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CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: MARCH 26, 2003
Tell Gay Hartwell Sills of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. to kill the Global Crossing sale to Hutchison Whampoa (see American-Related News for more on this).
TOP STORY: COMMUNIST CHINA FORESEES �FUTURE U.S. FIGHT�
PRC USING WAR AGAINST BA�ATHIST IRAQ, POSSIBLE NORTH KOREA ACTION AS NEW EXCUSES FOR MORE MILITARISTIC TONE, �BIG BLOW� TO POLITICAL REFORM
According to Willy Wo-Lap Lam, CNN, Communist China has decided, �that some form of confrontation with the U.S. could come earlier than expected.� The so-called People�s Republic, which saw Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden: �some kind of check on U.S. power� (see 9/19/01 Update), now views the current war against the former as a sign that �neo-imperialism� on the part of the U.S.
Back in late 2001, the leading cadres decided it was �not yet time to take on the U.S.� What has changed? Aside from the U.S. move against a regime that received PRC help with its air defenses and missiles � and nearly received a shipment of Communist missile-launching patrol boats (see 2/21/01, 2/28/01, 3/7/01, 3/14/01, 3/21/01, 12/18/02, and last Updates) � Beijing is also worried about North Korea.
Make no mistake, it�s not the Stalinists� antics that bother the Communists; it�s America�s possible reaction. According to Lam, the PRC is convinced the U.S. �will take on North Korea � still deemed a �lips-and-teeth� ally of China�s � as early as this summer� (dare we dream?). As a result, the Communists may �adopt a more pro-active if not aggressive policy to thwart U.S. aggression.�
This means the Communist military�s insistence on �providing weapons to North Korea� is likely to find more sympathetic ears. Moreover, Lam predicted a heavy emphasis on rampant �nationalism,� likely to include �the suppression of dissent, particularly politically incorrect views expressed by �pro-West� intellectuals.� The moves will likely lead to �a big blow . . . dealt to both economic and political reform.�
NEWS ON COMMUNIST CHINA, EAST TURKESTAN, AND THE TERRORIST WAR
COMMUNIST CHINA RIPS IRAQ WAR
Communist China blasted the American war against Ba�athist Iraq, saying it was �violating the norms of international behavior� (Newsmax). Days later, the Communists ripped the U.S. again, saying it had �trampled upon the U.N. Constitution and international law� (PRC Foreign Ministry), and �damaged the world order� (People�s Daily). Both of the latter quotes were cited by Willy Wo-Lap Lam, CNN.
COMMUNISTS LOOSENING COVERAGE OF IRAQ WAR, BUT ONLY TO KEEP VIEWERS
Communist China is allowing its media �to report the news as they see it� on the war in Ba�athist Iraq. Does this mean more press freedom is in the offing? Not according to the BBC, which sees a reminder of �tens of millions of Chinese� abandoning TV coverage of September 11, 2001, more than anything else.
Check out these stories and more on the Communist China and the Terrorist War page.
NORTH KOREA NEWS
JAPAN LAUNCHING SPY SATELLITES TO KEEP TABS ON COMMUNIST CHINA, NORTH KOREA
Japan will launch two spy satellites on Friday, in order to keep tabs on Communist China and its fifty-year ally, North Korea. The decision was driven by �Japan worrying more and more about North Korea's attempts to acquire nuclear weapons and the growing power of China� (Washington Post).
For the latest on Communist China�s Stalinist ally, sign up for Monday�s North Korea Report.
OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS
GOVERNMENT STILL REVIEWING HW BUY OF GLOBAL CROSSING, PERLE ON GC RETAINER
Bankrupt Global Crossing, owner of a global fiber-optic network, has signed up Richard Perle � one of the most influential figures in Washington � to �help them put together a security arrangement that is acceptable to the U.S. government� in his words (quoted by Newsmax), regarding its possible sale to Hutchison Whampoa, the firm under the control of pro-Communist Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-Shing.
Due to national security concerns, the parties temporarily pulled the sale from consideration by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., a Treasury Department office that gauges the national security risks of foreign investment in American firms (see 3/6/02, 8/14/02, and 3/12 Updates). Hutchison Whampoa also controls two container ports on the Panama Canal.
AOL PUTS DEAL WITH COMMUNIST CHINA ON HOLD
American Online (AOL) has put on hold, for now, its deal with Communist Chinese firm Legend to launch a joint internet service � called �Flying Dragon� � in the PRC. Legend blamed the deal�s suspension on �too much competition in the Chinese internet market� (BBC), particularly China Netcom and China Telecom two PRC-owned firms that have launched their own internet services.
OTHER MAINLAND NEWS
SARS DISEASE HITS BEIJING, MAN WHO REVEALS NEWS FIRED BY COMMUNISTS
The Washington Post reported that SARS, the fatal respiratory disease that spread from Communist China � during a Communists-imposed media blackout (see last Update) � has reached Beijing. An unidentified source told Agence France Presse of two SARS patients in Beijing; the PRC fired him the within days.
This morning, the Communists themselves admitted that SARS had killed three in Beijing, and 31 in Gaungdong, the province where it all began, while infecting almost 800 others. Reports: CNN, BBC
COMMUNISTS FORM NEW BANKING REGULATORY AGENCY
Communist China created a Banking Regulatory Commission, whose purpose will be to �try to patch up a system weighed down by mountains of bad debt� (BBC). However, any policies the BRC would enact will have to wait at least a year before implementation, leaving the commission with �hands . . . tied.�
REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS
TAIWAN ALLOWS FLIGHTS OVER COMMUNIST CHINA
For the first time, the Republic of China is allowing commercial airliners to fly over Communist China �so they can avoid war zones in the Middle East� (BBC).
HONG KONG NEWS
HU JINTAO BACKS TUNG CHEE-HWA TO THE HILT
PRC President Hu Jintao put in a good word for the widely unpopular Tung Chee-hwa, the Communist-appointed chief executive of Hong Kong. Hu said he would �go all out to support the work of Tung and his government,� according to the Communist-run Xinhua news agency, cited by the Washington Times.
No news from Tibet was reported this week.
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