News of the Day (December 29)

The next post will be on January 2, 2007; Happy New Year to all.

Communist China cites Taiwan as reason for its military buildup: Communist China released a white paper revealing its plans to "focus its spending on strengthening the country's naval and air forces" (BBC), citing "the separatist forces for Taiwan independence" as one of the main reasons for its air and naval buildup. While the regime added some nice boilerplate - saying it "will not engage in any arms race or pose a military threat to any other country" - we should not forget the cadres do not consider the island democracy of Taiwan to be its own country.

Australian intelligence taking aim at the Communist espionage threat: Australia's leading intelligence agency, the ASIO, is building "a new counter-espionage unit created to cope with the increased number of Chinese spies in Australia" (AAP via Epoch Times). The Communist espionage network in Australia was in part exposed by defector Chen Yonglin last year.

Syria accelerates its nuclear weapons program: The nuclear ambitions of Middle East Proxy Number Two were greatly aided by "material that Saddam Hussein’s two sons shipped to Syria before — and during — the U.S. war against Iraq" (New York Sun).

As for Middle Eastern Proxy Number One (Iran), the editors of the Washington Times comment on the news of the mullahs' ties to the Khobar Towers bombing (third item); Israel accuses the regime of funding Palestinian rocket attacks (United Press International via Washington Times); and Joshua Brilliant (UPI via Washington Times), examines Israel's options regarding Tehran's nuclear ambitions (but he skips liberation).

On Communist China's Korean colony: Stalinist North Korea may have an escape hatch from the financial penalties imposed by the Bush Administration - gold (Times of London and Washington Times). Meanwhile, in South Korea, a defector deals with a death threat (Daily NK); a military white paper speaks the truth on SNK (BBC), and the governing dovish coalition is cracking apart (UPI via Washington Times).

News of the Day (December 28)

Communist China building up its Navy: CFBA member Shaun Kenney explanation ("to invade Taiwan, er, protect shipping lanes") is priceless.

More from the China Freedom Blog Alliance: One Free Korea, in respective posts, comments on the latest political machinations in South Korea's dovish left, and laments the repatriation of a military officer who apparently escaped from Communist China's Korean colony.

Incoming Congress may penalize Communist-run oil firm for $16 billion deal with Iran: Both parties' lead members on the House International Relations Committee - incoming Democratic Chairman Tom Lantos and incoming Republican ranking member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen - called for penalties against China National Offshore Oil Corporation's "proposed $16 billion deal" with the Communist-backed mullahcracy of Iran. A 1996 law "prohibits foreign firms that invest more than $10 million in Iran's energy sector from raising capital in American financial markets" (New York Sun).

Enlightened Comment of the Day: Several U.S. Senators are calling for the Bush Administration to reach out to the lead Communist proxies in the Middle East (Iran and Syria). One of them is Arlen Specter. Michael Rubin wins today's prize for taking Specter to task (Philadelphia Inqurier).

More on the Middle Eastern Proxies: The mullahcractic legislature fired a shot across the bow of the International Atomic Energy Agency (Daily Times, Pakistan). Steve Janke asks if the Iranian nuclear problem "is going to solve itself" - and wisely concludes it won't.

News of the Day (December 27)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth comments on the latest news on Vancouver.

Communist China subsidizes Sinopec as it looks to build resource reserve: A BBC story on Communist China exploring the possibility of using its foreign reserves to buy up more natural resources included this bit of news, "Chinese state-run oil refiner Sinopec revealed that it had been handed a 5bn yuan government rebate to compensate it for refining losses . . . in effect, a subsidy for Beijing's refusal to allow Chinese domestic petrol and diesel prices to rise as fast as international markets."

On the Communists' destruction of Chinese culture: Peng Xiaoming speaks on the Communist regime's assault on traditional Chinese language (reprinted by the Epoch Times).

Chen Shui-bian's son-in-law convicted of insider trading: The decision is the first against a (sort of) relative of Taiwan's elected President. The son-in-law, Chao Chien-min, "is expected to appeal" (BBC).

