Mr. Yu, a doctor at a hospital in Sujiatun, Shenyang, Liaoning Province has been identified as a surgeon who works exclusively on harvesting internal organs from living Falun Gong adherents. The person who identified him is the fourth Chinese witness to corroborate the reports of China harvesting organs of Falun Gong.
Briefings - 1213. page
Pork Prices Hit Record High – Sign of Political Problem
An increase in the cost of feed coupled with a drop in the supply of pigs due to disease has made pork a top priority for the Chinese government. Pork is the most important staple meat for China’s 1.3 billion people. Any sustained interruption in supply would be a major political problem for the country. Premier Wen Jiabao provided confirmation of the crisis when he made a weekend visit on May 28, 2007, to a market in Shaanxi Province.
Following a Ban on ConAgra’s Peanut Butter, China Bans More US Food Products
China General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantines (AQSIQ) issued a notice on June 7, 2007, stating that its inspectors at the ports of Ningbo and Shenzhen found bacteria and sulfur dioxide in certain health supplements and raisins exported by U.S. companies. This follows the February 2007 ban on ConAgro’s peanut butter.
Overseas Chinese Scholar on Democracy in China
On January 14, 2008, Study Times, the official publication of the Party School of the Communist Party of China, published an article by Wei-Wei Zhang, Senior Research Fellow at the Modern Asia Research Center in Geneva. The article entitled, “Reflections on Western Democracy,” affirms the current policies of the Communist Party.
Citing the failures of western democracy in developing countries, the article states that China has successfully maintained stability over the past 30 years and that living standards of Chinese people have significantly improved, coupled with a ten-fold increase in the economy. The article suggests that China should first focus on economic and educational development, followed by the rule of law and last by democracy.
Zhang served as senior English interpreter for Deng Xiaoping and other Chinese Communist leaders in the mid-1980s.
Source: Study Times, January 14, 2008.
http://www.studytimes.com.cn/txt/2008-01/14/content_9529161.htm
Insider Trading a Serious Problem
The Communist Party’s Central Commission for Inspection and Discipline reported that China will crack down on insider trading by government officials as part of the Party’s renewed effort to limit corruption. Officials and their families who use their positions to profit from insider trading, construction bids, land sales, and trading of property rights will face legal action. Xinhua reported that 25,654 officials were indicted for corruption in 2006 and 23,144 from January to November in 2007. This figure included several high-profile investigations, such as ones that toppled the communist party chief in Shanghai and the former head of the Chinese Food and Drug Administration.
Source: Xinhua, January 17, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2008-01/17/content_7436405.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2008-01/14/content_7415885.htm
Loving Communism to Be Taught to China’s Youth
Xinhua reported on January 15 that, starting in March 2008, the concept of “giving thanks” will be added to the curriculum for all elementary and middle schools in ShenYang City. The municipal Department of Education spokesperson emphasized respect for parents and teachers as part of the new effort to teach values in schools. He also mentioned that loving the [communist] Party, loving the motherland, loving society and loving people will be part of the new curriculum.
Source: Xinhua, Shenyang, January 15, 2008
http://www.rdfz.cn/xyxw/jyxw/t20080116_14828.htm
The American Way Represents U.S. Interests
The Global Times published an article by Chen Yugang, an Assistant Professor at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs at Fudan University, titled: “The American Way Is Driven by the U.S.’ Own Interests.” The article criticizes the U.S. for using the “American Way” to protect its own interests and to establish policies for other countries to follow. It lists examples, including the following: Americans live in big houses and drive big size vehicles despite the global warming crisis. The U.S. condemns the human rights record of other countries but it refuses to be part of the International Criminal Court and tortures its detainees. The U.S. pulled out of the anti-ballistic missile treaty. The U.S. failed to keep its promise not to let the NATO expand its ranks into Eastern Europe. Finally, after the U.S. relocated its energy intensive industries elsewhere, it blamed another country for being number one in carbon emissions. The article said that the confidence that the American people have in themselves as being the “representatives of God to save the world” or “the U.S. is the best” is an attitude of rudeness that can’t be trusted. It concluded that the “American Way” is a way that fits best with the U.S.’ own interests and is not the only established standard that works.
Source: Xinhua, January 17, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2008-01/17/content_7434835.htm
Mainland Scholars Call for Action to Oppose the CCTV Spring Festival Gala
On January 15, 2008, five Mainland scholars issued a joint statement titled, “Declaration of the New Spring Festival Culture.” The scholars expressed in the Declaration that the Chinese Spring Festival in itself symbolizes civilization and freedom and should not be subject to any political, economic or cultural restrictions. The scholars oppose the annual Spring Festival Gala held by the State television network, China Central Televison (CCTV), since that enables the Gala to be used as a propaganda tool to glorify the Communist Party.
The Communist regime re-named the Chinese New Year as the Chinese Spring Festival after its takeover of the Mainland in 1949. Every year, CCTV has a gala as the official State celebration. The Chinese New Year begins on February 7, 2008.
Source: Xinhua, January 17, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/edu/2008-01/17/content_7435231.htm
Zhong Ren Net, January 15, 2008
http://www.zhrnet.com/bbs/ShowPost.asp?ThreadID=1027