Several groups of Americans will begin a boycott of products made in China on Saturday with the theme of "one small step for a shopper, one giant leap for freedom and human rights," an organizer of the event said.
Exiled Chinese dissidents, the China Support Network and the Tibetan Freedom Cause have waited years for the right occasion to launch "the mother of all boycotts," according to John Kusumi, Executive Director of the China Support Network.
It is to be a consumer boycott "for freedom, and against products made in China. We want to free China and free Tibet," Kusumi said. He issued a "statement of conscience" for the campaign that included the following:
"Freedom from communist oppression. That is the thread which unites the purpose of all those working for the advancement of this boycott. Chinese dissidents support this boycott for Chinese freedom. Tibetans support this boycott for Tibetan freedom. The China Support Network supports freedom for all -- Chinese, Taiwanese, Tibetans.
"Freedom from communist oppression will mean the most to those who now suffer in slave labor camps; to those who are now tortured by Chinese authorities; to those who are being displaced from their homes in Tibet; or, to those who are coping with the trauma of a forced abortion.
"Where China uses slave labor to produce cheaper products, that is economic dirty pool. It forces American workers to compete with slave labor, violating the economic spirit of America's Emancipation Proclamation.
"Americans should be outraged at free trade with China, and we hope that workers and the fair trade lobby will join us in our worldwide effort,"
Taiwan has received more than US$70 million in royalties as of the end of last year from developing the F-16V jet as countries worldwide purchase or upgrade to this popular model, government and military officials said on Saturday. Taiwan funded the development of the F-16V jet and ended up the sole investor as other countries withdrew from the program. Now the F-16V is increasingly popular and countries must pay Taiwan a percentage in royalties when they purchase new F-16V aircraft or upgrade older F-16 models. The next five years are expected to be the peak for these royalties, with Taiwan potentially earning
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