U.S. offered to take Stalinist North Korea off the terrorist list: The U.S. was so desperate for a deal during the recent round of talks with the Stalinist regime that it was willing "to remove North Korea from Washington's list of states sponsoring terrorism if the communist regime dismantles its atomic-weapons program" (Washington Times). Even worse, the Stalinists were "not prepared to review the U.S. offer at the talks but promised to study it and bring a response to the next round of negotiations." In other words, there will be at least one round of Stalinist demands (Daily NK).

News on Communist China's Korean colony: Is Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il feeling the pinch? Indeed he is, according to James Hackett (Washington Times) and the majority of refugees from SNK (United Press Int'l via Washington Times). Meanwhile, South Korea's legislature cuts the budget for "inter-Korean cooperation" by more than 20% (UPI via Washington Times).

On the Middle Eastern Proxies: The Communist-backed mullahcracy of Iran is angry at the UK and buying some friends in Afghanistan (UPI via Washington Times). Meanwhile, Syria's Ba'athist regime is playing its usual games with Westerners who should no better (Washington Times) while revealing its true face with a slew of arrests at home (National Review Online: The Corner).

News of the Weekend (December 23-26)

Talks on Stalinist North Korea's nuclear ambitions peter out with no deal: One Free Korea let out "a mighty sigh of relief" upon hearing the news that the Beijing talks did not lead to something akin to last year's debacle. The Stalinists insisted the U.S. end counterfeiting and money laundering penalties against them (BBC and Washington Times), understandable given the regime's deep ties to financial perfidy (Daily NK). Meanwhile, the incoming Secretary General - former South Korean dovish Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon - "called for patience" (Newsmax), and SNK tightened its border with Communist China (Daily NK).

UN approves sanctions against Iranian regime (Russia and Communist China exempted): The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1737, which would "sanction Iran until it halts efforts to make nuclear fuel" (Washington Times). However, Russia's contributions to the Communist-backed mullahcracy's Bushehr nuclear plant are not covered (NRO: Corner and Newsmax). Neither are Communist China's oil deals, thanks to holes in the document "big enough for dinosaur eggs to fall through" (New York Sun). Of course, the mullahs themselves treated the resolution with contempt (Agence France Presse via News.com.au).

Iran's Communist-backed mullahcracy had a hand in Khobar Towers bombing: The terrorists who bombed the American military's Khobar Towers facility in Saudi Arabia in 1996 had "funding, training and logistical help" (National Review Online: The Corner) from the mullahs. Moreover, the attack "was approved by Ayatollah Khameini" himself (Andrew McCarthy, NRO).

"Senior military officials" from Tehran arrested in Iraq for aiding terrorists: Michael Ledeen has details in NRO (Corner).

Enlightened Comment of the Day: Ezra Levant (Calgary Sun) calls on Canadian Opposition Leader Stephane Dion to break his Liberal Party's history of coziness toward Communist China.

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Two U.S. Embassy officials meet torture victims Ye Guoqiang and Zheng Mingfan (Epoch Times). Heide B. Malhotra (Epoch Times) examines the next U.S. market to fall victim to Communist China's strong-arm tactics and fake products - cars. The Boston Glove (via Boycott 2008) rips Communist China for enabling the slaughtering of Darfur. Zhou Lei (Epoch Times) talks to Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council Chairman Joseph Wu. Dr. Wenyi Wang (Epoch Times) exposes the political purpose behind The First Emperor.

Christians jailed in Xiaoshan and attacked in Beijing: The eight Christians put on trial for defending their church from a Communist wrecking ball (third item) were sentenced to prison terms of "up to 3 1/2 years" (Washington Post); meanwhile, "A group of policemen and unidentified persons broke into the home of Xiu Ruibin, a house church missionary in Beijing, beat people in the house and destroyed the furniture" (Asia News via Boycott 2008).

On Gao Zhisheng: The Epoch Times and Between Heaven and Earth comment on the Communists' decision to keep the human-rights attorney out of jail but on a short leash (second item).

