| Link of the Week This is usually not the place for a news story, but had the most import. Intelligence officials told the Washington Times that Huawei Technologies, the PRC-run firm that built a fiber-optic network for Iraq�s air defense system, has been building a telephone network in Kabul for the Taliban �for the past two years,� refuting Beijing�s claims that �no Chinese firms are working in Afghanistan. On Defense and Foreign Policy The terrorist war has its share of opportunists, and Communist China is eagerly acting as one of them. While Beijing pledges support, many Communists still focus on the expansion of Beijing�s influence, and see the U.S. as its chief threat. This Los Angeles Times story did not mention reports that the PRC saw the Taliban as a �check� on American power (see last Week�s Links) or the news above. On the Communist Party Central Committee Meeting The BBC looks at the latest attempt to enhance the Party�s image with statements �issued in the usual opaque and coded Communist officialese,� and the reaction to them. They also examine Jiang�s efforts to place his stamp on the meeting. Willy Wo-Lap Lam (CNN) takes a look at Jiang�s failed attempt to help his prot�g� Zeng Qinghong. Feel free to forward this to anyone you think might be interested in receiving this. Anyone who wishes to join can send his/her name and e-mail address to [email protected]. Please visit our web site. |