| What a week! After a near dearth last week, Communist China practically exploded onto the news scene. Congress is back in session next week, which means the Senate will bring up PNTR for a vote. While the odds are long for defeating the bill outright, amending it may be possible. That would at the very least force a second vote in the House, and make PNTR a major campaign issue (which the pro-Communist China trade crowd definitely does not want). If anyone needs, or wants, a copy of the sample letter, just e-mail back and it will be sent to you. Otherwise, just go with your heart, remember to mention the China e-Lobby, and send it to . It's the only address you need. You might want to wait until Tuesday. If you send it after Labor Day, it will probably have more impact. CBS conducted an interview with Communist President Jiang Zemin. It will be aired Sunday night but they released the transcript today. In a wide-ranging interview, Jiang denied any involvement in the Wen Ho Lee espionage case or the campaign-finance scandals, attacked Falun Gong, denied Christians, or anyone else, is persecuted for their religion in Communist China, and rejected the need for opposition parties. He also expressed sympathy for the 1989 Tiananmen demonstrators, but still justified killing hundreds of them. Link: CBS Part 1, CBS Part 2 Meanwhile, Asiaweek devoted its cover story and three other articles to the 100-day tenure of President Chen Shui-bian. All four links are below. Besides the cover story is an interview of Frank Hsieh, DPP chairman, a quick analysis of the domestic political issues, and a report on the growing economic ties between Taiwan and the mainland � the author is more optimistic on this matter than may be warranted. Links: http://www.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/magazine/2000/0901/cover1.html; http://www.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/magazine/2000/0901/nat.taiwan_sb1.html; http://www.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/magazine/2000/0901/nat.taiwan_sb2.html; http://www.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/magazine/2000/0901/nat.taiwan_sb3.html Asiaweek also had a story on Communist China's continuing crackdown in Tibet, and its utter failure to sqaush the Tibetans' resolve. The most telling, and poignant, line from the column was this one: "Although the Dalai Lama tells Tibetans in Tibet to denounce him if it will save their skin, few can bring themselves to publicly defame their guiding master." Link: http://www.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/foc/2000/08/31/ Time Asia Columnist Terry McCarthy on how Communist China perverts freedom, and reality. Link: Time Asia The Washington Times editorial on Communist China's "one child" policy. Their reporting on the murder of Baby John Doe in Huebi province is a little off, but the rest is very good indeed. Link: Washington Times One very busy week indeed! Feel free to forward this to anyone you think might be interested in receiving this. Anyone who wishes to join can send his/her name and e-mail address to [email protected]. |