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CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: APRIL 28, 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: DID THE GORELICK MEMO BLOCK PRC ESPIONAGE PROBES?
INVESTIGATION OF COMMUNIST CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICAN POLITICANS HIT THE 1995 �WALL�, SAY SOME OFFICIALS; PROSECUTOR DISAGREES
The now infamous memo by then-Assistant Attorney General Jamie Gorelick that built a �wall� separating intelligence information from Justice Department investigations may have �created "a roadblock" to the probe of the 1996 Clinton re-election campaign fundraising scandal� (Cybercast News), and other Communist Chinese espionage investigations.
Peter M. Leitner, a former Pentagon official, was insistent that the Gorelick �wall� protected the Communists: �he repeatedly saw investigations that would have led directly to foreign agents stymied by the wall erected by Gorelick in her 1995 memo.� Unnamed sources said the probes �ultimately may have led directly to President Clinton and Vice President Gore.�
There have been other explanations for the fundraising probes stalling; in particular interference from accused Communist spy Katrina Leung, a double agent � and Republican fundraiser � who may have stymied probes against the People�s Republic going back two decades (see 4/16/03, 4/23/03, 4/30/03, 5/7/03, and 5/14/03 Updates).
Check out the Communist China and the Terrorist War page.
OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS
Sign the petition for an American boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
COMMUNIST MILITARY BUILT �TO FIGHT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA�
Communist China�s rapidly expanding military is, in the words of Penn Professor Arthur Lauder, �specifically configured to fight the United States of America� (Agence France Presse via Channel News Asia). The Communist build up is focused, for the short-term, against �any separation moves by Taiwan or American involvement in a cross-strait conflict.�
Further into the future, in Lauder�s words again, �no objective reason exists why China, if she stays on her present course, should not eventually pose an even greater threat to the United States and its friends and allies than did the Soviet Union.�
Meanwhile, the PRC military �completed a series of Information Warfare combat exercises� (Newsmax) that included �a simulated communication confrontation training system by using computer network, multimedia and virtual technology.�
COMMUNIST CHINA VIOLATING 1997 CHEMICAL WEAPONS TREATY
Communist China has yet to comply with the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention. The PRC �maintains an active chemical weapons research and development program, a possible undeclared chemical weapons stockpile, and weapons-related facilities that were not declared� (Bill Gertz, Washington Times), all of which are in violation of the agreement.
PRC DIPLOMATS RUN LOS ALAMOS GATE
Speaking of espionage, two Communist Chinese �diplomats� made an unauthorized trip to the Los Alamos nuclear weapons lab, and �sped a white Ford Escort past a guard post at the New Mexico facility� (Bill Gertz, Washington Times). That last tidbit is part of the reason American officials think the trip �was an intelligence mission.�
COMMUNIST MILITARY �NANO-SATELLITE� NOW IN ORBIT
For all those who thought the space program was just for show, the Communist military now has flying in space a �nano-satellite.� The mini-orbiter weighs only 55 pounds, and as such, according to analyst James Fisher of the Jamestown Foundation, �difficult to impossible to detect, and thus, to either avoid or shoot down� (Newsmax).
The U.S. has no nano-satellites, due in part to �political concerns from Congress,� in particular those �who oppose both space weapons and the U.S. National Missile defense.�
COMMUNIST CHINA PLEDGES TO SUSPEND WAPI, MAKES OTHER TRADE PROMISES
After meeting with American officials, PRC Vice Premier Wu Yi �pledged action ranging from cracking down on rampant intellectual property piracy to opening up the country's goods distribution system� (BBC), repeating promises Communist China has made numerous times, only to leave unfulfilled.
Meanwhile, the PRC �says it is now shelving the implementation of new wireless encryption standards for computers and mobile phones.� That would mean American tech firms are no longer blocked by the Communist-only WAPI encryption. Unfortunately, it also means they�ll rush headlong into the PRC, and once WAPI is �unshelved� they will be trapped.
COMMUNISTS CENSOR CHENEY�S SPEECH, WITHOUT HIM KNOWING IT
Communist China censored Vice President Dick Cheney, making �more than a dozen major alterations or deletions� (CNN) to Cheney�s speech to Fudan University. Cheney made the speech just before he left Communist China. The PRC had earlier edited Hillary Clinton�s autobiography � without her permission (see 9/24/03, 12/24/03, 4/15 and last Updates).
Among the deleted parts of the speech were �any mention of freedom, democracy or Taiwan-related subjects� (Central News Agency, Taiwan, via Epoch Times). This line was also yanked: �The war on terrorism must never be used as an excuse for silencing legitimate dissent,� a line that many interpreted as a reference to the persecuted Uighurs.
