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CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: NOVEMBER 19, 2003
Yours truly has detailed Communist China�s history of aiding terrorist states, Saddam Hussein, the Taliban, and al Qaeda, in my new book, Dragon in the Dark: How and Why Communist China Helps Our Enemies in the War on Terror, soon to be available for order here, and later at Amazon and other online retail sites. - D.J. McGuire
TOP STORY: PANICKED COMMUNISTS THREATEN WAR AGAINST TAIWAN
PRC WORRIED ABOUT CHEN�S SUDDEN RESURGENCE, �CREEPING INDEPENDENCE�;
U.S. SAYS IT NEVER OPPOSED TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE; PRC FURIOUS
Communist China reverted to threats of violence against Taiwan, threatening, �war will break out if the island declares formal independence� (Willy Wo-Lap Lam, CNN 11/19). This was in response to President Chen Shui-bian�s plans for Taiwan to adopt a new constitution that recognizes its de facto independence. Also reporting: BBC, Washington Post
The Communists had largely tried to be low-key throughout Chen�s term, while reaching out to the current opposition � the long-ruling Nationalist Party. However, has risen in public support to draw even with Nationalist Lien Chan in one election poll, thus ruining the hopes of the People�s Republic to see him lose March�s presidential election (see last Update).
One other factor is �Beijing's fears that some political elements in the U.S. were providing covert aid to Taipei.� Earlier, Therese Shaheen, the Washington head of the American Institute in Taiwan, stunned the Communists when she said, �not supporting Taiwan independence does not equate to opposing Taiwan independence� (Lam 11/17).
The Communists ripped into Shaheen, criticizing her by name � an honor usually reserved for Chen himself � and insisting that the U.S. had earlier opposed independence for the island democracy. In fact, all Bush Administration statements on Taiwan have said the U.S. �does not support� independence � never �oppose� � but Shaheen�s elaboration is new.
For more on the island democracy, see Republic of China (Taiwan) News.
NEWS ON COMMUNIST CHINA, EAST TURKESTAN, AND THE TERRORIST WAR
COMMUNISTS RIP AMERICAN MILITARY PRESENCE IN IRAQ
Communist China, through its People�s Daily mouth piece, took some shots at President Bush regarding Iraq, claiming that Bush is using Saddam Hussein as �an excuse aimed at exculpating himself from responsibilities for the mounting casualties of U.S. soldiers in Iraq and continuously keeping a U.S. military presence in the country� (Washington Times).
Funny, but People�s Daily forgot to mention that Communist China helped integrate Saddam Hussein air defenses, sold the Ba�athist regime missile fuel, and tried to sell it missile-launching patrol craft to before the war (see 2/21/01, 2/28/01, 3/7/01, 3/14/01, 3/21/01, 12/18/02, and 3/19 Updates).
Check out the Communist China and the Terrorist War page.
For more on Communist China�s Stalinist ally, sign up for Monday�s North Korea Report.
OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS
U.S. PUTS CAP ON COMMUNIST TEXTILE EXPORT GROWTH DESPITE PRC "SPREE"
The United States slapped a new restriction on textiles imported from Communist China, limiting the growth in PRC textile exports to the U.S. to 7.5% a year. For that relatively light restriction, Communist China blasted the U.S. and threatened retaliation (BBC).
The move came despite a PRC airplane and automobile import spree to placate Americans angry about the Communists� deliberately devalued currency, which has damaged industries in the U.S. and several of its Asian allies. The plane and car deals are a fraction of the $100 billion-plus U.S. trade deficit with Communist China (Washington Times).
TRADE DEFICIT WITH COMMUNIST CHINA HITS MONTHLY RECORD
Just days after the aforementioned �spree,� actual import and export data for September put the American trade gap with the PRC at �a record $12.7 billion� (Newsmax). The record is for a one-month period.
OKINAWA RADAR TRACKED COMMUNIST CHINESE SUBS
According to an unnamed U.S. official, the controversial low-frequency radar used by American forces in Okinawa � the local government would prefer it removed � had been in use to detect Communist Chinese submarines in the area (Bill Gertz, Washington Times). The report came as Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld visited the island.
PENTAGON CLEARS RICHARD PERLE
The Pentagon� inspector general cleared Richard Perle � former head of the Defense Policy Board � of any ethics violations for his �business relationship with several companies, including Global Crossing Ltd. (now in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection) and satellite maker Loral Space & Communications Ltd� (Washington Post).
Maddeningly, the Post neglected to mention these firms� ties with Communist China. Global was almost bought out by Hutchison Whampoa, a firm controlled by pro-Communist Li Ka-shing (see 5/7 Update); Loral transferred technology information to the PRC � risking national security in the process � while it was launching its satellites off Communist rockets.
