- Chinese hospitals profited from Sichuan earthquake;
- Congress says US facing increased cyber attacks from China; and
- NTDTV’s latest cultural competition “a great success”.

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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As the economic crisis facing China grows, workers in the financial sector have become the latest victims.

The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China has been shedding staff in one large-scale job cut after an other for some time.

Staff who were unhappy with the terms of their dismissal, and who have been unable to find alternative employment, have been protesting the matter for the last four weeks.

The protesters say that they will call others to join them in Beijing and take their protest to the Banks’ headquarters, and then on to the authorities, until something is done about their situation.

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An alarming report has revealed that many Chinese hospitals used the Sichuan earthquake as an opportunity to make money through dishonest and distasteful means, according to The Epoch Times.

The Chongqing City Audit Bureau’s report stated some hospitals sold donated medicine to patients. Others made false expense reports for ‘rescue work’ after the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in May.

People from around the globe donated 40 billion yuan (US$5.7 billion) to the victims of the quake, but it is uncertain how actually reached victims of the disaster.

Executives at a Chongqing City hospital have had their pay docked in order to repay the money they made from selling emergency rescue medicine to patients.

According to a human rights activist, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Chen Yunfei, said that it’s common for regime officials to divert or retain donations and without effective supervision, the situation is getting worse.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast
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Activists from South Korean have ignored threats from the North to sever relations and have released thousands of propaganda leaflets into the sky over North Korea.

Activists launched 10 huge helium balloons, each stuffed with 10,000 flyers critical of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

Pyongyang said last week it would close the land border if the acts continued.

Seoul has appealed to activists to stop, but says its free speech laws protect the practice.
Earlier today, 10 South Korean activists gathered on a hillside in freezing rain to release the balloons.

The North has called the leaflet campaign “psychological warfare” and says that it risks provoking military confrontation.

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One person was killed and another 23 wounded in Bangkok after a grenade was apparently fired into a gathering of anti-government protesters.

It was the first fatal assault inside the Thai prime minister’s office compound since supporters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy seized Government House in August.

The grenade landed among the tents that protesters have set up inside the premises as they continue their movement to unseat the democratically elected Thai government, authorities said..
While the death was the first inside the compound, others have been killed in mass street demonstrations organized by the People’s Alliance for Democracy.

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The US government and American businesses are facing an increased threat from the campaign of computer espionage being conducted by the Chinese regime, according to an influential Washington congressional panel.

In its annual report to Congress, the panel warned that China was gaining increasing access to sensitive information from US computer networks.

It said China was aggressively pursuing cyber-warfare capabilities to gain an advantage over the US in any conflict between the two nations.

There has been no comment so far from the Chinese on the report.

The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission was set up by Congress in 2000 to advise, investigate and report on US-China issues.

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NTDTV’s recent International Chinese Culinary Competition in New York saw 38 chefs receive awards across five regional cuisine categories, reports The Epoch Times.

But Chen Yongming, a Chinese-American from the city’s borough of Queens was the only chef to win a gold prize and the $10,000 prize that went with it.

NTDTV said the idea of the competition was to “promote authentic Chinese culinary techniques, revive traditional Chinese culinary methods, as well as carry forward the exquisite culinary culture of China and disseminate orthodox Chinese culinary philosophy.”

The event attracted distinguished chefs and household cooks alike from as far away as Taiwan, California, and Hong Kong. Together they showed that there’s a lot more to Chinese food than takeaway.

Government cars set ablaze during mass unrest in Gansu Province. (Courtesy of a Chinese Internet user)

In this Bulletin…

- Tens of thousands involved in China’s largest incident of recent social unrest;
- UN joins in condemning Burma over harsh sentencing; and
- Flooding strikes Vietnam and the Philippines.

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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The largest riot in China’s recent history broke out in Longnan City, Gansu Province this week, reports The Epoch Times.

Discontent had been brewing since local authorities announced plans to relocate the city’s administrative centre earlier in the year. The move would force local residents to be resettled. Some homes had already been demolished when the protests began.

An eyewitness told Radio Free Asia that several hundred people went to appeal at Longnan City’s Communist Party office on Monday 18, but that things turned violent.

