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CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: DECEMBER 15, 2004
Dragon in the Dark: How and Why Communist China Helps Our Enemies in the War on Terror is now available here (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: �PAN-BLUES� KEEP MAJORITY IN TAIWAN�S LEGISLATURE
PRESIDENT CHEN�S COALITION SUFFERS UPSET DEFEAT, ARMS PURCHASE UP IN THE AIR
In an electoral surprise, the opposition �pan-blue� coalition � The Nationalist, People First, and New Parties � won 114 of 225 seats in Taiwan�s parliament, maintaining their majority. The �pan-green� alliance � the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and the Taiwan Solidarity Union � inched up one seat to 101. Independents won the rest (BBC 12/11).
The �pan-blues� can now continue blocking the policies of President Chen Shui-bian, including the purchase of American arms that had been approved over three years ago. Maddeningly, the U.S. itself may have turned the tied for the �blues�: �The Bush administration has frowned publicly on some of Chen's initiatives� (Cybercast News).
Indeed, Bush�s public, verbal slap at Chen late last year (see 12/10/03 Update) appeared to have staying power, as �some analysts in Taiwan believe voter concerns about a rift between Taipei and Washington may have been a factor in the election outcome.� Chen himself took the blame for his party�s defeat, and resigned as DPP leader (BBC 12/14).
So now a group of parties that �favors stronger ties with Beijing� (Voice of America via Epoch Times) survives with enough power to block what is arguably the most anti-Communist government in East Asia. Of course, �there is no doubt that China is relieved after Mr. Chen's Democratic Progressive Party was beaten� (BBC 12/13).
OTHER REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS
JAPAN MOVES TOWARD STRONGER MILITARY, MAY HELP U.S. ON TAIWAN
Japan�s military is �adopting new policy guidelines which include a more active role in international conflicts� (CNN). The new policy, which will �ease some of the restrictions on Japan's military, allowing it to collaborate with the US in areas of missile defence (UK sp)� (BBC), comes due to �China's military build-up� and �North Korea's possession of missiles.�
Japan is even �mulling a U.S. request for the two allies to discuss joint military cooperation in case of a future clash between China and Taiwan� (Cybercast News). The Communists, meanwhile, are unhappy about what Japan has already done, which includes labeling the PRC �as a potential security threat.�
Meanwhile, Tatsuo Sato, �a leading foreign-policy voice in Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party� (Washington Times) insisted that the new, more clear-headed foreign policy would not undermine what he called �the most important relationship in Asia,� namely the U.S.-Japan alliance. From this quarter, Japan�s new thinking should make the alliance stronger.
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OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS
CONGRESSIONAL HEARING DETAILS �ONE-CHILD� HORROR, REP CALLS FOR OLYMPIC LINK
Led by Vice Chairman Christopher Smith (R-New Jersey), members of the House Committee on International Relations heard exiled dissident Harry Wu and State Department official Michael Kozak testify on the horrors of Communist China�s �one child� policy (see also 8/30/00, 8/8/01, 7/24/02, and 8/5 Updates). Report: Voice of America via Epoch Times
Of particular interest was the case of Mao Hengfeng, who is being tortured in a PRC labor camp for �protesting against official family-planning policies� which forced her into an abortion. Tom Tancredo (R-Colorado) suggested taking action against the PRC Olympics in 2008 if such abuses continued (Human Events). Perhaps this is what they have in mind.
COMMUNIST CHINA PENETRATED CIA, SAYS RETIRED FBI AGENT
For those of us who wonder why the CIA has repeatedly been dovish on Communist China: according to retired FBI agent I.C. Smith, the PRC had an agent �who supplied secrets to China for decades as a CIA translator until his arrest in 1985� (Bill Gertz, Washington Times). The agent was a PRC spy for over three and a half decades.
TRADE DEFICIT WITH COMMUNIST CHINA NEARLY $17 BILLION IN OCTOBER
The U.S. trade deficit with Communist China �widened to a record 16.8 billion dollars in October� (Agence France Presse via Epoch Times) due to �an unprecedented 19.7 billion dollars of Chinese goods� being imported. The trade imbalance is expected to hit $150 billion for the year, which break last year�s record imbalance of $125 billion.
COMMUNIST PRESENCE IN HAITI LIKELY PART OF BROADER PLAN IN AMERICAS
The presence of 125 PRC cops in Haiti has led to �speculation that Beijing is more interested in building a long-term presence in the United States' back yard� (Washington Times). Given the PRC�s already strong presence in the Western hemisphere (see 9/8, 10/21, 11/17, 11/24, and 12/1 Updates), such speculation is long overdue, if not already too late.
