| CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: APRIL 18, 2001 What a week! The EP-3 crew comes home (American Related news). Two more Falun Gong followers are killed (Human Right and Freedoms News) and a Hong Kong pro-democracy activist is declared dead months after his body is found (Hong Kong News). The Tiananmen Papers comes out (Top Story), and Pat Robertson excuses Communist China on forced abortions (American Related news). This, among other things, is why the Update is longer than usual. I honestly don�t know what stuns me more � what the Communists are doing or how much American �leaders� let them get away with it. D.J. McGuire TOP STORY: CHINESE-LANGUAGE VERSION OF TIANANMEN PAPERS PUBLISHED PRO-DEMOCRACY GROUP SELLS OUT INSIDE STORY ON TIANANMEN MASSACRE IN THREE HOURS; BOOK MAY CAUSE POWER STRUGGLE IN CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY The Chinese language version of Tiananmen Papers, the compilation of Communist Party documents detailing how Beijing decided to end the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 with the bloody massacre of June 4, has been published. The party is doing everything it can to keep the book out of the People�s Republic of China, and its anonymous author said many Communist leaders are under police surveillance. Link: CNN The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Movement in China, a pro-democracy group, began selling the book on Friday. The first 100 copies available were sold in three hours. Link: Agence France Presse AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS U.S. AND COMMUNIST CHINA SETTLE TRADE DIFFERENCES, CLEAR WTO ENTRY FOR PRC AFP, citing the German newspaper Handelsblatt, reported a secret deal between American and Communist Chinese negotiators on the final conditions for Beijing�s entry into the World Trade Organization. Under the agreement � �hushed up . . . because of the EP-3� � the Communists would be able to keep a 7-8% agriculture price subsidy, well over the 5% granted to developed countries. Link: AFP NO DECISION YET ON TAIWAN ARMS SALES, SAYS ADMINISTRATION; AIDES SAY NIX AEGIS Bush Administration spokesman Ari Fleischer told the press that the president �has made no determination at this time,� regarding the upcoming decision on weapons sales to Taiwan. The PRC has continuously attacked the planned sale, including possibly four missile-tracking Aegis-equipped destroyers, to the island democracy facing a Communist missile buildup and repeated threats of Communist absorption. Link: AFP AFP cited a New York Times report that �senior national security aides from the State and Defense Departments� are advising against the Aegis sale. An unnamed official hinted the ROC was less than ready technologically to handle the Aegis-armed ships. What steps would be taken to get them ready was not mentioned. Link: AFP See Republic of China (Taiwan) News Section for more news on Taiwan. PAT ROBERTSON SAYS U.S. SHOULD BACK OFF COMMUNIST CHINA ON FORCED ABORTIONS When it comes to the PRC�s forced abortion policy, most pro-lifers and pro-choicers agree it is the one issue on which they can agree � except for Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition. Robertson had this to say: �I think that right now, they're doing what they have to do. I don't agree with forced abortion, but I don't think the United States needs to interfere with what they're doing internally in this regard.� Link: CNN Robertson, an investor in a Communist Chinese internet company according to The New Republic, �clarified� his remarks yesterday, insisting he opposed �the policy which would result in forced abortions or sex selection.� He made no �clarification� about his call for noninterference in what the PRC is �doing internally.� Links: CNSNews, Page 3 of the TNR story by John B. Judis � reference to Robertson�s PRC investment is in the second-to-last paragraph ZHONG GONG LEADER FREED IN GUAM Zhang Hangbao, the leader and founder of the Zhong Gong movement, was set free on parole this week. He escaped Communist China in late 1999 after the Communists banned his movement, along with Falun Gong, as �evil cults.