Quote of the day: “We must not take a Western view or standpoint, comment, speculate or call into question any major national project.”

- Translated notes taken from deputy department chief of the propaganda department Li Dongsheng’s speech to Chinese publishing companies (Courtesy RFA)

TIBET

China orders resettlement of thousands of Tibetans – “In a massive campaign that recalls the socialist engineering of an earlier era, the Chinese government has relocated some 250,000 Tibetans – nearly one-tenth of the population – from scattered rural hamlets to new ’socialist villages,’ ordering them to build new housing largely at their own expense and without their consent. The government calls the year-old project the ‘comfortable housing program,’ and its stated aim is to present a more modern face for this ancient region, which China has controlled since 1950…Some Tibetans, including farmers interviewed in the village of Zengshol, say they’re happy to be in better quarters than their primitive, ancestral homes of mud brick. In other villages, Chinese escorts prevented a visiting reporter from speaking with residents.”

Dalai Lama scrubs Belgium trip after Chinese pressure, Tibet activists say – “The Dalai Lama is canceling a planned trip to Belgium this week after China pressured Brussels to bar the exiled leader of Tibet, Tibetan activists said Wednesday. In a statement to be publicly released later Wednesday, the Dalai Lama said he decided not to attend a gathering of Tibetan groups in Brussels on Friday to save Belgium any trouble.” The other report I read said that Belgium had blocked the Dalai Lama’s visa. This seems a bit tamer and less disgusting, but it’s still disgusting that they would ask him not to come in the first place.

The Dalai Lama’s message to the 5th International Conference of Tibet Support Group – “I HAD HOPED that I would be able to join you all at this conference to personally express my gratitude and to share my thoughts on the issue of Tibet, which is of concern to all of us. However, the Belgian Government shared with me their predicament on account of pressure from the People’s Republic of China in connection with the upcoming visit of Belgian trade delegation led by the Crown Prince. At the same time they made it clear that they are a democratic country and if I chose to come I would be welcomed. They further informed me of the continued widespread interest in Tibet in Belgium. Having considered the situation, I have decided not to visit Brussels this time.”

“Free Tibet” Antelope Defects from China’s Olympic Team – “Yingsel, an endangered Tibetan antelope and one of China’s five chosen mascots for the 2008 Olympic Games announced early this morning that she has defected from China’s Olympic team in order to actively campaign for the freedom of her homeland.”Please visit Yingsel2008.org for more information about SFT’s campaign.

ECONOMY

Asian Nations to Pool Foreign Reserves – “The accord highlights moves by an increasingly wealthy Asia to safeguard its future amid bitter memories of the 1997 meltdown, when plunging currencies and austere reforms were followed by slow economic recovery. China, Japan, South Korea and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreed that a self-managed “pooling arrangement” of the region’s massive reserves would help secure cash in times of need…Today, the region has some $3.1 trillion in reserves — or about 65 percent of the world’s total.”

Iran, China to ink agreement on 10 dam projects – “Deputy Energy Minister Rasoul Zargar said here Saturday that a two-billion-dollar agreement on establishment of a maximum of 10 dams will be signed by Iran and China in two weeks. He told IRNA that foreign investors warmly welcome dam and power station projects, adding that particularly European and Asian countries are keen to invest in Iran.” Well…I don’t know about that, but I’ll take his word for it.

ENVIRONMENT

China plans to divert Brahmaputra waters – “China plans to construct a dam at Yarlung Tsangpo point on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet province to divert 200 billion cubic metres of water annually to the Yellow River threatening a major ecological disaster in Bangladesh within the next few years…Experts and environmentalists fear Bangladesh would turn into a desert in the near future as water flow of Brahmaputra-Jamuna river, which is about 60 per cent of the total water flow, will fall drastically if China builds the dam on the Brahmaputra.”

TRAGEDY

Death toll in southwest China road accident 16: Xinhua – “Quoting authorities in Yunnan Province, Xinhua said a light truck veered off a road following a collision with two other vehicles and ploughed into a crowd of about 60 people waiting for a bus at 8 a.m. on Friday. Fourteen people died on the spot and 45 were injured. Two people died later at hospital and six more are on the hospital’s critical list, the Lincang city government said Saturday.”

Bus accident kills 17 in China – “A bus plunged off a highway in southwestern China Monday, killing 17 people including three children and injuring 24 others, an official news agency reported…China’s roads are among the world’s most dangerous, with one person dying every five minutes in accidents often caused by reckless driving, poor road conditions and overloading of vehicles.”

Death toll in China mine blast rises to 28 – “Rescuers recovered another five bodies trapped by a coal mine blast in northern China, bringing the death toll in the disaster to 28, state media reported on Monday. Another two miners were still missing after the explosion, which ripped through the Pudeng mine in Shanxi, China’s largest coal-producing province, in the latest accident to hit the world’s deadliest mining industry.”

HUMAN RIGHTS

China warns of population rebound as rich avoid controls – “China’s top family planning body has warned that the world’s most populous country could face a ‘population rebound’ because the newly rich are ignoring population control laws and because of early marriages in rural areas, state media said Monday.” I was thinking about population the other day. Is the right to have as many children as you like a fundamental human right? At what point will human population become a major problem for humanity? What if genocide and tragedies like above were necessary to prevent even more massive tragedies? Difficult question.

TAIWAN

Taiwan’s ruling party picks candidate – “A former Taiwanese premier who has pushed for better relations with rival China was the surprise winner Sunday of the first phase of the ruling party’s presidential primary vote. The witty, sharp-tongued Frank Hsieh still needs to win a second round of voting to clinch his bid to be the Democratic Progressive Party’s candidate in next year’s election. But Sunday’s victory nearly guarantees him a place on the ticket…Many believe Hsieh might be more flexible and pragmatic with China than President Chen Shui-bian, who has been unable to forge a breakthrough in relations with Beijing during his eight years in office.”

SOCIETY

China cracks down on spitting, litter – “Beijing has fined more than 50 people for spitting in the past week’s holiday, a report said on Monday, as Beijing steps up a campaign to ‘civilize’ the city before the 2008 Olympics…China also has an official etiquette watchdog, the Spiritual Civilization Steering Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, which aims to curb uncivilized behavior…Among the initiatives, the 11th day of every month is now ‘voluntarily wait in line’ day, designed to stamp out pushing and shoving in favor of orderly queues.” What about all the foreigners who spit? Will they be punished during the Olympics?

RELIGION

China criticizes U.S. report detailing abuses of religious freedom – “Beijing criticized a U.S. advisory panel on Tuesday for taking “potshots” at China’s religious situation, after the committee accused the Chinese government of using imprisonment and torture to curtail religious freedom…China is officially atheist. Christians, Buddhists, Taoists and Muslims are allowed to worship, but only in churches, temples or mosques run by state-monitored groups.”