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CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: NOVEMBER 10, 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.
The next Summer Olympics begin in Beijing at 8AM EST on August 8, 2008 (BBC). Will the U.S. take part in a Communist Chinese version of the Munich Nazi propaganda event of 1936? Sign the petition for an American boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
TOP STORY: HU JINTAO CONGRATULATES BUSH, BUT PRC "WARY" OF HIM
TRADE CLASH LIKELY, SAYS ECONOMIST; BUSH AND HU TO MEET DURING APEC SUMMIT
Communist Chinese President Hu Jintao gave President Bush a call to congratulate him on his re-election (United Press International via Washington Times). During the call, the two agreed to �hold a summit� (Cybercast News) on the side of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting to take place in Chile later this month.
While the Communists, led by Hu, were all smiles about Bush�s re-election, the People�s Republic �continues to harbor deep misgivings about Bush's �unilateralism� and the anti-China �containment policy� allegedly spearheaded by Washington� (CNN�s Willy Lam). This quarter only wishes such a �containment policy� were actually in place.
Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley chief economist Stephen Roach predicted �an explosive trade war� (World Net Daily) between the PRC and the U.S. Roach, in a view typical of �engagement� supporters, blamed the U.S. for the upcoming conflagration, claiming that Communist China �is at the top of the list of being a scapegoat today� for U.S. problems.
In Roach�s defense, he did note the role of the Communist China�s deliberately devalued currency in the $120 billion-plus trade imbalance between Zhongnanhai and Washington. However, the regime�s extensive ties to terrorism and its continuing arms buildup against Taiwan were apparently less important to Roach than America�s budget deficit. Sigh.
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 VOWES TO BLOCK ANY SECURITY COUNCIL ACTION AGAINST IRAN
PRC Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing told the media that the Communists �will oppose the transfer of (Iran�s nuclear weapons program) to the Security Council� (CNN). Li said the PRC prefers the matter �be dealt with by the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency,� which couldn�t see Iran�s nuclear weapons program for years.
It should be noted that Communist China, which can veto any Security Council action against Iran, has been a major military supplier and ally of Iran, including an intimate role the mullahs� quest for nuclear weapons (see 5/28/03, 7/9/03, 12/24/03, and 6/16 Updates). Also reporting: Agence France Presse via Washington Times
TWO UIGHURS DENY TIES TO TERRORISM; MOST DETAINEES IN GUANTANAMO CLEARED
As two Uighur detainees in Guantanamo Bay denied any ties to terrorism (Washington Times), the Pentagon is trying to figure out what to do with the majority (UPI via Washington Times) of the remaining 20 detainees, who have been cleared of any terrorist suspicions but cannot go back to Communist-occupied East Turkestan for fear of execution.
The U.S. �has been unable to persuade any other country to accept them� and is reluctant to let them reside here for fear of �damage (to) its relations with China.� The East Turkestan government-in exile and the Uighur Association of America have both called for asylum for the cleared prisoners.
Communist China has repeatedly smeared the Uighurs of occupied East Turkestan as terrorists and bin Ladenites; in fact they are arguably the most pro-American Muslims on the planet (10/17/01, 12/21/01, 10/23/02, 11/5/03, and last Updates).
NORTHERN KOREA NEWS
Sign up for Monday�s Northern Korea Report.
COMMUNIST CHINA SENDS SEVENTY REFUGEES BACK TO SCNK
Communist China, an ally of Stalinist-controlled northern Korea for over half a century, �sent home a group of North Koreans after arresting them last month for trying to seek asylum� (BBC). Most were arrested in raids on two refugee safe houses in Communist China. Eight others were �arrested trying to enter South Korea's consulate in Beijing.�
Communist China sends back any SCNK refugee it finds, unless its police decide to rape and/or sell them (see 1/14 Update). Once back in the Stalinists� clutches, the returnees face prison, torture, and/or execution.
OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS
VEGAS-STYLE CASINOS, AND VEGAS MONEY, ENTERING MACAU
The Communist-controlled island of Macau is now seeing more Las Vegas-style casinos, funded by American gambling moguls (Washington Post). While the old local gambling mavens may or may not be happy, the Communists � flush with American cash and increased tax revenue � must certainly be ecstatic.
NEWS ON THE FALUN GONG WAR
WILL IT BE OVER SOON? UNNAMED CADRE PREDICTS �REDRESS� OF FALUN GONG
An anonymous �high-level Communist Party official� told the Epoch Times that the PRC �plans to make the practice of Falun Gong legal in China, and to restore its reputation.� The stunning reversal would be called a �redress� in Communist parlance, and would be the first major departure of Communist leader Hu Jintao from his predecessor, Jiang Zemin.
Jiang, who �Shanghai� faction is still the largest in the Chinese Communist Party, banned Falun Gong in 1999, and the brutal crackdown against the spiritual movement by the regime has, for now, continued to survive his retirement.
OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS NEWS
COMMUNIST POLICE BEAT SICHUAN PROTESTERS
Tens of thousands marched in Hanyuan County to protest a forced relocation that included �tearing down their homes under orders issued by corrupt officials� (Epoch Times) who lied about the compensation value of the land seized. In response to the protest, the cadres sent in the police, who �injured several dozen people and beat one man to death.�
AFTER THE HIDEOUS �ONE CHILD� POLICY: A HIDEOUS �TWO CHILD� POLICY?
Communist China is planning to �re-evaluate� its hideous one-child policy. Does this mean an end to forced abortions, sterilizations, and infanticide (see 8/30/00, 8/8/01, 7/24/02, and 8/5 Updates)? No such luck, at best, �couples in China may be allowed to have two children� (Epoch Times). This quarter remains unimpressed.
PEOPLE GATHERED OUTSIDE ZHAO ZIYANG�S HOUSE WERE HONORING HIS BIRTHDAY
The crowds gathered outside the home of deposed Communist Party boss Zhao Ziyang (see last Update) were there to mark his birthday, and remember his attempts at reform. Zhao was bounced from his party post and placed under house arrest after he opposed the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989. Report: Epoch Times
PROTESTORS IN PRC TOPPED 3 MILLION IN SEPTEMBER
The number of protestors in Communist China totaled �3.1 million people� (Epoch Times) in September alone. The reasons for the protests were legion: �lack of proper compensation for unemployed workers of former state enterprises, the violation of citizens� rights, government corruption, growing social inequality, and government neglect of social justice.�
That was just the cities. The folks in the rural interior marched against �over unpaid wages to peasant laborers . . . government encroachment onto peasant land, excessive taxation, rising prices of agricultural products, the forced (and uncompensated) labor for construction projects and private entities� confiscation of farmland.�
CORRUPTION NEWS
NEARLY 100 OFFICIALS CHARGED BY PRC IN BABY MILK SCANDAL
Communist China �is to punish 97 government officials over the sale of fake milk powder� (BBC). The fake milk scandal, which was centered in the city of Fuyang, poisoned 150 children and killed 13 of them, (see 4/28, 5/5, 5/12, 5/26, 6/10, and 6/23 Updates). It has become a textbook case of the problem of food safety in the PRC (Epoch Times).
In what will come as no surprise, the scandal involved �corrupt officials conniving with unscrupulous factory owners to continue selling the bogus powder despite receiving complaints from parents of the infant victims.�
FALSE DATA IN STOCK MARKETS DISPIRITING TO INVESTORS IN PRC
Communist China�s stock market has several listed companies which �repeatedly forge accounts, file false reports about company gains, and otherwise deceive investors� (Epoch Times). With no real regulation to stop it, such perfidy �has already caused the majority of investors to lose confidence in the stock market,� a bad state of events for any market.
OTHER MAINLAND NEWS
COMMUNISTS ARREST WOULD-BE ESCAPEES
Communist China �arrested 58 people who were allegedly planning to travel to Britain and work illegally� (BBC). The person who helped create the documents they needed to leave � for $20,000 to $30,000 per person � was also nabbed. �Snakeheads� such as he usually force the escapees into indentured servitude once they reach their destinations.
COMMUNISTS CLAMP DOWN ON HUI, NOT HAN, IN RESPONSE TO ETHNIC BATTLE
The bloody battle between two villages in Henan Province � one ethnic Han, the other Muslim Hui � led to 148 deaths (the last Update erroneously reported only three killed). While both sides clearly have blood on their hands, the Communist police have already taken sides: �only the Hui were still prevented from leaving their villages� (Time Asia).
INTEREST RATE HIKE WON�T SAVE ECONOMY, OR REAL ESTATE MARKET
More analysts are offering skepticism on the Communists attempt to slow down their economy through an interest rate hike (see last Update). One flatly said the rate hike �won�t be of any use� (Liberty Times via Epoch Times).
Some analysts believed the rate hike would �have some impact on the real estate market� (Central News Agency, Taiwan, via Epoch Times). However, Andrew Xie of Morgan Stanley cast doubt on that belief, saying that �because China delayed action in raising interest rates . . . the real estate bubble is now out of the Chinese government�s control� (Epoch Times).
THE DESERTIFICATION OF COMMUNIST CHINA CONTINUES
Communist China is continuing to fight a growing desert of its won making, thanks in part to �poorly managed land policies� (Cox News Service via Washington Times), money for anti-desert programs �misspent by corrupt local officials,� and development policies that have �sent polluting enterprises unwanted elsewhere in China� right into the drought zone.
SHENZHEN GAS STATIONS FACING SHORTAGE
Gas stations in the city of Shenzhen are �facing supply shortages that threaten to close businesses� (Epoch Times). Of course, PRC-run stations �are able to maintain their gas supplies;� it is the �private� suppliers who are facing the crippling shortages.
INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT GROWTH SLOWING IN COMMUNIST CHINA
Communist China�s industrial output growth �has slowed from a 23.2% peak in February� (BBC) to just under 15% last month.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
RUSSIAN SCIENTIST CONVINCTED OF ESPIONAGE FOR PRC
Valentin Danilov, a scientist earlier acquitted of spying for Communist China (see 12/31/03 and 6/10 Updates) was retried and convicted. Prosecutors �claimed the jurors had been put under pressure during the case� (BBC), which if true may have had something to do with the beneficiary � Communist China is Russia�s largest arms customer.
COMMUNIST CHINA NUMBER FOUR IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE
According to World Trade Organization data, Communist China is the fourth largest trader of goods and services, and �is closing fast on Japan and is likely to overtake it this year as the world's No. 3 trading nation� (CNN). The PRC�s deliberately devalued currency has greatly damaged American producers and other exporters to the U.S., including American allies.
BP AGREES TO 500-STATION JOINT VENTURE WITH PRC-OWNED SINOPEC
The oil firm BP has agreed to a joint venture with Communist-owned Sinopec for �500 petrol stations in Zhejiang� (BBC). The joint venture is will be worth over a quarter of a billion dollars � which means another hefty chunk of change for the cadres in Zhongnanhai courtesy of a foreign investor.
AT LEAST ONE WOULD-BE ESCAPEE AMONG �LORRY 58� WAS ESCAPING PERSECUTION
Most of those who covered of the 58 Chinese escapees who died in the back of a �lorry� truck on their way to Britain assumed the escapees were simply looking to improve their economic condition. Not so, at least one, according to his brother, was leaving to escape religious persecution. Report: BBC
OTHER REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS
MAJORITY OF TAWIANESE SEE ISLAND DEMOCRACY AS INDEPENDENT
A Taiwan Think Tank poll found that a majority of Taiwanese �consider the island to be independent and sovereign� (Cybercast News). Meanwhile, �more than 60 percent supported President Chen Shui-bian's controversial plan for a referendum on the island's status.� This could signal growing support for Chen�s anti-Communist �pan-green� coalition.
COMMUNIST CHINA TO BLOCK MORE TAIWANESE WEBSITES, ANGERING TAIWANESE
Communist China, under the auspices of Politburo Standing Committee member Li Changchun, plans to �block more Taiwanese websites� (Epoch Times), a move that �has upset millions of Taiwanese living in China who lack access to Taiwan�s news media� and �is causing further strain between the Mainland and Taiwan.�
HIGH COURT THROWS OUT ANTI-CHEN LAWSUIT
Taiwan�s High Court �rejected an opposition challenge that President Chen Shui-bian won March's presidential election unfairly� (BBC). The �pan-blue� ticket, which lost to Chen eight months ago (see 3/24 and 3/31 Updates), charged �irregularities� in the vote, and repeated its laughable claim a pre-election assassination attempt against Chen was �staged.�
COMMUNIST CHINA DENIES VANUATU SWITCH
Communist China was caught flat-footed by Vanuatu�s decision to establish diplomatic recognition with Taiwan (see last Update); they even tried to deny the event occurred (BBC). Vanuatu�s Prime Minister announced the move in Taiwan.
TAIWAN�S EXPORTS TO MAINLAND RISE
Exports from Taiwan to Communist China were either $49.3 billion (according to the PRC) or $22.8 billion (according to the island democracy, which lists Hong Kong exports separately). In any event, the mainland is now �the main export market for Taiwan� (Epoch Times), meaning the ROC is becoming increasingly dependent on the Communist regime.
NEWS ON THE VELVET CRACKDOWN (HONG KONG)
TWO CADRES SENT TO JAIL FOR SPYING ON UK�S BEHALF
Communist China sentenced Wei Pinguan, a naturalized British subject and member of the British Secret Service, to life in prison for spying for Great Britain (see 3/3 and 3/10 Updates) have been sentenced to prison. Cai Xiaohong � whose father was PRC Justice Minister � received a fifteen-year sentence for the same (BBC).
Wei joins Chan Yu-lam, another naturalized UK citizen jailed for life for espionage. Chan, like Wei, worked in Communist China�s liaison office to Hong Kong before the Communists took over the former colony in 1997. A third defendant � Liu Lin � has not yet been sentenced (AFP via Channel News Asia).
BISHOP ZEN BACKS DEMOCRACY REFERENDUM IN CITY
Bishop Joseph Zen, the leader of Hong Kong�s Roman Catholic Church and a vocal supporter of democracy for the city, �has thrown his support behind calls for a referendum on broadening democracy in the nominally-autonomous territory, despite opposition from the authorities in Hong Kong as well as the central government in Beijing� (Cybercast News).
The bishop, who has ruffled Communist feathers before, said the Catholic Church ��would be happy to help� any non-government initiative to hold a private referendum� if the PRC-appointed Hong Kong regime refused to sponsor a vote.
No news was reported on Tibet this week.
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