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CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: JUNE 18, 2003
TOP STORY: RUSSIA AND COMMUNIST CHINA BUILDING �NEXT SUPERPOWER�
DEAL FOR OIL AND MILITARY AID FROM RUSSIA TO PRC IS A �STRATEGIC CHOICE�
A Moscow academic called the Siberian oil deal between Russia and Communist China (see 5/28 Update) �more than just a commercial deal; it is a strategic choice� (World Net Daily, courtesy Ron Vogel, Member since 2000). It was another sign of Russia enabling Communist China to become, as the Sunday Morning Post (cited by WND) put it, �the world's next economic, military and space-faring superpower.�
As has been chronicled throughout the three-year life of this organization, Russia is the largest arms supplier to the so-called People�s Republic, and the Communists are Russia�s largest arms customers. The �symbiotic relationship� (SMP) is specially focused on missile and naval vessels, as well as the PRC�s space program, which includes plans to reach the moon in the next decade (see 3/5 Update).
NORTH KOREA NEWS
COMMUNIST CHINA STICKS UP FOR ITS STALINIST ALLY, AGAIN
Communist China � North Korea oldest and strongest ally � stuck up for the Stalinist regime again at the ASEAN meetings last week. PRC Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing issued the standard boilerplate about a �nuclear free� (BBC) Korea, but also added, �At the same time of course, the DPRK's (North Korea's) security concerns should be appropriately addressed.� Anyone surprised?
The Communists were nice enough to back the U.S. insistence that Japan and South Korea join any U.S.-North Korea talks (Washington Post), although that may have more to do with the disaster that was the April round of talks among the U.S., the Stalinists, and the PRC (see 4/28 North Korea Report).
For more on Communist China�s Stalinist ally, sign up for Monday�s North Korea Report.
OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS
TREASURY SECRETARY TO PRC: LET THE YUAN RISE
U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow suggested to Communist China that it end its pegged rate for its currency � called the renminbi within Communist China and the yuan everywhere else. Currently, Communist China holds the yuan to a hard peg against the dollar, one that is �relatively weak� (Washington Post), and thus gives it an added advantage in its export markets.
FROM THE FALUN GONG WAR: DEMONSTRATION HELD IN FAVOR OF LAWSUIT
Falun Gong practitioners held a rally yesterday in support of a lawsuit by Friends of Falun Gong against Central Military Commission Chair Jiang Zemin for ordering the crackdown against the spiritual movement. The crackdown began in July 1999, and has killed over 100, and possibly over 200 practitioners in Communist custody. Report: Cybercast News (see also last Update).
HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS NEWS
OVER 100 PROTEST FORCED EVICTIONS IN SHANGHAI
Over 100 residents of Shanghai protested the destruction of their homes by local Communists determined to clear the land for future development. The residents are angry about the lack of compensation for a new home. According to the Washington Post, several were arrested and held all day.
One of the winners in the property swipe by the Communists was none other than �private� businessman Zhou Zhengyi, the fellow now under arrest for corruption (see 6/4 and last Updates). Zhou apparently �received at least one of the eight parcels he is developing there without paying a transfer fee.�
SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME (SARS) NEWS
WHO CLEARS RURAL AREAS IN PRC, BUT NOT THE CAPITAL
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the rural interior of Communist China was �no longer a potential threat� (BBC) there. Beijing, however, was a different story. Of course, this assumes the Communists are being honest with the situation there, which given their history (see 3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 5/28, 6/4, and last Updates), is a less than completely safe assumption.
CORRUPTION NEWS
LOCAL COMMUNIST BUSINESS REGULATOR GETS JAIL FOR CORRUPTION
A Communist court gave a 12-year prison term to Yang Yongming, the leader of the China Securities Regulatory Commission�s branch in the city of Xi�an, for �accepting bribes of up to 768,973 yuan ($96,000) in stocks and cash� (BBC).
YANG BIN ON TRIAL
The trial of Yang Bin, the �private� businessman who was supposed to run North Korea�s �free trade� zone, on corruption charges ended last week (see 10/9/02 and 11/27/02, and last Updates). The trial took three days, but is could be �several weeks� (BBC) before the Communists hand down their verdict.
OTHER MAINLAND NEWS
HU JINTAO MANEUVERING AGAINST JIANG ZEMIN AND HIS SHANGHAI FACTION
Communist Chinese President and Party leader Hu Jintao is continuing to move against the one man who continues to challenge his authority � his predecessor Jiang Zemin. While Jiang remains head of the powerful Central Military Commission, Hu has consolidated, and even increased, his power outside the so-called People�s Liberation Army. Report: Willy Wo-Lap Lam, CNN 6/16
Meanwhile, three members of the Communist Central Committee, led by Hu�s mentor, have asked for Jiang to retire from the CMC, enabling Hu to take the only powerful post that still eludes him (Lam 6/15).
