19September2001

CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 19, 2001

AFTER THE ATTACK: PRC PLACES LIMITS ON HELP IN �FIGHTING TERRORISM,� LINKS SUPPORT OF U.S. TO PRC AMBITIONS FOR TAIWAN, TIBET, AND EAST TURKESTAN
After pledging to �join the United States in fighting terrorism,� Communist China almost immediately began imposing conditions (see below). Zhu Bangzao, spokesman for the Communist Foreign Ministry, made an attempt to link the U.S. efforts against terrorism to American support for Beijing�s plans against �terrorism and separatists,� i.e., Tibet, East Turkestan, and free, democratic Taiwan. This could get ugly. Link: Washington Post, CNN: Willy Wo-Lap Lam

COMMUNISTS SEE TERRORISTS AS �CHECK ON U.S. POWER�
Why is Beijing acting like this? CNN�s Willy Wo-Lap Lam has the stunning answer: �(M)uch as Beijing itself is against terrorism, Chinese leaders also realize countries and elements such as Iraq and the bin Laden group constitute some kind of check on U.S. power. But many senior cadres, including (PRC President) Jiang (Zemin) and Premier Zhu Rongji, have decided it is not yet time to take on the U.S.� Link: CNN - Lam

COMMUNISTS SIGNED ECONOMIC DEAL WITH TALIBAN ON DAY OF ATTACK
As if to prove Lam�s point, something very disturbing came to light last week: a recent �memorandum on economic and technical cooperation� between the PRC and Taliban-run Afghanistan, hideout and beneficiary of Osama bin Laden. They both shared a friend and ally in Pakistan until the outrage. Pakistan is also a big recipient of Beijing missile parts. The PRC has since backed away from the deal. Links: International Herald Tribune, courtesy Ron Vogel, member since 2000, UPI, via Washington Times, Washington Post

COMMUINIST CHINESE WEAPONS SENT TO PAKISTAN MAY BE IN TALIBAN HANDS
Speaking of PRC missile parts sent to Pakistan, the Communists were �trying to ensure that weapons and related technology it has supplied Pakistan will not be used by Kabul should war break out between the United States and Afghanistan.� The PRC �could not rule out the possibility that Islamabad had provided the Taliban with weapons, including missiles, that were made with Chinese help.� How nice! Link: CNN

PRC SAYS NO TO �FOREIGN TROOPS IN PAKISTAN,�WANTS EVDIENCE AND UN APPROVAL
Beijing told Pakistan, a long-time ally, that the Communists would �oppose allowing foreign troops in Pakistan,� although it is increasingly possible that Pakistan may ignore this. Later, the People�s Republic demanded access to the evidence against the terrorists before it would support any retaliatory attack. The Communists also want the United Nations to approve the strike before it occurs. Links: Washington Post, CNN: Jamie Florcuz, BBC, Washington Times

COMMUNIST ACADEMICS SAY THE ATTACK WAS OUR FAULT
Meanwhile, academics in the People�s Republic of China continued to blame U.S. �quasi-hegemonic� policies for the terrorist attack. Communist China later asked for NATO to �consult countries outside Europe� before retaliating against whomever is responsible for the outrage of September 11. Links: CNN - Lam, BBC

The Communists have also ordered a crackdown on internet content and commentary, due to the heated anti-Americanism popping up throughout the country thanks to a near constant Communist nationalist campaign over the past decades to justify their rule. Link: Washington Post, CNN - Lam

After the Attack noted Communist China�s attempt to link the outrageous attack to those in Xinjiang/East Turkestan who seek independence from their tyrannical rule (see above). In the nineteen months the China e-Lobby has existed, there have been no terrorist acts of which we know in this region. We will be looking deeper into history to see if PRC claims of terrorism have merit or are simply false propaganda.

OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS
TOKYO GOVERNOR ISHIHARA BACKS U.S.-JAPAN MISSILE DEFENSE, STRONGER MILITARY
Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara, an outspoken nationalist and the most anti-Communist politician in Japan, called for closer cooperation between the U.S. and his country in building a missile defense. Ishihara also said Japan needed a stronger military, including missile-armed warships, to defend against Communist China. Link: Washington Times

Ishihara, who once referred to relations with the PRC as the second Cold War, said Communist China would rely on expansionism �because there is no freedom of speech or the press in the country, and dissent is not permitted,� according to the Times. The governor also referred to the PRC occupation of Tibet as an �invasion.�

HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS NEWS
ATTORNEY SENT TO PRISON FOR DISTRIBUTING DISSIDENT NEWSLETTER
The Communists sentenced Zhu Ruixiang, a lawyer from the city of Shaoyang, to three years in prison for �inciting the overthrow of state power,� i.e., e-mailing a newsletter called VIP-Reference. U.S.-based Chinese dissidents make the newsletter. According to the Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy, the courts wanted to be lenient with Zhu, but �Communist Party officials overruled them.�
Link: Los Angeles Times

TEACHER OF QIGONG SENT TO PRISON ON TAX CHARGES
A Communist court convicted Shen Chang, a teacher of qigong exercise arrested last year in the crackdown on �cults,� of tax evasion, and sentenced her to 12 years in prison. Qigong exercise is the part of both the Falun Gong and Zhong Gong spiritual movements. Both movements are banned, called �cults� by the Communists. Link: Los Angeles Times

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
COMMUNIST CHINA WINS WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION APPROVAL
This week, the World Trade Organization accepted Communist China as a member. Existing members of the body are already talking, worriedly, about the effect the PRC could have within the body, possibly shifting power away from the four biggest traders (the U.S., European Union, Japan, and Canada) in favor of lesser developed, and the most part, far less democratic, countries. Link: CNN

Last week, Mexico signed a bilateral trade pact with Communist China, the last bilateral deal required for Communist Chinese membership in the World Trade Organization. Still, a dispute over the fate of U.S. insurance firm AIG could block the PRC from joining the world trading body. Link: BBC

REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS (See Also After the Attack)
TAIWAN WINS WTO APPROVAL ONE DAY AFTER PRC DOES
On a happier note, with Communist China in, the WTO officially approved Taiwan�s application for membership. Beijing repeatedly insisted it be let in before the ROC was. In fact, Taiwan cannot even enter the body as a sovereign state. They must be listed as a region within China. Link: BBC

Hong Kong was quiet this week.

TIBET AND XINJIANG/EAST TURKESTAN NEWS (See After the Attack)

Sign the Boycott Petition: In reaction to the decision of the International Olympic Committee awarding Beijing the 2008 Olympic Games, the China e-Lobby has begun a petition for an American boycott of those Games. Those who wish to e-sign the petition can do so at the following page (part of the China e-Lobby web site).

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