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CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: JANUARY 7, 2004
Dragon in the Dark: How and Why Communist China Helps Our Enemies in the War on Terror is now available! My book detailing Communist China�s history of aiding terrorist states, Saddam Hussein, the Taliban, and al Qaeda can be ordered here, at Barnes and Noble, or at Amazon. � D.J. McGuire
TOP STORY: AL QAEDA TARGETED TAIWAN
AIRPORT IN CAPITAL OF ISLAND DEMOCRACY STILL A LIKELY TERRORIST TARGET
Due to Taiwan�s close ties to the U.S., Osama bin Laden has the island democracy in his sights, according to Huang Lei, deputy director of the ROC�s National Security Bureau. Lei told the defense committee of the Legislative Yuan (Parliament), �Loosely-guarded facilities like Taipei's Sungshan airport are likely targets� (Taipei Times). For more on Taiwan, see Republic of China (Taiwan) News.
Check out the Communist China and the Terrorist War page.
NORTH KOREA NEWS
COMMUNIST CHINA DOESN�T BELIEVE NORTH KOREA HAS URANIUM WEAPONS PROGRAM
In yet another sign that Communist China is far from helpful in trying to move North Korea away from nuclear weapons, PRC diplomat Fu Yung said, �North Korea has denied having an enrichment program (for uranium), and that China also did not believe that it had one� (Washington Post).
It was a stunning statement, given that North Korea has already admitted to a uranium weapons program. One analyst, former assistant secretary of defense Chas Freeman, said the Communists might be �reverting to its traditional goal of stability� in Korea, and dropping the insistence that the peninsula be nuclear free in the process.
For more on Communist China�s Stalinist ally, sign up for Monday�s North Korea Report.
OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS
COMMUNIST CHINA RELEASED U.S. TRADE FIGURES, WITHOUT HONG KONG
Communist China released figures on its trade balance with the U.S. that included �only direct exports� (BBC), i.e., no exports through Hong Kong were included. As such, the PRC only reported a trade surplus of $53 billion for the first 11 months of last year. The actual number is roughly $120 billion.
Communist China�s trade surplus with the U.S. (and by definition, America�s trade deficit with the PRC) has ballooned recently as the Communists� deliberately devalued currency has made its exports to the U.S. far cheaper, damaging both American manufacturing and the export sectors of American allies in Asia.
COMMUNIST CHINA BUILDING �INFLUENCE OPERATIONS� IN U.S.
The Communist Chinese Embassy in Washington is hosting a growing number of cadres working in �influence operations� (Washington Times). The �influence unit� is primarily aimed at �working to influence Congress and the Bush administration.�
AMERICAN CITIZEN SENT TO COMMUNIST PRISON FOR PRO-DEMOCRACY LEAFLETS
A Taiwanese born American citizen�s attempt to distribute pro-democracy leaflets in Beijing led to a three-and-a-half year jail sentence from a Communist court. A Chinese-born New Zealander was sentenced to five years in prison. The two belong to a group that advocates any action against the PRC, including violence as �a last resort� (Cybercast News).
HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS NEWS
AIRING OF HONG KONG DEMOCRACY MARCH BLOCKED IN COMMUNIST CHINA
As 100,000 took to the streets in Hong Kong to demand full democracy (see Hong Kong News), Hong Kong cable channels in Guangdong province were �cut off� (Epoch Times, HK) by the provincial Communists, who did not want any news of the protests giving folks on the mainland any ideas.
LIAOYANG LABOR LEADERS STILL IN JAIL DESPITE SERIOUS MEDICAL PROBLEMS
Two of the leaders of the 2002 Liaoyang city labor protests (see 3/20/02, 3/27/02, and 4/3/02 Updates) are still in prison despite a myriad of health problems. The relatives of Yao Fuxin and Xiao Liangyun applied for medical parole, but the Communist refused. Report: Epoch Times
FROM THE FALUN GONG WAR: LIU HAD PROOF �SELF-IMMOLATION� WAS FAKE
Liu Chengjun, the Falun Gong practitioner killed in a Communist prison had �a tape of the �self-immolation� at Tiananmen Square� which �revealed that the government staged the immolation and that the burn victims were not Falun Gong practitioners, but were citizens forced to become propaganda subjects for the government� (Epoch Times).
