Will Japan re-energize Obama on the CCP?

The Obama Administration's reaction to Stalinist North Korea's attack on the democratic South was traditional, conventional, and weak. Once again, the Chinese Communist Party was able to position itself as the supposedly reasonable regional power trying to get a handle on their crazy ally - even though it has to this day refused to criticize Kim Jong-il and his crew. That said, Zhongnanhai has been unable to get policy concessions out of the president yet, and what Japan is about to do with its National Defense Policy Guidelines may get the White House to snap of out its post-attack stupor.

According to the Financial Times (UK), Japan's military will release the aforementioned guidelines later this month, and they will call for a major shift in military policy.

Officials and analysts say the keenly awaited National Defence Policy Guidelines will signal a historic refocusing of Japan's army and other forces toward securing the line of small islands in the southern Nansei chain that stretches from Japan’s main islands toward Taiwan and are seen as threatened by China's rapidly growing military power.

Among the islands in the Nansei chain are Okinawa and the Senkakus, the latter of which are claimed by the Communists (they call them the Diaoyus).

The implications of this are numerous, and none are good for the CCP.

Within Japan, it means a maturing of the Democratic Party of Japan - recently elected to power on a platform that included cozying up to the Communists. According to an analyst quoted by the FT, a recent incident with a fishing boat from mainland China woke up the DPJ and the military top brass about the threat from the CCP. The long-governing Liberal Democratic Party had moved in an anti-Communist direction under Junichirio Koizumi (the last LDP leader to win an election - in 2005). Now the DPJ is joining its rival.

Regionally, the CCP may find itself repeating recent history - and not in a good way for the Communists. Last year, Zhongnanhai tried to take advantage of apparent American weakness by declaring the entire South China Sea for itself. Several American allies, including Indonesia, cried foul - and much to everyone's surprise, America joined them. Just weeks ago, President Obama himself called for India to be made a permanent member of the Security Council. Now, Japan will be heavily reinforcing an island chain that at present includes a large (and locally controversial) American military base.

If Okinawa is now a regional front-line island, the US military may not be so unwelcome. Or more likely, a strong Japanese military presence may allow the US to pull out of Okinawa entirely, thus replacing an unpopular foreign power with a strong domestic military presence dedicated to defending the homeland, while the Pentagon can score an unexpected boon to reallocate or contribution to overall deficit reduction.

I sincerely doubt the CCP was hoping for that.

In any event, Obama, whatever one thinks of him, is clearly the most multilateral president America has had in a long time. As I noted earlier, this has led to a focus on our more well-known allies in Europe - most of whom are wheezing social democracies increasingly unwilling to defend themselves from regional and global threats.

However, in Asia, America's allies are more practical - and the CCP threat is more pressing and immediate. As such, Obama's instincts have lead him to be tougher on Zhongnanhai then previous Administration's in the South China Sea. Unfortunately, the refusal to accept the reality of the CCP-North Korea alliance (i.e., that it's a tool Zhongnanhai uses to pry democratic nations apart) afflicts Seoul and Tokyo as much as it does Washington. However, the Communists have no such deflection at the ready where the Nansei-Sankakus are concerned.

If Japan really does shift its military posture (the report has not yet been released) and Washington stands with Japan as it did with Indonesia, the Obama Administration's unnamed-containment policy may be back on track.

Cross-posted to the right-wing liberal

CCP's plans continue to go awry

As the Communist export scandal grows again (thanks to lead-contaminated candy in California - Sacramento Bee via Boycott 2008), we're finding that this is not the only thing the Communists have touched that is turning to lead these days.

Remember the Olympics? They were supposed to be the great propaganda event of the young century for the Chinese Communist Party. Instead, the Communist Olympiad has upset the Nobel Committee so much it may award the Nobel Peace Prize to Hu Jia or Gao Zhisheng (BBC and Boycott 2008). The former would bring back to light the regime's brutal treatment of AIDS victims (especially in Henan), while the latter would bring the persecution of Falun Gong back into focus (Between Heaven and Earth and Boycott 2008).