� The PRC also threw in rape charges to scare Western governments away from supporting him. AFP reported that the INS, which granted Zhang parole, will continue to examine his case in Virginia. Link: AFP U.S. CREW COMES HOME, SAID THEY WERE THREATENED WITH CHARGES AND TRIAL The Washington Post reported the release of the American EP-3 crew last week. The American crew blamed PRC fighter pilot Wang Wei for the incident, confirming earlier reports that the U.S. plane was on autopilot when it was hit by Wang�s plane. Meanwhile, the U.S pilot said the Communists threatened to put them on trial, according to the Washington Times. Links: Washington Post, Washington Times AS ADMINISTRATION CONSIDERS REACTION, CONGRESSMEN DISCUSS �RETRIBUTION� The Washington Post reported a list of repercussions by the U.S. against the PRC under consideration. Sadly, trade was off the list (the above WTO story would explain why), but opposition to Beijing hosting the 2008 Olympics, sending fighter escorts or an Aegis-equipped destroyer to protect surveillance flights, and granting visas to ROC officials � a sure-fire way to enrage the Communists � were among the possibilities. Link: Washington Post Several congressmen weighed in on the Hainan crisis. Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Illinois), House International Relations Committee Chair, said he would not vote for free trade with the PRC if they did not return the plane. Sen. Robert Toricelli (D-New Jersey), agreed with that, and demanded further �retribution� against Beijing. Link: Washington Times U.S. DEMANDS PLANE BACK, VOWS TO KEEP UP FLIGHTS CNN reported the start of talks in Beijing on the Hainan crisis. The U.S. demanded the return of the damaged EP-3, while the Communists insisted on an end to surveillance flights. Neither side is budging at present. The Washington Times reported today that the U.S. is prepared to protect the surveillance planes on future flights with fighter escorts, if necessary, should the PRC not drop its demand for an end to them. Links: CNN, Washington Times U.S. DID APOLOGIZE IN CHINESE The Washington Times notes that under the Communist Chinese translation of our letter (i.e., how they chose the Chinese characters for our words) � which we did not challenge � the U.S. really did give an apology (BBC). The Communists, meanwhile, have dubbed Wang a �revolutionary hero� (CNN), while mounting U.S. evidence of Wang�s responsibility for the crash is being �ignored� by the Communist press (AFP). Link: AFP, BBC, CNN WERE TAIWAN�S ARMS SALES �BARTERED AWAY?� Yang Chih-heng, deputy director of the Strategic and International Studies, told AFP that �Washington may take more of Beijing's concerns into consideration,� regarding arms sales to the ROC. National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice insisted that �Under no circumstances were broader issues placed on the table or somehow bartered away with the Chinese,� according to AFP, which cited ABC�s Nightline. Links: CNN, AFP � Yang, AFP � Rice HAINAN ISLAND SEETHING; COMMUNISTS TELL PARTY OFFICIALS TO TONE IT DOWN The Times and AFP both reported anger among the people of Hainan Island as word of the release spread. It was more difficult for the Communists to block the English version of letter � which contained no apology � on the island. The Times noted, however, that the PRC was watching for expressions deemed too dangerous � posters, for example, were taken down. Links: Washington Times, AFP In what shouldn�t be a surprise, the Communist leadership has sent a circular to the party and military cadres telling them to back Jiang�s leadership. The virulent rhetoric and outright falsehoods unleashed by the Communists has naturally left some people upset at the �resolution.� Link: CNN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ADD TO EFFORT TO PASS UN RESOLUTION ON PRC HUMAN RIGHTS Three members of Congress asked the UN Human Rights Commission to pass a U.S.