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CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: JUNE 16, 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.
TOP STORY: PRC STILL HELPING IRAN DEVELOP NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR OIL
NORTH KOREA ALSO RECEIVED COMMUNIST AID FOR SELLING WMD MATERIALS; COMMISSION ALSO NOTES THREAT TO ROC, RECOMMENDS A RETHINK OF �ONE CHINA�
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission reported to Congress that Communist China has been �passing nuclear technology to Iran in exchange for oil� (BBC 6/15) and allowing its ally North Korea �to use its air, rail, and seaports to trans-ship ballistic missiles and WMD-related materials� (Cybercast News).
In particular, Communist China � and North Korea � sent �experts� to supervise �the installation of centrifuge equipment to enrich uranium near Isfahan.� The People�s Republic also sold materials for �secret nuclear weapons facilities� to Iranian front companies. Moreover, �about 50 Chinese experts had been observed at a uranium mine at Saghand.�
Commission Chair Roger W. Robinson, Jr., severely criticized the Bush Administration for allowing Communist China to have its way on bilateral trade � the $124 billion trade deficit is the largest bilateral imbalance in history � �just because we want to advance the ball down the court a little on North Korea� (Bill Gertz, Washington Times).
That quote referred to the Communists� supposed �help� on North Korea. The Commission itself rightly noted that the PRC has done little, if anything, �to push Pyongyang towards accepting complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantling of its nuclear programs.�
The Commission also noted that Communist China now has 550 missiles pointed at the island democracy of Taiwan, and specifically recommended the Administration �conduct a fresh assessment of the one-China policy, given the changing realities in China and Taiwan.�
Communist China, meanwhile, blasted an earlier Pentagon report on the likelihood of a PRC attack on Taiwan in two years (see last Update). In this case, Communist Lieutenant General Liu Yuan skipped over his own military�s intentions and blasted a part of the report (already refuted by the ROC) that Taiwan would target Three Gorges Dam (BBC 6/16).
NEWS ON COMMUNIST CHINA, EAST TURKESTAN, AND THE TERRORIST WAR
Check out the Communist China and the Terrorist War page.
TALIBAN ON COMMUNIST CHINESE DEAD IN KUNDUZ: IT WASN�T US
The Taliban group �denied killing 11 Chinese construction workers in an attack in north-east Afghanistan� (see last Update), because �there were no Chinese troops� there (BBC). The PRC has blasted the post-Taliban �pro-U.S.� government in Kabul, and maintained ties with the Taliban even after it fell from power (see 4/24/02 and 10/30/02 Updates).
MORE RADIOACTIVE STUFF MISSING IN COMMUNIST CHINA
A radioactive device containing a deadly selenium isotope �went missing in Shanghai�s Jinshan district� (Epoch Times). The news �caused a panic among Shanghai Jinshan district residents,� understandably so. Communist China was also missing a chunk of radioactive Cesium-137 since February (see 2/11 and 2/18 Updates).
NORTH KOREA NEWS
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NEW ROUND OF TALKS ON NORTH KOREAN NUKES TO START NEXT WEEK
The third round of six-way talks on North Korea�s nuclear weapons will take place a week from today (CNN). The previous talks among North and South Korea, Russia, Communist China, Japan and the U.S. have led to no resolution on the Stalinist regime�s nuclear weapons, but the PRC has been able to extract American concessions (see 3/3 Update).
NORTH KOREAN REFUGEE SHOT AT MONGOLIAN BORDER
Communist border patrol agents shot and killed a teenage refugee from North Korea at the border between the PRC and Mongolia. Six other refugees were arrested. Communist China sends back every North Korean refugee it can find, forcing hundreds of thousands to live as nonperson at the mercy of locals within Communist China. Report: Epoch Times
OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS
Sign the petition for an American boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
CONGRESSMAN INTRODUCES RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE TAIWAN
Congressman Tom Tancredo of Colorado has introduced a non-binding resolution calling �for the U.S. to resume normal relations with Taiwan, �separate from the authoritarian communist regime in Beijing�� (Cybercast News). A spokesman for Tancredo, a Republican, says many Congressmen �from both sides of the aisle� support his boss�s resolution.
