[batter]

Another excellent article from Jamestown. I highly recommend also clicking on the 'source link' as there are several excelent articles in this issue. I would like to post them all but do not have the time etc.

This article provides some good insight on technology in China as well as some more information on Global Crossing (towards the end of the article). Again, I suggest clicking on the source link or below:
Jamestown Publication Page - select March 14th.

The other article titles include:
Gordon Chang: China's banking system, what you need to know
Willy Wo-Lap Lam: Changing of the regional guard
Richard Fisher: To build aircraft carriers - Discusses China's recent purchase of the Soviet Varyag carrier. China has stated they only want it for a Casino.

[batter]

FYI - again, take a look at some of the other Jamestown articles from this week.

Note: I found the link to this under today's (March 15) news on ChiCom Watch. I think there is also a link to Jamestown on the 'links' portion of the page.

[batter]

Li Ka-shing, has extensive ties to the Chinese Communist leadership. Li is reported to have been a close friend of General Ji Shengde, the former director of the PLA's military intelligence bureau.

From the AFP on March 14:
Li Ka-shing linked to China advisory role

Li Ka-shing, the tycoon whose name is synonomous with Hong Kong's freewheeling brand of capitalism, could soon become an adviser to China's communist government.

Local newspapers reported Thursday that Li was being considered as a possible vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consulative Conference (CPPCC), an advisory body linked to China's parliament, the National People's Congress.

Hong Kong traditionally provides two of the 30 CPCC vice-chairmen but currently only has one, held by another tycoon, Henry Fok.

Speculation that Li will fill the vacancy was fuelled by supportive comments from Fok and another CPCC vice-chairman, Ye Xuanping.

"If you ask my personal view, I support him," Ye, a former governor of Guangdong province, told reporters at the end of the CPCC's annual session in Beijing on Wednesday.

Aides to Li refused to comment on the speculation but the tycoon has well-established and warm relations with China's leadership.

A vast array of business interests on the mainland, particularly in property and ports, are an increasingly important part of his global business empire also encompasses utilities, telecommunications, supermarkets, retail electronics and gasoline stations.

The billionaire Li was one of a group of 40 Hong Kong tycoons summoned by President Jiang Zemin to Beijing in 2000 for talks on how they could help China's economic development.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for the find and the ping!

[Lessismore]

China sees the United States acquiring a new foothold in Central Asia and improving relations with Russia.

Or they may regard them as "dead stones". (See the game of Go, which Chinese play -- not Chess.)