Posted on 12/08/2001 10:53:41 AM PST by yoe
Despite evidence of China's past close relationships with the Taliban, a U.S. antiterrorism official had warm praise for Beijing's alleged cooperation in fighting Osama bin Laden's Taliban supported al Qaeda.
"The Chinese share our resolve to shut down the global terror network linked to Osama bin Laden," Gen. Frank Taylor told the New York Times.
Taylor, The U.S. State Department's ambassador at large for counter-terrorism added. "We're pleased with the cooperation we have received from China since Sept. 11."
But Taylor admitted that China's main contribution to the war on terrorism thus far has been limited to the diplomatic arena - especially its cooperation in getting a strong resolution in the United Nations passed and its support for the creation of a new government in Afghanistan.
Taylor's praise for Beijing's cooperation comes in the face of shocking reports that in the wake of the September 11 massacre, China's state controlled media rejoiced over the destruction of the World Trade Center, the damage to the Pentagon and the death of thousands of innocent victims, even to the extent of producing video discs glorifying the terrorist attack.
According the Britain's Telegraph newspaper, the Chinese state-run propaganda machine cashed in on the terror attacks in New York and Washington, "producing books, films and video games glorifying the strikes as a humbling blow against an arrogant nation.
"Video discs filled with lurid images along with dramatic opera music and even the theme from Jaws have flooded the nation's markets in the wake of the attacks," the Telegraph reported, adding that the DVDs "bore the imprimatur of the Communist Party-controlled media. The most popular DVDs have been produced by the Xinhua information agency, Beijing Television and China Central Television."
In one DVD, as rescue workers were shown picking through the rubble of the twin towers, a commentator proclaims that the city had reaped the consequences of decades of American bullying of weaker nations.
"This is the America the whole world has wanted to see," the commentator said. "Blood debts have been repaid in blood. America has bombed other countries and used its hegemony to deny the natural rights of others without paying the price. Who until now has dared to avenge the hurts inflicted by unaccountable Americans."
But China's reaction to the terrorist outrage wasn't the only evidence that Beijing had ties to the Taliban.
"We tend to think of the China threat in conventional terms of missiles, tanks and planes armed and aimed against ourselves and our allies," said Steve Mosher, president of Population Research Institute.
"But given the Taliban's support for bin Laden, and China's support for the Taliban, Islamic terrorism represents another very potent kind of China threat."
China may have formally condemned the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, but actions speak louder than words. Mosher pointed out that last December, the UN Security Council voted 13-0 to place an embargo on arms sales to the Taliban; Beijing, however, abstained.
It was also found that contracts signed by the Chinese and the Taliban would have led to the installation of military communications systems throughout Afghanistan.
Since the 1980s, China also exchanged materials and technologies for weapons of mass destruction to rogue governments in the Middle East which funnel arms to the Taliban.
"China's goal in supporting rogue governments like the Taliban is to increase its own clout in the Middle East while diminishing that of the United States," Mosher said.
According to the Times, the extent of the China's collaboration in the war against global terrorism might be limited. "General Taylor said that his meetings with senior foreign policy, military and banking officials here focused on the immediate struggle against Mr. bin Laden and his network, Al Qaeda."
Taylor added that he did not raise broader issues such as extending the anti-terror battle to Iraq, which the United States suspects is trying to develop weapons of mass destruction, or trying to shut down the Hamas organization in the Middle East.
China, of course, has been exporting material to Iraq that strengthens Saddam Hussein's military capabilities.
With collaborators such as this, who needs enemies?
China is the consummate, treacherous business partner and yet our government gave them MFN; could that be because some of our most powerful in the senate and congress have strong business ties with China?
Weren't three or so Chinese reporters sent home when they cheered the collapse of the WTC? What can Elaine Chao do to help President Bush or will she? Bill Gertz has written about and tried to warn us as to the China deception.
Bill Clinton called them our "partners"; what a silly, naive notion, China has no partners and wants none except to thwart the United States. They are not in anyway a friend of the USA. Gen. Taylor should be retired, put Bill Gertz in his place!
We must be nice to the sensitive Chinese. I've seen it mentioned only once on cable news, probably Fox.
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