America's Future Update on China

Update on National Security

China has produced a new type of attack submarine that U.S intelligence did not know was under construction. It was spotted in June and has been designated by the Pentagon as the first Yuan-class of sub. Described as a "technical surprise" to the United States, it is a non-nuclear-powered sub that appears to be preparation for a conflict over Taiwan. Richard Fisher, a specialist on the Chinese military, said, "One has to marvel at the enormity of the investment by the People’s Liberation Army in submarines." China currently has 57 deployed submarines and 8 more on order with Russia.  Washington Times, 7-16-04

The Chinese military has be-gun massive war games simulating an invasion of Taiwan, which military chief Jiang Zemin has vowed to "recover" by 2020. China’s official mouthpiece, the People’s Daily, stated, "This year, aside from missile brigades, tank brigades, marine brigades, war ships and submarines, all advanced weapons will be used in the exercise. All of China’s 450 short-range missiles continue to be deployed along the southeastern Chinese coast opposite Taiwan."  China Reform Monitor No. 553, 7-22-04

Update on Published Books

Communist China’s copyright pirates have struck again, pre-tending to sell President Bill Clinton’s best-selling book My Life. Alfred A. Knopf, publishers of Clinton’s book, haven’t sold the rights to China yet, but that hasn’t stopped the thieves. Chinese customers can buy a 438-page book called Wode Shenghuo (My Life in Chinese) for 10 yuan ($1.20), with Clinton’s photo on the cover. It’s not the same photo as on the real Clinton book. Piracy of books, movies, music and software is big business in China, estimated that this costs Western companies about $16 billion a year in sales.  Associated Press, 8-1-04

An Investigation of China’s Peasantry became an unexpected bestseller in China this year. Authors Chen Guidi and Wu Chuntao describe many true stories about abuses against Chinese peasants, such as how one farmer’s long struggle against illegal taxes ended only when the police beat him to death with a mulberry club. Since the book’s defense of China’s 750 million peasants became a sensation, the government is clamping down. The publisher was ordered to stop printing the book, making it clear that China’s bosses will not tolerate writers who assign blame for peasants’ enduring poverty.  New York Times, 7-9-04, p. A3

Update on Hong Kong

China’s People’s Liberation Army held its first parade in Hong Kong the first week of August, with 3,000 soldiers goose-stepping in formation accompanied by helicopters and armored vehicles in a display of China’s military strength in Hong Kong. Some say this was an attempt by Beijing to remind the territory "who’s in charge." Beijing has obviously stepped up its messages of intimidation since May when eight Chinese warships sailed down Victoria Harbor, including two guided missile destroyers, four guided missile frigates and two submarines.  China Reform Monitor No. 555, 8-4-04

The Chinese government has publicly warned Hong Kong legislators that they have no right to criticize the central government’s decisions to rule out full democracy in the near future. The state-run Xinhua news agency quoted a top official in China’s liaison office in Hong Kong as saying it would be unconstitutional for lawmakers to consider motions that express "discontent with" or "condemn" the Chinese rulings on democratic reform. Hong Kong’s best-known radio talk show host and a longtime supporter of democracy, Albert Cheng, flew to Europe for a long "vacation," He left behind a tape recording in which he complained of threats against himself and his family.  Associated Press, 5-8-04