9August2000

CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: AUGUST 9, 2000

TOP STORY: COMMUNIST POLICE SHUT DOWN DISSIDENT-RUN WEB SITE
SITE WAS THE FIRST BASED INSIDE COMMUNIST CHINA TO SUPPORT DEMOCRACY
Agence France Presse reported Monday that Communist China first home-based dissident site was shut down by Communist police last week, citing Human Rights in China. The Washington Post and Associated Press confirmed the site, known as www.xinwenming.com, or New Culture Forum, had been shut down last Thursday for ï¿½anti-governmentï¿½ content, citing an official at the internet service provider where the site was registered.

Xin Wenming, founder of the pro-democracy web site, is now on the run from police for the its ï¿½counter-revolutionaryï¿½ content. HRIC said the dissident-managed site was the first of its kind to be started and operated from inside the Peopleï¿½s Republic of China. AFP said the site attracted ï¿½a large swath of Chinaï¿½s dissident community.ï¿½ BBC reported Communist China told local media to fight the internet ï¿½enemies.ï¿½ Links: AFP, Washington Post, BBC

HONG KONG: INQUIRY INTO POLLING CONTROVERSY BEGINS
HONG KONG PROFESSOR TELLS PANEL OF GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTS TO STOP HIS POLLING
A panel convened by Hong Kong University began their investigation of charges that the government of Hong Kong pressured a professor to stop polls that showed the regime of Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa was losing popularity. Hong Kong University Professor Robert Chung has previously said Tung relayed a message through assistants to the university to stop the polling. Tung has denied pressuring Chung.

BBC reported Chungï¿½s testimony before the panel on Monday. For obvious reasons, the issue has created great concern for in Hong Kong, where the ï¿½one country, two systemsï¿½ model was supposed to protect Hong Kongï¿½s autonomy and the individual freedoms of the residents after the transfer from the United Kingdom to the Peopleï¿½s Republic of China in June 1997. Meanwhile, Tungï¿½s popularity has fallen to an all-time low. Link: BBC

COMMUNIST CHINA STILL AIDING ROGUE STATESï¿½ WEAPONS PROGRAMS
NEW REPORT MAY BOOST SUPPORT FOR ANTI-PROLIFERATION AMENDMENT TO PNTR
A report to Congress obtained by the Washington Times revealed that Communist China is still aiding North Korea and Iran in weapon technology and hardware. The report also noted the PRC continued to aid Pakistanï¿½s nuclear program. This could mean more support for the Thompson-Toricelli measure that would make Permanent Normal Trade Relations with the PRC conditional upon it stopping weapons proliferation.
Link: Washington Times

OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS
COMMUNIST HACKERS BROKE INTO LOS ALAMOS COMPUTER NETWORK, STOLE DOCUMENTS
The Washington Times reported Thursday that Communist Chinese hackers from a government-owned ï¿½researchï¿½ facility broke into the Los Alamos computer system and, according to one intelligence official ï¿½obtained the equivalent of a stack of documents three feet high.ï¿½ The documents were unclassified, but the Energy Department, which runs Los Alamos, has been roundly criticized for lax information security rules. Link: Washington Times

ARMS TALKS BETWEEN U.S. AND PRC RESUME IN HAWAII
U.S. officials said yesterday that arms talks with Communist China have resumed in Hawaii after coming up fruitless last month. AFP cited an anonymous official. As expected, the major sticking points are in weapons proliferation (see above), and the proposed American missile defense, designed against many states to which the PRC supplies weapons. Link: AFP

BEIJING RIPS REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR (MILD) CRITICIZING OF COMMUNIST CHINA
AFP reports that Communist China, through Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhang Bangzao, attacked the Republican Party for mildly criticizing the PRC. Communists were particularly upset that the GOP platform declared, ï¿½China is not a free society,ï¿½ and that the party would back Taiwanï¿½s self-defense. The platform did, however, support PNTR with Communist China, as did nearly three-fourths of the House Republicans. Link: AFP

HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS NEWS
FALUN GONG FOLLOWER HANGS HIMSELF IN DRAMATIC PROTEST AGAINST CRACKDOWN
Liu Zengqiang hanged himself inside the compound of Weifang Teacher Training College, where he was a student, to protest the persecution he suffered as a Falun Gong practitioner. Last month, he attempted to present a petition to the Communist legislature in Beijing. Police arrested and beat him, and his college threatened to expel him if he did not renounce Falun Gong or promise to no longer practice it in the future. Link: AFP

ZHONG GONG CRACKDOWN LEAVES 100,000 JOBLESS
The crackdown against Zhong Gong, a practice similar to Falun Gong, has left over 100,000 without jobs after the Communists closed down Zhong Gong training centers and other businesses. AFP cited the Information Center on Human Rights and Democracy in China, who also said up to 600 Zhong Gong followers are being held by Communist police, with no visitation allowed to see how theyï¿½re being treated. Link: AFP

GUANGDONG RADIO STATION FACES PENALTIES FOR AIRING ANTICOMMUNIST CALLER
AFP confirmed reports a radio station in Guangdong province could lose its chief and suffer other sanctions for airing an anonymous caller who said, ï¿½If no medicine can be found to save this corrupt government, then the CCP should step down from power.ï¿½ The local Communist sensors are assessing how to punish the station for its foray into free speech. Link: AFP

FALUN GONG SPLIT POSSIBLE AFTER HONG KONG WOMAN CLAIMS LEAD ROLE
Belinda Pang, a businesswoman from Hong Kong, has proclaimed herself the next leader of the Falun Gong spiritual movement. BBC reported Pang said the current leader of the spiritual group, Li Hong, should hand over control to her. Li responded on Falun Gongï¿½s website, denouncing Pang and her claim. Pang has only 30 followers at present. Link: BBC

WASHINGTON TIMES REPORTS PLIGHT OF FILM DIRECTOR JIANG WEN, THREE WEEKS LATE
Admittedly, this is a small gloat. The Washington Times reported the banning of Jiang Wenï¿½s film Devils on the Doorstep by Communist China for not being sufficiently hateful of the Japanese occupation during World War II, three weeks after the July 19 update did. The story describes in part the censors who examine films in Communist China; the information regarding Devils is essentially the same as reported in the old update. Link: Washington Times

CORRUPTION NEWS
MAJOR XIAMEN CORRUPTION CASES COMING TO TRIAL SOON
AFP, citing officials in the Xiamenï¿½s procuratorï¿½s (prosecutorï¿½s) office, reported today that the trials of nearly 300 officials for involvement in a massive Xiamen smuggling ring will take place ï¿½no later than September or October.ï¿½ The $6 billion scandal stunned Communist officials in its size and scope, reaching as high as the intelligence chief for the army. The story has a good summary of other recent corruption cases. Link: AFP

XIAMEN PORT CHIEF TO FACE CHARGES IN SMUGGLING RING
Days before the story above, AFP reported the Xiamen Peopleï¿½s Congress ï¿½ i.e. the city council ï¿½ agreed to allow charges to be filed against Huang Herong, head of the Xiamen port bureau. Two other officials, including a local procurator (prosecutor) were fired for their roles in the multi-billion dollar smuggling scheme. Link: AFP

MISTRESS OF CHENG KEJIE GETS LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR CORRUPTION
BBC reported today that Li Ping, mistress to ex-Guangxi governor Cheng Kejie, was given life imprisonment for her role in Chengï¿½s bribery schemes that pocketed over $4.5 million. Cheng received the death penalty for the bribes. Link: BBC

OTHER CORRUPTION NEWS AND LINKS
Communist police arrested Wang Dewei, a high-level prosecutor in the island province of Hainan, on corruption charges. AFP, which cited Communist-run Xinhua, had no details of the charges. Link: AFP Former Maï¿½anshan mayor Zhou Yude was convicted of taking over $700,000 in bribes. Link: AFP

