Asia Cast

Asia Cast for Saturday 14th November

In this Bulletin…

- Shenzhen security crackdown continues ;
- Hong Kong eagerly awaits arrival of Shen Yun; and
- Taiwanese researchers discover greener energy source.

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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Authorities in southern China have introduced new rules to restrict people from petitioning their grievances, according to NTDTV.

The notice, issued by law enforcement authorities in the city of Shenzhen in Guangdong Province, prohibits 14 of what they call ‘abnormal’ petitioning behaviours.

The prohibited activities include holding banners, distributing flyers, making silent protests, and holding sit-ins. Shenzhen residents are also prohibited from petitioning at Tiananmen Square or foreign embassies in Beijing.

Shenzhen borders Hong Kong. It is one of China’s biggest financial and manufacturing centres. Its residents normally enjoy relative freedom compared to people in other cities.

Public response to the legislation has been overwhelmingly negative.

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The Hong Kong début of New York-based classical Chinese dance company Shen Yun Performing Arts in January is already causing quite a stir, The Epoch Times reports.

It’s not just Hong Kong residents who are eager to see the show. There is a lot of interest among mainland Chinese as well.

Shanghai lawyer Zheng Enchong said that the people of China were longing to see a dance and music performance free from the Communist Party’s culture.

After seeing the DVD Beijing attorney Wen Haibo said, Shen Yun represented genuine Chinese culture. He added that it truly captured the essence of traditional Chinese culture.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

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US President Barack Obama begins a visit to China on Sunday. It is the first time he has travelled to China since taking office. Many are hoping he will raise human rights issues with Beijing.

Geng He, the wife of prominent human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, is one of those people.

Geng He is now safe in the US after escaping from China. Gao, however, has not been seen or heard from since his abduction by security personnel over nine months ago.

Kenneth Roth, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, has called President Obama to not back down on defending human rights while he is in a China.

Read The Epoch Times for more.

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A Taiwanese research team has developed a more efficient and much greener material for generating electricity from physical movement.

Piezoelectric materials can transform mechanical energy to electrical energy and vice versa.

Traditional high performance piezoelectric materials contain lead. The team from the National Chiao Tung University wanted to create a greener alternative. Chu Ying-hao, the lead researcher, said the new material’s power-generating performance was also greater than for other lead-containing materials.

Chu said there were many ways to take advantage of the piezoelectric technology. For example, Israel plans to surface roads with piezoelectric materials to generate power through vehicle movement.

The team’s findings were published in the November 13 edition of the prominent journal Science.

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

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Cambodia’s foreign ministry has announced they will not address the diplomatic row involving fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra at this weekend’s historic US-regional summit.

Tensions between the two countries deepened this week as Thaskin visited Cambodia in his new post as economic adviser. Cambodian authorities have charged a Thai man with spying and refused to extradite Thaksin to Thailand.

Cambodia has also requested that other members of the Association of South East Asian Nations leaders not to mix the issue with the summit between the US and the Association of South East Asian Nations.

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Indonesian officials have said that 22 Sri Lankan asylum seekers from an Australian customs ship anchored in Indonesia’s waters have now come ashore.

They were among 78 ethnic Tamils on the Oceanic Viking, moored off Bintan island near Singapore, who had refused to leave the ship.

The Oceanic Viking picked them up during its duties in Indonesia’s maritime search zone last month.

The 22 men are being taken to have their asylum claims processed at an Australian-funded detention centre on Bintan.

Indonesia agreed to take the asylum seekers last month as part of an agreement with Australia to cope with an influx of migrants to both countries.

The remaining 56 Tamils are still aboard the Oceanic Viking.

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