| CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: MAY 2, 2001 TOP STORY: BUSH�S CALL FOR MISSILE DEFENSE GETS ANGRY COMMUNIST RESPONSE WARNS OF �A NEW ARMS RACE� IF U.S. PRESSES AHEAD . . . As President Bush gave a major speech outlining his reasons for a missile defense, Communist China lit into the idea that it claimed �could cause a new arms race.� The People�s Republic of China used the state-run Xinhua news agency to blast the notion, which Bush hopes will protect the U.S. against �rogue� states. CNN noted the Communists are worried that Taiwan could be protected by a regional defense system. Link: CNN Such a system would greatly downgrade the effect of a massive missile buildup in southern Communist China; nearly 350 missiles are now within 150 miles of Taiwan. CNN did not mention that the �rogue� states which concern the U.S., namely Libya, Iraq, Iran, and North Korea, are all clients of the Communist Chinese military for weapons or military-enabling technology. . . . AS RUSSIANS PERFORM MILITARY EXERCISES AGAINST U.S. DEFENSE OF TAIWAN Meanwhile, the Washington Times reported new military exercises by Russia. The exercises involved a mock version of an American defense of Taiwan, and Russian actions against it. One intelligence official called the exercise �practicing nuclear intervention against U.S. troops on Taiwan.� Russia is already the largest arms supplier to Communist China. Link: Washington Times Richard Fisher, from the Jamestown Foundation had this to say. �If the report is true, it would appear to track with Russian reports last year that Russia will sell China new regional strategic weapons like the Oscar-class nuclear cruise missile submarine, Akula-class nuclear attack sub and the Tu-22M Backfire bomber. All of this coming together would mean no more peace dividend and the beginning of the next Cold War.� (See above Link) OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS GAO ZHAN DENIED LEGAL COUNSEL Communist China has repeatedly denied Gao Zhan, the American University researcher arrested as a �spy,� access to her attorney, according to CNN. The Chinese-born legal U.S. resident � who was one step short of citizenship � has been held since February. Her husband and American-born son were also held for a month. Link: CNN HACKERS BATTLE IT OUT IN CYBERSPACE American and Communist Chinese hackers are in the midst of a �May Day war� as repercussions of the mid-air collision of March 31 continue. About 40-50 hackers from the U.S., and an unknown number calling themselves the �Honkers (red users) Union of China,� are going after the others� web sites, according to the BBC. Link: BBC BUSH COUCHES TAIWAN DEFENSE VOW IN �ONE-CHINA� MISHMASH, BUT STICKS TO IT President Bush, reacting to a rising brouhaha over his comments vowing to defend Taiwan if attacked, publicly opposed Taiwanese independence, and said he supported the �One China� policy. He did not, however, retract his statement that he would use the U.S. military, if necessary, to come to the aid of the ROC in thwarting a PRC invasion. Link: Washington Post Naturally, the Communist Chinese were livid (BBC). As the PRC vowed to pay any price to conquer Taiwan and smash the island democracy, the ROC called once again for cross trait talks to reduce tensions. Beijing rejected the idea (CNN). Link: BBC, CNN Reaction in the U.S. was mixed, with many wondering if Bush really meant what he said, or as Michael Kinsley put it once, the version of a gaffe being� when a politician says what he really believes. Robert Kagan, who did write in the Post had nothing but kind words for Bush�s original statement. Links: Washington Post - story, Washington Post - Kagan COMMUNIST CHINA LETS U.S. INSPECTS DOWNED EP-3 The BBC reported that Communist China has allowed the U.S. to examine, but not take back, the EP-3 surveillance plane downed in the collision near Hainan Island last month. The Washington Post reported that the Communists allowed the U.S. to inspect the plane �after announcing on Sunday that it had completed its own examination of the plane finished collecting evidence from it.� Collecting �evidence�? Link: BBC, Washington Post PENTAGON SAYS SECRETS WERE TAKEN FROM PLANE Speaking of �collecting evidence,� Pentagon officials told the Washington Times that the PRC was able to get their hands on �large amounts of classified documents� from the downed plane. One told the New York Post that the loss was �extremely damaging.� Links: Washington Times, New York Post U.S. TO SHIFT NUCLEAR TARGETING FROM RUSSIA TO COMMUNIST CHINA The Washington Post reported the latest on a Defense Department review to be released next month. Among other things, the paper expects the review to call for a shift in nuclear targets from Russia to Communist China. Link: Washington Post ARMY BLACK BERET CONTRACT CANCELLED BY PENTAGON General Eric Shinseki, under �intense criticism in Congress � and . . . ridicule in the media,� cancelled a contract for over 600,000 black berets from Communist China. The berets were to be worn by all Army members. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz also said no soldier would wear a beret with �Chinese content.