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CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: MAY 26, 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: CHEN SHUI-BIAN BEGINS SECOND TERM
PROPOSES KEEPING SECURITY AND INDEPENDENCE ISSUES OUT OF NEW CONSTITUTION; COMMUNISTS BLAST HIM FOR NOT MENTIONING �ONE CHINA�
Chen Shui-bian took the oath of office for his second term as President of the Republic of China (Taiwan). During his inaugural address, Chen extended, again, an olive branch to Communist China, and �ruled out any constitutional reform measures touching on national sovereignty, territory, independence and unification� (CNN).
Chen also noted that Communist China�s continuing military buildup � including over 500 deployed missiles � will force Taiwan to �reinforce our national defences (UK sp)� (BBC). Chen also refused to endorse the idiotic �one China� policy, which states that Communist China has sovereignty over Taiwan, where it has never stepped foot.
Chen explicitly noted the unreality of �one China�: �This is a fact. History has given rise to the development of two very different political systems as well as two dissimilar ways of life on either side of the Taiwan Strait� (Washington Post).
The Communists responded by blasting him for, �lacking sincerity in efforts to improve relations� (Voice of America via Epoch Times, HK). The United States, by contrast, �called Mr. Chen's speech responsible and constructive.� Meanwhile, Chen also heard criticism from some in Taiwan for being too soft on the Communists (BBC press review).
OTHER REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS
TAIWAN STUMBLES INTO DEBATE ON IRAQ WAR
A suggestion by a couple of U.S. Congressman has begun a debate in Taiwan on whether or not to send troops to Iraq in support of U.S. efforts there. President Chen Shui-bian ruled out any deployment, and the U.S. noted that it has never asked Taiwan for troops (thus hinting it never will). Despite this, the debate was fierce. Report: Cybercast News
THE VELVET CRACKDOWN: HONG KONG NEWS
OVER ONE MILLION EXPECTED TO TAKE TO THE STREETS NEXT JULY 1
The Hong Kong Civilian Human Rights Front has called on city residents to take to the streets again on July 1 �because of the Central People�s Congress� rejection of free general elections� (Epoch Times). The Civilian Front expects the number of pro-democracy marchers to top one million this year.
Over half a million marched last July 1 to protest a planned �anti-subversion� law that greatly restricted the rights of the people of Hong Kong. The law was shelved (see 7/2/03, 7/9/03, and 7/16/03 Updates).
HK GOVERNMENT: WHAT REPRESSION?
The Communist-appointed Hong Kong regime �rejected suggestions that freedom of speech and the freedom of the press are under threat in the former British colony� (BBC). Meanwhile, a local cadre demanded that three radio hosts who quite under pro-PRC pressure �give more details of the pressure they claim forced them to quit.�
Interestingly, the Communists said nothing about the reports of businesses demanding their workers support pro-Beijing parties, and keep ballot copies as proof (see last Update).
HONG KONG HOPES BUDDHA FINGER WILL WIN OVER CITY RESIDENTS
The latest Communist attempt to win friends in Hong Kong now means giving them the finger � in this case a �2,500-year-old finger reportedly preserved from the Buddha� (World Net Daily). While the relic was popular, pro-democracy supporters derided the idea that the city residents would drop their demands for freedom over a �propaganda exercise� (BBC).
TIBET NEWS
COMMUNISTS TELL DALAI LAMA TO DROP AUTONOMY
Communist China demanded, again that the Dalai Lama "�truly relinquish� his stand for �Tibet independence�" (United Press International via Washington Times). Of course, Tibet�s spiritual leader has never asked for independence. He has even pushed for �one country, two systems,� something the PRC called �totally untenable� (did Hong Kong hear that?).
The Communists also called Tibet �an inseparable part of Chinese territory� (China Support Network), which would be news to anyone who remembers Tibet as an independent nation before the Communist invasion of 1950.
NEPAL AND PRC SIGN BORDER DEAL; TIBET REFUGEES LIKELY THE SUBJECT � AND VICTIM
Nepal and Communist China �agreed to boost co-operation along their shared border� (BBC) this week. While there were no details, �correspondents say the move may refer to efforts to stop Tibetan refugees trying to reach their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who is living in exile in the northern Indian town of Dharmsala.�
Nepal has already begun arresting and sending back Tibetan escapees (see 12/27/00, 6/4/03, 7/2/03, and 10/15/03 Updates).
NEWS ON COMMUNIST CHINA, EAST TURKESTAN, AND THE TERRORIST WAR
Check out the Communist China and the Terrorist War page.
Tajikistan officially opened its border with PRC-occupied East Turkestan this week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Kulma. Communist officials from �Xinjiang� were also at the ceremony. East Turkestan was an independent nation until Communist China invaded in 1949. The five-and-a-half-decade occupation has been beyond brutal. Report: BBC
Sign up for the North Korea Report to get the next edition on Monday.
OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS
Sign the petition for an American boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
CZECH RADAR SALE TO PRC STOPPED; U.S. MAY BUY SYSTEMS
The Bush Administration convinced the Czech Republic to cancel the sale of Vera advance radar systems to Communist China. At least one system, which �American officials think has some capability to detect U.S. radar-evading stealth aircraft� (Bill Gertz, Washington Times), was to be sent to the PRC. The U.S. may buy it, and several more of them, instead.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
COMMUNIST CHINA GOBBLING UP RESOURCES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Whether its oil (CNN), or anything else (MSNBC), natural resources and other raw materials are running at very high prices in large part due to Communist China�s surging demand to import everything. The Communists overdevelopment � of the kind now free market would sustain � has led to �the cost of moving bulk freight . . . (doubling) . . . in just over a year.�
BRAZILIAN LEADER IN BEIJING FOR TALKS . . .
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, is in the middle of a six-day visit to Communist China for talks on trade. Lula signed several deals cementing what PRC President Hu Jintao called a �strategic partnership between China and Brazil� (Agence France-Presse via Washington Times). Also reporting: BBC
. . . AS PRODUCERS BACK HOME WORRY ABOUT PRC GOODS
Meanwhile, �Brazil's clothing and shoe manufacturers viewed the growing relationship with trepidation� (Washington Times). These factory owners and workers are increasingly worried about the �unbalanced competition� between the PRC and Brazil. As one union official put it, �We don't want to be importing shoes made by people earning $2 a day.�
INDIA CHOOSES NEW PM AMID WORRIES ABOUT COMMUNIST PARTIES� ROLE
The victorious Congress Party chose Manmohan Singh, a former Finance Minister, as to be India�s new Prime Minister after Sonia Gandhi � the Congress leader � turned down the job. Singh said nothing about relations with either the U.S. or Communist China. Report: CNN
That hasn�t stopped analysts from speculating about those relations, with optimists noting the recent turn toward the U.S. by India�s outgoing Bharatiya Janata Party, while pessimists focus on the role of two Communist parties, who could push for �the formation of an Indo-China axis� as part of �the imaginary world that the left parties inhabit� (Cybercast News).
NEWS FROM THE FALUN GONG WAR
ANHUI PARTY BOSS SUED IN BOSTON
Wang Taihua, Communist Party Secretary for Anhui Province, was served �with a class-action lawsuit charging him with torture, murder, and genocide� (Epoch Times) by lawyers representing Falun Gong practitioners. Falun Gong has suffered under a brutal, murderous crackdown by Communist China that has lasted nearly five years.
OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS NEWS
CCTV PROGRAM THAT EXPOSED FOOD FRAUDS CANCELLED
Communist China yanked off the air an episode of Quality Reports for the Week, a television show that �has grown increasingly popular for stories that exposed dangerous foods� (Central News Agency, Taiwan, via Epoch Times). The Communists claimed that �its content was questionable;� the cancellation generated several complaints on the internet.
CORRUPTION NEWS
COMMUNIST PARTY LEADERSHIP ACADEMIES ARE PAYOFF HOTBEDS
Cadres who receive training at the Communist Party Leadership Academy also receive something else, �money, gifts or fruit� (CNA via Epoch Times) from their underlings or �private� businessmen looking for a powerful friend. The province of Hubei ordered such payments to stop. Whether or not anyone listens is another story.
POST OFFICE SELLS 200,000 COMPANY LETTERS; REFUSES TO DELIVER 2 MILLION MORE
A post office in Sichuan Province had agreed to handle the outgoing mail of Sichuan Xinghe Constructive Materials Co. Ltd. For this, the post office pocketed over $70,000. As for the 2.5 million letters themselves, �Two million letters were not mailed, including the 220,000 that were sold for waste� (Epoch Times).
OTHER MAINLAND NEWS
SHENZHEN CADRES LEVEL MORE HOMES; SPARK PROTESTS
As authorities in Shenzhen flattened more homes for rampant development, 400 farmers protested (the Communist-run Xinhua news agency called it a �riot�). In Communist China, people can own buildings (such as houses), but the PRC owns the land under the buildings, given them carte blanche to demolish at will. Report: BBC
OVER 200 BABIES FED BAD BABY MILK
Thanks to cadres in the city of Fuyang (that name seems to be correct after all) sitting on news of substandard baby milk for over a year (see 4/28, 5/5, and 5/12 Updates), the number of children who suffered the effects of malnutrition stands at 229 (CNA via Epoch Times). The PRC acknowledges only a dozen dead, earlier reports put the dead at over 50.
COMMUNISTS ADMIT THEIR ECONOMY IS IN TROUBLE
Communist China admitted to problems in its economy, particularly the �rapid expansion of investments and inflation� (Epoch Times), plus �the number of large loans and a shortage of coal.� Communist China is saddled with bad debt, and has now begun to import several major resources, including coal (See International News).
COMMUNISTS ADMIT TO HYGIENE AND HEALTH �PROBLEMS� FOR 2008 GAMES
Meanwhile, Beijing�s Olympic Committee �admitted that public hygiene and limited medical treatment will be problems during the 2008 Beijing Olympics� (Epoch Times). The International Red Cross volunteered to help, but the admission alone should be reason enough to keep America�s athletes away.
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