PRC PUTS EXPORT TAX ON OWN TEXTILES TO STOP U.S. TARIFFS
Communist China will impose on unspecified export tax on its own textiles to �reassure major trading partners, including the United States, that China will not flood the market after quotas end on 1 January 2005� (BBC). Another motive is can be found in this nugget: �The US is considering import tariffs to protect domestic textile producers.�
NEXT WTO CHIEF COULD BE A BATTLE BETWEEN UNITED STATES AND COMMUNIST CHINA
As World Trade Organization head Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi prepares to step down next August, the U.S. and Communist China already appear to be pushing their respective choices to succeed him. The U.S. seems to prefer France�s Pascal Lamy, while Communist China �spoke highly of Brazil's candidate, Luiz Felipe de Seixas Correa� (Washington Times).
COMMUNISTS CANCEL MEETING WITH WESTERN LABOR LEADERS
A meeting between Western business and labor leaders and Communist China on workers rights in the PRC has been cancelled. The Communists, citing �inconvenient timing� (Fabian�s Hammer) cancelled all the foreign visas related to the meeting.
The PRC only allows one labor union � the one controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. Attempts by workers to organize and represent themselves have led straight to prison (see 3/13/02, 3/20/02, 4/3/02, 4/24/02, 5/1/02, 7/3/02, 6/23/04, and last Updates).
NIKE APOLOGIZES FOR LEBRON AD
Nike completed its cave-in to Communist China, officially apologizing for �disrespect to the Chinese culture� (BBC) in a LeBron James ad deemed �blasphemous� by the Communists. The ad showed James scoring on a martial arts master (see last Update).
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER MEETS COMMUNIST CHINESE COUNTERPART
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov is holding talks with PRC Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan to �open up what (Ivanov) called new and promising spheres� (BBC). Communist China is Russia�s largest arms buyer, �including deals on fighter planes, diesel electric submarines, warships and anti-aircraft missile launchers.�
UNITED NATIONS TAKES PRC OFF FOOD AID RECIPIENT LIST
The United Nations World Food Program will end its aid to Communist China next year, and �is urging China to become a bigger donor instead of a recipient of its aid� (BBC).
COMMUNIST CHINA TRIES TO SCORE POINTS ON GREENHOUSE GAS ISSUE
Communist China, in cooperation with Brazil, �presented details of their greenhouse gas emissions to an international summit on climate change� (BBC). While the PRC is set to become the largest �greenhouse gas� emitter within a generation, it is under no obligation to reduce emissions under the Kyoto agreement.
Thus the Communists can �gain some kind of benefit from voluntary cutbacks� � and score easy points with the rest of the world � while its main geopolitical rival, the United States, takes flak for refusing to damage its own economy by accepting Kyoto�s severe restrictions.
AIR CHINA IPO NETS PRC ITS BILLION
Communist China met its goal of $1 billion (see last Update) for its Air China Initial Public Offering (IPO). The sale was far �2.8 billion shares, or 31% of its equity� (BBC), meaning the company remains firmly under Communist control.
NEWS ON THE FALUN GONG WAR
PRACTITIONER FROM AUSTRALIA SUES JIANG ZEMIN FOR PERSECUTION WHILE IN PRC
Zhang Cuiying, a Falun Gong practitioner from Australia, filed suit against former Central Military Commission Chairman Jiang Zemin in an Australian court (Epoch Times). Zhang �was beaten until bruises covered her whole body (and) chained with 22 lb. shackles that made her ankles bleed� while she was in the PRC in 2000.
PRACTITIONERS ASK UNITED NATIONS TO HELP THEM AGAINST PRC
A group of practitioners came to the United Nations to ask its help against the Communist crackdown of their spiritual movement in Communist China. UN Human Rights official Craig Mokhiber �said he would use every mechanism in his power to help stop the suppression� (Epoch Times), before insisting there was almost nothing he could do.
OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS NEWS
THREE MORE DISSIDENTS HELD FOR QUESTIONING AS CRACKDOWN CONTINUES
The PRC detained dissidents Yu Jie, Liu Xiaobo and Zhang Zuhua �for about 12 hours� Monday. Yu was held for �leaking state secrets� (VOA via Epoch Times), the traditional Communist catch-all charge for an action of which they don�t approve. His wife �was told by police to stop her husband publishing articles on the internet� (BBC).
