| CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE COMMUNIST CHINA SETTING UP BLOCKADE OF MAJOR TAIWANESE PORT American and Australian intelligence sources told the Sydney Morning Herald that Communist China is preparing to blockade the port of Kaohsiung in September. The port city, which serves as a conduit for nearly two-thirds of the Republic of China�s trade with the outside world, has only to channels deep enough for ships to go through. For this reason, the intelligence services, particularly the Americans, believe the Communist China would attempt the blockade. An Australian official told the paper the Americans believe a blockade is �possible or even likely.� Even the threat of a blockade would drive insurance premiums on shipping upward. Communist China is hoping the blockade will force Taiwan to resume reunification talks. Other news on the Republic of China/Taiwan can be found in our usual Taiwan News section. HOUSE REPUBLICANS ADMIT PNTR IS IN TROUBLE, AGREE TO ADD RIGHTS �MONITORS� Republicans in the House of Representatives, most of whom support granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations to Communist China, are admitting that opposition to the accord is growing. Tom DeLay (R-Texas), House Majority Whip, said �85 to 90� Democrats are needed to support the measure, an increase from the previous estimate of 70 to 80 Democrats needed to pass PNTR. Commerce Secretary William Daley projected only about 70 of Democrats would support the measure. DeLay, said the Republican leadership, unanimously behind PNTR, had conducted a formal vote count, but refused to give the results. Aides say they expect 140 to 145 Republicans to vote for PNTR, but other sources revealed the current number of Republican supporters to be under 120. Last week, Bill Archer, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, flatly said, �the reality is that we (PNTR supporters) need some more votes.� DeLay and President Clinton praised each other for their efforts to pass PNTR, but Republican aides are starting to whisper that Clinton has not persuaded enough House Democrats to pass the measure. This is a sure sign that the opposition to the trade deal with Communist China has a decent chance to win. To give the wavering Democrats cover, Congressional Republicans reached an agreement with the White House to add a proposal by Rep. Sander Levin (D-Michigan) for human rights �monitoring� of Communist China to the PNTR bill. Levin�s proposal � which is co-sponsored by Rep. Doug Bereuter (R-Nebraska), pro-PNTR Republican point man � would form a special commission to monitor the People�s Republic of China�s human rights abuses and recommend WTO-allowed sanctions. As reported in last week�s update, many exiled dissidents from Communist China slammed the proposal as inadequate. Public Citizen � Ralph Nader�s Washington-based lobbying organization � also weighed in against the plan, calling the idea a �toothless sham.� The statement of the China Democracy Party, the two-year old banned opposition party on the mainland, supporting PNTR may have more effect in slowing the momentum of anti-PNTR forces. Communist China wasn�t happy with the monitoring proposal either. Zhang Qiyue, spokesman for the PRC�s Foreign Ministry, said human rights and PNTR should not be linked. Zhang insisted that PNTR �be done thoroughly and cleanly and timely without any conditions attached.� He even went so far as to say the �business interest of the U.S. will be hurt� if the Levin proposal were to be attached to the PNTR bill. Also this week, the committee�s ranking Democrat, New York�s Charles Rangel, announced he would support PNTR, while two other House Democrats: John Baldacci (Maine) and Sam Farr (California) said they would oppose it. The vote is scheduled for next week � most expect it on Wednesday � so there is still time for both sides to influence undecided members. Communist China insisted on PNTR as part of the trade deal it signed with the U.S. to ease its Communist China�s entry into the World Trade Organization. LABOR LEADER URGES DEFEAT OF PNTR George Becker, head of the United Steel Workers of America, slammed PNTR on Tuesday, calling it �a terrible mistake.� Becker hit the trade deal on several fronts, including human rights, national security, and worker rights, in a speech to the Economic Strategy Institute. He noted that Communist China has �tortured and killed its own people,� and consistently violated previous trade agreements. "I think it would be asking America to sacrifice this long-standing belief in championing human rights in favor of the multinationals in their eternal quest for cheaper and cheaper labor and for windfall profits," said Becker. �They have become more belligerent the richer they get. The more trade they've got, the more technology they accumulate, the more aggressive they become with their neighbors.� �The companies are trading with China or building factories in China to take advantage of the fact that they have low-cost labor, taking advantage of the fact that there are no environmental regulations in China that increase their costs, taking advantage of the fact that workers cannot organize and share in the wealth they help create. That's the purpose of (their) trading with China.