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CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: DECEMBER 10, 2003
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 and here. � D.J. McGuire
TOP STORY: PRESIDENT BUSH WHACKS TAIWAN AS COMMUNIST PM BEAMS
U.S. WHACKS TAIWAN BEFORE MEETING; CHEN HOLDS FIRM ON REFERENDUM; COMMUNIST PRESIDENT THREATENS WAR IF TAIWAN VOTES THE WRONG WAY
Communist Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with President Bush yesterday. During a later press conference, Bush gave a stunning rebuke to Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian: �the comments and actions made by the leader of Taiwan indicate that he may be willing to make decisions unilaterally, to change the status quo, which we oppose� (CNN).
The president was referring to Chen�s plans for a referendum demanding that the People�s Republic pull back the 500 missiles aimed at Taiwan, a referendum the Communists insist is a move towards independence. The missile vote is scheduled to coincide with Taiwan�s March 20 presidential election. Also reporting: Fox News, Washington Times
Chen said the missile vote �will have nothing to do with independence nor intend to change the cross-strait status quo� (BBC), and asked the international community �not to take China's �military threat and missile deployment for granted�� (Washington Post-1). Taiwan�s law allows no independence vote unless it�s under imminent threat (see last Update).
The President�s words stunned supporters of the island democracy. Bill Kristol, Robert Kagan, and Gary Schmitt called Bush�s comments �a mistake� (Cybercast News). John Tkacik said Bush had �lost his bearings� (Washington Post-2) on this issue. Bush previously had said the U.S. would do �whatever it takes� to defend Taiwan (see 4/25/01 Update).
As for trade � the other supposed major issue to be discussed during the meeting � Wen yielded not an inch on the deliberately devalued Communist currency that has whacked America�s manufacturing and its allies exports, while sending the U.S. trade deficit to the PRC to nearly $120 billion, higher than that of any other importer.
HU JINTAO TELLS CADRES IT�S WAR IF TAIWAN VOTES THE WRONG WAY
Meanwhile, Communist Chinese President and Party boss Hu Jintao flatly told fellow cadres that the result of next March�s presidential election in Taiwan will �determine whether there will be peace or war� (Willy Wo-Lap Lam, CNN). He also called for �new assessments of the �military option�� against Taiwan.
Adding more fuel to the fire was PRC General Peng Guangqian, writing in the Communist-run Outlook Weekly, dismissed the theory that Communist China would not attack Taiwan due to concerns about the 2008 Olympic Games. Many who backed giving Beijing the 2008 Games believed it could moderate PRC behavior on this subject (Washington Post).
Sign the petition for an American boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
One key figure on this issue is a name of which little is heard lately: �some say the ultimate decision-maker on this single crucial topic remains former president Jiang Zemin� (BBC). Jiang, of course, kept the only post equal to Hu�s in power: Chair of the Central Military Commission. For more on Taiwan, see Republic of China (Taiwan) News.
Check out the Communist China and the Terrorist War page.
For more on Communist China�s Stalinist ally, sign up for Monday�s North Korea Report.
OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS
COMMUNIST CHINA TO HELP CREATE CLASSES FOR U.S. HIGH SCHOOLS
Communist Chinese propaganda is now coming to a high school near you. The PRC �will help create a nearly $1.4 million Advanced Placement program in Chinese language and culture for U.S. high schools� (Washington Post). Communist Ambassador to the U.S. Yang Jiechi said the regime �would provide textbooks and teachers� (Washington Times).
Almost immediately, plan drew criticism � for obvious reasons. Bob Schaeffer, public education director for the National Center for Fair & Open Testing, had this question: �Will (the Communists) be able to specify or influence the content of the exam, which is, in turn, designed to drive the AP course curriculum?� Sadly, I think we know the answer already.
ARE THE U.S. AND COMMUNIST CHINA IN A RACE TO THE MOON?
This cannot be coincidence. On the same day Communist China announced plans to put a man on the moon by 2020 (BBC), it was leaked that President Bush will announce an American moon mission next week, �perhaps even establishment of a permanent presence there� (National Review Online). Also reporting: UPI via Washington Times
AUSTRALIA JOINS U.S. MISSILE DEFENSE PLANS, TELLS PRC IT�S NOT A TARGET
Australia is signing up for the proposed American missile defense �to protect the U.S. and its allies from future missile attack by �rogue� states or terrorist groups� (Cybercast News). It also specifically told Communist China � a longtime military supplier to numerous terrorist states � that �this isn't directed at� the PRC.
U.S. AND ALLIES BEAT BACK PRC ATTEMPT TO HAND INTERNET OVER TO UNITED NATIONS
The U.S., �backed by the European Union, Japan and Canada� (Washington Times), beat back an attempt by Communist China to give the United Nations control of the internet (see last Update). However, �a mechanism under U.N. auspices to study the governance of the Internet and make recommendations by 2005� is still in the works.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS NEWS
COMMUNIST POLICE BEAT YOUNG MAN TO DEATH IN FUJIAN
The Communist Public Security Bureau (police) in Haidao village, Fujian Province, arrested 27-year-old Chen Sitao outside a karaoke bar. The next day, Chen was dead, beaten to death by the PSB. Sadly, this is typical, given that local cadres throughout the PRC �frequently regard the PSB as their private thugs� (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times, HK).
ACTIVIST WHO CALLED FOR REVIEW OF TIANANMEN MASSACRE THROWN IN JAIL
Yan Jun, a schoolteacher, was sent to jail for two years on �subversion� charges. His crime was �posting comments on the Internet appealing for a reassessment of the official verdict on the June 1989 pro-democracy demonstrations� (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times). The Communist murdered thousands of the protestors on June 4, 1989.
