Quote of the day: “My position is that of semi retirement.”

- Dalai Lama, at a function for retired civil servants of the Central Tibetan Administration

 CENSORSHIP

Chinese still being told what to think – “Only authorized dramas are allowed on Chinese prime-time television, customs inspectors are seizing books on Mao Zedong at China’s borders and newspapers are prohibited from running stories on the Communist Party’s misdeeds . . . While the notion of creating a consensus in a nation of 1.3 billion people may be alarming abroad, China is unabashed about the need for it. Last week, a headline in the Communist Party’s official mouthpiece, the People’s Daily, read: ‘Correct guidance of ideology and public opinion is an important factor in the harmony of society.’”

Ban smoking in China? A state-run industry has objections – “The plans, which include a ban on tobacco advertising, were discussed at the annual meeting of Parliament in Beijing and prompted the deputy chief of the state tobacco monopoly to say that smoking curbs could destabilize the country. China has 350 million smokers, more than the entire population of Russia, Germany and Japan combined. The habit kills about a million people a year in China and costs an estimated $5 billion annually in medical bills.” State proposed ban on state-run industry. Absurd.

TIBET

US concerned over stalled Sino-Tibetan dialogue – “The United States expressed concern Tuesday that a dialogue between representatives of Tibet’s spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and China has stalled for more than a year amid “extremely serious” human rights abuses in the Himalayan territory.”

Tibetan officials told not to visit temples – “Tibetan Communist Party members and civil servants have been warned against visiting temples in Lhasa this week, a local official said on Wednesday, apparently to curb the unfading influence of the exiled Dalai Lama. Party members and civil servants faced expulsion and dismissal respectively if they prayed at Buddhist temples in the capital, an official surnamed Wang with the neighbourhood committee in Dangba village told Reuters by telephone. They could resume visits after the annual session of parliament ends in Beijing on Friday, the official said. He did not explain the connection.”

Actor Gere asks US, EU to forge common human rights policy for China – “‘We want to stop business in China? No, we really don’t. The point is having rules of engagement. What are the rules for businesses going there, what are the rules of employing, what are the rules of conduct,’ he said at a US congressional hearing on Tibet.”

HUMAN RIGHTS

China: Use of prisoners’ organs regulated – “The use of organs from executed prisoners in China is strictly regulated and happens only in exceptional cases, state media reported Wednesday. Human rights groups have said that many organs, including those transplanted into wealthy foreigners, come from executed prisoners who may not have given their permission.”

China in Crackdown During Parliamentary Session, Report Says – “China has mounted a violent crackdown on protests and arrested political activists in a bid to curb dissent during the annual session of its parliament, Human Rights Watch said in a report today.”

FOREIGN RELATIONS

Australia, India Security Ties May Alarm China, Analysts Say – “A proposed security accord between Australia, Japan, the U.S. and India may create trade and security tensions with China, the world’s fastest growing economy, an Australian analyst on Asian security said. ‘A four-way relationship with the U.S., Japan and India would encircle China,’ Robert Ayson, a professor at the Canberra-based Australian National University, said today. ‘If there was hope China could join the group, it would be a good collection of Asian superpowers.’ U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney approached Australia during a February visit about including India in security arrangements it makes with the U.S. and Japan, the Australian newspaper reported today, without saying where it obtained the information.”

TAIWAN

China opposed to Taiwan independence – “China said again Thursday it is strongly opposed to any moves by Taiwan to declare independence, the latest in series of warnings issued during the annual session of the country’s legislature.” Just reading the headline – I’m thinking – NO REALLY? I THOUGHT THEY WANTED IT!

MACAU
China voices regret on U.S. bank ruling – “China expressed “deep regret” Thursday over a U.S. decision to punish a Macau bank for allegedly helping North Korea launder money, foreshadowing the difficulties of enforcing an international agreement on the North’s nuclear disarmament.”