at 18:30 (JST), December 23

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/20211223183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : three people same family virus test
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211222_19/

Japanese officials are concerned that the Omicron coronavirus variant is now spreading within the country. That's after three people in the western prefecture of Osaka who had not recently traveled abroad were confirmed to have the strain.

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said, " We consider those cases to be community infections, as we've not been able to confirm how the people contracted the virus. We will take all necessary steps."

The health ministry says the three infected people are part of the same family. They have been hospitalized with mild symptoms.

Officials are seeking out close contacts of the family to conduct virus tests and prevent the spread of infection.
The ministry has also instructed local governments to secure hospital beds and be ready to boost testing in case the variant rapidly spreads.

A total of 160 Omicron cases have been detected in Japan, mainly of people who have recently returned from abroad.

Authorities reported 262 new coronavirus cases nationwide and two deaths on Wednesday. Tokyo reported 40 new infections.

Key words : declassified
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211222_09/

Newly declassified diplomatic records show that the United States strongly urged Japan to send members of its forces to join the US-led international coalition during the Gulf crisis.

The 7,319 pages of documents include records of discussions between then US President George H.W. Bush and then Japanese Prime Minister Kaifu Toshiki. The meeting was held in September 1990, following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in the previous month. The Gulf War to expel Iraqi forces began in January 1991.

Bush is cited in one document as saying that he understood that Japan was considering ways for its "forces" to take part in the international effort in the Middle East. He urged his Japanese counterpart to send personnel, saying that it would be beneficial and highly appreciated by the international community.

Kaifu explained that extensive debate and time would be necessary before deciding to deploy Japanese forces overseas for the first time since World War Two.

Kaifu stressed his desire to cooperate with the US-led international coalition, but ultimately, he was unable even to get a bill necessary to join a peacekeeping mission passed.

Japan's international reputation suffered as a result, even after the country provided economic assistance worth over 13 billion dollars to the coalition effort, instead of contributing manpower.

Key words : government discipline
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211222_11/

The Japanese government has called on US forces in the country to tighten discipline in response to the arrest of a US soldier in the southwestern prefecture of Okinawa on suspicion of drunk driving.

The soldier, who is stationed at the US Marine Corps' Camp Hansen in Okinawa, was arrested on Monday. He was later released. The base has been experiencing a large cluster of coronavirus infections.

The director-general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's North American Affairs Bureau, Ichikawa Keiichi, conveyed regrets over the matter on Wednesday to the commander of US forces in Japan, Lieutenant General Ricky Rupp. Ichikawa strongly urged the US to strengthen discipline and prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

Ichikawa also asked US forces to step up anti-coronavirus measures for individuals at risk of infection, including restrictions on movements inside and outside of bases. The Okinawa prefectural government has also been seeking such arrangements.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu said the US informed the Japanese side that as of Wednesday morning, a total of 215 people at Camp Hansen had been confirmed positive for the coronavirus.

Matsuno said the US will cooperate with Japan to test samples from positive cases for the Omicron variant. He added that the US will share test results with Japan and send samples to the US for genomic analyses.

Key words : indonesia
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211223_03/

Asian countries are stepping up anti-infection measures as the Omicron variant spreads in the region.

Indonesia confirmed its first Omicron case on December 16. The government is stepping up restrictions from Friday. The tougher measures will be in effect until January 2.

During this time, such events as sports and concerts must be held without spectators. All squares in the country will be closed on December 31 and January 1. New Year celebration parades will also be prohibited.

Singapore has been accepting vaccinated travelers from about 20 countries, including the United States, Britain, and Malaysia, without quarantine.

But the country has decided to suspend new ticket sales for flights and buses for quarantine-free travel into Singapore from Thursday to January 20.

India has confirmed more than 200 Omicron cases so far. The country's health secretary on Tuesday asked state governments to step up anti-infection efforts, such as imposing night-time curfews and restricting large gatherings.

States are urged to take such measures if the rate of test positivity reaches 10 percent or higher in a week, or the occupancy rate of hospital beds equipped with oxygen inhalers tops 40 percent.

Key words : panel of experts drug
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211223_01/

A panel of experts advising Japan's health ministry has pushed back its decision on approving a new Alzheimer's drug developed jointly by US and Japanese companies.

The firms say Aducanumab is the first medicine that inhibits progression of the disease, rather than just slowing the development of symptoms.

"It is difficult to judge the effectiveness of the drug based on data available at this point. We need to evaluate its effectiveness and safety based on the results of verification tests to be conducted in the future. We will have to discuss the results again," a ministry official said.

The panel cited inconsistency in the results of the final stage of clinical trials. They also noted swelling and bleeding in the brain of patients who received the drug.

It was developed by the US company Biogen and the Japanese firm Eisai.

They say the drug removes deposits of a protein called amyloid beta in the brain.

The firms say the medication delayed cognitive decline in international clinical trials by 22 percent.

The US Food and Drug Administration conditionally approved the drug in June.

But the European Medicines Agency said last week Aducanumab should not be authorized in the EU.

Key words : hundreds
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211222_18/

Hundreds of small-business owners took to the streets in Seoul on Wednesday to protest tougher restrictions amid a surge in coronavirus cases.

Daily new cases of the coronavirus in South Korea topped 7,000 this month for the first time. There were a record 1,063 seriously ill patients as of Tuesday. The country has so far confirmed 234 cases of the Omicron variant.

In response, the government on Saturday shortened business hours of restaurants and bars as well as limiting the size of private gatherings. These steps will continue until January 2.

The protesters demanded that the government expand compensation for the losses they have suffered.
They also called for easing restrictions, including those on opening hours.

A cafe owner said the government should immediately provide sufficient compensation. She also called on the government to retract the new restrictions.

The government has said it will provide 1 million won, or about 840 dollars, to each struggling business owner.

Key words : japan and britain
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211223_04/

Japan and Britain will start a joint study next month to develop the engine for a new fighter jet to replace the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force's F-2 aircraft.

Japan's Defense Ministry plans to have domestic companies take the initiative in the project to develop the fighter jet. Japanese heavy machinery firm IHI Corporation is commissioned to develop the engine.

IHI and Britain's Rolls-Royce will jointly develop an engine demonstrator, as this is the first time in more than 40 years that Japanese firms have led fighter jet development.

Japanese Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo and British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace agreed in July to accelerate talks on cooperation in the engine development.

Japan's Defense Ministry says the joint study with the UK will help cut the cost of development, which requires advanced technologies, and reduce risks.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is overseeing the project and will develop the fuselage. The company will receive technical support from US manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

Japanese government officials plan to set aside about 750 million dollars in the next fiscal year's draft budget to develop the new fighter jet.

The F-2 aircraft are scheduled to be retired from around 2035. The Defense Ministry hopes to deploy the successor by that time.

Defence Secretary Wallace issued a comment. He said, "Strengthening our partnerships in the Indo-Pacific is a strategic priority and this commitment with Japan, one of our closest security partners in Asia, is a clear example of that."

He also said, "Building on the technological and industrial strengths of our two countries, we will be exploring a wide-ranging partnership across next-generation combat air technologies."