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CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 10, 2003
TOP STORY: COMMUNIST CHINA HELPING IRAN�S WEAPONS PROGRAMS
MISSILE AND MASS DESTRUCTION COMPONENTS SENT TO IRAN THROUGH NORTH KOREA
Just in case anyone forgot how Communist China views terrorist threats to America, Middle East Newsline (Link courtesy Parapundit founder Randall Parker, Member since 2003) cleared it up in dramatic fashion. The People�s Republic �and North Korea have coordinated in their efforts to advance Iran's missile and weapons of mass destruction programs.�
The plan was simple, Communist China produced the materials, and then, in an end run around its own �export controls on military and dual-use technologies� (World Net Daily, see 8/28 Update for the much-hyped reports on the �controls�), sent some of them to Iran through North Korea. U.S. sanctions for the PRC-owned firms involved are on the way.
Check out this and more on the Communist China and the Terrorist War page.
NORTH KOREA NEWS
COMMUNIST CHINA CONTINUES TO BASH U.S. ON ITS NORTH KOREA STANCE
Communist China expanded its criticism of the United States for its treatment of North Korea during last month nuclear talks in Beijing (see last Update). In particular, the PRC said the U.S. �would have to consider modifying its demand for a complete and total dismantling of all of North Korea's nuclear programs� (Washington Post).
YANG BIN LOSES APPEAL
Yang Bin, the �private� businessman in Communist China whom North Korea appointed to run its �free trade zone� in Sinuiji (see 10/9/02 Update), lost his appeal to reverse his 18-year jail term for bribery and fraud. Report: BBC
For more on Communist China�s Stalinist ally, sign up for Monday�s North Korea Report.
OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS
BUSH ADMINISTRATION MOVING CLOSER TO COMMUNIST CHINA
Secretary of State Colin Powell, in reviewing American foreign policy, called relations between the U.S. and the PRC �the best they have been since President Nixon's first visit� (Washington Post), i.e., his 1972 summit with Mao.
Meanwhile, plans are in the works for �a series of high-level visits which will include an American tour by Premier Wen Jiabao scheduled for December� (Willy Wo-Lap Lam, CNN). An unnamed source described the potential future of relations between the U.S. and the PRC as � get ready, folks � a �constructive, strategic partnership.�
U.S. CONTINUING TO PUSH COMMUNIST CHINA ON CURRENCY
Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary John Snow continued to call Communist China to remove the peg on its currency � the yuan/renminbi is currently pegged at about 12 cents. The Communist-imposed weakness in the currency has helped the PRC run roughshod over its neighbors in export markets, and American manufacturing here at home. Report: BBC
Communist China has repeatedly dismissed all requests to let its currency appreciate, i.e., rise in value, including during a recent visit by Snow, himself (Washington Post, last Update).
U.S. AND INDIA CONDUCT JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES IN REGION BORDERING PRC
The United States is conducting another joint military exercise with long-time PRC rival India, this time in the Ladakh region, which borders Communist China. India and the U.S. have been moving closer to each other over in recent years; the former lost roughly 40,000 square miles of land to the Communists in 1962. Report: Washington Post, fourth item
OTHER MAINLAND NEWS
BANK OF CHINA MADE HUGE LOAN TO SCANDAL-PLAGUED ZHOU ZHENGYI
Bank of China (Hong Kong) made a loan to Zhou Zhengyi that an internal investigation called unfounded in financial reality. Zhou is the �tycoon� who got rich on his close ties to Jiang Zemin before he, Zhou, was hit with corruption charges (see 6/4, 6/11, and 6/18 Updates). The loan was for $270 million. Report: BBC
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
MEXICO TAKING IT ON THE CHIN ECONOMICALLY FROM COMMUNIST CHINA
While many are focused on U.S. manufacturing losses, and what role Communist China�s currency machinations and prison labor may have on them, Mexico is felling the pinch as well. The U.S. neighbor is now in the unusual position of losing jobs to the PRC, a sign that the Communists� actions go well beyond normal free market movements (Newsmax).
REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS
100,000 CALL FOR ROC TO CHANGE ITS NAME TO TAIWAN
A call from the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) for the Republic of China to official change its name to Taiwan brought roughly 100,000 supporters into the streets on Saturday (Willy Wo-Lap Lam, CNN). A counter-protest the next day numbered 4,000 strong (BBC). The Communists ripped the first event as part of a plan for �creeping independence.�
Former President Lee Teng-hui formed the TSU after leaving the Nationalist Party � which has tilted somewhat toward the Communist mainland after losing the 2000 Presidential election to Democratic Progressive Chen Shui-bian. Lee brought democracy to Taiwan, and he is a virulent anti-Communist. Also reporting: Cybercast News
MASSIVE WAR GAMES BEGIN
Meanwhile, Taiwan also began �its largest-ever live-fire military exercise involving a mock mainland Chinese invasion� (UPI via Newsmax). The exercise involved over 6,000 soldiers.
HONG KONG NEWS
COMMUNIST CHINA LOOKING TO ISOLATE HONG KONG DEMOCRATS
Ill winds are blowing over Hong Kong, despite Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa�s decision to indefinitely postpone the reviled �anti-subversion� bill (BBC, see also 7/2, 7/9, and 7/16 Updates). According to Willy Wo-Lap Lam, CNN, the People�s Republic is moving �to marginalize and vilify a number of pro-democracy, anti-Tung activists.�
The most ominous sign is at the top, where Communist Vice President Zeng Qinghong, the heir apparent to Central Military Commission Chair Jiang Zemin, is now �in charge of Hong Kong,� thanks largely to his mentor. Zeng has already �privately indicated Beijing will not accept the pro-democracy camp's demand for universal suffrage elections by 2007.�
Meanwhile, pro-democracy HK legislator Emily Lau is under Communist fire for telling an audience in Taipei that Taiwan should be able to choose its destiny. The hard-line Communists, called �left-wing forces� in local parlance, are calling for her impeachment. The �anti-subversion� bill was shelved after 500,000 hit the streets to protest it.
TIBET NEWS
DALAI LAMA BEGINS U.S. VISIT; COMMUNISTS WANT U.S. TO SHUT HIM UP
The Dalai Lama, Tibet�s spiritual leader, began a three-week visit to the U.S. last week. Before he left, he told the Guardian (UK) that he would only return to Communist-occupied Tibet only if there were no conditions imposed upon him by the PRC (BBC). He is meeting President Bush today.
Yesterday, the Dalai Lama spoke to the House of Representatives, and asked them to �continue to help us in whatever way� (CNN) in his people�s struggle against Communist oppression. Meanwhile, Communist China demanded the U.S. stop the man they called a �political plotter� from �activities to split China.�
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