at 18:30 (JST), February 10

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/20220210183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : prime minister iran
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220210_09/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has told Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi that he is hoping for an early return of all the parties to the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement.

Kishida spoke with Raisi on the phone for about half an hour on Wednesday. It was Kishida's first conversation with the Iranian president since he took office as prime minister last October.

The two leaders exchanged views on the resumption on Tuesday of indirect talks between the United States and Iran to revive the nuclear deal.

The US and Iran have been holding talks through the European Union after former US President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled out of the deal in 2018. Iran has since accelerated its nuclear development.

Kishida stressed that Japan has consistently supported the 2015 agreement.

The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact. They also discussed the situation in the Middle East, including the civil war in Yemen.

Key words : ground self-defense
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220210_08/

Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force and the US Marine Corps allowed the media to watch their joint gunnery exercise on the US West Coast.

A total of about 1,400 personnel from the GSDF Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade and the US Marines took part in the exercise at Camp Pendleton, California, on Wednesday.

Multiple amphibious vehicles deployed simultaneously and fired at their targets.

The joint exercise began on January 10. But part of the program had to be changed after 44 of the roughly 200 Japanese personnel tested positive for the coronavirus.

Japan's Defense Ministry launched the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade four years ago to protect its southwestern islands in the face of China's growing maritime presence.

The US is also attaching importance to working with its allies to counter China.

Brigade commander Major General Nashinoki Shingo said it is crucial to strengthen the capability to deal with various situations and bolster the deterrence of the Japan-US alliance as Japan's security environment grows increasingly severe.

First Marine Expeditionary Force Commanding General George Smith stressed that the Japan-US alliance is as important as ever in light of the challenges they face in the Indo-Pacific region.

Key words : tanker
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220210_02/

Several vessels carrying liquefied natural gas from Japan are expected to arrive in Europe next month. This comes as Europe could face a natural gas shortage amid the tensions over Ukraine.

Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Hagiuda Koichi met separately with EU Ambassador to Japan Patricia Flor and US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday. Hagiuda told the diplomats that Japan will provide Europe with part of its LNG at the request of the United States.

Russia may cut gas supplies to Europe if tensions with the West rise further over Ukraine.

Japan's government will ask Japanese companies to sell LNG whose buyers can be changed to firms in Europe.

The tankers' voyage from Japan will take two weeks to a month.

The Japanese government will carefully consider the amount diverted to Europe, while an adequate stockpile will be kept in Japan. The toughest supply-demand balance in electricity in 10 years is expected this winter in the country due to cold weather.

Key words : taiwan somalia
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220209_33/

Taiwan has received a delegation of ministers from Somaliland, