Page 2 n THE ASIAN REPORTER
ASIA / PACIFIC
February 20, 2017
China to start fingerprinting foreign visitors
BEIJING (AP) — Millions of foreigners visiting China each year will now have
their fingerprints collected. The country’s Ministry of Public Security said in a
statement that it will begin taking the fingerprints of visitors as they enter and
exit the country. The requirement will apply to most people between the ages of
14 and 70. The policy will go into effect starting in Shenzhen, the southern
Chinese city bordering Hong Kong. Chinese authorities counted more than 76
million entries and exits by foreigners last year. The visitors were primarily
from South Korea, Japan, the United States, and Russia. The ministry said the
new requirement is “an important measure to strengthen entry and exit
management” that matches policies in other countries. U.S. Customs and
Border Protection has fingerprinted most foreign visitors since 2004.
Palm oil workers killed orangutan for meat
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — An Indonesian lawmaker says palm oil
plantation workers killed and ate a critically endangered orangutan on the
island of Borneo and police should investigate. Daniel Johan said the workers
shot the great ape after it ventured onto a plantation in a remote area of Central
Kalimantan province, probably looking for crops to eat. “It’s a blatant offense
against Indonesia’s conservation laws,” said Johan. “Police have to investigate.”
Johan said a witness provided him photos of the butchered primate. Last July,
the International Union for Conservation of Nature classified Borneo’s
orangutans as critically endangered. The animals are often killed for their meat
but punishment is rare. The forest habitat of the apes has shrunk dramatically
to make way for plantations.
Vietnam allows betting on international soccer matches
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnamese gamblers will soon be allowed to place
bets on international soccer competitions under a pilot project. Under the decree
signed by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc that will take effect by the end of
March, Vietnamese older than 21 years of age will be allowed to place bets of up
to $44 per day, with a minimum bet of 44 cents. The government will allow only
one company to do this business during the five-year trial period and the
company must have an investment capital of at least 1 trillion dong ($44
million). After the five-year period, the government will decide whether to
continue the arrangement. The decree also allows betting on local horse and dog
races. In January, the government issued a decree allowing local people into
casinos, which had been open only to foreigners. Vietnam has long banned most
types of gambling, but Vietnamese are passionate about soccer and bets on
European soccer games are very common. There are no official figures on how
much money is placed on illegal soccer bets, but police nationwide have busted
multiple illegal soccer betting rings in recent years.
China’s first large homemade passenger jet to fly in 2017
BEIJING (AP) — After years of delays, China’s first large homemade
passenger jetliner will take to the air for its maiden flight in the first half of this
year, according to state media. State-owned aircraft maker Commercial Aircraft
Corp. of China Ltd., or Comac, based in Shanghai, has nearly completed work on
the 175-passenger C919, the ruling Communist Party newspaper People’s Daily
reported. The C919 was originally due to fly in 2015, but has been beset by
delays blamed on manufacturing problems. It is now scheduled to enter service
in 2019, aimed at competing with the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, along with
the Russian Irkut MC-21. Airbus and Boeing say the market for new aircraft will
be worth more than $5 trillion over the next 20 years. Industry experts say
China faces a tough slog capturing a significant share of that market, even with
government support. Comac says it has 517 orders for the C919. The C919 is
part of China’s efforts to develop a homegrown aviation industry in one of the
world’s biggest and fastest-growing air travel markets. China currently relies
heavily on foreign-made aircraft. Last June, the ARJ21-700, China’s first
homemade regional jet, made its debut flight carrying 70 passengers. The jet is
one of a series of initiatives launched by the party to transform China from the
world’s low-cost factory into a creator of profitable technology in aviation, clean
energy, and other fields. The ARJ21, also made by Comac, is a rival to aircraft
made by Bombardier Inc. of Canada and Brazil’s Embraer SA.
Cambodian PM bans Taiwan flag, cites ‘One-China’ policy
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia’s prime minister says raising
Taiwan’s flag is banned because Cambodia follows the “One-China” policy pro-
moted by Beijing. Hun Sen, in a speech to the Cambodian-Chinese Association
posted on Facebook, said he welcomes investment from Taiwanese business-
people, but that respecting Chinese sovereignty means acknowledging Taiwan
is a province of China. He said in his remarks that Taiwan’s flag should not be
raised on its national day. Hun Sen, who has led his country for three decades,
said this has always been his policy. He has in the past rebuffed Taiwanese
efforts to open an official representative office in Cambodia, and reaffirmed that
position in his speech. He also told his audience that Cambodia holds the same
policy toward Tibet, recognizing China’s sovereignty against claims for indepen-
dence of what China calls the Tibet Autonomous Region. China is impoverished
Cambodia’s key ally and economic partner. It has provided millions of dollars in
aid and investment over the past decade, granted tariff-free status on hundreds
of trade items, and written off debt. In return, Cambodia supports China in
international forums, including in Beijing’s ongoing territorial disputes with
other Southeast Asian countries in the South China Sea.
