On December 21, 2004, The Epoch Times held a forum on “Jiu Ping: Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party” at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. One of the speakers, Michael A. Ledeen, is a renowned author and foreign affairs expert in Washington. He served as a consultant to the National Security Council, was commissioner of the U.S.–China Commission, and currently is a Freedom Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.

Prior to the “Jiu Ping” Forum, Mr. John Bloom, General Manager of the National Press Club (NPC) received phone calls form the Chinese Embassy requesting the cancellation of the “Jiu Ping” Forum. On the morning of December 21st, an e-mail letter was sent to Mr. Bloom by Sun Weide, the Press Counselor and Spokesman of the Chinese Embassy, again requesting the cancellation of the “Jiu Ping” Forum. The NPC did not bow to the pressure. The “Jiu Ping”Forum went on as scheduled and was a complete success. On December 22nd, Mr. John Donnelly, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the NPC responded to Mr. Sun with a letter, stating that the core principle of the NPC is to practice and defend freedom of speech. On December 29th, the NPC issued a press release and expressed its firm stance on safeguarding freedom of speech and freedom of the press. On the same day, both Mr. Sun’s e-mail and Mr. Donnelly’s letter were posted on the NPC’s website.

The Epoch Times commends and appreciates the stance that the National Press Club has taken. The Epoch Times objects to what the Chinese Embassy has done. The letter from the Chinese Embassy's Press Counselor was filled with Chinese Communist Party propaganda, attacking and slandering Falun Gong, and maliciously defaming The Epoch Times. This letter will be held as evidence for possible legal action.

The Epoch Times is an independent voice in printed newspaper and on the website. Our mission is to establish a channel of communication between Chinese communities and Western society. The Epoch Times promotes traditional Chinese culture, and provides readers information on current affairs and community events. We also create a window with free flow of information for those with no access to free press, and who suffer from the Chinese Communist Party’s central controlled media and censorship.

During the past five years, The Epoch Times news and commentaries have broadly and truthfully covered China’s pro-democracy movement, labor movement, the June 4th Tiananmen Square Massacre, the cruelty of the slave labor camps, AIDS, SARS, persecution of Falun Gong, and citizens’ and farmers’ appeals for their homes and farmland that are forcefully being taken by the government. The recent special editorial articles “Jiu Ping: Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party” have objectively, systematically, comprehensively, and deeply revealed the true facts of the international communist movement, and especially the crimes committed by the Chinese Communist Party. All of these have struck a nerve with the Chinese Communist totalitarian regime.

After “Jiu Ping” was published in November 2004, many Chinese language media have transcribed the commentaries. The number of hits on The Epoch Times website alone reached millions in just two weeks. Chinese people in China are also downloading “Jiu Ping” via the help of anti-censorship software. The successful “Jiu Ping” Forum marks the beginning for the West to comprehend the true nature of the Chinese Communist Party as seen by the Chinese people. This is also the reason why the NPC received phone calls and the letter from the Chinese Embassy attacking The Epoch Times and attempting to block the “Jiu Ping” Forum held at the NPC.

The Epoch Times believes that to be informed or to report the facts is not only one’s basic right but also one’s indisputable responsibility. The Epoch Times will continue to monitor the status of the persecuted groups in China and reveal the crimes the Chinese Communist Party has committed. To contribute to the human rights and freedom for the Chinese people, all people, will be The Epoch Times’ tireless efforts.

Editorial Board of The Epoch Times
January 1, 2005