COMMUNIST CHINA TALKS ABOUT CURRENCY FLOAT, AGAIN
The PRC is talking about letting its currency rise in value, something it has repeatedly said it would consider, but has never actually done. Even now, �it remains unclear if Beijing was seriously investigating a new policy or merely seeking to defuse pressure� (BBC).
Communist China has held its currency to an undervalued level against the dollar for years � seriously damaging both U.S. manufacturing and the export sectors of our allies in Asia.
U.S. OFFICIALS PLEDGE ARMS SALES TO ROC WILL CONTINUE; INDEPENDENCE PANNED
Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly told Congress that the U.S. �will continue the sale of appropriate defensive military equipment to Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act� (Bill Gertz, Washington Times). However, Kelly and other Administration officials panned �any unilateral move towards independence� by the island democracy.
Kelly was the more explicit critic of Taiwanese independence, calling moves toward it �irresponsible� (Washington Post). He cited the PRC arms buildup as a reason for Taiwan to be careful, but neglected to note that it may have a role in Taiwan�s skittishness about the ridiculous �one China� policy. Assistant Secretary of Defense Peter Rodman also testified. For more on the island democracy, see Republic of China (Taiwan) News.
U.S., UK �DISAPPOINTED� WITH COMMUNIST DECISION ON HONG KONG
The United States and Great Britain criticized Communist China�s veto of any direct elections for Hong Kong�s Chief Executive (see Hong Kong News). Britain, who gave the city an all-elected legislature before ceding the city to the PRC in 1997, said they were �disappointed� (BBC). The U.S. called it �an erosion of island's autonomy.�
FBI DIRECTOR PRAISES COMMUNIST CHINA, �COOPERATION�
FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III visited Beijing last week, and actually stated he �hoped to improve ties with Chinese police and security organizations because the war on terrorism and international crime required close cooperation with foreign counterparts� (United Press International via Washington Times). Mueller clearly has some reading to do.
BO XILAI GETS SERVED WITH LAWSUIT; ENTOURAGE ATTACKS SERVER
PRC Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai visited the U.S., and was promptly served with a lawsuit �alleging such serious human rights abuses as torture, genocide and other crimes against humanity� (Epoch Times). Bo responded thusly: �he proceeded to throw the papers on to the ground. Members of his entourage immediately attacked the process server.�
Bo was served for persecuting Falun Gong practitioners, among others, during his brief term as governor of the thoroughly corrupt Liaoning Province (see 3/31 Update).
CHINA LIFE ADMITS TO SEC INVESTIGATION
The Communist-owned China Life �confirmed it has received an informal inquiry� (BBC) from the Securities Exchange Commission. The reason was not noted, but the firm, which put 28% of its shares up for offering in New York and Hong Kong last December, has admitted to concealing an audit that found �irregularities worth about $652m up to 2002.�
ANTI-PRC SENATOR SLIPS PAST OPPONENT IN PENNSYLVANIA PRIMARY
Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvania) was nominated for a fifth term with 51% of the vote. Specter, a leading anti-Communist in the Senate, defeated primary challenger Pat Toomey, who won 49%. Specter will face Democratic Congressmen Joseph Hoeffel in the general election. Reports: Cybercast News, Washington Post, Washington Times
NORTH KOREA NEWS
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COMMUNIST CHINA FIRST TO SEND AID TO NK AFTER TRAIN EXPLOSION
Communist China was first out of the box with aid to North Korea after a train explosion killed over 150 Koreans (BBC). North Korea held up aid from South Korea, and waited for at least a day before asking anyone else�s help. The PRC�s Xinhua news agency was also the only foreign press entity allowed to see the devastated city center (Cybercast News).
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
BRITISH FIRM TO SELL ANTI-EAVESDROPPING EQUIPMENT TO COMMUNIST CHINA
Audiotel, a British firm specializing in security equipment, won a contract to sell �items to protect against the threat of electronic eavesdropping� (BBC) to Great Wall Yong Ji Security Technology, a Communist firm that �provides products for the government, airports and the military.� So now the military can get anti-eavesdropping equipment. Wonderful.
NEWS FROM THE FALUN GONG WAR
PROTEST ANNIVERSARY OBSERVED
Falun Gong marked the fifth anniversary of the April 25, 1999 demonstration to protest Communist propaganda against the spiritual movement. The Communists were at the time slandering the movement, and building for an eventual ban, which came down in July 1999. Reports: Falun Dafa International via China Support Network, Epoch Times
HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS NEWS
SHANGHAI USES CAMERAS AND SOFTWARE TO WATCH OVER INTERNET CAFE PATRONS
The Communists in Shanghai are watching you, literally. The cadres have �installed video cameras in its internet cafes in order to monitor users� (BBC), and added new software to �send a message to a supervisory centre if users try to view what the Chinese Government considers unsuitable material.� This one-two punch has already felled over 50 cafes.