News of the Day (December 22)

My next entry will be posted on December 26 at the earliest. Merry Christmas to all (or Happy Hanukkah, or Joyous Yule, etc.)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth has posts on Falun Gong's plight in Communist China and Vancouver, respectively. Boycott 2008 has three posts, two on letters to Olympic Committees, and one on more victims of the Communist building spree. One Free Korea has an excellent piece on Korean women trapped in Communist China, analysis of the six-party talks (for more on the talks, see BBC and Washington Times), and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun (which did not include this whopper reported by Voice of America via Epoch Times).

Communists try using threat of jail to keep Gao Zhisheng on a short leash: The cadres convicted the human rights attorney of "subversion" (Washington Post). However, rather than send him directly to prison, his sentence was suspended - meaning he can remain free, but only if he keeps his mouth shut. Meanwhile, Ma Wendu (Fire of Liberty via Epoch Times) rips the arrest.

Cadres trying eight Christians for defending their church: Eight Christians in Che Lu Wan, Hangzhou, are on trial for "instigating violence and interfering with the law" (BBC). Their actual "crime" was trying to prevent the Communists from bulldozing their church last summer.

Ignorant Comment of the Day: Mark Mullen (NBC via MSNBC) is all agog over Communist China's "great leap forward," and utterly dismissive of nearly anyone who raises concern for the cadres' geopolitical ambitions or their treatment of the Chinese people.

Zimbabwe wants Communist loan to stem inflation: Robert Mugabe has decided to save his dictatorship by making it more dependent on his Beijing friends (BBC).

Trail of Taiwanese first lady continues without her: Wu Shu-chen is still in the hospital, so she could not attend the resumption of her embezzlement trial (BBC).

On the Middle Eastern Proxies: The Communist-backed mullahcracy of Iran boasted it would "become a member of the nuclear club within weeks" (Telegraph) - UN sanctions or no UN sanctions. Meanwhile, an interpreter for a British general in Afghanistan is under arrest and on trial for spying on the mullahs' behalf. As for Syria, its weapons are caught with a Lebanese splinter group (UPI via Washington Times), and its motives are questioned by the editors of the Washington Times.

News of the Day (December 21)

Communist China leads the world in jailed journalists, again: The Communist regime in Beijing is edging out its Cuban counterpart, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (Small Dead Animals).

Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China launches Asia branch: The Asian division is led by William Lai, a Taiwanese MP from the Democratic Progressive Party (Taipei Times and Epoch Times).

Communist China touts "anti-terrorism drive" with Pakistan: The statement is practically its own satire; the cadres claim to be "ready to conduct an anti-terrorism drive in Asia with Pakistan for lasting peace and mutual prosperity" (Asia News). Here's what Communist China means by that; as for Pakistan, one can just look here, or at this excellent Washington Post editorial on the real record of the Musharraf regime.

As talks limp along, U.S. slowly drifts toward Stalinist North Korea's position: The six-party talks on SNK's nuclear ambitions is still without an agreement, but here's the bad news: "the US has offered North Korea a further package of incentives - including a written guarantee not to attack - if it agrees to halt its nuclear work and allow verification by UN inspectors" (BBC). This is even worse than previous "offers," which insisted the Stalinists not only stop their nuclear weapons program, but destroy it. The only thing in the way of a 2005 debacle reprise is the U.S. counterfeiting penalties against SNK, and even that may be absurdly "nuanced" out of existence (One Free Korea). Meanwhile, South Korea is playing its dovish role again (United Press International via Washington Times).

Enlightened Comment of the Day: The Washington Post editors came close with the aforementioned Pakistan piece, as did Jay Nordlinger (National Review Online) in his bullet on the U.S.-India nuclear deal. However, today's winner is Cao Changqing for his column debunking the myths about Communist China's economy (Taipei Times).

Back to Communist China's Korean colony: At least someone in South Korea isn't looking north with rose-colored glasses; the SNK military is building a missile defense (Chosun Ilbo). The BBC reveals Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il's latest delusion of grandeur: North Korean Idol. Thailand's military government sends a message to Korean refugees - Drop Dead (One Free Korea).

Looks like the news of U.S. support for Syrian democrats is somewhat exaggerated: Ammar Abdulhamid sets the record straight (h/t Michael Rubin - NRO); this (tenth item) was indeed to good to be true. Meanwhile, two more U.S. Senators embarrass themselves in Damascus (Washington Times).

