meanwhile, Alexander Vershbow, U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, talked up the dovish ally in a speech to the Korean-American Association (Washington Times).
India, spurned by Burma for Communist China, looks for deals with cadres: Indian Energy Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar is in Communist China looking for "an end to the rivalry with China for energy resources" (UPI via Washington Times). The Communists don't appear to be receptive; they managed to convince the Burmese dictatorship to jeopardize a Burmese-Indian pipeline and make a deal with the Communist-owned PetroChina "for gas from the A1 block in Bay of Bengal" (UPI via Washington Times).
Communist Foreign Minister in Africa: Communist Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing has begun his visit to Africa (ninth item). The trip will largely be driven by energy deals (BBC).
Communist Chinese trade surplus passes $100 billion: Communist China's overall trade surplus with the rest of the world "more than tripled to $102bn in 2005" (BBC). No exact figures were given for the trade surplus with the United States.
As bird flu continues to grow, expert appears to buckle under Communist pressure: Bird flu claimed two more lives in Communist China (BBC), but it was the Communist attempts to cover-up the extent of the disease that had more people wondering. Guan Yi , a microbiologist at Hong Kong University, has started to back away from earlier assertions that the cadres were covering up the virus' breadth in Communist China (sixth item), leading one Hong Kong legislator to ask if Yi "has any undisclosed problems" (Epoch Times). If said legislator had followed this quarter, he would have known the Communists shut down Yi's laboratory in retaliation (fourth item).
On the state of education in Communist China: Communist China's financial commitment to educating its young people is so paltry that it "does not even match that of the poor African country, Uganda" (Epoch Times). However, in one area, the Communists have a keen interest in education - Party members are using positions of power to demand sexual favors from students looking to advance in college. An unnamed female medical students reveals the sordid "sex bribery" dealings in an account published by the Epoch Times.
The Canada file: Two pro-democracy activists in Beijing tried to mark the one-year anniversary of the death of Zhao Ziyang, the Communist Party boss who resigned and was placed under house arrest for over fifteen years for refusing to endorse the Tiananmen massacre. The cadres' responded by arresting Li Jinping and placing Liu Jingsheng under house arrest (Epoch Times). To date, the only Western official to pay his respects at the Zhao home is Canadian Conservative MP Jason Kenney. Meanwhile, have you asked the CRTC not to air Communist Chinese propaganda yet?
Communist Chinese military talks nice to United States: Communist Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan told a visiting Congressional delegation that "his country is ready to expand military ties with the United States" (United Press International via Washington Times). There was, however, no mention of the Communist militry cutting its ties to terrorists such as al Qaeda and Iranian mullahcracy. Charles R. Smith, Newsmax, provides some badly need context in that vein in a thumbnail sketch of the Communist-owned Norinco.
Stalinist-in-chief in Shanghai as Vershbow talks up South Korea: Kim Jong-il, the ostensible leader of Communist China's would-be colony, was in Shanghai as part of his trip to the base regime (Washington Post). Meanwhile, Alexander Vershbow, U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, talked up the dovish ally in a speech to the Korean-American Association (Washington Times).
India, spurned by Burma for Communist China, looks for deals with cadres: Indian Energy Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar is in Communist China looking for "an end to the rivalry with China for energy resources" (UPI via Washington Times). The Communists don't appear to be receptive; they managed to convince the Burmese dictatorship to jeopardize a Burmese-Indian pipeline and make a deal with the Communist-owned PetroChina "for gas from the A1 block in Bay of Bengal" (UPI via Washington Times).
Communist Foreign Minister in Africa: Communist Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing has begun his visit to Africa (ninth item). The trip will largely be driven by energy deals (BBC).
Communist Chinese trade surplus passes $100 billion: Communist China's overall trade surplus with the rest of the world "more than tripled to $102bn in 2005" (BBC). No exact figures were given for the trade surplus with the United States.
As bird flu continues to grow, expert appears to buckle under Communist pressure: Bird flu claimed two more lives in Communist China (BBC), but it was the Communist attempts to cover-up the extent of the disease that had more people wondering. Guan Yi , a microbiologist at Hong Kong University, has started to back away from earlier assertions that the cadres were covering up the virus' breadth in Communist China (sixth item), leading one Hong Kong legislator to ask if Yi "has any undisclosed problems" (Epoch Times). If said legislator had followed this quarter, he would have known the Communists shut down Yi's laboratory in retaliation (fourth item).
On the state of education in Communist China: Communist China's financial commitment to educating its young people is so paltry that it "does not even match that of the poor African country, Uganda" (Epoch Times). However, in one area, the Communists have a keen interest in education - Party members are using positions of power to demand sexual favors from students looking to advance in college. An unnamed female medical students reveals the sordid "sex bribery" dealings in an account published by the Epoch Times.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
A message to President Evo Morales: Please be careful
The News of the Day can be found here.
Last month, the people of Bolivia elected Evo Morales as their President in a landslide. The 54% of Bolivians who voted for him was the highest total any Bolivian candidate had received since democracy returned to the Latin American nation. Naturally, his supporters, and he himself, have confidence and optimism about the vision they have for Bolivia.
President-elect Morales almost immediately set about on a world tour, which as of this hour is still ongoing. Unfortunately, this tour, in particular his reference to Communist China as an "ideological ally" (third item), may be the undoing of Morales' vision, and perhaps even his presidency itself, by the very "ally" he is courting.
Morales won election on the banner of the left-wing Movimiento Al Socialismo, and has made partial nationalization of the country's energy sector a priority. He as also famously promised to become the "nightmare" of the United States. As an American - and moreover, one far more comfortable in the American right - I must acknowledge grave disagreements with Mr. Morales' domestic policies, but Bolivia is his country, not mine, and therefore I do not consider it my place to interject my opinions there (or here on this blog, where I have put and will continue to put my non-international policy opinions in a deep freeze).
In fact, I am more worried for Mr. Morales, and the young democracy he leads, for at one point he even went so far as to tell Communist Chinese leader Hu Jintao: "I hope to count on the help of your government and your party" (emphasis added). Said comments come not from mere anti-Americanism, but from a far deeper naivete about the Chinese Communist Party itself.
In the Bolivia’s President-elect's defense, very few people are aware of the full misery the Chinese Communist Party has inflicted upon its own people. Thus, Mr. Morales' apparent ignorance of it should not be too harshly criticized. That said, Mr. Morales is the elected leader of the people of Bolivia, and as such, it is the people of Bolivia whose concerns he must (and in my view, does) hold close to his heart. Once he becomes fully aware of the Communists' real history, he should therefore ask himself, if this regime has such little concern for its own people, how will they care one whit about mine?
Moreover, Mr. Morales must keep in mind Communist China's relations with the rest of the world. As a leftist, the Bolivian leader-to-be probably assumes the Chinese Communists are concerned for the workers and peasants of all nations, including his own. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Chinese Communist Party’s only concern is maintaining power. At present, that means reaching out to anti-American allies to challenge the U.S., such as al Qaeda and Iran, and getting its hands on whatever resources it can find to feed the voracious demands of its corruption-riddled (Epoch Times) and wasteful (twenty-ninth, thirtieth, last, and seventh items) economy. These reasons and these alone are why the cadres are taking such an interest in Bolivia.
So why should that bother Mr. Morales? So long as Communist China leaves him alone and deals with him fairly, he should not have any problems. However, the Communists, contrary to their endless claims, almost never leave their partner nations alone, and this is why Mr. Morales should fear them. For a future with Communist China points Morales' Bolivia in two directions - one route traveled by Zimbabwe, the other by Pakistan. Democracy does not survive either path.
In Zimbabwe, a relatively prosperous nation has fallen into famine due to economic mismanagement and political intimidation. Strongman Robert Mugabe lost the support of his own people long ago, but instead of stepping down, he has chosen to keep his country locked in his tyrannical grip to the bitter end, with Communist China supporting him all the way, and exploiting the situation to its advantage at every opportunity. The only loser is the Zimbabwean people.