Armed police broke up the riot, injuring over 100 protesters and killing about two dozen in the process according to some witnesses.

The number of protesters swelled to tens of thousands by the next day. Police used tear-gas and batons to break-up the crowds. Angry protesters smashed Communist Party offices and torched officials’ cars.

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More than 100,000 coal mining jobs have been lost in China’s main coal producing province, according to The Epoch Times.

The jobs in Shanxi Province have gone during the last 30 days as the market has plummeted and steel manufacturing has been massively scaled back.

Shanxi produces more than 70 per cent of China’s coal and coke, and 40 per cent of the nation’s electric power.

Experts warned that currently the Shanxi coke industry can only sustain a loss for another two more. Without an economic support policy, Shanxi’s coke industry will be wiped out.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast
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China has agreed a number of trade and investment deals with communist ally Cuba.

Party leader Hu Jintao agreed to continue buying nickel and sugar from Cuba and to send food aid to the island, said Cuban television.

The visit, Mr Hu’s first since 2004, saw the two nations sign agreements boosting trade and investment with Cuba which is struggling to recover from three devastating hurricanes.

China is now Cuba’s biggest trading partner after Venezuela, with bilateral trade at US$2.3 billion in 2007.

Across Latin America, China has seen its trade climb from US$13 billion in 2000 to more than US$100 billion in 2007.

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A team of United Nations experts have joined Western governments and human rights organisations in condemning the trials of dozens of political activists in Burma.

The trials, conducted in great secrecy during the past week, have resulted in sentences of up to 65 years in prison.

Those sentenced include leaders of the 88 Generation students’ movement and leaders of the monks’ alliance that led last year’s anti-government protest.

Burma’s courts have been sentencing dissidents every day during the past week.

The courts, often operating from behind prison walls, have been so secretive that it is difficult to be sure how many people have been convicted.

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You’re listening to Asia Cast on the SOH Radio Network
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A tropical storm is causing floods in Vietnam. Tropical storm Noul has unleashed heavy rains in southeast Vietnam causing flash flood and landslide warnings to be issued.

Two people died when the storm made landfall near the town of Nha Trang, swamping over 100 small fishing boats. Most streets and homes in the beach resort are still under water.

But the worst is not over yet, as some rivers in upland regions are beginning to reach dangerous levels. Provincial authorities say flash floods and landslides in the mountains could inundate in low-lying areas.

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A suspected outbreak of cholera has killed at least two people and hospitalised more than 1,500 in the southern Philippines, say health officials.

National Epidemiology Centre chief Eric Tayag said patients were suffering severe stomach pains and diarrhoea but added that field doctors were trying to verify if all the cases were due to cholera.

Tayag said the patients “were showing cholera symptoms” and most came from an area where heavy rain has caused minor flooding which could have contaminated the drinking water supply.

The Red Cross said water samples taken from the area were being tested.

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

Experience true Chinese culture like never before; with Ancient Legends and heroic figures showcased, as the Divine Performing Arts breath new life into traditional Chinese culture.

Don’t miss the divine Performing Arts world tour; coming soon to a city near you!

Visit divineperformingarts.org for a truly uplifting and inspiring experience!

The performance moves from serenity to heart beating exhilaration (Courtesy of NTDTV)

A scene of serenity from last years performances (Courtesy of NTDTV)

Democracy activist Mr Deng is one of five Chinese who have recently been granted refugee status by South Korea. (Courtesy of NTDTV)

In this Bulletin…

- Chinese authorities try to head off social discontent by restricting mass redundancies;
- US Food and Drug Administration opens offices in China after recent food scares; and
- South Korean court allows Chinese refugees to stay .

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China

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Nearly one million laid-off factory workers from Wuhan City, Hubei Province, recently petitioned local authorities over their low pensions, difficult living conditions and lack of any medical assistance.

In response to their action, the petitioners were attacked by what are thought to have been public security personnel, who injured some of them and arrested several others.

The workers, who had been previously employed by just five factories, had made similar appeals numerous times in the past.

After they were made redundant, they were left with no possible source of income other than their meager pensions and no medical insurance.

