| CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: FEBRUARY 7, 2001 Note: This week�s update is a little late due to an illness. Also, due to Communist China�s dramatic escalation against Falun Gong, there was enough news to make the update a bit longer than usual. TOP STORY: THE WAR AGAINST FALUN GONG KILLS SEVEN, SPREADS TO HONG KONG Agence France Presse reported seven more Falun Gong deaths attributed Communist police actions. Four were beaten to death, according to the Information Center on Human Rights and Democracy in China. Two others died after being force-fed while on hunger strikes, and a seventh fell to his death from his balcony while evading police. Link: AFP Communist China has now begun pushing Hong Kong on the issue of Falun Gong. Although it is still legal in the city, Communist officials and their sympathizers in Hong Kong are publicly pressing to have the movement banned. Hong Kong cabinet member Nellie Fong labeled the group �embarrassment,� while calling of a ban. Beijing slammed the group for �using Hong Kong as an anti-China base.� Link: AFP This could be the biggest test of �one country, two systems� since the turnover to the People�s Republic of China in 1997, and Fong�s statement is not a good sign. Prior to that, Secretary for Security Regina Ip told reporters that the city will be �keeping a close eye on their activities.� Meanwhile, a UN human rights committee member said he didn�t think Falun Gong was a religious group, so they may not be much help. Links: CNN, BBC Hong Kong�s democratic politicians are taking notice, however. Emily Lau, a member of the Legislative Committee (LegCo), said Beijing�s harping on Falun Gong, and the city�s slow acquiescence, leaves people �very worried that in future, maybe the freedom of expression would be seriously limited.� She also said the issue would be up for discussion in future LegCo meetings. Link: Radio TV Hong Kong DUTCH FOREIGN MINISTER DROPS PRC TRIP OVER FALUN GONG FLAP The Netherlands also entered the fray yesterday by their cancellation of a trade mission to the PRC. According to AFP, the Communists objected to the mission, which would have included the Dutch Foreign Minister and their Human Rights Ambassador, because it intended to meet with Falun Gong members while in Hong Kong. Rather than bend to the Communists, Dutch FM Jozias Van Aartsen canceled the trip. Link: AFP The move was widely hailed by his countrymen, and one Member of Parliament, Bert Konders, called on van Aartsen to "get the European Union to adopt the same kind of stance" against the Communist crackdown. Konders, and Aartsen, it should be noted, are member of the Social Democratic Party, the Dutch party on the center-left. Link: AFP TAIWAN MORE DISTRUSTFUL OF "ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS" NOW Another silver lining in the thunderstorm comes from Taiwan, where the Communists squeeze on Hong Kong is perceived for what it is. A poll from the ROC Mainland Affairs Council shows over 60% don't expect Beijing to follow "one country, two systems" in Taiwan, and over 70% do not want reunification with the mainland under that model. Link: AFP The Washington Post had a feature on Liu Chunling, the protestor who died burning herself. The paper noted that no one in her hometown had ever seen her practice Falun Gong, providing some ammunition to the movement�s claim that the protestors were not believers, as the Communists claim. Falun Gong still insists Liu and four other self-immolating protestors were not followers, because suicide is a sin in Falun Gong. Link: Washington Post Communist China is also dramatically escalating its anti-Falun Gong campaign on the mainland in the wake of the self-immolation protest. BBC reported that �thousands of state workers� would be conscripted into the effort, which the news agency called �reminiscent of the Cultural Revolution� which killed tens of millions. Link: BBC TOP AMERICAN STORY: POWELL UNCONCERNED BY PRC MILITARY BUILDUP PANAMA CANAL DOESN'T WORRY HIM EITHER; DEFENSE SPENDING FROZEN In separate interviews, Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice pledged to focus on human rights in Communist China, and to help Taiwan defend itself, but were not very specific regarding possible actions. Powell also had this to say about the PRC�s military buildup, �I�m more interested in policies it may adopt that affect stability in the region.� Isn�t a military buildup such a policy? Link: AFP Powell gave the media another whopper on Tuesday, saying that Communist China's presence in the Panama Canal does not �cause me any great distress.� This despite the fact that the container ports are controlled by Hutchison Whampoa, a partly-PRC owned firm led by a Hong Kong sympathizer. Link: Washington Times Robert Kagan, a columnist for the Washington Post, revealed another disturbing Bush announcement: no defense spending increases for the next two years. Kagan, one of the most knowledgeable analysts regarding the PRC and Taiwan, and thus one of the most apprehensive, called it �his first broken campaign promise.