More Debate on My Views on Canada's China Policy

Charles Burton, "Response to Jeremy Paltiel's Article, 'Canada and China: An Agenda for the Twenty-First Century: A Rejoinder to Charles Burton'” Canadian Foreign Policy vol. 15, no. 2, 2009, pp. 118-22 (http://www.carleton.ca/cfpj/Without%20subscription/15-2Burton.pdf).  Paltiel's article in the same issue (http://www.carleton.ca/cfpj/Without%20subscription/15-2Paltiel.pdf) is a commentary on Burton's report A Reassessment of Canada's Interests in China and Options for Renewal of Canada's China Policy that was released by the Canadian International Council last year (http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcfd6fxz_2036d2s9p9fm).

Spring Festival Gala 2010 - Ottawa March 8

C C A A

Spring Festival Gala Concert 2010

Southam Hall, NAC, at 19:30, March 8, 2010

Spring Festival Gala Concert 2010 by China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra

Canada-China Art Association (CCAA) proudly presents a unique symphonic concert of Chinese Music, performed by Chinese traditional instruments in a full orchestral setting.

The Chinese Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra (CBCO), established in 1957, is the Top Chinese Orchestra with resounding success around the World for more than five decades. The world-class Chinese New Year Concert, performed by CBCO, has become an annual event at the Golden Hall of Vienna since 2003. 

The Spring Festival Gala Concert 2010, is conducted by Pang Ka Pang, Chief-Conductor and Musical Director of CBCO, acknowledged by Chinese Media as one of the 10 Most Influential Cultural Figures in China.

This is the Premiere Concert by CBCO in North America - one concert only in Canada with the highest artistic level of performance. The Gala Concert is designated as the official kick-off of the Celebration of 40^{th Anniversary of the Canada-China Diplomatic Relations. The Pre-Show Reception, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Official Opening of the Exhibition on the 40 Years of Canada-China Relations (co-sponsored by DFAIT and Chinese Embassy in Canada) is attracting high-profile attendance and special attention of political and diplomatic community at the National Level, as well as the business community, cultural and arts community, academia, private sector alike.}

^{The Program of the Gala Concert features, among others, works of Peng Xiuwen, legendary Chinese composer and former Musical Director of CBCO with over 1000 pieces of musical compositions and orchestral arrangements of Chinese Music, as well as Tan Dun, famous contemporary Chinese composer with astounding achievements in modernising Chinese Music. Close to 100 talented Chinese musicians will fill the Southam Hall of NAC with the sounds of over 30 types of traditional Chinese musical instruments, providing an Unforgettable Musical Experience of Chinese Music to the music-loving audience of the National Capital Region.}

For tickets:
NAC: 613-947-7000
Box Office: in person 10am-9pm Mon.-Fri. 53 Elgin Street, Ottawa
www.nac-cna.com
Ticketmaster: 613-755-1111
www.ticketmaster.ca

Canada Joins WTO Panel on Chinese Export Restrictions

(No. 3 - January 5, 2010 - 4:45 p.m. EST) The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today announced that Canada will participate as a third party in a World Trade Organization panel on China’s export restrictions on certain raw materials. The panel was established at the request of the United States, the European Union and Mexico on December 21, 2009.
“Canada is concerned that China’s export restraints, such as export duties and quotas, are leading to trade distortions in the world market,” said Minister Day. “Such measures have caused uncertainty for Canadian producers. We hope that this WTO challenge will persuade China to end these practices.”
The raw materials at issue are bauxite, coke, fluorspar, magnesium, manganese, silicon carbide, silicon metal, yellow phosphorus and zinc.
Canada believes that the Chinese measures are inconsistent with China’s WTO commitments. The measures appear to violate rules on export restraints, as well as the commitment China made when it joined the WTO to not charge export tariffs on most materials.
As a third party, Canada will have the opportunity to present its views to the WTO panel and to make written submissions that will be reflected in the panel report. The Government of Canada will continue to work with industry to ensure Canadian interests are fully taken into account.
At this point, there are 12 other confirmed third-party participants in the WTO panel, namely Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Norway, Chinese Taipei and Turkey.
The timeline for the dispute settlement process, meetings and reports has not yet been finalized.

