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CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: NOVEMBER 24, 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 begin in Beijing at 8AM EST on August 8, 2008 (BBC). 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.
The Week�s Links will be sent out later today. Happy Thanksgiving everybody!
TOP STORY: SICHUAN DAM HALTED, CADRE FIRED AFTER PROTEST
BUT THE KILLING CONTINUES AS MORE COMMUNIST MILITARY IS SENT IN
The massive protests province against relocation forced by cadres building a dam in Sichuan has led the Communists to fire one unnamed cadre and promise suspension of construction. Left unmentioned by the BBC report of the �riot� was the fact that Communist police shot at least seventeen protestors dead (see 11/10 and last Updates).
In fact, the PRC has sent in the military to �put down the �rebellion� of the unarmed peasants� (Epoch Times), through, among other things, the use of tear gas � �many people have been wounded and some killed.� Of course, local cadres are insisting �there is no gathering of armed forces and no conflict between the government and local residents.�
NEWS ON THE FALUN GONG WAR
PRACTITIONERS ASK FOR CANADA TO PROSECUTE JIANG ZEMIN
Over 120 practitioners persecuted by Communist China, including Professor and Canadian citizen Kunlun Zhang (see 1/10/01, 1/17/01, and 3/24 Updates) �are asking Attorney General Irwin Cotler to prosecute former Chinese dictator Jiang Zemin and his accomplices� (Epoch Times), under Canada�s Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act.
FALUN GONG PROGRAM BROADCAST ON HONG KONG SIGNAL INTO PRC
A television signal fro AsiaSat �to television stations in China had been overridden over the weekend by a pirate broadcast on the Falun Gong, the South China Morning Post reported� (United Press International via Washington Times). Falun Gong spokesperson Hui Yee-han said no one within the movement �was claiming responsibility� (BBC) for the action.
FALUN GONG PRACTITIONERS ATTACKED IN ARGENTINA
As PRC President Hu Jintao was feted in Argentina (see last Update), Falun Gong practitioners protesting the Communists� crackdown against their faith suffered �squelching and beating� (Epoch Times) by members of Hu�s entourage and what appeared to be people affiliated with the PRC Embassy.
Argentine police, under �apparent pressure from Chinese embassy officials in Buenos Aires,� took banners away from the Falun Gong protestors and later allowed a pro-PRC gang to attack them. Oddly enough, �a much larger group of people at the Hilton who were protesting the June 4, 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre� were left untouched.
MOVEMENT HOLDS MARCH AND CONFERENCE IN NEW YORK
Meanwhile, over 1,000 practitioners and supporters held a march and a rally in Manhattan on Saturday, demanding an end to the brutal Communist persecution against their faith (Epoch Times-1). The movement also held a conference, in which founder Li Hongzhi made an appearance and answered questions (Epoch Times-2).
OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS NEWS
HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP EXPOSES BLUEPRINT FOR ANTI-RELIGION PRC CRACKDOWN
China Aid held a press conference on Capitol Hill to reveal a document pilfered from the Communists ordering cadres to �target the � �Falungong� and various pseudo-sciences and superstitions, and the new trend toward Western hostile forces� attempting to �westernize� and �disintegrate� China in the name of religion� (Epoch Times).
The group�s leader, Reverend Rob Fu, �believes that the document has much to do with the intensification of religious persecution in the last few months.� Senator Sam Brownback (Republican-Kansas) was also at the press conference and demanded the PRC �stand by their own constitution.�
TIANANMEN SQUARE PROTEST LEADER SET FREE
Chen Gang, described by the Washington Post (sixth item) as a �factory worker who helped to organize a strike during China's 1989 pro-democracy protests,� was released by the Communist after 15 years in prison.
76-YEAR-OLD MAN IN HOUSE SLATED FOR DEMOLITION BEATEN AND THROWN OUT
A Communist-approved demolition in Beijing led to a 76-year-old men being beaten, dragged out of his house naked, and dumped outside of the city. One of his sons was also beaten in his attempt to stop the demolition, which made way for a future �business district� (Epoch Times). In the PRC, citizens may own homes, but not the land under them.
U.S. CITIZEN�S HOUSE DEMOLISHED IN GUANGDONG
Meanwhile, in Guangdong Province, Alex Peng�s home was torn down. What made this unusual was that Peng was an American citizen, which led the Communist to leave his home standing until now. Still, Peng�s attempt to save his home left him with �hands (that) were badly lacerated� (Epoch Times).
OTHER MAINLAND NEWS
TWO CHILDREN DEAD IN CONFLAGRATION OVER TOLL BOOTH BEATING
In Jieyang City, a bridge toll that was supposed to expire last month was still being charged as of two weeks ago. When one woman argued about paying the toll, the workers beat her up. Angry residents responded by burning the toll booth down and refused to let fire engines through to douse the flames. Report: Epoch Times
The fire engine driver took matters into his own hands and plowed through the crowd, killing two children.
