Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!daemon From: chi@vlsi.uwaterloo.ca (Bo Chi) Newsgroups: ut.chinese Subject: Nov. 19 (I), News Digest Message-ID: <8911191610.AA15583@vlsi.waterloo.edu> Date: 19 Nov 89 11:10:30 GMT Sender: Distribution: ut Lines: 219 Approved: nobody@csri.toronto.edu Original-To: china-distribution@cs.toronto.edu | +---------I __L__ ___/ \ -------I +----+----+ | ___\_\_ | \./ | | -----+- | | | | | __ \/ | --+-- |--- | |---| | I----+----I | I__J/\ | __|__ | | | |---| | | | _____ \ | /| \ | | | L__-| | I I---------J / J \/ | | V | J * C h i n a N e w s D i g e s t * (ND Canada Service) -- Nov. 19 (I), 1989 Table of Contents # of Lines 1. Beijing Issued New Regulation For FAX Machines ...................... 44 2. CMC Meeting Tries To Ensure The Party's Control Over Army ........... 89 3. News From Europe .................................................... 18 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Beijing Issued New Regulation For FAX Machines ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: IZZYQ00@UCLAMVS.BITNET (J. Ding) [Source: UPI, 11/15/89] Beijing authorities have issued a new regulation ordering strict supervision of facsimile machines to prevent the distribution of dissident publications, empowering monitors to pull the plug if needed, the Chinese press reported Wednesday. According to the notice, all government departments, Chinese companies and universities in Beijing must appoint a monitor to oversee incoming fax material to "firmly stop the spreading of overseas reactionary propaganda materials," the semi-official China News Service report said. The new regulation was announced shortly after controversy erupted over a fax campaign organized by exiled leaders of the Paris-based dissident group, the Federation for Democracy in China. On Nov. 2, the FDC disclosed plans to send to 5,000 fax machines in China a manifesto announcing the founding of the federation and calling on all Chinese to unite in a "great struggle for human rights, peace, tranquility and development of all mankind." But Chinese public security authorities interfered by deploying police to seize copies of the manifesto at many fax sites. The manifesto reportedly bore the masthead of the People's Daily, the official Communist Party newspaper. Under the new order to check all incoming faxes, the person appointed as monitor has the right to turn off the machine when necessary, the China News Service said. It quoted the regulation as specifying that any dissident material "must be turned over immediately to the local Public Security unit, and may not be handled at individual discretion." The new directive extends to foreigners in Beijing, but it did not appear to include stationing monitors at fax machines in foreign businesses and offices. In addition to instructions to all city work units to "educate the vast masses not to listen to or believe reactionary propaganda," the notice calls for special attention to foreigners residing in Beijing. "The notice ... especially points out the need to strengthen propaganda and education for foreign businessmen and foreigners in Beijing, making them understand that it is illegal to distribute reactionary propaganda against the Chinese government and Communist Party, and that such actions are not friendly," the agency said. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. CMC Meeting Tries To Ensure The Party's Control Over Army ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: hkucs!kwchan@uunet.UU.NET (Society of HKU Postgraduates on Chinese Affairs) [Source : South China Morning Post, 11/15/89] by Willy Wo-Lap Lam Chinese patriarch Deng Xiaoping and General-Secretary Jiang Zemin have made a bid to contain the expansionist tendencies of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and ensure the military remains under the Chinese Communist Party leadership. The theme of the army serving the overall interests and requirements of the party and country was sounded at a secret Central Military Commission (CMC) conclave held in Beijing from November 10 to 12. Meeting for the first time after the June 4 Tiananmen Square crackdown, the CMC mapped out the "guiding thoughts" and principal tasks to be pursued in the coming year. The enlarged meeting was attended by regional commanders, leaders of the general staff, and officers from the general political and logistics departments. Military sources say that CMC also laid down the foundations for a reshuffle of regional and district commanders as well as senior officers in the three PLA departments. The restructuring, which could take place early next year, is in line with efforts by first vice-chairman Yang Shangkun - widely regarded as the CMC strongman - to move key associates into key positions. The official media have run excerpts of speeches made by both Mr Jiang, the new chairman, and Mr Yang. Mr Jiang, the