AsiaCast

Asia Cast for Thursday 5th November

Vincent Wang speaks with reporters about the political imperatives of the Chinese Communist Party after the forum at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York on October 28. (Courtesy of NTDTV)

In this Bulletin…

- Economic development harming democracy in China;
- Typhoon damage helps Taiwan’s wildlife to recover; and
- Increase in girls trafficked from Laos for Thai sex trade.

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

Speakers at a recent forum hosted by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York discussed how in China economic development has strengthened dictatorial rule.

The forum focused on democracy in Asia.

A growing middle class population is usually a driving force for democracy. But Dr. Vincent Wei-Cheng Wang, Chair of Political Science at the University of Richmond, said in China Beijing’s policies ensure the middle class only care about their own interests. He said they accept certain political issues are taboo in return for being allowed to do nearly everything else they want.

Wang said the Chinese Communist Party now faced a problem. If the economy deteriorated the 100 million Chinese in the middle class could become discontented and not so happy to follow along.

Read The Epoch Times for more on this.

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

A human rights organisation has warned that a security campaign Chinese authorities are launching in Xinjiang will only create more instability.

Police in Xinjiang told state media the latest ‘strike hard’ campaign was a manhunt to capture demonstrators involved in July’s riots.

Sophie Richardson, Asia Advocacy Director at Human Rights Watch said it was these kinds of