In Pakistan, meanwhile, a democratic government led by Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif not only professed its fealty to Communist China, but made its country a nuclear power in the 1990s, thanks in large part to Communist help (third item). Less than two years later, when the Pakistani military - commanded by Pervez Musharraf - arrested Sharif and took control in a coup, Communist China didn’t bat an eyelash. Stability was the order of the day. In fact, General Musharraf, unable to rely on support from his own people to justify his rule, became more pliable to the Communists than the elected Sharif was.
In time, Mr. Morales will face the pressure to turn his political opponents into enemies of the state, and turn himself from Bolivia’s most popular elected leader into its last elected leader. Will the Chinese Communist Party – the authors of Shanwei, Taishi, Hanyuan, and Tiananmen - urge Morales to stick to democratic values and methods? Or will they instead recommend instilling order, and promise whatever help Morales needs to keep power regardless of his people’s wishes? Furthermore, if Morales does choose the struggles of a democrat - building political coalitions, arguing his case to his people, etc. - will the Communists stand by him? Or will they start to seek out other Bolivians to provide the "stability" they crave?
To ask these questions is to answer them. This is why I view Mr. Morales' comments not with anger or outrage, but genuine concern for himself and his country. One can indeed be both a democrat and a leftist; "Long Hair" Leung proves that every day in Hong Kong (China Support Network). However, one cannot be a democrat and an "ally" of the Chinese Communist Party. Evo Morales must choose, and choose quickly, or the Communists will make the choice for him.
Last month, the people of Bolivia elected Evo Morales as their President in a landslide. The 54% of Bolivians who voted for him was the highest total any Bolivian candidate had received since democracy returned to the Latin American nation. Naturally, his supporters, and he himself, have confidence and optimism about the vision they have for Bolivia.
President-elect Morales almost immediately set about on a world tour, which as of this hour is still ongoing. Unfortunately, this tour, in particular his reference to Communist China as an "ideological ally" (third item), may be the undoing of Morales' vision, and perhaps even his presidency itself, by the very "ally" he is courting.
Morales won election on the banner of the left-wing Movimiento Al Socialismo, and has made partial nationalization of the country's energy sector a priority. He as also famously promised to become the "nightmare" of the United States. As an American - and moreover, one far more comfortable in the American right - I must acknowledge grave disagreements with Mr. Morales' domestic policies, but Bolivia is his country, not mine, and therefore I do not consider it my place to interject my opinions there (or here on this blog, where I have put and will continue to put my non-international policy opinions in a deep freeze).
In fact, I am more worried for Mr. Morales, and the young democracy he leads, for at one point he even went so far as to tell Communist Chinese leader Hu Jintao: "I hope to count on the help of your government and your party" (emphasis added). Said comments come not from mere anti-Americanism, but from a far deeper naivete about the Chinese Communist Party itself.
In the Bolivia’s President-elect's defense, very few people are aware of the full misery the Chinese Communist Party has inflicted upon its own people. Thus, Mr. Morales' apparent ignorance of it should not be too harshly criticized. That said, Mr. Morales is the elected leader of the people of Bolivia, and as such, it is the people of Bolivia whose concerns he must (and in my view, does) hold close to his heart. Once he becomes fully aware of the Communists' real history, he should therefore ask himself, if this regime has such little concern for its own people, how will they care one whit about mine?
Moreover, Mr. Morales must keep in mind Communist China's relations with the rest of the world. As a leftist, the Bolivian leader-to-be probably assumes the Chinese Communists are concerned for the workers and peasants of all nations, including his own. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Chinese Communist Party’s only concern is maintaining power. At present, that means reaching out to anti-American allies to challenge the U.S., such as al Qaeda and Iran, and getting its hands on whatever resources it can find to feed the voracious demands of its corruption-riddled (Epoch Times) and wasteful (twenty-ninth, thirtieth, last, and seventh items) economy. These reasons and these alone are why the cadres are taking such an interest in Bolivia.
So why should that bother Mr. Morales? So long as Communist China leaves him alone and deals with him fairly, he should not have any problems. However, the Communists, contrary to their endless claims, almost never leave their partner nations alone, and this is why Mr. Morales should fear them. For a future with Communist China points Morales' Bolivia in two directions - one route traveled by Zimbabwe, the other by Pakistan. Democracy does not survive either path.
In Zimbabwe, a relatively prosperous nation has fallen into famine due to economic mismanagement and political intimidation. Strongman Robert Mugabe lost the support of his own people long ago, but instead of stepping down, he has chosen to keep his country locked in his tyrannical grip to the bitter end, with Communist China supporting him all the way, and exploiting the situation to its advantage at every opportunity. The only loser is the Zimbabwean people.
In Pakistan, meanwhile, a democratic government led by Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif not only professed its fealty to Communist China, but made its country a nuclear power in the 1990s, thanks in large part to Communist help (third item). Less than two years later, when the Pakistani military - commanded by Pervez Musharraf - arrested Sharif and took control in a coup, Communist China didn’t bat an eyelash. Stability was the order of the day. In fact, General Musharraf, unable to rely on support from his own people to justify his rule, became more pliable to the Communists than the elected Sharif was.
In time, Mr. Morales will face the pressure to turn his political opponents into enemies of the state, and turn himself from Bolivia’s most popular elected leader into its last elected leader. Will the Chinese Communist Party – the authors of Shanwei, Taishi, Hanyuan, and Tiananmen - urge Morales to stick to democratic values and methods? Or will they instead recommend instilling order, and promise whatever help Morales needs to keep power regardless of his people’s wishes? Furthermore, if Morales does choose the struggles of a democrat - building political coalitions, arguing his case to his people, etc. - will the Communists stand by him? Or will they start to seek out other Bolivians to provide the "stability" they crave?
To ask these questions is to answer them. This is why I view Mr. Morales' comments not with anger or outrage, but genuine concern for himself and his country. One can indeed be both a democrat and a leftist; "Long Hair" Leung proves that every day in Hong Kong (China Support Network). However, one cannot be a democrat and an "ally" of the Chinese Communist Party. Evo Morales must choose, and choose quickly, or the Communists will make the choice for him.
News of the Day (January 10)
From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth picks up the banner for those in Canada challenging the Communists' attempt to get their propaganda television stations to air in the Great White North. We endorse this effort wholeheartedly, and ask all Canadian readers to call on the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission to keep Communist propaganda off the air (contact information can be found via the BHaE link). BHaE also highlights the painful plight of Parhat Yasin, a Uighur in the United States whose family is under house arrest by Communist China, who is using them to "pressure him into spying" on the cadres' behalf. Meanwhile, One Free Korea takes note of Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il's visit to Communist China (see also BBC, Washington Times), points to a demand by South Koreans for the Stalinist North to compensate them for imprisoning and torturing them (JoongAng Daily), and notes more friction between South Korea's dovish government and American military forces (but misses, oddly enough, the increasing anger within South Korea's military at the doves - Washington Times). OFK also rails against the return to dictatorship in Cambodia (fifth item).
More from the Canada file: Montreal marks the seven-millionth resignation from the Chinese Communist Party (Epoch Times). Meanwhile, Roland Jones, MSNBC, finds Communist China's Geely cars at an auto show, and runs into Malcolm Bricklin (fourth and sixteenth items - for more on why Mr. Bricklin belongs in the Canada file, see this piece from last February by Kevin Steel, Western Standard).
Bolivian president-elect calls Communist China "ideological ally": Bolivian President-elect Evo Morales, still in Communist China after inviting the regime into his home country's energy sector (twelfth item), called Communist China an "ideological ally" (Washington Times), asked Communist leader Hu Jintao for "the help of your government and your party" (emphasis added). This quarter repeats its heartfelt warning to Mr. Morales - if Ronald Bruce St John (Foreign Policy In Focus) is correct, a dictatorship is not what you want for your homeland, but Communist China much prefers dictators to popularly elected officials.
India tries to ease Communist fears of its nuclear deal with the United States: Indian Foreign Minister Shayam Saran is in Communist China hoping "to win China's support for its U.N. Security Council membership, and its emergence as a nuclear power" (United Press Int'l via Washington Times). The latter is a reference to last summer's deal between the U.S. and India on nuclear cooperation, which has spooked the Communists (thirteenth and tenth items). Yours truly recommends that India not hold its breath on this one.