� Link: Washington Post HUMAN RIGHTS AND NEWS MISSILE EXPERT, SUFFERING FROM CANCER, JAILED FOR 10 YEARS Hua Di, a missile expert and register U.S. alien, was sentenced to 10 years for writing articles on PRC missile programs while in the U.S. Hua, who was a Communist missile researcher before fleeing in the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square massacre, never acquired U.S. citizenship due to his desire to help the Chinese people. He was arrested in 1998 after returning to the PRC for a family funeral. Link: AFP CHINESE ATTORNEY TORTURED BY COMMUNISTS FOR TWO YEARS BBC reported the harrowing story of Li Kuisheng, a well-known attorney in Communist China tortured for over two years by police for defending a local official accused of corruption. Li was, among other things, dragged through the snow naked and forced to stay awake for two weeks. However, other attorneys appealed to have him released. That ended, as BBC itself put it, �a damning indictment of China's judicial system.� Link: BBC JUDGE GIVEN SEVEN YEARS FOR HELPING STORE BUY FALUN GONG BOOKS BEFORE BAN Communist China has sentenced Judge Hu Qingyun to seven years in jail for helping a bookstore buy Falun Gong books. The sentence was handed down despite the fact that Hu acted before the Communists banned the movement, a move typical of the Communists, according to AFP. Link: AFP SHANGHAI GOING AFTER �UNAUTHORIZED� WEB SITES Communists in Shanghai have begun a crackdown against �unauthorized� web sites. According to CNN, the city will conduct a month-long search for sites that have not applied for licenses. Without the licenses, the Communists won�t be able to enforce regulations set down in October forcing all Internet Content Providers (ICPs) from handing over all content to the government every 60 days, to prevent �subversive� content. Link: CNN EX-PRISONER ON HUNGER STRIKE FOR CONTINUED TREATMENT OF PRISON INJURIES Li Wangyang, a former independent union leader jailed for 11 years, has started a hunger strike to protest the halting of medical treatment for injuries he acquired while in prison. AFP, citing Human Rights in China reported that Li�s medical care was stopped on January 25. Due to excessive beatings, Li is unable to walk, and may soon go blind. Link: AFP OTHER MAINLAND NEWS CORRUPT OFFICIALS ON THE RUN NUMBER OVER 4,000 Communist Chinese media has admitted that over 4,000 corrupt officials are on the run from investigators. BBC, citing the Guangzhou Daily, reported that the legions of corrupt Communists have stolen over half a billion dollars for the government and state-run businesses. Link: BBC SPACE FLIGHT MAY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS; COMMUNISTS IMPOSE NEWS BLACKOUT Despite repeated denials by Communist China, many are wondering if the well-hyped Shenzhou II space flight had serious problems. Since the ship landed, the Communists have imposed a news blackout. AFP quoted Spacedaily.com, which noted that such a lack of news is unusual �considering the significance of the mission.� Link: AFP PRC ADOPTS FLAT AGRICULTURAL TAX IN ATTEMPT TO HALT FARMER UNREST Hoping to quell a rising tide of anger in rural communities, Communist China has adopted a flat 5% tax for all farmers. BBC reported last that the old process of allowing local Communists to determine the taxes for each household has been scrapped due to rising protests among peasants. AFP reports that the Communists also announced a 20% reduction in local offices to reduce the expenditures that the taxes cover. Links: BBC, AFP OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS ZHONG GONG ASKS BUSH TO GIVE ASYLUM TO ITS LEADER Members of the Zhong Gong spiritual faith, which is similar to Falun Gong and, like it, banned in the PRC, have asked President Bush to intervene in the asylum case of the group�s leader Zhang Hongbao. Zhang�s asylum request was denied, but he was granted the right to stay in the U.S. The group is �placing our hopes in the new administration� to end the legal limbo Zhang is in and grant him full asylum. Link: AFP PRC CRITICIZES US MISSILE DEFENSE AGAIN Communist China once again took aim at a proposed missile defense by the U.S. The Communists called the defense, designed to protect Americans and allies against rouge states like North Korea, Iraq, Iran, and Libya, �detrimental.� All four nations are client of the Communist military. The PRC is also worried the U.S. might let Taiwan have its own missile defense, wiping out the use of the recent Communist missile buildup. Link: AFP PRC BUSINESSMAN ADMITS TO ATTEMPT TO GET MISSILE-RELATED GYROSCOPES Yao Yi, head of Lion Photonics, Inc., admitted last week that he tried to bring into the PRC gyroscopes that could be used for missiles, �smart bombs,� and other weapons. He was arrested last year; his cohort, Colin Xu, had been arrested in Boston two years ago before the gyroscopes were shipped, and received a 30-year prison term. Yao, who said the devices were to be used for �peaceful ends,� will be sentenced in April. Link: AFP QUESTIONING OF LEE LEADS TO FEW ANSWERS The Washington Post reported that FBI interrogators of ex-Los Alamos scientist Wen Ho Lee no nearer to finding out the fate of his data tapes than before his plea bargain. Lee had several contacts with PRC and ROC scientist, leaving many to wonder whether he gave secret material to one or the other. Link: Washington