BUSH SIGNS LEGISLATION CALLING FOR MORE U.S. ACTION ON TAIWAN�S WHO BID
Meanwhile, President Bush signed a law mandating �a plan �to endorse and obtain�� (Cybercast News) success for Taiwan�s efforts to win observer status in the World Health Organization. Communist China has thwarted Taiwan�s efforts to join the WTO for years, including this past spring (see 5/19 Update).
TAIWAN WANTS FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH U.S.
Taiwan is hoping for �a Taiwan-U.S. free trade agreement� (Washington Times), but so far the U.S. considers the possible deal a low priority. The U.S. has had Permanent Normal Trade Relations with Communist China for years (see 5/24/00 and 9/20/00 Updates).
ZHAO ZIYANG SADDENED BY REAGAN�S DEATH
The only comment of grief from Communist China at the death of former President Ronald Reagan came from Zhao Ziyang, the former Communist Party boss placed under house arrest for refusing to support the Tiananmen Square massacre. Zhao �expressed concern and mourning� for Reagan (Central News Agency, Taiwan, via Epoch Times).
MORE AMERICAN MUSICIANS GOING TO COMMUNIST CHINA
The pop culture reddened itself again this week, with news that Whitney Houston will appear in Shanghai and the Communists will likely clear the way for the Backstreet Boys. Britney Spears had won Communist approval for several concerts (see 6/2 Update), but that will now be delayed �until next year� (Beijing Entertainment News via Epoch Times).
COMMUNIST CHINA USING CANAL TO INCREASE ECONOMIC PROWESS IN PANAMA
It has been four and a half years since Panama took control of the Panama Canal, and with it, Hutchison Whampoa, the firm run by pro-PRC tycoon Li Ka-shing (see 3/19/03, 3/26/03, and 5/7/03 Updates) has run two container ports. Thanks in part to that, the PRC �are moving heavily economically into the region� (Washington Times).
OTHER REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS
NEWS OF PROBABLE COMMUNIST ATTACK HIT BY OPPOSITION
A �pan-blue� politician � in this case a People First Party member � belittled the reports of a probable attack in some from against Taiwan from Communist China (see last Update) as �an attempt to push the (defense) budget through� (Taipei Times via Epoch Times).
Of course, the �pan-blue� parties � the PFP and the Nationalists � have been trying to win voters with a softer touch on Communist China than President Chen Shui-bian and his �pan-green� ally, former President and former Nationalist Lee Teng-hui. The voters responded by re-electing Chen over a joint PFP-Nationalist ticket (see 3/24 and 3/31 Updates).
POP STAR CHANG HUI-MEI HAS MORE MAINLAND TROUBLE
Chang Hui-Mei, a Taiwanese singer beloved throughout Asia, cancelled a mainland concert after �some 100 people held up banners and chanted: �Oppose Taiwan independence, unify China�� (BBC). Known as A-mei, the pop star has had trouble with the PRC ever since performing at the 2000 inauguration of Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian.
SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY TO PASS NT$1 TRILLION IN PRODUCTION
Taiwan�s critical semiconductor industry surged upward with 42% production growth, putting the expected annual value of goods produced at over NT$1 trillion, which is just shy of $30 million in American currency. Report: CNA via Epoch Times
THE VELVET CRACKDOWN: HONG KONG NEWS
COMMUNISTS WANT TO TALK TO HK DEMOCRATS . . .
After a slew of threats to radio hosts and average Hong Kong voters (see 5/19 and 6/2 Updates), Communist China now �has proposed talks with its critics in Hong Kong, in an effort to curb mounting tensions� (BBC). Pro-democracy leaders also asked for talks, probably to let voters see they are not subversives as the PRC claims.