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In a move to counter such large-scale public actions, companies Shandong Province and Hubei Province have been told official approval is required if they want to lay off more than 40 people.

The order highlights the Chinese regime’s concern over mounting job losses, triggering social unrest.

A reduction in export business has been compounded by fundamental problems with the structure of China’s economy. This has come at a time when Chinese factories are usually getting ready to serve western markets in the run-up to Christmas.

It is unclear how effective these measures will be in preventing any future mass redundancies, or how companies will survive with staff they cannot afford to keep, but are not allowed to let go.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast
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The recent health scares over the safety of food manufactured in China has led the US Food and Drug Administration to announce it is establishing its first office in China this week, reports The Epoch Times.

Between Nov. 19 and Nov. 21 three FDA offices will be established in China. The first will be in Beijing, followed by others in Guangzhou and Shanghai. There are also plans to establish an FDA branch in New Delhi, India.

Toxic substances such as melamine, a toxic industrial chemical, are being discovered in Chinese food products. Melamine poisoning has caused sickness and death in Chinese infants.

The establishment of the foreign FDA offices will aim at protecting U.S. consumers from such products.

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The Taiwanese government is planning to give shoppers more than US$100 in redeemable vouchers in a bid to beat the global credit crisis.

They will be valid in shops, restaurants and supermarkets in 2009.

Prime Minister Liu Chao-shiuan said the handout of T$3,600 to each of Taiwan’s 23 million people would happen in January.

Mr. Liu said that the worldwide economy will probably be in a downturn for a while, so the coupons are necessary to support them during that time.

But some analysts remained skeptical, saying the government should focus on longer-term plans to boost both the economy and consumer confidence, such as lowering commodity prices and improving job securities.

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In a landmark ruling by the South Korean Supreme Court, Chinese refugees will be allowed to stay in South Korea, according to the Epoch Times.

The final ruling made on November 14, allows five Chinese and their families, who escaped China after being persecuted, to stay in South Korea. They were involved in China’s underground democracy movement.

The court ruled to grant them refugee status, saying they would be in danger of further persecution if they returned to China.

The ruling has provided hope to three Falun Gong practitioners who also escaped to Korea, but who had been refused refugee status.

Falun Gong is a spiritual practice persecuted by the Chinese Communist regime following its popularity in the 1990s. The practitioners have filed an appeal following the activists’ ruling.

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More deaths have been reported from the magnitude 7.5 earthquake which struck Indonesia’s Sulawesi island this week. Six people are known to have been killed and 158 injured.

Some 10,000 people have been displaced by the quake.

Two more bodies were pulled from the rubble on Tuesday, adding to the four already reported dead in Monday’s quake which triggered tsunami warnings and sent thousands of people fleeing to higher ground.

The shallow quake struck in the middle of the night off the coastal town of Gorontalo. Authorities immediately warned it was strong enough to cause a tsunami, but no wave materialised.

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

A contestant in the Canton competition at NTD’s International Chinese Culinary Competition. (Edward Dai/ The Epoch Times)

In this Bulletin…

- North Korea conducts annual mass prisoner executions;
- Chinese-born scientist admits to selling US rocket technology to China; and
- Inaugural International Chinese Culinary Competition Begins

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China

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At least 300 residents in Xiaxi province have staged a day long protest in the rain on Sunday (November 15) against their real estate developer for failing to provide heating for their apartments, The Epoch Times has reported.

The residents purchased apartments from the developer in Xi-Xing district in Xi-An City last year and were promised that heating systems would be provided this year.

The developer provided no explanation for the empty promise, prompting residents to hold up banners at the main streets in the city to voice their protest. Police and police vehicles were called in monitor the situation.

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Tests have found that formaldehyde and methanol have been added to mince in Wuhan city in Hubei Province after a report was made to the Hanyang District Branch of the Wuhan Industry and Commerce Commission by a local shopper, the Chu-Tian City News reported.

A local man made the report last Thursday (November 13) after he saw a butcher at the local market mincing meat that did not look fresh, and then adding some unknown liquid to the mixture, instantly turning the mince shiny and bright. When asked what the liquid was, the female at the stall became panicked and stuttered in her reply.

