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CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: AUGUST 5, 2004
Dragon in the Dark: How and Why Communist China Helps Our Enemies in the War on Terror is now available: here, at Amazon, or call 1-888-280-7715.
TOP STORY: ANOTHER MURDER FOR THE �ONE CHILD� POLICY
LOCAL CADRES IN SHANXI PROVINCE BEAT MOTHER TO DEATH FOR RESISTING
Wang Haoxian, top cadre in Xipo Village (Shanxi Province), visited the home of Su Hongqi, a local farmer and laborer. They came �to take the �guarantee money for one child�� (Epoch Times, HK), a reference to the mandated deposit designed to �guarantee� the family follow the People�s Republic of China�s hideous �one child� policy.
The local Birth Control Team had already seized this deposit, but since Su�s wife was pregnant again, they were now taking it as a fine (they also kept the deposit). When Su�s wife refused to let them take anything to cover the fine, they beat her to death. Local cadres have since beaten Su and his family and destroyed everything he owned.
Ironically, this horrifying story reached the outside world just after Shanghai decided to loosen up �one child� (Central News Agency, Taiwan, via Epoch Times) � which has also led to forced abortions, forced sterilizations, infanticide, and now murder (see 8/30/00, 8/8/01, and 7/24/02 Updates).
NEWS ON COMMUNIST CHINA, EAST TURKESTAN, AND THE TERRORIST WAR
Check out the latest on the Communist China and the Terrorist War page.
COMMUNIST CHINA AND UZBEKISTAN COOPERATING AGAINST UIGHURS
A recent visit to Uzbekistan by PRC President Hu Jintao led to �a joint statement on further developing friendly cooperation and partnership� (Asia Times via Epoch Times). Such cooperation means bad news for Uzbekistan�s Uighurs. Already, �Uzbekistan has not given Uighurs the right to organize in support of their ethnic brothers in East Turkestan.�
The Uighurs had their own country, East Turkestan, until Communist China occupied it in 1949. The resulting persecution has been horrific. The PRC claims to be fighting an al Qaeda presence in the occupied land. No outside reporters have found that to be true (see 10/17/01, 12/21/01, 10/23/02, and 11/5/03 Updates).
�ANTI-TERROR� EXERCISE TAKES PLACE IN EAST TURKESTAN
Meanwhile, Pakistan and Communist China � allies since the 1940s � conducted a joint �anti-terrorism exercise� in East Turkestan, aimed at the supposed Uighur terrorists. The PRC�s claims are so flimsy that even the BBC, citing its own correspondent, noted �that evidence to support these claims still remains something of a mystery.�
For news on North Korea, sign up for Monday�s North Korea Report.
OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS
Sign the petition for an American boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
TEXTILE PRODUCERS IN U.S. AND THIRD WORLD THREATENED BY COMMUNIST CHINA
A plan to remove a worldwide international quota on textile imports has American textile manufacturers and many �third world� developing nations facing a common enemy � Communist China. The PRC�s deliberately devalued currency could lead to a near-total wipeout of U.S. and many foreign textile industries. Report: Christian Science Monitor
Communist China�s devalued currency and repressive labor policies have already smacked Mexico and Brazil among several other nations (see 12/3/03 and 5/26 Updates). The end of the quota system, scheduled for January 1, would hit �dozens of poor countries.�
HU JINTAO TELLS BUSH NOT TO SELL ARMS TO TAIWAN
Meanwhile, PRC President Hu Jintao used a phone call from President Bush to �warn the US against selling more military technology to Taiwan� (BBC). While Bush stood by �America's commitment to help Taiwan defend itself,� he also said, according to an unnamed cadre, the U.S. non-support for Taiwan�s independence �will never change� (China Support Network).
CHEN SAYS U.S. POLICY ON TAIWAN NOT DEPENDENT ON ELECTION
President Chen, speaking to reports last week, said American policy on Taiwan will remain unchanged �no matter who wins the U.S. presidency� (Taiwan News via Epoch Times).
NEW ROC REPRESENTATIVE IN WASHINGTON
David Tawei Lee has replaced C. J. Chen as Taiwan�s de facto ambassador to the United States (Chen resigned for personal reasons). Report: Washington Times, last item
RALLY FOR FALUN GONG HELD IN BOSTON
Falun Gong practitioners and supporters greeted last week�s Democratic National Convention with a rally for those suffering under Communist persecution (Epoch Times). A similar rally was held two weeks ago in Washington, DC (see last Update).
CUSTOMS AGENT AND PRC TOURIST IN SCUFFLE
A businesswoman visiting Niagara Falls from Communist China was in an altercation with a Customs agent. While witness fingered the agent for beating the woman, his attorney insists �she began kicking and scratching him� (Buffalo News) before the agent reacted. Also reporting: Los Angeles Times via Seattle Times
U.S. BEATS PRC IN WOMEN�S SOCCER
They called the match a �friendly,� because it was not part of an international competition. In any event, with the last good Olympics on the horizon, the women�s soccer match final was as follows: U.S. 3, PRC 1. Report: Washington Times
NEWS ON THE FALUN GONG WAR
TANZANIA TO PROSECUTE CHEN ZHILI
A court in Tanzania has allowed to go forward a criminal trial against PRC Education Minister Chen Zhili for �murder and torture of Chinese teachers and students who practice Falun Gong� (Epoch Times). Chen has had a prominent role in the Falun Gong War (see 7/14 Update), and is a leading prot�g� of Central Military Commission Chair Jiang Zemin.