MORE CRACKS FOUND IN THREE GORGES DAM
Just as the massive Three Gorges Dam was ready to begin generating electric power (BBC), the Communists themselves were forced to admit to �80 hairline cracks� (CNN) in the dam. It was the second report of cracks in the thoroughly corrupt, ecologically disastrous project (see 4/17/02 Update).
�MOTHER OF ALL SNAKEHEADS� EXTRADITED TO NEW YORK
Cheng Chui Ping, the woman who led the largest operation for escapees from Communist China, lost her bid to prevent her extradition to New York on �charges of smuggling thousands of Chinese migrants to Canada and the United States� (National Post, Cdn.). Ping�s life and career expose the double-edged sword that is the �snakehead,� the common name for those who run escapee operations.
Ping, according to the authorities, had ties to organize crime, and many escapees she helped were forced into indentured servitude to pay of the fees paid her. Yet many Chinese immigrants here in America consider her a heroine for helping them escape the PRC.
MULTIPLE CANDIDATES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PARTY POSTS CONSIDERED
Communist China may implement a new policy allowing multiple candidates for offices of provincial and local offices. However, local Communists would pick the candidates � and the winner � so we�re not exactly talking free elections here. Reports: Washington Post, Willy Wo-Lap Lam, CNN
TWO COMMUNIST ADMIRALS BOUNCED AFTER SUBMARINE ACCIDENT
The submarine accident from earlier this spring (see 5/7 Update) has claimed two political casualties. Admiral Shi Yunsheng, the commander of the Communist navy, and Admiral Yang Huaiqing, the navy�s chief political commissar, are �stepping down� (Washington Post). Also reporting: BBC
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
COMMUNISTS TO LET IN FOREIGN TRAVEL AGENCIES, BU T ONLY FOR FOREIGNERS
Another sign of the Communists� knack for publicly appearing to open up to the rest of the world came in its apparent decision to �lift a longstanding ban on foreign-owned or controlled travel agencies setting up business in China� (BBC). Sounds good, right? Not quite, �overseas tourist companies will be restricted to certain areas and will not be allowed to arrange tours for mainland Chinese citizens.�
REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS
WHO LIFTS TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR TAIWAN
The World Health Organization finally lifted its SARS-based travel advisory on Taiwan, citing a situation in the island democracy that had �improved significantly� (CNN). Also reporting: BBC, Cybercast News
COMMUNIST CHINA UPSET AT ROC PASSPORTS WITH THE NAME �TAIWAN�
Communist China is angry at Taiwan�s new passports. What bothers the Communists about them? The fact that �the word �Taiwan� will appear on the passport cover for the first time� (Cybercast News) does. The PRC would rather have no hint that they do not control over the island democracy, and never have.
HONG KONG NEWS
U.S. OFFICIAL TELLS CITY GOVERNMENT TO BECOME DEMOCRATIC
James Keith, the American consul-general for Hong Kong, told the Communist-controlled government to open itself up to elections and, as the BBC put it, �honour (UK sp) its commitment to universal suffrage.� Hong Kong�s constitution calls for democracy for the people, but never says when. At present, a PRC-appointed committee chooses the Chief Executive and the majority of city legislators.
UNEMPLOYMENT HITS RECORD HIGH
Hong Kong unemployment reached a new record high, hitting 8.3% for the last three months (HK uses rolling three month periods for their statistics), and according to at least one economist, �it wouldn't be difficult for the headline figure to breach the 9% mark� (BBC).
TIBET NEWS
COMMUNIST CHINA ADMITS TO TALKS WITH DALAI LAMA
Communist China acknowledged what was first reported in the 9/11/02 Update, that it has held talks with representatives of the Dalai Lama. A PRC Foreign Ministry official said he hoped the talks would, get this, �help the Dalai Lama himself to correctly and comprehensively understand the situation in China and make a correct choice� (Washington Post). Make a correct choice?!
DALAI LAMA VISITS KASHMIR
The Dalai Lama, Tibet�s spiritual leader in exile, visited the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir last week. The multi-faith gathering that met him included Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists, a strong showing of religious harmony in a region torn by Muslim terrorism, backed by PRC ally Pakistan. Report: BBC
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