Up to 50 million farmers have had their lands taken under China's land reform policy. Most are not satisfied with the compensation they're given, according to a recent Chinese think tank study. (The Epoch Times)

In this bulletin:

- Beijing mounts new Xinjiang crackdown,
- Report highlights land reform burden,
- An unlikely education in Taiwan, and
- Smartphone patent battle.

But first our SOH focus on China.

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

NTD-The Chinese regime has started August 11, another hard-line security crackdown on ethnic violence in the western region of Xinjiang.

On Tuesday August 16 local authorities said the ‘strike-hard’ operation would run until October 15. Chinese authorities blame Uighur Muslim separatists for recent violence, alleging the Uighur attackers are terrorists who had training in Pakistan.

The World Uyghur Congress informed NTD the Chinese regime is trying to make the global community believe that Uighur Muslims are terrorists to justify their crack down. Adding recent unrest came about because the Uighur Muslims have become desperate, living under the Chinese regime’s brutal rule.

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

ET-According to a recent report from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, between 40 and 50 million Chinese farmers have lost their farmland since economic reforms began in the 1970s.

The number is increasing at a rate of three million farmers per year, and will reach 110 million around 2030. The report also states that, while farmland is being lost, there is a serious trend of urban land being insufficiently utilised.

The State Council’s Development Research Centre said since the start of economic reforms to 2003, the Chinese regime has taken over $300 billion US dollars from farmers by expropriating farmland at a low price and then reselling it at a high price.

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

ET- The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy reported August 12 on the death of a Tibetan political prisoner due to severe torture.

Thin Lay, a young Tibetan man from Kardze County, was arrested in April 2009 for participating in calls for Tibetan freedom in Kardze. During the seven months imprisonment by Chinese authorities he was severely tortured.

Authorities finally released Thin Lay to his family after he was in a state of physical and psychological debility and near death. Thin Lay died August 10.

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

ET-The political chasm separating mainland China from Taiwan sometimes seems too vast to bridge, but a recent curious phenomenon may begin to change that. Chinese mainlanders, who previously had no clue about life on the tiny island, are finding through personal visits that Taiwan’s vibrant democracy may be hope for China’s own future.

Some Chinese tourists even treat Taiwan’s free media as quite the novelty. The Asia Times recently reported anecdotal accounts of Chinese tourists snubbing their day tours in favour of staying in their hotel rooms to watch uncensored TV political talk shows and news reports.

The Epoch Times website details more of what Chinese tourists are discovering on their voyages across the Taiwan Strait.

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

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

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

With some analysts predicting the global smartphone market to top $250 billion US dollars by 2015, it’s easy to see why the legal battle over patents is being hard fought.

Most recently Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC has brought a lawsuit against Apple in the US. HTC is seeking to stop US imports of iPhones, iPads, iPods and Mac computers.

It follows a July ruling by the US International Trade Commission that HTC was infringing two iPhone patents in a case brought by Apple.

HTC, one of the world’s fastest growing smartphone makers, has built its business around Android. With Google’s recent acquisition of Motorola Mobility it gains a patent portfolio. Bernstein Research said could it may help Google protect Android handset manufacturers against litigation from Apple and Microsoft.

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

Coming up on Asia Cast:

- Stealth jets Asia’s military must-have,
- Vietnam worried bans Hanoi protest, and
- Ukulele winning Asian fans.

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

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

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

Back with the rest of today’s Asia Cast I’m Rich Crankshaw

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

According to state-run news agency RIA Novosti, Russia’s new stealth fighter was unveiled to the public Tuesday August 16 at an air show outside Moscow.

The Sukhoi T-50 is a collaboration between Russia and India and is set to become the newest main plane for both airforces. It is intended to match the US F-22 raptor.

In related news, reports have emerged suggesting similarities between China’s newly developed J-20 fighter and a Russian stealth fighter prototype result from a transfer of technology.

With both sides denying any such transfer took place it is unclear how China produced a plane with similar technology to the never produced Russian Mikoyan stealth jet.

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

ET-A close aide of Anna Hazare said Thursday August 18 the figurehead of India’s anti-corruption movement had agreed a police offer which will permit him to go on hunger strike.

New Delhi police detained Hazare Tuesday August 16. The day he was to start a hunger strike unto death or until the Indian government agreed to pass strong anti-corruption legislation.

His arrest sparked widespread rallies. India Against Corruption, the organization behind the protests, reported that 10,000 people joined demonstrations in 20 locations across India resulting in 2,500 arrests.

Hazare had previously vowed to remain in custody in Delhi unless he was permitted to resume the protest. The deal will see him leave prison and go on hunger strike in a park for 15 days.

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

Worried about anti-communist sentiment, Vietnam has ordered an end to demonstrations against China in the capital, Hanoi.

Protesters have been gathering in Hanoi on Sunday mornings since June after tensions over territorial disputes in the South China Sea escalated.

But the Vietnamese government said the protests had to stop, because people both inside and outside the country were using the rallies to stir up dissent against communist rule.

Currently China Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan all claim territory in the South China Sea.

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

On a lighter note.

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

NTD-After a blast of polar weather New Zealand recently saw snow falling to sea level for three consecutive days in Wellington, rare snowfalls in Auckland and a blizzard in Christchurch.

The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research said Auckland experienced its coldest day since records began in 1961. Wellington Airport recorded its second coldest day there since records began in 1959 and Gisborne also recorded its second lowest temperature since 1940.

The snow caused roads and schools to close, public transport to stop running and power outages to thousands of homes. The freak winter weather was caused by what experts are calling a once in a lifetime storm. Something many New Zealanders hope it true.

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

Taiwan’s Bureau of Health Promotion doubled the amount of exercise it recommends for office workers following new research published in the Lancet medical journal.

The article by two Taiwanese scientists published Tuesday August 16 stated a daily 15- minute exercise can lower the possibility of death by 14 per cent and reduce the risk of cancer-related death by 10 per cent.

In response, the Bureau of Health Promotion adjusted their original 8-minute exercise routine target at office workers. The Bureau said new routine emphasizes neck and shoulder movements that will ease the stiffness caused by typing and mouse-clicking.

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

VOA recently reported on the unexpected rise of Japanese-American ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro.

Shimabukuro is performing across Japan with a 14-show tour in August and September. At his first performance this month in South Korea, tickets sold for up to $100 US dollars a seat.

The instrument many haven’t take seriously in the past is winning over new fans across Asia with it’s size and simplicity. It’s low cost and cheerful tone may also appeal in the current economic climate.

Sales of the instrument globally are reported to have increased by one-third annually in the past several years.

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

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

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Indonesia's Supreme Court is considering whether to jail the manager of independent broadcaster Radio Era Baru in a case brought about due to pressure from the Chinese regime. Should Gatot Machali be jailed, it would set a worrisome precedent for Chinese influence on free expression in Southeast Asia.

- Questions over China high-speed rail crash,
- Ai Weiwei breaks silence,
- Court deliberating Indonesian radio manager case, and
- Worst-in-a-century floods hit South Korea.

