Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Tuesday 6th March

In this Bulletin…

- Taiwan legislator sees danger in joint China oil and gas deal;
- Northern Thailand’s severe drought; and
- Australia’s battle to stabilize oil-leak near Great Barrier Reef.

But first we have our Shen Yun quote of the day

[Audio]

For more information please visit www.shenyunperformingarts.org.

Our SOH focus on China is next

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China’s state-run companies participating in Taiwan’s offshore oil and gas exploration is drawing concern regarding national intelligence.

Taiwan’s state-owned oil and gas company held an open tender for the acquisition and processing in the Tainan Basin. The project’s budget is over US$29 million dollars.

A Taiwan legislator warns she foresees a danger in the deal. She worries if China’s company joins the project, it could conveniently gather intelligence about naval secrets.

Just last month, the legislator referred to a Chinese regime-funded marine seismic survey of Taiwan as a “Trojan Horse.”

For more on this story visit The Epoch Times.

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Operation of a leading Chinese pharmaceutical company that was charged with producing fraudulent vaccines, has resumed.

Their production and sales were halted five months ago when China’s food and drug administration found quality problems. Four batches of rabies vaccine were found ineffective.

The company was charged with using additives in the manufacturing process to cut the cost of production. The effectiveness of the vaccine suffered greatly, and has possibly affected millions of people in China, reports The Epoch Times.

The adulterated vaccines had been sold out by last July through 364 Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in 27 cities.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

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The arrival of an early dry season in Thailand has brought the most severe drought in decades to the country’s northernmost province, Chiang Rai.

Water levels in the Mekong are at a 50-year low, says NTDTV. The Mekong is the largest river in Southeast Asia, which runs from the glaciers of Tibet to southern Vietnam.

Farmers are worried there isn’t enough water for their crops. The country has not yet found an alternative water source for the farmers so far.

Some farmers have started pumping underground water, but have found the cost of fuel to high and water levels insufficient.

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At least seven people have perished in an attack on the US consulate in the city of Peshawar Pakistan. Taliban militants are saying they carried out the raid.

Several buildings collapsed after several explosions were set off in the area near the consulate. A gun battle between police and militants followed.

The attack came hours after 43 people died in a suicide attack just 50 miles away.

Investigators say the bomber targeted a crowded rally held by a nationalist party in Timargarha, Frontier Province, Pakistan.

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Saudi Arabia’s move to execute a Lebanese national charged with sorcery is sparking protests. Lebanon’s prime minister has been urged to intervene.

The alleged sorcerer was taking part in an Islamic pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia when he was arrested in 2008. He was a TV personality on satellite TV where he predicted the future.

Amnesty International said the fortune teller seemed to be convicted for exercising his right to freedom of expression.

His lawyer was told the execution was delayed last Friday, the day usually reserved for executions. She said if he wasn’t executed that Friday then maybe next Friday.

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And, an SOH update on the Chinese ship that is leaking oil near the environmentally delicate Great Barrier Reef. Australian authorities are struggling to stabilize the ship after it ran aground and was badly damaged.

Queensland officials say the salvage operation could take weeks. Fears remain that it could break up, spilling hundreds of tons of oil.

Environmentalists are furious. The Chinese ship had grounded on Douglas Shoals, well outside of the authorized shipping channel.

Currently, a tug boat is at the scene to help prevent the ship from keeling over. Its Chinese crew have remained on board.

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