CCTV CAMERAMAN ASSAULTS REPORTER WHO BUMPED INTO HIM
An unnamed reporter accidentally bumped into a CCTV cameraman at a press conference in Beijing. The Communist cameraman �promptly put aside his equipment and began to beat up the reporter� (Epoch Times). The reporter was badly hurt. Communist media, of course, said nothing of the incident.
COMMUNISTS LAUNCH �PSYCHOLOGICAL SUNSHINE� PROJECT
Communist China is starting a �Psychological-Sunshine Project� (Epoch Times) to help the young handle emotional and behavioral problems. As good as that sounds, one must remember the tendency of all Communist regimes to label their opponents mentally ill, such as labor activist Cao Moabing, who was sent to a mental hospital (see 12/20/00 Update).
EPIDEMIC NEWS
COMMUNIST CHINESE SAFETY BREACHES LEAD TO SARS RETURN
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) reared its ugly head again with eight cases in Communist China (CNN), thanks to the National institute of Virology in Beijing, a lab which �breached safety guidelines many times� (Epoch Times), allowing some of its staff to fall ill. One of those patients, a student researcher, likely infected her mother, who has since died.
Making matters worse, �it took nearly a month to confirm the student was infected. In that time she made several long train trips across the country, possibly exposing many people to the virus� (BBC). The Communists now have quarantined over 1,000 people, while the World Health Organization has sent teams to the PRC to investigate further.
SARS first hit the PRC in late 2002; but the Communists kept quiet about it for months as it spread throughout Asia and around the world (see 3/19/03, 3/26/03, 4/2/03, 4/9/03, 4/16/03, and 4/23/03 Updates). This year, their lack of precaution may do it again.
OTHER MAINLAND NEWS
FUYANG COMMUNISTS SAT ON FAKE BABY MILK INFORMATION FOR ALMOST A YEAR
While a recent spate of baby deaths due to malnutrition caused by the sale of fake baby has many in Communist China on edge, cadres in the city of Fuyang (Anhui province) will really feel the head: �the Fuyang city government failed to act despite knowing about the problem last May� (BBC, emphasis added). Also reporting: Freedom Times via Epoch Times
REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS
TAIWAN AGAIN SAYS NEW CONSTITUTION NOT AN INDEPENDENCE MOVE
Once again, Taiwan, answering hinted American concerns (see American-Related News), �denied that plans to amend its constitution are a step towards independence from China� (BBC). Foreign Minister Chen Tan-sun said the new constitution �will be carried out under the existing framework,� i.e., it will not mean a move toward formal independence.
DPP OFFICIAL CALLS FOR BAN ON JACKIE CHAN MOVIE, HONG KONG BOYCOTT
Parris Chiang, a high-ranking member of President Chen Shui-bian�s Democratic Progressive Party, has called for a ban on Jackie Chan�s new movie because of Chan�s criticism of the recent elections on the island democracy. Chiang, who also �called on Taiwanese people to boycott the star's home, Hong Kong� (BBC), won little support for either within the DPP.
HONG KONG NEWS
COMMUNIST CHINA BLOCKS ELECTIONS FOR HONG KONG
Communist China made it official, and �declared on Monday that it would not allow Hong Kong to elect its next chief executive in 2007 or to expand legislative elections in 2008� (Washington Post). A Communist-appointed panel selected Tung, and a similar panel will choose the next Chief Executive.
The move �provoked an immediate outcry among Hong Kong's democracy advocates.� The U.S. and Great Britain were also unhappy (see Other American-Related News). Also reporting: CNN, BBC, VOA via Epoch Times, Washington Times
PRO-DEMOCRACY LEGISLATORS BANNED FROM MAINLAND
As the Communists are met to decide its fate, Communist China has banned two pro-democracy members of Hong Kong�s Legislative Council from entering the mainland. The Communists did allow their Hong Kong allies to the meeting. Report: VOA via Epoch Times
TIBET NEWS
CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER MEETS DALAI LAMA
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Marin met with the Dalai Lama on Friday to discuss, according to Martin, �the world situation, the question of human rights, the rights of people in Tibet� (AFP via Taipei Times). Martin took it on all sides for the meeting � from the PRC for having it (see last Update) and from critics for �downplaying the political dimension of the talks.�
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