Polish PM to skip Olympic Opening; French President may join him: Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland, announced that he would not attend the opening ceremonies to the Communist Olympiad (Phayul). He may not be alone - French President Nicolas Sarkozy has left the door open to a similar snub due to the continuing bloodshed in Tibet (BBC, Below the Beltway, and Times of London).
Enlightened Comment of the Day: Step forward, editors of the Washington Post, for your terrific column on what the Beijing Olympics has not delivered: "it looks increasingly likely that the Olympics will serve to remind the world not of China's emerging greatness but of its continuing denial of freedom to its citizens, its repression of minorities and its amoral alliances with rogue states" (emphasis added). Honorable mention goes to Guy Walters of the British Daily Mail (courtesy CFBA member Makina of Boycott 2008).
Other Olympics news: Australia insists that the People's Liberation Army will not set foot on Aussie soil, Olympic torch or no Olympic torch (AAP via Epoch Times).
More Tibet news and commentary: Communist China claims that hundreds of Tibetans have given themselves up to police (BBC and the Washington Post). Nepal gets in the repression act (Fox News). A leading cadre calls for more "patriotic education" in Tibet (Washington Post). France's Foreign Minister praises the Dalai Lama (Newsmax) as does Richard Gwyn of the Toronto Star.
Whoops! U.S. ships nuclear triggers to Taiwan by mistake: Naturally, Communist China was not happy with this snfau (CNN and Washington Post); then again, as Below the Beltway notes, that alone means this wasn't a complete disaster.
More on Taiwan: William R. Hawkins, of the U.S. Business and Industrial Council, calls for the U.S. to be a better friend and ally to Taiwan in Front Page Magazine.
On the state of the workers in the workers' state: Dangerous coal-mines which had been shut down for safety reasons are up and running again (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times), while the water situation is so bad the cadres are actually going to the UN for help (Epoch Times).
Winds of change blowing in South Korea? Newly inaugrated President Lee Myung-bak publicly called on the Stalinist North to send home abductees from the South (One Free Korea), and for the first time in years, the democratic South "is set to vote for a draft UN resolution expressing deep concern over the rights violations in the North" (BBC). Even South Korea's Human Rights Commission is promsing to take a serious look at the Stalinist regime's abuses (OFK).
More news on "another Chinese province": The food situation in northern Korea is now so bad that "even in Pyongyang," theere is no food, "except for the city center, where they have been reduced to 40% or less of the normal ration" - according to sources who talked to OFK.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
News of the Day (March 25)
Death toll in Tibet passes 100: The Tibetan government in exile has put the number killed by the Communists at roughly 140 (CNN). The cadres, meanwhile, are insisting its less than 20, and actually claiming most were "ethnic Han Chinese targeted by rampaging Tibetans" (same link) - Stephen Gregory, of the Epoch Times, put that nonsense to rest. The cadres also went after Western media (BBC) and Speaker Pelosi (One Free Korea).
Then again, do the Communists really have a choice? As Liu Binyan noted (h/t Jennifer Chou at the Weekly Standard Blog): "Nationalism and Han chauvinism are now the only effective instruments in the ideological arsenal of the Chinese Communist Party." Meanwhile, Tibetans in India talk about their predicament to the Washington Post, and Dennis Prager wonders why Tibet doesn't get nearly as much attention as Palestine (World Net Daily).
Steve Janke calls for an Olympic Boycott: I particularly liked the biting pun he used- "Now is the time to strike and strike hard" (emphasis added).
More on Communist Olympiad: Anne Applebaum scores Enlightened Comment of the Day honors with a concise, point-by-point, and wonderfully written takedown of the nonsensical arguments in favor of the Beijing Games:
Cadres lift block on BBC English, but "the firewall remains in place for Chinese language services on the website and for any links in Chinese" - which tells me this move was more for foreign consumption.
Communist spy sentenced to 24+ years in prison: Chi Mak, the Communist spy busted two years ago, will spend more than two dozen years in jail for "conspiring to export sensitive US defence technology to China" (BBC). Federal District Court Judge Cormac Carney explained his decision thusly (Bill Gertz - Washington Times): "A high-end . . . sentence will provide a strong deterrent to the [People's Republic of China] not to send its agents here to steal American military secrets." Nice to see somone is trying to send Beijing a message.
On the Taiwanese President-elect: Don Feder is quite sanguine about Ma Ying-jeou (Washington Times), while the Washington Post editors believe it is Hu Jintao who is now on the hot seat (I hope they're right; I fear they're wrong).
News on "another Chinese province" (Stalinist North Korea): One Free Korea has two examples of the continuing decay of the Kim Jong-il regime - one symbolic (the apparent end of annual Kim Il-sung celebrations), the other very, very real (reports of food protests).
Then again, do the Communists really have a choice? As Liu Binyan noted (h/t Jennifer Chou at the Weekly Standard Blog): "Nationalism and Han chauvinism are now the only effective instruments in the ideological arsenal of the Chinese Communist Party." Meanwhile, Tibetans in India talk about their predicament to the Washington Post, and Dennis Prager wonders why Tibet doesn't get nearly as much attention as Palestine (World Net Daily).
Steve Janke calls for an Olympic Boycott: I particularly liked the biting pun he used- "Now is the time to strike and strike hard" (emphasis added).
More on Communist Olympiad: Anne Applebaum scores Enlightened Comment of the Day honors with a concise, point-by-point, and wonderfully written takedown of the nonsensical arguments in favor of the Beijing Games:
No one involved in the preparations for this year's Olympics really believes that this is "only about the athletes," or that the Beijing Games will be an innocent display of sporting prowess, or that they bear no relation to Chinese politics. I don't see why the rest of us should believe those things, either.Meanwhile, Yang Chunlin, who "dared to claim that human rights were more important than the Olympic games" (Boycott 2008), was sent to prison for five years. Jaime FlorCruz (CNN) examines the cadres larger exposure problems as the Games near.
Cadres lift block on BBC English, but "the firewall remains in place for Chinese language services on the website and for any links in Chinese" - which tells me this move was more for foreign consumption.
Communist spy sentenced to 24+ years in prison: Chi Mak, the Communist spy busted two years ago, will spend more than two dozen years in jail for "conspiring to export sensitive US defence technology to China" (BBC). Federal District Court Judge Cormac Carney explained his decision thusly (Bill Gertz - Washington Times): "A high-end . . . sentence will provide a strong deterrent to the [People's Republic of China] not to send its agents here to steal American military secrets." Nice to see somone is trying to send Beijing a message.
On the Taiwanese President-elect: Don Feder is quite sanguine about Ma Ying-jeou (Washington Times), while the Washington Post editors believe it is Hu Jintao who is now on the hot seat (I hope they're right; I fear they're wrong).
News on "another Chinese province" (Stalinist North Korea): One Free Korea has two examples of the continuing decay of the Kim Jong-il regime - one symbolic (the apparent end of annual Kim Il-sung celebrations), the other very, very real (reports of food protests).
Monday, March 24, 2008
News of the Weekend (March 22-24, 2008)
Tibetan "violence" exposed as a Communist plot: Communist China is insisting that they are fighting a violent riot in occupied Tibet. That caught the attention of Ruan Ming, former speechwriter to the late Party boss Hu Yaobang, who explained how the cadres staged the event (Epoch Times):
Ruan also believes this was part of a plot to influence the Dalai Lama to resign (which he threatened to do last week), in order to move him out of public view. Meanwhile, the cadres kept up the charade with a list of "most wanted" (BBC and CTV), and labelled the Dalai Lama a terrorist to boot (Times of London). Sadly, the combination of Communist propaganda (Epoch Times) and a refusal to let anyone outside the regime report the truth (Epoch Times and NRO - Media Blog) has combined to give the Chinese people a badly distorted picture (Washington Post).
Yet not everyone is swallowing the propaganda. Several intellectuals - including one under house arrest in Beijing - "appealed to the Chinese government Saturday to admit that its policy of crushing dissent in Tibet and blaming the ensuing violence on the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, was failing" (Washington Post).
Persecutor-in-chief for East Turkestan is also in charge of Tibet suppression: Michael Sheridan has the scoop in the Times of London, which includes how the Party has decided to wipe out native cultures in the occupied nations with massive ethnic Chinese migration. Abrahm Lustgarten has more on that subject in the Washington Post.
More on the Tibetan crackdown: More Westerners are calling for the Communists to let the truth come out in Tibet, including the German Foreign Minister (Washington Post), several Canadian MPs (Epoch Times), and thousands of Britons (BBC). A monk in Gansu talks to the BBC. The Epoch Times has the latest from Lhasa. The Communists are also using the long arm of lawlessness to take down pro-Tibetan websites (Washington Times).
Amidst the blood in Tibet; boycott talk hits the Olympics: The president of the European Union called upon EU member nations to consider staying away from the Communist Olympiad if the crackdown in Tibet continues (CNN). At least one on-line poll shows that Canadians agree (Bourque), and Lorne Gunter of the Edmonton Journal certainly does, but few others are rising to the challenge, for now (Chicago Tribune via Detroit Free-Press).
Meanwhile, the Olympic Torch route began with a protest (BBC and CNN); sponsors of the Communist Olympiad are facing more pointed questions (Washington Post); and the cadres are even considering forcing the Olympic to tape-delay to prevent damaging footage (MSNBC).
Enlightened Comment of the Day: Robert Kagan (Washington Post) and Matthew Continetti(Weekly Standard) each have terrific pieces on what the Tibetan crackdown has revealed about the Chinese Communist Party. But for the other, both would have won easily. As it is, it's Continetti by a nose.