But first our SOH focus on China.

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

ET/NTD-In the aftermath of the deadly high-speed train collision in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, complaints from family members of the victims have intensified. The regime’s handling of the tragedy has triggered protests demanding the true reason of the collision and the actual death toll.

Chinese authorities have blamed a lightning strike as the cause of bullet train D3115 losing power, which then led to the fatal collision when another bullet train rear-ended it.

But people familiar with China’s railway system say they were not surprised that such a crash had happened. According to many experts and media analysts, the crash on the night of July 23 was caused by human errors and negligence, including signal system failure and scheduling problems.

Almost immediately after the accident, the Chinese regime fired three senior railway officials without giving a reason for doing so. China’s railway system has been plagued with problems including corruption and quality concerns.

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

NTD/ET-Police opened fire at civilians Tuesday July 26 in southwestern China after thousands spontaneously gathered to protest of the killing of a disabled street vendor. Thousands of residents in the city of Anshun, Guizhou Province, took to the streets in response to accusations the chengguan, a branch of civilian law enforcers, beat the man to death.

The chengguan maintain urban order and enforce laws against petty crimes like begging. It’s unclear what the fruit vendor did that led the chengguan to start beating him.

One eyewitness to the riots told NTD on condition of anonymity, there were up to 10 thousand people surrounding the dead man and they were furious as one would normally give priority to disabled people.

Witnesses say authorities used tear gas and water cannons to suppress the protests. Police are reportedly questioning six chengguan members in connection with the killing.

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

NTD-Ai Weiwei has broken his silence. The prolific Chinese artist and dissident who spent 81 days in detention, made his first contact with the outside world on his new Google + account.

He began with two simple posts Monday July 25;“Greetings, I’m here” and another saying, “There are signs of life.” So far he has more than 10,600 followers on his Google + account.

Before he was arrested, Ai had been a prolific Twitter user. But since he was released on bail in June, he had remained silent. Ai refused to give interviews or discuss his detainment. Human rights groups speculate he was coerced into silence as a condition of his release.

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

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

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

The latest China Media Bulletin published by Freedom House included an update on the fate of the SOH Network’s Indonesian sister media. First Radio Era Baru, then its station manager have been targeted with legal action brought about by pressure from the Chinese regime on Indonesian authorities.

Currently the trial Radio Era Baru’s station manager Gatot Machali on charges of broadcasting without authorization is in its final stages in Jakarta.

According to local media reports the prosecutor presented concluding arguments July 11 and reduced the requested punishment from six years to six months and a fine of almost $6,000 US dollars.

The case is the latest in a series of attempts by the Indonesian authorities-under Chinese pressure-to shut down Radio Era Baru. The station is know for broadcasting content critical of Beijing provided by our Chinese colleagues at Sound of Hope Radio.

After winning an administrative court case in October 2010, in May 2011, Radio Era Baru won a high court decision affirming its right to broadcast temporarily, pending a ruling by the Supreme Court.

Nevertheless, the prosecution has continued its case against the station’s manager. A decision is expected within the next two weeks.

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

Coming up on Asia Cast:

- Myanmar democracy leader calls for ceasefire,
- New Zealand earthquake goldfish alive after 134 days, and
- Panda cub born in Chengdu.

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

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

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

Back with the rest of today’s Asia Cast I’m Rich Crankshaw

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

NTD/ET-At least 67 people were known to have died or gone missing Friday July 29 as flash floods caused havoc in South Korea.

Over half a meter of rain pounded the Seoul region in 48 hours causing torrential flooding and deadly landslides in and around the capital.

The bill for the damage is expected to run into hundreds of millions of dollars. Authorities say the heaviest rainfall for over a century has forced more than 4,500 people out of their homes and many are without power.

Neighbouring North Korea was also hit by the storms but state media there has so far made no reports of damage.

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

Myanmar’s pro-democracy leader has called on the army and ethnic insurgents to end the country’s decades-long civil conflict. Aung San Suu Kyi made the appeal Thursday July 28 in her first direct letter to the country’s new president.

Suu Kyi held her first talks with a minister in the new government Monday July 25. The meeting came just days after the US called for concrete progress towards democracy.

Suu Kyi was released from house arrest days after the controversial election last November and has since been warned to stay out of politics. In her letter she said she was ready to do as much as she could to support the ceasefire and the peace process. Adding reconciliation would never be achieved via armed conflict.

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

Thailand hosted the 23rd International Olympiad in Informatics in Pattaya City from July 22 to 29. The eight-day Olympiad pitted teams of four students from 79 countries against each other.

Competitors at the Olympiad must use their brains to solve very complicated but logical problems by using computers as a tool. Teams from across Asia performed well.

The annual event is intended to promote studies of computer science and informatics, the science of processing data for storage and retrieval. The competition for secondary school students was initiated by a Bulgarian professor in 1987.

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

On a lighter note.

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

Two particularly hardy goldfish in New Zealand have survived for 134 days after being abandoned during the devastating February earthquake.

The goldfish were in a 100-litre tank in the reception area of an accountants in Christchurch when the earthquake struck in February.

Staff at the office have only now been allowed back into the building, and to their surprise the two fish had survived without any food or the tank’s filter running.

Aquarium experts think bacteria may have kept the water clean enough to sustain life and the fish may have eaten algae growing in the tank. Although there is no sign of the other three goldfish that were originally in the tank.

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

Religious groups in Taiwan have been praised by the country’s president for helping to promote Taiwan’s image in the international community through aid and charity.

The president made the remark while meeting representatives from a Taoist association in Taiwan. He said religious organizations that have bases and volunteers in different countries have made great contributions to the world.

The president added he was proud of Chinese culture as Taiwan is a nation of religious freedom, with no religious wars ever recorded in its history.

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

NTD-In China’s Chengdu Research Center, a 19-year-old giant panda named Lily gave birth to a female cub Sunday July 24. It’s rare for a panda to give birth at 19, since giant pandas normally only live around 25 years.

Lily was artificially inseminated. After 128 days of pregnancy, Lily went into labour Friday July 22. The baby panda was delivered two days later.

The panda cub is the 97th giant panda in the Chengdu Research Center, the world’s most successful giant panda breeding facility.

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

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

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Tuesday, May 3, was World Press freedom Day. In Taiwan, NTD Asia Pacific Television — or NTD AP — filed an appeal at Taiwan’s regulatory National Communications Commission. They say the island’s largest telecommunications company is wrongfully refusing to renew their satellite contract.

In this bulletin:

- Ai Weiwei’s family say authorities actions unlawful,
- Chinese officials’ secret farms,
- Taiwan’s premier urges support for independent broadcaster, and
- Thai election hots up.

But first our SOH focus on China.

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

The family of outspoken Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei recently told SOH the handling of his case has been unlawful from the start and would continue to be unlawful.

Six weeks after the authorities detained Ai Weiwei, state run media announced the company he controlled has been intentionally destroying accounting vouchers and was suspected of tax evasion.

