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CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: FEBRUARY 25, 2004
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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: TAIWAN CANDIDATES RIP EACH OTHER IN LAST DEBATE
LIEN CHAN, SLIGHTLY AHEAD IN POLLS, BLASTS CHEN SHUI-BIAN AS �INCOMPETENT�
ROC President Chen Shui-bian held his final debate with Nationalist challenger Lien Chan on Sunday, and it wasn�t pretty. Lien, who holds a slim lead over Chen, accused the incumbent of having �ruptured our relations with the outside world� (BBC). Lien also called Chen �incompetent� and blasted the referenda pushed by the latter.
Chen, who placed the referenda on peace talks with Communist China and the purchase of missile defense equipment blasted Lien in turn: �He doesn't believe in himself. He doesn't believe in Taiwan.� Chen also said a Lien victory would �replace the new TV sets with the old TV picture tubes of this black-gold politics� (Taipei Times via Epoch Times, HK).
�Black gold� is the local reference to the corruption that characterized Nationalist rule. Chen hails from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, and has the support of the Taiwan Solidarity Union. Lien is running with the support of the People First Party, the ex-Nationalist faction led by Lien�s running mate, James Soong. For more on the Taiwan, see Other American-Related News, and Republic of China (Taiwan) News.
NEWS ON COMMUNIST CHINA, EAST TURKESTAN, AND THE TERRORIST WAR
Check out the Communist China and the Terrorist War page.
DEFECTING ACROBATS FORCED TO DRINK WINE BY COMMUNIST OFFICIALS
One of the seven Uighur acrobats who defected to Canada told authorities that the Communists �forced (them) to keep the official leaders happy by drinking alcoholic wine, even if we said no� (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times). Alcohol consumption is forbidden to Muslims. The acrobat, named Aygul, denied any influence for Uighur independence backers.
The defectors said that �the acrobats� lives had deteriorated from year to year, notably since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2002� (sic). Communist China has claimed the Uighurs, who inhabit the now-Communist-occupied East Turkestan, are bin Ladenites; numerous reports have found that to be bogus (see 10/17/01, 12/21/01, 10/23/02, and 11/5/03 Updates).
NORTH KOREA NEWS
For more on Communist China�s Stalinist ally, sign up for Monday�s North Korea Report.
SIX-PARTY NUCLEAR TALKS BEGIN IN BEIJING
The six-party talks on North Korea�s nuclear weapons program (Communist China, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Russia, and the U.S.) began today in Beijing. These talks, unlike the first round last August, have �no time limit or deadline� (CNN), leaving open the strong possibility that a deal � and not a good one � is in the works (BBC).
EIGHT NK REFUGEES ENTER GERMAN DIPLOMATIC COMPOUND IN COMMUNIST CHINA
Eight refugees from North Korea have entered the German diplomatic compound to escape Communist Chinese capture (CNN). The PRC sends back any refugee it finds from the Stalinist regime, which has relegated the refugees to nonperson status � Communist police often rape female refugees (see 1/14 Update).
OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS
Sign the petition for an American boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
COMMUNIST CHINA BLOCKING DUAL-USE PROBES, IN VIOLATION OF TREATIES
Communist China is violating several trade agreements by �refusing to allow inspections of exported �dual use� equipment to verify that they are not being used for military purposes� (Newsmax). �Dual use� refers to items that can be used commercially or militarily. The Communists have been blocking dual use probes for years.
Conversely, long time Communist Chinese rival India �gave Commerce's special agents access to all the facilities they requested� in the investigations.
RUSSIA ON DESTINATIONS FOR SIBERIAN OIL: JAPAN AND U.S. ARE IN, PRC IS OUT
It looks like Vladimir Putin�s war with Yukos Oil has a very thick silver lining � Yukos� role in a planned Siberian pipeline for Communist China has apparently led Moscow to junk the entire idea in favor of �a pipeline to the Pacific to serve the needs of Japan and the US market� (BBC). If Russia follows through, it would be a major setback for the Communists.
The PRC trumpeted the Siberian pipeline when plans were first announced, while Japan quietly lobbied in its own favor, noting �the fears, particularly in Russia's sparsely-populated far east, about China's perceived threat to the region� and �big financial incentives and the prospect of significant energy co-operation with Russia� (see 7/16/03 Update).
COMMUNIST CHINA, U.S. MEET AGAIN ON PRC CURRENCY
Communist Chinese and American officials discussed, at least in part, the PRC�s deliberately devalued currency yesterday (BBC). It went much like earlier meetings on the subject � the Communists talked about letting their currency rise in value, but did absolutely nothing to back up their words (see 9/3/03, 9/17/03, 10/22/03, and last Updates).