Ma Ying-jeou wins Taiwanese Presidency, calls for "peace treaty" with Communist China: The most acceptable face of the Kuomintang Party overcame the party's terrible recent history to score a landslide victory over Frank Hsieh, the candidate of the ruling and anti-Communist Democratic Progressives (CNN). Ma promised to "work towards a peace treaty with Beijing" (BBC), but "only if China removed missiles pointed at Taiwan" (although that wouldn't solve the issue of long-range missile from the heart of the mainland). Mroe troubling is his plan to "shelve" (Washington Post) the question of Taiwan's future and his apparent belief that Hu Jintao is as interested in peace as he is.
Communists step up the persecution of Falun Gong: Naturally, the "stability" and the "Safety of the Beijing Olympics" were the justification for the crackdown (Epoch Times).
On "another Chinese province": David Ignatius makes some bad mistakes in this Washington Post column on Stalinist North Korea, but he does show how the Stalinists have once more resorted to stonewalling the United States - this time on revealing the extent of their nuclear cooperation with Bashar Assad.
"The demonstration on March 10 was meant to be peaceful. You can see from the pictures that the demonstration was all monks," Ruan explained.From that provocation came all the claims of "violence in Tibet.""The CCP arrested some of these monks and killed them. The killing angered some young Tibetans. By March 14, the Tibetans could no longer stand the killing of innocent monks and protested."
Ruan also believes this was part of a plot to influence the Dalai Lama to resign (which he threatened to do last week), in order to move him out of public view. Meanwhile, the cadres kept up the charade with a list of "most wanted" (BBC and CTV), and labelled the Dalai Lama a terrorist to boot (Times of London). Sadly, the combination of Communist propaganda (Epoch Times) and a refusal to let anyone outside the regime report the truth (Epoch Times and NRO - Media Blog) has combined to give the Chinese people a badly distorted picture (Washington Post).
Yet not everyone is swallowing the propaganda. Several intellectuals - including one under house arrest in Beijing - "appealed to the Chinese government Saturday to admit that its policy of crushing dissent in Tibet and blaming the ensuing violence on the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, was failing" (Washington Post).
Persecutor-in-chief for East Turkestan is also in charge of Tibet suppression: Michael Sheridan has the scoop in the Times of London, which includes how the Party has decided to wipe out native cultures in the occupied nations with massive ethnic Chinese migration. Abrahm Lustgarten has more on that subject in the Washington Post.
More on the Tibetan crackdown: More Westerners are calling for the Communists to let the truth come out in Tibet, including the German Foreign Minister (Washington Post), several Canadian MPs (Epoch Times), and thousands of Britons (BBC). A monk in Gansu talks to the BBC. The Epoch Times has the latest from Lhasa. The Communists are also using the long arm of lawlessness to take down pro-Tibetan websites (Washington Times).
Amidst the blood in Tibet; boycott talk hits the Olympics: The president of the European Union called upon EU member nations to consider staying away from the Communist Olympiad if the crackdown in Tibet continues (CNN). At least one on-line poll shows that Canadians agree (Bourque), and Lorne Gunter of the Edmonton Journal certainly does, but few others are rising to the challenge, for now (Chicago Tribune via Detroit Free-Press).
Meanwhile, the Olympic Torch route began with a protest (BBC and CNN); sponsors of the Communist Olympiad are facing more pointed questions (Washington Post); and the cadres are even considering forcing the Olympic to tape-delay to prevent damaging footage (MSNBC).
Enlightened Comment of the Day: Robert Kagan (Washington Post) and Matthew Continetti(Weekly Standard) each have terrific pieces on what the Tibetan crackdown has revealed about the Chinese Communist Party. But for the other, both would have won easily. As it is, it's Continetti by a nose.
Ma Ying-jeou wins Taiwanese Presidency, calls for "peace treaty" with Communist China: The most acceptable face of the Kuomintang Party overcame the party's terrible recent history to score a landslide victory over Frank Hsieh, the candidate of the ruling and anti-Communist Democratic Progressives (CNN). Ma promised to "work towards a peace treaty with Beijing" (BBC), but "only if China removed missiles pointed at Taiwan" (although that wouldn't solve the issue of long-range missile from the heart of the mainland). Mroe troubling is his plan to "shelve" (Washington Post) the question of Taiwan's future and his apparent belief that Hu Jintao is as interested in peace as he is.
Communists step up the persecution of Falun Gong: Naturally, the "stability" and the "Safety of the Beijing Olympics" were the justification for the crackdown (Epoch Times).
On "another Chinese province": David Ignatius makes some bad mistakes in this Washington Post column on Stalinist North Korea, but he does show how the Stalinists have once more resorted to stonewalling the United States - this time on revealing the extent of their nuclear cooperation with Bashar Assad.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Why I came back
For those who have kept an eye on this blog ever since I "went dark" back in June, your patience was rewarded, but I suppose some explanation as to why I have chosen to return to the News posts after swearing them off is in order.
First, it was the best way I had to stay up to date. As much as I appreciate the kind words of everyone who thanked me for the information, I was just as much a beneficiary as you were. The late Stephen Ambrose once wrote that the act of writing is the act of learning; I experienced that with every post (including the most recent one).
Secondly, I realized as time went on that posting was not as difficult as I had originally feared. It was the rest of what I usually did (speeches, meetings, etc.) that just took up way too much of my time and my family's time. I especially noticed this as I got more involved with my other blogs.
Finally, the more I thought about it, the more I realized I could still do some good by spreading the word on the Communists and their nefarious, anti-American objectives.
Now, I doubt I'll be posting every day, but I can say that I will be posting "infinitely often" (to coin a phrase I learned in graduate school), with the "News of the . . ." format and all the information I can cram into them.
In other words . . .
I . . . am . . . back.
First, it was the best way I had to stay up to date. As much as I appreciate the kind words of everyone who thanked me for the information, I was just as much a beneficiary as you were. The late Stephen Ambrose once wrote that the act of writing is the act of learning; I experienced that with every post (including the most recent one).
Secondly, I realized as time went on that posting was not as difficult as I had originally feared. It was the rest of what I usually did (speeches, meetings, etc.) that just took up way too much of my time and my family's time. I especially noticed this as I got more involved with my other blogs.
Finally, the more I thought about it, the more I realized I could still do some good by spreading the word on the Communists and their nefarious, anti-American objectives.
Now, I doubt I'll be posting every day, but I can say that I will be posting "infinitely often" (to coin a phrase I learned in graduate school), with the "News of the . . ." format and all the information I can cram into them.
In other words . . .
I . . . am . . . back.
The (consolidated) News of the (almost) Year
As Tibet bleeds, some start to wonder whether the Beijing Olympiad was really the best move: The Communist regime's bloody crackdown in Tibet (BBC-1, BBC-2, BBC-3, BBC-4, BBC-5, BBC-6, BBC-7, BBC-8, CAN via Epoch Times, Epoch Times, more Epoch Times, and the Washington Post) has raised eyebrows and concerns over the symbolism of holding the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. While the International Olympic Committee pretends ignorance is bliss (Washington Post), others are less sanguine (Greg Pollowitz in NRO - Media Blog, Jay Nordlinger in NRO, the editors of the Washington Post and the Washington Times, Wei Jingsheng in the Post, and Kevin Kusinitz in the Weekly Standard Blog). Some expect the Olympics to be a flop (John Derbyshire, NRO, is fervently hoping for "a huge fiasco"), but the Communists are putting on a brave face (Washington Post) to go with their iron fist (BBC).
More on the Tibet (and parts of China proper) crackdown: The anti-Communist uprising spread beyond Tibet into provinces with large Tibetan populations (BBC, BBC again, BBC III, and the Washington Post). The Communists were quick to blame the Dalai Lama for all of it (BBC, Washington Post), but later put on the happy face and called for a "dialogue" (Washington Times). For his part, the Tibetan spiritual leader was deeply distressed by the bloodshed, to the point of threatening to resign (BBC, CNN, and the Washington Post). Meanwhile, the efforts of Tibetan groups who support complete independence (the Dalai Lama prefers autonomy) came to the fore (BBC, CNN, and the Washington Post), as Tibetan exiles united to stand with their persecuted brethren (BBC-1, BBC-2, Epoch Times, and the Washington Post). A number of American politicians condemned the Communists, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (BBC and CNN) and Republican Presidential nominee John McCain (Washington Post); President Bush chose to use "private messages" (Washington Post). Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Globe and Mail), American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (Washington Times), and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon (BBC) also weighed in. In Britain, the Prime Minister addressed the issue (BBC), perhaps to take attention away from some strange comments praising Communist leader Hu Jintao (Iain Dale). The Prince of Wales is expect to meet the Dalai Lama (London Telegraph). India's Foreign Minister also spoke (BBC). The most vocal condemner of the Communists, however, was easily Taiwan's embattled anti-Communist Presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (BBC). Finally, Anne Applebaum (Washington Post), scored Enlightened Comment of the (consolidated almost) Year by noting how Communist China suddenly looks like all the other far-flung tyrannies that were "brought down by their subjects, undermined by their client states, overwhelmed by the national aspirations of small, subordinate countries."
Other Tibet news: Before the streets ran red with blood, the Communists played their usual games. There was pressure on others to marginalize the occupied nation - some of which worked (BBC), some of which didn't (BBC-1 and BBC-2) - plus the usual reports of arrests (BBC-1 and BBC-2), forced relocation (BBC), interference with the local religion (BBC-1, BBC-2, BBC-3, BBC-4, and BBC-5), and a ban on any foreign support (BBC).