COURT IN CANADA DEMANDS SEIZURE OF CADRE�S BANK ACCOUNT
The Ontario Superior Court ordered the bank account of Vice Consul General Pan Xinchun frozen due to his having �acted maliciously and outside of his consular functions� (Falun Dafa Information Center via Epoch Times). Pan had called Falun Gong a �sinister cult� as he was talking to a Canadian practitioner. The court ordered $11,000 in defamation damages.
OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS NEWS
HENAN PROTESTORS SHOT FOR PROTESTING ILLEGAL LAND SALE
Another sale of land by local cadres, complete with the theft of the proceeds that were supposed to compensate the dispossessed, has led to another protest, this time in Shi-Jia-He Village in Henan province. The Communist police met the protestors with gunfire. Thirty protestors were shot, and four were arrested (Free China Movement via CSN).
MORE HELIONJIANG PROTESTORS ARRESTED
Police are arresting more protestors from Heliongjiang Province who entered Beijing after 23 of their leaders threatened to jump from a building if their petition was not addressed. Contrary to what was reported in the 7/14 Update, the number of petitioners led by the 23 numbered only in the hundreds. Over 60 are now in custody. Report: Epoch Times
PROGRAM EXPOSING BAD FOOD IN COMMUNIST CHINA CHANGED UNDER PRC PRESSURE
Weekly Quality Report, a Communist-run CCTV program, �is changing its tune after being reprimanded by the government� (CNA via Epoch Times). The show was cancelled after exposing substandard foods on PRC shelves (see 5/26 Update). As with the cancellation, many �are expressing their anger through Internet forums.�
EPIDEMIC NEWS
COMMUNIST CHINA CRITICIZED FOR AIDS CRACKDOWNS
Buried in all the to and fro regarding U.S. policy on AIDS, Communist China heard tough criticism from some participants in the International AIDS Conference. AIDS Policy Project and Act Up in Paris blasted the PRC for that fact that �people who fought for the betterment of the rights of those in China blighted by AIDS were detained and jailed� (Epoch Times).
As the above cited story also notes, �According to the estimation of experts, there are at least one million farmers are infected with AIDS for selling blood in the poor province of Henan alone.� You read that right, one million.
CORRUPTION NEWS
COMMUNISTS MAKE FAKE MILK ARRESTS (NO, NOT THEMSELVES)
Communist China has sent to jail two men �for selling fake milk powder� (BBC) in Anhui. The cadres in the province who let the factories continue to make the killer �milk� to win over foreign investment funds (see 4/28, 5/5, 5/12, 5/26, and 6/10 Updates) were not among them. At least 50 babies died from the fake milk.
CITY IN YUNAN PROVINCE TOLERATES BROTHEL IN TAX BUILDING
The city of Zhaotung (Yunan Province) has allowed a brothel to set up shop in the Tax Bureau building. The Tax Bureau Director himself approves of the arrangement: �Our main concern is how to use the government resources fully since even empty rooms need some maintenance� (Epoch Times). Right, maintenance.
MORE PROBLEMS AT BANK OF CHINA
The Communist-run Bank of China �has suspended two deputy chief executives of its Hong Kong arm over corruption allegations� (BBC). The two officials embezzled bank money �for �personal purposes.�� This is merely the latest allegation surrounding Bank of China (see 1/23/02, 3/20/02, 7/10/02, 11/6/02, 6/4/03, 9/10/03, 12/10/03, 2/25, and 5/5 Updates).
DELEGATION FORMED TO WRITE LAWS AGAINST MONEY LAUNDERING
Communist China�s Parliament has appointed �a team of researchers to develop legislation in China against money laundering� (Epoch Times). The current law in Communist China � when the cadres deign to follow it � makes no criminal mention of laundering money for �criminal corruption and bribery.�
OTHER MAINLAND NEWS
IS HU JINTAO BEHIND THE �GOVERNMENT COMPLAINTS� WEBSITE?
There is a growing buzz about a website dedicated to hearing popular complaints about corruption in Communist China (see 7/21 Update). Amid its continued survival, some are wondering of Party boss Hu Jintao is using the site as part of his battle for power with Central Military Commission Chairman Jiang Zemin (Asia Times via Epoch Times).
Deng Xiaoping used a similar tactic � a �democracy wall� � in the 1970s to outflank and defeat his biggest foe within the party, Huang Guofeng. However, the precedent did not end well for the people: �Deng Xiaoping tightened the controls over public opinion soon after attaining power, and detained Wei Jingsheng, a vocal advocate for democratic reform.�
Many fear, and rightly so, that Hu will follow a similar path with what now being dubbed �message-board democracy.� Meanwhile, the ever wily Jiang, who still leads the largest faction within the PRC, is making plans of his own against Hu (see last Update).
