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CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: OCTOBER 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.
The next Summer Olympics, in 2008, will take place in Beijing. Will the U.S. take part in a Communist Chinese version of the Munich Nazi propaganda event of 1936? Sign the petition for an American boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
TOP STORY: IS COMMUNIST CHINA HIDING OSAMA BIN LADEN?
SPANISH NEWSPAPER SAYS YES; PRC SAYS NO; UIGHURS STILL GET SMEARED
Gordon Thomas reported in the El Mundo that Osama bin Laden �was hiding in Chinese territory near the Pakistan border� (United Press International via Washington Times). Communist mouthpiece Zhang Qiyue called the report �irresponsible,� and insisted, �I can say in clear terms that bin Laden is not in China� (Daily Times, Pakistan).
According to Thomas, the al Qaeda leader �was given asylum by Beijing in exchange for his guarantee that guerrilla action against the establishment would cease.� Said �guerilla action� refers to the supposed bin Laden supporters in occupied East Turkestan.
Communist China has repeatedly smeared the natives of East Turkestan, known as the Uighurs, as terrorists and bin Ladenites; in fact they are arguably the most pro-American Muslims on the planet (10/17/01, 12/21/01, 10/23/02, and 11/5/03 Updates).
Meanwhile, the People�s Republic has a history with Osama bin Laden that predates �last summer:� they helped launder his drug money, bought missiles from him for millions of dollars, and reached out to his Taliban hosts on the very day the World Trade Center fell and the Pentagon was attacked (see 9/19/01, 10/24/01, 8/14/02, and 5/5 Updates).
NEWS ON COMMUNIST CHINA, EAST TURKESTAN, AND THE TERRORIST WAR
Check out the latest on the Communist China and the Terrorist War page.
PAKISTANIS RESCUE RESULTS: ONE PRC HOSTAGE SAVED, THE OTHER DEAD
Pakistan decided to launch �a rescue operation in South Waziristan province� (CNN) to free two Communist Chinese engineers for a PRC-owned firm held hostage by terrorists tied to the Taliban. One hostage was freed; the other died. Pakistan is a longtime ally of the PRC.
The terrorists were demanding freedom for some al Qaeda operatives and �an end to the anti-terrorism military operations in the mountainous region, where scores of al-Qaida suspects are believed to have taken shelter after fleeing the U.S led-hunt across the border in Afghanistan� (Voice of America via Epoch Times).
As noted in the last Update, this is the first time anyone from the Communist China has run afoul of Taliban or al Qaeda. The al Qaeda leadership, such as it is, has said nothing about the incident. The PRC called on Pakistan �to ensure the safety of Chinese engineers� (BBC). Of course, as noted in the Top Story, Communist China has extensive ties to bin Laden.
DEAD ENGINEER CALLED FIRST PRC TERRORIST VICTIM (SO MUCH FOR EAST TURKESTAN)
Meanwhile, the Communist media accidentally revealed the truth when it called the Pakistan incident �the first time the Chinese people truly realized (UK sp) the determination and courage needed in the face of terrorism� (BBC). This would be news to anyone who bought the PRC propaganda about Uighur terrorists in occupied East Turkestan (see Top Story).
NORTHERN KOREA NEWS
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COMMUNIST CHINA SAYS SCNK WANTS NUCLEAR TALKS
Kim Yong-nam, the number two official in Stalinist-controlled northern Korea, �is in China for a rare visit expected to focus on the North's nuclear programme� (BBC 10/18). The People�s Republic, one of SCNK�s oldest allies, announced that the Stalinist regime supported the six-way talks on its nuclear ambitions (Voice of America via Epoch Times).
Kim Yong-nam was silent on the issue. There have been three such rounds of talks on SCNK�s nuclear ambitions, which also include democratic �South� Korea, Japan, the U.S., Russia, and the aforementioned PRC. The only tangible results of the talks have been substantial American concessions (see 6/30 Update).
Sadly, the Bush Administration is also trying to restart the talks, rather pursue liberation for the long-suffering people of northern Korea. Secretary of State Colin Powell will visit Communist China, Japan, and South Korea in �a bid to re-start talks� (BBC 10/17). Sigh.
TWENTY MORE REFUGEES ENTER SOUTH KOREAN CONSULATE IN BEIJING
Twenty refugees from SCNK �entered the South Korean consulate in Beijing� (BBC) hoping to defect to the Republic of Korea. They join scores of other SCNK refugees who have used the Beijing embassies of third countries in the hope going to democratic Korea.
Communist China, SCNK ally for over fifty years, �deports any North Koreans it catches back to their homeland,� where they face prison, torture, and/or execution � unless Communist police decide to rape or sell them (see 1/14 Update). This has forced hundreds of thousands of refugees to live as nonpersons in Communist China.
OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS
COMMUNISTS INSIST YANG JIANLI NOT GOING ANYWHERE
Communist China turned down �the request of more than a hundred U.S. senators and members of the House of Representatives who wrote to urge the release of dissident Yang Jianli� (RFA via Epoch Times). Yang was sentenced to five years in prison for trying to help PRC labor dissidents (see 3/13/02, 3/20/02, 5/1/02, and 7/3/02 Updates).
