| CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: DECEMBER 20, 2000 TOP STORY: SIX MUSLIM DEMONSTRATORS KILLED IN SHANDONG PROVINCE THOUSANDS DEMONSTRATE AGAINST PROTESTORS� DEATHS; PRC OFFERS COMPENSATION Communist police shot and killed 6 Hui Muslim protestors in Shandong province and injured hundreds more, according to Agence France Presse. Up to 2,000 led a second demonstration over the weekend to protest the police shootings. Desperate to keep the incident from ignited Muslim anger throughout the People�s Republic of China, has offered over $20,000 in compensation to each of the victims� families. Link: AFP Student leader Liu Zhen told AFP that about 700 Muslims, protesting Communist oppression of their faith, had their march halted by about 300 policemen. Liu says the police �shot into the air, then into the ground, and then directly into the crowd.� Communist China, meanwhile, had the gall to call the shootings �a minor issue,� according to AFP. Links: Liu to AFP, AFP - Communist reaction AFP also provided some background on the tension between the Communists and the Hui Muslims and the rise of the People�s Armed Police (PAP), the group used to quell demonstrations that has grown substantially since Tiananmen Square. Links: AFP - Hui, AFP - PAP TOP AMERICAN STORY: MILITARY SAYS COMMUNIST CHINA IS GROWING THREAT TOP GENERAL SAYS PRC COULD BECOME NEW �SOVIET BEAR�; PENTAGON ALSO WORRIED In a surprising speech to the National Press Club, General John Shelton, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, publicly sounded the alarm on Communist China, according to the Washington Times. Shelton went so far as to say that �we need to focus all elements of U.S. power and diplomacy on ensuring that China does not become the 21st-century version of the Soviet bear.� He proceeded to go into specific detail on the dangers of Communist China�s growing power. He noted the People�s Republic of China is �aggressively modernizing their military forces, both conventional as well as nuclear.� He characterized the Communists as having �a distrustful view of the United States' intentions, as articulated in their recent defense white paper.� He even noted the PRC�s attempted �reforms� as a potential problem, noting that the Communists �hope to maintain control of an expanding capitalist-like economy under a communist hierarchy that embraces centralized planning and centralized control.� He called that �a contradiction that could threaten China's internal power, and consequently threaten stability throughout the region.� Why General Shelton waited until two days after the denouement of Election 2000 to reveal his detailed � and dead-on � views of the PRC is something of a mystery, unless he knows something about the incoming Bush Administration that the rest of us don�t. At the least, we can certainly hope they were listening. Link: Washington Times Within days of General Shelton�s comments, a Pentagon report revealed that Communist China could blockade, invade, or fire missiles on Taiwan. The report, a chilling reversal of earlier reports Congress, flatly said the military �cannot expect to predict confidently the outcome of a military conflict� between the PRC and the ROC, and openly advocates arms sales to Taiwan. Source: The Washington Times. Link: Washington Times ELECTION 2000: NEW ADMINISTRATION�S COMMUNIST CHINA POLICY UNCLEAR Communist China congratulated President-elect George Bush last week, and let it be known they expected a policy similar to President Bill Clinton�s. Analysts interviewed by AFP believed the PRC might get what it wished, except on the issue of missile defense, which Bush strongly supports. Communist China is leery of a missile defense to guard against states that, for the most part, are buyers of PRC weaponry. Link: AFP Others were not so sure Bush would be friendly to Beijing. The Washington Times reports that Bush is �expected to take a harder line toward an increasingly belligerent China.� The paper notes Bush�s support of the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act, which would lead to closer military integration between the U.S. and the Taiwan. Link: Washington Times Taiwan�s optimism regarding the new President has led it to consider that resubmitting requests for Aegis-class destroyers and High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM) to upgrade its military, according to Stratfor.com. The outgoing Clinton Administration turned those requests down earlier this year. Courtesy Dave Albert. Link: Stratfor.com The China Democracy Party was also hopeful President-elect Bush would be tougher on the PRC. Ten members of CDP, banned by the Communists when it was founded in 1998, called on Bush to push Communist China on human rights, and to get the PRC to release party leaders Xu Wenli, Wang Yongcai and Qin Yongmin. Source: The Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy, via AFP. Link: AFP Asiaweek, in its weekly Intelligence report, commented as follows: �Indications are there will not be any fundamental change in U.S. policy on China and Taiwan. But these are early days.