The sister of Ai Weiwei, Gao Ge, told our Chinese reporter any charges against her brother should have been announced by the police not the media. She added that despite the media’s announcement the family hadn’t received any formal notification.

Ai Weiwei’s mother, Gao Ying said, she does not believe her son would evade tax. She said Ai used his own money to benefit the community.

Reported by Tian Xi for Sound of Hope Radio.

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

Instead of tackling the problem of toxic food in China, government officials from the central to local levels are maintaining their own private supplies of fresh produce.

Following up on the Southern Weekend newspaper’s expose of one such special produce base in Shunyi District outside Beijing, an SOH Chinese reporter investigated the story.

A Beijing resident said wealthy state owned enterprises all had their own production centres. They said the Beijing Education Bureau opened a special produce base near Hebei which supplied them with everything from fish to vegetables.

A resident from Shanghai told SOH that while those with position and privilege enjoyed their special produce the common people could only eat toxic food. They added corruption was turning China’s whole society toxic from top to bottom.

Interviewed and reported by Tian Xi for Sound of Hope Radio.

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

Victims of forced relocations in Shanghai recently told SOH they are not afraid of the authorities crackdown on them.

Petitioners told SOH over one thousand of them gathered at the Shanghai Civil Complaints Office May 11 before police broke up their appeal.

The next day dozens of petitioners gathered at the Changning District Court to protest the rejection of their appeals. One petitioner told SOH a judge said if the court heard their case they might lose their job.

Another petitioner said petitioners were already being sent to psychiatric hospitals and detention centres to silence them ahead of June 4 anniversary of the Tienanmen Square Massacre..

Report by special correspondents Chang Chun and Lou Lan for Sound of Hope Radio.

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

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

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

NTD-Taiwan’s premier is urging the island’s largest telecommunications company to continue its satellite contract with independent TV broadcaster NTD AP.

The call comes three weeks after Chunghwa Telecom refused to extend its service with NTD AP. The current contract will expire in August. NTD AP is known for broadcasting uncensored news on China to the region.

Domestic and overseas legislators have voiced support for the station. Many want the partly state-owned Chunghwa to uphold Taiwan’s democratic and press freedom principles.

NTD AP said they were affirmed as the yardstick for freedom of speech by the premier at a meeting Tuesday May 24. The premier also stated Chunghwa’s operations should expand beyond commercial decisions to protect Taiwan’s democracy and rule of law.

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

Coming up on Asia Cast:

- Dalai Lama shuns head of state role,
- Japan to boost solar energy, and
- Nikkei Asia Prize winners announced.

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

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

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

Back with the rest of today’s Asia CastI’m Rich Crankshaw

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

NTD-Thirty parties will take part in the July 3rd election in Thailand. It will be a tight race between the ruling Democrat Party and the opposition Puea Thai party. Both will likely have to rely on the smaller parties to form a coalition government.

While the Democrats have powerful backing from conservative elites and the military top brass, they have struggled to win over the poor, which constitute the majority of Thai voters.

Puea Thai’s stronghold is the vote-rich north and northeast and it has the backing of the powerful red shirt protest movement. However, that association could turn away voters tired of political upheaval.

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

The Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader has said he will never act as the head of state for the Tibetan administration in exile.

Since the Dalai Lama stepped away from his political duties in March Tibetan lawmakers and other leaders have tried to convince him to retain a role as a ceremonial head of state.

In March the Dalai Lama indicated he would make way for democratically elected officials to handle Tibet’s political affairs. A new Tibetan exile prime minister is scheduled to be inaugurated in July.

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

Taiwan’s government has been urged to allow abandoned or fallow farmland to be used for growing a sub-tropical species of grass, miscanthus, for fuel.

A researcher from the National Cheng Kung University made the remark Wednesday May 26 at a press conference on the sustainable development of Taiwan’s natural resources

US research found miscanthus was more energy efficient than other plant-based fuel sources, such as ethanol and biodiesel.

The press conference also heard other countries may be interested in some Taiwanese grasses which can survive in adverse environments or tolerate heavy metals.

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

Japan’s prime minister pledged Wednesday May 26 the country will have solar panels installed on some ten million roofs by 2020.

The solar-powered homes are part of the major push towards renewable energy Japan has embarked upon following the recent nuclear crisis.

The prime minister said Japan was aiming to generate 20 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020. To met this aim the prime minister said the cost of solar power generation would have to fall to one third of its current level by 2020 and to one sixth by 2030.

Nuclear power remains part of Japan’s energy plan, but has been scaled back.

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

On a lighter note.

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

NTD-An 11-year-old Manchurian tiger recently gave birth to quintuplets at a zoo in China’s Heilongjiang Province.

The mother was currently only taking care of four of her five cubs, with the fifth one being kept with another female tiger to ensure all the cubs get enough milk. The zoo said all five cubs were healthy.

The Manchurian tiger, also known as the Northeast China tiger, is ranked among the top 10 most endangered species in the world.

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

The winners of the Nikkei Asia Prizes for 2011 were announced Wednesday May 25 in Tokyo.

The awards aim to promote understanding with Japan of other Asian nations by recognising achievements that improve the quality of life in Asia.

Prizes are presented for significant contributions in three areas; regional growth, science, technology and innovation, and culture.

The science, technology and innovation prize went to the director of the Institute of Physics at Academia Sinica, Taiwan for advances in superconductor research.

Antonio Meloto of the Philippines took the regional growth award for his commitment to alleviating poverty in slums of the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia and Papua New Guinea.

Vietnamese writer Bao Ninh won the culture category with his novel The Sorrow of War.

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

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

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Fossilised remains of an ichthyosaur and ammonites. Ichthyosaurs were dolphin-like reptiles with sharp teeth that preyed on fish and squid-like creatures. A skeleton has been unearthed in Australia with teeth marks on the lower jaw, an unusual find. (Descouens/Wikimedia Commons)

In this bulletin:

- Protests stall world’s busiest port,
- Chinese millionaires moving funds overseas,
- Hong Kong media’s self censorship growing, and
- Battle-scarred fossil jaw found in Australia

But first our SOH focus on China.

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

Shanghai, the world’s busiest port, was recently brought to a near standstill after a strike by truck drivers.

In protest over fuel surcharges and other related charges thousands of container-truck drivers began striking April 19. The authorities brought in over seven thousand police to suppress the strike. One person was allegedly beaten to death by the police and many others were arrested April 20.

Angered by this the drivers on strike started to block the gates. As other container and cargo related business joined the strike Shanghai’s port was virtually paralysed.

Authorities have suppressed news of the strikes from getting out.

Reported by Yu Liang and correspondent Chen Yilian for Sound of Hope Radio.

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

As the Chinese regime’s crackdown on dissidents continues petitioners have told SOH the State Appeals Bureau has hired thugs to beat petitioners and prevent them going there to appeal.

Petitioners told our Chinese reporter a female petitioner suffered severe head injuries when she was beaten outside Beijing’s State Appeals Bureau April 27. The victim’s situation is currently unknown.