-backed resolution condemning Communist China�s human rights record. The effort, led by Rep. Christopher Smith (R-New Jersey) is meant to counteract diplomatic efforts by the PRC to kill the resolution, as it has every year. This year�s resolution was introduced one day after the EP-3 crew was released. Link: Washington Times - Congressmen, Washington Times - resolution HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS NEWS FILES FROM THE FALUN GONG WAR: TWO MORE DEAD AFTER POLICE BEATINGS AFP reported the deaths of two Falun Gong members in police custody this month, citing the spiritual movement�s offices. Liu Lanxiang, 40, and Wang Aijuan, 43, two women detained in separate centers, died after police beatings and torture. The Communist police, who beat one to death and hung another by her handcuffs until she died, claimed illnesses killed them. Link: AFP TWO MORE FALUN-LIKE GROUPS HIT: The Communists tacked the �cult� label onto two more spiritual movements that share the �qigong� philosophy with Falun Gong. AFP, citing the Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy, noted the new crackdown on Fragrant Gong and the Shenchang Human Body Science Group. Link: AFP 400 ACADEMICS PROTEST HOLDING OF ACADEMICS BBC reported a petition, signed by �around 400 academics� asking for the release of three academics, including Li Shaomin, an American citizen, and Gao Zhan, the American resident on the cusp of citizenship whose family was arrested two months ago (see previous updates). The third academic, Hong Kong�s Xu Zerong has not been allowed to talk to his lawyer or his family, and the academics fear for his health. Link: BBC CYBER-CAFES BANNED AS COMMUNISTS PREPARE MASSIVE INTERNET PROBE Communist China announced a three-month ban on new �cyber-cafes,� according to AFP. The hold on �computer parlors� is a precursor to a new investigation and crackdown � trumpeted by the Communist Xinhua news agency � on �harmful information� on the web. Link: AFP SIX BUDDHIST FOLLOWERS SENT TO JAIL A Communist court sentenced six Gaun Yin Buddhists to eight years in prison, according to AFP. Guan Yin is a Buddhist-inspired faith begun on Taiwan; it claims over half a million followers on the mainland. Link: AFP MORE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS PAN PRC�S SELF-CONGRATULATIONS ON HUMAN RIGHTS Human Rights in China and the Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy joined Human Rights Watch in taking the Communists to task over their human rights �report.� As reported in last week�s update, the Communists released a white paper praising their �development� of human rights, despite several crackdowns on religious, political, and ethnic groups who refuse to submit to their rule. Link: CNN OTHER MAINLAND NEWS UP TO 300 PROTEST SIX-YEAR LACK OF HOUSING In the northeastern city of Xian, about 300 protested the lack of housing for residents in an area razed by the Communists in the early 1990s. Despite evicting them six years ago, the PRC still has not provided promised housing to them. Link: AFP INTERNATIONAL NEWS HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH EXPRESSES FRUSTRATION WITH COZY PRC-CUBA TIES Mike Jendrzejczyk, Washington director of Human Rights Watch's Asia Division, blasted the warming relationship between Cuba�s Fidel Castro and Communist China. Jendrzejczyk said of the two Communist dictatorships, �Their human rights policies and governing practices are bankrupt in the eyes of the rest of the world.� Communist President Jiang Zemin was in Cuba for four days last week, loaning Cuba $400 million. Links: AFP � Jiang in Cuba, AFP � Jendrzejczyk�s statement JAPAN CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBLE CODE LOSS DUE TO HAINAN INCIDENT A number of shared American-Japanese intelligence codes may now be in PRC hands thanks to the EP-3 collision, leading to a possible rewrite of all intelligence codes. The Washington Post reported that the loss codes could �cost a huge amount of money and time.� Link: Washington Post JIANG ALSO VISITS VENEZUELA ON LATIN AMERICAN TOUR Jiang�s Latin American tour took him to Venezuela this week, where avowed leftist President Hugo Chavez openly supported for the PRC on the Hainan incident, and said his country would oppose the U.S.