COMMUNIST CHINA MILKING ITS NBA PLAYERS, EXCEPT FOR WANG ZHIZHI
Communist China is riding the wave of its players in the NBA � two of them anyway: Houston Rockets center Yao Ming and Toronto Raptors center Mengke Bateer (CNN). Notably absent from all this is the first player from the PRC to join the NBA: Wang Zhizhi. Wang defied the Communists� demands on his career last summer (see 12/18/02 Update).
DISNEY AND SHANGHAI BACK IN TALKS
Disney is in talks with Shanghai to build a theme park in the city by 2010 (BBC).
HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS NEWS
LIU DI �SOON FREE�
Internet activist Liu Di, arrested for protesting the arrest of Huang Qi (see 6/7/00, 7/5/00, 2/14/01, 8/15/01, 8/22/01, 5/21, and last Updates) and others, could be released later this month due to lack of evidence against him. It would be a surprise victory for the dissident movement � although the Communists still have the labor camp option. Report: BBC
OTHER MAINLAND NEWS
HU JINTAO�S POLITICAL GAMBIT: MAO UP, REFORM DOWN
PRC President Hu Jintao is using the late Mao Zedong to burnish his image and battle his rival, Central Military Commission Chairman Jiang Zemin. The neo-Maoism means even more rampant nationalism in domestic politics; even worse, according to CNN�s Willy Wo-Lap Lam, �it could be a millstone round the neck of reform,� sinking it for years.
COMMUNIST CHINA LAUNCHES ANOTHER SATELLITE
The PRC launched �sent a communication satellite into orbit on Saturday in its third launch since its first manned space mission last month� (Washington Post, second item; see also 10/22 Update).
LOCAL INVESTORS DRIVE UP THREE GORGES DAM PRICES
Spurred on by local investors, prices in Three Gorges Dam stock shot 45% upwards since shares were floated (see 10/29 and 11/5 Updates). The dam already has ecological issues, a history of corruption, and several cracks. Report: BBC
COMMUNIST CHINA�S �ENTREPRENEURS� SAYS SARS HELPED PRC�S IMAGE
Here�s an excellent example of how deep the Communists have their hooks in �private� businessmen: a survey of �entrepreneurs� in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai revealed large majorities that said the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic �actually improved the country's image� (Agence France Presse).
That�s not all: �They also believe the local media kept them fully informed on the outbreak.� Obviously, they weren�t very concerned about the four-month Communist coverup that allowed SARS to circle the globe (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, 6/11, 6/18, and 6/25 Updates).
CHINESE HAVE NO FAITH IN COMMUNISTS FOR CONTROLLING AIDS
According to a BBC survey, two thirds of the people in Communist China do not believe the Communists have done enough to help corral AIDS in the PRC. Given the blood donation scandal in Henan province and other areas (see 9/4/02 and 9/25/02 Updates), can anyone blame them?
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
PRC AND INDIA CONDUCT JOINT SEARCH AND RESCUE EXERCISE
Communist China and its longtime rival India conducted a joint naval search-and-rescue exercise last week. Although nearly unprecedented, the PRC navy did conduct the same exercise with Pakistan � its fifty-plus year ally � recently. India lost 40,000 square miles to the Communists in a 1962 border war. Report: BBC
JOCKEYING BEGINS ON WORLD INFORMATION SUMMIT NEXT MONTH
A �world summit on the information society� (Washington Times) is to be held in Geneva on December 10-12. Already, Communist China is trying get the United Nations involved in managing the web. The PRC is also trying to squelch �a strong statement in support of free expression on the Internet.� Also reporting: National Post (Cdn.)
JAPAN MOVING CLOSER TO U.S. DUE TO COMMUNIST CHINA
Japan �strengthened its alliance with the United States in the face of . . . competition from China and Russia,� according to former Ambassador Michael H. Armacost (cited by the Washington Times, last item).
REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS
TWO CHINAS STILL MAINTAIN EMBASSIES IN KIRIBATI
The Communists apparently have an exception to their �one China� principle: Kiribati. The island nation � home to a Communist space communications station and possible espionage facility � opened diplomatic relations with Taiwan last week, but Communist China has not cut off relations, hoping instead to pressure Kiribati to change its mind (Cybercast News).
TAIWAN OPENS PIECE OF WORLD�S TALLEST BUILDING
Taiwan opened a shopping mall at the bottom of a 101-story building that is the world�s tallest � or will be when it is fully occupied, depending upon who is measuring this (BBC). Either way, the Communists already have a building to pass it slated for 2007.
Hong Kong was unusually quiet this week.
TIBET NEWS
INDIAN ARMY DELEGATION TO VISIT TIBET
An Indian Army delegation will visit Communist Chinese military bases in Tibet. The delegation�s leader will be the commander of the Fourth Corps, which �bore the brunt of the 1962 fighting, and is still posted on the disputed border� (BBC). India lost 40,000 square miles to the Communists in that 1962 war.
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