News of the Weekend (April 16/17)

More anti-Japanese protests, more rocks, more Communist (expletive deleted): Another riot came to the Japanese Embassy in Beijing this weekend, as “several streams of marchers converged on the consulate during the day” (Washington Post). While the Communist put up a better show this time (third item, second item) – the last time anti-Communists streamed into the city was just before June 4, 1989 – more “eggs, bottles and stones” hit the embassy. Japan rightly blamed the Communists and demanded an apology; the Communists blamed Japan for a “series of things that have hurt the feelings of the Chinese people” (BBC). Adding insult to injury, the Communists again publicly opposed Japan’s quest for a seat on the United Nations Security Council, but backed all three other applicants (Washington Times). Of course, the Communists already killed any expansion of the Council (eighth item), so this should be taken with a lump of salt.

Australian Prime Minister visits Communist China: Prime Minister John Howard is now in Beijing for talks on trade (United Press International via Washington Times).

Amnesty International takes message to Communist consulate in New York: Student members of Amnesty International came to the Communist Chinese consulate in New York chanting “What do we want? Human Rights Now!” They focused in particular on the case of imprisoned Tibetan monk Tenzin Delek, who framed by the Communists for a supposed bombing in Sichuan province (second item). Report: Epoch Times

Resignations pass 900,000: As the number of Communist Party members leaving the party in response to the Nine Commentaries approaches on million, Shi Da marks the significance of that event, while Riordan Galluccio hears that the number would be a lot higher but for the Party’s refusal to accept many of the resignations – one retired cadre likened it to “an underground mafia” (both links from the Epoch Times).

NTDTV saved, for now: The mass outrage at Eutelsat’s plan to end New Tang Dynasty Television’s signal in Communist China (second item, tenth item) has led to a temporary reversal from the satellite firm. Eutelsat is “coming back to the table to talk to” the dissident-run Chinese language network (Epoch Times), and the signal will keep running. However, unless a deal is made, NTDTV could do dark in Communist China at any time.

Tens of thousands came to site of anti-pollution protest: The village of Huaxi (Zhejiang province) is receiving “tens of thousands of people from nearby towns and cities” every day. Why? Because it is where anti-pollution protestors faced, fought, and beat back police forces that were sent to break up the protest. The police killed a number of protestors (fourth item, eleventh item), but in the end they were forced into “a humiliating retreat” (BBC). The locals, far from fools in this matter, “are bracing themselves for their return.” Could the Hanyuan County Massacre have a sequel?

Commentary on Communist China: It says something when William Horsley, BBC, writes a column taking on Japan for what he calls its “deceit and hypocrisy” about its past, he still feels compelled to call the anti-Japan riots “a device by Chinese leaders to extract more Japanese aid or divert attention from their own failings . . . alarmingly reminiscent of the age of the Communist Red Guards.” The editors of Asahi Shimbun, who in fact took issue with the very problems Horsely noted (third item), warned the Communists that they weren’t making any friends in Japan with the riots (Washington Times, last item). In the same link, Italy’s La Repubblica weighs in on the possible rapprochement between Communist China and the Vatican. Also in the Washington Times, James Hackett details the Communists’ naval weapons buying spree, and whacks Taiwan’s opposition parties for not allowing the island democracy to match it. Eric Margolis, Toronto Sun, has a very detailed piece on India’s problems with Communist China, but falls short at the end by advising India mend fences with Zhongnanhai. Victorino Matus, in the Weekly Standard, has high praise for German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, who broke with his boss and defended the now safe European Union arms embargo against Communist China.