On May 14, 2007 Russian immigration authorities arrested and subsequently deported a 73-year-old U.N. Refugee who is a Chinese Falun Gong practitioner. Sources say it is part of a deal between Russia and China.
Chinese Communist Party Concerned About Declining Loyalty Among Members
In its publication on May 1, Qiushi Journal, the official publication of the Chinese Communist Party, carried an article written by Chen Yuanzhang, a Lieutenant General and Deputy Political Commissar of the Jinan Military District in Shandong Province. The title of the article is: "Strengthening the Loyalty of Chinese Communist Party Members." [1] The article called for an alert to the declining loyalty among party officials. Other news sources, including Xinhua, widely quoted the article [2].
Hand-foot-mouth disease is spreading in Linqi city, Shandong Province Causing Children Deaths
According to a Xinhua News Agency [1] report, the Health Bureau of Shandong Province openly admits that there have been 981 patients with Hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) in Linqi city. On May 19, a 14-month old baby died from it. A 2 year old was reported to have died on April 29. There were only 293 patients on May 11, 2007.
Reports about Vice-Premier Huang Ju’s Death
On May 9, 2007, The Times (London) reported, "Huang Ju, China’s vice premier in charge of economic reform, the sixth most powerful official on China’s ruling Politburo Standing Committee, died this morning at the age of 69 after a prolonged battle with pancreatic cancer." [1] Around 7 pm, Hong Kong based Phoenix TV, a TV station close to Beijing issued the same report of Huang’s death. That day, other Hong Kong media and international news agencies such as Reuters also carried the news.
Later that night, when Reuters called the State Council Information Office for confirmation, the State Council dismissed the news: "It is our understanding that news regarding comrade Huang Ju’s death is totally unfounded." [2]
Ministry of Health Requests Police Force Be Deployed to Hospitals
In recent years, the conflicts between hospital’s medical staff and patients have been intensifying. Patient’s violent attacks have frequently resulted in the hospital staff being injured. The spokesperson from the Ministry Of Health recently requested that police be depolyed to the hospitals to protect the hospital staff. Analysts pointed out that the basic cause of tension between doctor and patient is the inadequate healthcare system and China’s declining moral values.
The Launch of NIGCOMSAT-1 and China’s Launch Sites
On May 14, 2007, in Sichuan, China launched a communications satellite NIGCOMSAT-1 for Nigeria. It is the first time a foreign buyer has purchased a Chinese satellite and its launching mechanism. The event has been officially touted as the beginning of China’s presence in the international market of commercial satellites.[1]
China has three launch sites. The other two are the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center and the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
Bird flu (H5N1) has killed 11,172 poultry in central China
On May 19m, 2007, Xinhua News Agency, citing the Ministry of Agriculture, reported that 11,172 poultry in central China have died as a result of bird flu (H5N1). The report said that another 52,874 were slaughtered. Chinese Agriculture officials say that the outbreak has been brought under control. The Propaganda Department of the local Chinese Communist Party must approve all media requests for interviews.
‘Boycott Beijing Olympics’ Campaign
While China just published regulations on media reporting of the 2008 Olympic Games, a coalition of Falun Gong supporters is calling for a boycott of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing unless the Chinese government meets an August 2007 deatdline to allow an independent investigation of organ harvesting allegations.