Tuesday, February 13, 2007

News of the Day (February 13)

Reaction to the Beijing Surrender pours in: The news sources (CNN and Voice of America via Epoch Times) give the details, with one anonymous American official serving as an unintended comic in the CNN story - "The U.S. believes it's a strong draft." Meanwhile, One Free Korea, James Robbins (National Review Online), and Andy McCarthy (NRO - The Corner) give the "deal" the rhetorical double-barrels it deserves.

Enlightened Comment of the Day: Today's winner is Congressman Randy Forbes (R-Virginia) with a very clear-eyed view of the danger from Communist China's geopolitical rise (via Life, Politics, War and Other Thoughts...).

Cadre who told America to "shut up" about Communist arms buildup gets plum UN post: Sha Zukang - who as Communist China's Ambassador to the United Nations had this to say about U.S. concerns on his regime's military buildup, "It is much better for you to shut up, keep quiet" - is now UN Undersecretary of economic and social affairs, "a post just under Secretary General Ban Ki-moon" (China Rises via Worldwide Standard). The appointment was made by Ban himself (UN Press Release via Nieuwsbank).

More on Communist China and the United States: Chen Po-Kong (Epoch Times) examines the fallout from the anti-satellite test (which the Communists insist will be their last, for now - Washington Times). Court Pearman (Epoch Times) looks at the resource rivalry between Zhongnanhai and Washington. The Ghulja, East Turkestan massacre of 1997 is remembered in Washington (Epoch Times). American physicians launch Doctors Against Organ Harvesting (Epoch Times). Michael J. Green sees democracy putting down roots in Asia (Washington Post).

Taiwan opposition leader quits amid charges of corruption: Former Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou resigned as head of the Kuomintang (Nationalist) Party amid allegations "of forgery and of having embezzled more than 11m Taiwanese dollars (£170,000; $333,000) during his time as Taipei mayor" (BBC). Ma insists he's innocent, and that he will run for President in 2008, but if convicted, he could leave the "pan-blue" opposition in complete disarray.

Hong Kong press says city's media is not as free as under British rule: A survey of Hong Kong journalists revealed "that 58.4 percent of journalists surveyed believe that freedom of press has deteriorated over the decade since Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule in 1997" (Taiwan's Central News Agency via Epoch Times).

Religious persecution continues in Communist China: Gary Feuerberg (Epoch Times) has the details and testimonials.

Communist China "suffers from the world's most severe brain drain" - and this admission comes from the Communists themselves: "About two-thirds of Chinese who have studied abroad since the 1980s have chosen not to go back home" (China Daily via BBC).

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