Other Olympic News: The Communist Olympiad was running into trouble long before this month, including concerns about the water and air in the Beijing area (BBC, CNA via Epoch Times, NRO - Media blog, and the Washington Post), let alone the food (Washington Post). Of course, the Communists' brutal treatment of the Chinese people - and concern over whether rewarding the regime with an Olympiad - was highlighted (Epoch Times, more Epoch Times, Hambastegi via Epoch Times, Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times, Reporters Without Borders via Epoch Times, and the Washington Post). Meanwhile, opposition to the regime's support for the brutal Sudanese regime (BBC and NRO) led former Olympian Richard Vaughan (BBC), Olympic Minister Tessa Jowell (BBC), Olympic film director Daryl Goodrich (BBC), and George Clooney (BBC) to speak out. Stephen Spielberg simply walked away from the Communist Olympiad, earning him the wrath of the regime (BBC, NRO - Media Blog, and the Washington Post). Undeterred, the Communists even ensured the Olympic Torch would visit their Korean colony (BBC).
Speaking of Communist China and terrorist regimes, the Communist regime's support for the butchers of Darfur continues to grow (BBC-1, BBC-2, BBC-3, NRO - The Tank), while the rebel forces (for obvious reasons) don't want the Communists anywhere near them (BBC-1 and BBC-2). For good measure, the regime stuck its neck out for the Iranian mullahcracy, too (BBC).
Communist Chinese arms in Taliban hands: The American and British military has found "Chinese arms" with Taliban members after they have attacked said militaries (BBC). Sadly, this hasn't stopped either Afghanistan (BBC) or Iraq (NRO - The Corner) from treating the Communist regime like a normal government.
Communist Chinese espionage is the "single greatest risk" to American technology: The cited words came from the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (BBC and NRO - The Tank), backed up by the arrest of two computer engineers "charged with conspiring to steal microchip designs to sell to the Chinese military" (BBC). Secretary of National Intelligence Michael McConnell gauged the Communist espionage efforts to be "close to Cold War levels" (BBC). The British MI-5 had an even broader warning for its countrymen (BBC). Less than three months later, a Defense Department official and two others were arrested for their role in a Communist spy ring stealing information about weapons sales to Taiwan (BBC, Washington Post, and the Washington Times). The FBI is also probing a Communist hacking operation (Washington Post).
More on Communist China and the U.S. (military issues): While the Communists' snubbing of the U.S. Navy got plenty of attention last November (BBC, China Confidential via Epoch Times, Epoch Times, NRO - The Tank), far less attention was paid to the much bigger story - another double-digit percentage increase in Communist China's military spending (BBC, Epoch Times, NRO, NRO - The Tank). Meanwhile, India, Japan, and Australia joined the American navy for a week of military exercises in the Bay of Bengal (BBC).
More on Communist China and the U.S. (export product safety): The furor over tainted Communist exports, which was white-hot last June, has largely faded into the background for now, but not before leading American retailers pulled their Communist goods (BBC and BBC again). The scandal spread to food exports (NRO - Media Blog and The Corner). The Communists responded with a whole slew of "crackdowns" (BBC-1, BBC-2), a fit of pique (BBC), some more interference in American politics (Washington Post), and a hope that no one would hold it against their latest export effort in automobiles (BBC). Next thing you know, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finds that the Communists are exporting contaminated components of blood thinner (Washington Post).
More on Communist China and the U.S. (everything else): The State Department wins Ignorant Comment of the (consolidated almost) Year honors for taking Communist China off the list of worst human-rights abusers (BBC, NRO - Media Blog and Washington Post), as the regime agrees to hold a "dialogue" on human rights with Washington (Washington Post). CIA Director Michael Hayden had a mishmash of an analysis of the regime in the Washington Times. The Communists also try using the long arm of lawlessness to initimidate American officials (Epoch Times). The Communists' deliberately devalued currency continued to get bad press (NRO and Washington Post). Leading American anti-Communist Tom Lantos passed away (Washington Post). GM set up plans for Communist hybrid cars (BBC).
More on Communist China and the rest of the world (except Taiwan and East Turkestan): Apprehension is rife in New Zealand as the Kiwi government prepares to sign a free-trade deal with Communist China (Epoch Times and more Epoch Times). The long arm of lawlessness (see above) spreads to Israel (Epoch Times), Malaysia (Epoch Times), Canada (Epoch Times and Small Dead Animals), Denmark (BBC), Ukranie (Epoch Times) and everywhere else (Epoch Times). Australia's new Prime Minister is almost immediately criticized for being too friendly to the Communists (AAP via Epoch Times), who are making major inroads into the Australian economy (BBC and BBC again). The new leaders of both Britain (BBC-1, BBC-2, BBC-3, and NRO - Phi Beta Cons) and France (BBC and BBC again) are drinking the "engagement" Kool-Aid. The regime digs its meat-hooks deeper into Africa (BBC-1, BBC-2, BBC-3, BBC-4, BBC-5, BBC-6, BBC-7, BBC-8, BBC-9, BBC-10, and NRO - The Tank,), while the Bush Administration (BBC) and the World Bank (BBC) see no evil (UK Conservative leader David Cameron asked least tried to prod the Communists to stop the madness, although he should have known better - BBC). The cadres also cast their eyes on the Carribean (BBC), Kazakhstan (BBC-1 and BBC-2), and even Antarctica (BBC). India's Prime Minister visited Beijing (BBC), and his military conducted joint "anti-terrorism" operations with the PLA (try to avoid laughter - that's OK; I couldn't either: BBC). Japan's new Prime Minster has proven he is no Koizumi (BBC and BBC again). Fiat makes a deal with Chery (BBC). Russia and Communist China make a joint call for a space arms treaty (BBC), but Gazprom wants out of its gas contract to the Communists (BBC).
Taiwan election news: Until Tibet started bleeding, the opposition pan-red (errrr, "pan-blue") coalition candidate (the Kuomintang's Ma Ying-jeou) seemed a sure winner (BBC). Now, Frank Hsieh, the candidate for the anti-Communist Democratic Progressive Party, has seized upon Tibet as a warning to the Taiwanese people (BBC) and "may now be in striking distance of an upset" (CNN). There will also be two referendum on applying to join the United Nations as "Taiwan" - which has the Communists and ther pan-blues spooked (BBC and Washington Post). FYI, yours truly emphatically endorses Hsieh in tomorrow's election.
Other Taiwan news: After a military exercise last fall (BBC), the outgoing Chen Adminsitration bolstered its claim to the disputed Spratly Islands (Washington Post). Of course, the United Nations followed Communist China's lead last year and blocked Taiwan's admission (BBC and NRO - The Tank); not even the Olympic torch could be spared the Communists' wrath (BBC). Meanwhile, Malawi (BBC) and B&Q (BBC) follwed Costa Rica (BBC) in cutting off Taiwan in favor of Communist China. Peter Pham discussed the military balance between the Communists and the island democracy (The Tank). David Frum (NRO) examines Taiwanese history.
East Turkestan news: Communist China made a dramatic claim of foiling two terrorist plots (BBC-1, BBC-2, Washington Post); Rebiya Kadeer isn't buying it (Epoch Times).
Hong Kong and Macau news: The 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to Communist China past last summer (BBC). The BBC talked to the last British leader of the city, and the one who brought it democracy, Chirs Patten (BBC). Meanwhile the Communist say the might allow the HK people to elect their leader - in 2017 (BBC). On Macau, the Communist-appointed leader was accused of still having a stake in the city's massive casino market (BBC).
Communists meet in Beijing and give empty promises to fight mass corruption: Between now and last June, the CCP held its five-year Congress (BBC and Epoch Times) and the annual session of its rubber-stamp Parliament (BBC, Epoch Times, and Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times). The Party decided, first and foremost, that it would remain in charge ad infinitum (BBC). Thus, no one can challenge them for power, or the corruption that comes with it (BBC-1, BBC-2, BBC-3, BBC-4, Chengming via Epoch Times, Epoch Times, New Epoch Weekly). Lest anyone think that this corruption is new, Jung Chang revealed otherwise as she discussed her excellent biography of Mao (Epoch Times).
Many Chinese are considering life without the Communists: A three-part Epoch Times piece calls for members of the CCP to withdraw. One cadre does (Epoch Times), while a provincial official writes an open letter calling for the de-Communizing of China (Epoch Times).
Organ theft news: The Communists gave great fanfare to their new organ transplant rules (BBC). It should surprise no one to knnow they aren't following them (Epoch Times and IHEU-Appignani Center for Bioethics via Epoch Times).
One-child policy to remain, but with nicer labels: The cadres decided that what was wrong with the one-chiolde policy wasn't the hideous treatment of women, the gender imbalance (NRO - Media Blog), or the resultant kidnapping of children (Washington Post). It was just the slogans they were using (BBC); so they will go, but the hideous policy remains in place (BBC).
Religious persecution news: Communist China continues to make nice with the Roman Catholic Church (BBC-1, BBC-2, BBC-3, BBC-4, BBC-5, BBC-6, and the Washington Post, but for non-Catholic Christians (BBC, Epoch Times, and Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times) and Falun Gong (Epoch Times and more Epoch Times), it's business as usual.