One petitioner said many of them were also arrested after singing songs and shouting ‘down with corruption’ outside the appeals office. They added the police just turned a blind eye when petitioners were attacked.

Reported by Fu Ming and Tang Li for Sound of Hope Radio.

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

ET-According to a recent study over half of China’s millionaires want out. An unstable political and investment environment, alongside myriad social problems, means that 60 per cent of the wealthy have either completed business emigration or are making plans to move funds overseas.

The 2011 China Private Wealth Study, jointly released by China Merchants Bank and Bain & Company, reveals the number of rich Chinese emigrating has gone up rapidly in recent years.

Chinascope, a Chinese media analysis group, said the loss of capital could damage China’s future as a productive economy.

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

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

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

NTD-Hong Kong’s media is increasingly engaged in self-censorship, according to a survey released last week.

The Hong Kong University Public Opinion Program carried out its annual survey in April. The survey found that two thirds of the population believed local media was hesitant in criticising the Communist regime.

According to the Hong Kong Journalists Association this is because more media companies are strengthening their ties with the regime.

The Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor said one example of self-censorship is on news related to Falun Gong, a spiritual practice persecuted by the Chinese regime. The organisation said parades by Falun Gong involving more than one thousand people often occurred in Hong Kong, but were seldom see on the news.

The survey found that public perception of media credibility has slumped to a three year low.

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

Coming up on Asia Cast:

- Association of South East Asian Nations’ annual meeting,
- Timber smugglers threatening Indian forest , and
- Taiwan opens festival sand sculptures for public viewing

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

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

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

Back with the rest of today’s Asia Cast I’m Rich Crankshaw

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

NTD-Security was tight around the convention centre in Jakarta Friday May 6 as delegates from the Association of South East Asian Nations gathered for their annual meeting.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister met with his Cambodian counterpart to talk about security on the Thai-Cambodian border.

Fighting between the Thai and Cambodian armies seems to have eased after 12 days of artillery and gunfire.

Cambodia’s foreign minister says they want to see Indonesian observers at the Thai-Cambodia border as soon as possible.

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

NTD-Forest guards in the far northeast of India say they’re finding it difficult to fight back against timber smugglers due to lack of proper equipment.

The Garbhanga Reserve Forest borders India’s Assam and Meghalaya states. According to the guards posted in Assam, timber smugglers from neighbouring Meghalaya are also destroying shops and houses located in nearby areas when they come over the border.

Large-scale timber smuggling is fast depleting the reserves and playing havoc with the ecosystem. It is estimated that in the last six years, around 40 per cent of the forest’s trees have been felled.

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

NTD-A tornado left a trail of destruction in New Zealand’s largest city of Auckland Tuesday May 3, leaving one dead and more than a dozen injured.

The tornado struck to the north of central Auckland in the afternoon with damage centred on a shopping mall, before it moved south leaving a three mile trail of destruction in its wake.

Police said one person was killed and more than a dozen injured. Eyewitnesses say they were terrified by the twister that wreaked havoc on the city.

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

On a lighter note.

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

ET-Researchers in Australia made a rare discovery when they found what appear to be healed bite wounds on the fossilised lower jaw of an ichthyosaur.

Ichthyosaurs were a diverse group of dolphin-like reptiles that are believed to have inhabited the oceans from 250 to 90 million years ago.

This particular skeleton, a five-meter-long adult is believed to be 120 million years old and was recovered near Marree, a town in South Australia.

The findings are detailed in a forthcoming issue of the journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica.

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

ET-The fourth annual Fulong Sand Sculpture Festival in New Taipei City, Taiwan, presents sand sculptures by well known artists from Canada, Germany, Japan, mainland China, Portugal, Russia, Taiwan, and the United States.

During the two month festival which opened April 17, four major sand sculptures, sixteen medium-sized pieces and twenty-one smaller works are expected to be built.

The sand sculptures embody historical and natural themes. The Tourism Bureau said the sculptures would be on public display May through June and amateur sculptors were welcome to enter an open competition over the weekend of May 14 and 15.

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

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

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

A pair of Bengal tigers in India where a recent survey found tiger numbers had increased slightly. (By treeday77/Flickr)

In this bulletin:

- Beijing jails veteran activist once more,
- Tibet rues 52 years under Chinese rule,
- Fukushima evacuees fear they’ll never return home, and
- India’s tiger population grows.

But first our SOH focus on China.

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

NTD-The Chinese regime was heavily criticised after sentencing veteran democracy advocate Liu Xianbin to a lengthy jail term Friday March 25 for so called inciting subversion.

A court in central Sichuan province sentenced Liu to ten years in prison for writing articles calling for human rights and democracy. His wife who was at the trial told our Chinese reporters the court prevented Liu and his attorney from defending against the charges.

Democracy activists in Sichuan said the authorities tightened security ahead of the trial to prevent supporters of Xianbin Liu attending the trial. Many activists in the province were placed under house arrest, while others who tried to attend the trial were sent back to their local cities as soon as they arrived.

Interviewed and reported by Fuming and Aixin for Sound of Hope Radio.

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

World TB Day falls on March 24 each year. This year’s campaign recognised individuals around the world who have found new ways to stop tuberculosis.

Unfortunately in China the disease is not being effectively controlled or treated. The ministry of health has released figures showing over 500 million people in China, 45 per cent of the population, are carrying the TB bacterium. Of those, some five million have the active disease.

One problem is China’s low detection rate, epidemics are also not being tracked. Family members of TB patients told SOH the free treatments some local governments supposedly offer is a lie. According to the ministry of health almost 20 per cent of TB patients cannot afford medical treatment.

Reported for by Sound of Hope Radio by Ning Yan, interviews and extra reporting by special correspondent Bin Xiong.

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

NTD-Chinese authorities executed three Filipinos on drug trafficking charges Wednesday March 30. It came despite a flurry of public appeals for clemency in the Philippines, and just days after Amnesty International slammed Beijing’s sweeping use of the death penalty.

The three were convicted of smuggling several kilos of heroin each into China in 2008.

The Philippine Vice President had sent an appeal to Beijing Tuesday March 29, asking to keep the Filipinos alive while The Philippines investigated new evidence aimed at proving the innocence of at least one or two of them.

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

NTD-Chinese state media recently reported Monday March 28 as Serfs’ Emancipation Day for Tibet. The date marked the 52nd anniversary of what the Chinese Communist Party calls its liberation of Tibet in 1959.

Many Tibetans, however, use the term communist takeover, saying 1959 marked the beginning of the Party’s suppression of their way of life.

The Senator of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile said the regime claims it’s done a lot of good things, but it’s all lies. Adding, under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party, Tibet became a giant prison in which over one million Tibetans have died from mistreatment.

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

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

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

NTD-Weeks after a huge earthquake and tsunami triggered the world’s worst nuclear crisis since 1986, prospects for a speedy resolution at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant look more distant by the day.