CADRES ADMIT OVER ONE-THIRD OF ILL CHINESE CANNOT AFFORD MEDICAL CARE
The medical system in Communist China is now so expensive to the average resident that �More than a third of Chinese people who fall ill do not go to the doctor because they cannot afford the cost� (BBC), and that came from the PRC Health Ministry.
GOVERNMENT POLICIES KEEPING RURAL INTERIOR IMPOVERISHED . . .
At least two analysts on Communist China�s economy faulted the regime for policies that have impoverished rural communities for decades. In the PRC, �state investment is still determined by the government, and the current policy puts rural areas at a disadvantage� (Voice of America via Epoch Times).
. . . WHILE FOOD SUPPLIES DWINDLE DUE TO RECKLESS OVERDEVELOPMENT
Meanwhile, the amount of farmland in Communist China is plummeting due to cadres who �sell farmers' land to developers and make profits while giving the farmers minimal, if any, compensation� (BBC). In the PRC, peasants can own anything on the land, but not the land itself. The overdevelopment has led to what a cadre euphemistically called a �rice deficit.�
ARTIST PRESERVES THE MEMORY OF THE AREA FLOODED BY THREE-GORGES DAM
Amateur painter Li Yushan finished Map of the Yangtse River and the Three Gorges �after 14 years� (Ming Bao Net via Epoch Times). The painting, which is �434 meters in length,� preserves for prosperity what the Three Gorges looked like before the much-maligned Three Gorges Dam flooded it (see 9/20/00, 12/5/01, 6/18, and 7/16 Updates).
PLANS FOR WORLD TALLEST BUILDING DUMPED
Guangzhou has �cancelled plans to build the world's tallest tower� (BBC) less than one week after cadres in the city announced the plan (see last Update).
Check out the latest on the Communist China and the Terrorist War page.
NORTHERN KOREA NEWS
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PRESIDENT BUSH SAYS COMMUNIST CHINA IS WITH HIM ON STALINIST REGIME
President Bush met with PRC President Hu Jintao at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit last weekend. He used the meeting to say Hu and he would speak with �a common voice� (Voice of America via Epoch Times) to convince Stalinist-controlled northern Korea to end its nuclear weapons program and �dismantle its nuclear weapons.�
It should be noted that Communist China is SCNK�s closest ally, and has in fact helped the regime�s nuclear program along. There have been three rounds of talks on the Stalinists� nuclear weapons program, which have led to nothing expect American concessions (see 6/30 Update).
COMMUNIST CHINA CALLS SCNK �STABLE�
Amid �unconfirmed reports that some portraits of the North's leader Kim Jong-il were missing, and of Chinese border troop movements� (BBC), the PRC�s Vice Foreign Minister insisted that the regime is �stable.� He also said �the leaders are thinking seriously about economic reform,� which is, at best, euphemistic for the economic disaster that is SCNK.
OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS
BUSH TELLS COMMUNIST CHINA TO SHOW �RESTRAINT,� LAY OFF MISSILE DEPLOYMENTS
At the APEC meeting, Bush and Hu also discussed Taiwan. The President, in the words of outgoing Secretary of State Colin Powell, �pressed on our concern over the fact that there are so many missiles on the mainland that are pointed at Taiwan� (Taipei Times via Epoch Times). Bush also �urged the Chinese side to act with restraint and prudence.�
TAIWAN�S DE FACTO AMBASSADOR TO U.S. TALKS TO WASHINGTON TIMES
David T. Lee, Taiwan's de facto ambassador to the United States, met with the editors of the Washington Times. Lee expressed hope that Communist China would �reopen dialogue between the two sides,� and reiterated his government�s support for a major arms package from the U.S. that is being stalled in the opposition-controlled Parliament.
WAL-MART WILL ALLOW COMMUNIST-RUN UNION IN ITS PRC STORES
Wal-Mart �said it will allow its Chinese workers to join a trade union, marking a u-turn on previous policy� (BBC). However, the only union allowed in Communist China, and thus in Wal-Mart, is the Communist-controlled union, meaning �the decision had more to do with the state exerting political influence than seeking to provide greater rights to employees.�
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
COMMUNIST CHINA BUILDING STRONG TIES WITH ZIMBABWE�S MUGABE
Communist China opened its airwaves to Air Zimbabwe in a move the BBC (rightly) called the �latest stage of a long-standing relationship has seen floods of cheap goods imported from China, and big construction deals go to Chinese firms.� While the U.S. and Great Britain have avoided Zimbabwe, dictator Robert Mugabe has found a friend in the PRC.
