Congressional China Caucus

CHINA HAS FORCED REFUGEES BACK TO MYANMAR CONFLICT ZONE.  According to Reuters, Chinese authorities have reportedly forced back into Myanmar some ethnic Kachin refugees who fled civil war.  From the piece: “Despite several rounds of negotiations, the conflict in Myanmar's northernmost Kachin state has not ended.  The fighting, which flared up in the middle of 2011 after a 17-year truce, has pushed up to 10,000 people to seek refuge across the border in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan.  New York-based Human Rights Watch said many of these people had little access to proper sanitation, shelter, healthcare or schools for their children.  Others had been detained, refused entry to China or even forced back into the conflict zone in their country, also known as Burma, the rights group said in a report… Human Rights Watch said it had documented two cases involving some 300 people who were ordered to return to Myanmar, and others who were sent back into the conflict zone after being turned away at the border.”  http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/26/us-china-mayanmar-refugees-idUSBRE85P03R20120626

JAPAN TO BOOST DEFENSE IN PACIFIC, MINISTER SAYS.  The WSJ reports that Japan’s defense minister has said the government is preparing to enhance its air and sea defense capabilities to protect islands and waters in the nation’s southwest.  From the piece: “‘Japan has 6,800 islands, and territory that stretches over 3,300 kilometers [2,000 miles]; it's necessary to have troops at its southwestern end to beef up our warning and surveillance capability,’ Satoshi Morimoto told The Wall Street Journal on Monday in his first interview with a non-Japanese news organization since he took office this month.  ‘We must defend without fail our sovereign rights and our land that includes the Senkaku islands,’ he added, referring to a chain of islands also claimed by China, which calls them Diaoyu. ‘We must strengthen our overall defense capability in the southwest.’”  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304458604577488473703292062.html

BOAT RAMMING INCIDENT REPORTED IN SOUTH CHINA SEA.  http://www.voanews.com/content/boat-ramming-incident-reported-in-south-china-sea/1248726.html

CHINA REPEATEDLY VIOLATED ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST NORTH KOREA.  According to the Asahi Shimbun, China has repeatedly violated economic sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council against North Korea.  From the piece: “In more than half of all instances, China was the culprit, according to a report by a panel of experts trying to track whether members are adhering to the punitive measures outlined in U.N. resolutions.  Of 38 suspected cases of transactions with North Korea involving weapons and luxury items, China was involved in 21.  The report covers panel investigations over the past 30 months or so. The last report to be released was for 2010.  Reports for 2011 and 2012 have already been compiled, but not released. However, The Asahi Shimbun obtained copies.  The reports show that Beijing, Pyongyang's stalwart ally, helped North Korea ramp up its ability to pose a military threat and engage in weapons proliferation.”  http://ajw.asahi.com/article/asia/china/AJ201206220038

FATHER IN CHINESE FORCED-ABORTION SCANDAL IS SAID TO BE MISSING.  http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/26/father-in-china-abortion-scandal-is-said-to-be-missing/

DEAL HIGHLIGHTS GROWING CHINA-RUSSIA TIES.  The Financial times reports that a deal by China’s largest listed commercial bank to finance a Russian infrastructure project is highlighting the growing investment relationships between the two countries.  From the piece: “Industrial and Commercial Bank of China will provide $1bn of financing for the construction of a new power plant at Yaroslavl on the outskirts of Moscow, say bankers and advisers.  The borrower is a joint venture between the Chinese sponsor, Huadian, and Russian power company, Territorial Generation Company, while Chinese power equipment makers will supply the plant with its generation equipment.  China’s ability to build faster and cheaper than competitors was a major reason the Chinese were given the contract. Chinese banks are also said to be considering financing a power station in the Russian Far East and other infrastructure projects, say people familiar with the deal.  For China, the relationship – which has historically been characterized by mutual suspicion and strategic rivalry – could mean more secure supplies of everything from fuel to timber. For the Russians, meanwhile, any foreign investment is welcome at a time when oil revenues are falling in line with the drop in oil prices.”  http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/ae505e1e-aa42-11e1-899d-00144feabdc0.html

The Caucus Brief is a daily publication for Members of Congress and Hill Staffers on China news and information compiled by the office of Congressman Randy Forbes, Founder of the Congressional China Caucus.  Email Reed.Eckhold@mail.house.gov with tips, comments, or to subscribe/unsubscribe.