| New Web Site Feature � �Communist China, the Taliban, and the Terrorist War�: From China e-Lobby Updates and �Week�s Links,� a chronicle of Communist China�s actions after the terrorist attack. Access it on our web site, either directly or via our main page. Sign the Boycott Petition: In reaction to the 2008 Olympic Games being awarded to Beijing, the China e-Lobby has begun a petition for an American boycott of those games. Feel free to forward this to anyone you think might be interested in receiving it. Anyone who wishes to join can send his/her name and e-mail address to [email protected]. CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: NOVEMBER 28, 2001 TOP STORY: COMMUNIST CHINA TELLS U.S. NOT TO ATTACK IRAQ PRC STILL HOPING TO PREVENT �PRO-U.S. REGIME� IN KABUL Communist China is once again revealing its softness in backing the terrorist war with statements warning against an attack on Iraq. The PRC used its Xinhua News Agency to sound the warning, while CNN�s Willy Wo-Lap Lam noted that the Communists have said they would �modify their policy of acquiescence toward the U.S.-led anti-terrorist campaign should the military action spill over to Iraq.� Iraq is considered the biggest producer of chemical and biological weapons, and is the only nation in recent years to use them, including against dissidents in its own country. Earlier this year, the PRC firm Huawei Technologies was caught building a fiber-optic network in Iraq to help Saddam Hussein integrate his air-defense network against American air strikes. Meanwhile, the Communists are still scheming to block a �pro-American regime in Kabul� and hoping that the Russians, the closest friends of the Northern Alliance, will help them in that regard. The PRC is also worried about the U.S. �expand(ing) its foothold in Central Asia.� Beijing has been focusing on this ever since September 11, keeping it well above support for the U.S. on its list of priorities. OTHER NEWS ON COMMUNIST CHINA AND THE TERRORIST WAR COMMUNIST CHINA CLAIMS �TERRORIST ORGANIZATION� IS BROKEN The Communist announced the arrest of the leaders of the Myanmar Democratic Allied Army, a group they dubbed a �terrorist organization,� according to CNN�s Willy Wo-Lap Lam. The MDAA, according to the Communists, engaged in �kidnapping, robbery and other crimes.� Curiously, the Communists left out whether this group, of which no one had heard before, �had engaged in religious or separatist activities.� OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS U.S. TAKING OFFERS ON PLANS TO BUILD DIESEL SUBMARINES FOR TAIWAN After agreeing to sell diesel submarines to Taiwan � only to find the two nations in which they are produced refused to do so for the ROC � the Bush Administration is examining proposals from eight firms to build the subs for the island democracy, according to Cybercast News Service. U.S. plans to make them on its own naturally had the Communists livid. See Republic of China (Taiwan) News for more news on the island democracy. No news was reported from East Turkestan, Hong Kong, or Tibet this week. HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS NEWS FROM THE FALUN GONG WAR: DEMONSTRATORS RETURN HOME Two demonstrators arrested and expelled with over 30 others for their Tiananmen Square protest against the Communist crackdown on Falun Gong returned to California over the weekend. According to the Los Angeles Times, they went to �to give people a chance for freedom, freedom from the lies they are forced to hear. Both protestors, one of whom is an Israeli exchange student, are Falun Gong members. OTHER MAINLAND NEWS JIANG LOOKS TO DEIFY HIMSELF BEFORE RETIREMENT PRC President Jiang Zemin is still looking to make himself the equal of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping with a new propaganda effort highlighting his role in Communist �reforms.� However, Jiang�s plans to elevate proteges and maintain a post-retirement role are meeting resistance within the Communist party, according to CNN�s Willy Wo-Lap Lam. UN REPORT SAYS AIDS CASES ARE OVER 1 MILLION IN COMMUNIST CHINA A report by the UN World Health Organization, cited by BBC, projects the number of AIDS infections in Communist China at over 1 million, nearly double the WHO estimate of 2000. As the news report notes, a large part of the epidemic has its roots in a Communist-run blood donation program in the rural interior that � thanks to appalling blood safety practices � infected �tens of thousands� in Henan province alone. PASSPORT RULES SIMPLIFIED, EXIT VISAS NOT CHANGED The BBC reported that Beijing is �set to scrap rules which for decades have prevented most of its citizens from holding a passport.� The PRC�s entry into the World Trade Organization prompted the move. However, the story mentioned nothing about exit visas. Thousands Chinese try to escape of Communist China every year, some paying thousands to criminal groups in order to get forged documents to get out. COMMUNIST CHINA SETTING PLANS FOR LUNAR MISSION CNN and the BBC report Communist China�s announcement of plans to put a man on the moon by 2005. The PRC has yet to send anyone into space, however, and says it will not do so until it is �100% safe.� INTERNATIONAL NEWS COMMUNIST CHINA�S VAST LABOR POOL ATTRACTING ATTENTION, PRC MUZZLES ARE NOT The Washington Post story on international investors in Communist China should not shock anyone. What was somewhat surprising was what the story missed in its discussion of rock-bottom labor costs � such as the ban on any independent labor organization, and the widespread use of prison labor. Both of these tend to depress � or oppress, which is likely the more accurate word � labor demands for higher wages. REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS (See also American Related News) ELECTION NEWS: POLLS SAY RACE IS TOO CLOSE TO CALL; COMMUNISTS HOPE FOR VICTORY BY ANTI-CHEN PARTIES IN DECEMBER 1 ELECTIONS In the much-anticipated ROC elections to take place on Saturday, polls cited by CNN�s Willy Wo-Lap Lam show no leader in the race for control of the Legislative Yuan. The main battle is between the Democratic Progressive Party of President Chen Shui-bian, and the formerly governing Nationalists, who have warmed up to Communist China since their defeat, and hold the most seats in the Legislative Yuan. Three smaller parties will also play a big role. The Nationalists are hoping top form an alliance with the People First Party, but so far the PFP � link the Nationalists supportive of closer ties with the PRC but weary of the ex-governing party�s history of corruption � have balked. The New Party, which supports a rapid reunification with the Communists, could also win anti-Chen votes. (BBC profile of parties). Adding further suspense to the vote is the new Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), founded this summer by ex-President Lee Teng-Hui. Lee, dubbed �Mr. Democracy� for ushering in representative government, founded the party to pull his supporters out of the Nationalists in reaction to its coziness with Beijing. CNN�s Lam reports that Lee is willing to work with Chen, which has the Communists very nervous. The PRC is already trying to block Lee from a possible post-election tour abroad, and trying to downplay Chen and Lee should their parties show strength at the polls. Lam also examined the issues in the races, which mainly hinge on the recent recession and, as always, relations with the Communists. Lam notes that this election will be the first test of the Communist strategy of wooing the Nationalists and PFP in order to isolate Chen. CNN reported on the start of Taiwan�s election campaign. The ROC is famous for the most wide-open and raucous campaigns in Asia. TAIWAN TO ALLOW 1,000 MAINLAND TOURISTS A DAY, IF THEY STUDY OR LIVE ABROAD The ROC government announced a new policy to let 1,000 Chinese tourists a day into Taiwan, provided that they lived or studied outside the PRC, according to the BBC and CNN. That policy may be further loosened in the future to allow more visitors, including some from the mainland, if the Communists reciprocate the act of �goodwill.� The PRC has yet to react positively to any goodwill from Taiwan. |