. . . BUT RIP ANSON CHAN�S MILD CRITICISM
Out of the other side of their mouths, the Communists and their sympathizers in Hong Kong blasted Anson Chan, the widely respected woman who was last to head the bureaucracy before the handover and first to do so after it, for her mild criticism of their strong-arm tactics in the city (see 6/4 Week�s Links). Report: Epoch Times
OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS NEWS
COMMUNISTS THREATEN AIDS ACTIVIST WITH TIME IN A MENTAL INSTITUTION
Hu Jia, a leading AIDS activist (see 6/2 Update), told VOA (via Epoch Times) that Communist China �is threatening to send him to a mental hospital unless he agrees to silence his protests.� Using mental institutions to imprison activists is a staple of Communist regimes, including the PRC (see 12/20/00 Update).
COMMUNIST CHINA SETS UP WEB SITE TO REPORT �UNHEALTHY� INFORMATION . . .
Communist China invited its people to take part in repressing themselves through �a new website for people to report on what officials describe as illegal or unhealthy information on the internet� (BBC). The new site is part of Communist China�s continuous battle against internet users looking for news and information beyond Communist propaganda.
. . . BUT CYBERDISSIDENTS CONTINUE THE FIGHT
Part of the reason for the above news is the fact that the Communists� current crackdown on the web �had so far failed to completely suppress online political debate and dissenting opinions� (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times). One activist in particular has kept up the fight despite having his web site shut down 38 times by the Communists.
DU DAOBIN SENTENCED TO HOUSE ARREST
Meanwhile, cyberdissident and Epoch Times columnist Du Daobin �was sentenced to four years of house arrest by a court in Hubei Province.� The Communists arrested Daobin last year, but couldn�t come up with a charge until settling for �inciting subversion of the state� in February. The Communist court nixed a prison term to keep other activists quiet.
5,000 WORKERS PROTEST ARBITRARY PAY REDUCTIONS
Roughly 5,000 workers in Shenzhen took to the streets to protests management �taking cuts from their pay checks� (Liberty Times and Broadcasting Corporation of China via Epoch Times). After a scuffle with police and negotiations with unnamed �labor officials,� the protestors agreed to go back to work.
FOREIGN FIRMS BANNED IN COMMUNIST CHINA
Starting next month, Communist China will ban all foreign films, supposedly to protect the �continued spiritual and physical development of teenagers� (RFA via Epoch Times).
CORRUPTION NEWS
BAD MILK FOUND IN GUIYANG
Guiyang city is �recalling more than 9,000 bags of highly toxic milk powder� (BBC). The milk powder contained a toxin that �can cause heart fever and even death.� This comes on the heels of reports that Fuyang city had allowed a factory to produce substandard baby milk because it attracted foreign investors (see 4/28, 5/5, 5/12, 5/26, and last Updates).
EPIDEMIC NEWS
PRC SETS UP AIDS HOSPITAL IN HENAN; TRUTH ON BLOOD DRIVE STILL HIDDEN
Communist China will build its first Aids orphanage in the province of Henan. However, the PRC still has nothing to say about the unhygienic blood drive that infected one million with AIDS in Henan (see 9/4/02 and 9/25/02 Update), although, to its credit, the BBC did.
OTHER MAINLAND NEWS
BEIJING RAISES THE PRICE OF WATER AMID WIDESPREAD SHORTAGE
Beijing �plans to increase the price of water service� (CNA via Epoch Times) by 29%, in order to �guarantee an adequate water supply.� Communist China is in the midst of a major drought, caused in part by massive overdevelopment.
COMMUNIST CHINA SAYS IT WILL DEMOLISH FEWER HOMES
Faced with �groups of angry residents . . . to petition the government over the demolition of their homes� (BBC), Communist China has promised to cut back on using the bulldozer to clear the way for usually corrupt redevelopment (see 6/4/03, 6/11/03, 6/18/03, 10/29/03, and 6/2 Updates). In the PRC, individuals can own homes, but not the land under them.