OLYMPIC COUNTDOWN. South Korean Byun Chun-sa, a 2006 Turin Winter Olympics gold medallist in short track
speed skating, left, and Byun Jong-moon, a 1996 Harbin Winter Asian Games gold medallist, right, wear torch runners’
uniforms while holding the 2018 Pyeongchang Games torch during an unveiling ceremony for the Pyeongchang Winter
Olympics at the Gangneung Hockey Centre in Gangneung, South Korea. The opening ceremony for the 2018 Pyeong-
chang Olympic Winter Games will be held February 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Yuna Kim reveals Olympic torch
in countdown to 2018 Games
By Kim Tong-Hyung
The Associated Press
G
ANGNEUNG, South Korea — The
one-year
countdown
to
the
Pyeongchang Games began with
Yuna Kim revealing the Olympic torch and
organizers opening online ticket reservations.
South Korean Prime Minister Hwang
Kyo-ahn and an International Olympic
Committee (IOC) delegation led by Gunilla
Lindberg, who heads the IOC’s coordination
commission for the games, also attended the
ceremony in Gangneung, which will host the
ice sports events next year.
“I am convinced that the Pyeongchang
Olympics will be a success,” Hwang said in a
speech at the ceremony. “I believe in the great
strength of our people who have successfully
hosted international events like the 1988
Olympics and 2002 World Cup.”
Kim, a figure skating gold medallist who is
perhaps the country’s most popular sports
personality even in retirement, carried the
white-and-gold Olympic torch onto a stage
built over ice as a group of pop singers sang
“We Are The Champions,” highlighting an
event that also included a video message from
IOC president Thomas Bach.
“It is my great pleasure to invite the national
Olympic committees of the world and their
athletes to participate in the Olympic Winter
Games Pyeongchang 2018,” Bach said in the
message.
Hwang has served as the country’s acting
head of state since December, when President
Park Geun-hye’s powers were suspended after
lawmakers voted to impeach her over a
corruption scandal. He told organizers that the
government is ready to invest “every reliable
resource” to build buzz for the games and
ensure the safety of athletes and spectators.
With preparations entering the last phases,
the participation of North Korea and Russia
have emerged as major issues ahead of next
year’s games.
Relations between the two Koreas have
worsened since North Korea conducted two
nuclear tests and a string of rocket launches
last year as it continues to expand its nuclear
weapons and missile programs.
Russian athletes have been caught up in a
scandal following allegations of state-
sponsored doping around the time of the 2014
Sochi Olympics.
Lee Hee-beom, Pyeongchang’s organizing
head, expressed hopes to see athletes from
both countries at the games.
“Every country and every athlete who loves
peace has a right and obligation to participate
in the Olympics,” Lee said. “North Korea is no
exception. We are making preparations for the
possibility that North Korea participates in
the games.”
The Pyeongchang Games will mark the
second time the Olympics have been staged in
South Korea, which also hosted the 1988
Games in Seoul.
This time, organizers have had to overcome
delays, local conflicts regarding venue con-
struction, and difficulties attracting domestic
sponsorships before putting preparations on
track.
Construction workers are putting the
finishing touches on the 12 competition venues
in Pyeongchang and nearby Gangneung,
including six new facilities that organizers say
are about 96 percent complete on average.
The athletes and media villages, an
Continued on page 4
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Asian Currency
Exchange Rates
Units per U.S. dollar as of 2/17
Bangladesh Taka· ·
Cambodian Riel · ·
China Renminbi · ·
Fijian Dollar · · · ·
Hong Kong Dollar ·
Indian Rupee · · · ·
Indonesian Rupiah ·
Iranian Rial · · · ·
Japanese Yen · · ·
Laos New Kip · · ·
Malaysian Ringgit ·
Nepal Rupee · · · ·
Pakistani Rupee · ·
Papua N.G. Kina · ·
Philippine Peso· · ·
Russian Ruble · · ·
Saudi Riyal· · · · ·
Singapore Dollar · ·
South Korean Won ·
Sri Lankan Rupee ·
Taiwan Dollar · · ·
Thai Baht · · · · ·
Vietnam Dong · · ·
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80.09
4005.5
6.8665
2.051
7.7612
67.02
13333
32420
112.84
8200.0
4.453
107.22
104.75
3.175
50.046
58.291
3.7503
1.4185
1152.5
151.14
30.782
35.005
22614