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CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: JULY 21, 2004
Dragon in the Dark: How and Why Communist China Helps Our Enemies in the War on Terror is now available: here, at Amazon, or call 1-888-280-7715.
TOP STORY: COMMUNIST MILITARY SHIFTING FOR FUTURE TAIWAN WAR
PRC WANTS TO RESTRUCTURE FORCE TO WIN �LIMITED ENGAGEMENT� WITH UNITED STATES, WILL GIVE TAIWAN UNTIL 2024 TO SURRENDER BEFORE INVASION
Communist China �is undergoing a radical restructuring and modernization to better prepare itself for a �military option� against Taiwan � and in particular, the possibility of taking on the mighty U.S. forces� (Willy Lam, CNN). The Communist military, known as the People�s Liberation Army, is particularly focusing on missiles and naval vessels in pursuit of its goal.
The decision to prepare the PLA for the conquest of Taiwan and �at least limited engagement with U.S. firepower� came straight from the all-powerful Central Military Commission, which expects an American response to an invasion of the island democracy to be based upon �a number of aircraft-carrier strike groups (ACSG) to the (Taiwan) Strait.�
To counter that expected deployment, the PLA is stressing development of missiles � the �missile force� is its own branch within the military. It is also looking to Russia � its biggest arms supplier � for �a new generation of weaponry,� and spending heavily in naval and air forces � the former could also be used for a naval blockade of Taiwan.
Meanwhile, according to Hong Kong�s pro-PRC Wen Wei Po, CMC Chairman Jiang Zemin announced �that the CCP has the ability to solve the Taiwan problem before 2020� (BCC, Taiwan, via Epoch Times, HK). As ominous as this sounds, reports cited in the 6/23 Update had Communist China planning for a Taiwan war much earlier, between 2005 and 2010.
OTHER REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS
PRC CONDUCTS MOCK INVASION; ROC RESPONDS WITH ITS OWN MILITARY DRILL
Communist China also began a military exercise simulating an invasion of Taiwan �as a further warning against moves towards formal independence by the self-governing island� (BBC 7/16). As mentioned in the last Update, the drill was specifically focused �on demonstrating Chinese air superiority.�
Taiwan �dismissed China's war games as routine drills� UPI via Washington Times), and began its own round of military drills, which �assumes a battle scenario where China has destroyed the island's air strips with short-range missiles and bombers� (BBC 7/20).
U.S. STICKS BY TAIWAN ON ARMS; ROC TELLS PRC TO BUTT OUT
In response to Communist China�s continued rants about arms sales to Taiwan (see last Update), the United States �said Wednesday that sales of American defensive arms to Taiwan will continue� (Voice of America via Epoch Times). Taiwan, for its part, �criticized China for interfering in its friendship with the United States� (Washington Post, fourth item).
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STANDS WITH TAIWAN; PRC FURIOUS
The House of Representatives �reiterated its commitment to defensive arms sales to Taiwan� (UPI via Washington Times 7-19). It took Communist mouthpiece Zhang Qiyue less than one week to respond: �This will not only damage stability on both sides of the straits, the Sino-U.S. relationship, but will hurt the interests of the U.S. side.�
The next day, People's Daily propagandist � ahem, �commentator� � Gu Ping ripped the Taiwan Relations Act, passed 25 years ago, as �a ridiculous law which empowers Washington to interfere in other countries' domestic affairs� (UPI via Washington Times 7-20). The aforementioned House vote was in support of the Act.
COMMUNIST CHINA BLOCKS TAIWAN ADMITTANCE TO CONFERENCE
The Economic Crimes Symposium in London took place without representatives from Taiwan � due to �pressure from Mainland China� (Liberty Times, Taiwan, via Epoch Times). It was the latest in a series of events from which the island democracy was kept away by the PRC.
TAIWANESE LEGISLATOR WANTS ROC TO CONDEMN FALUN GONG SHOOTING
Lin Zhuoshui, a member of Taiwan�s Legislative Yuan (Parliament) has called for his government �to protest to the Beijing government� (Epoch Times) about the Zeng Qinghong-ordered shooting of Falun Gong practitioners in South Africa (see 6/30, 7/7, and last Updates). Lin called the shooting a �shame of the Chinese people.�
ROC OFFERS MILITARY TALKS TO PRC TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL WAR
Chen Chi-mai, a spokesman for Taiwan�s Executive Yuan (Cabinet) called on Communist China to enter talks with the island democracy for �a military mutual-trust mechanism� (Central News Agency, Taiwan, via Epoch Times) to help prevent �military conflicts caused by miscalculations on either side of the Taiwan Strait.�
ON THE VELVET CRACKDOWN (HONG KONG NEWS)
UNITED KINGDOM REPORT: VELVET CRACKDOWN REVEALS PRC LIED ABOUT HANDOVER
A British government report on the state of Hong Kong �said China was interfering in a manner inconsistent with self-governance guarantees agreed before the handover� (BBC). Translation from bureaucratese: the Communists� promises of one country, two systems have been exposed as lies by the reality of one country, one and a half systems.