EXILED PROFESSOR WHACKS COMMUNIST MEDIA, THERE AND HERE
Erping Zhang, Mason Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University, gave a quick summary of the Communist media at Yale. Zhang called the PRC media �state-controlled propaganda� (Epoch Times), and noted that most of the Chinese media here in the U.S. is �essentially controlled� by the Communists.
U.S. RECOMMENDS PRC BUILD OIL RESERVE
U.S. Undersecretary of State Alan Larson, in Beijing for talks on agricultural trade, recommended that Communist China build a strategic oil reserve similar to that of the United States. Report: VOA via Epoch Times
CHEN SAYS U.S. EXPECTED PRC REJECTION OF HIS OVERTURE, ADVISED �PATIENCE�
Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian openly revealed what the U.S. told him �in private� (Taipei Times via Epoch Times) about the Communist rejection of his call for talks: �the other side would definitely have this kind of reaction, and told me that both A-bian and the government must be patient, and hope that the people would have patience as well.�
The �other side� means the Communists, who blasted Chen. The president also said the U.S. �expressed their support, and welcomed my National Day speech and the goodwill which it conveyed.� That was also done in public (see last Update).
U.S. MAY MOVE BASE FROM OKINAWA TO ISLAND NEAR TAIWAN
Reports from Taiwan�s ET Today and Japan�s NHK (both cited by Cybercast News) suggest the U.S. �wants to move some U.S. Marine Corps assets from the Japanese island of Okinawa to a tiny island less than 250 nautical miles from Taiwan.� The island, Shimoji, already has an airstrip, but the locals on the island are uneasy about the move.
The idea had been endorsed by the Rand Corporation three years ago. Rand noted the base �would be of great help were the U.S. military called on to support Taiwan in a conflict with mainland China.� ET Today also noted �the move is clearly directed at China.�
U.S. COMMISSION CRITICIZES HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN COMMUNIST CHINA
The U.S. Congressional Executive Commission on China issued a report on human rights in Communist China, and found the PRC is �still increasing its crackdown against Muslims, Christians and Tibetan Buddhists.� (Taiwan�s Central News Agency via Epoch Times).
The Commission also noted the following: �suppression against refugees from North Korea�, �its recent attempt to steer Hong Kong from the high degree of autonomy as promised by China and delaying its democratic progress�, and �poor record in addressing poor working conditions and worker rights.�
COMMUNIST COUNTERFEIT GOODS NOW THREATENING AMERICAN LIVES
Communist China was the source of �66% of the counterfeits found in U.S. ports in 2003� (VOA via Epoch Times). The damage to American companies, including �Microsoft, Nike, Disney, and Calvin Klein,� is obvious. However, an American trade official noted that the flood of fakes is now �threatening consumer safety� and even �consumers� lives.�
U.S. AND TAIWAN RANK WELL ABOVE COMMUNIST CHINA IN ECONOMIC PRODUCTIVITY
The World Economic Forum ranked �in order, the 104 most productive economies in the world� (VOA via Epoch Times). Leading the pack was Finland, followed by the United States. Taiwan came in fourth; Communist China was 46th.
YAO MING A HUGE HIT IN COMMUNIST CHINA
As expected, the National Basketball Association exhibition games in Communist China were sold out. The draw was Houston Rockets center Yao Ming. Meanwhile, NBA Commissioner David Stern made it perfectly clear he was drunk on the �engagement� Kool-Aid: �as China grows, so will the NBA business here grow� (CNN).
OTHER REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS
TAIWAN WANTS MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL DONOR PROJECTS
Taiwan is asking the international community for the respect it deserves for its donations in international aid projects. The island democracy �has donated funds to help finance post-war reconstruction projects in Afghanistan and Iraq� (CNA via Epoch Times) but banned from �international donors meetings held in Japan simply because of Beijing's opposition.�
NEWS ON THE VELVET CRACKDOWN (HONG KONG)
HK DEMOCRATS STICK UP FOR 1989 TIANANMEN SQUARE PROTESTORS, IN BEIJING
Communist China invited several legislative councilors from the Hong Kong Democratic Party to Beijing to celebrate the founding of the �People�s Republic,� hoping to divide the pro-democracy movement in the city. Instead, the visitors used the occasion to defend the 1989 Tiananmen Square protestors. Report: VOA via Epoch Times
TIBET NEWS
COMMUNIST CHINA TURNING TIBET INTO NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP
Communist China is �dumping nuclear waste in Tibet and excessively extracting various resources such as oil, water, and timber,� according to the Dalai Lama�s representative (cited by the Epoch Times). Numerous Tibetans have suffered from �rare diseases, prompting fears of radiation leaking from a nearby nuclear weapons base at Lake Qingdao.�
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VISITS PRC
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Communist China for talks on �a further boost in bilateral trade� (CNN). The PRC pleaded for the all-but-doomed Yukos-Communist China pipeline. Putin, who now favors a pipeline that would serve Japan, and potentially the U.S., insisted �Russian interests will come first in deciding where to build the pipeline� (BBC).
