The past arrest of Peng Cheng by the Chinese Government, and the more recent “strong” statements against Taiwan, shows how little has changed in that country. Take the case of Mr. Cheng. Mr. Cheng was sentenced to three years in a labor camp on “subversion” charges.
His crime?
Circulating a petition asking the government to reverse its official condemnation of 1989 pro-democracy protests.
Peng’s arrest serves as a reminder that the Chinese Government is still Communist. China does not protect individual rights to freedom of property, speech, and association. It grants “rights”, when and if it sees fit; it does not protect rights. A truly free country protects rights as an inalienable birthright of all individuals. An alienable right is not a right, but a permission to be infringed upon by whim.
In recent years, it is true that the Communist government has allowed a greater degree of commerce and business to take place. But the motive has not been greater freedom as a political end in itself. Quite the contrary. We even see growing evidence that the Chinese government is escalating its military buildup, aiming weapons at American cities — with our own technological secrets.
China provided lavish celebrations for the 50th Anniversary of Communist Rule on October 1, 1999. Chinese dictators recognized and proudly proclaimed something our own leaders refuse to face: China is still a Communist nation. And now that we are helping to arm it, it is a greater — and more dangerous — enemy of freedom and individual rights than ever before.