Remember the election of Ma Ying-Jeou to the Taiwanese Presidency? It was supposed to usher in a new era of "cooperation" between Beijing and Taipei. Instead, Taiwan is buying American weapons (Washington Times) and its National Security Bureau Director is accusing the cadres of weaponizing SARS (Taipei Times).

How do the cadres respond? They cancel all military contacts with the United States (BBC and CNN), effectively rewarding anti-Communists in the process.

Once again, we are seeing the fundamental weakness of dictatorial regimes, as explained by John Lewis Gaddis (We Now Know: Rethinking Cold War History), "who is about to tell the authoritarian in charge when he is about to do something stupid?"

Donald Rumsfeld: the best friend we never knew we had

The President is in Tokyo for the G-8 summit this week. While he was there - and it hurts to say this, as I voted and volunteered for his re-election - he embarrassed himself and the rest of us in discussing North Korea and Communist China.

I'll start with the latter. President Bush insisted on going to the Olympics in Beijing next month, and defended his decision with the old "engagement" shibboleth that to do anything else "would be an affront to the Chinese people" (CNN). I wonder if the President has taken into account what the Communist regime thinks of the American people, in particular, the Americans they are trying to silence in New York City (Epoch Times and more Epoch Times). Is their safety less important than the oft-bruised egos of the cadres in Beijing?

Moreover, the President implies that the Chinese Communist regime and the Chinese people are one and the same. Perhaps if he paid more attention to the measures the Communists are using to stifle any dissent (Asianews), the rampant fleecing of the people by the regime (Asian-Pacific Post), the Weng'an outrage (CNN and Epoch Times), the earthquake aftermath (Epoch Times), the persecution of Falun Gong (Epoch Times), and the slow erosion of freedom in Hong Kong (Epoch Times), he might be more careful with his words.

Sadly, the President seem uninterested even by his own standards from the recent past. His policy on North Korea continues to react like a fungus (the more light shone upon it, it shrivels up and dies - BBC and One Free Korea). As Eutelsat tries to silence the dissident NTDTV once more (see also Epoch Times), the Administration, which came to the network's rescue three years ago, has been silent. Even the efforts to move closer to India were left for dead until India itself revived them (Washington Post).

So what happened? Those with long enough memories will remember that this is what we initially expected from the President. "Engagement" was clearly Bush's policy during the 2000 campaign. Yet for many years, the Administration shifted back and forth between that policy and a surprisingly robust anti-C0mmunism - until just after the November 2006 elections.

What was the major change in the Administration at time? The departure of Donald Rumsfeld.

I think, in time, history will look far more kindly on Rumsfeld than his contemporaries have. He was arguably the most anti-CCP Defense Secretary in sixty years. It was his Pentagon that presented the only reports on the Communist military that focused on the actual threat (despite the efforts of many within the Department to thwart him), and it was under his tenure that the Pentagon stuck its neck out for NTDTV. I'm also starting to wonder how much of a coincidence it was that the most dramatic and unjustifiable concessions to the Communists' Korean colony came after Rumsfeld was replaced by Robert Gates.

Many defense analysts will tell you that Rumsfeld had flaws (particularly those who focus on Iraq), but for anti-Communists, it has become clear - if only in hindsight - that he was our guy in the Administration. In many respects, Donald Rumsfeld was the best friend we never knew we had. May we be more aware, and more supportive, of our future friends.

News of the Day (June 6)

More on the United States helping Communist China repress its people for the Olympics: The Washington Times both continues its investigation and rails against the Administration for compromising American security and making it easier for the cadres to crackdown on dissidents.

More on the Olympics: Marni Soupcoff (National Post, Canada) finds more reasons that the cadres should not be enjoying this propaganda bonanza (h/t Boycott 2008).

Anti-Communist Congressmen rip the regime for the Battle of Flushing: Congressman Tom Tancredo and Dana Rohrbacher demanded the Bush Administration hold Communist China to account for instigating the pro-Communist mobs in New York City (Boycott 2008). Meanwhile, the cadres' floozies are have resorted to smearing the NYPD (Epoch Times).