� Link: Washington Times INTERNATIONAL NEWS COMMUNIST CHINA HAS RUN-IN WITH AUSTRALIAN NAVY, WHACKS PM OVER COMMENTS BBC reported a confrontation between Communist China and Australia in the Taiwan Strait. Three Australian naval vessels heading from South Korea to Hong Kong were told by the PRC navy to change course and get out of �China's territorial waters.� The Australian ships refused. Link: BBC Meanwhile, the PRC took aim at Australian Prime Minister John Howard for his statement that he �understands� Bush�s pledge to defend Taiwan. They also went after opposition parliamentarians in New Zealand for visiting ROC officials, including Premier Chang Chun-hsiung. Link: CNN HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS NEWS WEB-BASED DISSIDENT GETS FOUR YEARS IN JAIL Communist authorities in Cangzhou sentenced Guo Qinghai, a dissident who posted pro-democracy pieces on a web site, to four years in jail for � what else � �subversion.� The BBC, citing the Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy in China, reported it as the �first such case brought under tough Internet laws.� Link: BBC INTERNET CAF� CRACKDOWN SPARKS �DEBATE� The Communist action against internet �cafes� is not winning the plaudits it hoped. Many are not sure shutting them down is such a good idea. However, most of those who disagree with the closings merely say the PRC should �improve regulation,� not keeps its hands off in respect of freedom of speech. Link: BBC COMMUNISTS CONFIRM YUNTANG KILLINGS, BLAMING THE VICTIMS FOR THEIR OWN DEATHS Communist China confirmed the deaths of two villagers in Yuntang shot by Communist police (see last update). The Communists blamed the villagers for getting in the way of the arrest of �criminal suspects,� i.e. the locals who led the revolt against exorbitant local tax rates. As expected, the Communists chose not to mention the villagers were unarmed when the police shot them to break up their protest. Link: Washington Post OTHER MAINLAND NEWS COMMUNISTS TO CODIFY �ONE CHILD� POLICY CNS News reported a new bill in the National People�s Congress (parliament) to codify Communist China�s �one child� policy, with the inclusion of a ban on sex-selection abortions to address a growing lack of girls. Of course, infanticide is also supposed to be illegal, but that hasn�t stopped local Communist family planners from murdering newborn children. Link: CNS News COMMUNISTS TRY BAN ON ADULTERY BBC reported a new law in Communist China banning married people from living with anyone beside their spouse, a move aimed at widespread adultery. Unmentioned in the article was the strong connection between cheating Communist bureaucrats and widespread corruption. Nearly every major suspect has had a mistress. Link: BBC REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS TAIWAN TIES ARMS REQUESTS TO COMMUNIST CUTBACK ON MISSILES The ROC government has apparently told Communist China that they would �rethink our military procurements� if Beijing cut back its missiles aimed at the island democracy. Chien-Jen Chen, a member of the Legislative Yuan (parliament), told the Washington Times that President Chen Shui-bian has also mention the possibility of a common market with Beijing, but the PRC has not responded. Link: Washington Times EX-PRESIDENT LEE POSTPONES U.S. TRIP FOR HEALTH REASONS Citing his poor health, former ROC President Lee Teng-hui announced a postponement of his trip to the United States, scheduled for this week. Link: BBC HONG KONG NEWS TUNG WARNS FALUN GONG AGAINST PROTESTING JIANG Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa told members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement � still legal in the city � not to protest during Communist President Jiang Zemin�s trip there. Jiang, known to be thin-skinned about protests, first moved to ban the movement on the mainland after a massive protest two Aprils ago. The Communist-appointed Tung went so far as to call Falun Gong actions �unacceptable.� Link: BBC TIBET NEWS KARMAPA LAMA SPEAKS OUT, BACKS DALAI LAMA�S PUSH FOR TIBET AUTONOMY The Karmapa Lama gave his first interview since escaping Communist China last week. BBC reported the Tibetan lama�s account of his harrowing journey to reach India before the Communists could find him. The young lama � the only high-ranking Tibetan religious figure recognized by both the PRC and the Dalai Lama � escaped Communist-controlled Tibet in 1998, and Beijing still hasn�t really gotten over the embarrassment. Link: BBC The Karmapa Lama also said he intends to be nonpolitical, but �he fully supported the Dalai Lama's stand on the future of Tibet.� Communist China responded with the usual angry warnings against �anti-China� political activity, according to the BBC. Link: BBC XINJIANG/EAST TURKESTAN NEWS BEIJING FORMS �CHINA ISLAMIC ASSOCIATION� AS ANTI-UIGHUR CRACKDOWN CONTINUES BBC reported the formation of the �China Islamic Association,� a group of PRC-backed Muslim clerics much like the �Patriotic Catholic� church. The group will make, and promote, a �correct and authoritative interpretation,� according to China Daily as quoted by the BBC. It will also censor Muslim clerics, particularly those among the Uighur Muslims who are suffering under a brutal crackdown. Link: BBC 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]. |