The arrests �could kill any hopes for a period of political relaxation under party leader Hu Jintao.� Why anyone had such �hopes� � particularly after the Hanyuan massacre (see 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, and 12/1 Updates) � is a discussion for another time.
�NINE COMMENTARIES� REVERBERATE AROUND THE WORLD
The Epoch Times is translating its �Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party.� The Chinese version has been out for some time. In fact, �Beijing�s state-run media has remained silent on the publication, fearing that openly slamming or banning it would help it to spread even more widely.�
The effect has been remarkable: �In just eight days, over 1000 people� have quit the CCP in disgust, using an Epoch Times� �withdrawal-signature web site� to announce their decision to the world (Note: the Week�s Links will have links to each of the commentaries as they are translated). Many of the signatories �are from mainland China.�
CADRE WHO OVERSAW HANYUAN MASSACRE CALLS FOR CAUTION AGAINST PROTESTORS
A high-ranking cadre �has called on officials to pay more attention to people's grievances� (BBC) a reference to mass protests and petitions. Unfortunately, that cadre is Politburo Standing Committee member Lou Gan � the fellow who oversaw the massacre of protestors at Hanyuan (see 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, and 12/1 Updates).
PRC ANNOUNCES NEW TV AD REGULATIONS
In reaction to the LeBron James brouhaha (see American-Related News), Communist China �is to publish new rules by April 2005� (BBC) for television advertising that will �focus on the design, image, taste and possible psychological impact of adverts.
Note how �possible psychological impact� would give the PRC enough cover to ban practically anything, which was likely the whole point.
CORRUPTION NEWS
SKYWORTH DIGITAL HEAD ARRESTED FOR EMBEZZLEMENT
Huang Hongsheng, head of Skyworth Digital Holdings Limited and �ranked 31st on Forbes list of the 100 Richest People in China in 2004� (Epoch Times), is now under arrest in Hong Kong �on charges of stealing 48 million yuan (US$5.78 million) from the company.�
OTHER MAINLAND NEWS
ANOTHER DAM BEING BUILT ON THE YANGTZE
Communist China has begun building a dam �on the upper part of the Yangtze River . . . at a crossing point of three rivers . . . classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage site� (VOA via Epoch Times). Up to 100,000 people will lose their homes to this dam, but at least no one�s been shot yet (see 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, and 12/1 Updates).
CHILD SELLERS EXECUTED
The PRC executed three people for �abducting and selling 11 young boys� (BBC). The lucrative baby business continues to be fueled by the Communist �one child� policy, which in addition to forced abortions, sterilizations, and infanticide (see American-Related News), has led many to �buy� children rather than risk hiding a pregnancy.
BANK OF CHINA LIFTS RESTRICTIONS ON CAPITAL FLIGHT
The PRC-run Bank of China �has begun to relax control over the transfer of assets� (Epoch Times). The new rules make it easier for fleeing corrupt cadres � ahem, �Mainland Chinese who move to Hong Kong, Macao and other countries� � and non-mainland heirs to �convert their assets and property into foreign currency to transfer it overseas.�
ANHUI PROVINCE TO BUILD AMUSEMENT PARK
Communist China�s Anhui Province has planned �a Disney-style theme park in Wuhu City� (Central News Agency, Taiwan, via Epoch Times) to be built �in six to eight years.� The park will have the eye-catching name East China Number One Theme Park, and will cost roughly $845 million � how much will be pocketed by Anhui cadres was not stated.
HONG KONG NEWS
HONG KONG DEMOCRATS ELECT NEW LEADER
The Hong Kong Democratic Party, the oldest and largest of the pro-democracy parties in the city, elected Lee Wing-tat as its new leader. Lee is sure to continue the Democrats� tough pro-democracy stand: he �is considered a firebrand radical and is banned from entering China because of his political views� (Agence France Presse via Epoch Times).
TIBET NEWS
CALLS FOR RELEASE OF TENZIN DELEG SPREAD TO U.S., CANADA, AND INDIA
The United States Senate �passed unanimously� (Epoch Times 12/12) a resolution that �on the Chinese government to release Tibetan political prisoners,� in particular Tenzin Deleg (or Delek, depending upon the translating source), the Tibetan monk framed for a bomb in Sichuan Province, and slated to be executed (see 1/30/03 and last Updates).
The Senate was not alone in calling for the release of the Tibetan monk; they were echoed by �a few now-exiled representatives of the Tibetan Parliament and three Indian MPs� (Epoch Times 12/15), as well as Canadian Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew.
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