Media crackdown news: Zhao Yan (of the New York Times) is free (BBC), as is Ching Cheong (BBC) and Yu Huafeng (Washington Post), but Lu Gengsong is serving a four year sentence for "inciting subversion of state power" (NRO - Media Blog), and even arrested the BBC's Dan Griffiths. In fact, Communist China "tops the list of world's biggest jailer of journalists" (Media Blog). Meanwhile, a photographer is fired because a cadre didn't like a picture of hm (Epoch Times), editors marking the Tiananmen anniversary were sent packing (BBC), and the regime announced it was building a database on all foreign journalists headed to cover the Olympics (Media Blog).
Dissident news: Hu Jia is, as I write, on trial for "subversion" (Washington Post), while his wife and infant duaghter are under house arrest (BBC and NRO - Media Blog). Yang Chunlin will also be tried soon (Washington Post). The wife of Chen Guangcheng has been denied permission to leave the country (BBC). Several political opponents of the Communists were jailed (CNA via Epoch Times and Epoch Times). Ding Zilin makes another appeal on behalf of her follow relatives of Tiananmen massacre victims (Epoch Times). Attorney Zheng Enchong was "brutally beaten three times in two days" (Epoch Times). Another lawyer, Teng Bao, was arrested and held for two days before being released (Washington Post). Several dissidents who sued Yahoo for its role in helping the regime arrest them settled with the internet giant (BBC and Epoch Times).
Censorship and surveillance news: Communist China's battle with the internet continues (BBC-1, BBC-2, BBC-3, and NRO - Media Blog) as the regime reaches out to slap down advertisements (BBC), talent shows (BBC), films (BBC-1, BBC-2, BBC-3, and Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times), actors (BBC). Meanwhile, the cadres are making tremendous strides in telecommunications surveillance (Sound of Hope via Epoch Times and NRO - Media Blog).
Appellant (petitioner) news: All citizens of China have the right to redress of grievances against local officials. Of course, the Communists honor this right in name only. Actual petitioners - assuming the cadres can't prevent them from even reaching the capital (Epoch Times) - are ordered to leave town (BBC), arrested (Epoch Times), and beaten to death (Epoch Times and NRO).
Protest news: The Communist regime continued to take use its monopoly on land to enrich itself at the expense of its people (BBC). The latest examples are in Sichuan (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times), Hainan (Epoch Times).
On the state of the workers in the workers' state: In a land where independent labor unions are illegal, workers end up getting stiffed (Epoch Times), killed by tear gas (Epoch Times), or beaten by Communist-hired thugs (BBC). In order to prevent such tragedies from happening again, the cadres are now demanding migrant workers "declare their political affiliations when registering for residency permits" (BBC), as if they don't have enough worries (BBC). Meanwhile, coal production and corruption still go hand in hand - killing workers in the process (Washington Post).
Other economic news: Communist China went to war against inflation (BBC) - including implementing prize freezes (BBC) and higher interst rates (BBC) - but inflation still won (BBC and the Epoch Times). Making matters worse, the Communist economy was actually 40% smaller than everyone thought it was (BBC) - which probably came as know surprise to the people actually suffering under it (BBC and the Epoch Times). The cadres did admit unemployment was a problem, FWIW (BBC), but the cadres themselves are still pulling in money from foreign fools (BBC), preparing to buy up the rest of the world (BBC and David Frum of NRO). and tightening their grip on the economy (BBC). Meanwhile, regime-owned PetroChina pased ExxonMobil and the largest company in the world (BBC).
Environmental news: Communist China continues to zoom past everyone else in carbon emissions (BBC) and pollution has rendered the water supply for another 200,000 people undrinkable (BBC), but when it comes to the environment and the Communists, one begins and ends with Three Gorges Dam (BBC-1, BBC-2, BBC-3, BBC-4, and Radio Free Asia via the Epoch Times).
Space news: Communist China's plans for a space station (BBC) moved forward with a trip to the moon (BBC and the Epoch Times) - complete with a picture (BBC) - um, we think (Fox News via NRO - Media Blog).
Beijing surrender news: The nuclear "deal" with Stlainist North Korea that was so highly praised (except here) has stalled (BBC, NRO, and the Washington Times), and once again the United States is asking Communist China for help (BBC) and considering giving the Stalinists nuclear power (Washington Times) - yes, you read that right. This after SNK has its $25 million (BBC and NRO). Meanwhile, the regime test-fired another missile (BBC and NRO - The Tank), started another border incident with South Korea (BBC-1 and BBC-2), and may have helped Syrian dictator Bashar Assad with his own nuclear program - before Israel razed it to the ground (BBC-1, BBC-2, BBC-3, NRO). Then there is the issue of the Stalinists' abduction of Japanese citizens, which was also supposed to be resolved at the six-party talks. Well, they weren't (BBC-1, BBC-2, BBC-3). Instead, we're all supposed to take hope in the New York Philharmonic (BBC, Washington Post).
More news on "another Chinese province": The presence of a more realistic Administration in South Korea (BBC-1, BBC-2, and NRO - The Tank) led the Stalinists to suspend rail link (BBC). Meanwhile, SNK executed 15 people for trying to escape the regime (BBC) - sadly, the other side of the border is hardly safe (Washington Times) - as more Koreans die (BBC) and Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il continues to enrich himself (Washington Post), reel in his children (BBC), and feed his immense ego (Washington Post).
More on the Tibet (and parts of China proper) crackdown: The anti-Communist uprising spread beyond Tibet into provinces with large Tibetan populations (BBC, BBC again, BBC III, and the Washington Post). The Communists were quick to blame the Dalai Lama for all of it (BBC, Washington Post), but later put on the happy face and called for a "dialogue" (Washington Times). For his part, the Tibetan spiritual leader was deeply distressed by the bloodshed, to the point of threatening to resign (BBC, CNN, and the Washington Post). Meanwhile, the efforts of Tibetan groups who support complete independence (the Dalai Lama prefers autonomy) came to the fore (BBC, CNN, and the Washington Post), as Tibetan exiles united to stand with their persecuted brethren (BBC-1, BBC-2, Epoch Times, and the Washington Post). A number of American politicians condemned the Communists, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (BBC and CNN) and Republican Presidential nominee John McCain (Washington Post); President Bush chose to use "private messages" (Washington Post). Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Globe and Mail), American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (Washington Times), and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon (BBC) also weighed in. In Britain, the Prime Minister addressed the issue (BBC), perhaps to take attention away from some strange comments praising Communist leader Hu Jintao (Iain Dale). The Prince of Wales is expect to meet the Dalai Lama (London Telegraph). India's Foreign Minister also spoke (BBC). The most vocal condemner of the Communists, however, was easily Taiwan's embattled anti-Communist Presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (BBC). Finally, Anne Applebaum (Washington Post), scored Enlightened Comment of the (consolidated almost) Year by noting how Communist China suddenly looks like all the other far-flung tyrannies that were "brought down by their subjects, undermined by their client states, overwhelmed by the national aspirations of small, subordinate countries."
Other Tibet news: Before the streets ran red with blood, the Communists played their usual games. There was pressure on others to marginalize the occupied nation - some of which worked (BBC), some of which didn't (BBC-1 and BBC-2) - plus the usual reports of arrests (BBC-1 and BBC-2), forced relocation (BBC), interference with the local religion (BBC-1, BBC-2, BBC-3, BBC-4, and BBC-5), and a ban on any foreign support (BBC).
Other Olympic News: The Communist Olympiad was running into trouble long before this month, including concerns about the water and air in the Beijing area (BBC, CNA via Epoch Times, NRO - Media blog, and the Washington Post), let alone the food (Washington Post). Of course, the Communists' brutal treatment of the Chinese people - and concern over whether rewarding the regime with an Olympiad - was highlighted (Epoch Times, more Epoch Times, Hambastegi via Epoch Times, Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times, Reporters Without Borders via Epoch Times, and the Washington Post). Meanwhile, opposition to the regime's support for the brutal Sudanese regime (BBC and NRO) led former Olympian Richard Vaughan (BBC), Olympic Minister Tessa Jowell (BBC), Olympic film director Daryl Goodrich (BBC), and George Clooney (BBC) to speak out. Stephen Spielberg simply walked away from the Communist Olympiad, earning him the wrath of the regime (BBC, NRO - Media Blog, and the Washington Post). Undeterred, the Communists even ensured the Olympic Torch would visit their Korean colony (BBC).
Speaking of Communist China and terrorist regimes, the Communist regime's support for the butchers of Darfur continues to grow (BBC-1, BBC-2, BBC-3, NRO - The Tank), while the rebel forces (for obvious reasons) don't want the Communists anywhere near them (BBC-1 and BBC-2). For good measure, the regime stuck its neck out for the Iranian mullahcracy, too (BBC).
Communist Chinese arms in Taliban hands: The American and British military has found "Chinese arms" with Taliban members after they have attacked said militaries (BBC). Sadly, this hasn't stopped either Afghanistan (BBC) or Iraq (NRO - The Corner) from treating the Communist regime like a normal government.
Communist Chinese espionage is the "single greatest risk" to American technology: The cited words came from the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (BBC and NRO - The Tank), backed up by the arrest of two computer engineers "charged with conspiring to steal microchip designs to sell to the Chinese military" (BBC). Secretary of National Intelligence Michael McConnell gauged the Communist espionage efforts to be "close to Cold War levels" (BBC). The British MI-5 had an even broader warning for its countrymen (BBC). Less than three months later, a Defense Department official and two others were arrested for their role in a Communist spy ring stealing information about weapons sales to Taiwan (BBC, Washington Post, and the Washington Times). The FBI is also probing a Communist hacking operation (Washington Post).