TUNG AGAIN REFUSES TO TALK TO BEIJING ABOUT DEMOCRACY
Meanwhile, in a meeting with members of the Legislative Council (LegCo) last week, PRC-appointed Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa �said he will not ask Beijing to reconsider its refusal to grant direct elections in Hong Kong in 2007� (VOA via Epoch Times). Tung has repeatedly refused to stand up for the Hong Kong people on this subject (see 7/7 Update).
INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG PASSES $400 MILLION
The concern over the Velvet Crackdown has hardly slowed down foreign investment in HK. It topped $400 million for the first half of 2004, although nearly one-sixth at that figure came from the PRC itself � the fact that said money is considered �foreign� is the half in one country, one and a half systems). Report: CNA, Taiwan, via Epoch Times
No news on Tibet was reported this week.
NEWS ON COMMUNIST CHINA, EAST TURKESTAN, AND THE TERRORIST WAR
Check out the Communist China and the Terrorist War page.
PRC AND U.S. THINK TANK HOLD JOINT CONFERENCE ON NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION
Communist China�s Arms Control and Disarmament Association is holding a joint conference with the Monterey Institute of International Studies on arms proliferation in Beijing (VOA via Epoch Times). Don�t expect the conference to discuss the PRC�s aid to Iran�s nuclear weapons program (see 6/16 Update).
For news on North Korea, sign up for Monday�s North Korea Report.
OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS
Sign the petition for an American boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
COMMUNIST CHINA HAS NEW SUBMARINE FOR FUTURE TAIWAN CONFLICT
Communist China has deployed �a new type of attack submarine that U.S. intelligence did not know was under construction� (Bill Gertz, Washington Times). The new submarine is a diesel-powered sub �which appears to be a combination of indigenous Chinese hardware and Russian weapons,� and was deployed �in preparation for a conflict over Taiwan.�
PRESIDENT BUSH BLOCKS UNFPA FUNDING AGAIN
President Bush once again blocked all American funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), citing its continuing cooperation with Communist China and its hideous �one child� policy. Senator and Democratic Presidential Nominee John Kerry criticized the move. Reports: VOA via Epoch Times, BBC, Cybercast News, China Support Network
The President has repeated blocked UNFPA funds (see 7/31/02 and 7/16/03 Updates) because of its role in Communist China, where the �once child� policy has led to forced abortions, forced sterilizations, and infanticide (see 8/30/00, 8/8/01, and 7/24/02 Updates).
NEWS ON THE FALUN GONG WAR
PRACTITIONER TORTURED WITH ELECTRIC SHOCKS IN LABOR CAMP
Gao Rongrong, a former accountant in Shenyang, was forced to endure �seven hours of electric shocks to her face� (Epoch Times) and beatings by security guards in the Longshan forced labor camp (warning: the bottom is not for the faint of heart).
FORMER COMMUNIST BROADCASTER SUED FOR ANTI-FALUN GONG PROPAGANDA
Falun Gong practitioners are suing Zhao Zhizhen, the ex-broadcaster of Wuhan Broadcasting and Wuhan TV Station, for his role in spreading and airing anti-Falun Gong propaganda at the behest of the Communist regime, which gave �primary responsibility� (Epoch Times) for demonizing the spiritual movement to Wuhan.
PRACTITIONERS HOLD WORKSHOP IN SOWETO
Falun Gong practitioners held a workshop on the Communist crackdown against their faith in Soweto, South Africa. Soweto is a suburb of Johannesburg, where a group of thugs hired by PRC Vice President Zeng Qinghong shot at eight practitioners and wounded one � David Liang � very badly (see 6/30, 7/7, and last Updates). Report: Epoch Times
OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS NEWS
PRC SWITCHES DR. JIANG YANYONG TO VIRTUAL HOUSE ARREST
Dr. Jiang Yanyong, the SARS whistleblower subject to brainwashing for his criticism of the Tiananmen Square massacre (see 4/9/03, 3/10, 3/24, 4/7, 6/10, 6/23, and 7/7 Updates) is no longer in Communist custody. However, he is �under a virtual form of house arrest� (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times), and is not allowed to talk to the press.
According to a �person close to the family� (Washington Post via MSNBC), Jiang �succeeded in resisting the demands of his jailors despite seven weeks of intense indoctrination sessions.� The Communists wanted him to recant his claim that the massacre was a mistake. Also reporting: BBC, CNN
REPORTER GETS FIRED, MAY BE ARRESTED FOR EXPOSING CORRUPTION IN TANGSHAN
Zhao Yan, a reporter in Communist China who broke the story on a mass petition in Tangshan against corrupt party boss Zhang He, was forced to resign from his magazine and could be arrested at any time (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times). The Communists have even resorted to pressuring one of the Tangshan activists to frame Zhao (Epoch Times).