- 30 -

For further information, media representatives may contact:
Mélisa Leclerc
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of International Trade
and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway
613-992-6186
Trade Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-996-2000

http://www.international.gc.ca/media_commerce/comm/news-communiques/2010/003.aspx

Disturbing New Year Video About Chinese Political Prisoners

English: http://www.rebuildhk.com/xmas09/eng.htm
Chinese: http://www.rebuildhk.com/xmas09/index.htm

Opium Use in Canada Legal Until 1908

This correspondence arose out of an interview with me quoted in John Ibbitson's report "With execution of British man, China sends a signal" published in the Globe and Mail on December 30: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/with-execution-of-british-man-china-sends-a-signal/article1414538/

Professor Burton,
    Following quotation is from The Globe and Mail about your comments on Chinese execution on British drug-smuggler.
   "The execution, Prof. Burton said, should serve as a warning to any foreigner visiting or living in China that justice in that country can be brutal, capricious and swift, and that foreigners are not protected."
    I donot understand how you make conclusion that justice in China is brutal, capricious and swift. I suggest you to read some articles about Opium war between Qing Dynasty and Britain. Opium is the product British sells to China 170 years ago without any justice and conscience. Why donot you quote opium war to make comments on justice? why not Canadian allow British to sell opium to Canada?  thank you for your time to read my questions.

My response:
Thanks for your comment.  Actually opium was a common and legal import from China into Canada until 1908 (more than 60 years after the 1st Opium War that ended with the Anglo-Chinese Treaty of Nanking of 1842).  It was a significant source of customs duty to the Dominion of Canada at that time peaking in 1891 at over $146,000 that year.  Opium was brought into Canada in raw form and processed in B.C.  In 1888 there were 13 licensed opium factories in B.C. that produced almost 90,000lbs of opium a year that sold for $15/pound.  It was also available mixed into processed medicines over that period.  It is a common misconception  that Britain sold a product to China that was illegal in Britain.  Even Lin Zexu 林则徐 thought this as he indicated in correspondence with Queen Victoria.  In fact opium use was legal in Britain at the time.

Why the Xinhua News Agency Self Censors

I have been reading reports in the New York Times about the trial and sentencing of Liu Xiaobo for his role in drafting the Charter 08.

Here are 3 extracts from 3 reports:
"Xinhua carried the statement [of Mr. Liu's sentencing to 11 years in prison] only on its English-language service, and
not its Chinese service, an indication the news was for foreign
consumption and not for the Chinese public to know." (http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/12/24/world/international-uk-china-dissident.html)
"The state-controlled media has not covered Mr. Liu’s trial — nor has it allowed any mention of Charter 08." (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/25/world/asia/25china.html)
"Charter 08 signers have tried to show their solidarity by issuing letters
of protest over his case. The most recent one, signed by 165 people,
states, 'If Liu Xiaobo is found "guilty" that means each one of us is
guilty, and we have to shoulder the punishment together with Liu
Xiaobo.'” (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/12/world/asia/12china.html)

The gist of these 3 put together confirms my suspicion that the Chinese régime's objection to foreign expressions of concern about reports alleging human rights violations in China is primarily based in fear that people in China will be become aware of human rights discourse and become sensitized to the Chinese régime's suppression of the rights and entitlements of Chinese citizens.  So the Communist Party is not genuinely mainly concerned about this as a foreign policy issue of sovereignty but rather as a domestic policy issue of maintaining their authoritarian one-party rule as all costs.

"Strengthening ties with China will not prevent the Canadian government from promoting respect for human rights."