Slovakian victim of Communist persecution gives hope to the Chinese people: Father Jan K. Balazs, a Catholic priest and dissident in Communist-controlled Slovakia (then part of Czechoslovakia) in the 1980s, tells the Chinese people: "Don't lose hope. They can be sure that we think about them and that they are not alone." Father Balazs made those comments in an interview with Peter Sedik, Epoch Times reporter and Slovakia Director for the China Support Network.
More from the Canada file: Montreal marks the seven-millionth resignation from the Chinese Communist Party (Epoch Times). Meanwhile, Roland Jones, MSNBC, finds Communist China's Geely cars at an auto show, and runs into Malcolm Bricklin (fourth and sixteenth items - for more on why Mr. Bricklin belongs in the Canada file, see this piece from last February by Kevin Steel, Western Standard).
Bolivian president-elect calls Communist China "ideological ally": Bolivian President-elect Evo Morales, still in Communist China after inviting the regime into his home country's energy sector (twelfth item), called Communist China an "ideological ally" (Washington Times), asked Communist leader Hu Jintao for "the help of your government and your party" (emphasis added). This quarter repeats its heartfelt warning to Mr. Morales - if Ronald Bruce St John (Foreign Policy In Focus) is correct, a dictatorship is not what you want for your homeland, but Communist China much prefers dictators to popularly elected officials.
India tries to ease Communist fears of its nuclear deal with the United States: Indian Foreign Minister Shayam Saran is in Communist China hoping "to win China's support for its U.N. Security Council membership, and its emergence as a nuclear power" (United Press Int'l via Washington Times). The latter is a reference to last summer's deal between the U.S. and India on nuclear cooperation, which has spooked the Communists (thirteenth and tenth items). Yours truly recommends that India not hold its breath on this one.
Slovakian victim of Communist persecution gives hope to the Chinese people: Father Jan K. Balazs, a Catholic priest and dissident in Communist-controlled Slovakia (then part of Czechoslovakia) in the 1980s, tells the Chinese people: "Don't lose hope. They can be sure that we think about them and that they are not alone." Father Balazs made those comments in an interview with Peter Sedik, Epoch Times reporter and Slovakia Director for the China Support Network.
Monday, January 09, 2006
News of the Day (January 9)
From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth marks the seven millionth resignation from the Chinese Communist Party with a Nine Commentaries speech by Dr. Jack Wheelers, tracks the latest news from Taiwan (including the propaganda value of panda bears - both links from Taipei Times), notes the Dalai Lama's comments on Tibet (via Agence France Presse), and the plight of one book banned in Communist China (via Globe and Mail). Meanwhile, One Free Korea takes dovish South Korea to task on its "sunshine" policy, both in general and its stunning release of a Stalinist agent who kidnapped Japanese citizens; OFK also notes a possible challenger to the anti-American Korean Teachers Union, and surprising unanimity on the Stalinist money counterfeiting operation (last item).
Canada file: Friendly Blog Small Dead Animals author Kate McMillan weighs in on the Liberals' attempt to use the head tax issue (sixth, lead, second, and second items) to make Communist China happy (CBC).
More Taiwan news: Taiwan is "unlikely" (BBC) to accept two pandas offered by Communist China as part of opposition politician Lien Chan's abysmal visit to Communist China last year. The Communists insist the pandas do "not fall under the control of the convention on international trade in endangered species." In other words, Taiwan should be Communist territory anyway, rather than its own, democratic country. Meanwhile, a Taiwanese citizen laments what he hears on the mainland to the Epoch Times, and Tsen-Hsie Wu, also in the Epoch Times, provides some background on pro-democracy activist and current Taiwan would-be refugee Yan Jun.
More Tibet news: Communist China is planning on building a luxury train to Lhasa, the capital of the occupied country. The railway's expected completion date is 2007 (BBC).
Chen Guangcheng beaten, again: Blind anti-"one child" activist Chen Guangcheng was beaten outside his home by "about nine people, including two officials" (Epoch Times), who "punched and kicked Chen" repeatedly. It was not the first beating for Chen (tenth, second, ninth, ninth, thirteenth, lead, and tenth items). Also reporting: Friendly Blog Shotgun
Protestors from Zhejiang pollution battle sent to prison: Protestors in Huaxi village, where Communist police sent cars to literally run over a large crowd demonstrating against a polluting chemical factory (fourth, eleventh, and sixth item), were sent to prison today (Washington Post).
Press Freedom groups angry at Communist repression: Reporters Without Borders makes a series of proposals to stop U.S. technology firms from aiding the Communist crackdown on free speech (via Boxun). The International Federation of Journalists railed against the imprisonment of reporters (via Boxun), while the Committee to Protect Journalists (via Boxun) highlights the case of Ching Cheong (sixth and eighth items).
Communist China faces two more toxic spills as Songhua cleanup cost hits $3 billion: The Xiangjiang river in Hunan province now has a cadmium spill due to "a botched environmental clean-up " (BBC) and six tons of diesel fuel spilled into the Yellow River in Shandong. Meanwhile, the Communists are admitting it will take five years to clean up the Songhua river from the benzene spilled into it from the Jilin chemical explosion (seventh, fourth, ninth, fourth, fourth, fifth, fourth, fifth, third, seventh, tenth, and twelfth items), at a cost of $3 billion (Washington Post).
Yet another Communist campaign against corruption has begun with a new Communist call for its cadres "to work harder to stop bribery among businessmen and local officials in the country's thousands of cities, counties and villages" (Washington Post); we expect the same rate of success as all the past campaigns.
Communist China claims economic growth underestimated, again: Communist China released new economic growth figures for 1998-2004, and the new data says the economy "grew faster than previously thought in each of the past six years" (BBC). Of course, the data was silent on the effect of inflated statistics and useless industrial construction was, naturally, not revealed (fifteenth, twenty-ninth, thirtieth, tenth, sixth, last, last, and seventh items).
Communist banking sector in terrible shape: One sign of Communist China's real economic state is its banking sector, where nearly half of the loans from the Communist-run banks were non-performing (i.e., not being paid back), or at least it was nearly half until recently. Both Samizdata and Friendly Blog Shotgun are puzzled at how the number fell to 12% "within a space of four years." Remember what we said about Communist statistics, gentlemen? Meanwhile, Asia News (Italy) finds that the black market in money now accounts for over $100 billion in "underground loans" annually.
New Bolivian President wants energy investment money from Communist China: Bolivian President-elect Evo Morales has "invited the Chinese government, through its state companies, to participate in Bolivia's energy sector" according to his economic advisor Carlos Villegas, cited by the BBC. While Morales is a left-wing politician who has criticized America heavily, he should tread carefully, as the Communists usually prefer working with dictators. Also reporting: Mercopress
CNOOC makes another C0mmunist stake in Africa: CNOOC, the Communist-run oil firm best known for trying to swallow up Unocal (see also fourth, seventh, and second items), "agreed to buy a stake in a Nigerian offshore oil and gas field for $2.3bn" (BBC). CNOOC's stake in the oil field is nearly half, and yet another sign of Communist China's growing influence in Africa (ninth item).
East China Sea talks go nowhere: Communist China and Japan "failed to make any progress in their dispute over energy resources in the East China Sea, but have agreed to talk again" (BBC). The Communist regime and its longtime democratic opponent in East Asia have argued over the economic claims to the East China Sea for many years (tenth, sixth, and fourth items).
Ignorant Comment of the Day: Former Australian diplomat Gregory Clark would have run away with the dubious honor even if I hadn't read his idiotic Japan Times (via Taiwan Security Network) column at the same time I was working my way through Mao: The Unknown Story, which happens to debunk much of his rant.
Two more Communist exports - cars and tennis players: Hannah Beech, Time Asia, examines Communist China's tennis program, and how its players will suffer because of Communist control. Daren Fonda, also in Time Asia, examines the Communist drive to export cars, including the Chery brand, courtesy of Yugo-salesman Malcolm Bricklin (fourth item).
Other Commentary on Communist China: Melinda Liu, Newsweek International, takes note of the Communists' high-tech "863 project," but misses the military-nanotechnology piece. Human rights attorney Gao Zhisheng (sixth, tenth, fifth, lead, third, last, twelfth, eighth, third, second, third, eighth, eleventh, eighth, fourth, and fourth items) calls upon all of us to remember the victims of Communist bloodlust (Epoch Times). Jill McGivering, BBC, gives the depressing reality about the surviving cult of personality around the late, unlamented Mao Zedong.