NASA official says Communist China could get to the moon in ten years, which would be about two years before the United States plans to send another expedition there (Kansas City Star).

Communist Ambassador to the U.S. talks to the Washington Times: Zhou Wenzhong discussed Taiwan and America's presence in Asia with nice, soothing words (the deeds are, of course, not his bailiwick).

Tibetan monks arrested in "bomb" plot: Here we go again (CNN and Washington Post).

As Communist crackdown on quake reaction continues, victims' parents are fighting back: The parents of the Sichuan quake victims "are beginning to mount organized efforts to seek redress for the collapse of schools during last month's earthquake" (Washington Post), in the Post understates as "a potent challenge to the government." Meanwhile, likely in reaction to the parents' determination to get to the truth, the regime is reversing course on all that media openness that won it such praise last month (Los Angeles Times via Boycott 2008); first on the list of unmentionable topics - "questions about school construction." I wonder why.

Remembering Tiananmen: Jonathan Mirsky, who was covering the Tiananmen protest for the London Observer talks to the Epoch Times about what he saw on that bloody day in June.

Japan- SNK talks to be held in Beijing: They will be the first talks between Japan and the Stalinists in almost a year (BBC).

News of the Day (June 5)

Tiananmen remembered: Led by exiled dissident Wei Jingshen, a group of demonstrators at the Communist Chinese Embassy in London honors those who died on June 4, 1989 (Epoch Times).

Japanese reporters arrested at earthquake site: Two Kyodo News reporters "were detained when conducting an interview in Dujiangyan area in Sichuan Province, where the earthquake struck" (Epoch Times). The laughable explanation the cadres gave was the following: "the earthquake caused social instability and we carried out procedures to ensure the reporters' safety." Riiiiight.

Bush Administration handing over sensitive technology to Communist China in order to help the cadres "bolster security at the Beijing Olympics" (Bill Gertz, Washington Times). Some of the stuff handed over to Beijing "includes security and military equipment that is restricted for export under the Export Administration Act, prompting some critics of the policy to question its legality."

Communist China kicking foreigners out as Olympic nears: The cadres set out "legal guidelines" for foreigners during the Games (Boycott 2008), but the regime seems to be casting a wide net as to the outsiders who don't mean the guidelines (Globe and Mail, Canada). Meanwhile, the cadres' attempts to silence any foreigners at the Games was derided by the editors of the Barrie Examiner (h/t Boycott 2008).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Xin Fei (Epoch Times) discusses the Battle of Flushing. Ron Synovitz (Eurasia Net) examines Communist China's projecting of economic power in Afghanistan. India's Foreign Minister prepares to visit Communist China (Washington Times). Australia's Prime Minister wants a Pacific version of the EU - including Communist China and the United States - by 2020 (AAP via Epoch Times).

News on “another Chinese province”: Stalinist North Korea is refusing to play ball with the United States on food aid - or as One Free Korea put it, "exactly how the North Korean regime will and will not allow us to feed its population."

News of the Weekend (May 24-27)

Quick recommendation on the arrogant assumption Canadians will listen to me: I join Steve Janke in support of Jason Kenney for Foreign Minister.

The latest news on the Battle of Flushing: NYPD arrests pro-Communist instigators (Epoch Times); Communist consul admits to his role (Epoch Times); the mob kept it up yesterday (Epoch Times); and Genevieve Long tells of what she witnessed (Epoch Times).

Other news on Communist China and the rest of the world: Russia joins Communist China in opposing an American missile defense (BBC and Washington Post); New Zealanders are getting more worried about a free trade deal with Communist China (Epoch Times).

Kuomintang leader in Communist China: Wu Poh-hsiung will be meeting leading cadres for six days (BBC and Washington Times); whether or not this is window dressing (as Richard Halloran opines in the Washington Times) or something more ominous remains to be seen. Meanwhile, former Senator George Allen provides some Taiwan policy recommendations (Washington Times).