Guess who's willing to call the Communist-backed mullahcracy of Iran an enemy? The answer is: the British (Times of London). Michael Ledeen (NRO) wonders when the United States will get the memo.

More on Middle Eastern Proxy Number One: A Security Council vote on a toothless resolution against Tehran's nuclear weapons program is likely to come tomorrow (Newsmax and UPI via Washington Times), but the General Assembly does condemn the mullahs' human rights abuses (Shotgun). Israeli intelligence puts the date of an Iranian bomb at 2009 (UPI via Washington Times).

News of the Day (December 20)

Communist China has second largest military budget on earth: Even when restricted only to spending publicly acknowledged, Communist China's "regular army and armed police expenditure reached 383.8 billion Yuan (about $ 49.2 billion)," which "exceeds the military expenditures of Britain, France, Russia and Japan and ranked as the second highest in the world" (Taiwan's Central News Agency via Epoch Times). Meanwhile, China Intel provides a reminder that the Communists probably spend much more secretly on its military, and a chilling hint as to why the Communists are building up their military in the first place.

Talks on Stalinist North Korea's nuclear ambitions drag on in Beijing: The talks have come no closer to an agreement (United Press Int'l via Washington Times), but they lasted long enough for Time to do a series of national profiles on the participants. Meanwhile, the United States is once again putting its eggs in Communist China's basket (Washington Times), and SNK continues to pump out propaganda (Daily NK).

More on Communist China and its Korean colony: The cadres are looking past Kim Jong-il, and imposing one of his sons on him as a successor (One Free Korea). Daily NK examines the financial penalties that are now at the heart of the talks. OFK has another example of lamentable behavior by South Korea's left.

Communist China slaps new curbs on foreign adoptions: While the requirement that foreign adoption applicants be married won praise in some quarters (National Review Online), it was merely one in a slew of social engineering restrictions (BBC and UPI via Washington Times).

E-Bay folds in Communist China: Another foreign firm that was supposed to change the culture of Communist China has fallen flat; in this case meekly becoming a minority partner in a joint venture (BBC).

Communist China putting Africa deeper into debt: As the rest of the world takes efforts to help African nations get out from under crippling debts, Communist China is replacing it with debt of its own making (Asia News).

Communists try protest leaders over land seizure: Seven farmers in Guangdong province "who led land protests in southern China" (Washington Post) are not on trial for "extortion." The protest began when local authorities seized the land for development.

Naval buildup aimed at Iran planned for Persian Gulf as Blair calls for anti-Iranian coalition: The U.S. military "is aggressively planning a naval buildup in the Persian Gulf, including the addition of a second aircraft carrier, in response to a series of aggressive actions by Iran" (MSNBC). Such aggressive actions by the Communist-backed mullahcracy include "interference in Iraq — including its support for Shiite militants and shipments of improvised explosive devices into the country — recent military naval exercises in the Gulf, and its pursuit of nuclear weapons." Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Tony Blair called for an "alliance of moderation" (BBC) arrayed against the mullahcracy.

More on Middle Eastern Proxy Number One: The mullahs continue their crackdown against Christians at home, even as Mahmoud the mouthpiece hectors Christians abroad (World Net Daily). Jeff Jacoby (Boston Globe) makes clear the mullahs' contempt for Israel - in their own words.

U.S. helping anti-Assad forces in Syria: Whether or not this information being in the public realm helps more than harms is an open question (NRO and Time); that said, it is good to know the Administration is aiding liberation in some form.

More on Middle Eastern Proxy Number Two: Bashar Assad visits Vladimir Putin (Cybercast News) and has some harsh words for the United States (Washington Times).

News of the Day (December 19)

Chatham House sees Communist China as a "megapower" by 2020: The outgoing head of the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London (Chatham House is its colloquial name) warned the world of "the swift emergence of China as the second megapower would transform the world's strategic map" (United Press International via Washington Times). Professor Victor Bulmer-Thomas made clear Communist China's continuing geopolitical rise would be no peaceful endeavor: "it is unrealistic to imagine that the United States will not resist strongly the erosion of its privileged status - particularly when the new megapower is so fundamentally opposed to U.S. values in religion and personal freedom" (emphasis added). Unfortunately, there was no mention of the regime's current actions against the United States.

