| Sign the Boycott Petition: In reaction to the 2008 Olympic Games being awarded to Beijing, the China e-Lobby has begun a petition for an American boycott of those games. As Communist China�s allies and customers enter the cross-hairs, check out the latest on �Communist China and the Terrorist War,� either directly or via our main page. There�s still time to contact the President and tell him not to appoint pro-PRC Doug Paal as de facto ambassador to Taiwan. See Follow-Up for more on Paal. CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: APRIL 3, 2002 TOP STORY: COMMUNIST CHINA DEPLOYING MORE MISSILES AIMED AT TAIWAN PENTAGON CALLS CONTINUING MISSILE BUILDUP �THREATENING� TO ISLAND DEMOCRACY Communist China has sent 20 CSS-7 short-range missiles to its military base in Yongan, Fujian province, just across the Taiwan Strait from the ROC, according to Bill Gertz of the Washington Times (1). The move �is part of a continuing Chinese missile buildup� in which the PRC �has between 350 and 400 missiles� aimed at the island democracy. The Communists add �at least 50 new missiles per year� to the arsenal. Pentagon spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Davis said the U.S. was not happy with the attempt of the People�s Republic to �intimidate the people and the democratically elected government of Taiwan� (Gertz (2)). However, Lt. Cmdr. Davis then said, �The modernization itself doesn't bother us. China is a major regional power and it's appropriate that it has a military commensurate with its stature.� It�s what?!?! More news on the island democracy can be found in Republic of China (Taiwan) News. FOLLOW-UP: PAAL STILL NOT PICKED; THE NEW REPUBLIC HIT FOR CRITICIZING HIM The New Republic reports that Doug Paal is still �the Bush administration's likely choice to be director of the American Institute in Taiwan � America�s de facto ambassador to the island nation.� Still, the TNR report on just how bad Paal would be, on several fronts, has led Senator Jesse Helms (R-North Carolina) to raise objections, and gotten the magazine blasted Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly. NEWS ON COMMUNIST CHINA AND THE TERRORIST WAR $95 MILLION HEADED TO NORTH KOREA DESPITE ITS REJECTION OF INSPECTORS North Korea still has a deal with the United States and others to have to nuclear power plants built despite being less than forthcoming on its own nuclear weapons program. The U.S. has not nixed the deal despite the missile tests, the cold shoulder on talks, the possibly spying on Japan, and the selling of weaponry, including of the mass destruction variety, to terrorist states (Washington Post). In fact, $95 million of taxpayer money is headed to North Korea, despite its refusal �to allow International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors into its nuclear facility at the Yongbyon research base north of the capital� and the Bush Administration�s belief that past aid has been �misused� (BBC). NORTH KOREA HOSTS SOUTH KOREAN ENVOY, WILL RESTART TALKS WITH U.S. Lim Dong-won, emissary of the South Korean government, is in North Korea to restart talks between the two Koreas (Los Angeles Times). The Stalinist regime also announced it would �resume dialogue with the United States,� but took more shot at President Bush for what it called �groundless slanders� from him toward the long-time ally of Communist China (CNN, BBC). HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS NEWS PROTESTORS RETURN TO LIAOYANG AMID CONCERNS PRC HARMED ONE PROTEST LEADER The protests in Liaoyang � seemingly quelled by Communist police and promises of unpaid pensions and salaries (see March 27 and March 20 updates) � began anew last week, and with international attention (BBC). As hundreds demanded that local Communists release four protest leaders arrested last week, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions said the Communists �severely mistreated� one leader. According to CNN, the Communist police told the wife of Yao Fuxin, one of the leaders of the protests, that he �suffered a heart attack,� despite having no history of heart trouble. This is the first time labor protests within the PRC have won international backing. Over the weekend, the Communists officially charged the four leaders with �illegally gathering and demonstrating.� UNPAID PENSIONS BRING PROTESTORS BACK TO BEIJING FACTORY Meanwhile, about �about 100 retired workers gathered for a second day� in the capital last Thursday, demanding that promised pensions be paid (BBC). They had dispersed last Wednesday after hearing the company manager was not there (see last update), but had also vowed to come back in order to see him. For more on the Communist reaction to labor unrest, see Other Mainland News. FROM THE FALUN GONG WAR: THOSE INVOLVED IN TV TAKEOVER ARRESTED Communist police arrested twenty Falun Gong practitioners who engineered the takeover of a Communist television broadcast in Changchun last month (see March 13 update). The member of the spiritual movement, which has suffered under a brutal crackdown ever since the Communists banned it in 1999, took to the air waves to defend Falun Gong from Communist