Asia Cast

Asia Cast Saturday 27th June

Prominent AIDS and pro-democracy activist Hu Jia. (Courtesy of The Epoch Times)

In this Bulletin…

- China’s economic recovery; too good to be true?;
- Hu Jia nominated for Nobel Peace Prize for second year running; and
- The cause of Michael Jackson’s death remains unknown.

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
**********************

China’s economy may not have actually entered into recovery as Beijing would like many foreign investors to think, says The Epoch Times.

This despite a much lauded four trillion yuan (US$585 million) economic stimulus plan.

While the plan has meant China’s banks granted more loans in three months than in the whole year of 2008, stocks have soared and the real estate market has seen a big first quarter increase. Some financial experts are warning that China’s economy is merely experiencing a brief surge that will overexcite the market and create problems in the long-term.

Xu Xiaonian is one of these critics, he said efforts to stimulate investment in China are only aggravating the underlying imbalance that caused the crisis in the first place.

**********************

Chinese dissident Hu Jia, who was nominated for the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize, has been nominated again for this year. The decision has aroused much attention around the world, according to The Epoch Times.

In December 2007, Hu Jia participated in many social and human rights movements. He was detained by the Chinese regime on charges of overthrowing state power, and was sentenced to three years and six months in prison in March 2008.

Following Hu’s 2008 nomination AFP reported that the Chinese regime appealed to the prize committee not to consider awarding the prize to a criminal.

The decision to award last year’s Peace Prize to former Finland President Martti Ahtisaari, led to the Nobel Foundation being criticised for failing to put enough emphasis on the Chinese regime’s suppression of Tibet and human activists.

**********************
And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast
**********************

The secret trial of a woman in Thailand charged with insulting the Thai royal family has been condemned by Amnesty International.

The woman was arrested a year ago after giving a speech in Bangkok in which she attacked the monarchy.
The start of her trial was delayed this week when her lawyer appealed against the decision to hold a closed trial.

Critics say strict laws against insulting the monarchy are being used to stifle discussion of its future. Thailand concedes that these particular laws are imperfect, but says they protect the monarchy.

Sam Zarifi from Amnesty International has warned that when a judge closes the doors on a trial it significantly raises the risk of injustice taking place.

Ms Daranee faces between nine and 45 years in prison if she is convicted.

**********************

There are fears of a new bout of deflation in Japan as official figures from the Ministry of Finance show that prices fell by a record amount.

Consumer prices fell 1.1 per cent in May from the same month a year ago, the most since records began in 1970.

Prices of goods excluding fresh food also fell for the third straight month.

Japan was previously trapped in a deflationary spiral, where prices of goods kept falling, during its ‘Lost Decade’ in the 1990s.

Deflation is damaging to an economy because consumers tend to delay making purchases until prices fall further. This in turn drives down prices more.

Without consumer spending to stimulate growth, economic output falls.

**********************
You’re listening to Asia Cast on the SOH Radio Network
**********************

The United States has said that it has no concerns that advanced military technologies will be leaked to China through its weapon sales to Taiwan.

Stephen Young, the de facto U.S. ambassador to Taiwan said that Taipei has very effective means in the controlling of such technology and that Washington will continue to look closely at Taiwan’s arms sales requests.

Young said that while the U.S. welcomes the reduction of tensions between Taiwan and China, it is also aware that much of Beijing’s relentless military build-up is directed at Taiwan.

Describing the triangular relations among Taipei, Beijing and Washington, Young said he believes that the efforts of all three could help reduce the possibility that Taiwan might be a land mine in U.S.-China relations, as some have suggested.

**********************

The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office has completed the autopsy on the body of pop star Michael Jackson, but the cause of death has not been determined and further tests have been ordered, a spokesman said.

Craig Harvey operations chief for the coroner also said the autopsy showed no sign of external trauma or indication of foul play.

The cause of death has been deferred, which means the medical examiner has ordered additional testing such as toxicology and other studies, Harvey told a throng of reporters.

He said that once those tests are completed in four to six weeks the Coroner’s Office anticipate being able to close the case and issuing a final cause of death.

**********************

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