� The WashingtonTimes also noted Bush�s appointments would give the best clues to his policy. For his part, Vice-President-elect Richard Cheney said policy to ward the PRC would be �consistent,� but gave no real hint as to what that meant. Links: Asiaweek: Last paragraph, Cheney � AFP HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS NEWS COMMUNIST CHINA�S DESTRUCTION OF CHURCHES CONTINUES Within a week of reporting the destruction of churches in Communist China, the Washington Post delved further into the Communist� war against faith. Citing Communist media, the paper noted over 1,500 churches had been destroyed since November. The story also tells the heartbreaking tales of some of the believers who were forced to watch their houses of worship destroyed or converted to serve the Communists. Link: Washington Post INDEPENDENT UNION LEADER IN JIANGSU PROVINCE HELD IN MENTAL HOSPITAL Cao Maobing, the leader of an independent union in Communist China, is being held at a mental hospital and forced to take pharmaceuticals, according to AFP. The Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy reported that Cao was held just after holding interviews with western media about the workers� plight. Link: AFP The Washington Post ran a story on the fledgling union just before Cao�s capture. The workers clearly expected this from the Communists. Corruption and lack of pay in the Communist-run silk factory led to the union�s formation by the workers. Link: Washington Post TENG CHUNYAN�S FATHER HEARD OF ARREST FROM U.S. EMBASSY In a tragic story, AFP reports on the plight of Teng Yuben, a lifelong Chinese citizen and father of jailed Falun Gong activist Teng Chunyan. Teng, who�s daughter was convicted of spying for exposing the imprisonment of Falun Gong members in mental hospitals, said he heard of her arrest not from Communist officials, but the U.S. Embassy. Link: AFP HARVARD COMES UNDER FIRE AGAIN FOR COOPERATION WITH COMMUNISTS IN GENE STUDY A genetic research program conducted by Harvard University was the subject of a Washington Post story this week. In order to acquire DNA of rural Chinese, the paper said, �Harvard allied itself with researchers in China who sometimes used the coercive levers of the country's government to help round up volunteers.� This included heavy pressure from Communist officials and promises of free health care that were not kept. Links: Washington Post - part 1, Washington Post - part 2 COMMUNISTS ADD INCENTIVES TO �ONE CHILD� POLICY; ADMIT POSSIBLE INFANTICIDES Communist China as decided to give incentives to couples that follow the �one child� policy, rather than simply punish those who violate it. AFP, which reported the story, also noted the Communists are admitting, for the first time, the possibility that this can lead to infanticide, particularly the horrible story from this year regarding a baby drowned in a rice paddy by Communist �family-planning� officials. Link: AFP TWO CHINA DEMOCRACY PARTY ACTIVISTS TAKE REFUGE IN U.S. AFTER JAIL, HARASSMENT AFP reported this week that Cai Guihua and Fu Shenping, activists in the China Democracy Party, have left the PRC for the U.S. The two CDP supporters were jailed for common crimes they insist they did not commit, and have been harassed by police ever since their release. Fu�s wife told AFP, �Their families were worried about their safety.� Link: AFP OTHER MAINLAND NEWS COMMUNIST CHINA SET TO BUY MORE PLANES FROM RUSSIA Communist China agreed to terms for 28 Su-27UBK jet fighter training planes with Russia and is working on terms for four Russian A-50, AWACS air-radar capable planes, according to AFP, which cited ITAR-TASS. The sale is but one more example of the deep relationship between the Communist military and the Russian industrial complex. Link: AFP INTELLIGENCE CHIEF GIVEN 15 YEARS IN XIAMEN SCANDAL Ji Shengde, former intelligence chief at General Staff Headquarters of the People's Liberation Army, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in the Xiamen smuggling scandal. Ji was convicted of taking nearly $10 million in bribes. Link: AFP MAN AT CENTER OF XIAMEN SCANDAL MAY BECOME PAWN IN POLITICAL POWER PLAY Lai Changxing, the man at the heart of the Xiamen smuggling scandal, was denied a request for freedom this week by a Canadian immigration judge. Lai was arrested last month with his wife on immigration charges. Communist China wants him back for trial, and Canada is taking steps to deport him despite a near-certain execution. Link: Canadian Press via CANOE Asiaweek reported that some believe Lai may be used by President Jiang to consolidate his power base against the �Sichuan clique,� led by ex-Prime Minister Li Peng, the butcher of Tiananmen. Link: Asiaweek OTHER CORRUPTION CONVICTIONS Three high-ranking officials in the city of Shenyang, including the mayor�s wife, were arrested for gambling away $40 million in state funds. Pan Baocai, ex-Vice Mayor of Yuannantong, was given a sentence of life in prison for taking $220,000 in bribes. Links: AFP - Shenyang, AFP - Yuannantong GUANGDONG PROVINCE INVESTIGATING 200 OFFICIALS FOR CORRUPTION Meanwhile, in Guangdong province, a $2.4 billion tax rebate scandal has lead to investigations of nearly 200 officials, according to AFP. The scandal, involving rebates given to fictional exporting firms, is reported to be the third largest in the PRC. Link: AFP ANNINVERSARY OF �RAPE OF NANJING� BRINGS RIOTS OVER MOVED MEMORIAL On the 63rd anniversary of the Japanese conquest on Nanjing, city residents rioted against the removal of a memorial to the victims of an occupation so horrifying it is commonly called �the rape of Nanjing.