at 18:30 (JST), September 20

Asian View

"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to "Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20210920183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : hong kong voted
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210920_05/

Select Hong Kong residents voted on Sunday under a new electoral system to choose members of the Election Committee who will pick the territory's next leader. Pro-Beijing members are expected to dominate the committee.

Representatives of business and other sectors choose committee members.

Sunday's election was the first since the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress decided in March to revise the election system for Hong Kong's chief executive and Legislative Council.

The election committee was expanded from 1,200 to 1,500 members, but many were chosen without a vote.
The first vote under the new electoral system will choose 364 members. A vetting committee had been set up to check whether candidates are loyal to the government.

Also, quotas from the district council where many pro-democracy members held seats were abolished, making it easier for people from groups close to the government to be elected.

The electoral change is likely to result in the virtual elimination of pro-democracy candidates who made up nearly 30 percent of the committee members in the previous election.

Among ordinary Hong Kong residents there was little interest in the election as only a limited number of people could vote.

Police say about 5,000 officers were deployed to maintain security.

The committee will vote to choose the chief executive in March next year.

The election of the Legislative Council is scheduled for December.

The committee will select 40 of the legislature's 90 lawmakers, leaving pro-democrats in a tough situation.

Key words : china two more
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210919_15/

China is to suspend shipments of two more types of fruit from Taiwan by citing pest concerns, after halting shipments of Taiwanese pineapples for the same reason from March.

Taiwan's Council of Agriculture said on Sunday that it had been informed by the Chinese customs authorities that they will suspend shipments of sugar apples and wax apples from Monday after pests had been repeatedly detected.

The council said it had been informed by China that the fruits had failed customs screenings on multiple occasions until June.

The council added that no notices of failed screenings had been received since it stepped up its measures.

More than 90 percent of the sugar apples and wax apples from Taiwan go to China.

The announcement of the suspension comes as Taiwan celebrates the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival holidays.

Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Chi-Chung described the move as politically motivated, saying it's unacceptable to announce the decision during the holidays and start the suspension with only a day's notice.

Chen argued that China's action lacks scientific evidence and does not comply with international trade rules.

He suggested that Taiwan may bring the matter to the World Trade Organization if Beijing does not take action to resolve the issue by the end of September.

Key words : aged day
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210919_12/

A Japanese government survey shows the number of people aged 65 or older, and their ratio to the overall population, are both at record highs. The survey was conducted ahead of the Respect for the Aged Day national holiday on Monday.

The internal affairs ministry estimates that, as of Wednesday, the elderly population was 36.4 million, up 220,000 from last year.

The ministry says the ratio of elderly people to the overall population was 29.1 percent, marking a rise of 0.3 percentage points. Japan's total population fell by 510,000 from last year.

UN data shows this proportion is the largest in the world, and is more than five percentage points higher than Italy's 23.6 percent, the second highest.

Of the elderly people in Japan, 15.83 million were male and 20.57 million were female.

The ministry also says the number of elderly workers in Japan rose for 17 consecutive years to reach 9.06 million last year, or 13.6 percent of the total workforce, which is also a record high.

The ratio of workers aged 65 or older to all elderly people rose for nine consecutive years to reach 25.1 percent, the highest ratio among the major countries.

Key words : taliban entrance
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210918_20/

The Taliban have replaced the sign at the entrance of the women's ministry in Afghanistan with one describing it as the ministry for the promotion of virtue and the prevention of vice.

The group announced ministerial posts in its caretaker government earlier this month, after taking control of the capital in mid-August. They also said they would restore the "vice and virtue ministry," which was known for suppressing women's rights during the previous period of Taliban rule two decades ago.

The Taliban have not announced a minister for the women's ministry, which worked to expand women's rights under the previous government.

The new sign at the entrance of the building in central Kabul bears a verse from the Koran in a style similar to the Taliban flag.

Staff who worked at the women's ministry have not been allowed to enter the building, and have protested.

The Taliban say they will allow women to receive an education and work within the framework of Islamic law. They have not issued a statement about the sign's replacement.

The move is adding to concerns that women's rights will be restricted again.

Key words : 15th anniversary
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210920_07/

Anti-government protesters rallied in Thailand's capital Bangkok on Sunday, the 15th anniversary of the 2006 military coup, to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, a former army chief.

Police say about 2,000 people took part in the demonstration. They included supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in the coup and now lives in self-imposed exile.

Many of the protesters drove around central Bangkok on motorcycles and other vehicles, carrying banners that called for Prayut to step down.

One participant said people are starving as they have been unable to work due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy.

He added that people want a new government that is not led by Prayut as prime minister.

In recent weeks, Thailand has confirmed more than 13,000 new daily cases of coronavirus infection, mostly due to the Delta variant.

People are growing increasingly dissatisfied with what they see as the government's slow moves to secure sufficient vaccine doses. They are also unhappy with its anti-infection restrictions on economic activities.

Young people have been staging anti-government rallies almost every day. Supporters of Thaksin, who remains popular among rural residents and others, have also been stepping up protests.

Key words : philippine senator
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210920_02/

Philippine Senator Manny Pacquiao, well known as a boxing star, has announced that he will run for president in 2022.

Pacquiao spoke about his intension to run in the election slated for May at an assembly of a governing party faction on Sunday.

He said, "I am a fighter, and I will always be a fighter inside and outside the ring." He called for unity to bring about reforms to the country.

Pacquiao criticized the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte for abuse of power and corruption. He warned that politicians he holds responsible for corruption will soon end up in jail.

Last month, Duterte announced his bid for vice presidency, apparently aiming to retain his influence over the next administration. The Philippine constitution limits the president to a single term.

Duterte has recommended a senator who is close to him as a presidential candidate.

His eldest daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, is also considered to be one of the possible presidential candidates.

Registration of candidates will begin next month.

Key words : chinese military wrapped up
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210919_02/

The Chinese military says it staged drills off southwestern Taiwan on Friday. Taiwan wrapped up a huge military exercise the same day.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command announced on Saturday that naval ships, early warning planes, and bombers took part in the exercise.

A spokesperson for the command said the patrols and drills sought to improve the joint combat capabilities of China's military in the area.

The official said the activities will be staged routinely, depending on the situation in the Taiwan Strait and the need to protect national sovereignty and security.

Taiwan's defense ministry reported on Friday that 10 Chinese aircraft, including fighters and an anti-submarine plane, had entered Taiwan's air defense identification zone.

Taiwan concluded its annual military drills the same day. The five-day exercise assumed an attack by Chinese forces.

Key words : tokyo night
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210918_12/

A coronavirus vaccine site that operates only on Friday nights has opened in central Tokyo. Organizers say the aim is to boost inoculations among people who work or study during the day.

The site, set up by Minato Ward in a banquet hall of the Tokyo Grand Hotel, is available from 7 p.m. through midnight every Friday. Advance reservations are required.

Officials set the number of reserved doses on the first day of operation at 400. They say more than 230 people made bookings.

A company employee in his 30s said he had wanted to receive a shot as early as possible for the safety of his wife and child. He said the site is handy because he could come after work.

A senior official of Minato Ward said in order to raise vaccination rates, it's necessary to devise ways to provide shots to those who cannot access them.