Many evacuees are worried they will never be able to return home. More than 70-thousand people have been evacuated from a 20-kilometre exclusion zone around the plant. Another 130-thousand, who live in a 10-kilometre band beyond the exclusion zone, have been advised to either leave or stay indoors.

UN nuclear monitors advised Japan to consider widening the exclusion zone after unsafe levels of radiation were recorded in a village 40-kilometres north-west of the nuclear plant. The US and UK earlier advised their citizens in Japan to keep at least 80-kilometres from the plant.

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

And with the continuing nuclear crisis in Japan, Taiwan and China have shown signs they may cooperate on promoting atomic energy safety.

Taiwanese media said the issue would be one of the major topics on the agenda of this year’s forum between the ruling parties on both sides.

Local media reported Wednesday March 30 Taiwan had not ruled out the possibility of commissioning China to help with nuclear waste disposal. While on the same day Beijing said professional nuclear energy agencies on both sides of the Taiwan Strait have maintained contact on technological issues.

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

Coming up on Asia Cast:

- Asia-Pacific tackles people smuggling and refugee issue,
- Taiwan concerned over children’s mass media consumption, and
- The sweet taste of cricket.

**********************
“You’re listening to Asia Cast on the SOH Network”
**********************
Back with the rest of today’s Asia Cast I’m Rich Crankshaw
**********************

The Asia-Pacific has moved a step closer to a consistent and coordinated regional approach to people smuggling and asylum seekers.

A regional processing centre is also still a possibility after ministers met in Indonesia Wednesday March 30.

A non-binding framework to tackle smuggling networks and humanely process the large numbers of irregular migrants moving through the region was agreed and signed at the meeting.

Asia is a transit region for refugees and other undocumented migrants seeking to escape hardship in countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq and Sri Lanka.

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

Taiwan said Thursday March 31 it wants to create a more child-friendly media environment.

The country’s telecoms regulator said as young people show an increasing dependence on the mass media it will push for legislation to ensure the quality and quantity of children’s programs.

At present 95 per cent of children’s programming on Taiwan’s commercial TV networks is cartoons, some of which the regulator did not think were appropriate. It said a more detailed rating system for parents to refer to was also needed.

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

Burma saw a supposed transition from a military junta to a nominally civilian government Wednesday March 30.

The hand over follows last year’s elections, the first in two decades. But the elections were widely condemned as a sham amid the exclusion of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and claims of cheating and intimidation.

Critics say the old military leaders have kept a firm grip on power. Suu Kyi has no voice in the new parliament, but said she wanted to engage in dialogue with the new government.

**********************
On a lighter note.
**********************

NTD-If cricket diplomacy doesn’t as much as is hoped to mend relations between India and Pakistan, well there’s always chocolate.

A chocolate replica of the Cricket World Cup trophy went on display at a shopping mall in India’s Hyderabad city for India’s semi-final against Pakistan.

The store which created the the 18-inch chocolate trophy said it took 20 days and around four kilos of chocolate to make. They said it was created as an inspiration that India should win the World Cup.

And a strong performance by India’s bowlers saw them beat Pakistan by 29 runs with just one ball to spare Wednesday March 30, securing their place in the World Cup final against Sri Lanka.

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

NTD-The population of endangered tigers in India has increased by 12 per cent, according to a recent survey.

India’s environment minister says that although the tiger population has increased their available habitat has decreased. He also cautioned that poachers and projects near forests are the greatest threats to the animal.

Forest officials used hidden cameras and DNA tests to count the big cats across 19 Indian states. The census included 70 tigers in the eastern Indian Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, bringing the total number of animals recorded across the whole country to just over 1,700. Which is around 300 tigers more than four years ago.

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

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

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Albert Ho, Hong Kong law maker and Chair of the China Human Rights Lawyer Concern Group, which has been actively involved in attempting to rescue renowned Chinese lawyer Gao Zhisheng, has added his support to a newly established Taiwan-based Alliance of victims of human rights abuse in China. (Courtesy of NTD)

In this bulletin:

- Chinese regime tightens dissident crackdown,
- Beijing launches state-run search engine ,
- Hong Kong support for China human rights alliance, and
- Asia-Pacific nations evacuate thousands from Libya.

But first our SOH focus on China.

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

NTD-The Chinese regime has apparently started another crack down on dissidents around the country. Recently, scores of rights lawyers and democracy activists have been detained or placed under house arrest.

Some believe Chinese authorities are cracking down on dissidents because they fear an Egyptian style uprising against the regime’s rule. Others think the move is in preparation for two of the Chinese Communist Party’s most important political meetings.

The national meeting of the regime’s advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, will begin on March 3, while its legislature, the National People’s Congress, will meet on March 5.

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

NTD-The Chinese regime launched a new state-run search engine Tuesday February 22. It’s already been reported to filter out more information than other Chinese sites.

Panguso is run by Xinhua News Agency and China Mobile Ltd. Both are owned by the ruling Communist Party.

Panguso provides users with information approved by the regime. In some instances it seems limited, even compared to other Chinese sites under censorship control.

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

ET-Several Hong Kong politicians have indicated their support of a newly established Taiwan-based Alliance of victims of human rights abuse in China.

Individuals and groups who have been persecuted by CCP officials in China have given a list of over 11 thousand names to the Taiwanese government. The No CCP Villain International Alliance was founded in Taiwan by groups and individuals who say they have been or are currently persecuted by Chinese Communist Party officials.

Hong Kong lawmaker Albert Ho said the establishment of the alliance was ‘encouraging’ because of its clear stance.

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

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

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

ET/NTD-As anti-government protests continued in Libya, a mass exodus of refugees and foreign workers was under well way Thursday February 24.

With reports of a brutal crackdown on protesters by Gaddadi’s forces, the UN said thousands of Libyans were heading to the country’s boarders.

South Korea held a special meeting Thursday February 24 to discuss the urgent evacuation of its 1,400 construction workers in Libya.

The Indian government said it was preparing for a mammoth operation involving planes and ships to evacuate its nationals. But the Pakistani embassy in Libya said that 18,000 Pakistanis there were safe.

The Bangladeshi government restated its plans to repatriate 50,000 mostly manual labourers. And the Nepalese embassy in Libya said it was continuing with efforts to evacuate about 600 Nepali migrant workers

Chinese state-media said Thursday February 24 Beijing had stepped up its operation to evacuate some 33,000 Chinese citizens living and work in Libya, mainly in the oil, rail and telecoms sectors.

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

Coming up on Asia Cast:

- Aftershocks hinder New Zealand earthquake rescue efforts,
- India to address corruption, and
- Musicians gather for unique festival in Manila.

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

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

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

Back with the rest of today’s Asia Cast I’m Rich Crankshaw

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

ET/NTD- New Zealand’s prime minister said search and rescue was the number one focus after Christchurch was severely damaged by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake Tuesday February 22.

New Zealand has accepted help from several foreign nations. But hopes of finding survivors among the hundreds still missing Thursday February 24 were fading.

Aftershocks had been hindering rescue operations, with more than 20 since the initial quake, mostly above magnitude 4. The quake was the deadliest to hit New Zealand for 80 years.