-backed UN resolution condemning Communist China�s human rights record. Link: BBC RUSSIAN SCIENTIST CHARGED WITH TRY TO SELL SPACE SECRETS TO PRC Russian authorities have charged Valentin Danilov, head of the Krasnoyarsk State Technical University Thermo-Physics center, with trying to sell satellite research data to Communist China. BBC reported the Russians are trying to determine if the information was a state secret. Considering the fact that Russia is the PRC�s biggest arms supplier, one starts to wonder, why the big fuss? Link: BBC 36 ESCAPEES FOUND AND HELD AT VANCOUVER; SIX ARE TEENAGERS AFP reported that 36 attempted escapees were caught in Vancouver. Of the 36, hiding in a COSCO vessel bound for California, six were teenagers. The Communist-owned shipping company had a similar incident with 26 stowaways trying to escape earlier this month. Link: AFP REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS JAPANESE GOVERNMENT HEARS IT FROM LDP ON EX-PRESIDENT LEE�S VISA APPLICATION As the Japanese Foreign Ministry ponders whether or not to cave into the PRC and deny ex-ROC President Lee Teng-hui a medical visa, members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan � including two ministers and a candidate for Prime Minister � criticized their own government for the visa delay. Link: Kyodo News Agency Foreign Minister Yohei Kono said the visa application would be decided with �foundation of the Japan-China relationship� as the key issue, not Lee�s health. Outspoken ROC Vice President Annette Lu said if the visa is denied � Lee is hoping to get a heart examination � Japan would be exposed as �a rich but heartless nation.� Link: CNN JAPANESE ANALYSTS STUNNED AND ANGRY AT GOVERNMENT�S �DITHERING� Japanese analysts outside the government lambasted their government over its handling of the visa flap. AFP reported statements from several experts furious over the hold fear of the PRC has on the Japanese Foreign Ministry. Link: AFP PRESIDENT CHEN TO VISIT LATIN AMERICA In response to PRC President Jiang Zemin�s recent visit to the region, ROC President Chen Shui-bian will visit five friendly nations in Latin America, including Panama, next month. The trip will involve two stopovers in the U.S., according to AFP, citing the China Times. Link: AFP VICE PRESIDENT LU CALLS ON COMMUNISTS TO REMOVE MISSILES AIMED AT ROC Annette Lu, Taiwan�s Vice President, called on the PRC to pull back the more than 300 missile in the southern mainland aimed at the ROC. Lu, a fierce advocate of increasing Taiwan�s international standing, is a pariah in Communist China. Link: AFP COMMUNISTS TAP THOUSANDS OF ROC MILITARY PHONES AFP, citing the United Evening News, reported that Communist China had tapped thousands of mobile phones used by Taiwanese officers. The military halted the phone use. Defense minister Wu Shih-wen had no comment on the issue. Link: AFP ANALYSTS SAY TAIWAN NEEDS MORE MODERNIZED FORCE Echoing comments from outsiders, ROC analysts told AFP that Taiwan needs work on upgrading its command, communications, and logistic support systems, in addition to garnering advanced weaponry. Some also said the island democracy should work on �psychological warfare,� i.e., combating Communist propaganda. Link: AFP ROC ASKS FOR MAINLAND COOPERATION IN ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS Taiwan�s Investigation Bureau's Drug Enforcement Center called on Communist China to cooperate with the ROC in halting the cross-strait drug trade. Roughly 60% of narcotics entering Taiwan come from Communist China. The PRC stopped talks with Taiwan on the issue in 1995, after the-ROC President Lee Teng-hui was allowed to visit the U.S. Link: AFP LEGISLATOR WHO ATTACKED COLLEAGUE SUSPENDED FOR SIX MONTHS The ROC Legislative Yuan handed down a six-month suspension to Lo Fu-chu, and independent legislator, for attacking a colleague for the People First Party. Lo released a statement saying he accepted the decision. Source: TCNA HONG KONG NEWS LEUNG WAH, MISSING PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST, FOUND DEAD IN SHENZHEN Communist police in Shenzhen found the body of pro-democracy activist Leung Wah, a bookstore owner missing since November, one day after his disappearance (see previous updates). HK police identified the body this week. AFP reported the reaction of several activists and leading pro-democracy politicians, all of whom called for an immediate investigation, and were not happy with the Shenzhen authorities. Link: AFP PLANNED FALUN GONG AND PRO-DEMOCRACY PROTESTS FORCE CUTBACK IN JIANG�S TRIP AFP, citing Apple Daily, reported that Communist President Jiang Zemin has decided to cut his May trip to Hong Kong from a week to a day in reaction to plans by Falun Gong and pro-democracy activists to protest his visit. The Communist leader has a history of thin skin regarding protests. Link: AFP No news from Tibet or Xinjiang/East Turkestan this week. 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]. |