According to a December 25 AFP report  entitled "Canada 'deplores' sentencing of Chinese dissident" about the DFAIT statement on Liu Xiaobo:
 "Canada's conservative government has sought in recent months to develop stronger economic ties with China, and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited Beijing in early December. But Ottawa has also stressed that strengthening ties with China will not prevent the Canadian government from promoting respect for human rights."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091226/wl_canada_afp/chinarightsdissidenttrialcanada

“The Government of Canada is fully committed to promoting freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law worldwide"

Canada Deplores China’s Sentencing of Liu Xiaobo

(No. 396 - December 25, 2009 – 11:55 p.m. EST) The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement regarding the 11-year prison sentence given to Chinese intellectual and dissident Liu Xiaobo by the Beijing Municipal No. 1 Intermediate People’s Court:
“Canada deplores the sentencing of Liu Xiaobo, whom we believe is being punished for exercising his right to peaceful and non-violent freedom of expression.
“Canada is concerned by Mr. Liu’s lengthy detention, which began a year ago. We are also deeply concerned by the circumstances of his trial, which was not open, and to which family members and foreign observers—including Canadian Embassy representatives—were denied access.
“As we have done since Mr. Liu’s detention began, Canada once again urges China to release him without condition.
“The Government of Canada is fully committed to promoting freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law worldwide.”
- 30 -
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
613-995-1851
Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-995-1874





http://www.international.gc.ca/media/aff/news-communiques/2009/396.aspx

Heroic Statement by Stainless Steel Mouse

My Statement of Confession - Willing to Share Responsibility for Offence with Liu Xiaobo

By Liu Di

December 23, 2009, the day of Xiaobo's trial

To: The Beijing First Intermediate People's Court, the No. 1 Branch of Beijing Municipal People's Procuratorate and the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau

I am Liu Di, also known as Stainless Steel Mouse on Internet.

Considering that the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau and the No. 1 Branch of Beijing Municipal People's Procuratorate have completed the investigation and prosecution of Liu Xiaobo's case of inciting subversion of state power and delivered to the Beijing First Intermediate People's Court to be tried on December 23, considering that three organs mentioned above have taken Charter 08 as an important criminal evidence against Liu Xiaobo, and considering that I am one of the signatories and organizing plotters, I am now "giving up to confess" to you according to the paragraphs 3 and 4 of PRC Criminal Procedure Law. I declare the following:

1) My "giving up to confess" does not mean that I agree that your allegations and trial against Liu Xiaobo is lawful and just. On the contrary, I believe that the Charter 08, which , Liu Xiaobo and other has drafted, organized, planned and signed, is an outstanding service to promote the country to constitutional democracy and benefit nation's future and people's welfare. I am honored and proud to have been in it.

2) Since you has accounted Mr. Liu Xiaobo's launching of the Charter movement as a crime based on your special values, I must be an integral part of this case because I not only completely agree with the spiritual value of this document but also have been involved in its organizing, planning and operating activities. I should be an accomplice of Liu Xiaobo's case. According to the principle of equality before law, you should take me as Liu Xiaobo's accomplice to judge us together, but not make selective justice to leave out such an important criminal suspect as me.

3) As a judgment of values, a judicial trial should be examined by history. Czech Republic's Charter 77 movement in 1977, Taiwan's Formosa Incident in 1979, and China's Charter 08 movement in 2008 are all the just acts of the people fighting for human rights, freedom and democracy. The former two campaigns have already been justified by history, and so will the latter. As judicial staff, you should bear in mind to safeguard the dignity of the Constitution. To safeguard the people's constitutional rights is your bounden duty.

In 2003, I published an article, Worms of Persimmon Oil (liberals) surrendering to the Party and Government, condemning the authorities for violation of the citizens' constitutional rights to freedom of expression, and so had been detained for one year on the charges cooked up by the Beijing Public Security Bureau. I have known well that losing freedom is a great pain of life, thus full of fear and boredom of imprisonment. However, for the dignity of Constitution and laws, and for no more imprisonment of the people in the future due to their free speeches and independent opinions, I would prefer to share with Mr. Liu Xiaobo the same case with the same penalty.

Liu Di, a Beijing resident

China's "Dialogue" on Climate Change

China's Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs He Yafei is quoted in thie morning's National Post as saying with regard to the Chinese Government's position on the Copenhagen negotiations on climate change measures that "I think the financial issue is very important. Whatever initiative these countries will announce is a good step.  .  .  . in terms of mitigation actions [emissions curbs], we can also consider, international exchange, dialogue and co-operation that is not intrusive and does not infringe upon our sovereignty" ("China may compromise with U.S. on emissions cuts after $100B pledge" http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=2352472).