Communist China blasts British PM for meeting Dalai Lama: The cadres' harsh words (BBC) reveals a regime unwilling to follow the advice of the folks at Yale Global (via Uyghur Human Rights Project).

Post-quake Communist China reverting to form: The cadres are cracking down (Voice of America via Epoch Times and The Age via Boycott 2008), covering up (Washington Post), and stealing money (NTDTV via Epoch Times).

Olympic news and commentary: The regime takes aim - at the disabled (Epoch Times) and New Zealanders (Boycott 2008); Edward Cody examines the Communist view of "sports" (Washington Post); and Joey Cheek reminds the world about Communist China's role in Darfur (Washington Post).

News from "another Chinese province": Glenn Kessler (Washington Post) profiles the man author of the Singapore Surrender; One Free Korea has the latest famine news; and Barack Obama goers weak on the Stalinist regime and terrorism (OFK).

News of the Weekend (April 12-14)

Communist China keeps IOC in the dark about "terror" plots: One would think the cadres would let the Int'l Olympic Committee know as much as possible about the supposed plots against the Games - if only to ensure the IOC is spouting the right words. Guess again - "The International Olympic Committee (IOC) says it has received no information from China about alleged terrorist plots targeting the Beijing Games" (Agence France Presse via Uyghur American Association). If the Communists can't even provide the IOC with info . . .

How the cadres keep East Turkestan occupied: It should surprise no one that a shadowy group "(n)ot subject to the Xinjiang government" - and which "reports directly to Beijing and retains a central role in Beijing’s strategy for the region" (Asia Sentinel via UAA) - is the main instrument for the cadres' brutal occupation of the country they conquered in 1949.

Enlightened Comment of the Day: Ethan Gutmann, author of Losing the New China, has a terrific description of what the Olympics have meant and still mean for Communist China and for the democratic world. It is a must-read, in the Weekly Standard.

Runners-up: The editors of the National Post (via Boycott 2008) call for an Olympic opening-ceremony boycott; Peter Worthington (Toronto Sun via Boycott 2008) revels in the embarrassment the cadres have suffered.

Pervez Musharraf sticks up for his Communist allies: The Pakistani head of state blasted democratic nations for their reaction to the Tibet crackdown and the Olympics (CNN) - not that this should surprise anyone, since Communist China has been an ally of Pakistan for decades (Gulf News via UAA).

Canadian Int'l Olympic Committee tells athletes with consciences to "stay at home": In a breathtaking display of arrogance, Richard Pound - the senior Canadian on the IOC - had this to say about Olympians who do not wish to be gagged, "The moral dilemma, you solve it before you get on the plane. If it is so tough for you that you can't bear not to say anything, stay at home" (Epoch Times).

Other Olympic News: The Epoch Times gives a blow-by-blow account (literally) of the torch protests and violent counter-protests in San Francisco. President Bush still plans on attending the opening ceremonies (Washington Post). The torch meets some protests in Argentina (Washington Post) and is now in Oman (BBC).

Now we have "bomb plots" in Tibet: The latest Communist attempt to demonize the Tibetan people takes a new, but expected, turn (BBC). Meanwhile, the cadres continue to rip anyone even remotely critical of them (BBC again), while Edward Cody (Washington Post), details how the Communists let the quasi-military "People's Armed Police" take the lead role in the Tibetan bloodshed.

Taiwan's Vice-President-elect meets Hu Jintao: Annette Lu hasn't even left her post yet, and the actions of her successor already make me miss her (BBC).

U.S. Pacific Commander wants more transparency from Communist military: Admiral Timothy Keating sees "some contradiction in their stated goal " (Epoch Times) of a "peaceful rise" with their continuing military buildup. Admiral Keating has asked the cadres to clear this up in the past, and they have refused.

Ex-Communist reporter leaves the party: Li Yuanlong, who once wrote for the Bijie Daily (Guizhou), called membership in the Communist Youth League "a moral debt" (Epoch Times).