The mince and the liquid were subsequently taken to Wuhan University for tests. Results showed that the mince contained methanol and ethanol, and the liquid contained the chemical formaldehyde, which is carcinogenic and dangerous to humans if consumed.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast
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A defectors group has claimed that North Korea has continued its annual practice of mass executions of defiant prisoners this year.

Leader of the group, An Myong-Chul, has said that at this time of the year about 20 prisoners from each camp, labeled as defiant, are executed. This amounts to hundreds of people when considering the number of prison camps in North Korea, which are estimated to hold around 300,000 prisoners. Torture and sexual abuse is also common practice in the camps.

The group lead by An and supported by South Korean campaigners are seeking the release of political prisoners held by North Korea.

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You’re listening to Asia Cast on the SOH Radio Network
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On Monday, police in Sudan arrested and then released 77 journalists for their protest against state censorship in front of the parliament in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum. The journalists were released after five hours when they each agreed to appear in court separately.

Freedom of the press is enshrined in the constitution of Sudan, but the government has been cracking down on critical reporting. Journalists have experienced harassment and publishers have received regular late night visits from state security agents who then enforce the removal of critical reports from the next day’s news.

The arrests were condemned by the southern ex-rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement who are sharing government with the Arab-led north.

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On Monday, Shu Quan-Sheng, a Chinese-born scientist has admitted to selling US rocket technology to China. Shu admitted to selling information about the fuel system for a manned spacecraft to China in the period between 2003 and 2007.

Shu is a US citizen and is being charged under the US Arms Export Act. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail and multi-million dollar fines for the charges.

A spokesman from the Chinese foreign ministry has called the scandal a “sheer fabrication made out of ulterior motives”. China regularly releases statements denying it is engaged in spying on foreign nations.

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The first International Chinese Culinary Competition hosted by New Tang Dynasty Television began on Monday. The competition sees chefs compete for a US$10,000 main prize in the five main traditional Chinese cuisine styles: Sichuan, Shandong, Cantonese, Huaiyang, and Northeast.

In the Monday preliminaries for each style of cooking, chefs were provided the same ingredients and then asked to prepare two dishes, one signature dish of the style and one of their choosing, all in only 60 minutes.

The competition is being held in the Peking Hunan Park Restaurant in New York with a live audience. The competition is one of NTD’s series of nine competitions to revive the traditional Chinese arts, other competitions in the series included music and painting.

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

Tibetan exiles to discuss China policy in Dharamsala. (By Sirensongs/Flickr)

In this Bulletin….

-Japanese Economy Now in Recession
-Subway Construction in Hangzhou Collapses and
-Tibet Exiles Discuss China Policy

But First here’s our SOH Focus on China

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Hangzhou resources reported that around 3:15 pm of November 15th, the Hangzhou number one subway construction site collapsed.

The incident killed one person, 18 are missing and over 50 are buried. The related departments are quickly trying to rescue the staff  that are still buried under the rubble.

The construction site was 20 meters wide, 100 meters long and with a depth of 10 meters.

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While investors all over the world are building up their confidence because of the Saving Marketing plan of funding 4000 billion RMB  launched by the Chinese government, some Chinese medias and experts have submitted their questions and warnings on whether this plan can be implemented effectively.

There are two reasons for the “Big corruption behind the big project”.

One is the unclear property rights, and the other is lack of accountability.

Saving marketing plan appeared to be the economies macro controls by the Central government. However during the actual implementation and executive process, this would become the multi-faceted tests to the local government’s ability to govern in accordance with the law.
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Major General Qian Lihua, director of the ministry’s Foreign Affairs Office has told a British newspaper that any great power would want an aircraft carrier.

The senior Chinese Defence official has said that if China had a carrier, it would not be used for “global reach”.

His comments came amid speculation that China is building its first aircraft carrier, which he
did not confirm.

China’s growing naval strength is of interest in Taiwan and the South China Sea where China claims territory.
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Gathering in the town of Dharamsala, Tibetan exiles have opened a meeting to discuss their campaign against Chinese rule in Tibet.