Six-party talks ongoing: Stalinist North Korea is now talking to American negotiators one-on-one over certain things; more ominously, the U.S. "wants to revive a deal reached in September 2005" (BBC, said 2005 "deal" was a debacle). The Stalinists want the counterfeiting penalties and sanctions from UN resolution 1718 to be lifted (Daily NK and Washington Times), although the latter has already been rendered moot thanks to SNK's Communist Chinese allies (One Free Korea). Meanwhile, South Korea attempted to showcase Ukraine as a denuclearization model (UPI via Washington Times).

Walmart becomes a CCP recruiter: One of the major American retailers that is supposed to change the political culture of China (if the "engagement" folks are to be believed) is in fact being changed by the Communist regime. In accordance with the regime's demands, Walmart is now setting up Party cells in its stores (World Net Daily).

Speaking of American businesses co-opted to do the Communists bidding: Thembi Mutch (BBC) examines the Communists' crackdown against the internet, and how American tech firms are helping them.

Exhibit on the Falun Gong War comes to Naples, Florida: The Epoch Times reports.

President Bush signs India nuclear deal legislation: The signing ceremony finalizes the much-needed nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and India (Washington Post).

On to the Middle Eastern Proxies: The Communist-backed mullahcracy of Iran is using its thugs to find the Ahmadinejad speech protestors (Guardian, hat tip David Frum). Russia is still pushing for a nuclear-plant size loophole in proposed UN sanctions against the mullahs (UPI via Washington Times). The Pentagon now labels Tehran proxy Muqtada al-Sadr as "the gravest danger to the security and stability of Iraq, surpassing Sunni Arab insurgents and Al Qaeda terrorists" (Los Angeles Times, hat tip Andy McCarthy, National Review Online). The mullahcracy is also upping its Hezbollah support to $200 million a year (NRO).

News of the Weekend (December 16-18)

Six-party talks on Stalinist North Korean nuclear ambitions begin in Beijing: For the first time since the debacle in September 2005, envoys from Communist China, Stalinist North Korea, South Korea, the U.S., Japan, and Russia met for talks on SNK's nuclear weapons program. The Stalinists demanded U.S. counterfeiting penalties against them end (BBC); Time and the Financial Times (via MSNBC) do not expect a deal; the Communist press (via BBC) and Asahi Shimbun (via Washington Times) are hoping for one. Conversely, One Free Korea and Daily NK fear another debacle is in the offing.

Westinghouse to build four nuclear power plants in Communist China: Westinghouse will packet $8 billion to build the four plants. Deutsche Bank analyst David Hurd described it thusly: "The US is putting pressure on China at the moment, so China's response is 'let's throw them a bone'" (BBC).

Ignorant Comment of the Day: There were three contenders. Newt Gingrich was almost comically incoherent on the Communist threat, while Irwin M. Stelzer largely ignored it (Weekly Standard). However, the clear winner was Daniel W. Drezner (Washington Post), whose pursuit of new foreign policy ideas says absolutely nothing on the geopolitical threat from the Communist regime.

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: India's economy is expected to grow faster than Communist China's next year (India Business), all the more reason to approve of President Bush's pro-India policies (Weekly Standard). The U.S. is considering measures to protect its satellites from Communist China, among others (Washington Post). Wei Jingsheng calls on the European Union to stand firm on its arms embargo with Communist China (Epoch Times).

On the occupied nations (Tibet and East Turkestan): Mo Li (Chengming via Epoch Times) examines and laments the disappearance of Tibetan culture. Li Jia (Epoch Times) interview exiled Uighur activist Rebiya Kadeer (fifth, second, eleventh, last, second, and fourth items).

One country, one-and-a-half systems rolls on: Falun Gong practitioners in Hong Kong are feeling the squeeze from the Communists, Basic Law or no Basic Law (Epoch Times).