Canada file: Friendly Blog Small Dead Animals author Kate McMillan weighs in on the Liberals' attempt to use the head tax issue (sixth, lead, second, and second items) to make Communist China happy (CBC).
More Taiwan news: Taiwan is "unlikely" (BBC) to accept two pandas offered by Communist China as part of opposition politician Lien Chan's abysmal visit to Communist China last year. The Communists insist the pandas do "not fall under the control of the convention on international trade in endangered species." In other words, Taiwan should be Communist territory anyway, rather than its own, democratic country. Meanwhile, a Taiwanese citizen laments what he hears on the mainland to the Epoch Times, and Tsen-Hsie Wu, also in the Epoch Times, provides some background on pro-democracy activist and current Taiwan would-be refugee Yan Jun.
More Tibet news: Communist China is planning on building a luxury train to Lhasa, the capital of the occupied country. The railway's expected completion date is 2007 (BBC).
Chen Guangcheng beaten, again: Blind anti-"one child" activist Chen Guangcheng was beaten outside his home by "about nine people, including two officials" (Epoch Times), who "punched and kicked Chen" repeatedly. It was not the first beating for Chen (tenth, second, ninth, ninth, thirteenth, lead, and tenth items). Also reporting: Friendly Blog Shotgun
Protestors from Zhejiang pollution battle sent to prison: Protestors in Huaxi village, where Communist police sent cars to literally run over a large crowd demonstrating against a polluting chemical factory (fourth, eleventh, and sixth item), were sent to prison today (Washington Post).
Press Freedom groups angry at Communist repression: Reporters Without Borders makes a series of proposals to stop U.S. technology firms from aiding the Communist crackdown on free speech (via Boxun). The International Federation of Journalists railed against the imprisonment of reporters (via Boxun), while the Committee to Protect Journalists (via Boxun) highlights the case of Ching Cheong (sixth and eighth items).
Communist China faces two more toxic spills as Songhua cleanup cost hits $3 billion: The Xiangjiang river in Hunan province now has a cadmium spill due to "a botched environmental clean-up " (BBC) and six tons of diesel fuel spilled into the Yellow River in Shandong. Meanwhile, the Communists are admitting it will take five years to clean up the Songhua river from the benzene spilled into it from the Jilin chemical explosion (seventh, fourth, ninth, fourth, fourth, fifth, fourth, fifth, third, seventh, tenth, and twelfth items), at a cost of $3 billion (Washington Post).
Yet another Communist campaign against corruption has begun with a new Communist call for its cadres "to work harder to stop bribery among businessmen and local officials in the country's thousands of cities, counties and villages" (Washington Post); we expect the same rate of success as all the past campaigns.
Communist China claims economic growth underestimated, again: Communist China released new economic growth figures for 1998-2004, and the new data says the economy "grew faster than previously thought in each of the past six years" (BBC). Of course, the data was silent on the effect of inflated statistics and useless industrial construction was, naturally, not revealed (fifteenth, twenty-ninth, thirtieth, tenth, sixth, last, last, and seventh items).
Communist banking sector in terrible shape: One sign of Communist China's real economic state is its banking sector, where nearly half of the loans from the Communist-run banks were non-performing (i.e., not being paid back), or at least it was nearly half until recently. Both Samizdata and Friendly Blog Shotgun are puzzled at how the number fell to 12% "within a space of four years." Remember what we said about Communist statistics, gentlemen? Meanwhile, Asia News (Italy) finds that the black market in money now accounts for over $100 billion in "underground loans" annually.
New Bolivian President wants energy investment money from Communist China: Bolivian President-elect Evo Morales has "invited the Chinese government, through its state companies, to participate in Bolivia's energy sector" according to his economic advisor Carlos Villegas, cited by the BBC. While Morales is a left-wing politician who has criticized America heavily, he should tread carefully, as the Communists usually prefer working with dictators. Also reporting: Mercopress
CNOOC makes another C0mmunist stake in Africa: CNOOC, the Communist-run oil firm best known for trying to swallow up Unocal (see also fourth, seventh, and second items), "agreed to buy a stake in a Nigerian offshore oil and gas field for $2.3bn" (BBC). CNOOC's stake in the oil field is nearly half, and yet another sign of Communist China's growing influence in Africa (ninth item).
East China Sea talks go nowhere: Communist China and Japan "failed to make any progress in their dispute over energy resources in the East China Sea, but have agreed to talk again" (BBC). The Communist regime and its longtime democratic opponent in East Asia have argued over the economic claims to the East China Sea for many years (tenth, sixth, and fourth items).
Ignorant Comment of the Day: Former Australian diplomat Gregory Clark would have run away with the dubious honor even if I hadn't read his idiotic Japan Times (via Taiwan Security Network) column at the same time I was working my way through Mao: The Unknown Story, which happens to debunk much of his rant.
Two more Communist exports - cars and tennis players: Hannah Beech, Time Asia, examines Communist China's tennis program, and how its players will suffer because of Communist control. Daren Fonda, also in Time Asia, examines the Communist drive to export cars, including the Chery brand, courtesy of Yugo-salesman Malcolm Bricklin (fourth item).
Other Commentary on Communist China: Melinda Liu, Newsweek International, takes note of the Communists' high-tech "863 project," but misses the military-nanotechnology piece. Human rights attorney Gao Zhisheng (sixth, tenth, fifth, lead, third, last, twelfth, eighth, third, second, third, eighth, eleventh, eighth, fourth, and fourth items) calls upon all of us to remember the victims of Communist bloodlust (Epoch Times). Jill McGivering, BBC, gives the depressing reality about the surviving cult of personality around the late, unlamented Mao Zedong.
Friday, January 06, 2006
News of the Day (January 6)
From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth compiles the latest on Communist China's internet crackdown - with help from technology firms in the democratic world - and reprints a terrific piece on Communist China and the War on Terror from Investors' Business Daily; and no, I do not say that only because the piece mentions me (the cartoon is also terrific, and apropos). Meanwhile, One Free Korea gauges the state, such as it is, of South Korean politics.
Canada file: Prime Minister Paul Martin apologized (somewhat convolutedly) for the Chinese head tax Canadian imposed from 1885 to 1923 (Vancouver Sun). However, he did not make any changes to the deal that would deny compensation to any actual victims or their descendants; the money is still going to the pro-Communist National Congress of Chinese Canadians (sixth, lead, and second items).
Leader of citizens' fight to stop cadres from seizing Shaanxi oil wells sentenced to jail: Feng Bingxian, "one of about 60,000 private investors who developed oil wells in Shaanxi with the blessing of local officials in the mid-1990s" (Washington Post), was sentenced to three years in jail for "organizing illegal protests," i.e., bringing together the investors after the Communists seized the profitable oil wells. The rise and fall of this enterprise (fourth and lead items) should be ample warning for anyone too enamored of "private property" in Communist China.
More on human rights in Communist China: Ji Yun, Epoch Times, interviews human-rights attorney Gao Zhisheng (sixth, tenth, fifth, lead, third, last, twelfth, eighth, third, second, third, eighth, eleventh, eighth, and fourth items). Ben Bendig, also in the Epoch Times, provides the second installment in a three part series on Falun Gong practitioner, American citizen, and Communist Chinese prisoner Charles Li (fifth item).
Communists make another mine closing announcement, despite last year's empty promises: Communist China made another bold announcement about closing coal mines: "As many as 5,290 coal mines will be shut down, said the state Xinhua News Agency" (CBC). One would be more willing to believe this were it not for the earlier, unfulfilled promise to shut down between 4,000 and 7,000 mines last year (sixth and eighth items).
Architect of Cultural Revolution dies: Yao Wenyuan, one of the "gang of four" that oversaw Mao Zedong's brutal Cultural Revolution, died last month at the age of 74 (BBC). He was the last of the gang to die.