PEN to give award to writer jailed in Communist China: Yang Tongyan, who is serving a 12-year prison term for daring to speak his mind, will be the 2008 recipient of the PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award (Washington Post).

More news on "another Chinese province": One of Stalinist North Korea's best friends in the South Korean legislature was Kim Won Ung - until the voters bounced him in last week's elections. One Free Korea celebrates the political cleansing.

News of the Day (April 9)

How can you wage a “war” on terror on people who are not terrorists? That is the question the Taipei Times asks regarding Communist China's brutal occupation of East Turkestan (h/t Uyghur American Association).

Enlightened Comment of the Day: John Noonan edges past the above link with his excellent commentary on the need to build up the U.S. Navy and Air Force to meet the Communist threat (Weekly Standard Blog).

Other Runners-up: Congressman Dana Rohrbacher calls for an Olympic Boycott in USA Today (h/t Boycott 2008) and Andy McSmith has an illuminating historical review of the Olympic flame (Independent, UK).

Australian Prime Minister criticizes Communist treatment of Tibet - in Beijing: Kevin Rudd, not previously known for being tough on Communist China, told a Beijing University audience that the regime had to address the "significant human rights problem in Tibet" (AAP via Epoch Times). The cadres were not happy. Several U.S. Senators also called for an end to the repression (Epoch Times). Meanwhile, in Tibet itself, monks crashed a Communist propaganda tour in Xiahe (Below the Beltway).

Ignorant Comment of the Day: Joan Chen takes the prize with an awful Washington Post column on the Communist Olympiad, nudging out James Dorn, who continued to ignore national security in the Washington Times.

Irish athletes face Olympic gag order, but the Olympic Council of Ireland says athletes could still boycott the opening ceremony by saying they are "training" (Independent, Ire., via Boycott 2008). How nice.

As the Games approach, the cadres get tougher on dissidents: The Washington Post details the treatment of Shanghai lawyer Zheng Enchong; Hu Jia's house is now off limits to anyone not approve by Communist police - even though he is already in jail (Epoch Times).

More Olympic news: As protesters in Paris celebrate their success (BBC), relay organizers in San Francisco - who already shortened the route (Epoch Times) - consider change it again (Washington Post). Australians prepare for their own protests against the torch (AAP via Epoch Times). President Bush's spokesperson bobs and weaves when asked about the Games (World Net Daily). Steve Janke recommends sending Jason Kenney. The German press comment on Europe's Olympic torch debacle (Der Spiegel), while Communist China basically asks for more (BBC). Finally, more than two-thirds of Americans say award the Games to Communist China was a mistake (One Free Korea).

Anti-Stalinist party wins South Korean legislative elections: Building on the victory of Lee Myung-Bak, the Grand National Party unseated ex-President Roh Moo-hyun's dovish allies in the legislature (BBC).

A shortage of a crucial military asset, the F-22

There's an urgent issue I've been following for some time, and since there is mainly silence on this problem, I've decided to take up the cause myself.

America may not have enough modern fighter planes to ensure its defense during the coming years unless smart people make their voices heard soon. The Air Force believes we need 381 F-22 Raptor stealth fighters to provide air dominance for defending America and enabling its military forces. So far, the Pentagon and Congress have only approved funding for 183 Raptors--less than half of the number requested.

If no additional acquisitions are approved before the F-22 assembly line shuts down, the U.S. will be gambling with its ability to control the skies, trading a more secure future for a big question mark. It's that simple. Meanwhile, China continues to make substantial gains in air and space capabilities, building up for a future showdown. Weakening the U.S. force makes that showdown all the more likely. USAF Chief of Staff Moseley characterizes China's growing air power as "very, very capable." China's new J-10 fighter is just one piece of the modern PLA air force.

I've started a blog and information site about saving the F-22. The action items include a petition for more Raptors as well as a contact form to request critical Air Force funding. I hope you'll join me in this endeavor and help keep the free world strong.