The Tibetan issue was brought global attention from the Olympic torch relay and protests in Tibet earlier this year.

The Dalai Lama has said he fears his efforts to negotiate with the Chinese authorities for greater autonomy for Tibet have reached a dead end.

Now he wants this meeting of hundreds of Tibetan exiles to review all aspects of current policy towards China.
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This is the first time since 2001 that the Japanese economy has entered its first recession after shrinking 0.1% in the third quarter.

In the April to June quarter, the world’s second biggest economy had previously shrunk by 0.9%.

Japanese Economy Minister Kaoru Yosano said that the downtrend in the economy will continue for the time being as global growth slows.

Last week the Euro zone officially slipped into recession, and the US is expected to follow.

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A powerful earthquake struck off the Indonesian island of Sulawesi killing at least two people and thousands fleeing their homes

The 7.5 magnitude quake struck the coastal town of Gorontalo at a depth of 10km (six miles).

It was followed by several aftershocks, including one of magnitude 5.8.

Panic gripped the province but fears of a tsunami receded after the country withdrew a warning shortly after it had been issued.

A health ministry official, Rustam Pakaya, said a 56-year old man and one other where killed, 37 were injured and more than 200 homes were damaged, some of them completely crumpled.
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“Asia Cast…keeping you across the top headlines from Asia and the world”

U.S. President George W. Bush addresses G20 leaders during an official White House dinner ahead of the Summit on Financial Markets in Washington, DC. (Steffen Kugler/AFP/Getty Images)

In this Bulletin…

- US FDA holds up China food imports;
- Army captures west coast of Sri Lanka; and
- G20 summit on the global financial crisis amidst more bad news

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China

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High unemployment rate has hit earthquake-stricken area six months after the Wenchuan earthquake causing difficulties for reconstruction works, according to Radio Free Asia. The major earthquake which occurred in May in Sichuan province caused tremendous loss of life and property.

The deputy mayor of Yingxiu town, the town most seriously affected by the earthquake says that the unemployment rate in the town has reached 70% and around half of his family and friends do not have jobs.

According to statistics, around 1.5 million people lost their job due to the earthquake in Sichuan and the in hard-hit areas the unemployment rate is as high as 80 per cent.

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The Global Quit CCP (Chinese Communist Party) Service Center has expressed that the rampant toxic foods which has caused panic around the world have prompted some Chinese people to withdraw from the Chinese Communist Party.

Some Shenzhen residents have said that they have learnt that the root causes of poisonous foods is the corrupt Chinese Communist system and they want to make a clear distinction from the CCP. The declared so by using a pseudonym to quit the communist party on the Epoch Times website.

The general public in mainland China has expressed that because of the collusion between businesses and official bodies, poisonous foods were covered up deliberately, and even now people still worry about the safety of their basic diet.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast
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The US Food and Drug Administration has taken the unusual precaution of holding up many food imports from China at the border as suspected health risks.

The foods, mostly Chinese snacks, will undergo testing for poisonous contaminations at the cost of the importer before being released. The order now places the burden of proof on Chinese companies to ensure that their products are safe before they are shipped to the US.

The order was made on Thursday, as the FDA continued to receive information from domestic and overseas sources about melamine and other contamination moving through the food chain to different food commodities.

US ports of entry must now detain foods from China made with a range of ingredients including milk.

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You’re listening to Asia Cast on the SOH Radio Network
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Solutions to the global financial crisis were the centre of discussions of a special G20 Leaders summit at the White House, hosted by US President George W Bush, in Washington DC today. The summit is being held amidst further examples of the impact of the worst international financial crisis since the great depression.

At the summit US President Bush said that the global financial crisis can only be stopped by the G20 team working together.

Today it was announced that the Euro-zone has entered recession for the first time since the establishment of the European Union and comments have been released by financial analysts that US banks have already eaten up more than one quarter of the trillion dollar bailout package offered by the US congress.

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The extension of the Russian Presidential term by two years is one step closer today, with the easy passing of a bill in the State Duma. Once legislated, the bill will extend the term of presidency from four years to six.