Leading anti-anti-Communist may be eased out of key Washington post: Dennis Wilder, currently the acting NSC director for Asia, is running into "criticism from liberal human-rights activists over his role in arranging the embarrassing visit by President Bush to an "official" Chinese government-controlled Protestant church Nov. 20 in Beijing" (Washington Times). The fallout from that visit, during which "about 30 people were arrested near the church" by the Communists for trying "to explain to the president the true state of religious repression in China" means Wilder's attempt to get the job permanently "has run into trouble and is unlikely" to succeed. Conservatives were already upset at Wilder for his criticism of anti-Communists within the Bush Administration.
Communist China may stop piling up U.S. dollars in its foreign reserves: The cadres are looking at plans "to diversify its rapidly growing foreign exchange reserves away from the US dollar and government bonds" (Financial Times, UK, via MSNBC). The move, if actually implemented, would "put heavy downward pressure on the greenback," and end or reduce Communist China's deliberate devaluation of its currency. The devaluation has damaged both American manufacturing and exporters among our allies around the world.
Communist Foreign Minister to visit Africa; cadres using continent to avoid textile curbs: Trade between Communist China and resource-rich Africa "jumped 39% to $32.17bn (£18bn) in the first 10 months of last year" (BBC). More troubling, "textiles and clothing firms were also investing heavily in Africa at the moment as a way to get around US and European Union limits on Chinese exports in this sector" (see also fifth, fourth, second, fifth, third, second, and eleventh items). Given the above, and Communist China's neo-colonial plans for Zimbabwe, it should be no surprise that Communist Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing is heading for Africa later this month (Washington Times).
Ignorant Comment of the Day: While Devvy Kid does recognize some of the ties between Communist China and the mullahcracy of Iran, her conclusion that the Islamic regime and Communist satellite state having nuclear weapons is no threat to America makes her World Net Daily column an easy pick for the dubious honor.
More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Kushal Jeena, United Press International (via Washington Times), examines how Communist China's geopolitical ambition has brought its two largest regional rivals - namely, India and Japan - together to combat it.
Canada file: Prime Minister Paul Martin apologized (somewhat convolutedly) for the Chinese head tax Canadian imposed from 1885 to 1923 (Vancouver Sun). However, he did not make any changes to the deal that would deny compensation to any actual victims or their descendants; the money is still going to the pro-Communist National Congress of Chinese Canadians (sixth, lead, and second items).
Leader of citizens' fight to stop cadres from seizing Shaanxi oil wells sentenced to jail: Feng Bingxian, "one of about 60,000 private investors who developed oil wells in Shaanxi with the blessing of local officials in the mid-1990s" (Washington Post), was sentenced to three years in jail for "organizing illegal protests," i.e., bringing together the investors after the Communists seized the profitable oil wells. The rise and fall of this enterprise (fourth and lead items) should be ample warning for anyone too enamored of "private property" in Communist China.
More on human rights in Communist China: Ji Yun, Epoch Times, interviews human-rights attorney Gao Zhisheng (sixth, tenth, fifth, lead, third, last, twelfth, eighth, third, second, third, eighth, eleventh, eighth, and fourth items). Ben Bendig, also in the Epoch Times, provides the second installment in a three part series on Falun Gong practitioner, American citizen, and Communist Chinese prisoner Charles Li (fifth item).
Communists make another mine closing announcement, despite last year's empty promises: Communist China made another bold announcement about closing coal mines: "As many as 5,290 coal mines will be shut down, said the state Xinhua News Agency" (CBC). One would be more willing to believe this were it not for the earlier, unfulfilled promise to shut down between 4,000 and 7,000 mines last year (sixth and eighth items).
Architect of Cultural Revolution dies: Yao Wenyuan, one of the "gang of four" that oversaw Mao Zedong's brutal Cultural Revolution, died last month at the age of 74 (BBC). He was the last of the gang to die.
Leading anti-anti-Communist may be eased out of key Washington post: Dennis Wilder, currently the acting NSC director for Asia, is running into "criticism from liberal human-rights activists over his role in arranging the embarrassing visit by President Bush to an "official" Chinese government-controlled Protestant church Nov. 20 in Beijing" (Washington Times). The fallout from that visit, during which "about 30 people were arrested near the church" by the Communists for trying "to explain to the president the true state of religious repression in China" means Wilder's attempt to get the job permanently "has run into trouble and is unlikely" to succeed. Conservatives were already upset at Wilder for his criticism of anti-Communists within the Bush Administration.
Communist China may stop piling up U.S. dollars in its foreign reserves: The cadres are looking at plans "to diversify its rapidly growing foreign exchange reserves away from the US dollar and government bonds" (Financial Times, UK, via MSNBC). The move, if actually implemented, would "put heavy downward pressure on the greenback," and end or reduce Communist China's deliberate devaluation of its currency. The devaluation has damaged both American manufacturing and exporters among our allies around the world.
Communist Foreign Minister to visit Africa; cadres using continent to avoid textile curbs: Trade between Communist China and resource-rich Africa "jumped 39% to $32.17bn (£18bn) in the first 10 months of last year" (BBC). More troubling, "textiles and clothing firms were also investing heavily in Africa at the moment as a way to get around US and European Union limits on Chinese exports in this sector" (see also fifth, fourth, second, fifth, third, second, and eleventh items). Given the above, and Communist China's neo-colonial plans for Zimbabwe, it should be no surprise that Communist Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing is heading for Africa later this month (Washington Times).
Ignorant Comment of the Day: While Devvy Kid does recognize some of the ties between Communist China and the mullahcracy of Iran, her conclusion that the Islamic regime and Communist satellite state having nuclear weapons is no threat to America makes her World Net Daily column an easy pick for the dubious honor.
More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Kushal Jeena, United Press International (via Washington Times), examines how Communist China's geopolitical ambition has brought its two largest regional rivals - namely, India and Japan - together to combat it.
Thursday, January 05, 2006
News of the Day (January 5)
From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth has Ethan Gutmann's speech in Jerusalem from last November on Israel and the CCP, balances former Ignorant Comment of the Day winner Robert Sharp (eighth item) with an excellent piece by Cao Chang-qing on how the Communist dictatorship gets in its own geopolitical way (UPDATE: Sharp's piece is no longer there, it's just Cao), and reprints the piece by Kevin Steel (Western Standard) on Communist China's ties to Canada's ruling Liberal Party (for those still in the dark as to why we endorsed the opposition Conservatives in the upcoming Canadian election). Meanwhile, One Free Korea highlights Stalinist North Korea's desperate attachment to radical anti-Americanism as the long-suffering people of northern Korea continue to starve to death.
More from the Canada file: The decision by the Liberal Party to hand $12.5 million in head tax compensation to the pro-Communist National Congress of Chinese Canadians - with absolutely zero going to actual victims of Canada's Chinese head tax (sixth and lead items) - is starting to cause a stir. John Gleeson, Winnipeg Sun, gauges the anger in the Chinese Canadian community, while the blogger at TDH Strategies has noticed that the decision has some Liberal from British Columbia (home of a large number of Chinese Canadians, and Between Heaven and Earth) running for cover.
More on Communist China and its would-be colony: The dovish South Korean government continues to believe the counterfeiting of U.S. currency by the Stalinist North (last item) is an issue for negotiation, only now they're saying Communist China should be included in the "consultations" (Epoch Times). This would mean the conspirators - don't forget the role the Communist-owned Bank of China is reported to have had in this criminal activity - would outnumber the victims at the "consultations," which are really SNK's attempt to get out of being punished for printing fake U.S. $100 bills.
India lets Li Ka-shing's Hutchison build ports as Communist drugs crush local producers: India, Communist China's longtime rival, has decided to stop freezing out pro-Communist Li Ka-shing's Hutchison Port Holdings; the firm can now take part in building Indian water ports (Financial Times, UK). Meanwhile, a combination of local price controls and Communist China's predatory labor and trade practices have led to India pharmaceutical plant shutting down (United Press International via Washington Times).
Microsoft caves in to Communist China again, blocks dissident blog: Microsoft admitted to removing the blog of a dissident in Communist China in order to "comply with global and local laws" (World Net Daily). Sadly, this isn't the first time Microsoft has knuckled under to the cadres (second and sixth items).
