TOP STORY: PRC VICE FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS NORTH KOREAN FM
ALLIES SEE EYE TO EYE AS COMMUNISTS PUSH FOR U.S.-NORTH KOREAN DIALOGUE, AGAIN
Communist Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with North Korean FM Peak Namsun to discuss the Stalinist regime�s nuclear ambitions. In a statement following the meeting, Wang said the two regimes � allies for over half a century � �want to see the issue resolved through peaceful means and through dialogue� (CNN).
Prior to Wang and Paek�s meeting, but after the International Atomic Energy Agency sent the matter of North Korea�s nuclear ambitions to the United Nations Security Council (see last Update), Communist China�s UN Ambassador quickly downplayed the move, saying, �The UN Security Council's involvement at this stage might not necessarily contribute to the settlement of the issue� (BBC).
He then repeated the Communist assertion that �The only correct and effective approach . . . is through constructive dialogue and consultations on the basis of equality.� These were two more signs of how the so-called People�s Republic of China �has so far resisted U.S. pressure to leverage its aid to North Korea in return for political compliance.�
OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS
McCAIN DEMANDS PRC HELP U.S. ON NK, HOLDS OUT THREAT OF NUCLEAR JAPAN
Arizona Senator and former GOP Presidential candidate John McCain warned Communist China that unless it "become(s) very engaged with North Korea and bring about a very quick resolution to this crisis" (CNN), it would be looking at a nuclear-armed Japan, something the PRC would no doubt like to avoid.
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ADVANCEMENT OF COMMUNIST MILITARY CONTINUING APACE
The continuing Communist Chinese push for a technologically superior military is continuing, according to sources cited by Newsmax.com. The report includes plans for a new strategic bomber, and the news of PRC testing with MIRVs, which was also in the last Update.
WORLD�S BIGGEST PENSION FUND TO STAY OUT OF COMMUNIST CHINA
Let�s hear it for Calpers, the world's largest pension fund. The fund has decided not to make any investments in Communist China. The firm made the decision under its investment strategy derived last year �to consider civil liberties, press freedom and political risk in making investments, after deciding that stable, liberal countries would yield better long-term returns� (BBC).
HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS NEWS
BISHOP ZEN WARNS AGAINST �ANTI-SUBVERSIVE� LAW IN HONG KONG
Joseph Zen, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Hong Kong, railed against the �anti-subversive� law proposed by the Communist-appointed government of the former British colony. The particular target for Bishop Zen was a part of the law that lets the city �outlaw locally based groups that are �subordinate� to organizations banned on the mainland� (Cybercast News).
This would include the Falun Gong spiritual movement � which has lost over 100 followers to Communist police � dissident groups, the China Democracy party, and even the Catholic Church itself. This was the only news regarding Hong Kong this week.
OTHER MAINLAND NEWS
TOP ANTI-CORRUPTION OFFICIAL CALLS GRAFT �EXTREME DANGER�
Wu Guanzheng, the lead Communist anti-corruption official, called upon the party to �their vigilance and awareness of the extreme danger of corruption� (BBC). Wu, who won his job in last November�s reshuffle (see 11/20/02 Update), has an uphill battle against many party cadres who �do not want the problem to be tackled in public.�
COMMUNIST CHINESE SPACE PROGRAM UNFAZED BY COLUMBIA LOSS
Zhang Qingwei, head of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, told the Communist run China Daily (cited by BBC) that the PRC would stick to its plans to launch its first manned space-flight later this year, irrespective of the loss of the American space shuttle Columbia.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
COMMUNISTS PICK SON OF HITLER'S ARCHITECT TO PLANT OLYMPIC BEIJING
Well, this is appropriate, if unnerving. Communist China has decided to build a 16-mile boulevard for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The designer of the boulevard is Albert Speer, Jr. Speer's father, Albert Speer, Sr., was Adolf Hitler's favorite architect. The decision has already stirred up controversy in Germany. Report: The Times of London
Sign the petition for an American boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS
NATIONALISTS, PEOPLE FIRST TO RUN JOINT PRESIDENTIAL TICKET
The Nationalist Party � which ruled Taiwan until losing the Presidential election of 2000 to Chen Shui-bian � and the People First Party have agreed to run a joint presidential ticket next year. According to the BBC, that ticket, will likely be led by Lien Chan � the Nationalist�s candidate in 2000 � with James Soong � the PFP 2000 nominee � as his running mate. Also reporting: Time Asia
Soong left the Nationalists to form the PFP in 1999, in part due to disagreements with then-Nationalist President Lee Teng-hui. Chen, nominated by the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, won the three-way race in 2000 with 39% of the vote. Lee, known on Taiwan as �Mr. Democracy,� left the Nationalists to form the anti-Communist Taiwan Solidarity Union, and is now a Chen ally.
No news from Tibet was reported this week.
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