News » Politics » China: Communist Party Expels Former Railways Chief

---

• China: Communist Party Expels Former Railways Chief
• Leaders of Taiwan's Changchun Group take slow road to rich list
• Chinese Lawyers Support Falun Gong in ‘Brave 300′ Case
• Former Beijing Mayor Speaks of Tiananmen Crackdown
• China approves two major steel production base projects
• Prosecutor Sends Back Falun Gong Case After Hundreds Sign Petition
• Two Tibetan Monks Self-Immolate at Jokhang Temple
• Top China Stories from WSJ: Rail Minister Expelled, Christie’s on Art, IPO Shelved
• Peking duck restaurant accused of selling 'gutter oil'
• Beijing to offer 72-hour visa-free entry
• Dormitory fire allows Dalian students to bid farewell to school
• Father Commits Suicide to Protest Son’s Tiananmen Death
• Stray Dog Runs 1200 Miles Across China
• Wen Jiabao urges further opening up in service sector
• Hu Jintao Sends Warning Message to Military
• Two Tibetans set themselves on fire in Lhasa
• Tibetan self-immolations over Chinese policies - interactive
• China ex-rail minister expelled from party amid corruption claims
• Tiananmen Square victim's father kills himself
• China Cracks Down on Web Critics

China: Communist Party Expels Former Railways Chief Posted: 27 May 2012 09:00 PM PDT The Communist Party expelled the government's former railways minister, Liu Zhijun, state-run media reported.

Leaders of Taiwan's Changchun Group take slow road to rich list Posted: 29 May 2012 03:43 AM PDT Though the leaders of Taiwan-based Changchun Group have become the 17th-richest people in their home country, they continue to keep a low profile and focus on making their electronic component manufac...

Chinese Lawyers Support Falun Gong in ‘Brave 300′ Case Posted: 28 May 2012 08:04 PM PDT The petition by 300 hundred villagers from Zhoutun Village, Botou City, Hebei Province calling for the release of Falun Gong practitioner Wang Xiaodong has shaken up China's top leadership circle. (The Epoch Times) Chinese lawyers and the public are increasingly more willing to oppose cases of Falun Gong practitioners being persecuted by authorities, after an incident in Hebei Province where 300 villagers signed their names on a public petition calling for the release of a detained fellow villager. Wang Xiaodong, a teacher in Zhouguantun village near Butou city, Hebei province, was arrested in late February by plainclothes police after they discovered in his home compact discs with information about Falun Gong and its persecution. They also took 20,000 yuan (US$3,200) from him. His elderly mother and 7-year-old son were left to fend for themselves. Following the arrest, 300 villagers signed their names and put their fingerprints on a petition for Wang's release. But shortly thereafter the villagers were ordered to retract their statements and became the objects of repression by authorities, reportedly on direct orders from the powerful Political and Legislative Affairs Committee. Guangdong lawyer Tang Jingling told The Epoch Times on the telephone that the incident is "a fight between good and evil. Using political or legal terms, it's about the establishment of freedom and democracy," he said. People must stand up and raise a united righteous voice against the regime, Tang said. Shaming Officials According to Tang and other lawyers, the Chinese public is increasingly more willing to stand up against human rights abuses, particularly those targeting the Falun Gong mediation practice, also known as Falun Dafa, whose adherents espouse the values of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Falun Gong practitioners have been persecuted in China since July 1999. A Beijing lawyer, who wished not to be named, told The Epoch Times on Friday that he would be willing to accept Wang's case if it were presented to him. He said, aside from the villagers publicly standing up for him, Wang Xiaodong's case is not unique. Numerous Falun Gong practitioners have been illegally sentenced, with the prosecution and judges designing charges that have previously never existed, or have questionable legal standing; in other cases evidence is apparently fabricated by police. Most of the time the legal system is bypassed, with practitioners instead directly sent to brainwashing centers or labor camps. The lawyer added that there have been positive developments in Wang's case because the villagers' petition has shed unfavorable light on local Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials. He also knows of reports stating that the upper echelons of the CCP, including Politburo members, have questioned the reasoning behind the political campaign against Falun Gong. Meanwhile, the lawyer said the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the highest legal office in China, has handed the case back to the local Butou police bureau because of lack of evidence. Click www.ept.ms/ccp-crisis to read about the most recent developments in the ongoing crisis within the Chinese communist regime. In this special topic, we provide readers with the necessary context to understand the situation. Get the RSS feed. Get the new interactive Timeline of Events. Who are the Major Players? Liu Yan, a local government official, verified in a phone call on Saturday that the case had indeed been sent back to the police bureau for lack of evidence. For Wang and his family, this could be a favorable development, the Beijing lawyer said, because his family can then request that he be released on bail. The lawyer added that there is a good likelihood that Wang might be released because it is an opportunity for officials with the police station to save face in light of public scrutiny. Wang could also be cleared of all charges, but this is a more difficult feat to accomplish, the lawyer said. The Epoch Times called the government in Butou, and local officials said they would consider the villagers' petition. But according to a number of local people The Epoch Times talked to, the government has been harassing villagers who signed the petition. Related Articles The Choice and the Crisis Facing the Chinese Regime Purge of China's Security Chief in Sight, Says Insider Chinese Scholars Voice Support for Falun Gong and 'The Brave 300' When Chongqing's former top cop, Wang Lijun, fled for his life to the U.S. Consulate in Chengdu on Feb. 6, he set in motion a political storm that has not subsided. The battle behind the scenes turns on what stance officials take toward the persecution of Falun Gong. The faction with bloody hands—the officials promoted by former CCP head Jiang Zemin in order to carry out the persecution—is seeking to avoid accountability for their crimes and to continue the campaign. Other officials are refusing any longer to participate in the persecution. Events present a clear choice to the officials and citizens of China, as well as people around the world: either support or oppose the persecution of Falun Gong. History will record the choice each person makes. Read original Chinese article. chinareports@epochtimes.com The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 19 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.

Former Beijing Mayor Speaks of Tiananmen Crackdown Posted: 27 May 2012 09:00 PM PDT In a new book, Chen Xitong denies years of accusations that he turned Deng Xiaoping against students and then played a key role in organizing the military assault.

China approves two major steel production base projects Posted: 29 May 2012 03:32 AM PDT China's State Council has approved steel production base projects to be carried out by Chinese firms Baosteel and Wuhan Iron & Steel, the Shanghai-based First Financial Daily reported on Sunday. Ci...

Prosecutor Sends Back Falun Gong Case After Hundreds Sign Petition Posted: 28 May 2012 03:07 PM PDT Wang Xiaodong, A Falun Gong practitioner from northeastern Hebei province, remains in custody after 300 fellow villagers signed a petition against his wrongful detention and called for his release.

Two Tibetan Monks Self-Immolate at Jokhang Temple Posted: 28 May 2012 09:55 AM PDT On Sunday, two men became the first Tibetans to self-immolate in Lhasa, the capital of the Tibetan autonomous region. The two were taken away by authorities within just a few minutes of setting themselves on fire.

Top China Stories from WSJ: Rail Minister Expelled, Christie’s on Art, IPO Shelved Posted: 28 May 2012 06:32 PM PDT China's Communist Party expelled the former railway minister to clear the way for his prosecution; auction house Christie's International says its art business is resilient; China Yongda Automobiles Services Holdings has decided to shelve its plan to raise up to $433 million in an initial public offering in Hong Kong due to market volatility.

Peking duck restaurant accused of selling 'gutter oil' Posted: 29 May 2012 01:43 AM PDT Quanjude, one of the most famous Peking roast duck restaurants in China, is the latest to be implicated in the "gutter oil" scare in the country, having been accused of selling its leftover oil and co...

Beijing to offer 72-hour visa-free entry Posted: 29 May 2012 01:43 AM PDT Beijing is planning to offer foreign tourists a 72-hour visa-free entry to attract more people to the city. Fu Zhenghua, the city's director of public security, has confirmed that authorities are arr...

Dormitory fire allows Dalian students to bid farewell to school Posted: 29 May 2012 01:43 AM PDT A group of students in Dalian shot their graduation photos using a unique backdrop: their school, engulfed in flames. Their photos went viral online, being forwarded 3,000 times in two hours, reports ...

Father Commits Suicide to Protest Son’s Tiananmen Death Posted: 28 May 2012 04:35 PM PDT Chinese military policemen march past the Great Hall of the People beside Tiananmen Square in Beijing on May 16. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images) The father of a student who was killed in the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989 was found dead recently, having committed suicide in protest against Chinese communist authorities.   Zha Weilin, the father of student Zha Aiguo, a Tiananmen student, hung himself on Saturday May 26. The tenor of his suicide note, reported online, was that he wished to use his death as a final protest against the regime for failing to redress the killing of his son over 20 years ago.   Zha Aiguo, the second son of Zha Weilin, was 22 years old when he was shot and killed in the June 4 massacre. Thousands of students and ordinary Chinese had gathered in Tiananmen Square and elsewhere in Beijing to protest against corruption and support democratic reform.   Following their son's death, Zha Weilin and his wife participated in activities held by the Tiananmen Mothers, an informal group who protest for the redress of the deaths of their sons and daughters in the massacre. The couple was subject to police intimidation and surveillance over the years because of their protest activities.   Zha Weilin, the father, left home on May 25. His body was discovered the following afternoon. The police cordoned off the scene, removed the suicide note, and two days later cremated the body.  Apple Daily, a Hong Kong newspaper, gave an account of Zha Weilin's final days alive, as told by Zhang Zhenxia, his widow. At 10 a.m. before he left home, he said: "Zhenxia, I can't wait on you anymore." He was reportedly in a distressed state. After going to the door, he came back, then paced back and forth a dozen times. He said: "I can't bear to leave you!" before finally leaving.   He was found dead the next afternoon. "They did not tell me of his death until all my relatives reached my home," Zhang the widow said.  Related Articles Beijing Discusses Redressing the Tiananmen Square Massacre Zhang Zhenxia said that after their son was killed, her husband became very quiet. "He became introverted, the emotion was pent-up in his heart," she said. "He's finally found relief. Now that I am left behind… I don't know what to do."  Read the original Chinese article  The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 19 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter

Stray Dog Runs 1200 Miles Across China Posted: 28 May 2012 01:07 PM PDT A small white dog shows incredible determination in running along side cyclists in a three-week marathon.

Wen Jiabao urges further opening up in service sector Posted: 29 May 2012 12:12 AM PDT Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has called for increased opening up in the country's service sector and encouraged local service providers to go global to boost the industry's share in foreign trade. Spea...

Hu Jintao Sends Warning Message to Military Posted: 28 May 2012 02:37 PM PDT Chinese President Hu Jintao (Prakash Singh/AFP/Getty Images) For years, Chinese Communist Party chief Hu Jintao has been at odds with defense minister Liang Guanglie, who has repeatedly challenged Hu's control of the military, the People's Liberation Army (PLA). However, recent commentaries published in the PLA Daily, the official military newspaper, were ridden with slogans to "seek progress within stability" and avoid "taking advantage of chaos to make a profit," an indication that Hu is trying to send a warning message to his opponents in the army to heed his power. The newspaper is published by the Central Military Commission, the regime's highest military organ, which is headed by Hu. Liang, a long-time friend of the recently ousted Chongqing party chief Bo Xilai, has consistently taken a hard-line approach in dealing with China's international disputes, openly challenging Hu's command over the army. According to an Epoch Times report published on May 3, Liang had been Hu's most powerful opponent in the dispute over the Scarborough Reef in the South China Sea. After a Filipino war ship attempted to arrest Chinese fishermen off the coast of the island on April 10, Liang made a visit to Guangdong and Guangxi province, two regions that border the South Sea. His speech during the visit hinted at his desire for an aggressive military response: "Use the military with carefulness, gauge the situation when using the military, and use the military according to the law."   But if China were to take military action, it would most likely provoke a response from the U.S., as the Philippines is a long-time American ally.  Liang's approach is in direct opposition to Hu's stance on Sino-American relations, which he made clear at the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue held on May 3 and 4: "The world we live in has enough room for China, the U.S., and other countries to develop together… Both parties should have mutual trust and understanding, while acting in the spirit of equality and properly handling our differences."  But an article published in the PLA Daily on May 12  may suggest that Hu is finally gaining an upper hand in the fight for control over the PLA. The article gave a stern warning message to those in the military who had urged for a stronger response to the dispute with the Philippines, criticizing them of "wanting to start a war out of anger and to trigger a major conflict with the United States…provocateurs are doing this to achieve the sinister purpose of 'fishing in muddy waters to benefit from the chaos.'"  Liang himself also softened his rhetoric when he visited the United States from May 4 to 10. On May 7, Liang met with U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta at the Pentagon and expressed his desire for a China-U.S. relationship that echoed Hu's long-standing policy:  "At present, China-U.S. bilateral relationship is on a new starting line in history to build a new kind of military relationship based on equality, cooperation and mutual benefit."  Click www.ept.ms/ccp-crisis to read about the most recent developments in the ongoing crisis within the Chinese communist regime. In this special topic, we provide readers with the necessary context to understand the situation. Get the RSS feed. Get the new interactive Timeline of Events. Who are the Major Players? In addition, the Taipei Times reported that while responding to a question about U.S. arms sales to Taiwan in September last year, Liang said that his current visit, as well as his invitation for Panetta to visit China later this year, is representative of "a kind of turnover in the China-U.S. military relationship even after the US arms sales to Taiwan." This may be a sign that the defense minister has finally relinquished his grip over the army and instead following Hu's command.  Furthermore, in response to the Pentagon's annual report to Congress on the Chinese military released last week, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman, Geng Yansheng accused the U.S. of exaggerating China's defense capabilities. He stated on May 21: "the United States' spreading of the so-called 'Chinese military threat' is completely unsubstantiated." As Hu Jintao is the top military commander, this is a move that can be interpreted as Hu's dismissal of Liang's earlier efforts to appear friendly while on his visit to the U.S., again suggesting Liang's loss of power.  The next day, another commentary published on the Liberation Army Daily revealed Hu's last warning to those disloyal to him: "Abiding by party discipline is the political responsibility of every party member, the most important being the strict adherence to political discipline." In a previous Epoch Times report, Epoch Times columnist Li Tianxiao commented that Liang's hard-line approach on the Scarborough Reef dispute can be seen as a way to divert Hu's attention away from punishing his friend Bo Xilai and security chief Zhou Yongkang, both of whom are part of the "bloody-hands faction" that is involved in the persecution of Falun Gong: "If Hu does not stress the South China Sea conflict, then this can weaken Hu's control over the military and mark Hu as bringing humiliation to the country. If Hu gets involved in the South China Sea conflict, then this will weaken and slow down the punishment of Bo Xilai and Zhou Yongkang."  However, given Bo Xilai's recent disgraceful public ousting, Liang's decision to finally follow Hu's command may be a sign that the bloody hands faction is quickly losing its grip on the military.  Related Articles Philippines Dispute Used in Chinese Regime's Power Struggle Hu Jintao May Keep Control of Army After Succession Editor's Note: When Chongqing's former top cop, Wang Lijun, fled for his life to the U.S. Consulate in Chengdu on Feb. 6, he set in motion a political storm that has not subsided. The battle behind the scenes turns on what stance officials take toward the persecution of Falun Gong. The faction with bloody hands—the officials former CCP head Jiang Zemin promoted in order to carry out the persecution—is seeking to avoid accountability for their crimes and to continue the campaign. Other officials are refusing any longer to participate in the persecution. Events present a clear choice to the officials and citizens of China, as well as people around the world: either support or oppose the persecution of Falun Gong. History will record the choice each person makes. Read the original Chinese article. chinareports@epochtimes.com The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 19 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.

Two Tibetans set themselves on fire in Lhasa Posted: 28 May 2012 06:10 AM PDT First time a recent wave of self-immolations to protest at Chinese rule has reached the Tibetan capital Two men engulfed themselves in flames outside a temple that is a popular tourist site in Lhasa, marking the first time a recent wave of self-immolations to protest at Chinese rule has reached the tightly guarded Tibetan capital. One of the men died and the other was hospitalised after they set themselves on fire on Sunday outside the Jokhang temple, the official Xinhua news agency said. The report quoted a local Communist party official as blaming the incident on separatist forces. Xinhua said the men were taken away by authorities within two minutes of setting themselves on fire. Protests have become rare in remote Tibet and Lhasa in particular because of tight police security that has blanketed the area since anti-government riots erupted in Lhasa in 2008. There have been at least 34 immolations since March of last year to draw attention to China's restrictions on Buddhism and to call for the return from exile of the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Most have taken place in Tibetan areas of China, but only one had occurred in Tibet itself and none in the capital. Chinese authorities have confirmed some of the self-immolations over the past year but not all. The twin immolations in the heart of Tibetan capital are certain to embarrass the region's communist leadership, who have pledged to make social stability and ethnic unity top priorities. That mandate is especially pressing this year as China prepares for a once-a-decade leadership transition in the autumn and doesn't want the occasion undermined. The immolations are also likely to prompt tough, new restrictions on Tibetan social gatherings and religious activities in Lhasa, as they have elsewhere. Radio Free Asia reported on Monday that the capital was under heavy police and paramilitary guard following the immolations and that the situation was very tense. The incident occurred in the open-air Barkhor market near the temple in the centre of Lhasa, an area popular with Tibetans and tourists alike. Xinhua said the immolations were handled quickly and order was restored. It also quoted a senior official with the regional communist government as saying it was a separatist incident. "They were a continuation of the self-immolations in other Tibetan areas and these acts were all aimed at separating Tibet from China," Xinhua quoted Hao Peng, secretary of the commission for political and legal affairs of the CPC Tibet Committee, as saying in a statement on Sunday. Xinhua identified the Tibetan who died as Tobgye Tseten from Xiahe county in Gansu province and the other man as Dargye, a Tibetan from Aba county in Sichuan province. Most of the recent immolations have taken place in Aba, home to Kirti monastery, where numerous protests against the Chinese government have taken place over the past few years. Xiahe is home to the large and influential Labrang monastery and the Tibetan community there has had sporadic clashes with local authorities. Xinhua said Dargye was in stable condition and able to speak. US-funded radio broadcaster Voice of America said the two men worked at a Lhasa restaurant called Nyima Ling. "This was the first time it has happened in Lhasa – and right in the middle of Lhasa," said Tenzin Tsundue, a Tibetan poet and one of the most prominent activists living in India. He said it reflected the fact that anger against Chinese rule was not restricted to the areas where most of the self-immolations have occurred – mostly ethnically Tibetan areas outside the legal boundaries of Tibet. "All over Tibet it's the same emotion, it's the same response" to Beijing's policies, he said. "We are always in fear of the next self-immolation, and whenever it happens we say prayers. And every time it happens we hope the world is listening." China says Tibet has always been part of its territory, but many Tibetans say the Himalayan region was virtually independent for centuries until Chinese troops invaded in the 1950s. Beijing blames the Dalai Lama for fanning anti-government sentiment and routinely purges monasteries and nunneries, where support for the Dalai Lama and Tibetan independence runs high. Tibet China Asia Pacific Protest guardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Tibetan self-immolations over Chinese policies - interactive Posted: 28 May 2012 05:56 AM PDT Since March 2011, more than 30 Tibetans - monks, nuns and lay people - have set themselves on fire, reportedly in protest against Chinese policies in Tibet Paddy Allen Ami Sedghi Tania Branigan

China ex-rail minister expelled from party amid corruption claims Posted: 28 May 2012 05:43 AM PDT Liu Zhijun accused of 'degenerate morals' and taking bribes as ministry's influence continues to wane after Wenzhou crash China's ruling Communist party has expelled a former railways minister who oversaw a massive expansion of high-speed rail links, accusing him of taking bribes and fostering corruption throughout the railway system. The announcement came over a year after Liu Zhijun was dismissed from his government post amid the allegations. The party's discipline body said Liu had taken huge bribes and abused his authority to help a private businessman make illegal profits, according to the website of the official party People's Daily. The paper also accused him of "degenerate morals", a term that often refers to sexual liaisons and the keeping of mistresses. Liu's case file will be forwarded to prosecutors, who will formally charge him. Getting expelled from the Communist party virtually guarantees a conviction. Liu was railways minister for eight years, far exceeding the usual term for a minister. He accumulated vast wealth and power while in office, especially during a rush to extend the bullet train network nationwide. High-speed rail was a national prestige project aimed at linking its far-flung regions as well as showing off China's technological prowess and rising wealth. But the bullet train network came in for criticism when a crash last July killed 40 people in the eastern city of Wenzhou. After the accident, the government was forced to lower the speed of trains amid criticism that the system was dangerously fast and too expensive. Allegations of kickbacks, bribes, illegal contracts and other malpractice has circulated around Liu for years, but the ministry's influence and his own personal authority seemed to shield him from formal accusations. Since the crash, the government has limited the railways ministry's powers, cutting back on investment as funding grew tight and putting railways-related court cases in most regions under the jurisdiction of civilian courts rather than that of the railway court system. Bidding on railway projects was also recently brought into line with procedures for other government public works. State media said the move was intended to ensure fairness and transparency, and to prevent officials from meddling in project bidding or engaging in influence-peddling or collusion. The latest reports gave no word on the fate of another senior official, Zhang Shuguang, an engineer in charge of research and development of the country's high-speed railways, who was removed alongside Liu for unnamed disciplinary violations. China Rail transport Asia Pacific guardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Tiananmen Square victim's father kills himself Posted: 28 May 2012 01:02 AM PDT Ya Weilin, whose son died during 1989 student protests, found hanged after 23-year wait for government investigation The father of a man killed in the 1989 Tiananmen square crackdown has hanged himself in protest after two decades of failed attempts to seek government redress, a support group said Monday. The group, known as the Tiananmen Mothers, said 73-year-old Ya Weilin's body was found in an underground parking garage below his residential complex in Beijing. He was believed to have killed himself on Friday. An obituary the group posted on its website said that according to Ya's family, he had carried a note that detailed his son's death and declared that he would die in protest because the issue had not been addressed for more than 20 years. Beijing police did not immediately respond to a faxed request for comment. Ya's death came about a week before the anniversary of the night of 3-4 June 1989, when the military crushed the student-led protests, possibly killing thousands of people. Official silence has been maintained about the incident, with nothing written in school textbooks and public discussion virtually taboo. The Tiananmen Mothers group routinely issues open letters urging the country's leaders to account for the deaths. They have for years called for a full investigation, compensation to victims' families and punishment of those responsible for the crackdown. Members say the government has never responded. Ya's son, Ya Aiguo, was shot in the head by troops in Beijing, according to the online obituary. A testimony by his mother on the same site says that at the time the 22-year-old had been waiting to be assigned a job and had gone out shopping with his girlfriend on the evening he was killed. His father killed himself out of despair and to protest at the government's refusal to address the grievances of the victims' relatives, said Zhang Xianling, who knew Ya and his wife from the support group. "The government's cold-blooded behaviour has caused this tragic ending," said Zhang, whose 19-year-old son died during the crackdown. "I hope this incident will make the government circumspect and that such a thing will not happen again," Zhang said. "In this, the government has a responsibility. It owes a life now." The Chinese government has never fully disclosed what happened when the military crushed the weeks-long Tiananmen protests, which it branded a "counterrevolutionary riot", nor allowed an independent investigation into the events and the fatalities. Tiananmen Square protests 1989 China Protest Asia Pacific guardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

China Cracks Down on Web Critics Posted: 27 May 2012 09:00 PM PDT One of China's largest hosts of Twitter-like microblogs decreed new punishments on Monday for users who post comments that its editors deem inappropriate.

You are subscribed to email updates from Update » News » Politics To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610