More on Communist China and the U.S. (military issues): While the Communists' snubbing of the U.S. Navy got plenty of attention last November (BBC, China Confidential via Epoch Times, Epoch Times, NRO - The Tank), far less attention was paid to the much bigger story - another double-digit percentage increase in Communist China's military spending (BBC, Epoch Times, NRO, NRO - The Tank). Meanwhile, India, Japan, and Australia joined the American navy for a week of military exercises in the Bay of Bengal (BBC).
More on Communist China and the U.S. (export product safety): The furor over tainted Communist exports, which was white-hot last June, has largely faded into the background for now, but not before leading American retailers pulled their Communist goods (BBC and BBC again). The scandal spread to food exports (NRO - Media Blog and The Corner). The Communists responded with a whole slew of "crackdowns" (BBC-1, BBC-2), a fit of pique (BBC), some more interference in American politics (Washington Post), and a hope that no one would hold it against their latest export effort in automobiles (BBC). Next thing you know, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finds that the Communists are exporting contaminated components of blood thinner (Washington Post).
More on Communist China and the U.S. (everything else): The State Department wins Ignorant Comment of the (consolidated almost) Year honors for taking Communist China off the list of worst human-rights abusers (BBC, NRO - Media Blog and Washington Post), as the regime agrees to hold a "dialogue" on human rights with Washington (Washington Post). CIA Director Michael Hayden had a mishmash of an analysis of the regime in the Washington Times. The Communists also try using the long arm of lawlessness to initimidate American officials (Epoch Times). The Communists' deliberately devalued currency continued to get bad press (NRO and Washington Post). Leading American anti-Communist Tom Lantos passed away (Washington Post). GM set up plans for Communist hybrid cars (BBC).
More on Communist China and the rest of the world (except Taiwan and East Turkestan): Apprehension is rife in New Zealand as the Kiwi government prepares to sign a free-trade deal with Communist China (Epoch Times and more Epoch Times). The long arm of lawlessness (see above) spreads to Israel (Epoch Times), Malaysia (Epoch Times), Canada (Epoch Times and Small Dead Animals), Denmark (BBC), Ukranie (Epoch Times) and everywhere else (Epoch Times). Australia's new Prime Minister is almost immediately criticized for being too friendly to the Communists (AAP via Epoch Times), who are making major inroads into the Australian economy (BBC and BBC again). The new leaders of both Britain (BBC-1, BBC-2, BBC-3, and NRO - Phi Beta Cons) and France (BBC and BBC again) are drinking the "engagement" Kool-Aid. The regime digs its meat-hooks deeper into Africa (BBC-1, BBC-2, BBC-3, BBC-4, BBC-5, BBC-6, BBC-7, BBC-8, BBC-9, BBC-10, and NRO - The Tank,), while the Bush Administration (BBC) and the World Bank (BBC) see no evil (UK Conservative leader David Cameron asked least tried to prod the Communists to stop the madness, although he should have known better - BBC). The cadres also cast their eyes on the Carribean (BBC), Kazakhstan (BBC-1 and BBC-2), and even Antarctica (BBC). India's Prime Minister visited Beijing (BBC), and his military conducted joint "anti-terrorism" operations with the PLA (try to avoid laughter - that's OK; I couldn't either: BBC). Japan's new Prime Minster has proven he is no Koizumi (BBC and BBC again). Fiat makes a deal with Chery (BBC). Russia and Communist China make a joint call for a space arms treaty (BBC), but Gazprom wants out of its gas contract to the Communists (BBC).
Taiwan election news: Until Tibet started bleeding, the opposition pan-red (errrr, "pan-blue") coalition candidate (the Kuomintang's Ma Ying-jeou) seemed a sure winner (BBC). Now, Frank Hsieh, the candidate for the anti-Communist Democratic Progressive Party, has seized upon Tibet as a warning to the Taiwanese people (BBC) and "may now be in striking distance of an upset" (CNN). There will also be two referendum on applying to join the United Nations as "Taiwan" - which has the Communists and ther pan-blues spooked (BBC and Washington Post). FYI, yours truly emphatically endorses Hsieh in tomorrow's election.
Other Taiwan news: After a military exercise last fall (BBC), the outgoing Chen Adminsitration bolstered its claim to the disputed Spratly Islands (Washington Post). Of course, the United Nations followed Communist China's lead last year and blocked Taiwan's admission (BBC and NRO - The Tank); not even the Olympic torch could be spared the Communists' wrath (BBC). Meanwhile, Malawi (BBC) and B&Q (BBC) follwed Costa Rica (BBC) in cutting off Taiwan in favor of Communist China. Peter Pham discussed the military balance between the Communists and the island democracy (The Tank). David Frum (NRO) examines Taiwanese history.
East Turkestan news: Communist China made a dramatic claim of foiling two terrorist plots (BBC-1, BBC-2, Washington Post); Rebiya Kadeer isn't buying it (Epoch Times).
Hong Kong and Macau news: The 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to Communist China past last summer (BBC). The BBC talked to the last British leader of the city, and the one who brought it democracy, Chirs Patten (BBC). Meanwhile the Communist say the might allow the HK people to elect their leader - in 2017 (BBC). On Macau, the Communist-appointed leader was accused of still having a stake in the city's massive casino market (BBC).
Communists meet in Beijing and give empty promises to fight mass corruption: Between now and last June, the CCP held its five-year Congress (BBC and Epoch Times) and the annual session of its rubber-stamp Parliament (BBC, Epoch Times, and Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times). The Party decided, first and foremost, that it would remain in charge ad infinitum (BBC). Thus, no one can challenge them for power, or the corruption that comes with it (BBC-1, BBC-2, BBC-3, BBC-4, Chengming via Epoch Times, Epoch Times, New Epoch Weekly). Lest anyone think that this corruption is new, Jung Chang revealed otherwise as she discussed her excellent biography of Mao (Epoch Times).
Many Chinese are considering life without the Communists: A three-part Epoch Times piece calls for members of the CCP to withdraw. One cadre does (Epoch Times), while a provincial official writes an open letter calling for the de-Communizing of China (Epoch Times).
Organ theft news: The Communists gave great fanfare to their new organ transplant rules (BBC). It should surprise no one to knnow they aren't following them (Epoch Times and IHEU-Appignani Center for Bioethics via Epoch Times).
One-child policy to remain, but with nicer labels: The cadres decided that what was wrong with the one-chiolde policy wasn't the hideous treatment of women, the gender imbalance (NRO - Media Blog), or the resultant kidnapping of children (Washington Post). It was just the slogans they were using (BBC); so they will go, but the hideous policy remains in place (BBC).
Religious persecution news: Communist China continues to make nice with the Roman Catholic Church (BBC-1, BBC-2, BBC-3, BBC-4, BBC-5, BBC-6, and the Washington Post, but for non-Catholic Christians (BBC, Epoch Times, and Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times) and Falun Gong (Epoch Times and more Epoch Times), it's business as usual.
Media crackdown news: Zhao Yan (of the New York Times) is free (BBC), as is Ching Cheong (BBC) and Yu Huafeng (Washington Post), but Lu Gengsong is serving a four year sentence for "inciting subversion of state power" (NRO - Media Blog), and even arrested the BBC's Dan Griffiths. In fact, Communist China "tops the list of world's biggest jailer of journalists" (Media Blog). Meanwhile, a photographer is fired because a cadre didn't like a picture of hm (Epoch Times), editors marking the Tiananmen anniversary were sent packing (BBC), and the regime announced it was building a database on all foreign journalists headed to cover the Olympics (Media Blog).
Dissident news: Hu Jia is, as I write, on trial for "subversion" (Washington Post), while his wife and infant duaghter are under house arrest (BBC and NRO - Media Blog). Yang Chunlin will also be tried soon (Washington Post). The wife of Chen Guangcheng has been denied permission to leave the country (BBC). Several political opponents of the Communists were jailed (CNA via Epoch Times and Epoch Times). Ding Zilin makes another appeal on behalf of her follow relatives of Tiananmen massacre victims (Epoch Times). Attorney Zheng Enchong was "brutally beaten three times in two days" (Epoch Times). Another lawyer, Teng Bao, was arrested and held for two days before being released (Washington Post). Several dissidents who sued Yahoo for its role in helping the regime arrest them settled with the internet giant (BBC and Epoch Times).
Censorship and surveillance news: Communist China's battle with the internet continues (BBC-1, BBC-2, BBC-3, and NRO - Media Blog) as the regime reaches out to slap down advertisements (BBC), talent shows (BBC), films (BBC-1, BBC-2, BBC-3, and Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times), actors (BBC). Meanwhile, the cadres are making tremendous strides in telecommunications surveillance (Sound of Hope via Epoch Times and NRO - Media Blog).
Appellant (petitioner) news: All citizens of China have the right to redress of grievances against local officials. Of course, the Communists honor this right in name only. Actual petitioners - assuming the cadres can't prevent them from even reaching the capital (Epoch Times) - are ordered to leave town (BBC), arrested (Epoch Times), and beaten to death (Epoch Times and NRO).
Protest news: The Communist regime continued to take use its monopoly on land to enrich itself at the expense of its people (BBC). The latest examples are in Sichuan (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times), Hainan (Epoch Times).
On the state of the workers in the workers' state: In a land where independent labor unions are illegal, workers end up getting stiffed (Epoch Times), killed by tear gas (Epoch Times), or beaten by Communist-hired thugs (BBC). In order to prevent such tragedies from happening again, the cadres are now demanding migrant workers "declare their political affiliations when registering for residency permits" (BBC), as if they don't have enough worries (BBC). Meanwhile, coal production and corruption still go hand in hand - killing workers in the process (Washington Post).