first CMC chief who has no military experience, said: "We must insist on the party's absolute leadership over the army." "This is the fundamental principle of army construction by the Communist Party." Mr Jiang hinted that with the possibilities of war receding, and with the focus of the party and country on economic work, the priorities of the army must be changed accordingly. He called on the PLA to work hard with one heart and one mind with the people of the whole country to improve economic reforms. Referring to structural reforms and streamlining that has been carried out in the PLA in recent years - including the demobilisation of a million soldiers - Mr Jiang hinted it would be unrealistic for the army to seek a significant expansion. Mr Jiang also called on the top officers to study and implement earnestly the military thoughts of Mr Deng, who has been instrumental in reducing the world's largest army. In his speech, Mr Yang disclosed that in the coming year, political construction will be enhanced to guarantee the party's absolute leadership over the army. Analysts say, however, Mr Jiang will continue to have to wrestle with demands by the army to increase its influence in national policy-making. A Western military analyst said:"Since the imposition of martial law in Lhasa on March 7 and on Beijing on May 20, the army's role in national affairs has increased." "Thinking that it has made an historic contribution to the party and state by crushing the 'counter-revolutionary rebellion', the PLA is convinced that its attempts at self-aggrandisement is justified." For example, while the PLA's share of the national budget is likely to remain at the present level of about 7%, it will ask for other, "hidden" subsidies. In recent months, influential generals have stressed that ideological campaigns must be waged nationwide to enhance the people's awareness of national defence. Chinese sources say that the secret CMC meeting discussed a draft legislation on national defence mobilisation, which could be passed into law next year. The law will make it easier for the PLA to mobilise people for purposes of national defence. Moreover, it will facilitate the army's procurement of logistical and other military-support facilities and material from other government departments. In his speech at the CMC meeting, Mr Jiang called on the party and government units to strengthen awareness of national defence and actively support and promote army building. Military sources say the CMC meeting also discussed issues concerning army unity, which the top officers hope will be promoted through the forthcoming reshuffle. That there is lack of cohesiveness within the top ranks is evident from the fact that many officers expressed reservations about using military force to crush the pro-democracy movement. Top military leaders are reported to be specially concerned about the centrifugal tendencies of certain commands in southern China. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. News From Europe ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: IUTS0@ccuab1.uab.es (Sean Golden) [Source: Ajoblanco, 11/16/89] BARCELONA, SPAIN -- the Spanish partner in the campaign to send copies of the fake People's Daily to the PRC by FAX, held a press conference to launch the Spanish edition. The invited speaker was XU Tianfang, spokesman for the FDC in Paris. The "Consejo de Estudiantes" (Student Association) of the University of Cantabria (Santander, Spain) held an assembly and voted to protest as strongly as possible against the actions of the Chinese government in repressing the democracy movement and to express their total support for the efforts of Chinese students express their total support for the efforts of the Chinese students in the PRC and abroad. On 13 December 1989 the Chinese Studies Centre of the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona will host a conference on the democractice movement in China. The FDC will be represented by Lao Mu. The painter-poet Ma Desheng and the poet Duo Duo will also attend, as well as Spanish students a and journalists and sinologists who were present in Beijing this Spring. The conference will include an exhibition of videotapes, photos, slides & texts about the Democracy Movement and the events which took place in Beijing. There will also be poetry readings and an art exhibit. +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Executive Editor: Deming Tang E_mail: Tang@ALISUVAX.bitnet | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ ============================================================================= News Transmission chi@vlsi.uwaterloo.ca (or) -------------------- --------------------- Local Editor: Bo Chi chi@vlsi.waterloo.edu ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- send out time: Mon Nov 19 11:10:12 EST 1989 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- .