Arrest of Gao Zhisheng ripped: The Human Rights Law Foundation and several human rights activists called attention to the attorney's plight (Epoch Times).

Back to Communist China's Korean colony: Daily NK ponders SNK without Kim Jong-il and reveals some of KJI's luxuries. UN human rights envoy Vitit Muntarbhorn ripped the Stalinists (United Press Int'l via Washington Times). Melanie Kirkpatrick (Wall Street Journal) talks to Pastor Phillip Buck, a rescuer of Korean refugees.

Middle Eastern Proxy Number One further infiltrating Iraq: The Communist-backed Iranian regime is "providing Shi'ite militias with weapons and training . . . pouring funds into schools and hospitals, and . . . actively supporting pro-Iranian Iraqi politicians" (Washington Times).

Enlightened Comment of the Day: Salim Mansur (Toronto Sun) calls for the liberation of Iran: "What is needed is an escalated offensive to bury this regime and let Iran once again become a truly free and respectable nation." The editors of the Washington Post earn runner-up status with this excellent analysis: "'Realism' in the Middle East means understanding that Syria and Iran won't stop waging war against the United States and its allies unless they are given reasons to fear they might lose."

More on the Middle Eastern Proxies: The mullahs get ready to receive Russia nuclear fuel (UPI via Washington Times), offers to share their nuclear know-how with other regional regimes (Washington Times), and arrest Christians (Shotgun). More are sounding the alarm about the regime's open boast of planning to destroy Israel (Cybercast News, National Review Online, Small Dead Animals). William Harris (NRO) has the latest from Lebanon's effort to survive the Tehran-Damascus slow-motion coup.

On Pakistan: Ellen Ratner's World Net Daily column detailing Pervez Musharraf's attempt to play both sides of the street would have been in the running for ECOD had she mentioned Pakistan's oldest ally - Communist China.

News of the Day (December 15)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: China Intel details how Communist China has ensured any United Nations sanctions against its mullahcratic ally will have no serious impact. One Free Korea posts on Communist China's treatment of the "uppity vassals" in South Korea and the Gao Zhisheng trial, respectively.

Think Communist China will bring its Korean colony to heel? Think again: Oriana Skylar Mastro of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace details why Communist China sees a nuclear Stalinist North Korea as a benefit to its plans, not a detriment (The New Republic).

Paulson finishes trip to Beijing empty-handed: The Treasury Secretary surprised no one in failing to get the cadres to stop deliberately devaluing their own currency and crackdown on piracy (BBC, MSNBC, and Washington Times).

South African President rips Communist China's "colonial relationship" with the continent: Thabo Mbeki sounded the alarm against Communist China's increasing "investment" in Africa, in particular the focus on extraction of raw materials for the cadres. Mbeki said moves like this would leave the continent "condemned to underdevelopment" (BBC).

Trial of Taiwan's first lady begins: Wu Shu-chen fell ill during the corruption trial; President Chen Shui-bian "has promised to resign if she is found guilty" (BBC).

Communist human rights abuses highlighted abroad: David Kilgour, co-leader of the group investigating Communist organ harvesting, spoke to Amnesty International (Epoch Times). Jia Kuo, son of Jia Jia, praised the 16 million ex-Communists who have left the party in disgust (Epoch Times).

As India and Japan build ties, Time misses the point: The magazine sees Japan "looking beyond the U.S. and embracing its Asian partners." The Washington Times finds the more salient point: "Japan . . . has made improving ties with New Delhi a top priority to balance frequent friction with China."

Back to Stalinist North Korea: The regime is once again trying to talk up a good game on its economic policies (United Press Int'l via Washington Times), amid reports of a possible second nuclear test in the offing (UPI via Washington Times). Russia may agree to follow (or give lip service to) UN Resolution 1718 (Daily NK). Waitresses brought to SNK-run restaurants in Communist China are fleeing (Daily NK). Scarlet fever is shutting SNK down, according to a defector cited by Daily NK. Other defectors told Daily NK that the Stalinist military is a hated institution in northern Korea.

