at 18:30 (JST), November 18

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/20211118183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : two explosion
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211118_05/

Two explosions have hit the Afghan capital Kabul, killing at least one person and wounding six others. The Islamic State militant group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Local media reported that the two blasts, which were separated by about 30 minutes, took place in the western part of the city on Wednesday afternoon.

A spokesperson for the Taliban-run interior ministry said the first blast was a car bomb and three women were among the wounded.

Islamic State militants posted a statement online after the explosions, claiming that they blew up two buses.

The blasts took place in an area where many members of the Hazara Shia minority live. It has been repeatedly targeted by Islamic State militants.

Monday marked three months since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. But stabilizing the country's security situation is proving to be a challenge. An increasingly active Islamic State group has carried out a series of attacks, including suicide bombings at Shia mosques.

Key words : military buildup
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211118_06/

A report by a US Congressional advisory panel calls for an urgent military buildup in the Indo-Pacific to deter Chinese aggression against Taiwan.

The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission issued its annual report on Wednesday.

The report notes that China has been modernizing its military for nearly 20 years, and is now capable of "air and naval blockade, cyberattacks and missile strikes against Taiwan."

It says the People's Liberation Army of China "either has or is close to achieving an initial capability to invade Taiwan."

The report warns that modernization by the PLA has "shifted the military balance in the Taiwan Strait and dangerously weakened cross-Strait deterrence."

It recommends that Congress authorize funding for the mass deployment of antiship missiles in the Indo-Pacific and the upgrading of defense capabilities at US bases.

The report also points out that China has been putting much effort into boosting its nuclear capabilities, including building hundreds of underground silos for intercontinental ballistic missiles.

It calls on the administration of President Joe Biden to continue modernizing the nuclear capabilities of the US to maintain its lead over China.

Key words : united nations human rights
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211118_N02/

A United Nations committee has adopted a resolution on human rights in North Korea, for the 17th year in a row. On Wednesday, members condemned what they called "systematic, widespread and gross violations."

Delegates demanded that the country immediately return all people North Koreans abducted from Japan and South Korea.

The Japanese government says North Korean agents abducted at least 17 Japanese citizens in the 1970s and '80s. Five were repatriated in 2002. 12 remain unaccounted for.

The North Korean ambassador rejected the resolution. Kim Song said it comes from the "anti-DPRK hostile policy, selectivity, and double standards of the US and the EU. "

Committee members also looked at the situation inside North Korea. They found 10 million people are not getting enough to eat. And they say people there do not have access to clean water or health care.

Key words : leaders philippine
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211118_07/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte have agreed to consider launching "two-plus-two" talks between their defense and foreign ministers.

Kishida and Duterte held a teleconference on Wednesday evening.

Kishida began by mentioning his visit to Duterte's home city of Davao in 2016 when he was Japan's foreign minister. He pledged continued support for the Philippines' infrastructure development including railways, and coronavirus responses.

Duterte congratulated Kishida on assuming office, and said Japan is "a friend closer than a brother."

The two leaders also agreed to advance cooperation to realize a "free and open Indo-Pacific" and to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two nations.

Kishida told Duterte that he strongly opposes unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas amid China's increasing maritime activities.

Duterte and Kishida also agreed that the two countries will coordinate in dealing with North Korea, including the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by the North.

Key words : united states steel fair
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211117_30/

Japan and the United States have re-affirmed they will hold talks to resolve the issue of Washington's additional tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Japan.

Japanese Trade Minister Hagiuda Koichi met with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai in Tokyo on Wednesday.

They agreed to deal with the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration in 2018. It set extra levies of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum from Japan and several other countries. The White House said at the time the imported metals were hurting the domestic industries.

The two nations also agreed to set up a new framework for coordinating action against governments that impede fair competition through measures such as excessive subsidies to companies.

Key words : fukushima
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211118_01/

The operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has released the results of a simulation that examined what impact treated water from the plant would have if it is released into the ocean. The operator says the results show the impact of the release would be extremely small.

The water, used to cool molten nuclear fuel, is treated to remove most radioactive materials, but it still contains radioactive tritium. Tokyo Electric Power Company plans to discharge the treated water about 1 kilometer off the coast using an undersea tunnel.

TEPCO carried out the simulation based on the discharge plan and data on radioactive materials contained in the storage tanks.

It assumed that the water will be diluted to lower the concentration of tritium to one-fortieth of the national standard before the discharge.
The amount of total annual release was set at 22 trillion becquerels, the same level as a target aimed for before the 2011 accident.

The operator says the results showed that the area where the tritium concentration was more than 1 becquerel per liter -- higher than the current levels -- was limited to 2 to 3 kilometers offshore the plant.

It also says about 30 becquerels per liter of tritium were observed in some areas above the mouth of the undersea tunnel, but the concentration fell quickly as the water spread.

TEPCO also estimated the level of annual radiation exposure for fishery operators living along the coast.

The company says its calculation indicated that annual exposure for people who consume the average amount of seafood would be one-60,000th to one-10,000th of 1 millisievert. Annual exposure of 1 millisievert is considered acceptable.

Key words : tennis star
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211117_29/

Leading pro tennis players have expressed concerns about Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, who is reported missing after alleging sexual assault by a former leader of the Chinese Communist Party.

Peng, who won doubles titles at Wimbledon in 2013 and the French Open in 2014, posted on social media this month that former vice premier Zhang Gaoli forced her to have sex with him despite her repeated refusal, and that they later had a consensual relationship.

Zhang was a member of the Communist Party's Politburo Standing Committee until 2017.

The post was later deleted, and news outlets say Peng has not been heard from since.

Other players say they are praying for her safety.

Osaka Naomi said on Twitter on Wednesday, "I was recently informed of a fellow tennis player that has gone missing shortly after revealing that she has been sexually abused. ... I hope Peng Shuai and her family are safe and ok. I'm in shock at the current situation."

Novak Djokovic told reporters on Monday that although he doesn't have much information about the situation, "It's shocking that she's missing." He said he hopes she will be found and that she's okay.

The Women's Tennis Association has issued a statement seeking a fair investigation into the matter.