Other economic news: Communist China went to war against inflation (BBC) - including implementing prize freezes (BBC) and higher interst rates (BBC) - but inflation still won (BBC and the Epoch Times). Making matters worse, the Communist economy was actually 40% smaller than everyone thought it was (BBC) - which probably came as know surprise to the people actually suffering under it (BBC and the Epoch Times). The cadres did admit unemployment was a problem, FWIW (BBC), but the cadres themselves are still pulling in money from foreign fools (BBC), preparing to buy up the rest of the world (BBC and David Frum of NRO). and tightening their grip on the economy (BBC). Meanwhile, regime-owned PetroChina pased ExxonMobil and the largest company in the world (BBC).
Environmental news: Communist China continues to zoom past everyone else in carbon emissions (BBC) and pollution has rendered the water supply for another 200,000 people undrinkable (BBC), but when it comes to the environment and the Communists, one begins and ends with Three Gorges Dam (BBC-1, BBC-2, BBC-3, BBC-4, and Radio Free Asia via the Epoch Times).
Space news: Communist China's plans for a space station (BBC) moved forward with a trip to the moon (BBC and the Epoch Times) - complete with a picture (BBC) - um, we think (Fox News via NRO - Media Blog).
Beijing surrender news: The nuclear "deal" with Stlainist North Korea that was so highly praised (except here) has stalled (BBC, NRO, and the Washington Times), and once again the United States is asking Communist China for help (BBC) and considering giving the Stalinists nuclear power (Washington Times) - yes, you read that right. This after SNK has its $25 million (BBC and NRO). Meanwhile, the regime test-fired another missile (BBC and NRO - The Tank), started another border incident with South Korea (BBC-1 and BBC-2), and may have helped Syrian dictator Bashar Assad with his own nuclear program - before Israel razed it to the ground (BBC-1, BBC-2, BBC-3, NRO). Then there is the issue of the Stalinists' abduction of Japanese citizens, which was also supposed to be resolved at the six-party talks. Well, they weren't (BBC-1, BBC-2, BBC-3). Instead, we're all supposed to take hope in the New York Philharmonic (BBC, Washington Post).
More news on "another Chinese province": The presence of a more realistic Administration in South Korea (BBC-1, BBC-2, and NRO - The Tank) led the Stalinists to suspend rail link (BBC). Meanwhile, SNK executed 15 people for trying to escape the regime (BBC) - sadly, the other side of the border is hardly safe (Washington Times) - as more Koreans die (BBC) and Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il continues to enrich himself (Washington Post), reel in his children (BBC), and feed his immense ego (Washington Post).
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Is Taiwan paying attention to Tibet?
From one perspective, the Communist crackdown on Tibet couldn't come at a better time. The Olympics is still five months away - more than enough time, sadly, for people to forget what has happened this month. Furthermore, this could take a lot of steam out of the reaction to the 50th anniversary of the bloody March 1959 crackdown. From another angle, however, it couldn't have come at a worse time, because Taiwan will elect a new President on Saturday.
Up until last week, it was fairly certain who the President would be - former Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou. Ma is the nominee of the Kuomintang (Nationalist - KMT for short) party; the party which under Chiang Kai-Shek ran all of China, then retreated to Taiwan in 1949 and ruled until losing power in the election of 2000.
Older readers might remember the KMT as the leading anti-Communist force in East Asia, but that was a long time ago. During the 1990's, under President Lee Teng-hui, Taiwan transitioned to a democracy, and the Taiwanese people became more confident in themselves, their elected government (Lee stood for election in 1996 and won overwhelmingly), and their right to be treated as an independent nation.
Meanwhile, Communist China, sensing an opportunity in the increasingly homesick leadership of the KMT, began making overtures toward winning them over. The "one country, two systems" model for Hong Kong (which looked a lot better before it was implemented than it does eleven years on) was touted as a possible future for Taiwan - and many in the KMT started abandoning anti-Communism and supported reunification even under Communist rule.
Lee, however, did not, which set off a factional split in the KMT that allowed the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to win in 2000 under Chen Shui-bian. The split within the KMT was so bad that Lee quit the party and formed his own (the Taiwan Solidarity Union), which endorsed Chen for re-election (he won). Now, however, after eight years, Taiwanese voters seemed to be tired of the DPP, while the KMT nominated Ma - who has taken care to adopt anti-Communist rhetoric his entire career.
The DPP nominee (former Premier Frank Hsieh) had been unable to gain any traction, even as Ma proposed a "peace treaty" with the Communists. All the signs pointed to a KMT blowout - until Tibet started bleeding.
How worried was Ma? He uttered these words when asked about the possibility of the Communists doing the same to Taiwan: "Taiwan is not Tibet ... we are a sovereign country" (CNS News). To KMT supporters, those words are the sine qua non of political incorrectness. To top it off, Ma even talked about boycotting the Olympics this morning (Agence France Presse).
Will it be enough? It's hard to say. As I mentioned earlier, these aren't Ma's first anti-Communist statements. The concern was always whether or not the rest of the KMT would push him towards "reconciliation" - and that concern won't go away no matter what Ma says. Still, if Ma wins, he will not be able to run away from his anti-Communist rhetoric without suffering horrendous political consequences, if Taiwan still has the opportunity to deliver them.
Why do I say that? Three years ago an inside CCP source leaked that the Communist regime intends to conquer Taiwan by no later than 2012. This timeline is not dependent on Taiwanese policy, but rather the Communists' schedule for neutralizing dissidents. Of course, the Communists have repeatedly tired to cover their true face with their "peaceful rise" nonsense - nonsense has been literally shot away in Tibet.
What Tibet has revealed is the true nature of the Communist regime, which Taiwan's voters should not take lightly. I would humbly submit (since I'm American and not Taiwanese, it can be nothing but humbly), that the island democracy cannot risk Ma succumbing to the Communist-sympathizing elements of the KMT. It is far better to stick with the true anti-Communist coalition (DPP-TSU), and elect Frank Hsieh - which as Tibet continues to bleed - might just happen now.
Cross-posted to the right-wing liberal
Up until last week, it was fairly certain who the President would be - former Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou. Ma is the nominee of the Kuomintang (Nationalist - KMT for short) party; the party which under Chiang Kai-Shek ran all of China, then retreated to Taiwan in 1949 and ruled until losing power in the election of 2000.
Older readers might remember the KMT as the leading anti-Communist force in East Asia, but that was a long time ago. During the 1990's, under President Lee Teng-hui, Taiwan transitioned to a democracy, and the Taiwanese people became more confident in themselves, their elected government (Lee stood for election in 1996 and won overwhelmingly), and their right to be treated as an independent nation.
Meanwhile, Communist China, sensing an opportunity in the increasingly homesick leadership of the KMT, began making overtures toward winning them over. The "one country, two systems" model for Hong Kong (which looked a lot better before it was implemented than it does eleven years on) was touted as a possible future for Taiwan - and many in the KMT started abandoning anti-Communism and supported reunification even under Communist rule.
Lee, however, did not, which set off a factional split in the KMT that allowed the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to win in 2000 under Chen Shui-bian. The split within the KMT was so bad that Lee quit the party and formed his own (the Taiwan Solidarity Union), which endorsed Chen for re-election (he won). Now, however, after eight years, Taiwanese voters seemed to be tired of the DPP, while the KMT nominated Ma - who has taken care to adopt anti-Communist rhetoric his entire career.
The DPP nominee (former Premier Frank Hsieh) had been unable to gain any traction, even as Ma proposed a "peace treaty" with the Communists. All the signs pointed to a KMT blowout - until Tibet started bleeding.
How worried was Ma? He uttered these words when asked about the possibility of the Communists doing the same to Taiwan: "Taiwan is not Tibet ... we are a sovereign country" (CNS News). To KMT supporters, those words are the sine qua non of political incorrectness. To top it off, Ma even talked about boycotting the Olympics this morning (Agence France Presse).
Will it be enough? It's hard to say. As I mentioned earlier, these aren't Ma's first anti-Communist statements. The concern was always whether or not the rest of the KMT would push him towards "reconciliation" - and that concern won't go away no matter what Ma says. Still, if Ma wins, he will not be able to run away from his anti-Communist rhetoric without suffering horrendous political consequences, if Taiwan still has the opportunity to deliver them.
Why do I say that? Three years ago an inside CCP source leaked that the Communist regime intends to conquer Taiwan by no later than 2012. This timeline is not dependent on Taiwanese policy, but rather the Communists' schedule for neutralizing dissidents. Of course, the Communists have repeatedly tired to cover their true face with their "peaceful rise" nonsense - nonsense has been literally shot away in Tibet.
What Tibet has revealed is the true nature of the Communist regime, which Taiwan's voters should not take lightly. I would humbly submit (since I'm American and not Taiwanese, it can be nothing but humbly), that the island democracy cannot risk Ma succumbing to the Communist-sympathizing elements of the KMT. It is far better to stick with the true anti-Communist coalition (DPP-TSU), and elect Frank Hsieh - which as Tibet continues to bleed - might just happen now.
Cross-posted to the right-wing liberal
Monday, March 17, 2008
John Derbyshire on the Communist Olympiad
From NRO - The Corner:
Cross-posted to the right-wing liberal
The International Olympic Committee deserves some kind of award for gross and sensational stupidity, giving the Summer Games to the ChiComs. This is going to be a major fiasco. Big enough to bring down the whole commie regime? I doubt it, but we can dream.Indeed we can.
Cross-posted to the right-wing liberal
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Kudos to Doug Mataconis!
