at 18:30 (JST), October 28

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/20211028183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : southeast conflict
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211028_04/

Leaders of Southeast Asian countries have voiced their concerns over the deepening conflict between the United States and China over the South China Sea and other issues.

An online gathering of the East Asia Summit took place on Wednesday, involving the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Japan, the United States, China and others.

One of the major topics was the South China Sea, as Beijing has been stepping up maritime activities there. They include building artificial islands and militarizing them.

In an apparent move to counter China in the Indo-Pacific region, the US has created a security framework known as AUKUS with Australia and Britain.

At the meeting, US President Joe Biden voiced concern over threats to the international rules-based order, apparently with China in mind. Biden vowed to stand with allies and partners in support of democracy, human rights, rule of law and freedom of the seas.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob expressed his apprehension that a security pact such as AUKUS could lead to an arms race and spark tension, which could lead to instability in the South China Sea.

Key words : senior met qatar
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211028_05/

A senior member of the Taliban met with envoys from more than a dozen nations on Wednesday.

Acting foreign minister of the Taliban interim government Amir Khan Muttaqi held talks in Qatar's capital, Doha, with ambassadors and special representatives from 14 countries, including Japan, Germany and the Netherlands.

A Taliban spokesperson says Muttaqi asked the countries to recognize the Taliban government.
He also sought their cooperation so that the United States and other nations will lift their freeze on assets owned by the Afghan government.

The meetings come after UN food agencies on Monday warned that more than half of the Afghan population could face acute hunger.

The Taliban appear to be stepping up efforts to build relations with foreign countries to prevent Afghanistan's economy from deteriorating further.

Key words : taliban okada
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211028_03/

Japan's ambassador to Afghanistan has asked a senior member of the Taliban for support in realizing a swift and safe exit of Japanese nationals from the country.

Ambassador Okada Takashi held talks with Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting foreign minister of the Taliban interim government, in Qatar's capital, Doha, on Wednesday. It was the first official meeting between the Japanese government and a senior member of the Islamist group.

In Doha, the Japanese government has set up a temporary office of its embassy in Afghanistan.

The talks lasted about half an hour.

Okada asked for cooperation to ensure that Japanese nationals in Afghanistan as well as Afghans who worked at the Japanese Embassy and in other roles will be safe in the country.

He asked that those wishing to leave the country be allowed to do so, promptly and safely.

Okada also sought safe passage of personnel who will deliver humanitarian aid from Japan.

He also asked that the interim government respect the rights of women and ethnic minorities and create an inclusive political framework that includes diverse ethnic and religious groups.

According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Muttaqi expressed willingness to accede to Okada's requests.

Key words : okinawa set up task force
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211027_16/

Okinawa Prefecture in southwestern Japan has set up a task force to deal with massive volumes of pumice stones that are drifting ashore, preventing more than 700 of its fishing boats from catching fish.

The first meeting of the task force was held on Wednesday. The emergency team aims to start removing the pumice as early as this week.

The stones are from an undersea volcanic eruption in August along the Ogasawara island chain in the Pacific Ocean. They are affecting local fishing and tourism.

Okinawa officials said that as of Monday, about 750 vessels belonging to 35 local fishery cooperatives could not go out to fish due to concerns the pumice would cause engine problems.

The task force plans to utilize the government's disaster relief program to remove the pumice from ports as soon as possible. It hopes to sign with contractors this week to start the removal process.

Okinawa Governor Tamaki Denny said the prefecture needs to fully cooperate with relevant sectors and called on every party concerned to take necessary action quickly.

Key words : china reacted sharply
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211027_20/

China has reacted sharply to a statement by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging members of the United Nations to support participation by Taiwan in the world body's activities.

A spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, Ma Xiaoguang, told reporters on Wednesday that the UN is an international body of sovereign states, and Taiwan has no right to join, because it is part of China.

He lashed out at the US for making claims that breach UN resolutions and Beijing's "one-China" principle, and send a wrong message to separatist forces in Taiwan.

Ma added that China understands the wishes of its compatriots in Taiwan to take part in international activities and can deal with the matter properly, as it has always done while upholding the principle.

He criticized the administration of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, accusing the Democratic Progressive Party authority of "lying to the people of Taiwan and misleading the international community."

He warned Taiwanese officials to "immediately discard their illusion of aiming for independence with help from the US and other outside forces."

Key words : india border
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211028_02/

India has expressed concern over China's new law to strengthen border protection.

China last Saturday enacted the Land Borders Law, stipulating that the country will take measures to protect territorial sovereignty and land border security.

The law also says China can build infrastructure related to transportation, communication and defense on its side of the border with a neighboring country.

India's foreign ministry on Wednesday released a statement.

It says, "China's unilateral decision to bring about a legislation which can have implication on our existing bilateral arrangements on border management as well as on the boundary question is of concern to us."

It goes on to say, "We also expect that China will avoid undertaking action under the pretext of this law which could unilaterally alter the situation in the India-China border areas."

India and China have engaged in skirmishes from time to time over construction of roads and military facilities in disputed border areas. A military clash in June last year turned deadly.

Key words : mako start visa
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211027_11/

Japan's former princess Mako and her husband have started their life as newlyweds at a condo in Tokyo. They are preparing to settle in New York, where husband Komuro Kei works at a law firm.

The former Imperial family member is the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Akishino and a niece of Emperor Naruhito. Mako has become a commoner after marrying her former college classmate on Tuesday.

On their behalf, an official of the Imperial Household Agency filed their marriage registration with a municipal administration on Tuesday morning. The registration marked her departure from the Imperial family.

A procedure at the agency to officially remove Mako from the Imperial family register is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

The couple held a news conference on Tuesday afternoon after getting married.

Komuro Mako stressed that her husband is irreplaceable for her, and that the two needed to get married in order to live in a way that is true to their hearts.

Komuro Kei said, "I love Mako." He added that he hopes to spend his life, which he can live only once, with the loved one.

The newlyweds live together and are preparing to obtain a passport and visa for Mako.

Komuro Kei took the New York bar exam in July, with results due shortly. He has secured a job at a law firm in the US state. Mako is reportedly planning to land a job, too.

The couple is reportedly planning to choose a rented studio apartment in New York as their residence.

Key words : kyoto cleaned
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211027_29/

Traditional Japanese female entertainers have cleaned up streets of central Kyoto to welcome tourists after a coronavirus state of emergency was lifted.

About 50 maiko, or apprentice entertainers, and people from the local tourism industry gathered near the Kamo River on Wednesday. The cleanup was planned by the Kyoto City tourism association and others.

Before the work, Mayor Kadokawa Daisaku told the participants that passing down traditional culture is supported by tourism. He stressed the importance of having a sense of hospitality.

They were then divided into two groups and assigned different streets where they collected trash, including cigarette butts and plastic.
One maiko said she wants people to come to Kyoto and enjoy beautiful autumn leaves and delicious cuisine.

Another said she wants people to visit the newly cleaned city, now that the state of emergency has been lifted.