Liu had the tape when he was arrested for broadcasting Falun Gong information through a Communist cable channel in Changchun. The �self-immolation� protest occurred almost three years ago when five supposed Falun Gong practitioners set themselves on fire (see 1/24/01, 1/31/01, 2/7/01, 2/14/01, 3/13/02, 5/22/02, and last Updates).
Falun Gong, a spiritual movement that is still suffering under a brutal crackdown that began in 1999, has repeatedly denied any involvement in the �self-immolation� incident.
FROM THE FALUN GONG WAR: DISABLED PRACTITIONER LANGUISHES IN LABOR CAMP
Dr. Lin Yanqing, formerly an engineering professor at the Harbin Institute of Technology, lost his job in a transfer to Fujian province, which refused to let him in and put him under arrest. He is now in a labor camp �meant for criminals� (Epoch Times). His crime was following his religious beliefs, in this case in the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement.
FROM THE FALUN GONG WAR: MOVEMENT RIPS COMMUNIST POISON SLANDER
The Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) Information Center blasted the Communists for accusing the movement of inspiring a man to poison sixteen people to death. They also ripped the BBC and others for �repeating the story �as if Xinhua were a credible source of information on Falun Gong�� (Epoch Times). This quarter, of course, did no such thing (see last Update).
POLITICAL DISSIDENT ASKS FOR MEDICAL PAROLE
Liu Jingsheng, a dissident currently in jail for helping found an anti-Communist, pro-democracy party in 1992, has applied for medical parole. The Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy in China reported that Liu�s health �has deteriorated recently� (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times).
COMMUNIST WEB REPORT IGNORES ITS OWN CRACKDOWN
Communist China released a report on web usage within the PRC, in which it had the audacity to include that the �Internet provides more opportunities to express political views and criticize government policies� (Epoch Times).
The report obviously ignores the Communist firewalls against outside sites, or the cyber-dissidents currently in prison (see 9/4/02, 9/11/02, 9/18/02, and 12/10/03 Updates). For those reasons, Human Rights in China blasted the report.
SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME (SARS) NEWS
PRC ADMITS TO SARS IN GUANGDONG
Almost a week after a local hospital let the word out (see last Update), Communist China �confirmed a patient in the southern province of Guangdong has SARS� (CNN). The patient, the first person on the mainland to come down with the disease since last summer, has now recovered (BBC). Also reporting: Voice of America via Epoch Times, Washington Post
Severe acute respiratory system began in Guangdong in November 2002; the Communists covered it up for four months. In the interim, the disease spread to Beijing, Hong Kong, Canada, and around the world (see 3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, and 4/23 Updates).
GUANGDONG�S PREVENTION METHODS UNDER FIRE
Guangdong�s Bureau of Quality and Technology Supervision admitted that �only 36% of the commonly used (anti-SARS) face masks made of gauze passed the test� (Central News Agency, Taiwan, via Epoch Times) of blocking bacteria. The hand-washing liquid distributed by the Communists wasn�t much better � under 42% of the bottles passed.
PRC BEGINS KILLING CATS TO STOP DISEASE; WHO SAYS MOVE MAYBE FUTILE
Based on �similarities between a virus found in (civet) cats� (Washington Times) and the aforementioned SARS victim, the PRC began a mass slaughter of civet cats. The World Health Organization ripped the move, saying, �slaughtering the animals could pose a public health risk and may destroy scientific evidence� (BBC).
The WHO also noted, �scientists have not proved that civet cats can transmit the virus to humans� (Washington Post), and that if the virus can jump from cat to human, �killing the animals . . . could help spread the deadly virus if safety precautions were not taken.� Meanwhile the victim himself �had no known contact with civet cats.�
CORRUPTION NEWS
COMMUNIST-RUN FIRM�S CEO UNDER ARREST FOR EMBEZZLEMENT
The head of Chinese Aerospace Technology Group, the PRC-run firm that sent Yang Liwei into space (see 10/15 and 10/22 Updates), is now under arrest for embezzling over $1.7 million. The CEO �used his position to overpay on imported electronics equipment, and kept the difference� (CNA via Epoch Times).
OTHER MAINLAND NEWS
COMMUNIST CHINA PUMPS BILLIONS INTO BANKS
As it prepares to convince the rest of the world to buy stock in its PRC-owned banks, Communist China sent $45 billion to Bank of China and China Construction Bank � two of the big regime-owned banks riddled with bad debt. Bad loans account for at least one-fifth of all loans in the PRC. Report: BBC
WASHINGTON POST NOTICES PRC BLACKOUTS, FOUR WEEKS LATE
The Washington Post reported on Communist China�s rolling blackouts, four weeks after this quarter reported it (see 12/10/03 and 12/17/03 Updates). Better late than never.