ZHENG ENCHONG�S APPEAL HEARING CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC
The Communists have refused to allow Zheng Enchong�s hearing to be open to the public, in large part �to diffuse growing public support for Zheng� (Human Rights in China via Epoch Times). Zheng is appealing a prison sentence for the Communist catchall crime: �providing state secrets to entities outside of China.�
Zheng was the attorney for homeowners in Shanghai � the headquarters for CMC Chair Jiang Zemin�s faction � who lost their homes when local Communists cleared the land to let �private� businessmen Zhou Zhengyi build whatever he wanted there. Zhou is under a very slow moving investigation for corruption (see 6/4, 6/11, 6/18, and 10/29 Updates).
FROM THE FALUN GONG WAR: HIGHEST DEATH TOLL IN THE NORTHEAST
The highest death toll from the four-and-a-half year Communist crackdown against Falun Gong has been in the northeast (a.k.a. Manchuria). The three provinces with the highest number of practitioners killed in Communist custody � Heliongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning � are all in the northeast. Report: Epoch Times
FROM THE FALUN GONG WAR: GROUP FILES SUIT AGAINST JIANG IN NETHERLANDS
Global Coalition to Bring Jiang to Justice filed suit against Central Military Commission Chairman Jiang Zemin for authoring the crackdown against Falun Gong in 1999, when he was also Communist Party boss and PRC President. Report: Epoch Times
COMMUNIST CHINA THROWS UP HURDLES TO RIGHTS GROUP�S TRIP
Communist China told the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom that the group could not talk to any dissidents in Hong Kong. In reaction to that 11th hour restriction, the American rights group cancelled the trip. The State Department called the condition �unacceptable� (Washington Times).
MEDIA GROUP ACCUSES TECH FIRMS OF AIDING COMMUNIST WEB CRACKDOWN
Reporters Without Borders sent a letter to 14 technology firms accusing them of �aiding the Chinese Government in censoring the internet� (BBC). The firms either �supplied China with sophisticated spying products� or chose to �turn a blind eye to Beijing's actions.� Nearly 50 cyber-dissidents in are in Communist prisons. Also reporting: Epoch Times
ANTI-ZHOU BOOK BANNED BY COMMUNISTS
Communist China has banned a book by Gao Wenqian that challenges the mythical status of the late Communist Premier Zhou Enlai. Among the truths Gao reveals is the fact that Mao was prepared to do anything to block Zhou�s ascension to power, including denying medical treatment and rehabilitating his actual successor, Deng Xiaoping. Report: Washington Post
INDEPENDENTS IN BEIJING ELECTIONS, SORT OF
A �small handful� (BBC) of non-Communist candidates are running in elections for Beijing�s District People's Congress, �the bottom rung of the parliamentary system.� However, �Critics say they are only being allowed to stand for show and that the system is flawed and untransparent (UK sp).�
CORRUPTION NEWS
FORMER BANK OF CHINA HEAD GETS 12 YEARS FOR EMBEZZLEMENT
Wang Xuebing, former president of the Bank of China and prot�g� of ex-Prime Minister Xhu Rongji, was sentenced to 12 years for embezzlement and taking bribes. Wang was already booted from the Communist Party for his corruption (see 11/6/02 Update). He also led the China Construction Bank, one of the PRC�s �big four� state-owned banks. Report: BBC
OTHER MAINLAND NEWS
SHANGHAI ON POWER RATIONING
CMC Chair Jiang Zemin�s city and Tiananmen Square butcher Li Peng�s patronage industry are in an ugly mix. Shanghai has been forced to ration electric power due to �insufficient coal supplies and a seasonal drought, which limits the production of hydro-electricity� (BBC). Shopping centers and department stores have no heat for two hours each day.
INTERNET USE SURGES IN COMMUNIST CHINA
The number of internet users in Communist China is now roughly 78 million, a rise of one-third over last year (BBC). Of course, they can neither see the entire web nor post their opinions freely (see Human Rights and Freedoms News).
COMMUNIST CHINA TRADEMARKS YANG LIWEI
Communist China has �registered the image, name and signature of Colonel Yang Liwei� (BBC), the PRC�s only taikonaut. The move is apparently �to prevent the use of Colonel Yang to sell products.�
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
GERMAN LEADER TELLS PRC HE WANTS TO SELL THEM ARMS
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder told Communist Premier Wen Jiabao that Germany �would �work towards� lifting the ban on arms sales� to the PRC imposed by the European Union due to the Tiananmen Square massacre. Germany and France have already come out in favor of lifting the ban (see 11/12 Update). Report: London Telegraph
REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS
CHEN WILL ATTEMPT TO CHANGE REFERENDUM LAW
As for Chen, he announced he will also try to repeal parts of the recently passed law (CNN) � in particular the clauses include opposition-backed restrictions against a referendum on independence (see last Update).
CHEN BLASTS OPPONENT FOR KOWTOWING TO COMMUNIST CHINA
Chen also ripped his leading opponent in the presidential race, Nationalist Lien Chan, for �trying to appease the mainland and in the process, selling out Taiwan� (World Net Daily). The Nationalists have grown cozier with the PRC ever since Chen, a member of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, ended their fifty-plus-year reign in 2000.
That shift cost the Nationalist Party the support of its most popular politician � fiery anti-Communist ex-President Lee Tung-hui, the man who brought democracy to Taiwan (see 7/25/01 Update). Meanwhile, Chen�s stance has resonated with the Taiwanese people (see 11/12 Update).
TAIWANESE OFFICIAL RIPS UNITED NATIONS
Tsay Ching-Yen, Minister without portfolio in the Taiwanese Cabinet, snuck into a United Nations meeting and blasted the organization for denying membership to the island democracy, the only piece of real estate on the planet without representation in the world body. Report: Washington Times
No news was reported from Hong Kong or Tibet this week.
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