� The BBC reported that local Communists had agreed to move the memorial, and put a hotel in its place. The hotel was ransacked. The Communist Beijing Youth Daily wasn�t happy about the local officials either. Link: BBC SHANGHAI TO RELOCATE 750,000 TO THE SUBURBS BY FORCE BBC reported this week that the Communists in Shanghai plan to forcibly move 750,000 people out of the city, to replace their residences with luxury office buildings. Some are already whispering the offered moving compensation is not enough, and that the building should be preserved as landmarks. Link: BBC OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS ZHONG GONG LEADER ON HUNGER STRIKE TO PROTEST BEING HELD BY IMMIGRATION Zhang Hangbao, leader of the Zhong Gong spiritual movement, is protesting his imprisonment by American immigration officials with a hunger strike. A judge granted him the right to stay in the U.S., but did not rule on his asylum request. The PRC, which banned Zhong Gong and is arresting its followers, has demanded Zhang�s extradition to the U.S. Zhang insisted he committed no crime, except for angering the Communists. Link: AFP COMMUNISTS RIP U.S. DECISION ON TEXTILES, TRADE WAR POSSIBLE Communist China attacked an American decision to reduce the quota of textile imports from Communist China. AFP cited the Communist Xinhua News Agency, which quoted a Communist spokesperson who said, the government might take �further action� in response. The U.S. charges the Communists made illegal textile shipments. Link: AFP INTERNATIONAL NEWS TIANANMEN BUTCHER LI PENG TRIES CHARM OFFENSIVE ON JAPANESE OPPOSITION Li Peng, the man who ordered the troops into Tiananmen Square in 1989, told an official in the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) last week that Japan should not rely on U.S. troops to defend it. The statement comes of the Communists continue a �distraction� strategy of attempting to drive wedges between the U.S. and her allies in East Asia, according to Stratfor.com. Courtesy of Board Member Dave Albert. Link: Stratfor.com REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS VICE PRESIDENT LU PREPARES TO SUE MAGAZINE; PAYS RESPECTS TO CHIANG KAI-SHEK Annette Lu, Taiwan�s outspoken Vice President, paid her respects to the late Chiang Kai-Shek and his late son last week. AFP reported the surprise visit by Lu � the highest elected official in the Democratic Progressive Party to visit the shrine of the two Kuomintang (Nationalist) Presidents. Meanwhile, BBC reported Lu would sue a magazine for claiming she spread rumors of an affair by President Chen Shui-bian. Links: BBC, AFP HONG KONG AND MACAO NEWS HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MAY BEGIN PROBE OF HOUSING DEPARTMENT Hong Kong�s Legislative Council is considering launching an investigation of the scandal-ridden Housing Department after an internal inquiry cleared high-level staffers and blamed 17 mid-level employees, according to Radio TV Hong Kong. The Department staff has threatened a demonstration against the finding, and the Hong Kong Democratic Party has criticized it as well. Link: Radio TV Hong Kong via BBC JIANG RIPS DISSIDENTS ON MACAO ANNIVERSARY AS FALUN GONG FOLLOWERS PROTEST During ceremonies for the one-year anniversary of the former colony�s hand-over to the PRC, Communist President Jiang Zemin chided dissidents for �split(ting) the country.� Jiang made clear the message was for Hong Kong as well as Macao. As he was speaking, police rounded up several Falun Gong practitioners. Link: BBC HONG KONG DISSIDENT, DENIED ENTRY INTO MACAO, WANTS TO KNOW WHY Leung Kwok-hung, a Hong Kong activist, failed in his attempt to enter Macao to �petition mainland leaders for the release of political prisoners and to urge an end to political persecution� during ceremo9nies for the anniversary. Leung said immigration officials denied him entry. Link: Hong Kong TV Radio via BBC TIBET NEWS DALAI LAMA INVITED TO VILNIUS UNIVERSITY The acting head of Vilnius University in Lithuania has invited the Dalai Lama to speak there next June, according to Baltic News Service. Rolandas Pavilionis, who extended the invite, is also a Member of Parliament. The Baltic nations have been very sympathetic to both Tibetan and Uighur victims of Communist China. Link: BNS AUSTRALIANS TAKE PROTEST FOR PANCHEN LAMA STRAIGHT TO BEIJING Two members of the Australia Tibet Council (ATC) protested outside the Australian Embassy in Beijing, demanding to know what Australia is doing to help find the missing 11-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. The boy, recognized by the Dalai Lama as the true Panchen Lama, was taken by the Communists five years ago. No one has seen him since. Link: AFP XINJIANG/EAST TURKESTAN NEWS MUSLIM FAITH, INDEPENDENCE SUPPORT GROWING DESPITE COMMUNIST CRACKDOWN After resisting 50 years of Communist oppression and tyranny, Islam is surging again in the region, according to CNN, and with it, support for an independent nation, to be called East Turkestan. One local told CNN as much, but ominously said, �we dare not talk of such things.� Another was resolute: �We would like to have an Islamic country . . . We are afraid only of Allah, not the Chinese or the Communists.� Link: CNN 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]. |