POWER SHORTAGE FORCES CURBS, SHUTDOWNS, AND EMERGENCY COAL SHIPMENTS
Previous reports on Communist China�s power shortage (see 12/10/03, 12/17/03, 3/31, 6/10, 6/16 and 7/21 Updates) have actually underestimated the extent of the shortage. A power official said restrictions on electricity in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, and Fujian provinces �were in force year-round� (CNA Taiwan, via Epoch Times 7-29).
The situation in Zhejiang is so bad that the energy cadres have ordered all factories to shut down �for 15 operating days to alleviate the shortage (CNA Taiwan, via Epoch Times 8-4). Meanwhile, the Communists �ordered emergency shipping of coal along its road and waterways� (BBC) to combat the shortage, now at a whopping 30 million kilowatts.
FAKE ASTHMA DRUGS RAMPANT IN COMMUNIST CHINA
The problems surrounding food in Communist China (see 4/28, 5/5, 5/12, 5/26, and 6/2 Updates) are also prevalent in drugs. Fake asthma drugs in four provinces have killed over 20 asthma sufferers. Over 190,000 died from complications due to fake prescriptions in the PRC last year. Report: CNA via Epoch Times
YANGTZE RIVER RUNS DRY MAJORITY OF THE YEAR
The Communists better not try to send the coal up the Yellow River. The waterway �known as the cradle of Chinese civilization (UK sp)� (BBC) now runs dry �more than 200 days of the year,� thanks in large part to �China's communist rulers, who have long believed nature should be bent to man's will.�
PRC-RUN FIRM COULD LAY OFF TWO MILLION
Communist-run firms� attempts to stay afloat will lead to layoffs of �more than two million business staff� (CNA via Epoch Times).
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
PRC ABSTAINS FROM UN RESOLUTION ON SUDAN
A resolution demanding that Sudan disarm militias killing tens of thousands in the Darfur region passed the United Nations Security Council 13-0. There were two abstentions: none other than Communist China, Sudan�s major oil partner (see 8/30/00, 7/21, and last Updates), and Pakistan, the PRC�s fifty-year-plus ally. Report: Washington Post
REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS
AND THE THREATS JUST KEEP ON COMING
The PRC issued more Taiwan invasion threats. Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan boasted that the Communist military �has the determination and capability to resolutely smash any �Taiwan independence� splittist conspiracy� (Taiwan News via Epoch Times).
Prior to that, a cadre in the PRC Foreign Ministry, threatened an invasion if Taiwan changed its long outdated constitution, something President Chen Shui-bian has scheduled for 2008 (United Press International via Washington Times). Thus, 2008 became the latest in a series of potential invasion dates (see 6/23 and 7/21 Updates).
PRESIDENT CHEN JOINS MILITARY EXERCISES
President Chen part in a submarine dive that was part of the island democracy�s military exercise (see 7/21 Update). The appearance comes as Taiwan�s legislature � narrowly controlled by the PRC-friendly �pan blue� parties � continues to debate Chen�s request �to approve an $18bn arms purchase from the United States� (BBC).
TAIWAN TO TIGHTEN CROSS-STRAIT TRAVEL
Taiwan�s Mainland Affairs Council is procedure for dealing with tourists from Communist China to �protect the nation's security� (Taiwan News via Epoch Times). The urgency of this issue became clear with �the disappearance of 17 Chinese tourists after arriving at Chiang Kai-shek International Airport last month.�
BEIJINGERS PROTEST A-MEI CONCERT
�One China� protestors crashed a concert in Beijing by Taiwanese pop star Chang Hui-Mei. The Taiwan sensation, also known as A-mei, has come under controversy ever since she sung the ROC national anthem at the 2000 inauguration of President Chen. A concert in Hangzhu had was cancelled earlier this year (see 6/16 Update). Report: CNA via Epoch Times
THE VELVET CRACKDOWN (HONG KONG NEWS)
COMMUNIST MILITARY PARADES IN HONG KONG
The Communist military celebrated its 77th birthday with its first ever military parade in Hong Kong. Despite an overture to pro-democracy politicians, who were invited to the parade, a number of analysts have already called it �a political stunt� (BBC) which was �meant to boost support for pro-Beijing politicians� (Voice of America via Epoch Times).
U.S. TELLS COMMUNIST CHINA TO LAY OFF HK MEDIA
The U.S. told Communist China to �protect freedom of the press after the city's anti-graft watchdog raided the offices of six newspapers� (Washington Times, fifth item). The raids by the Communist-appointed city regime earned a rare joint rebuke from both pro-democracy groups and the lead PRC-sympathizing political party in Hong Kong (see last Update).
TIBET NEWS
PROTEST ACCOMPANIES PRC MILITARY BAND IN EDINBURGH
As they promised (see last Update), pro-Tibetan and pro-Falun Gong protestors staged a demonstration in Edinburgh against the performance of the Communist military band at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Their complaints fell on deaf ears with the organizers, who called the Communist band �charming� (BBC).
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