OTHER MAINLAND NEWS
COMMUNIST CHINA STOPS 74 MORE FROM ESCAPING TO SOUTH KOREA
AFP reported Communist police have seized a group of 74 would-be escapees to South Korea. Police have been busy trying to keep as many people as possible trapped in the PRC. Over the past four weeks, over 300 have been caught trying to escape. Link: AFP

BEIJING CALLING IN LOCAL COMMUNIST LEADERS FOR HIGH-LEVEL INDOCTRINATION
As reported in Stratfor.com, local Communist chieftains by the hundreds are being recalled to Beijing for advanced indoctrination. Over 2,000 local Party bosses are involved in the ï¿½training program,ï¿½ the first ever for county officials. The report noted Communist China is particularly worried about losing control over the provinces due to corruption and modernization. Link: Startfor.com

REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS
COMMUNIST CHINA ZINGS U.S. FOR LETTING PRESIDENT CHEN STAY IN LOS ANGELES
Communist China blasted the U.S. for allowing ROC President Chen Shui-bian to stay in Los Angeles on August 13, according to the Washington Times. Chen will meet with the U.S. semi-official representative to Taiwan while in L.A. Chen will then travel to Central America and Africa, visiting nations that recognize Taiwan instead of Communist China. AFP reported that the PRC was still blasting the U.S. on Monday. Links: Washington Times, AFP

TAIWAN APPLIES FOR UNITED NATIONS MEMBERSHIP FOR EIGHTH STRAIGH YEAR
Taiwan has applied for a United Nations seat for the eighth straight year, arguing that a UN seat would pressure Communist China to the negotiating table. The PRC has blocked the admission every time it has been attempted. Link: AFP

PRESIDENT CHEN SAYS NEW JETS NEEDED TO COMBAT COMMUNIST ADVANCES
President Chen said during an inspection of the military that Taiwan needed ï¿½farsighted measures in developing the next generation of fightersï¿½ to counter technological advances being made by the PRC. AFP relayed a United Daily News report that the government is developing a new jet fighter that could strike against the mainland should Taiwan be attacked. Chen repeated his request for talks with Communist China. Link: AFP

VICE PRESIDENT LU SAYS PEACEFUL CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS LIKELY
Vice President Annette Lu used somewhat softer language in an interview with Radio Free Asia about Communist China. She said the ROC and PRC were ï¿½absolutely capable of having a peaceful and friendly relationship,ï¿½ She also said they shared a ï¿½similar language and ethnicity. Whether they share the same country is different because they had different political ideologies.ï¿½ Odds are that wonï¿½t sit well in Beijing. Link: AFP

PRESIDENT CHEN STANDS BY PREMIER TANG DESPITE DPP CRITICISM
Taiwanï¿½s Central News Agency cited an official who said President is ï¿½100 percentï¿½ behind Nationalist Premier Tang Fei despite criticism of Tang by Wu Nai-jen, a high ranking member of Chenï¿½s Democratic Progressive Party. Chen had picked Tang to help build a governing consensus in the nation and the legislature, where the Nationalist are in the majority. No DPP member publicly stated agreement with Wu. Link: CNA

TIBET NEWS
ANTI-DALAI LAMA CAMPAIGN CONTINUES WITH RAIDS, FINES, AND DESTRUCTION
Communist China is continuing its new repressive onslaught against Tibetan religion, raiding Tibetan homes and demolishing alters, prayer flags, and pictures. According to two Tibetan rights groups cited by AFP, the Communists are also fining anyone with a picture of the Dalai Lama, Tibetï¿½s spiritual leader, $60, which in Tibet is a princely sum. Link: AFP

EXCLUSION OF DALAI LAMA FROM U.N. RELIGION CONFERENCE CATCHES WASHINGTONï¿½S EYE
The exclusion of the Dalai Lama from the U.N. Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders, which inspired the petition sent out last Friday morning, has caught the attention of the Washington Times editorial board. They were not happy. Link: Washington Times

No reports this week from Xinjiang/East Turkestan. As the region is very remote, reports from there take time to reach the outside world. If you find a report on Xinjiang/East Turkestan, or anything else regarding Communist China, please send it to the address below.

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