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

NTD-Japanese authorities have arrested three Hong Kong citizens believed to be part of a string of robberies in Japan.

The alleged gang members were arrested Tuesday February 22 after their DNA was found on tools left behind at the crime scene.

They are accused of robbing two jewellery stores last year. In both robberies construction equipment was used to smash a hole through an exterior wall.

Authorities suspect that the group was involved in many robberies throughout Asia.

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

NTD-Addressing federal lawmakers the Indian president the government was considering a series of measures to weed out corruption and ensure complete transparency in its actions.

Corruption, combined with high inflation, especially in food, has taken the gleam off India’s fast growing economy for both voters and investors.

India’s president emphasized the need to encourage more foreign investment to sustain economic growth amid signs of an increasingly fragile investment climate.

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

Taiwan’s opposition launched a think tank Wednesday February 23 as part of its re-branding ahead of next year’s presidential election.

The Democratic Progressive Party which is pro-independence, has long been criticised as lacking a coherent China policy. At the opening of the think tank it presented a new discourse on its stance toward relations across the Taiwan Strait.

The opposition’s chairwoman that Taiwan and China must maintain peace by tolerating their differences and seeking common ground.

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

On a lighter note.

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

NTD-A Californian laser engineer and physicist has created a new kind of origami by applying his knowledge of mathematics and technology to the traditional art of paper folding.

Robert Lang has a passion for origami and practices the Japanese folk art form with the eyes of a mathematician. Lang, now considered one of the world’s foremost experts, says traditional origami relies on human intuition. Whereas technical origami utilises the laws of maths and physics to sculpt pieces that could not have been created with human intuition alone.

Some of Lang’s models are so complex they contain thousands of folds and take over half a day to make. He says the beauty of origami is that, like mathematics, you are only limited by your imagination.

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

NTD-Musicians from across Asia and the Middle East played together in the streets of Manila for the four-day International Rondalla Festival.

Rondalla, a Spanish word meaning serenade, is an ensemble of plucked string musicians playing light tunes often in festivals and cultural gatherings.

Despite their varying origins and cultural heritage, the groups agreed that music needs no translation, and they could easily appreciate each other’s melodies

Rondalla musicians from China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand and host country Philippines joined the festival.

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

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

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Singapore has been ranked number one in the Asian Green City index commissioned by Siemens. (Courtesy of Siemens)

In this bulletin:

- Beijing worried by middle-east protests,
- Voice of America’s China service faces chop,
- Chinese parents play matchmaker, and
- Singapore Asia’s greenest metropolis.

But first our SOH focus on China.

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

ET-China’s official state-run media and portal websites all recently reported on the resignation of Egyptian president Mubarak.

However, there were very few commentary articles and no mention of how and why Mubarak was toppled from power. Though official channels reported on the news from Egypt, censors nevertheless closed off all related discussions. But the facts were being spread via social media.

Encouraged by the outcomes of the mass protests in Tunisia and Egypt, China’s democracy activists started becoming active. The regime responded by putting many of them under surveillance.

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

ET-Proposed budget cuts will see Voice of America’s China service go of air October 1 after 70 years of broadcasting uncensored news to the people of China.

Prominent democracy activist Yang Jianli described the proposed cut as a blow to the common people, adding it was bad news for Chinese human rights and democratisation.

Digital broadcasting will instead replace shortwave broadcasts, but Yang said it’s much easier for the authorities to track who’s listening online than by radio.

A source inside the VOA says the staff is confused and disappointed by these cuts. They said everyone was very shocked by the news as they feel the Chinese Communist Party is the biggest risk to the US. In terms of national interests the source questioned why the Chinese department was being cut first.

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

NTD-In Beijing a week long matchmaking event recently organised by a popular matchmaking website attracted around 50,000 visitors.

China’s gender imbalance has made it difficult for some men to find their other half. Largely because of sex-selective abortions. For every 100 girls born in China, there are around 119 boys.

That’s why matchmaking events and dating shows have become increasingly popular with the burgeoning single population.

The event organizer, a website with over 40 million members, says more than 70 per cent of participants were parents of young singles doing matchmaking on their child’s behalf.

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

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

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

ET-A new Taiwan-based Alliance of victims of abuse in China has compiled a list of thousands of Chinese Communist Party officials they say should be denied entry to Taiwan for abusing human rights.

The ‘No CCP Villain International Alliance’ was founded in Taiwan Tuesday February 8 by groups and individuals who say they are, or have been, persecuted by Chinese Communist Party officials in China.

The Alliance compiled a list of over 11,000 officials to be presented to the National Immigration Agency and the Mainland Affairs Council of Taiwan. The Legislative Yuan and twelve city and county councils in Taiwan have already passed the motion not to invite, receive, or welcome Chinese Communist Party human rights violators.

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

Taiwan said Monday February 14 it would get to the bottom of a case in which an army general allegedly spied for China and will discipline all those found to be involved.

The Minister of National Defense is said to have ordered various military units to carefully assess the impact of one-star general Lo Hsien-che’s spying activities on behalf of China.

Unconfirmed reports said Lo’s act of betrayal might affect Taiwan’s future cooperation with the US in military intelligence and even Taiwan’s procurement of US-built weapons.

Stressing the importance of integrity in military service, Kao said the military should strengthen moral education and instil patriotism and a sense of honor in its manpower cultivation programs.

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

Coming up on Asia Cast:

- Army digs South Korea from record snowfall,
- Burma marks 64th Anniversary of Union Day, and
- Survey ranks Asian cities’ sustainability.

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

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

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

Back with the rest of today’s Asia Cast I’m Rich Crankshaw

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

Thailand said Wednesday February 16 border skirmishes with Cambodia over an ancient temple had flared again for a second day.

The Thai military said there were several exchanges of gunfire and some hand grenades were thrown. They reported one Thai solder was injured. Five people have so far been killed in the border skirmishes that restarted earlier this month.

The Asian neighbours have been urged by the UN Security Council to end their dispute over Preah Vihear temple.

The council issued a statement on Monday, following a closed-door session on the conflict that included representatives from both sides and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

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

NTD-The biggest snowfall in a century recently buried cities in the eastern coastal part of South Korea and prompted rescue operations involving some 12,000 soldiers.

As the coldest winter in years grips the peninsula hundreds of motorists were stranded and dozens of buildings collapsed after nearly three-and-a-half feet of snow fell over some parts of the region over Saturday and Sunday February 12 and 13.

Local media said Saturday February 13 the South Korean president ordered the military to transport emergency supplies, including food, to trapped residents and carry out rescue operations.

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

ET/NTD-The 64th Anniversary of Union Day in Burma was celebrated Saturday February 12. Traditional drummers and dancers were joined by hundreds of National League for Democracy party members in central Rangoon to welcome pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi

Suu Kyi said she sees no reason for sanctions by Western nations against Burma to be lifted.

Suu Kyi’s comments came just days after Burma’s new government was sworn in. But after the first elections in two decades the generals who have been in control of the country have kept their powerful positions.