Communist China�s currency, the renminbi (a.k.a. the yuan), has been set at just over 12 cents for years. Most expect its market value to be closer to 16 cents. The difference has pummeled the export sectors of America�s Asian allies, as well as U.S. manufacturing.
POWELL CONTINUES U.S. SHIFT AWAY FROM BUSH DECEMBER SLAP
Secretary of State Colin Powell made the most dramatic departure from President Bush�s verbal slap at Taiwan in December. Bush has harsh criticism for anything that would, in his words �change the status quo� (12/10/03 Update). Powell repeated this, but also noted, �if they choose to have a referendum, they can have a referendum� (Epoch Times).
The President never mentioned the referendum, taken at the time to mean his blast against Chen for possibly changing the status quo was aimed squarely at the referendum. Powell�s words throw that into doubt, but don�t expect the Communists to admit that.
FORD PLANNING ANOTHER PLANT IN COMMUNIST CHINA
Ford Motor Company �a deal to build a second manufacturing plant in China's eastern Jiangsu province� (BBC). Ford, like every other foreign firm in Communist China, is actually in a joint venture with a PRC-run �partner,� in this case Changan Auto.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
KAZAKHSTAN PLANNING TO BUILD OIL PIPELINE TO COMMUNIST CHINA
Kazakhstan is going ahead with plans for �an oil pipeline to China later this year� (BBC). The news could not come a moment to soon for the PRC, which is likely to lose out on the huge Siberian oil reserves to Japan and the U.S. (see Other American-Related News).
NEWS FROM THE FALUN GONG WAR
AMERICAN CITIZEN OF CHINESE DESCENT HARRASSED, DETAINED, AND THREATENED
Communist police detained LeeJun Ivie, American citizen and Falun Gong practitioner, for two days while they subjected her to harassment and issued threats against her and her family, simply for her religious beliefs. Report: Epoch Times
They also demanded she not tell anyone what happened to her, and told her they were spying on her while she was in the U.S. Anyone still think the Falun Gong lawsuit against crackdown author and Central Military Commission Chairman Jiang Zemin has no merit?
CANADIAN PRACTITIONER/ACTIVIST BARRED FROM HONG KONG
Zenon Dolnyckyj, a Falun Gong practitioner from Canada and author of Coming For You, has been effectively banned from Hong Kong (he now needs a visa, unlike any other Canadian, and the city is unlikely to give him one). Dolnyckyj took part in a 2001 protest against the Communist crackdown on Falun Gong (see 11/21/01 Update). Report: Epoch Times
CITIES IN NORTH AMERICA AND AUSTRALIA WITNESS PROTESTS AT PRC CONSULATES
In protest of 64 Falun Gong practitioners dying �from severe torture in the last three months in 17 provinces throughout China� (Epoch Times), protestors �lined the streets outside of the Chinese Consulates in Toronto, Calgary, San Francisco, Melbourne, New York and Washington, DC� to protest the deaths and demand justice.
OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS NEWS
ANOTHER CRACKDOWN ON CHRISTIANS BEGINS
It is difficult in Communist China to mark the end of one Communist crackdown against Christianity and the beginning of another. Be that as it may, the latest Communist attempt to crush the Christians who refuse to worship in Communist-run churches apparently �began� in January, with the arrest of 50 Christians, including 3 pastors (World Net Daily).
The linked story was one of the few to place a number on Christian faith in Communist China � 80 million. Of those, the number of Catholics � who choose the Vatican over the Communist �Patriotic Catholic Church� � is about ten million. The remaining 70 million battle the Communists through Protestant faiths.
SOUTHERN CITY NEWS GENERAL MANAGER UNDER INVESTIGATION
The general manager of the Southern City News, a Guangzhou newspaper best known for reporting stories the Communists would rather not see in print, has suddenly come under investigation for �corruption-related crimes� (RFA via Epoch Times). However, the local cadres gave no details, leaving many to believe the charges are trumped up.
AS �PEOPLE�S CONGRESS� OPENS, 200 PEOPLE UNDER HOUSE ARREST
Communist Chinese police �recently put more than 200 citizens under house arrest to fend off anticipated protests� (Epoch Times) during opening of the ironically named People�s Congress, which began on the 16th.
CORRUPTION NEWS
VICE CHAIRMAN OF BANK OF CHINA FIRED FOR FRAUD AND CORRUPTION
The Vice Chairman of the Bank of China lost his job and is now facing �charges of fraud and corruption� (Voice of America via Epoch Times). The Communist-run Bank of China is the largest lender of foreign exchange in the PRC. Its former general manager faces charges of accepting �hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes.�
CHINESE PEOPLE MOST WORRIED ABOUT CORRUPTION
According to a survey by the Communists� Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, �corruption in construction, law enforcement, the courts, medical care system, education and personnel is most troubling to Chinese citizens� (Epoch Times). The corruption in the fields above accounted for over 90 percent of the responses.