claims it is an �evil cult� (BBC). MORE FROM THE FALUN GONG WAR: AMERICAN PRACTITIONER ARRESTED, EXPELLED The Communists sent Jason Pomerleau, an American believer in Falun Gong, and his Canadian girlfriend back across the Pacific after arresting and threatening them (Los Angeles Times). Jason�s brother, Daniel Pomerleau, was also arrested, and recounted being �kicked and punched� by Communist police while in custody (Washington Times). They were distributing Falun Gong flyers in Beijing police arrested them. OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS �SECRET FUND� FLAP DELAYS EX-PRESIDENT LEE�S U.S. TRIP, �BOOSTS� US-PRC TIES News of a National Security Bureau �secret fund� set up by former President Lee Teng-hui for mainland espionage and international diplomacy is already having repercussions. A planned visit by Lee � the man who brought democracy to Taiwan � to the U.S. has been delayed (CNN�s Willy Wo-Lap Lam). Naturally, the Communists are thrilled by the news. More ominously, a stopover in the U.S. by the ROC Foreign Minister on his way to Central America has been junked altogether, �because of pressure from Washington.� Lam, meanwhile, notes that the �temporary absence of high-profile Taiwan officials in the U.S. would help persuade the Chinese leadership to allow Hu's scheduled visit there in late April and early May to proceed.� How nice. Lam did not mention why such a fund might be required: the refusal of over 70% of the world�s nations to have any formal relations with the island democracy, under pressure and threats from the PRC. For more on the fund, and its effect on Taiwan�s struggle for world recognition, see Republic of China (Taiwan) News. CORRUPTION NEWS COMMUNIST PARTY �LOSING FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION� CNN�s Willy Wo-Lap Lam gives a breathtaking report on corruption in Communist China. Lam notes its wide spread within the Communist Party, its ties to organized crime, and how it has spawned a �culture of corruption� in which bribery is simply assumed necessary �to get things done.� He also says it has greatly undermined the Party, to the point that it fears �being brought down by corruption.� OTHER MAINLAND NEWS COMMUNIST MILITARY ON HEAVY MODERNIZATION CAMPAIGN Communist China�s military has begun �a big propaganda exercise on the importance of modernizing its vast weapons stock,� according to CNN�s Willy Wo-Lap Lam. The move toward high-tech weaponry, backed heavily by Communist President Jiang Zemin, is part of an increasing move by the military to �take a firm grip on preparations for an armed struggle against Taiwan� and its chief defender � the U.S. COMMUNISTS GROWING MORE WORRIED ABOUT LABOR UNREST, PROMISE BENEFITS The recent labor protests (see Human Rights and Freedoms News) have shaken the Communists quite a bit. According to CNN�s Willy Wo-Lap Lam, the PRC is now discussing doing �more for laid-off workers� and focusing on placating them. However, the plan for quieting the masses also includes the usual �ruthless crackdown� on protestors. REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS AS EFFECTS OF �SLUSH FUND� REVERBERATE, CHEN DEFENDS IT IN INTERNET CHAT The $100 million fund used by former President Lee Teng-Hui to fund informal diplomacy and anti-Communist espionage �has rocked this fledgling democracy,� according to the Los Angeles Times. An unnamed diplomat told the paper that the revelations �really hurt Taiwan.� One member of the legislature said the PRC �is behind this. They want all these secret ties to be exposed.� Meanwhile, President Chen Shui-bian defended the fund in an internet chat session with Taiwanese voters. It is the first reported reaction from Chen to the �slush fund,� as CNN�s Willy Wo-Lap Lam called it, started by the man who defeated him the in the first presidential election in 1996. Lee, a Nationalist then, has started his own political party, and is now a Chen ally. HONG KONG NEWS PRC-APPOINTED HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BEGINS DEPORTING CHILDREN TO MAINLAND The Communist-appointed government in Hong Kong began sending over 4,000 children of Hong Kong residents born in the mainland back to it, despite protests by the families. The children, some �as young as six years old,� were ordered out of Hong Kong on Sunday night (BBC (1)). The Cybercast News Service reported that the Communist heavy-handedness is angering many in the city. In 1999, Hong Kong�s highest court allowed the children to stay, but Communist-appointed Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa asked the PRC to overrule the court, a serious blow to the city�s autonomy the Communists promised when they took over the former British colony in 1997. Some of those slated for deportation were back in court fighting to stay in the city (BBC (2)). No news from Tibet or East Turkestan (�Xinjiang�) was reported this week. Feel free to forward this to anyone you think might be interested in receiving it. Anyone who wishes to join can send his/her name and e-mail address to [email protected]. Please feel free to send any news on Communist China you happen to find to the same address. |