The elections held last year have been widely condemned as being a fraud.

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

On a lighter note.

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

A survey of the greenest cities in Asia found Singapore to be the most environmentally sustainable metropolis.

The Asian Green City index was commissioned by Siemens and conducted by the independent Economist Intelligence Unit. The index examined the environmental performance of the 22 cities in eight categories, analysing the aims and achievements of the cities with respect to environmental and climate protection.

While Singapore was found to be a clear winner, Tokyo, Osaka and Yokohama in Japan, Taipei in Taiwan, Seoul in South Korea and Hong Kong were all found to be above average.

The report said while the Chinese cities surveyed were strong on policy they needed to act on their high energy consumption and CO₂ emissions.

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

NTD-The Hope of Peace concert kicked off in New Delhi Sunday February 13, with famous Bollywood singers performing on stage. The concert aims to promote peace and brotherhood between India and Pakistan.

The concert is an attempt to inspire the countries to prosper together. India and Pakistan fought wars in 1965, 1971, and 1999. And in many respects, the tensions continue today.

The concert was an initiative by two media giants: India’s Times Group and Pakistan’s Jung Group. Earlier, such concerts were organized in various cities of India and Pakistan, spreading the message of peace and brotherhood in both countries.

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

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

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

In this bulletin:

- China’s tainted milk squeezes Hong Kong dry,
- Buying restrictions could increase Chinese house prices,
- Media entering darkest hour in China, and
- Japan, Russia island dispute flares again.

But first our SOH focus on China.

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

Ever since China’s tainted-milk scandal emerged, mainland parents have been flocking to Hong Kong to buy imported infant formula. This has caused periodic shortages and sparked complaints.

Hong Kong Democratic Party legislator Fred Li has been paying close attention to the tainted-milk scandal in China. He met with representatives from the infant formula industry and Consumer Council Tuesday February 8 to discuss the problem.

Li said on top of mainland parents losing confidence in China-made infant formulas there was an influx of Chinese pregnant women giving birth in Hong Kong.

Infant formula suppliers told Li they would guarantee supply and set up a hotline for parents. Li also said any pharmacies caught profiteering from the shortage should face stern punishment.

By Leuang Chun, Sound of Hope Radio Network

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

ET-A new round of home buying restrictions has been extended to second and third tier cities in China. But an industry insider told Voice of America the nature of the restrictions will only push house prices higher.

Most Chinese cannot afford residential homes, yet low-rent and other economical houses that are supposed to assist low-income families have been snapped up by the rich.

Liu Feiyue, in charge of the Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch website, told Voice of America that the authorities did not dig out the root of the problem, because the government itself is the beneficiary of high housing prices.

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

ET/RFA-The cases of three separate Chinese journalists recently being forced from their posts has highlighted the impact of Beijing’s new media directives.

Media workers fear this could be the beginning of the darkest age for China’s media.

The latest casualty of media censorship was well-known news commentator Chang Ping. In January he was forced from his position at the Guangzhou-based Southern Daily Group for his liberal commentaries including discussions of democracy and government policy failures.

Then on Monday February 7 Chinese authorities began censoring Chang’s blogs as well as any mentions of him elsewhere online.

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

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

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

Hong Kong health authorities said Monday February 7 two men had died after contracting the H1N1 virus. The announcement came a year-and-a-half after an outbreak of the disease killed 80 people in the city.

Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority said a total of 35 people were being treated for H1N1 in intensive care units in the city.

Hong Kong is nervous about infectious diseases, following an outbreak of the SARS virus in 2003, which killed 300 people in the city and a further 500 around the world.

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

The row between Russia and Japan over a disputed island chain continued Monday February 7.

The divisive issue flared again when Japan’s prime minister called the Russian president’s recent visit to the Kuril Islands, known as the Northern Territories in Japan, an unforgivable outrage.

The Japanese prime minister made the remarks during a rally taking place on a national remembrance day. The rally demanded the return of the islands which the Kremlin has vowed to keep forever.

Russia issued a toughly-worded response objecting to the Russian flag being burned at the rally as well as the Japanese prime minister’s comments.

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

Coming up on Asia Cast:

- Flood worries over Sri Lankan rice crop,
- Pakistan, India agree peace talks, and
- Tensions ease along Thai, Cambodian border.

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

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

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

Back with the rest of today’s Asia Cast I’m Rich Crankshaw

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

NTD-Officials in Sri Lanka said floods had killed at least eight people and were affecting the lives of a million more.

Nearly 250 thousand people have been evacuated from their homes and are living in more than 600 emergency shelters.

Hundreds of homes have been destroyed or badly damaged as heavy monsoon rain shows few signs of let up since starting in December. Damage to the rice crop could also cause the price of the staple to rocket in coming months.

In January incessant rain caused floods that killed 43 people. Villages have remained cut off with roads made impassable.

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

NTD-The main opposition party in Bangladesh called for a strike Monday February 7 demanding early parliamentary elections to force the ruling party from power.

Analysts did not expect the general strike to change the date of the 2013 election. It’s the fourth by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party since the current prime minister took office in early 2009.

The government’s is already struggling with discontent over high prices, lacking public services as well as the crash in the stock market. Any unrest could also cast a pall over Bangladesh’s hosting of the Cricket World Cup on February 17.

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

Pakistan and India said Thursday February 10 they have agreed to resume peace talks that broke down after the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry said their prime minister expressed his satisfaction on the important decision taken both by Pakistan and India to resume full spectrum of dialogue.

India’s external affairs ministry said Pakistan’s foreign minister will visit India by July to review progress in the dialogue process. Dates for the talks have not yet been set.

The agreement to resume peace talks was reached during meetings between the foreign secretaries of each nation in Bhutan over the weekend of February 5 and 6.

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

NTD-Thai villagers began trickling back to their homes near a disputed stretch of the border with Cambodia Thursday February 10. Tension is starting to ease after deadly clashes over an ancient temple.

Thai and Cambodian forces were still on alert a day after the Cambodian prime minister said the four days of fighting that began Friday February 4 constituted real war.

Thailand and Cambodia blame each other for the exchanges of fire near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple. The violence left three Thais and eight Cambodians dead. At least 34 Thais and 55 Cambodians have been wounded, according to statements from both sides.

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

On a lighter note.

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

NTD-Giant ice sculptures drew in thousands of visitors at a snow festival in Sapporo, Japan Monday February 7. The festival started in 1950 and has become one of Japan’s biggest tourist attractions.

There were more than 250 pieces on display, as visitors braved sub-freezing temperatures to take a look.

The works on display ranged from Disney characters to a sculpture of Japan’s popular baseball player Yuki Saito. Preparations for the festival began a month ago. And local media reported over six thousand truck loads of snow were brought in to create the sculptures.

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

Taiwanese indigenous performers received a warm welcome at an international exchange festival in Tokyo Sunday February 6.The group’s 14 indigenous members, dressed in traditional tribal costumes, performed four aboriginal songs and dances.