� Organized labor is pulling out all the stops to defeat PNTR for Communist China. The New York Times reports that the efforts includes 200,000 letters from USWA, and a full-court press by the AFL-CIO in the districts of over thirty undecided Congressmen. NO PROGRESS IN EUROPEAN UNION�S LATEST ROUND OF WTO TALKS IN BEIJING Pascal Lamy, trade chief for the European Union, is in Beijing for a fourth round of WTO talks with PRC trade negotiator Shi Guangsheng. Western diplomats briefed on the talks told Agence France Presse that there was a �good and constructive� atmosphere, and that compromise was �possible.� The BBC also reported whispers that the EU is dropping its demand that foreigners to be able to own a majority stake in telecommunications and financial companies. The PRC has refused to offer more than 50% ownership, effectively ensuring veto power over all decisions for domestic �owners� (the Communist government does not allow for property, only some rescindable property rights). Still, as of this writing (Wednesday), no deal had been struck. Many in Washington and Beijing are hoping for a quick accord, to put pressure on Congress to give Communist China PNTR. The EU, however, said they don�t have any timetable. Without agreement with the EU, Communist China can�t enter the WTO regardless of the House decision of PNTR. EXILED DISSIDENTS, HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP EXPOSE SWEATSHOPS, DEMAND INVESTIGATION Harry Wu and Wei Jingsheng, dissidents exiled to the United States, urged Congress to postpone the PNTR vote to examine charges of sweatshop conditions in Communist Chinese factories. Wu and Wei, who spent 17 and 19 years in jail, respectively, before they were forcibly exiled, joined a news conference by the National Labor Committee on Human Rights. The report documented wages at three cents an hour, 98-hour workweeks, compulsory unpaid overtime, and a ban on talking during work hours. The factory conditions also included 24-hour surveillance, the provision of only one bathroom for 24 people, and factory temperatures of over 100 degrees. The group also found �inhuman� conditions at several factories in Communist China infiltrated by local human rights activists who were interviewed by Charles Kernaghen, the Committee�s Executive Director. The factories made products for, among others Nike, New Balance, Timberland Co., Huffy Corp., Spiegel Inc., Jansport, and Wal-Mart Kathie Lee Gifford label. Nike said it was looking into the charges. BUSINESS GROUP DROPS HONG KONG AS BEST BUSINESS AREA, CITES COMMUNIST INFLUENCE The Economic Intelligence Unit dropped Hong Kong from its perch as the best place to do business, attributing the move to excessive influence by the Communist government in Beijing. The EIU�s Global Country Forecast rankings rate the countries that, in its view, are the most business-friendly environments. Hong Kong had been No. 1 for five years. The EIU noted Richard Li�s take over of Hong Kong Telecom from a Singapore company, backed by $12 billion in Beijing government loans and encouraged by Communist authorities, and Li�s multi-billion high-tech project with the Hong Kong government. Many competitors accused the Hong Kong government of favoritism. This heavy-handed action by Beijing, further polluting the �one country, two systems� model already under attack by Communist leaders furious at the press independently reporting Taiwan issues, dropped Hong Kong to No. 6. JIANG ZEMIN CALLS FOR COMMUNIST CELLS IN NON-STATE COMPANIES In a statement in Shanghai this week, Communist Chinese President Jiang Zemin called on the Communist Party to have more members and operating cells in companies not by the Communist government already. According to Xinhua, the PRC�s news agency, Ziang said the CCP should do more �party building in non-state enterprises� as a way to help �economic order� and �ideological understandings.� Jiang also said the party cells �should work hard to unite and educate entrepreneurs to advocate various policies of the party, run businesses according to law and protect the employees' interests.� Party bosses in state-owned firms are more powerful than the titular company heads, despite more than twenty years of �reform.� Ziang has been increasingly more ideological in his addresses since the start of the year in an attempt to keep control over the economy and society. He has attacked �Western-style� economic liberty, called for more Marxist education, and banned state-run media and printing houses from publishing anything from liberal economists. COMMUNIST CHINA DEFENDS MILITARY BUILDUP Communist Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan took a four-day official visit to Tokyo last week, and promptly heard that the Communists� military buildup was threatening aid from Japan. Yohei Kono, Japanese Foreign Minister told Tang that the massive military buildup was causing Japan to rethink economic aid to the PRC after the current aid package runs out next year. Tang responded the next day, in effect telling Japan to keep its mouth shut and its wallet open. He said while Communist China had no objection to Japan reviewing its aid package, the decision �should not be impeded or disturbed by unnecessary factors.