[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 14514-14515]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO DR. WINSTON L. YANG

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. MIKE COFFMAN

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 26, 2013

  Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an article by Dr. 
Winston L. Yang, Professor Emeritus of Asian Studies at Seton Hall 
University in New Jersey published in the Asian Pacific Business 
Journal, a Colorado-based news outlet, in its June 2011 issue. It is my 
privilege and honor to share this article with the American people and 
enshrine it in the Congressional Record.

          Cheng Ming, A Powerful Voice for Democracy in China

                      (By Winston L. Yang, Ph.D.)

       Since the establishment of the Communist Government in 
     China in 1949, the Chinese people have been suffering under 
     the Communist one-party tyranny. The Chinese Communist Party 
     (CCP) has denied such universal values as democracy, freedom, 
     human rights and the rule of law.
       Even though the People's Republic of China (PRC) has 
     recently replaced Japan as the world's second largest 
     economy, the Chinese people have been living under the 
     widespread official corruption and the Communist 
     suppressions. All pro-democracy

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     movements have been crushed by the CPP. Hundreds and 
     thousands of political prisoners who advocate democratization 
     are still in the PRC's jails. One of the best examples is Mr. 
     Liu Xiao Po, who advocated peaceful political reforms and 
     stressed the need for political liberalization in China. He 
     was put on trial and sentenced to an 11-year jail term. 
     Nevertheless, Mr. Liu was honored with the 2010 Nobel Peace 
     Prize. He has been hailed all over the world as a 
     ``democratic hero.'' Yet his wife, Liu Ciao, has been under 
     house arrest ever since.
       Back in May, 1989, well over half a million Chinese college 
     students gathered in Beijing's Tiananmen Square to demand 
     freedom and democracy. The students protested against the 
     suppressive policy of the Chinese Communist Government. Such 
     legitimate, peaceful protests and demands, however, were 
     suppressed by the Communist armed forces. When the smoke 
     cleared, hundred of students lay dead.
       In the view of the violent Communist suppression of freedom 
     and democracy, Mr. Wen Hui, a well-known writer and 
     journalist, founded Cheng Ming, a monthly political 
     commentary, in Hong Kong in 1977 to advocate democracy, 
     freedom, human rights and the rule of law for the Chinese 
     people. Since its founding, Cheng Ming has become one of the 
     most powerful, if not the most powerful, voices for political 
     change and liberalization in China.
       In 2007, Cheng Ming, the most popular political journal 
     published in Hong Kong, celebrated the 30th anniversary of 
     its founding. Mr. Wen, its publisher, received hundreds of 
     congratulatory messages from leaders in various circles all 
     around the world. One of the best examples is U.S. 
     Congressman Mark Udall, now a U.S. Senator, who in a letter 
     to Mr. Wen dated October 2, 2007, pointed out that ``with a 
     worldwide readership, Cheng Ming has extended far-reaching 
     influences beyond Hong Kong.''
       Mr. Libby Davies, a member of the Canadian Parliament, in a 
     letter dated October 17, 2007, congratulated Mr. Wen on Cheng 
     Ming's achievements and contributions. Mr. Wen also received 
     many, many other congratulatory messages.
       Despite Cheng Ming's great influences, achievements and 
     contributions, Mr. Wen continues to condemn, in his writings, 
     China's one-party dictatorship and advocates an end to 
     political suppression in the PRC. A strong critic of China, 
     Mr. Wen voices his criticisms and advocacy in his monthly 
     column published in Cheng Ming. Mr. Wen will not end his 
     critical writings until and unless China renounces its 
     totalitarian system and becomes a free, democratic country.

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