Can Iran be liberated militarily? Arthur Herman (Commentary) thinks it can, and that in fact, military force may be the only way (Hat Tip Andy McCarthy - National Review Online).

More on the Middle Eastern Proxies: Talks with the Iranian mullahs and their Syrian allies won't happen any time soon, according to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (Washington Post via MSNBC); such news will certainly please the two Israeli politicians cited by Cybercast News who rightly ripped the idea. Unfortunately, there are still people who think the Assad regime can be plucked away from its quarter-century ally (Cybercast News and Washington Post).

News of the Day (December 14)

U.S. seems ready to give Kim Jong-il what he wants; Japan stabbed in the back on abductions: U.S. negotiator Christopher Hill made clear he's willing to pick up (fifth item) where the September 2005 debacle left off on Stalinist North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Hill is apparently "willing to offer North Korea a security guarantee if it halts nuclear plans" (BBC, previously, the U.S. insisted SNK's nuclear program had to be destroyed first) and ease counterfeiting penalties against the regime. Hill threw in one shocking betrayal when he dismissed any possibility of the talks rectifying the Stalinists' abduction of Japanese citizens (lead, third, lead, second, fourth, second and second items) - a flat-out reversal of previous U.S. policy on the talks.

Mitt Romney tips his hand on policy towards Communist China: In his interview with National Review Online, the outgoing Massachusetts Governor comes up short, especially when compared to he who must be President.

Paulson begins meetings in Beijing: The Treasury Secretary will hold talks on Communist China's deliberate currency devaluation and various other subjects (BBC); some are already saying this trip is more for show than anything else (Fortune via CNN).

Rebiya Kadeer visits Canada as espionage network against her is revealed: The leading Uighur activist (fifth, second, eleventh, last, and second items) was in Ottawa to talk about the Huseyin Celil case (eighth, sixth, and lead items) and Communist China's human rights abuses in general (Epoch Times). Meanwhile, German intelligence officials have noticed Communist spies "keeping a close eye on . . . Rebiya Kadeer" (Intelligence Summit).

Singapore releases Falun Gong practitioner: Erh Boon Tiong was set free last week; he "called on the Singapore authorities to immediately stop the persecution of Falun Gong, and to release the other detained Falun Gong practitioner, Ng Chye Huay" (Epoch Times).

Enlightened Comment of the Day: The editors of the Washington Post win the prize for slamming the Communist regime's unwillingness to push its Sudanese allies to stop the slaughter in Darfur.

Hong Kong democrats thank their supporters: The Democratic and Civic Parties did well enough in elections for a sliver of the Chief Executive selection panel to ensure pro-democracy forces can nominate their own candidate - Alan Leong - for the post (Epoch Times), despite a rigged election system designed largely to shut them out (third item). They don't expect Leong to win - since the Communists themselves still appointed the overwhelming majority of the 800-person panel.

Communist China sends out propaganda on avoiding Soviet collapse - to party members only: The regime has sent the DVD series Think of Danger While Living in Safety: The Lessons From the Collapse of the Soviet Union Communist Party to millions of cadres; the DVDs "are marked never to be shown to the general public" (The Australian). The series praises Stalin, pans Mikhail Gorbachev, and referred to the steady erosion of freedom under Vladimir Putin (whose military-industrial complex is Communist China's largest outside arms supplier) as " the renaissance of Russia."

Afghan President rips Pakistan for caving in to the Taliban: Hamid Karzai singed the Musharraf regime, accusing it of trying to make his people "slaves" (BBC). Meanwhile, Musharraf's Waziristan surrender continues to mortify outside observers (National Review Online).

Back to Communist China's Korean colony: Daily NK interviews Dr. Marcus Noland on the SNK food situation, talks to Siegfried Hecker on the Stalinists' nuclear weapons program, and speculates as to Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il's successor. One Free Korea has another post on South Korea's dovish antics.