GUANGXI CADRE EXECUTED FOR COVERING UP MINE ACCIDENT
Wan Ruizhong, a former county head in Guangxi province, �has been executed for covering up a tin mine accident that killed 81 people� (BBC). Wan kept the mine accident quiet for two weeks as �mine bosses bribed local government officials and survivors to stay silent,� and �Armed thugs were hired to keep reporters away.�
OTHER MAINLAND NEWS
HELIONGJIANG MINE BLAST KILLS 32; FIVE MORE MISSING
Speaking of mine accidents, another one in Heliongjiang province has killed 32 miners trapped in the PRC-run Baixing coal mine. Five more are missing, but it is increasingly presumed that they are dead, too. Report: (RFA via Epoch Times).
COMMUNIST CHINESE CENTRAL BANK �LOANED� $85 BILLION TO AILING INSTITUTIONS
The People�s Bank of China, Communist China�s central bank, has been forced to loan roughly $85 billion to financial institutions in need of �refinancing loans� (Central News Agency, Taiwan, via Epoch Times). The ailing firms have paid back only a miniscule portion of the �loans,� and the odds of that improving are not good.
HU JINTAO PUSHING �SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENT,� BUT NOT DEMOCRACY
Communist Chinese President and Party boss Hu Jintao is pushing �scientific development� (Willy Wo-Lap Lam, CNN) as the basis for his rule over the PRC. Will it work? Lam doubts it, so long as democracy continues to get the short shrift from Hu: �China can't go very far down the scientific path in the absence of democracy.�
REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS
TAIWANESE BUSINESSMEN FACE HARRASSMENT BY COMMUNIST CADRES
Over 1,000 Taiwanese businessmen ended up �losing everything in business deals� (Liberty Times, Taiwan, via Epoch Times), according to data cited by Democratic Progressive Party legislator Zhang Qingfang. The businessmen suffered �improper execution of laws, official and civilian corruption, property theft, kidnapping and illegal detention.�
COMMUNISTS ANGRY AT TAIWAN FOR PLANNED U.S. ANTI-MISSILE BUY
Communist China blasted President Chen Shui-bian, again, for �plans to purchase anti-missile equipment from the United States� (VOA via Epoch Times). The timing of the PRC�s criticism � the U.S. announced willingness to sell the arms to Taiwan three years ago � is obviously timed for the March 20 presidential elections.
CHEN SAYS NO NEED TO DECLARE INDEPENDENCE
President Chen Shui-bian defended his refusal to declare formal Taiwanese independence (the base of his Democratic Progressive Party strongly supports such a declaration) to the audience of radio host Chou Yu-kou. He told them, �Taiwan does not need to �declare independence�� (Taiwan News via Epoch Times) because it is already independent.
HONG KONG NEWS
TUNG CHEE-HWA SUPPORTS COMMUNISTS AGAINST HIS OWN PEOPLE AND DEMOCRACY
Well, knock me over with a feather. Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong�s Communist-appointed Chief Executive, �followed the line coming out of Beijing and appeared to rule out any significant changes to the way the territory is governed� (BBC). Hong Kong�s people never elected Tung, whose abysmal, pro-Communist record has made him widely unpopular.
COMMUNISTS COULD DISSOLVE COUNCIL IF PRO-DEMOCRACY PARTIES WIN MAJORITY
Meanwhile, an unnamed senior Communist official told Wen Wei Po that the PRC could use the �knife� (Washington Post) of dissolving the city�s Legislative Council if anti-Communist, pro-democracy parties manage to win a majority. Half the Council is up for election this September, the rest are appointed by a Communist-appointed panel.
TIBET NEWS
MISSING TIBETAN MONK FOUND � IN DRAPCHI PRISON
The family of Lobsang Chozen, a Tibetan monk who disappeared while returning from exile to visit his ailing mother, found him in the notorious Drapchi prison. The PRC put him in jail for �possessing pro-independence materials and for taking part in peace walks in India� (RFA via Epoch Times). Note that he is serving time for actions taken outside the PRC.
TIBETANS ESCAPING TO NEPAL TO GET NON-COMMUNIST EDUCATION
Communist China is, as a matter of policy, denying Tibetans education in their native tongue, forcing hundreds to seek refuge in Nepal. Meanwhile, Tibetan nuns and priests are also leaving, to avoid Communist �monasteries� that are really �Chinese patriotic reeducation campaigns� (RFA via Epoch Times).
DALAI LAMA TO VISIT CANADA
The Dalai Lama, Tibet�s spiritual leader, will �pay a two-week visit to Canada in the spring to discuss the human rights situation in Tibet� (Washington Times, last item). The visit will be sometime between April 19 and May 5.
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