The Below the Beltway blogger hits the nail on the head regarding the Communist Olympiad (emphasis added):
Cross-posted to the right-wing liberal
I couldn't have said it better myself!Apparently, continued Chinese repression in Tibet is no big deal for the International Olympic Committee:
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (AP) - International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge poured cold water Saturday on calls for a boycott of the Summer Games in Beijing over China’s crackdown in Tibet, saying it would only hurt athletes.
“We believe that the boycott doesn’t solve anything,” Rogge told reporters on this Caribbean island. “On the contrary, it is penalizing innocent athletes and it is stopping the organization from something that definitely is worthwhile organizing.”
Demonstrations against Chinese rule in Tibet on Friday—the most violent riots there in nearly two decades—left at least 30 protesters dead, according to a Tibetan exile group.
China ordered tourists out of Tibet’s capital and troops patrolled the streets on Saturday.
On a six-day tour of the Caribbean, Rogge expressed condolences for the victims and said he hopes calm will be restored immediately. He declined to say whether the committee would change its stance if violence continues or more people are killed.
“The International Olympic Committee has consistently resisted calls for a boycott of the Olympic games,” Rogge said. He declined to comment further on Tibet during a brief news conference.
IOC Vice President Thomas Bach said the committee will speak with China about human rights and condemned the crackdown, saying “every use of violence is a step backwards.
That’s what happens when you award the Olympics to a Communist dictatorship.
Cross-posted to the right-wing liberal
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
On Communist China, Sudan, and the Olympics
It's been quite a while since I've been over here in this corner of the blogosphere. I've been away too long.
What brought me back was the surprise decision (to me, at least) of Stephen Spielberg to withdraw from advising the 2008 Communist Olympiad because the Beijing regime was "not doing enough to press for peace in the troubled Sudanese region" of Darfur (AP via Free Lance Star). For starters, Spielberg is to be commended for his decision. More telling, and worrisome, was the Communist reaction to all of this.
Traditionally, when the Communist regime is faced with a public relations problem like this, they take what looks like mitigating steps. They'll release a prisoner or two, make a pledge to stop selling arms to terrorists, talk of "peaceful intentions," etc.
This time, however, all we have seen and heard is a hail of denial and scorn. In other words, Communist China has decided its ties to the Sudanese regime are far more important than even the Olympic bonanza itself.
Why?
Well, we have to look at Sudan itself to answer that question. Yes, Sudan is a major source of oil for the ChiComs, but if it was all about energy, the Communists could have looked to Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, or even Westinghouse. No, there's something else here - the Sudanese regime.
Sudan has one of the very few regimes with ties to both al Qaeda and Tehran (Communist China happens to be another). In fact, Sudan was instrumental in bringing al Qaeda and Khomeinists together in the first place. A regime like that would be immensely helpful to Communist China's plans against the United States.
Lets anyone forget to what plans I refer, remember that the Communists have scheduled the conquest of Taiwan for 2012 at the latest. They assume the United States would come to Taiwan's defense - unless we are distracted by something or someone else - say, a Middle Eastern regime aiding al Qaeda commit a major terrorist attack against the U.S.
The fact is, no matter which enemy we consider in the Wahhabist-Ba'athist-Khomeinist War, they all have the same benefactor: Communist China. This is no accident.
Once again, geopolitics trumps PR. The bad news is that the Communists remain deadly serious about their geopolitical aims. The good news is that the Olympics won't be nearly as beneficial to them as we initially feared.
Cross-posted to the right-wing liberal
What brought me back was the surprise decision (to me, at least) of Stephen Spielberg to withdraw from advising the 2008 Communist Olympiad because the Beijing regime was "not doing enough to press for peace in the troubled Sudanese region" of Darfur (AP via Free Lance Star). For starters, Spielberg is to be commended for his decision. More telling, and worrisome, was the Communist reaction to all of this.
Traditionally, when the Communist regime is faced with a public relations problem like this, they take what looks like mitigating steps. They'll release a prisoner or two, make a pledge to stop selling arms to terrorists, talk of "peaceful intentions," etc.
This time, however, all we have seen and heard is a hail of denial and scorn. In other words, Communist China has decided its ties to the Sudanese regime are far more important than even the Olympic bonanza itself.
Why?
Well, we have to look at Sudan itself to answer that question. Yes, Sudan is a major source of oil for the ChiComs, but if it was all about energy, the Communists could have looked to Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, or even Westinghouse. No, there's something else here - the Sudanese regime.
Sudan has one of the very few regimes with ties to both al Qaeda and Tehran (Communist China happens to be another). In fact, Sudan was instrumental in bringing al Qaeda and Khomeinists together in the first place. A regime like that would be immensely helpful to Communist China's plans against the United States.
Lets anyone forget to what plans I refer, remember that the Communists have scheduled the conquest of Taiwan for 2012 at the latest. They assume the United States would come to Taiwan's defense - unless we are distracted by something or someone else - say, a Middle Eastern regime aiding al Qaeda commit a major terrorist attack against the U.S.
The fact is, no matter which enemy we consider in the Wahhabist-Ba'athist-Khomeinist War, they all have the same benefactor: Communist China. This is no accident.
Once again, geopolitics trumps PR. The bad news is that the Communists remain deadly serious about their geopolitical aims. The good news is that the Olympics won't be nearly as beneficial to them as we initially feared.
Cross-posted to the right-wing liberal
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
In Defense of Canada
I don't get to post over here near as much as I'd like, but this ridiculous screed by Michael Byers against the Canadian government (Toronto Star) is already a front-runner for Ignorant Comment of the Year.
Byers is not happy with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Why? Mainly because Harper and his government "was blocking an agreement that would have bound the world's wealthiest countries to specific targets for reducing their greenhouse gas emissions after 2012 – when the Kyoto Protocol expires."
Instead, Canada "embraced the stubbornly unilateral, anti-environmental stance of U.S. President George W. Bush. They mimicked his demand – always intended as a deal breaker – that any specific binding targets include developing states."
I didn't know Mr. Byers can read the President's mind, but one things he can't read is a chart. Perhaps he missed the memo, but any treaty that doesn't include "developing countries" gives a free pass to the largest emitter of carbon on the planet: Communist China. Of course, Byers is so blinded by either his hatred of Bush or his fealty to Chairman Mo (Shotgun) that he may not have noticed this little fact.
Either way, Byers makes clear what he thinks of Harper's determination not to follow Beijing like a love-sick poodle: "He has also picked unnecessary quarrels with China over human rights . . . rather than seizing opportunities to constructively engage." Ah, "engage." I guess Byers' political antennae haven't noticed that "engagement" has become so badly tarnished that no one is foolish enough to use it anymore.
In Afghanistan (where the Taliban are rearming themselves with help from Communist China), Byers wants "NATO troops out, and UN peacekeepers in."
In response to North Korea's now-you-see-the-nukes-now-you-don't game, Byers demands Canada announce itself as hostage material and become "a nuclear-weapons-free zone."
Adding injury to insult, Byers also tweaks Harper et al for having "curtailed the practice of seeking clemency for all Canadians sentenced to death abroad." Whatever one's thoughts on the death penalty, we can all agree that this is not as bad as sending Falun Gong practitioners back to Communist China to face near-certain torture and death, right? Who would do such a horrible thing? Oh, that's right.
I know an American defending the Conservatives will simply send Mr. Byers into apoplexy, but I, for one, would be thrilled if Stephen Harper led my country. If Michael Byers is this upset, perhaps he should follow his benefactor to Beijing.
Byers is not happy with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Why? Mainly because Harper and his government "was blocking an agreement that would have bound the world's wealthiest countries to specific targets for reducing their greenhouse gas emissions after 2012 – when the Kyoto Protocol expires."
Instead, Canada "embraced the stubbornly unilateral, anti-environmental stance of U.S. President George W. Bush. They mimicked his demand – always intended as a deal breaker – that any specific binding targets include developing states."
I didn't know Mr. Byers can read the President's mind, but one things he can't read is a chart. Perhaps he missed the memo, but any treaty that doesn't include "developing countries" gives a free pass to the largest emitter of carbon on the planet: Communist China. Of course, Byers is so blinded by either his hatred of Bush or his fealty to Chairman Mo (Shotgun) that he may not have noticed this little fact.
Either way, Byers makes clear what he thinks of Harper's determination not to follow Beijing like a love-sick poodle: "He has also picked unnecessary quarrels with China over human rights . . . rather than seizing opportunities to constructively engage." Ah, "engage." I guess Byers' political antennae haven't noticed that "engagement" has become so badly tarnished that no one is foolish enough to use it anymore.
In Afghanistan (where the Taliban are rearming themselves with help from Communist China), Byers wants "NATO troops out, and UN peacekeepers in."
In response to North Korea's now-you-see-the-nukes-now-you-don't game, Byers demands Canada announce itself as hostage material and become "a nuclear-weapons-free zone."
Adding injury to insult, Byers also tweaks Harper et al for having "curtailed the practice of seeking clemency for all Canadians sentenced to death abroad." Whatever one's thoughts on the death penalty, we can all agree that this is not as bad as sending Falun Gong practitioners back to Communist China to face near-certain torture and death, right? Who would do such a horrible thing? Oh, that's right.
I know an American defending the Conservatives will simply send Mr. Byers into apoplexy, but I, for one, would be thrilled if Stephen Harper led my country. If Michael Byers is this upset, perhaps he should follow his benefactor to Beijing.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Enlightened Comment of the Week
Congrerssman Tom Tancredo calls for the United States to end the "one China" fallacy "in favor of a more honest and defensible 'two-state solution' that extends full diplomatic recognition to both Taiwan and China (Taipei Times, courtesy Brian McAdam, member since 2005). It is a fantastic piece, and just what the doctor ordered after the abysmal performance of Ray Burghardt.