Human rights award granted to Zheng Yichun: Jailed journalist Zheng Yichun (seventh, ninth, and tenth items) was given the Dr. Rainer Hildebrandt medal for "publishing the truth about the Chinese Communist regime" (Epoch Times). Sadly, that is also the reason why he languishes in a Communist prison.
Buddhist nuns nearly get arrested in Tiananmen Square: A group of Buddhist nuns from the holy place known as Mount Wutai came to Tiananmen Square to pray. They finished just before Communist police were ready to arrest them (Epoch Times).
Power station construction resumes, environment be damned: The halt of construction at the Xiluodu Hydropower Station was taken to be a sign that Hu Jintao was bringing ecological concerns to the madcap and corrupt sector of energy and power (sixth item). Well, never mind all that, construction at Xiluodu has resumed (Central News Agency, Taiwan, via Epoch Times).
More on Communist China and energy: F. William Engdahl, author of A Century of War: Anglo-American Oil Politics and the New World Order, examines Communist China's energy forays into Kazakhstan (third and fifth item), and what they mean for Central Asia and the United States, in the Asia Times.
Anti-corruption move anger Nanjing cops: Communist police in Nanjing "are angry at a new demand to disclose details of their private lives" (BBC). The cadres in that city are ordering the cops "to tell their superiors if they are getting married or divorced . . . (and) . . . to report any major purchases such as houses and cars, as well any private holidays abroad," all as part of the effort to stop corruption, which in Communist China is usually tied to a cadre's desire to buy gifts for mistresses (fifteenth item).
More from the Canada file: The decision by the Liberal Party to hand $12.5 million in head tax compensation to the pro-Communist National Congress of Chinese Canadians - with absolutely zero going to actual victims of Canada's Chinese head tax (sixth and lead items) - is starting to cause a stir. John Gleeson, Winnipeg Sun, gauges the anger in the Chinese Canadian community, while the blogger at TDH Strategies has noticed that the decision has some Liberal from British Columbia (home of a large number of Chinese Canadians, and Between Heaven and Earth) running for cover.
More on Communist China and its would-be colony: The dovish South Korean government continues to believe the counterfeiting of U.S. currency by the Stalinist North (last item) is an issue for negotiation, only now they're saying Communist China should be included in the "consultations" (Epoch Times). This would mean the conspirators - don't forget the role the Communist-owned Bank of China is reported to have had in this criminal activity - would outnumber the victims at the "consultations," which are really SNK's attempt to get out of being punished for printing fake U.S. $100 bills.
India lets Li Ka-shing's Hutchison build ports as Communist drugs crush local producers: India, Communist China's longtime rival, has decided to stop freezing out pro-Communist Li Ka-shing's Hutchison Port Holdings; the firm can now take part in building Indian water ports (Financial Times, UK). Meanwhile, a combination of local price controls and Communist China's predatory labor and trade practices have led to India pharmaceutical plant shutting down (United Press International via Washington Times).
Microsoft caves in to Communist China again, blocks dissident blog: Microsoft admitted to removing the blog of a dissident in Communist China in order to "comply with global and local laws" (World Net Daily). Sadly, this isn't the first time Microsoft has knuckled under to the cadres (second and sixth items).
Human rights award granted to Zheng Yichun: Jailed journalist Zheng Yichun (seventh, ninth, and tenth items) was given the Dr. Rainer Hildebrandt medal for "publishing the truth about the Chinese Communist regime" (Epoch Times). Sadly, that is also the reason why he languishes in a Communist prison.
Buddhist nuns nearly get arrested in Tiananmen Square: A group of Buddhist nuns from the holy place known as Mount Wutai came to Tiananmen Square to pray. They finished just before Communist police were ready to arrest them (Epoch Times).
Power station construction resumes, environment be damned: The halt of construction at the Xiluodu Hydropower Station was taken to be a sign that Hu Jintao was bringing ecological concerns to the madcap and corrupt sector of energy and power (sixth item). Well, never mind all that, construction at Xiluodu has resumed (Central News Agency, Taiwan, via Epoch Times).
More on Communist China and energy: F. William Engdahl, author of A Century of War: Anglo-American Oil Politics and the New World Order, examines Communist China's energy forays into Kazakhstan (third and fifth item), and what they mean for Central Asia and the United States, in the Asia Times.
Anti-corruption move anger Nanjing cops: Communist police in Nanjing "are angry at a new demand to disclose details of their private lives" (BBC). The cadres in that city are ordering the cops "to tell their superiors if they are getting married or divorced . . . (and) . . . to report any major purchases such as houses and cars, as well any private holidays abroad," all as part of the effort to stop corruption, which in Communist China is usually tied to a cadre's desire to buy gifts for mistresses (fifteenth item).
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
News of the Day (January 4)
The China Freedom Blog Alliance goes international with the addition the terrific Between Heaven and Earth from Canada. Meanwhile, CFBA member One Free Korea (a.k.a. Joshua Stanton) has a heartfelt message for the people of northern Korea in the Daily NK. More items on the Communists' would-be colony can be found at the end of today's post.
The Canada file: In response to my rant about Canada's deportation of Falun Gong practitioner Xiaoping Hu, a reader reminded me that the outrageous repatriation occurred roughly one month before Communist leader Hu Jintao visited the Great White North; draw your own conclusions. Meanwhile, exiled attorney Guo Guoting calls on Communist China to free jailed attorney Liu Ruping (fifth item) in the Epoch Times.
Mainland resident jumps ship, literally, to get to Taiwan: Jan Yun, who says he "spent two years in jail in China for criticising (UK sp) the authorities" (BBC) jumped off a mainland-based tourist boat and swam to Kinmen Island, which is under Taiwan control, to seek asylum in the island democracy. His case is under review.
Iranian regime counting on Communist China to block punishment for nuclear ambitions: The mullahcracy of Iran apparently believes "that even if it restarts nuclear research activities, it would once again avoid international sanctions" (Worldwide Standard), thanks to "opposition from China and Russia, which each have veto power" in the United Nations Security Council. Of course, Communist China has already made its position on Iran's nuclear ambitions clear - it supports them wholeheartedly.
Cambodian opposition leader rips Communist China: Sam Rainsy, Cambodia's opposition leader currently in exile to avoid arrest by his home country's regime, blamed Communist China for supporting Cambodian's recent arrests of human rights activists and what he called "a deliberate effort to discredit the judicial system" (BBC). Rainsy noted, "China does not want a tribunal to prosecute the Khmer Rouge leaders to be set up because China does not want to be shown as a supporter of the Khmer Rouge some 30 years ago."
Pakistan denies reports of Communists building six nuclear plants there: Pakistan, a half-century-plus ally of Communist China "denied a report it is in talks to buy between six and eight nuclear reactors from China in a deal worth up to $10bn (£5.8bn)." A spokesman for the Pakistan regime called the reports of such a deal "baseless."
Japan angry at Communist Chinese espionage efforts against diplomat who took his own life: The Japanese government is not happy with Communist China's account of the suicide of an unnamed Japanese Consulate General staff member in Shanghai. Communist China claims the diplomat took his own life
"due to job stress" (United Press Int'l via Washington Times). According to a Japanese newspaper, however, "the unidentified official committed suicide after leaving a note indicating he was under pressure to provide China with consular information."
Terror still reigns in Shanwei: Dongzhou village, home of the Shanwei massacre, is still in a state of fear. Communist police have "pretended to be journalists" (Epoch Times) in order to find more villagers to arrest.
Petitioners from Shanghai arrested in Beijing, sent back, and beaten: Several petitioners from Shanghai, i.e., residents who are hoping national cadres will address grievance they have with local Communists, were detained by police in Beijing, sent back home, and tortured (Boxun).
Communists free one journalist, but keep another in jail: Communist China released Jiang Weiping, a journalist sent to prison for exposing the corrupt practices of then-Liaoning Province Governor and current Commerce Minister Bo Xilai (ninth item), one year early (BBC, Boxun). However, a Communist court upheld the prison term of cyber-journalist Zheng Yichun (seventh and ninth items), who will now remain in jail until 2012 (Boxun).