The group’s art director hoped the opportunity would help Taiwan’s indigenous culture gain greater exposure abroad.

The two-day festival organised by the Meguro International Friendship Association featured performing arts groups from more than 20 countries.

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

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

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Lunar New Year preparations in Singapore overlooking Marina Bay. (By Nestor's Blurrylife/Flickr)

In this bulletin:

- China losing ground as world’s factory,
- Chinese bulk buying creates Hong Kong baby formula shortage,
- Tibet’s Karmapa Lama reassures followers, and
- Chinese Consul shocks New Zealand Councillors.

But first our SOH focus on China.

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

Police in Beijing recently beat a renowned dissident immediately upon his release from an eight year prison sentence.

He Depu was freed in Beijing January 24, but police prevented his friends from greeting him outside the prison. Instead the police wanted He to get into a police van as soon as he walked out of the gate.

When He refused they beat him, threw him into the van and took him to a police station. At the police station He was read a list of nine things he was prohibited from doing and told he would be arrested again if he criticised the government and promoted his ideology of freedom and democracy.

By Fang Ge and Gu Qinger of the Sound of Hope Radio Network

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

ET-Labour strikes in several coastal areas of China have led to wage increases in the mainland. But as labour costs continue to grow, China is losing its status as the low-cost factory of the world.

More and more foreign companies are opting to leave China and are setting up factories in Mexico, Indonesia, or Vietnam.

A shortage of qualified labour in China is posing a serious problem for Taiwanese-owned businesses there. The annual migration of factory workers during the Chinese New Year, low wages, as well as large-scale factory relocations are among the reasons cited for the shortage.

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

NTD-Lingering Chinese food safety concerns and a stronger currency means a flood of Chinese parents are bulk buying milk powder from Hong Kong. This is triggering citywide shortages and anger from some local parents.

Two years ago melamine-tainted milk powder sickened nearly three hundred thousand children in mainland China. But problems are continuing to undermine public confidence including the seizure of over one hundred tons of tainted milk powder last year.

Such entrenched product safety concerns have fuelled rapid growth in whole milk powder imports to China.

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

NTD/NTD-Two separate incidents again highlighted the Chinese regime’s reliance on propaganda and censorship.

China’s state run broadcaster, China Central Television (CCTV) was recently caught using footage from the movie ‘Top Gun’ in a report on training exercises by the Chinese air force.

But just as telling has been the coverage, or lack of it, of Egypt’s anti-government protests. Chinese state-media has focused instead on evacuation efforts to get citizens out of Egypt.

This appears to be part of the Chinese regime’s efforts to control information on the unrest. Overseas media reported discussions on the protests are being censored on Chinese internet. Commentators say this is because Chinese authorities fear the Egyptian protests could raise questions of their regime’s legitimacy.

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

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

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

NTD-One of the top Tibetan religious figures responded publicly for the first time Thursday February 3 to allegations of financial misdoings following the removal of a large sum of cash from his monastery.

A previous statement from the Karmapa Lama’s administration office denied any wrong doing, but confirmed authorities in India took foreign currency worth around $1 million US dollars from the monastery. The administration office said the sum represented unsolicited donations from followers of the Karmapa. And was was kept at the monastery as they were awaiting the permissions required to deposit foreign currency.

The Karmapa Lama said India, in contrast to communist China, was a free and democratic country based on the rule of law. Adding he trusted the truth would become clear in time.

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

Coming up on Asia Cast:

- Australia mobilises for cyclone clean up,
- Pirates release Taiwan-registered vessel, and
- Asia-Pacific celebrates Year of the Rabbit.

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

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

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

Back with the rest of today’s Asia Cast I’m Rich Crankshaw

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

NTD-As Australia began to clean up the trail of devastation left by Cyclone Yasi police confirmed the first fatality. Queensland premier said given the scale of destruction there had not been a mass loss of life.

Yasi, a category five cyclone approximately the size of Italy, packed winds of up to 300 kilometres per hour. It left over 170-thousand homes without power, and Queensland’s premier said thousands will be made homeless.

The fact the storm wasn’t more deadly or damaging was attributed to several days of cyclone preparation. Early evacuations and laws ensured newer homes and buildings were built strong enough to survive a storm of this magnitude.

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

NTD-Japan’s Mount Kirishima volcano erupted for the fifth and sixth time late on Tuesday and early Wednesday January 1 and 2

Japan’s meteorological agency increased the exclusion zone around the crater to four kilometres, but kept the alert level the same.

The Shinmoe peak of Mount Kirishima has been spewing hot ash and rocks across several cities and townships of the southern Japanese island of Kyushu since January 27.

Shinmoe is one of several active volcano peaks within the expansive Kirishima mountain range on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu. Some analysts predict the eruptions may continue for another year.

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

ET-Council members in Auckland, New Zealand have complained after the Chinese Consul General sent letters telling them not to attend the Chinese cultural performance Shen Yun Performing Arts.

Shen Yun is a classical Chinese dance and music company that tours globally. According to its website, ‘Shen Yun’s mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture.’ One of the presenters of the show in Auckland is the Falun Dafa Association of New Zealand.

The Chinese Consul General’s letter slandered Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, before saying: ‘You are kindly requested to stay away from this event and thank you for reading this letter.’ One councillor who spoke to The Epoch Times said the letter was an extension into New Zealand of the Chinese Communist Party’s repression of Falun Gong in China.

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

Taipei said Wednesday February 2 a Taiwan-registered fishing vessel hijacked last year by Somali pirates had been released. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the vessel had arrived safely in Sri Lanka’s Port of Colombo.

No mention was made of the condition of the crew members, who are from China, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Kenya and Mozambique. There were no Taiwan nationals on the boat.

The fishing boat was hijacked west of the Maldives on May 6, 2010.

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

On a lighter note.

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

The Year of the Rabbit was ushered in by millions across the Asia-Pacific region Thursday February 3, the first day of the lunar new year.

Also known as the Spring Festival the biggest annual migration of people in the world takes place during the holiday as millions head back home.

Singapore’s prime minister used his annual message to call on citizens to reverse a low birth rate and follow the rabbit’s example and reproduce.

While in Taiwan the president wished for a more dynamic Taiwan and a warm society in which underprivileged people will get the care and assistance they need as well as for the economy to improve.

The Lantern Festival, celebrated on the 15th night of the first lunar month, marks the end of the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, celebration.

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

NTD-Six years ago an avid guitarist inspired by Balinese woodcarvers saw an opportunity to create something unique. By bringing in technical know-how and marrying East and West a guitar workshop called Blueberry was born.

Using imported wood from Canada, the guitars are carved with motifs of birds, dragons, flowers and goddesses, while others have shell like grooves carved over the entire body.

The small workshop in Bali can produce about 20 guitars a month, with each guitar taking at 50 to 60 days to create. Blueberry’s master carver said he’s now trained a team of 47 carvers, with most of their creations being sold to Americans.

A local guitarist said the instruments were a combination of music and art and have a unique sound.

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

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

Bookmark It

Hide Sites