Asia Cast

Asia Cast for Sunday 20th December

In this Bulletin…

- Panic buying hits Chinese supermarkets;
- Honda to boost car production in China; and
- Afghan cabinet nominations announced.

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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A wave of panic buying at supermarkets has swept across China. It was sparked when authorities announced an increase in food prices.

China’s communist authorities still set the prices for many key resources.

According to one supermarket manager, panic buying may cause the price increase to kick in sooner.

A Shanghai resident who called SOH, said the price of cooking oil was set to go up by 10 per cent. Another Shanghai resident said that the price of rice has doubled, and a Beijing resident said that prices for some vegetables had quadrupled.

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According to a press release, Japanese car maker Honda is planning to build a fifth car plant in China.

The announcement comes as the company faces mounting competition in China’s rapidly expanding car market

The business daily Nikkei said the new plant will have an annual capacity of 120,000 units. It will boost Honda’s production in China to 730,000 units a year. An increase of 20 per cent.

Nikkei said car sales in China are forecast to exceed 13 million units this year. If this happens China will replace the United States as the world’s biggest car market.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

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A Chinese Communist Party official visiting Taiwan is being met by protesters wherever he goes.

Xu Guangchun arrived in Taiwan earlier this week to foster trade and economic exchange. But he has had to face people protesting his involvement in human rights abuses.

Earlier this week protesters waited for Xu outside the Taipei International Convention Centre. They urged him to stop persecuting the Falun Gong spiritual practice.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual practice with teachings based on truth, compassion and tolerance. But the Chinese Communist Party has been brutally persecuting adherents since 1999.

Xu is facing lawsuits in Taiwan and in the United States for crimes of torture and genocide.

Watch NTDTV for more on this.

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Parts of Taiwan have been struck by a strong earthquake. Initial reports said there were no serious casualties.

The magnitude 6.4 earthquake was centred off the east coast of Taiwan. No tsunami alert was issued from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre.

Local media reported the collapse of one building near Taipei, where structures shook for about 30 seconds.

The reports spoke of four minor casualties in the capital and suspensions of some rail networks.

Taiwan is regularly hit by minor tremors although an earthquake in 1999 killed almost 2,500 people.

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

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The president of Afghanistan has presented his list of cabinet nominees to the country’s parliament.

The list was read to a packed parliament. On the whole the nominations should satisfy Western powers wanting action on corruption.

Hamid Karzai was last month declared the winner of the presidential election after a poll process marred by fraud.

Most of the key ministers with solid reputations are said to have held on to their jobs. The only female nominee is for women’s affairs.

Two ministers accused of corruption have been replaced. But the appointment of a former warlord accused of human rights abuses and corruption is likely to draw criticism.

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Food prices in India are up to 20 per cent higher than last year. The prices of pulses, milk, wheat, rice and vegetables like potatoes have risen sharply.

Droughts and flooding through the year have devastated crops and reduced farm output.

India’s federal finance minister has said the government was planning to import food to ease prices.

Economists say an overall rise in inflation in India could trigger a rise in interest rates.

There are concerns the price rises will mean poorer people in the country may be more exposed to food shortages and malnourishment.

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