INFLATION IN PRC AT SEVEN YEAR HIGH, BUT PM SAYS GROWTH CLAMPS WORKING
Despite an annual rate of inflation of 4.4% this month � the highest in seven years (BBC 6/11) � Communist Premier Wen Jiabao said moves to curb bank lending were starting to prove successful in checking inflation and other �unhealthy factors� in China's booming economy� (BBC 6/14). Sure it has.
PRC LOOKS TO NUCLEAR POWER FOR ENERGY; RESTRICTS ELECTRICITY USE
Faced with widespread energy shortages (see 12/10/03, 12/17/03, 3/31, and last Updates), the PRC is looking to nuclear power to fill the gap. Shanghai and Hubei Province will each see construction of a plant begin this year, and Hunan Province has a construction plan in front of the PRC State Council (CNA, Taiwan, via Epoch Times).
In the meantime, the electricity shortage is so bad the Communists have imposed use limits on �about 20 provinces and cities� (Epoch Times). The limits have forced several firms, including those �foreign-owned,� to shut down for days at a time, or every other day.
AS FOREIGN CAR MAKERS DREAM OF PROFITS, CAR SALES PLUMMET
As the slew of foreign firms hoping to make millions in car sales in Communist China continues to grow (CNN), the actual sales of cars fell by 19% last month thanks to �tighter credit terms designed to help prevent the fast-growing economy from overheating� (BBC). Have fun getting taken to the cleaners!
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
ZIMBABWE BUYS $240 MILLION IN WEAPONS FROM COMMUNIST CHINA
Zimbabwe dictator Robert Mugabe cemented his ties to Communist China (see 12/3 and 12/24 Updates) with the purchase of �12 fighter jets and 100 military vehicles� (Washington Times) from the PRC. The opposition said Mugabe made the $240 million purchase �to intimidate Zimbabweans ahead of parliamentary elections due to be held in March� (BBC).
FIRM THAT HELPED INTEGRATE SADDAM�S AIR DEFENSES NOW IN ROMANIA
ZTE, a Communist-owned firm that had helped Saddam Hussein integrate his air defense network (see 3/14/01 Update) signed a deal to sell $130 million in equipment to the Romanian firm Postelecom, with �an option to buy 29% of Postelecom in future� (BBC).
REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS COMMEMORATES TIANANMEN IN PARIS
Reporters Without Borders (known by their French acronym RSF) �invited Chinese democracy activists for a press conference in observance of the 15th anniversary of the June 4, 1989 democracy movement in China� (China Support Network). The conference highlighted the passing of the 15th anniversary of the massacre.
AS HU JINTAO IS FETED, COMMUNIST THUGS ATTACK PROTESTORS IN POLAND
Poland hosted Communist President Hu Jintao last week, for talks �focusing on establishing closer economic ties� (Epoch Times). Meanwhile, a group of protestors met with PRC thugs who �grabbed the banners� from the protestors� and �ran off with the banners or tore them up.� The PRC Embassy �confirmed the Chinese group was sent there by the Embassy.�
HUNGARY ARRESTS HU AIDE FOR DISRUPTING PROTESTORS
Hu also visited Hungary last week; during that trip one of his entourage was arrested by Hungarian police for assaulting pro-Tibetan protestors in Budapest (National Review Online, fourth item). Of course, the cadre had diplomatic immunity, so he was let go.
SCO MEETING HAS HU IN UZBEKISTAN
Currently Hu is in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where he signed deals on �oil and gas development and other Chinese investments� (BBC). Hu is staying there for the tomorrow�s meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (VOA via Epoch Times). The PRC hopes for SCO to be �China�s NATO�; that has not quite materialized (see 5/22/02 and 8/13/03 Update).
G-8 GROUP CONSIDERING INVITES FOR INDIA, PRC
The leading group of industrialized nations (known as the G-8) is �discussing the credentials of China and India� (BBC) as members. About the only consolation to the prospect of including Communist China is that its longtime rival is also being considered.
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