But perhaps the most explosive assertion — that the top level of China’s leadership sought to transfer money to Switzerland — has raised questions among scholars of the period. The Swiss ambassador cited in the cable has denied that any such discussion with Chinese leaders took place.
The cables were released under Canada’s Access to Information Act and first reported this week by Blacklock’s Reporter, an online publication based in Ottawa.
Like the classified American diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks starting in 2010, some of the Canadian memos reveal important and previously undisclosed details. But they are also the earliest impressions of chaotic events, and thus contain rumors and inaccuracies. The confidential memos outline the violence of the period, as hundreds and possibly thousands of people were killed in the military crackdown. But some also focus on widespread official corruption, which was one of the driving issues behind the protests.
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Xu Shilin, 17, was the first Chinese player to be seeded No. 1 in a Grand Slam singles event when she got the top spot in the junior girls’ draw at the Australian Open, Ben Rothenberg reports.Read more…
The officials provided intelligence to the “Dalai Lama clique” and took part in activities that “would harm national security,” according to an official report, Edward Wong reports.Read more…
