Week of November 23, 1999
Week of November 23, 1999
The U.S. and China This Week
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POLITICS: China Launches Successful Space Flight
SUMMARY:
Early on the morning of November 21, the Chinese space program’s unmanned
Shenzhou module completed 14 orbits of the planet before its reentry and recovery.
This successful first launch of a passenger-capable space module used the
new version of China’s Long march rocket and clears the way for China’s first
manned spacecraft. Chinese media claim the launch has definite military significance
with respect to the United States?possible development of an anti-missile
defense system, although some Western analysts contest the extent of its significance.
The success of the launch does have clear implications for China’s international
prestige, as it brings the Chinese space program one step closer to joining
the United States and Russia in the circle of countries with manned space
flight capacities.
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TRADE: China Pursues WTO Progress
SUMMARY:
Chinese trade officials, attempting to complete China’s remaining 23 bilateral
agreements needed for WTO accession, were pursuing a deal with Canadian counterparts
early this week in Beijing. Both sides hoped to complete the pact prior to
the Wednesday visit of Mr. Shi Guangsheng, the Chinese Minister of Foreign
Trade and Economic Cooperation, to Canada. China would like to complete as
many trade discussions as possible before the November 30 WTO meeting in Seattle
dealing with trade liberalization.
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POLITICS: U.S. Nuclear Spy Probe Expanded
SUMMARY:
In the midst of an overall thaw in bilateral U.S.-Chinese relations after
the signing of the WTO agreement, the contentious U.S. probe of alleged Chinese
nuclear spying has been expanded to include possible leaks at weapons assembly
facilities. Although new evidence has linked a Chinese intelligence document
to sites which assemble the W-88 warhead, the initial target of the probe,
Mr. Wen Ho Lee, a former staff member at the Los Alamos National Laboratory,
has not been cleared. China denies all charges.
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STATE AND SOCIETY: Falungong Members, Tax Protestors Charged in Chinese
Courts
SUMMARY:
Twelve Falungong members, a sect focusing on meditation and moral values,
have been sentenced to labor camps for practicing the group’s exercises in
public, according to the Hong-Kong based Information Center of Human Rights
and Democratic Movement in China. Five other members have been charged.
The Center also reported that Chinese officials have charged 23 farmers for
crimes stemming from their involvement in a local tax protest in Henan province
last August.
The U.S. and China This Week
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