Kind Of Harsh...

... Even for communists:

A Chinese man has been sentenced to death for conning people out of 3 billion yuan ($387 million) in a giant scam to breed ants, local media said Thursday.

Wang Zhendong, from the northeastern province of Liaoning, fabricated a business purported to be making wine, tea and medical elixirs using mature ants, the Beijing News said.

In parts of China, black ants are sold by the bagful to be steeped in tea or soaked in liquor as a natural remedy for ailments such as arthritis.

Wang sold packages of ants to the investors for up to as much as 10,000 yuan ($1,290) when they were only worth 200 yuan, China Central Television reported.

I guess the Chinese take their ant remedies pretty seriously....

Since When Do Communists Care What Muslims Want?

The Chinese ban Christianity, but will go through ridiculous leaps and bounds to appease Muslims:

Next month, China will ring in the Year of the Pig. Nestle SA planned to celebrate with TV ads featuring a smiling cartoon pig. "Happy new pig year," the ads said.

This week, China Central Television, the national state-run TV network, banned Nestle's ad -- and all images and spoken references to the animal in commercials, including those tied to the Lunar New Year, China's biggest holiday.

The intent: to avoid offending Muslims, who consider pigs unclean. "China is a multiethnic country," the network's ad department said in a notice sent to ad agencies late Tuesday. "To show respect to Islam, and upon guidance from higher levels of the government, CCTV will keep any 'pig' images off the TV screen."

Now Muslims can't even look at a pig? No wonder they cover their wives head-to-toe.

Debbie Schlussel on the ban:

Though I have no respect for Communist China--its slave labor, lack of human rights, one-child-per-family policy, etc., etc., etc.--I thought, at least, the country got tough on Islamic extremism. The Chinese government has raided and destroyed camps populated by Chinese Muslim Uighur (pronounced "Wee-gur") extremists. As I've written, last year, several Uighurs were Al-Qaeda terrorists held in Guantanamo Bay, and China protested their release (to Albania). But, as I also wrote, China gave millions to HAMAS, last year.

China Has 900 Missiles Aimed At Taiwan

Speaking of China being bully assholes: "Taiwan sounds alarm on Chinese missiles." Technically, if we carpet bombed them with nukes... I think I should stop that train of thought...

Incidentally, that's the second time today I've suggested nuking a large nation that we're allegedly friendly with.

China Confirms Anti-satellite Weapon

Ready for some news that's going to blow your mind?

The Chinese government confirmed today that it had conducted a successful test of a new anti-satellite weapon, but said it had no intention of participating in a "space race."

I thought I heard something about that satellite thing, but I didn't want to believe it until the Chinese confirmed it.

Post Script - They don't want to get involved in a "space race" because we'll kick their ass.

China Shoots Satellite From Sky

China's begging for an ass-kicking, again. Reports Reuters:

The United States, Australia and Canada have voiced concerns to China over a test in space of a satellite-killing weapon last week, the White House said on Thursday...

Using a ground-based medium-range ballistic missile, the test knocked out an aging Chinese weather satellite about 537 miles above the earth on January 11 through "kinetic impact," or by slamming into it, Johndroe said.

US Journalist Detained In China

AP is reporting: "U.S. journalist believed held in China."

I continue to be amazed that the peoples of such an advanced society could put up with such an evil government; let's hope that we won't.

**Update**

More on China's glorious, free media: "China to curb crime news on TV, radio." How good of them...

Quick Links: All The News That's Fit To Print

I've got to do yard work and homework, so I'll just do quick links to the rest of my stories. Here's all the news that's fit to print:

The US is pushing for a Pacific free trade zone "from China to Chili." I'm particularly excited about this; a more prosperous world for everyone.

More good free trade news: Russia is a step closer to joining the WTO . Like I said before, more free trade = a better world.

And finally: This story is disturbing even if it isn't authentic: Iran TV has broadcast footage of a US Naval vessel in the Persian Gulf they claim was shot from an unmanned Iranian drone. Either this is true and they have better military technology then we thought, or it's a lie and our showing off of Naval power in the Persian Gulf has been a waste, since Iran has destroyed the effect with this propaganda.