Zhao broke the story on Zhang and his cohorts pocketing over $7 million in funds that were supposed to go to residents displaced by a reservoir in the 1990s (see 3/31 and 5/5 Updates). Over 20,000 signed a petition against Zhang. The leading petitioners are now in prison, and Zhou�s home was raided by police � the shock of the raid killed his father.
THOUSANDS IN TIANJIN DEMAND CADRES HEAR THEIR GRIEVANCES
It took a little more time for news of this to reach the rest of the world, but on the same day of petitioners marched on Beijing and threatened to jump from a building if their petitions were not heard (see last Update), thousands in Tianjin brought their grievances to local cadres. Report: Epoch Times
WEBSITE RIPS CORRUPTION, BUT IS STILL UP AND RUNNING
A website inviting complaints about corrupt cadres is surprising many PRC observers � because it hasn�t been shut down. This, plus the fact that the site itself says its purpose is to �meet the needs of the central government,� has led some to wonder if some high-ranking national cadres are behind it. Report: Epoch Times
OTHER CORRUPTION NEWS
MORE OLYMPIC CORRUPTION DISCOVERED IN COMMUNIST CHINA
A report by the Communist National Auditing Department found that the National Sports Department � the Communist agency in control of 2008 Olympics funds � embezzled over $15 million for �employee apartments . . . loan subsidies for investments, and . . . staff bonuses at headquarter offices� (Epoch Times); yet another reason not to be there.
EDUCATION MINISTER UNDER MICROSCOPE FOR CORRUPTION
The PRC auditors also found widespread corruption in education, the bailiwick of Jiang Zemin ally and Falun Gong persecution partner Chen Zhili (see last Update). The problems in education include �illegal authorization and illicit acquisition of land . . . and some regions squandering or diverting educational fees for other purposes� (Asia Times via Epoch Times).
OTHER MAINLAND NEWS
RISE OF COMMUNIST CHINA ALREADY HAVING AN IMPACT
Economist David Hale, in National Interest, became one of the few to stitch together Communist China�s economic and international policies, noting that the People�s Republic�s is already �aggressively pursuing raw materials� (United Press International via Washington Times) and �a more aggressive foreign policy� could soon result.
Hale also notes how the Communist thirst for oil has led to �4,000 troops (in) civil-war-ridden Sudan to guard its investment in an oil pipeline� (the 8/30/00 Update had this figure much higher), but appears to ignore the recent power shortages in Communist China (see 12/10/03, 12/17/03, 3/31, 6/10, and 6/16 Updates).
SHANGHAI ORDERS FIRMS TO WORK AT NIGHT TO PREVENT BROWNOUTS
Speaking of power shortages, Shanghai ordered 400 firms �to switch their operations from day to night due to power shortages� (BBC). It is just the latest attempt by cities and provinces to deal with an energy shortage that is slowly crippling Communist China.
COMMUNIST PANICKED OVER LACK OF GIRLS
The gender imbalance in the PRC (see 6/30 Update) has spurred the Communists to announce �a five-year plan to correct the alarming disparity in the numbers of males and females in the country� (World Net Daily). The Communist plan includes putting teeth in a �ban the ever-popular abuse of abortion to select an infant's sex� (BBC).
However, the PRC refused to change its hideous �one child� policy, which has led to the untold numbers of aborted girls in the first place. The Communists also hope to �convince its populace of the value of girls.� Also reporting: Cybercast News, VOA via Epoch Times
POVERTY RISES IN COMMUNIST CHINA
Communist China admitted an increase in the number of people in �abject poverty last year, with incomes of less than $77 a year� (BBC). The number of poor Chinese rose by 800,000. It was � if you believe the Communists � �the first time in a quarter of a century� that poverty was up. Also reporting: RFA via Epoch Times
COMMUNISTS SAY GDP GROWTH SLOWS . . .
Communist China announced economic growth figures for the second quarter (April-June) of 2004. Assuming the numbers are accurate, which is far from a given, the economy grew 9.6% in that period, just less than the 9.8% growth in the first quarter. Report: BBC
. . . BUT LOCAL CADRES STILL DEFYING WEN JIABAO ON INVESTMENTS
As part of his plan to slow down the PRC economy, Communist Premier Wen Jiabao �has demanded that local officials deal with run away investment� (Epoch Times). However, several provinces are ignoring the �demand,� including Central Military Commission Chairman Jiang Zemin�s home base of Shanghai.
Of course, local Communists have made a habit of camouflaging industrial investment as �agricultural� loans, of which Zhongnanhai is more fond (see 6/2 Update).
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
EUROPEAN UNION RELAXES PRC FOOD BAN
The European Union �agreed to relax a ban on imports of honey, rabbit meat, farmed fish and shrimp from China� (BBC). The move partially ends a two-year ban on all animal imports from the PRC, which was imposed for health reasons.
TOBACCO FIRM ENTERS JOINT VENTURE WITH PRC FIRM
British American Tobacco will enter a joint venture with China Eastern Investments Corporation to sell tobacco products in Communist China. Several tobacco producers are looking to sell their products in the PRC, �which accounts for a third of global cigarette consumption� (BBC).
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