WORKERS BLAMED FOR PETROCHINA GAS EXPLOSION AS TEN MORE VICTIMS DIE
Communist China �blamed negligent gas-well workers� (Washington Post) for a PetroChina gas explosion that killed over 200 people (see last Update). The death toll rose to 243 as ten more victims succumbed in hospitals (United Press International via Epoch Times).
OVERDEVELOPMENT POLLUTION COULD MAKE BOHAI A �DEAD SEA�
Rampant Communist overdevelopment � the kind no free market would ever tolerate � is threatening to kill off the Bohai Sea. The sea is now so polluted that it �will in effect become the earth�s second Dead Sea in another 10 years� (CNA via Epoch Times).
CHINESE PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT INCOME GAP
In a regime based supposedly on radical economic equality, the PRC�s greatest social ill, according to the Chinese people, is �the income gap between the rich and poor� (RFA via Epoch Times). As one very brave respondent told RFA, �Ironically, the only people who qualify for public ownership aren�t the common public. It�s politics that plays a major role.�
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
COMMUNIST CHINA LIKELY TO CONTINUE D�TENTE WITH INDIA; BORDER TALKS BEGIN
Communist China is �likely to continue edging closer� (United Press International via Washington Times) to longtime rival India this year, building upon the visit to Beijing of Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee (see 7/2/03 Update).
The two fought a bitter border war in 1962, during which India lost 40,000 square miles. Communist China claims 90,000 more square miles � �all of Arunachal Pradesh state� (BBC) � in India. Border talks between the PRC and India began yesterday.
FROM THE FALUN GONG WAR: MOVEMENT WINS COURT BATTLE WITH QUEBEC PAPER
Canada�s Supreme Court let stand a contempt of court charge against Les Presses Chinoises, a Quebec-based Chinese language newspaper that �violated a safeguard order issued by the court to stop publishing hate literature about Falun Gong� (Epoch Times). The paper is also facing a defamation suit for slandering the movement (see 7/9/03 Updates).
REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS
CHEN TO COMMUNIST CHINA: RESPECT THE PEOPLE�S CHOICE
President Chen Shui-bian began the New Year hoping Communist China �respects the choice of the Taiwan people� (Taiwan News via Epoch Times). Chen, a member of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party is running for re-election on March 20; the Communists have shunned, ignored, and pilloried him ever since he was elected in 2000.
REFERENDUM STILL PLANNED, DIPLOMATS OFFER TO RESIGN REFUSED
Chen is still planning to hold a referendum on Election Day regarding the 500 Communist missiles pointed at the island democracy. The Communists blasted Chen � as they have for years � calling him �immoral� (World Net Daily).
President Bush also slammed the referendum last month (see 12/10/03 Updates). Taiwan�s de facto ambassador to the U.S. offered to resign over Bush�s comments, but �The president (Chen) instead encouraged him to stay at this post to continue working for the country� (Washington Times).
CHIEFS� ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZES TAIWAN, AGAIN
Two years after withdrawing recognition of Taiwan under PRC pressure, the International Association of Chiefs of Police once again recognized Taiwan for the independent democracy it is this year. Report: Taipei Times via Epoch Times
HONG KONG NEWS
PRO-DEMOCRACY RALLY DRAWS 100,000; MORE PROTESTS EXPECTED
Roughly 100,000 people joined in protests on January 1 to mark the six-month anniversary of the half-million strong protests of last July 1, and call for democracy in the former British colony (see 7/2/03, 7/9/03, and 7/16/03 Updates). Reports: VOA via Epoch Times, BBC, Washington Post, Agence France Presse
Organizers of the pro-democracy demonstrations said more protests would be coming in Hong Kong �if the government failed to respond to public demands� (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times). The movement wants an elected Legislative Council (only 24 of 60 seats are chosen by the voters), and an elected Chief Executive.
TUNG PROPOSES TASK FORCE FOR REFORM, BUT SAYS PRC WILL HAVE FINAL SAY
The current Chief Executive � Communist�appointed Tung Chee-hwa � promised to �set up a task force to look at political reform and the possibility of moves towards further democracy� (BBC). However, he threw cold water on it all by saying, �he would first have to consult Beijing about any potential changes,� i.e., don�t expect democracy any time soon.
No news was reported from Tibet this week.
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