� He went on to say that the aid package �should not be a political matter.� Japan is very worried that its aid could be feeding the buildup, which would, among other things, violate Japanese rules governing overseas development aid. COMMUNIST CHINESE ARMS NEGOTIATOR SLAMS PROPOSED U.S. MISSILE DEFENSE Meanwhile, Communist China�s chief arms negotiator told the New York Times that a proposed anti-missile defense by the U.S. for protection against rogue states could lead to further defense buildups by the PRC. Sha Zukang, who had slammed the proposed missile defense last month, said in an interview with the paper that Communist China would not �sit on our hands� if the U.S. went ahead with the plan. He also said the PRC doesn�t believe American claims that the defense is only for protection against potential missile attacks from Iraq, Iran, or North Korea. North Korea and Communist China have been allies for over 50 years, and Iran has long been a buyer of Communist Chinese military technology. OVER 3,000 ESCAPE FROM COMMUNIST CHINA, ANY WAY THEY CAN The Information Center on Human Rights and Democracy reported that over 3,000 Chinese escaped from the Communist PRC using false passports and bribes to get on outgoing planes. The center�s report, which Agence France Presse could not get confirmed, said that some were willing to pay over $12,000 just to leave for the U.S. or Europe. The escapees came through Beijing�s Capital Airport. �The illegal immigrants sometimes pay as much as 100,000 yuan (12,000 dollars U.S.) to pass through the border inspections,� said Frank Lu, the Information Center�s director. �This is very tempting for the inspection staff . . . both sides agree not to say anything.� This was dramatically shown by the case of one woman who was detained on the plane before take-off. Her silence prevented police from arresting staffers. CHRISTIAN CHURCH LEADER IS ARRESTED Christian Solidarity Worldwide reported on Thursday that Li Dexian, a Protestant church leader in Guangdong province, was arrested hours after the UN Committee against Torture failed to condemn Communist China. The anonymous source, a westerner with close ties to Li, told CSW that police broke up his church meeting of 500 worshippers at his house to arrest him. They held him for twelve hours and threatened serious consequences if he continued the meetings. Last month, according to CSW, Communist police held Li for 15 days, with handcuffs so tight he almost lost his left hand. MORE FALUN GONG PRACTITIONERS ARRESTED IN TIANANMEN SQAURE Communist Chinese police arrested dozens of Falun Gong protestors in Tiananmen Square on Thursday. The practitioners of the banned religion unfurled banner in honor of their leader, Li Hongzhi, whose birthday was Thursday in the lunar calendar once used throughout Asia. Communist China claims Li changed his birthday. Several protestors were kicked once they were forced into police vans. The practitioners staggered their protests, which helped them maintain a presence in the square for hours. Smaller protests have occurred at the square almost every day since the group was banned last summer. COMMUNIST CHINESE COURT TOSSES APPEAL OF JAILED TUBERCULOSIS SUFFERER A Hunan provincial court has tossed out the appeal of Zhang Shanguang, sentenced to 10 years in prison for talking to a Radio Free Asia reporter. Zhang, who suffers from acute tuberculosis, was arrested two summers ago for �illegally disclosing information to foreign organizations� after he spoke to Radio Free Asia about a protest by workers. The Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy, which reported the court�s action, also reported that Communist authorities have prohibited all family members from seeing him. Zhang�s wife attempted to bring him medication for his condition, but was turned away. COMMUNIST CHINA SHUTS DOWN FINANCIAL WEBSITE FOR �FALSE� CORRUPTION REPORT The China Finance Information Network was shut down by Communist Chinese officials for 15 days and fined about $1800 for relaying a report from the Hong Kong press charging the vice-governor of Hubei with corruption, a report Communist China insists is false. State-run press also reported Internet News Administrative Bureau would release guidelines on what sources internet sites could use. Most expect the Bureau to restrict sites from reporting anything not released by Communist-controlled press organs. Whether or not such regulations will be enforced or shelved � a regulation ordering surrender of all encryption codes to the Communist government was withdrawn quickly after foreign businesses howled � is less clear. Other registered news sites, obviously worried about whom the Communist would target next towed the party line on China Finance�s shutdown. Internet sites have continually challenged Communist China�s domestic control of information. Just last week, the apparent suicide of Li Fuxiang, a top foreign exchange bureaucrat under investigation for corruption, hit sites all over mainland China despite official silence on the matter. HONG KONG DEMOCRATS DECRY RE-APPOINTMENT OF PRO-COMMUNIST JUSTICE OFFICIAL Elsie Leung, Hong Kong�s Justice Secretary, was re-appointed by the Communist-backed Tung Chee-wa for two more years, causing great concern among pro-democracy politicians and publications. Three years ago, Leung decided against prosecuting pro-Beijing newspaper editor Sally Aw for newspaper fraud, despite the convictions of many of her employees. The soft treatment of Aw, a close friend of Tung, almost led to the city�s Legislature to censure Leung. The independent Hong Kong Standard feared that her reappointment meant Communist China was planning �to implement �one country, two systems,� according to their own interpretation.