Tancredo's piece is terrific throughout, but here are some of the highlights:
Tom Tancredo' s campaign for president has not been what it could have been; in fact, the presence of both he and Duncan Hunter in this race more likely hurt the anti-Communist movement than helped it. That said, Tancredo is still one of us, and it is great to see he can still speak truth to power.
Tancredo's piece is terrific throughout, but here are some of the highlights:
. . . the US relationship with China has long been one of "give and take" -- the US gives, and China takes. Each time the US makes an accommodation, Beijing sees only weakness and becomes more aggressive -- which in turn prompts the US State Department to offer yet more concessions.
. . .
And for all of this pandering, what has the Bush administration gained? Half-hearted Chinese cooperation in the "Six Party Talks," Chinese obstruction in the human tragedy unfolding in Sudan, renewed Chinese threats of military action against Taiwan, and now the brazen and public humiliation of the US in barring the USS Kitty Hawk from Hong Kong's harbor.
And China, certainly no help in encouraging transparency in Tehran's nuclear ambitions, is now using the latest National Intelligence Estimate on Iran as a rationale for pressuring the US, the Europeans and the International Atomic Energy Agency to ease off on demands for access to what is still a very troubling ongoing uranium enrichment program.
. . .
The US relationship with Taiwan isn't the only thing that has suffered as a result of our hopeless policy of appeasement vis-a-vis China. It highlights a glaring hypocrisy in US foreign policy, undermines our international image, emboldens our enemies and enhances the credibility of our detractors like China.
The Bush administration's practice of trying to limit Taiwan's democratic development and diplomatic space in return for China's illusory "cooperation" on North Korea, Myanmar, Iran or Sudan sends the message that the US is ceding Asia to China's hegemony.
Tom Tancredo' s campaign for president has not been what it could have been; in fact, the presence of both he and Duncan Hunter in this race more likely hurt the anti-Communist movement than helped it. That said, Tancredo is still one of us, and it is great to see he can still speak truth to power.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
My message to the Taiwanese people: I am not like Ray Burghardt; I support the "pan-greens"
The more I think about Ray Burghardt's intervention in Taiwan's upcoming elections, the angrier I get. I wish I could say Burghardt was "freelancing," but sadly, I know better than that.
The fact is, the Bush Administration has been uneasy about President Chen Shui-bian and his Democratic Progressive Party for quite some time, to the point of publicly calling Chen out on previous referendum plans. Then and now, the Administration was sending a message to Taiwanese voters: reject the robust anti-Communism of Chen's Democratic Progressive Party in favor of the cadre-friendly Nationalists.
The President was wrong then, and Burghardt is wrong now; the Taiwanese people didn't listen then, and I sincerely hope they don't listen now.
To the Taiwanese people, I say this: not all Americans are as shortsighted as President Bush or Ray Burghardt. You have far more friends here than you realize. Millions of us are in awe at your courage, strength, and dedication to freedom and liberty. We know how hard it is to stand up to Beijing and Washington, and we admire you every day you do it.
I, for one, hope you do it again.
For what it's worth, as I did four years ago, I hereby endorse, enthusiastically and without reservation, the Democratic Progressive Party nominee for President - Frank Hsieh - and all DPP and fellow "pan-green" candidates for the Taiwanese legislature. I will even go so far as to say the Presidential election (in March) is of equal importance to our own in November.
The fact is, the Bush Administration has been uneasy about President Chen Shui-bian and his Democratic Progressive Party for quite some time, to the point of publicly calling Chen out on previous referendum plans. Then and now, the Administration was sending a message to Taiwanese voters: reject the robust anti-Communism of Chen's Democratic Progressive Party in favor of the cadre-friendly Nationalists.
The President was wrong then, and Burghardt is wrong now; the Taiwanese people didn't listen then, and I sincerely hope they don't listen now.
To the Taiwanese people, I say this: not all Americans are as shortsighted as President Bush or Ray Burghardt. You have far more friends here than you realize. Millions of us are in awe at your courage, strength, and dedication to freedom and liberty. We know how hard it is to stand up to Beijing and Washington, and we admire you every day you do it.
I, for one, hope you do it again.
For what it's worth, as I did four years ago, I hereby endorse, enthusiastically and without reservation, the Democratic Progressive Party nominee for President - Frank Hsieh - and all DPP and fellow "pan-green" candidates for the Taiwanese legislature. I will even go so far as to say the Presidential election (in March) is of equal importance to our own in November.
Mr. President, please fire Raymond Burghardt
The chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan, our de facto embassy there, has engaged in an outrageous interference in the upcoming elections on the island democracy.
In a recent statement, Raymond Burghardt took issue with a proposed referendum that would call for Taiwan to seek a United Nations seat as Taiwan (not the Republic of China). Now, Taiwan has been looking to gain admission into the UN for years, only to be turned down every time. The only difference now would be the label on future (and, sadly, sure to be unsuccessful) efforts.
That was still too much for America's voice in Taiwan (Asia-Pacific News via Monsters and Critics):
This is breathtaking arrogance on Burghardt's part for two reasons. First, to criticize the island democracy for "just the process of having the referendum" is a slap in the face to every single Taiwanese voter. The U.S. may hint as to its preference for a particular vote (and does in other democracies), but only Taiwan gets the humiliation of being told the vote itself is a mistake.
Secondly, Burghardt makes pretty clear who he wants to win with this missive. The referendum's greatest support comes from the "pan-green" coalition led by outgoing President Chen Shui-bian's Democratic Progressive Party, while its opponents largely come from the "pan-blue" faction (or as I've taken to call it, "pan-red"), led by the Kuomintang (Nationalist) Party.
Taiwan is facing both legislative and presidential elections early next year. Burghardt is, in effect, telling voters the U.S. prefers the Communist-friendly "blues" over the anti-Communist "greens." This is outrageous and wrong-headed.
Three years ago, when Therese Shaheen similarly dropped hints of support for the DPP, President Bush fired her. The President must follow that precedent if he is truly impartial. Ray Burghardt must be fired - ASAP.
In a recent statement, Raymond Burghardt took issue with a proposed referendum that would call for Taiwan to seek a United Nations seat as Taiwan (not the Republic of China). Now, Taiwan has been looking to gain admission into the UN for years, only to be turned down every time. The only difference now would be the label on future (and, sadly, sure to be unsuccessful) efforts.
That was still too much for America's voice in Taiwan (Asia-Pacific News via Monsters and Critics):
The referendum will - just the process of having the referendum - will make it harder for a new president of Taiwan to develop better relations across the Taiwan Strait.
This is breathtaking arrogance on Burghardt's part for two reasons. First, to criticize the island democracy for "just the process of having the referendum" is a slap in the face to every single Taiwanese voter. The U.S. may hint as to its preference for a particular vote (and does in other democracies), but only Taiwan gets the humiliation of being told the vote itself is a mistake.
Secondly, Burghardt makes pretty clear who he wants to win with this missive. The referendum's greatest support comes from the "pan-green" coalition led by outgoing President Chen Shui-bian's Democratic Progressive Party, while its opponents largely come from the "pan-blue" faction (or as I've taken to call it, "pan-red"), led by the Kuomintang (Nationalist) Party.
Taiwan is facing both legislative and presidential elections early next year. Burghardt is, in effect, telling voters the U.S. prefers the Communist-friendly "blues" over the anti-Communist "greens." This is outrageous and wrong-headed.
Three years ago, when Therese Shaheen similarly dropped hints of support for the DPP, President Bush fired her. The President must follow that precedent if he is truly impartial. Ray Burghardt must be fired - ASAP.
Friday, December 07, 2007
"Almost all enemies of the United States are China's friends"
For years, I have tried to explain why Communist China has armed, funded, or otherwise supported nearly every anti-American terrorist regime on Earth (Iran, al Qaeda, Saddam Hussein, the Taliban, Stalinist North Korea, etc.). Sadly, too many are still willing to ignore reality, or explain it away as some business deal that has nothing to do with geopolitics.
They might want to look at Yuan Peng, of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said to the Communist-run media (Worldwide Standard):
Let this be a reminder to all - America will never be secure until China is free.
They might want to look at Yuan Peng, of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said to the Communist-run media (Worldwide Standard):
"'Almost all enemies' of U.S. 'are China's friends'" says the report from East-Asia-Intel.com:
An official of the Chinese government last week confirmed that Beijing is supporting U.S. enemies around the world.
Yuan Peng, director of the Institute of American Studies, part of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said that "in the world, almost all enemies of the United States are China's friends."
The rare admission confirms the view of some critics who say China's arms sales to
rogue states like Iran, Syria and North Korea are based on a deliberate strategy of indirectly confronting the United States.Peng's institute, the CICIR, is an entity of the Ministry of State Security, China's main intelligence service. His remarks were included in a state-run media report.
Peng said long-term strategic stability between the U.S. and China "still remain[s] doubtful."
Let this be a reminder to all - America will never be secure until China is free.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Congratulations to Anson Chan
The former head of Hong Kong's civil service, who had been the last link to the British colonial government until she resigned from the Communist-backed regime in disgust, scored a landslide win in her bid for the city's Legislative Council (The Australian).
It was yet another reminder that the people of Hong Kong still long for freedom and democracy.
It was yet another reminder that the people of Hong Kong still long for freedom and democracy.
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