Putin specifically talked about the need to build up �the territories of the Far East.� Moscow�s concern over the Sinicization of the Russian Far East has been one of the key selling points for Japan on the pipeline (see 7/16/03 and 2/25 Updates). There was agreement on a long-simmering border dispute (Washington Times, second item).
Putin and the PRC are sure to find more common ground against �Western reticence to view the security situations in Chechnya and East Turkistan (Xinjiang), respectively, as part of the international war against terrorism� (Cybercast News).
FULL COMMUNIST CHINESE POLICE DEPLOYMENT NOW IN HAITI
Communist China�s police deployment to Haiti is now at full strength. The deployment already has many worried about the PRC�s creeping influence in Central and South America (see 9/8 Update). Those worries are compounded by the fact that Haiti is one of Taiwan�s diplomatic allies, although how long that remains true is now an open question. Report: BBC
NEWS ON THE FALUN GONG WAR
AS ONE PRACTITIONER LEAVES LABOR CAMP, ANOTHER FORCED IN
Xiong Wei is back in Germany after spending two years in a Communist labor camp for practicing Falun Gong (Epoch Times 1). One day later, practitioner Theresa Zhou was thrown into the Moganshan Labor Camp (Epoch Times 2).
OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS NEWS
WORKERS IN XIANYANG TEXTILE FACTORY ON STRIKE
Workers at Number 7 Textile Factory have gone on strike to protest layoffs planned by the new owner, a Hong Kong group that bought the factory from local cadres. The Communists � who have banned all unions except for the one controlled by the Party � sent in the police, and the Communist media has dutifully maintained silence on the issue (Epoch Times).
However, the strikers, who with their local supporters now number over 10,000, �began to sing, �Police, police, I love you,� �Police, police, the people�s good police,� and the theme song from �Plain-clothed Police.�� It worked; the serenaded police �had tears on their faces and were too embarrassed to take action.� As of this hour, the strike continues.
GOOGLE CUTTING NEWS STORIES IN COMMUNIST CHINA
Google is now admitting �to omitting contentious items from search results when the requests originate in China� (Epoch Times). Google said the censorship was done to �create the best possible news search experience for our users.� Right, it had nothing to do with its submission to Communist demands that it censor its PRC search engine (see 9/29 Update).
COMMUNIST CHINA BLOCKS �ANTI-JAPAN� ARTICLES
Communist China has publicly announced �that they will tighten control of anti-Japan sentiments expressed in the media, and will also take measures to control anti-Japan speech in on-line forums� (Epoch Times). That the PRC would censor its media is not news, but moving against anti-Japan sentiment is quite a departure.
REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS BLASTS COMMUNIST MEDIA REPRESSION
Reporters Without Borders ripped Communist China for, among other things, blocking websites, arresting a New York Times reporter, and canceling a magazine critical of Stalinist-controlled northern Korea (see 10/6 Update). Report: RFA via Epoch Times
CORRUPTION NEWS
OVER 4,000 CADRES HAVE BOLTED WITH ILL-GOTTEN GAINS
Communist China admitted that �there have been more than 4,000 Chinese corrupt officials who had fled overseas with at least US$5 billion� (Mingpaonews.com via Epoch Times).
EPIDEMIC NEWS
YAO MING TO TAKE PART IN AIDS CAMPAIGN, WE THINK
Yao Ming, Houston Rockets center from Shanghai, has filmed a commercial with Magic Johnson as part of the new Communist campaign against AIDS. However, �health ministry and television station officials still could not confirm when the spots might be shown� (BBC).
The ad makes no mention of the unhygienic Communist blood drive in Henan province, which infected one million people (see 9/4/02 and 9/25/02 Updates). Of course, neither does any other part of the PRC�s campaign against AIDS.
OTHER MAINLAND NEWS
RURAL WORKERS CONTINUE TO SUFFER IN COMMUNIST CHINA
Workers from rural areas earn less than $400 a month despite working over 60% more hours than urban workers, according to the Communists themselves (CNA via Epoch Times). Migrant workers also suffer under such conditions, plus the risk of injury or illness � which usually means they lose their jobs and have no way to pay for medical care.
COMMUNIST CHINA WANTS MORE STRUCTURE, TRANSPARENCY IN BANKS
The PRC �recently drafted a proposed regulation for the internal control and evaluation of commercial banks� (CNA via Epoch Times). The Communists want �an organizational structure with reasonably divided and well-defined areas of responsibility� within PRC-owned banks, which have been a haven for corruption and are drowning in bad debt.
FIRST �PRIVATE� AIRLINE APPROVED
With much fanfare, Communist China announced �its first private airline � named Okay Airways� (BBC). Left unsaid was who actually owned the airline � �private� property in the PRC is usually �owned� by cadres, relatives of cadres, or friends of cadres.
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