Post INTERNATIONAL NEWS PRC CALLS FOR END OF LIBYA SANCTIONS Communist China, through spokesperson Zhu Bangzao, publicly called for the lifting of economic sanctions against Libya after the verdict in the Lockerbie bombing trial was reached. It should be noted that Libya is one of several �rouge states� that has purchased military technology and/or weapons parts from the PRC. Link: AFP AS CANADIAN PM PREPARES TRADE TRIP TO PRC, INVESTIGATION BEGINS AT HOME As Canada's Prime Minister Jean Chretien is preparing for a trade talks with Communist China next week, Canadian officials told AFP and other media the human rights would be discussed during the trade mission. In a rare sign of unity, all five major Canadian parties, including Chretien's, demanded that human rights be the major issue in the talks. Link: AFP Meanwhile, Canadian Foreign Minster John Manley announced a government investigation into charges that PRC diplomats "harassed and threatened" Falun Gong members in Canada. Link: CNN HUTCHISON WHAMPOA BUILDS CANAL PORT IN BAHAMAS Hutchison Whampoa, the Hong Kong firm partly owned by the PRC and currently in charge of the container ports in the Panama Canal, is wrapping up the construction of a similar port in the Bahamas, the �largest in the world,� according to Newsmax.com. While no overt military presence is there, the Bahamas are in a highly strategic area, and HW CEO Li Ka-shing is a well-known Beijing sympathizer (see previous updates). Courtesy Ron Vogel: Member since 2000. Link: Newsmax.com REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS COMMUNIST CHINESE MISSILES AIMED AT TAIWAN NOW OVER 300 The Washington Times reported that the Communist missile buildup against Taiwan, reported in previous updates, has reached 300 missiles. According the Times, Russia, already the PRC�s biggest weapons supplier, is also handing over �advanced ballistic-missile technology and strategic nuclear warhead know-how.� One analyst said, �The Russians will sell anything to the Chinese that the Chinese want to buy.� Link: Washington Times FIRST BOAT FROM COMMUNIST CHINA REACHES KINMEN (QUEMOY) ISLAND The first boat to travel legally from Communist China to ROC territory reached Kinmen (a.k.a. Quemoy) Island yesterday. It is the first time in over five decades that such a vessel made the trip. Already, however, residents of Kinmen are wondering if the �mini-links� would do anything but �make it legal for smuggling.� Link: CNN NUCLEAR PLANT CONSTRUCTION TO RESUME PENDING YUAN ELECTIONS President Chen Shui-bian�s has agreed to reverse his decision to cancel the island�s partly-built nuclear power plant. David Chou party whip in the Legislative Yuan for Chen�s Democratic Progressive Party, said the party agreed to let work continue �until the end of the year,� when voters elect a new Yuan. The Nationalist Party, which backs the plant, controls the Yuan, but is expected to lose seats in the next vote. Link: CNN NOBEL PRIZE WINNING DISSIDENT VISITS PRESIDENT CHEN IN TAIWAN Gao Xingjian, the exiled Chinese dissident winner of the Nobel Prize for literature, began a two-week visit to Taiwan. Gao, who visited Hong Kong the week before, received a warm welcome from President Chen, in contrast to the cold shoulder he got in Hong Kong. Gao praised Taiwan�s �full respect for arts and literature,� i.e., its willingness to let artists write what they wish without the threat of a prison cell. Link: CNN VICE ECONOMICS MINISTER VISITS PRC Yin Chi-Ming, ROC Vice-Economics Minister, began a low-key visit to the mainland this week to examine the state of development and Taiwanese investment there. AFP reported that the government is considering lifting a four-year ban on investments in Communist China for infrastructure, high-tech, or anything over $50 million. Link: AFP TEN TAIWANESE BUSINESSMEN SAIL TO XIAMEN UNDER SPECIAL PERMISSION For the first time, residents of Taiwan proper traveled directly to Communist China, thanks to special permission from the ROC government. Ten Taiwanese businessmen sailed to the mainland city of Xiamen (yes, the one with the huge smuggling scandal). Under the established �mini-links,� only residents of the outer ROC islands of Kinmen (a.k.a. Quemoy), Matsu, and Penghu were allowed to visit the mainland. Link: AFP TIBET NEWS INDIA GRANTS ASYLUM TO KARMAPA LAMA OVER ONE YEAR AFTER ESCAPE FROM PRC BBC reported that the Indian government granted the Karmapa Lama asylum over the weekend. The Karmapa Lama, the third highest cleric in Tibetan Buddhism and the only cleric recognized by Communist China and the Dalai Lama, mdae a dramatic escape from the PRC over a year ago. An embarrassed Beijing demanded the Karmapa Lama not be allowed to engage in �anti-Chinese activities.� Link: BBC TIBETAN FARMER, BEATEN FOR ROLE IN MAJOR PROTEST, DIES IN POLICE CUSTODY Tsering Wangdrag, a farmer who joined the last major protest in Tibet, died in a Sichuan province prison. Wangdrag was part of the October 31, 1999, protest against the arrest of Tibetan Buddhist monk Sonam Phuntsog. The Tibet Information Network said the farmer was beaten several times before he died. Link: AFP No news from Xinjiang/East Turkestan this week. 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]. |