Just after Christmas, Wu Yalin, a Chinese human rights advocate in trouble from the Communist officials in his nation, made it to Taiwan and asked for political asylum. He may well be denied that status even though he's facing three years in labor camp (or quite possibly an even worse fate) if returned to the mainland. Wu has already spent several torturous years in Communist jails for exposing corruption in local elections but this time the charges are related to passing along a few copies of the small book printed by The Epoch Times, The Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party.The Epoch Times is a strongly pro-Falun Gong publication but in recent years it has grown into a substantial news service that publishes general news, financial information, sports, culture, etc. Indeed, it has developed a wide network of local reporters throughout the world and is now recognized by many as a reputable, helpful source. It is printed in nearly a dozen languages (even more are available in its internet versions) and is distributed for free.
The Epoch Times does remain a notable source of reporting related to the Falun Gong, especially in the movement's extremely harsh persecution by the Communist Chinese Party, but it does not proselytize nor does it even take space to explain the Buddhist/Taoist exercises that are related to Falun Gong. Nevertheless, it is a good thing to remember the philosophical foundations of any news media (including the New York Times, the National Review, and this blog!) when you're evaluating its reporting.
With all this said, I recommend the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party for your reading. It is available on the Epoch Times website right here. (Just use the left sidebar.) (Or, if you prefer, there's a video series available in English over on YouTube.) It will take a little while to go through it all but its history and evaluations will prove of great value to you, being a version of China's past and troubled present that you rarely even see glimpses of in the mainstream media.
You'll also see just why the Communists want so very much to bury the Nine Commentaries and anyone like Wu Yalin who makes them available.
