America's Future Update on China

Update on Thought Control

China’s ruling Communist Party has demanded heavier political indoctrination of university students and stricter controls over campus organizations and Internet Bulletin Boards. The threats were delivered on the Front Page of the People’s Daily and other Party newspapers, which warned about "decadent lifestyles," challenges to their "ideological and political thinking," and "many weak links" in political education. China’s President Hu Jintao, a former head of the Party’s youth league, emphasized socialist conformity and strict party control.

Independent-minded media have been punished and measures have been erected to detect subversive speech on the Internet. The document demands more student participation in compulsory military training and tougher Party control over student groups. Criticism of the government on Internet Bulletin Boards can bring long prison terms. Hu said that such forums must be made to serve the goals of political indoctrination.  SFGate.com, 10-15-04

A court in China’s boomtown of Shenzhen fined a couple 780,000 yuan ($94,250) and sealed off their house until the fine is paid, for the crime of having more than one child.  Beijing Morning Post, 9-20-04

Update on Free Trade

Packages of toys and candy sold in Central Florida contain toys made in China that depict an airplane smashing into the World Trade Center, according to WFTV.com in Orlando. The grotesque toys were returned to stores by angry Floridians. One woman said she let her grand-child pick out a bag of toys distributed by the Lisy Corporation without realizing what was inside. "I couldn’t believe some-one would give something like that to a child," she said. Lisy Corporation said it bought the packages from a distributor sight unseen and is also offended by the Chinese-made toy. Lisy has pulled 17,000 of the toy packages from distribution.  China Reform Monitor No. 558, 9-2-04

China’s government has announced the takeover of the biggest mining company in Canada. The Chinese firm Minmetals, which is owned by the Chinese government, is paying about $5.7 billion for Noranda Mining. It is reported that the Chinese oil company Sinopec, also controlled by the Chinese government, is in talks to acquire a large lease of oil-bearing land, an investment that could total several billion dollars. The Chinese foreign currency reserves, now more than $466 billion, are growing by about $10.8 billion every month.  ABC Radio Australia, 9-29-04

Update on Hong Kong

Pro-Beijing candidates fared better than expected in the long-awaited Hong Kong election. Communist Party officials used voter incentives and intimidation. Chinese Olympic athletes came to Hong Kong in behalf of pro-Beijing candidates. Supporters of democracy were denounced as traitors, and one was accused of soliciting a prostitute and then jailed on the mainland for six months without a trial.  New York Times, 9-14-04

Journalists and voters in Hong Kong faced threats and intimidation leading up to and during the 2004 election of the 60-member Legislative Council in Hong Kong. "This appears to be a direct result of Beijing’s desire to control the political situation in Hong Kong," according to Human Rights Watch’s Asia Division director.

China’s President Hu Jintao and other "Fourth-Generation" cadres may turn out to take a more hard-line stance toward the West than their predecessors, reports Willie Lam on CNN.com. They have established solid ties with several African and South American countries in order to secure oil – and to establish China’s status as leader of the developing world.  China Reform Monitor No. 561, 9-30-04