AsiaCast

Asia Cast for the week ending Friday 20th August

Blueberries, one of the latest so-called super foods, are proving to be a bit of a taste sensation in South Korea. (By sub_lime79/Flickr)

In this bulletin:

- Deadly explosion at Chinese firework factory,
- China’s economy becomes world’s second biggest,
- Disease worries in Pakistan, and
- Australian election raises republic issue.

But first our SOH focus on China.

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NTDTV/ET-An explosion at a firecracker factory in Heilongjiang Province killed at least 19 people August 16. Over 150 others were injured in the blast.

The explosion damaged surrounding buildings and created a thick cloud of dust visible from six miles away.

Thousands of local residents were evacuated. The cause of the explosion is not known, but locals said workers were present inside the factory at the time of the explosion.

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ET-China overtook Japan as the world’s second strongest economy during the year’s second quarter.

China is expected to have a larger economy at the end of the year. This is due to China’s population growing between three and five times as fast as Japan’s.

But wealth in Japan is more evenly spread across the population. And most Japanese don’t seem too bothered by becoming the world’s number three economy.

Economists are predicting that China’s economic growth will slow during 2010.

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Beijing authorities and police have mounted a crackdown on petitioners in the capital. When many Chinese cannot resolve grievances locally they exercise their constitutional right and go to Beijing to petition their case.

But the petitioners SOH spoke to said the police were using any means necessary to clear them off the streets. Listen to our Inside China Today podcast to hear interviews with three petitioners in Beijing.

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A US defence department report has underlined concerns over the secrecy surrounding the growth of China’s military.

The report said the limited transparency in China’s military and security affairs enhances uncertainty and increases the potential for misunderstanding and miscalculation.

The Pentagon said current trends in China’s military capabilities were changing the balance of power in East Asia. Washington wants to engage in dialogue with Beijing to avoid any miscalculation between the two militaries.

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SOH takes a look across the wider Asia-Pacific region.

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NTDTV-Disease has started to spread among survivors of Pakistan’s floods. The UN has reported the first case of cholera as millions have been left without clean water.

The UN also warned of the imminent danger of other water borne diseases such as typhoid and hepatitis.

Aid agencies are distributing safe drinking water to some flooded areas in the northwest of Pakistan. They are also warning people of the health risk presented by the contaminated flood water.

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The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is discussing whether to step in to try and help resolve the ongoing border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand.

Thai and Cambodian soldiers have been facing each other in a stand off along their border for two years. The dispute, which has been deadly at times, is centred around a temple both nations lay claim to.

The Association’s member countries are holding talks on whether to intervene or not.

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Coming up on Asia Cast:

- Fatal shark attack off Western Australia,
- Taiwan’s schools going green , and
- Blue berries catch on in South Korea .

But first

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