On to the Middle Eastern Proxies: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's promise to destroy Israel may land the Communist-backed mullahcracy the genocide label (Guardian and Newsmax). CAIR rips the Holocaust denial conference (Cybercast News). Tony Blair (BBC) and Victor Davis Hanson (Townhall) belittle the idea of talks with Tehran, but neither of them can take the next step (liberation). Meanwhile, Senator Ben Nelson (Democrat-Florida) tries his own hand in diplomacy with a visit to Syrian tyrant Bashar Assad (New York Sun), even as Assad's Hezbollah allies continue trying to paralyze Lebanon (Washington Post).

News of the Day (December 13)

Communist China "was an active participant" in helping Saddam Hussein's military: In reaction to indictment against Andrew Huang for "participating in a scheme to sell telecommunications equipment to Saddam Hussein" (Newsmax), FBI special agent James Trainor called the Communist regime "an active participant in this transfer." The equipment in question was used for military command and control, and according to Trainor, "With this equipment, they [Iraqi forces] were far better able to respond to U.S. forces." In other words, Saddam Hussein was more effective in killing Americans thanks to the Chinese Communists.

Communist China in talks with Iran for joint exploration of massive oil field: Meanwhile, the regime-run Sinopec "is near to clinching one of its biggest overseas deals, to develop Iran's giant Yadavaran oilfield" (China Intel), which "is expected to produce 300,000 barrels per day." Should the deal go through, it would be yet another example of Communist China's support for the Iranian mullahcracy.

More on Communist China and the United States: Sadly, CATO's Daniel Ikenson doesn't include either of the above facts in his paean to Communist China's tenure in the World Trade Organization; in fact, there's no mention of any geopolitics in Ikenson's National Review Online piece. Meanwhile, the massive U.S. imbalance with Communist China looks set to top $200 billion this year, just like last year (BBC).

More from the China Freedom Blog Alliance: One Free Korea had a busy couple of days, with posts on Stalinist North Korean espionage (including an alleged Canadian SNK agent), possible good news from South Korea's six-party nuclear negotiator (for more on the upcoming talks, see BBC and United Press International via Washington Times), definite bad news from its human rights commission (see also Daily NK), and more evidence SNK is headed for another terrible famine (see also Daily NK).

Back to Middle Eastern Proxy Number One: Kenneth R. Timmerman (Newsmax) projects an Iranian nuclear weapon by September 2008; one new source the mullahs are pondering - Somalia (Small Dead Animals). The United Nations appears to be slouching toward weak sanctions against Tehran's nuclear ambitions (Newsmax, NRO, and Voice of America via Epoch Times). How weak? A Russian nuclear power plant in Iran is not covered by them (Cybercast News). The Holocaust conference gets more flak (National Review Online, Washington Post, and Washington Times), but David Duke was happy to show up (World Net Daily). At least two Senators think the current trend towards negotiations with the mullahs will actually make things worse (NRO and World Net Daily); Condoleezza Rice says such talks are "not an issue" (Newsmax and VOA via Epoch Times). S. Enders Wimbush calls for Radio Free Iran to return (Weekly Standard).

Are Lebanese and Syrian democrats linking up? As Syria's Ambassador to the U.S. rips the Bush Administration (Cybercast News), and its Hezbollah allies continue to threatened the Lebanese government (NRO), some in both Lebanon and Syria's democracy movements are seeing common ground against a common foe (NRO and Washington Post).

Gao Zhisheng tried for "subversion" as his lawyer was refused entry: Renowned human rights attorney Gao Zhisheng "is reported to have been put on trial for subversion" (BBC). This comes despite the fact the Gao's attorney, Mo Shaoping, was not allowed to join the trial - the Communists forced two other lawyers on Gao (Epoch Times).

More on human rights abuses in Communist China: Human Rights Watch details Communist China's battle against lawyers (Epoch Times). China Aid reveals the plight of Christians in Anhui, where the cadres are "forcing them to join the Three-Self Church" (Epoch Times). The Times of London speaks to Tiananmen dissident Chen Ziming, who is stil determined to bring democracy to China. The Asia Pacific Human Rights Foundation recognizes Wang Wenyi (Epoch Times).

Communist Chinese banking system in big trouble: At least one financial analyst projects "a crisis in the financial sector in China in 2009-2010" (Daily Telegraph); another calls the regime-run banks current prospectuses (prospecti?) a "comedy show."