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CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: JULY 30, 2003
Note: due to vacation plans, the next Update will go out on August 13.
TOP STORY: U.S. OFFICIAL TELLS PRC TO KEEP A LID ON WEAPONS SALES
IRAN, NORTH KOREA, AND LIBYA STILL GETTING ARMS FROM PRC
Assistant Secretary of State Paula A. DeSutter told the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission that Communist China continues to be dishonest in its pledges to stop weapons sales to terrorist (Newsmax) states. In fact, according to the State Department, Communist-owned firms are still selling weapons to Iran, North Korea, and Libya.
Check out the Communist China and the Terrorist War page.
NORTH KOREA NEWS
STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL VISITS BEIJING FOR TALKS ON NORTH KOREA
Undersecretary of State John Bolton visited the so-called People�s Republic for talks on North Korea�s nuclear ambitions, as the Communist ally continued to hold its nose to any talks. Reports: BBC, Agence France Presse via Washington Times
COMMUNISTS LOOKING FOR MOVEMENT ON NK � FROM U.S.
Communist China is hoping the U.S. and North Korea can reach an agreement regarding the latter�s nuclear ambitions. While the Communists have �vowed to keep up the pressure on North Korea� (Willy Wo-Lap Lam, CNN), they still haven�t stopped shilling for their Stalinist allies and their goal of �a firmer -- and more formal -- declaration of non-aggression.�
For more on Communist China�s Stalinist ally, sign up for Monday�s North Korea Report.
OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS
TWO UNDER ARREST FOR TRYING TO EXPORT FIGHTER JET PARTS TO COMMUNIST CHINA
U.S. authorities have arrested two men for trying to export �components for F-4 and F-5 fighter jets and conspiring to export parts for F-14 Tomcat fighter jets, AH-1J Cobra helicopter gunships and Hawk surface-to-air missiles� (CNN) to Communist China.
BROTHERS CONVICTED OF CRIMINAL SCHEME FOR ESCAPEES
A jury in Washington, D.C., found two brothers guilty of charging $20,000 to $60,000 to help people escape from Communist China (see last Update). The brothers manufactured engagements to make it easier for the escapees. Report: Washington Post
OUTGOING U.S. AMBASSADOR PRAISES U.S.-INDIA FRIENDSHIP
Robert Blackwill, the outgoing Ambassador to India, �praised U.S.-Indian cooperation in the war on terrorism in his final policy speech before returning to Harvard University to resume his teaching career� (Washington Times). Ties between the longtime PRC rival and the U.S. have improved dramatically in recent years.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS NEWS
YANG JIANLI CHARGED WITH SPYING
Communist China indicted dissident Yang Jianli, arrested by the Communists after he returned from exile to the PRC to help anti-Communist labor protests last year (see 5/1/02 Update), for �espionage� (International Herald Tribune). The trial will be closed to the public, and foreign media � no real surprise there.
ANOTHER ONLINE WRITER ARRESTED BY THE COMMUNISTS
Communist China arrested another internet activist last month. Lou Yongzhong, a disabled man from Changchun, is under arrest after publishing �more than 150 articles online, many of them political commentaries� (Newsmax). The Communists are denying that he�s in custody � which is usually a sign that he�s in for some really rough treatment.
OTHER MAINLAND NEWS
COMMUNISTS TAKE ANOTHER SHOT AT INTERNAL �IMBALANCE�
Communist China will try again on improving the impoverished rural interior. Previous attempts have run into �many problems and difficulties.� Report: Willy Wo-Lap Lam, CNN
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
PRC AND INDIA ARGUING OVER BORDER INCURSIONS; INDIA RELEASES POWS FROM �62
Communist China and India accused each other of military border incursions last week (CNN). India lost nearly 40,000 square miles to the PRC during a 1962 border war, and Communist China has laid claim to nearly 100,000 more square miles. Meanwhile, India released two Communist prisoners of the 1962 war over the weekend (Washington Times).
REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS
COMMUNISTS WORKING TO UNDERMINE CHEN QUIETLY
As ROC President Chen Shui-bian prepares to let the people decide whether it should keep trying to join the World Health Organization (see 6/25/03 Update), the PRC has �responded to these developments in a relative restrained manner� (Willy Wo-Lap Lam, CNN).
The Communists are using the low-key approach out of fear that �a high-decibel response would boost Chen's election chances.� Chen, a member of the anti-Communist, pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, is up for re-election next spring.
HONG KONG NEWS
CITY BACK IN �CONSULTATION� MODE ON �ANTI-SUBVERSION� LAW
Hong Kong has reopened �consultation� on the hideous �anti-subversion� law that was pulled after half a million took to the streets against it (see 7/2 and 7/9 Updates). Many of its critics, including Hong Kong�s Roman Catholic Bishop Joseph Zen, said the law itself requires major changes before they can accept it. Report: Cybercast News
The �anti-subversion� law banned anything that could be considered subversion, treason, or theft of state secrets (the latter being the typical Communist catch-all crime). Many in the pro-democracy movement in the city, including Bishop Zen, have also called for the Communist-appointed regime in the city to be replaced by an elected government.
TUNG CHEE-HWA MEETS PRO-DEMOCRACY LEGISLATORS
Meanwhile, Tung met with the pro-democracy members of the Hong Kong Legislative Committee (LegCo) for the first time since the people took to the streets on July 1 (see above). Tung came out of the meeting optimistic, but the legislators did not. Report: BBC
There was no news from Tibet this week.
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