� Martin Lee, head of the Hong Kong Democratic Party, also expressed disapproval with the move. Pro-Beijing newspapers, as to be expected, were more sanguine about Leung�s reappointment. PROTESTS Thousands of steelworkers marched in Liaoyang City on Monday and Tuesday, protesting against unpaid wages and benefits by the state-owned Liaoyang Ferroalloy Factory. According to Agence France Presse, 3,000 demonstrated in the city, which is in Liaoning province. A local police spokesman head earlier told AFP it was several thousand. Wages have been unpaid at the state-owned factory for over a year, and unemployment benefits run three to six months behind. Local police arrested three, according to a factory official, and injured 50 trying to clear the main highway where the protestors gathered to march. The city was quieter on Wednesday. A protestor told AFP that local officials agreed to examine worker grievances and pay May�s wages. While police had denied any injuries had occurred, two of the three arrested protestors were also released; the third was hospitalized due to a heart attack. Liaoning province witnessed protests in February that involved over 20,000. The Information Center on Human Rights and Democracy reported that protests in Communist China last year numbered 100,000, almost 300 a day. In one of those protests, according to the Information Center, Communist police battled with 3,000 protestors in Luoyang City, in the central mainland, over the removal of gardens and bike racks built by residents. Roughly 200 policemen were prevented from entering the housing compound, but some of the structures were removed at night. The local government said the structures were to be removed because they were illegal. However, the government, which owns the land, said nothing about illegal houses on several empty lots built by managers of the state-owned Zhong Shin Zhong Xing Ji Jie Company, which owns the complex. TAIWAN NEWS Communist China is conducting military drills in Fujian province � which faces Taiwan � as Chen Shui-bian�s May 20 inauguration approaches. The exercises have even forced plane routes to be changed on the province. Communist China also repeated its threat of �drastic consequences� if Chen doesn�t accept �One China.� Chen has previous expressed a willingness to agree to �One China, several interpretations,� a 1992 agreement between Beijing and Taipei that said effectively that either side can hold their own view of what �One China� means. Beijing has rejected it. Chen said the people under Beijing�s rule were �brothers and sisters� of his constituents, but held firm on �One China.� Tsai Ing-wen, Chen�s choice to head the ROC�s policy bureau on Communist China, said Beijing�s version of �One China� was �something we cannot do.� The Federation of American Scientists released an analysis they conducted on Communist China�s military capability vis a vis Taiwan, and found it severely wanting. Using a comparison to the Normandy invasion of 1944, as reported in the Washington Times, the Nobel-heavy organization noted Communist China�s People Liberation Army would probably get crushed. The FAS also found, according to Agence France Presse, that Communist China�s air power was far less potent than previously anticipated. Still many analysts were worried that Communist China might start believing their own rhetoric and attack anyway. TIBET NEWS Swedish Prime Minister Goeran Persson stuck to his meeting today with the Dalai Lama despite Communist China�s demand to cancel the visit. Persson told Swedish radio that he was deeply concerned of the �China-isation� of Tibet, and cited that, in addition to the Communist Chinese oppression of the Tibetan people, as reasons for his meeting. On Tuesday, the Dalai Lama met Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, who said in a joint press conference that her meeting with the Dalai Lama was �natural� given the Sweidish governments concerns about human rights, and dismissed Communist China�s complaints. At the press conference, the Dalai Lama called on the international community to heighten awareness of the long-running and widespread abuses of human rights in Tibet. Polish Parliament Speaker Maciej Plazynski also gave his support to the Dalai Lama last week. Plazynski said, �I express solidarity with this fight� for Tibetan autonomy and human rights. �Solidarity� is the name of the trade union/political movement that helped to bring down Communism in Poland. Plazynski said the Tibetans struggle is similar to those political battles of the 1980s. Feel free to forward this to anyone you think might be interested in receiving this. Anyone who wishes to join can send his/her name and e-mail address to [email protected]. |