Communist currency at its "highest level" ever, but it's still less then 12.5 cents: Communist China got the headline it wanted from its smoke-and-mirrors currency actions (sixth item): "Yuan rises to record dollar level" (BBC). Said "record" is still less than 12.5 cents, between 20 to 30% lower than the likely unregulated value of the currency. The artificial devaluing has greatly damaged both U.S. manufacturing and the exporting industries in America's allies.
Ignorant Comment of the Day: Today's dubious prize goes to Daniel Ikenson, of the Cato Institute, for deciding a few hours talking American politics with students at Renmin University trumps everything we know about the Chinese Communist Party, in National Review Online.
Other Commentary on Communist China: Defector and former 610 officer Hao Fengjun talked to the Epoch Times Taiwan branch about what the 610 office did to the Chinese people and Communist espionage in Taiwan. Meanwhile, the Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders issues a report on the state of human rights in Communist China (via Boxun).
More on Stalinist North Korea: Japanese officials named, for the first time, agents from the Communists' would-be colony who abducted Japanese citizens from 1977 to 1983 (Washington Times, second item). U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Alexander Vershbow told the Stalinists not to use justified penalties against their counterfeiting (last item) to avoid the already damaged talks on SNK's nuclear weapons program (Cybercast News). An Kyoung Hee, Daily NK, talks to Young Howard, executive director of Open Radio for North Korea.
The Canada file: In response to my rant about Canada's deportation of Falun Gong practitioner Xiaoping Hu, a reader reminded me that the outrageous repatriation occurred roughly one month before Communist leader Hu Jintao visited the Great White North; draw your own conclusions. Meanwhile, exiled attorney Guo Guoting calls on Communist China to free jailed attorney Liu Ruping (fifth item) in the Epoch Times.
Mainland resident jumps ship, literally, to get to Taiwan: Jan Yun, who says he "spent two years in jail in China for criticising (UK sp) the authorities" (BBC) jumped off a mainland-based tourist boat and swam to Kinmen Island, which is under Taiwan control, to seek asylum in the island democracy. His case is under review.
Iranian regime counting on Communist China to block punishment for nuclear ambitions: The mullahcracy of Iran apparently believes "that even if it restarts nuclear research activities, it would once again avoid international sanctions" (Worldwide Standard), thanks to "opposition from China and Russia, which each have veto power" in the United Nations Security Council. Of course, Communist China has already made its position on Iran's nuclear ambitions clear - it supports them wholeheartedly.
Cambodian opposition leader rips Communist China: Sam Rainsy, Cambodia's opposition leader currently in exile to avoid arrest by his home country's regime, blamed Communist China for supporting Cambodian's recent arrests of human rights activists and what he called "a deliberate effort to discredit the judicial system" (BBC). Rainsy noted, "China does not want a tribunal to prosecute the Khmer Rouge leaders to be set up because China does not want to be shown as a supporter of the Khmer Rouge some 30 years ago."
Pakistan denies reports of Communists building six nuclear plants there: Pakistan, a half-century-plus ally of Communist China "denied a report it is in talks to buy between six and eight nuclear reactors from China in a deal worth up to $10bn (£5.8bn)." A spokesman for the Pakistan regime called the reports of such a deal "baseless."
Japan angry at Communist Chinese espionage efforts against diplomat who took his own life: The Japanese government is not happy with Communist China's account of the suicide of an unnamed Japanese Consulate General staff member in Shanghai. Communist China claims the diplomat took his own life
"due to job stress" (United Press Int'l via Washington Times). According to a Japanese newspaper, however, "the unidentified official committed suicide after leaving a note indicating he was under pressure to provide China with consular information."
Terror still reigns in Shanwei: Dongzhou village, home of the Shanwei massacre, is still in a state of fear. Communist police have "pretended to be journalists" (Epoch Times) in order to find more villagers to arrest.
Petitioners from Shanghai arrested in Beijing, sent back, and beaten: Several petitioners from Shanghai, i.e., residents who are hoping national cadres will address grievance they have with local Communists, were detained by police in Beijing, sent back home, and tortured (Boxun).
Communists free one journalist, but keep another in jail: Communist China released Jiang Weiping, a journalist sent to prison for exposing the corrupt practices of then-Liaoning Province Governor and current Commerce Minister Bo Xilai (ninth item), one year early (BBC, Boxun). However, a Communist court upheld the prison term of cyber-journalist Zheng Yichun (seventh and ninth items), who will now remain in jail until 2012 (Boxun).
Communist currency at its "highest level" ever, but it's still less then 12.5 cents: Communist China got the headline it wanted from its smoke-and-mirrors currency actions (sixth item): "Yuan rises to record dollar level" (BBC). Said "record" is still less than 12.5 cents, between 20 to 30% lower than the likely unregulated value of the currency. The artificial devaluing has greatly damaged both U.S. manufacturing and the exporting industries in America's allies.
Ignorant Comment of the Day: Today's dubious prize goes to Daniel Ikenson, of the Cato Institute, for deciding a few hours talking American politics with students at Renmin University trumps everything we know about the Chinese Communist Party, in National Review Online.
Other Commentary on Communist China: Defector and former 610 officer Hao Fengjun talked to the Epoch Times Taiwan branch about what the 610 office did to the Chinese people and Communist espionage in Taiwan. Meanwhile, the Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders issues a report on the state of human rights in Communist China (via Boxun).
More on Stalinist North Korea: Japanese officials named, for the first time, agents from the Communists' would-be colony who abducted Japanese citizens from 1977 to 1983 (Washington Times, second item). U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Alexander Vershbow told the Stalinists not to use justified penalties against their counterfeiting (last item) to avoid the already damaged talks on SNK's nuclear weapons program (Cybercast News). An Kyoung Hee, Daily NK, talks to Young Howard, executive director of Open Radio for North Korea.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Hypocrisy, thy name is Paul Martin
I cannot believe this. According to the Toronto Star, Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin "is trying to shore up his party's traditional support among new Canadians with a pledge to kill a hated $975 immigration landing fee." No, that's not what bothers me; this is what bothers me: "A senior government spokesman said the landing fee will be eliminated to help in family reunification. 'It also builds on the government's many policy efforts to ensure that our immigration system is more fair, more responsive to the needs of new Canadians' " (emphasis mine).
Excuse me? Are the Liberals serious about their "many policy efforts to ensure that our immigration system is more fair, more responsive to the needs of new Canadians"?
How "fair" and "responsive" was this government to the needs of Xiaoping Hu (Epoch Times)? How "fair" and "responsive" has this government been to Han Guangsheng (Epoch Times)?
Well, Mr. Martin?
Excuse me? Are the Liberals serious about their "many policy efforts to ensure that our immigration system is more fair, more responsive to the needs of new Canadians"?
How "fair" and "responsive" was this government to the needs of Xiaoping Hu (Epoch Times)? How "fair" and "responsive" has this government been to Han Guangsheng (Epoch Times)?
Well, Mr. Martin?
If the Conservatives are scary, what does that make the Liberals?
Well, if Paul Martin's latest speech is any indication (via Paul Wells, Macleans), the campaign message from Canada's ruling Liberal Party is clearly a return to the 2004, "Harper is scary" motif. Naturally, as this quarter has more than a passing interest in the vote, this inspired me to consider the flip-side of this question: how would another one-to-four years of Paul Martin as Prime Minister look?
Regarding Communist China, Prime Minister Martin has compiled quite the record on Communist China; perhaps if Canadians were fully aware of it, they might be quaking in their boots at the prospect of Martin winning, rather than Harper.
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.
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). She may not be alone; Han Guangsheng - who, like Hao, was a former 610 officer who defected - may 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: Now, as an American forced to see each of the last three Presidents do largely just what the bolded phrase says, I am forcing myself to pick up shards of glass on this one. However, Mr. Martin is, to an extent, in a class by himself on this. During a trade mission to Communist China that just happened to coincide with the death of Zhao Ziyang, Jason Kenney - another supposedly "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).
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 - $12.5 million - was to 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).
Through all of this, the Conservatives have largely called on the governing Liberals to give human rights more respect, end aid to the Communist regime, stop its espionage and economic infiltration, and establish friendlier ties with Taiwan. Anyone who considers this "opposition for opposition's sake" should take a look at this speech on Communist China's past and future, delivered to the University of Toronto (Between Heaven and Earth). The speaker was none other than the Conservatives' Foreign Affairs critic: Stockwell Day.