But as with all of China's international treaty commitments, including those to the UN on human rights, the crux of the matter is that once the terms are set and the documents signed and sealed, then the discussion and negotiations about the nature of the mutual obligations agreed to have to cease.  That means that China cannot blithely accept the West's billions and then claim national sovereignty protects China from having the West "intrude" to ensure that China is in fact keeping its side of the deal.  The key is "trust but verify."  Specious Chinese processes of "international exchange, dialogue and co-operation" after the West has cut China a huge cheque cannot be used to obstruct and obfuscate effective verification measures designed to ensure that China is in fact delivering on what Canada and our allies are asked to pay for.

My Op-Ed in the Globe and Mail

My Op-Ed "A more sophisticated engagement with China" appeared in the Globe and Mail on November 30 (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/for-a-more-sophisticated-engagement-with-china/article1380765/ or http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/a-more-sophisticated-engagement-with-china/article1382180/; the later with expanded text but without illustration of cute cartoon of panda and beaver sitting together).  Happy to see my views get such a broad airing.

There are a couple of minor editing errors in the text in the Globe.  First is that China does not have a "Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation"  It has a Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  There are International Cooperation offices in other ministries that Canada engages.  The other is that Australia had a trade imbalance with China of 1.53:1 in 2004.  Today it is 1:1.

December 2: An expanded and improved version of  this Op-Ed appeared in The Ottawa Citizen on December 1 under the title "How to deal with China" (http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/deal+with+China/2288079/story.html).  The same version until the title "It's time for Canada to rethink the way it engages China" appeared in the Halifax Chronicle-Herald on December 2 (http://thechronicleherald.ca/forum/read/16/154953/154953).

December 10: The same version with the minor editing errors that was published in the Globe and Mail appeared in the Vancouver Sun on December 10 entitled "Canada's China policy needs a major overhaul" (http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Canada+China+policy+needs+major+overhaul/2324988/story.html)

Lansdowne Lecture on "The past, present and future of Canada-China relations"

Exploring Canada-China Relations with Charles Burton

Charles Burton has been an observer of Chinese affairs for over 35 years, is the author of and editor of numerous books and articles about China, and is a frequent commentator in the Canadian and Chinese press, radio and TV on Chinese affairs.  Dr. Burton will giving the University of Victoria's prestigious Lansdowne Lecture on "The past, present and future of Canada-China relations" on Friday November 20, 2009 at 7:30 pm in Harry Hickman Room 110 which will kick-off CAPI's "Chinese Uncertainties and Canadian Responses in Light of the Global Financial Crisis" Conference on November 21 and 22, 2009.

http://www.capi.uvic.ca/features/exploring-canada-china-relations-charles-burton

USA Shuns Chinese State Media to Do Press Conference with Bloggers Only

Mark MacKinnon's item in the morning's Globe and Mail entitled "China equates Tibetan traditions with U.S. slavery " (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/china-equates-tibetan-traditions-with-us-slavery/article1361525/) ends with an intriguing piece of information:
"In a rebuff of China's state-run media, the U.S. embassy in Beijing Thursday hosted a 'press conference' with 13 independent Chinese bloggers. No official media were invited."

This does strike me as a rather pointed comment on the lack of free press and honest reporting by the Communist Party controlled media in China.   As well it is a strong acknowledgement that thanks to new technologies Chinese people can nevertheless be reached with the facts via blogs.  While the Chinese blogs that report on the U.S. Embassy briefing will likely be taken down by the Chinese authorities soon after they publish, based on what I have seen in China last summer that will  not be before a large number of people have downloaded the content to their hard disks and re-distribute it via e-mail, USB drives, etc.