Russian President Dmitri A. Medvedev proposed the bill to a surprised Russian public and parliament last week. The bill will be the first to amend the Russian constitution since it was enshrined at the fall of communism and the establishment of the Russian Federation in 1993.

The bill passed through the Duma very easily by 358 votes to 58, with dissent only coming from the now small Communist Party. Dissenters sarcastically questioned why the bill has been rushed through the parliament as they already see an unprecedented concentration of power and strict authoritarian regime in government.

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Sri Lanka has announced today that its army has seized the western coast of the country. Analysts see it as a strategic move to set up a possible future attack into the heart of Tamil Tiger rebel territory.
Among the areas captured is the strategic area of Pooneryn, held by rebels since 1993, its position allows the army to almost surround the rebel capital of Kilinochchi.

The military announcement comes in the same week that Sri Lanka’s 2009 budget passed a reading in parliament, it includes record defence spending of 177 billion rupees ($1.61 billion).

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

- Chinese economic rescue package could make things worse;
- Human rights groups condemn harsh sentences of activists in Burma; and
- NTDTV launches on Canadian cable TV.

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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Chinese premier Wen Jiabao has admitted that the effect of the global downturn on China is “worse than expected”, according to reports.

The remark was made just days after China announced a US$586 billion package to prevent the economy slowing.

However, Dr Cheng Xiaonong, Editor-in-Chief of Contemporary China Studies magazine, commented that the root cause of China’s economic crisis is the unreasonable economic structure and substandard corporate quality.

Dr Cheng added that such a rescue plan would not solve the problem and would instead impose a huge additional burden of debt on the regime.

Even before the global financial meltdown the Chinese economy was showing signs of deterioration. The recent factory closures in Guangzhou are a continuation of this trend, not a new phenomenon.

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As a murderer trial in Shanghai enters the death sentence review phase, it has been revealed that a vital witness was been forced to receive psychiatric treatment by the authorities.

Yang Jia is accused of stabbing six policemen to death and injuring another four in July. He has had much public support during his trial as the Chinese police are seen as little more than gangsters.

His lawyer told the court that Yang was mentally unstable at the time of the attack and requested a psychiatric assessment, but this was refused.

Yang’s mother, Wang Jingmei, an important character witness disappeared after assisting police with their initial investigation and has been missing for the past four months.

The nature of her reappearance has prompted Yang’s lawyer to request a retrial, says Radio Free Asia.

The case continues to attract much interest in China.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast
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Thailand and Cambodia have agreed on steps to prevent further clashes around a disputed temple after three days of talks.

Markers are to be placed along their common boarder and troops withdrawn. The move comes after four soldiers were killed in an exchange of fire last month.

But they say obstacles remain to settling sovereignty of the land around the temple, which lies inside Cambodia.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong described the talks as a “big practical step forward”, and his Thai counterpart Sompong Amornwiwat said they had achieved “99 per cent” of what they had hoped.

In reality, though, all they agreed was to start hammering out a deal on the border, and to scale down the armed stand-off around the ancient Preah Vihear temple.

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The harsh sentences handed down to pro-democracy activists in Burma have been condemned by human rights groups and Western governments.

Dissidents were this week given sentences of up to 65 years.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch deplored what they said were efforts to curb dissent ahead of planned elections.

Burma’s military junta has cracked down harshly on dissidents since crushing monk-led protests in mid-2007.

At least 23 activists were each sentenced to 65 years in prison on Tuesday, while a leading blogger and a poet who wrote a coded criticism of junta leader Than Shwe were among six people sentenced to up to 20 years in jail on Monday.

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The assets of 26 individuals and 17 firms tied to drug trafficking in Burma have been frozen by US authorities.

Targeted were those linked to the United Wa State Army, the most powerful drug trafficking organisation in southeast Asia, said a Treasury Department statement.

They were named “Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers” by the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act.

The Treasury said its “action freezes any assets the 43 designees may have under US jurisdiction and prohibits US persons from conducting transactions or dealings in the property interests of the designated individuals and entities.”

Violating the Kingpin Act could result in fines of up to ten million dollars and prison sentences of 30 years.