Whether or not Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party are "scary" is something Canadians will decide for themselves, but the prospect of Prime Minister Martin's re-election is absolutely terrifying.
Regarding Communist China, Prime Minister Martin has compiled quite the record on Communist China; perhaps if Canadians were fully aware of it, they might be quaking in their boots at the prospect of Martin winning, rather than Harper.
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.
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). She may not be alone; Han Guangsheng - who, like Hao, was a former 610 officer who defected - may 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: Now, as an American forced to see each of the last three Presidents do largely just what the bolded phrase says, I am forcing myself to pick up shards of glass on this one. However, Mr. Martin is, to an extent, in a class by himself on this. During a trade mission to Communist China that just happened to coincide with the death of Zhao Ziyang, Jason Kenney - another supposedly "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).
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 - $12.5 million - was to 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).
Through all of this, the Conservatives have largely called on the governing Liberals to give human rights more respect, end aid to the Communist regime, stop its espionage and economic infiltration, and establish friendlier ties with Taiwan. Anyone who considers this "opposition for opposition's sake" should take a look at this speech on Communist China's past and future, delivered to the University of Toronto (Between Heaven and Earth). The speaker was none other than the Conservatives' Foreign Affairs critic: Stockwell Day.
Whether or not Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party are "scary" is something Canadians will decide for themselves, but the prospect of Prime Minister Martin's re-election is absolutely terrifying.
News of the Day (January 3)
The Canada file - Communists smearing Falun Gong practitioners: Friendly Blog Between Heaven and Earth reveals the latest Communist plot against practitioners abroad: "it appears like the CCP is posing as Falun Gong practitioners . . . (and) says crazy stuff . . . in an attempt to portray Falun Gong as insane people." The calls have hit practitioners in Ontario and Prince Edward Island so far.
Russia delivers naval vessels to Communist China: Communist China's largest arms supplier - Putinist Russia - delivered "a brand new Kilo diesel-electric submarine and a Sovremenny missile destroyer to the Chinese navy during December 2005" (Newsmax). The latter includes SS-N-22 "Sunburn" missiles (thirteenth item). The Newsmax link also contains more info on the Japanese diplomat who committed suicide rather than spy for Communist China (see also eighth item).
Top academic cadre stole ideas from jailed dissident: Wuhan University Professor Zhou Ye Zhong is believed to be the father of Hu Jintao's "harmonious society" pablum. However, the real author of the term - jailed dissident Wang Tiancheng - has come forward denouncing Zhou for "word for word" (Guardian, UK) plagiarism. Of course, given that Zhou is a Communist, he has been using the words of Wang, but not for Wang's goals of freedom for the Chinese people. Wang himself described Zhou thusly: "He's risen to the top by repackaging fashionable terms - human rights, democracy, rule of law - for the party's ends. But he reflects the emptiness of the party's ideology. They've got nothing and so he needs to raid the opposition camp for any new ideas." To get an idea of how Hu Jintao et al have been trying to mouth the words of dissidents and liberals without actually following through on them, read Willy Lam's recent column in China Brief.
Communist China claims economic growth of almost 10% for 2005: The cadres are now claiming the Communist economy "grew an estimated 9.8% in 2005, much faster than expected" (BBC). How much of that figure comes from inflated statistics or useless industrial construction was, naturally, not revealed (fifteenth, twenty-ninth, thirtieth, tenth, sixth, last, last, and seventh items).
Communists looking to boost power production to stop shortages: Communist China "projects it will reduce power shortages this year" (United Press International via Washington Times) to at worst "less than 9 million kilowatts." Communist China's power shortage in the eastern provinces alone neared 17 million kilowatts last winter (next to last item).
On Communist China and the rest of the world: Yitzhak Shichor, Professor of East Asian Studies and Political Science at the University of Haifa, examines Communist China's attempt to reach out to Iraq's Kurds, in part to use as leverage against Turkey to force the latter to crackdown on East Turkestani groups, and how, if the Communists aren't careful, it could come back to haunt them, in China Brief. Also in China Brief, William R. Hawkins, U.S. Business and Industry Council, details how the current World Trade Organization talks have been good for the Communists.
On Stalinist North Korea: Oddly enough, it is the Communists' would-be colony that inspires today's Ignorant Comment of the Day, in this case from Marc S. Ellenbogen, who touts his Global Panel Foundation plan for talking with the Stalinists as "bold in its simplicity" (UPI via Washington Times); "breathtaking in its naivete" would be more apt. Meanwhile, China Freedom Blog Alliance Member One Free Korea finds and brilliantly dissects similar nonsense coming from Philip Dorsey Iglauer. Austin Ramzy, Time Asia, reviews Ryu Yohan's The Guest, and finds that the all-of-Korea's-problems-are-the-foreigners'-fault message falls flat. As for the Stalinists themselves, they demanded, again, that the U.S. end its penalties against their counterfeiting (last item) before they return to the nuclear talks debacle (Washington Times).
Russia delivers naval vessels to Communist China: Communist China's largest arms supplier - Putinist Russia - delivered "a brand new Kilo diesel-electric submarine and a Sovremenny missile destroyer to the Chinese navy during December 2005" (Newsmax). The latter includes SS-N-22 "Sunburn" missiles (thirteenth item). The Newsmax link also contains more info on the Japanese diplomat who committed suicide rather than spy for Communist China (see also eighth item).
Top academic cadre stole ideas from jailed dissident: Wuhan University Professor Zhou Ye Zhong is believed to be the father of Hu Jintao's "harmonious society" pablum. However, the real author of the term - jailed dissident Wang Tiancheng - has come forward denouncing Zhou for "word for word" (Guardian, UK) plagiarism. Of course, given that Zhou is a Communist, he has been using the words of Wang, but not for Wang's goals of freedom for the Chinese people. Wang himself described Zhou thusly: "He's risen to the top by repackaging fashionable terms - human rights, democracy, rule of law - for the party's ends. But he reflects the emptiness of the party's ideology. They've got nothing and so he needs to raid the opposition camp for any new ideas." To get an idea of how Hu Jintao et al have been trying to mouth the words of dissidents and liberals without actually following through on them, read Willy Lam's recent column in China Brief.
Communist China claims economic growth of almost 10% for 2005: The cadres are now claiming the Communist economy "grew an estimated 9.8% in 2005, much faster than expected" (BBC). How much of that figure comes from inflated statistics or useless industrial construction was, naturally, not revealed (fifteenth, twenty-ninth, thirtieth, tenth, sixth, last, last, and seventh items).
Communists looking to boost power production to stop shortages: Communist China "projects it will reduce power shortages this year" (United Press International via Washington Times) to at worst "less than 9 million kilowatts." Communist China's power shortage in the eastern provinces alone neared 17 million kilowatts last winter (next to last item).
On Communist China and the rest of the world: Yitzhak Shichor, Professor of East Asian Studies and Political Science at the University of Haifa, examines Communist China's attempt to reach out to Iraq's Kurds, in part to use as leverage against Turkey to force the latter to crackdown on East Turkestani groups, and how, if the Communists aren't careful, it could come back to haunt them, in China Brief. Also in China Brief, William R. Hawkins, U.S. Business and Industry Council, details how the current World Trade Organization talks have been good for the Communists.
On Stalinist North Korea: Oddly enough, it is the Communists' would-be colony that inspires today's Ignorant Comment of the Day, in this case from Marc S. Ellenbogen, who touts his Global Panel Foundation plan for talking with the Stalinists as "bold in its simplicity" (UPI via Washington Times); "breathtaking in its naivete" would be more apt. Meanwhile, China Freedom Blog Alliance Member One Free Korea finds and brilliantly dissects similar nonsense coming from Philip Dorsey Iglauer. Austin Ramzy, Time Asia, reviews Ryu Yohan's The Guest, and finds that the all-of-Korea's-problems-are-the-foreigners'-fault message falls flat. As for the Stalinists themselves, they demanded, again, that the U.S. end its penalties against their counterfeiting (last item) before they return to the nuclear talks debacle (Washington Times).
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