Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Friday 25th April

In this Bulletin…

- China to meet with Dalai Lama;
- The US accuses Syria of building nuclear reactor; and
- Rice price hikes spark unrest across the region.

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China’s state run media, Xinhua News Agency, confirmed today that Chinese officials will meet representatives of the Dalai Lama.

China have consistently denounced the Dalai Lama as a traitor and blamed him for a recent wave of unrest that swept through Tibet.

But the Tibetan spiritual leader insists he has no political role and played no part in the protest.

Since the anti-government unrest began in March China has been under pressure to resume dialogue with his envoys.

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The United States has accused North Korea of helping Syria build a nuclear reactor that “was not intended for peaceful purposes”.

The site, said to be like one in North Korea, was bombed by Israel in 2007 and the US argue that the “cover-up” operation that Syria carried out after the Israeli air strike reinforced its belief that the alleged reactor “was not intended for peaceful activities”.

Syria has repeated denials that it has any nuclear weapons programme, or any such agreement with North Korea.

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You’re listening to Asia Cast on the SOH Radio Network
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Record increases in the price of rice have sparked reactions from consumers across Asia.

Rice is the staple food source for the region but with wide disparities in national wealth and paddy output, Asian consumers are differently affected by prices of Thai grain hitting $1,000 a tonne.

In the Philippines, Indonesia and Bangladesh, three of the top four, world rice importers with millions of poor between them, some people are having to scrimp on already meagre budgets and skip meals to ensure they can still feed their families a daily helping of the cereal.

Experts say there are signs the dramatic international price situation may improve in the months.

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The Olympic torch arrived in Tokyo today after completing a relay in Canberra only marginally plagued by anti-China protests.

From Tokyo, the flame travels to Nagano, the Japanese city that hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 1998, for the next leg of the relay Saturday morning.

Students for a Free Tibet Japan has announced plans to demonstrate at the Nagano leg of the relay with banners and speeches, but no loudspeakers, Japanese media reported. The demonstrators are protesting China’s policy toward Tibet, which has long petitioned for more democratic rights and freedoms, and China’s human rights record.

The torch ends its round-the-world jaunt in August in Beijing, China, host city of the 2008 Olympics.

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And now for our original SOH news direct from China
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According to a report on the 23rd by Norway Sound of Tibet, over 100 Zhaxigang Villagers in Tibet held local demonstrations against the Chinese Communist Party, but were brutally suppressed by a large number of military police.

Several dozen people were arrested and many were apparently badly injured.

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Wang Dan, former leader of “June 4th” student movement, said he acknowledges the recent waves of patriotism started by Chinese in China and abroad but said that Chinese should make sure they hold the Chinese media and politicians to the standard they are demanding of international groups.

According to Radio Free Asia, Wang Dan explained “There are a two kinds of nationalism in China – one is the spontaneous nationalism from people as China rises to an emerging nation; another is nationalism stirred up by the Chinese regime to consolidate its control. People must distinguish between the two nationalisms. Today I witnessed why the Chinese regime prohibit people expressing their nationalism, because this nationalism is not spontaneous from the people.”

Experts say the regime is worried that if this nationalism gets out of control, it will backfire on itself.

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And now for our daily update on the NTDTV Divine Performing Arts “Chinese Spectacular” show.
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After two days of performances in Seattle, Washington, the Divine Performing Arts Spectacular continued its tour, opening in Vancouver today for two days of shows.

The Chinese Spectacular impressed the audience in Seattle with its beautiful costumes and stunning displays of traditional Chinese culture and history.

Richard and Rochelle Bersin said they did not know much about Chinese history before the show and that the show was a good introduction to Chinese cultural history.

“I don’t mind sitting there. I could watch it all day,” Mr Bersin laughed.

For more information about the Divine Performing Arts world tour, please visit: www.divineperformingarts.org

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“Asia Cast… keeping you across the top headlines from Asia and the World.”