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New Tang Dynasty Television, a media partner of the SOH radio network, celebrated its launch on Canadian cable television this week.

The independent Chinese-language network is known for its hard-hitting coverage on China and issues related to the Chinese communist regime.

Among attendees at the event was Senator Consiglio Di Nino of Ontario, who highlighted the challenges the network went through to get on the air and criticized the quality of news coming out of China.

“The Chinese government, represented in this country by their bureaucracy, the embassy and the consulate general, are not necessarily happy to see an organization like NTDTV present a different view of the news that comes from China, or about China…because very often what we are seeing and what we are hearing about are at least filtered if not totally misrepresented.”

The United Nations Committee on Torture questioned China on its extensive record of abuse in a new review. (By Jan Jekielek/The Epoch Times)

In this Bulletin…

- Chinese products continue to be taken off shelves;
- UN Committee on Torture confronts China; and
- North Korea closes its doors even further.

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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Chinese state-controlled media has reported on the removal of another medicine from pharmacy shelves over safety fears.

The haemorrhoid treatment could cause liver problems.

The State Food and Drug Administration has issued a nationwide recall of the “Zhixue” capsules made by Vital Pharmaceutical Holdings Ltd in southwest China.

Twenty-one people across the country suffered “liver problems” after taking the medicine in past months, and another 14 reported other problems, state media said.

Chinese-made products, including medicines, have been beset by flaws and toxins that have alarmed consumers at home and abroad. The country’s milk supply was at the heart of the latest scandal, over the unlawful use of the industrial chemical melamine, blamed for the deaths of four children.

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Six months on from the Sichuan earthquake only 12 children orphaned by the quake have been formally adopted.

More than 600 children lost both parents in the magnitude 8.0 earthquake that left about 88,000 people dead or missing.

But only a handful of these have completed official adoption procedures.
Finding permanent homes for the earthquake orphans is just one of many unresolved problems. Rebuilding work is set to take years.

The disproportionate number of schools that collapsed in the quake led to allegations of profits being put ahead of safety. The Epoch Times reported on numerous instances where mourning parents have not only been denied any answers to these questions, but have been suppressed by authorities for speaking out on the matter.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast
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Yet more Chinese villagers have been forced from their homes in the name of progress by regional authorities, according to the Epoch Times.

Regime officials in Zhejiang Province tried to take land from 300 residents of Caozhuang Villige, Jianggan District to make way for a new airport road.

After encountering strong objections and resistance from the villagers the authorities hired thugs to try and force the villagers out and left many of them injured.

It is common practice for corrupt officials to take land for development projects while embezzling any compensation the displaced landowners may have been entitled to under Chinese law.

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The Chinese regime has evaded direct questions from the U.N.’s Committee on Torture about its severe human rights violations, said human rights lawyer David Matas.

Mr. Matas contributed to a submission analysing the regime’s response to a 2006 report documenting the harvesting of organs from Falun Gong prisoners of conscience he co-authored.

“China basically hadn’t given any meaningful answers so I suggested to the committee that they pursue this, and they did, and again China didn’t give any answer,” Mr. Matas told The Epoch Times. 

“They are obligated not to torture people and they do torture people, so they’ve violated the convention. That’s the problem,” he said.

The U.N. Committee on Torture is expected to publish its recommendations in late November.

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You’re listening to Asia Cast on the SOH Radio Network
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North Korea is closing its doors to the outside world even further.

Land crossings at its border with South Korea will be banned from next month because of what it calls the South’s confrontational stance. Such a move that could doom a joint Korean industrial complex in the North.

Pyongyang also said it will not allow inspectors to take samples from its main nuclear complex in order for them to verify its account of past nuclear activities.
This contradicts a statement by US officials last month.

Washington removed North Korea from its list of countries sponsoring terrorism saying the North had agreed to provide full access to its nuclear facilities.

The different interpretations may prove a new snag in disarmament negotiations.

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The Indian navy has rescued two ships from being hijacked by pirates in east African waters of the Indian Ocean.

The warship, which was carrying commandos with helicopter support, saved the two vessels in separate incidents 20 minutes apart.