Communist presently has at least $600 billion in �investments� in Zimbabwe. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change � which many believe won an election stolen by Mugabe in 2002 � says the actual �investment� figure �is much higher.�
HU JINTAO VISITS FIDEL CASTRO
PRC President Hu Jintao visited Cuba to �forge closer relations,� (BBC) and �invest $500m (�268m) in Cuba's nickel industry.� Hu also had high praise for Fidel Castro and his �road of socialist construction� (Cybercast News). Also reporting: Agence France Presse via Washington Times, NBC News via MSNBC
EU MAY LIFT ARMS BAN IF �PROGRESS ON BEIJING�S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD� IS SEEN
A source from the European Union left unnamed by the Washington Times (second item) said �progress on Beijing's human rights record� could lead to a lifting of the 1989 EU arms embargo against Communist China.
The embargo cannot be lifted unless all EU members agree to do so � the Netherlands and Sweden have repeatedly refused to do so; newer EU members Poland and the Czech Republic have recently joined them, (see 11/12/03, 12/10/03, 1/28, 2/4, 3/17, 3/24, 3/31, 6/2, and 10/13 Updates).
RUSSIA SENDS CONVICTED COMMUNIST CHINESE SPY TO JAIL FOR 14 YEARS
A Russian court has sentenced Valentin Danilov to prison for 14 years. Danilov had been tried and acquitted of being a PC spy, but a higher court ordered a new trial, which led to a guilty verdict (see 12/31/03, 6/10, and 11/10 Updates).
COMMUNIST AUTO COMPANY BUYS OUT MG ROVER
Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation will �merge� with UK car company MG Rover. The new firm will be 70% owned by the Communist-run firm meaning it is �effectively taking over MG Rover� (BBC).
SIEMENS SIGNS POWER PARTS DEAL WITH COMMUNIST CHINA
The German firm Siemens �has sealed a deal to supply power generating technology� (BBC) to Shanghai Electric. The $71 million deal is for �parts for new gas turbines.�
PRC TO LET FOREIGN FIRMS INVEST IN TV AND FILM, BUT ONLY A MINORITY STAKE
Communist China announced what the BBC called a �major reform in the rules governing China's tightly controlled broadcast market.� The BBC, as good as it is, jumped the gun here: �The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television . . . said Chinese companies had to hold a controlling stake of any joint venture.� So much for �major reform.�
COMMUNIST CHINA OUT OF WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
Communist China will not participate in the 2006 World Cup. They were eliminated from the tournament in a qualifying round. Many expect the coach will be fired (CNN), but others are pointing the finger at the PRC-run Chinese Football Association, which has become so corrupt that �allegations of match fixing� (BBC) have become common in domestic matches.
OTHER REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS
CHEN SHUI-BIAN PROJECTS DPP TO WIN 101 SEATS IN LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS
President Chen Shui-bian has announced that he expects his Democratic Progressive Party to win 101 seats in next month�s legislative elections. If he is correct, and his �pan-green� ally � the Taiwan Solidarity Union � holds its current 13 seats, then the anti-Communist �pan-greens� would have their first-ever legislative majority (Taipei Times via Epoch Times).
PENTAGON OFFICIAL WARNS TAIWAN ON COMMUNICATIONS VULNERABILITY
Assistant Secretary of Defense Richard Lawless spoke in Arizona about weaknesses in ROC communications, saying �that in the event of war, Beijing's goal would be to paralyze Taiwan's economy by disrupting networks that run everything from the island's military command to public utilities� (VOA via Epoch Times).
TAIWAN TO ISSUE MORE AND LONGER VISAS FOR MAINLANDERS
Taiwan announced �plans to make it easier for Chinese businessmen and women to visit the island� (BBC). The plan consists of an increase in visas for visitors from Communist China and �longer trips for business or research than at present.�
ROC OFFICIAL CRITICIZES PRC FOR TOO MUCH CONTROL OF MAINLAND ECONOMY
Ren Shangming, director of Taiwan�s Anti-Monopoly Investigation Office, �expressed concerns about Mainland China�s control of its economy� (Central News Agency, Taiwan, via Epoch Times). Ren noted that the PRC control �often takes the form of a government run monopoly,� making it difficult for Taiwanese investors to make any headway.
NEWS ON THE VELVET CRACKDOWN (HONG KONG)
BAR NAMED IN HONOR OF TIANANMEN VICTIMS LIVES FOR ANOTHER YEAR
The owners of the June 4th bar �expected to close its doors this Sunday after 15 years of business� (Epoch Times), due to an apparent issue with the landlord. However, �at the last second, the landlord reversed his decision and the establishment was salvaged.�
LOCAL BUSINESSES �MORE CONFIDENT,� BUT MAJORITY STILL UNHAPPY
Hong Kong�s business community �is becoming more optimistic� (BBC), with growing numbers of businessmen saying the future looks bright. However, that number still stood at only one-third of businessmen polled.
There was no news from Tibet reported this week.
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