Chinese Spokesman Qin Gang on Lincoln, Dalai Lama and Slavery

Asked about a possible meeting between Obama and the Dalai Lama, Qin said the U.S. president should recognize the exiled Tibetan leader, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, as the former head of a slave state.
"In 1959, China abolished the feudal serf system just as President Lincoln freed the black slaves. So we hope President Obama more than any other foreign state leader can have a better understanding on China's position on opposing the Dalai's splitting activities," Qin told reporters at a regularly scheduled news conference. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091112/ap_on_re_as/as_china_obama_dalai_lama)

Comment by me: Chinese authorities really don't do public diplomacy very well.  They grasp at straws to defend their Tibet policy very badly yet again.  But as Lincoln put it at the end of his address at Gettysburg, I do believe that China before long "shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Lansdowne Lecture: The past, present and future of Canada-China relations

November 20, 2009 - 7:30pm - 9:00pm

Harry Hickman Building, Room 110
University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia

Featuring Charles Burton, Brock University.

Charles Burton has been an observer of Chinese affairs for over 35 years. He began his career at the Communications Security Establishment of the Department of National Defence in 1981. Charles joined the Department of Political Science at Brock University in 1989. He was subsequently posted to China by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on two occasions. In 2006 he wrote a report for DFAIT Assessment of the Canada-China Bilateral that has been the subject of a study Human Rights Dialogue by the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee. His most recent report on Canada-China relations A Reassessment of Canada's was released by the Canadian International Council Interests in China and Options for Renewal of Canada's China Policy earlier this year.

This lecture is presented by the Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives through the University of Victoria's Lansdowne Lecture Series, with generous support from the Faculty of Humanities.

http://www.capi.uvic.ca/events/past-present-and-future-canada-china-relations

REVISED: Chilling Allegation About Chinese Adoptions

1. August 21, 2009:
While I was in China this past summer, I was invited to dinner and the dinner table the conversation turned to recent loosening of the one child policy requirements.  I had felt rather uncomfortable in Kunming seeing billboards and ads on buses place by hospitals and clinics competing for the business of abortion of "unplanned pregnancy."  Some offered "specials" of only 100 yuan for professional fees for an abortion, no appointment necessary.  That would be about $15 Canadian.  So I am happy to learn about this loosening due to the new problem of aging population in some areas such as Shanghai. 

Continuing the table chat, I mentioned how many childless Canadian couples had adopted abandoned baby girls from China and what a joyous thing it was to see happy families of loving white parents and Chinese looking girls together.  I was then asked about the costs of adoption and I explained my understanding of the various not inconsiderable costs of adopting from China including the "donation" to the Chinese orphanage.  To this I was told, "you should recommend to Canadian couples that if they want to adopt they could save money by coming to my province to get them.  It would be cheaper and chances of getting a boy to adopt much better."  I asked how so?  The answer was that some out of plan babies, boys as well as girls, ended up in orphanages because their parents could not pay the fine for having an "illegal" second child (usually about a year's average salary as determined by the economic conditions locally).  So the local authorities are keen to get their share of the foreign "donation" for such babies and offer such "out of plan" infants from poorer families at a discounted rate to ensure that the babies are well away in case their grieving parents try and find them and steal them away without paying the fine.  So these are not actually orphans on offer but actually children forcibly ripped from the arms of their loving mothers.

I have no evidence that this sort of thing actually has been going on or if it is just some urban myth repeated between toasts of Chinese wine at a convivial occasion.  Nevertheless, it gives me the chills to think about it.


2. October 20, 2009:
The National Post published a from page story this morning entitled: "Canada probes claims of baby abductions" (http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2121328 or here) about the sort of "official baby napping" I described above.  I can imagine that this sort of publicity causes the Canadian parents of lovely girl babies adopted from China a great deal of doubt, guilt and mental anguish.  I deeply regret that.

The fact is that  parents in the People's Republic of China have to get a permit from the state to have a "legal" child.  "Out of plan" children cannot be entered into the "household registry book" (hukou bu) so they are ineligible for government subsidized education and health services.  This is certainly a major causative factor in the abandonment of baby girls to be cared for by the state (in which case they do qualify for educational and health services as orphans).  For the most part while adoption within families is surprising common in China, domestic adoption of non-relatives is not.  I only know of a very few examples of this.  

There is lots of nonsense on this subject put out on the internet and in print by groups that have serious gripes against the Chinese regime.   I remember a few years ago there were claims that made quite a sensation in the Western press that Chinese orphanages all had special rooms where a portion of the infants were left to die a miserable death by starvation.  My judgement is that this is absolutely impossible and untrue.  Chinese people would never put up with anything like that whatsoever.  It was ridiculous to even imagine such a thing of a nation of people who are so soft-hearted and kind to all children whether their own or someone else's children.  Unfortunately a lot of people in the West wrongly assumed it was the fact.

Last week by coincidence I was in touch by telephone with the director of a combination orphanage and old age home in Zhejiang near Hangzhou.  This orphanage has been extensively involved in foreign adoptions.  He told me that in December construction of a new and modern facility for the orphans and indigent old people under his care would begin.  The new building is presumably at least partly funded by the donations from foreign adoptive parents.  

I am absolutely confident  that the vast, vast majority of the girls adopted by Canadians from China are children whose families have had to abandon them out of concern for the future well-being of the child.  The fortunate among them become much-loved daughters of Canadian parents.  What could be better and more beautiful than that?


 

Jean Chretien and Friendship in Canada-China Relations

There is an item in the press this morning quoting some remarks made by former Prime Minister Chretien in Paris today.  It sumarizes his comments as follows: "Canadian goodwill towards China began with Pierre Elliott Trudeau's recognition of Beijing, and grew to the point where he was once told by a Chinese leader that Canada was China's best friend."

I was present at a dinner in Beijing in the autumn of 1998 when the Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji abandoned his prepared remarks and said that "Canada is our best friend" (Jiananda shi women zuihaode pengyou).  Mr. Zhu was sitted at the head table between Mr. Chretien and Mr. Chretien's son-in-law, Andre Desmarais whose Power Corporation has extensive business interests in China, at the time.

Of course I am a proponent of "goodwill" in all things.  But I am of the school of thought that Canada only has interests in its international relations, "friendship" not properly entering into it.


October 21: Lorne Gunter published an opinion piece "The 'soft power' myth" in the National Post today that I agree with on this point and on others: http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=47249cbb-70d3-4ad3-99f5-3ba5a2c4e9e0 or here.

Minister Kenney met with Dalai Lama Yesterday

On October 4, 2009, Jason Kenney met in Montreal with His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama is one of Canada's four living honourary citizens.

Fragment from AP report "China clears central Beijing for anniversary party"

Many Chinese are justifiably proud of what China has achieved since the People's Republic was founded in 1949, a transformation from an impoverished, war-wracked country to an economic and diplomatic power. Life expectancy has risen from 41 years in 1949 to 73 today. Incomes have soared, even as the population has more than doubled from 500 million to 1.3 billion. In just the last 30 years, GDP per capita has grown tenfold from $200.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090929/ap_on_re_as/as_china_anniversary_lockdown


Arable land in China has been reduced but the population tripled since 1949.  The fact that most people in China get enough daily calories to sustain life despite this is a remarkable accomplishment.  The extraordinarily extensive development of irrigation systems in the early years of the regime, accompanied by improvements in agricutural technology and widespread use of agricultural chemicals today accounts for this.

Celebrating the 60th Anniversary

As the People's Republic of China approaches the 60th anniversary of its Party-State October 1, preparations are being made for a big celebration with very impressive fireworks, gala performances and a grand parade of China's most terrible military implements of destruction on the day.  In preparation for the celebration, new restrictions on movement about Beijing and crackdowns on human rights defenders and proponents of liberal democracy, ethnic rights, freedom of expression over the internet, etc. are being firmly enforced.  Lately new measures to limit access to non-approved internet sites have been implemented rendering most proxy servers useless.

It does make me wonder about the nature of a "celebration" that requires such intensification of repressive measures directed against the freedoms of the ostensibly celebrating Chinese citizenry.


September 29:  See this report from Reporters without Borders "'Paranoid' China ramps up firewall on anniversary: RSF"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090929/wl_asia_afp/chinapolitics60yearsitmediarights