The rescues mark a significant step for the South Asian giant, which is determined to translate its growing economic strength into global military and political clout, as the vessel was on patrol some 2,900 kilometres from its home port.

In part, India’s efforts are in response to moves by China. The two countries are increasingly competing for influence over vital Indian Ocean shipping lanes, and India fears China’s large and increasingly sophisticated submarine fleet.

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

Corruption proceedings against Taiwan's former President, Chen Shui-bian, were delayed after an incident caused him to request hospital treatment.

In this Bulletin…

- Cyber attacks on the Obama and McCain presidential campaigns originated in China;
- British university expels Asian students over forged application documents; and
- Tsunami warning system launched in Indonesia.

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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China’s Qinghai Province was shaken by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake earlier this week, the US Geological Survey reported.

The quake’s epicentre was in the north of the province, which is situated on the northeastern part of the Tibetan Plateau. Reports of any casualties or injuries have not been received from the affected area.

In Sichuan Province the United Nations is continuing to aid survivors of May’s massive earthquake which claimed 70,000 lives and left millions of others homeless.

The world body is focusing on assisting the most vulnerable gain access to longer-term shelter, clean water, health care, employment and education, according to a recent press release.

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The cyber-espionage attacks conducted against the Obama and McCain campaign computer networks this summer, as first reported in the US by Newsweek, could be a taste of what can be expected in the future, says NTDTV.

Large quantities of information were downloaded from both campaign networks.

It appears that the hackers were looking for information that might be useful in any future negotiations.

Newsweek said the Obama team was told only that a “foreign entity” was responsible for the hacking, but US government experts are now reported to have said they suspect the attacks originated from China.

Chinese cyber attacks characteristically adopt the “grain of sands” approach, which entails combing through a lot of mostly low-level information to find a few things of value.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast
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Court proceedings against Taiwan’s former President, Chen Shui-bian, had to be suspended after he asked to be taken to hospital.

Mr. Chen told the judges he needed treatment after being pushed earlier in the day, opposition lawmaker Lai Ching-teh told reporters.

Earlier, Mr. Chen was detained by prosecutors questioning him over corruption charges.
The charges relate to his eight years in office, which ended in May.

He is accused of money laundering and illegally using a special presidential fund.

He denies any wrongdoing, and accuses the new administration of persecuting him to bow to the wishes of Beijing.

Mr. Chen is an ardent supporter of Taiwanese independence. His detention comes days after a senior Chinese envoy’s historic visit to the island was overshadowed by protests.

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A British university has told dozens of foreign students to leave after discovering the certificates they used to gain entry were forgeries.

Most of the 49 Chinese students, along with one Taiwanese pupil, had enrolled on business studies courses at Newcastle University which they started in September.

But lecturers became suspicious when they were unable to keep up with work.

Their applications were rechecked and forged English language and degree certificates were discovered.

The forgeries were of such high quality that they had not been detected by the usual checks.

The university said many of the students appeared to be victims of bogus agents who were paid to submit applications, including supporting documents, on their behalf.

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A high-tech tsunami warning system was launched in Indonesia, Tuesday, to try and prevent a repeat of tragedies like the 2004 Asian tsunami that killed around 170,000 people in the archipelago nation.

The US$130 million dollar system will be able to detect an earthquake at sea and predict within five minutes whether it could cause a tsunami, the head of Indonesia’s geophysics agency, Sri Woro Harijono said.

Mr. Harijono said that the warning system can also predict the height and arrival time of the waves.

The system uses a series of four buoys linked to monitoring stations across the country.

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Climate change has led the newly elected president of the Maldives to announce plans for relocating the entire country.

Mohamed “Anni” Nasheed, a former political prisoner, was sworn in Tuesday after he unseated Asia’s longest-serving leader in the country’s first multi-party elections two weeks ago.

He inherits an island nation with several problems. The most pressing being the fact it is very likely the Maldives will sink under water if the current pace of climate change keeps raising sea levels.

Revenues from tourism could be set aside to buy a new homeland.

Nasheed’s government has said that it has broached the idea with several countries and found them to be “receptive.”

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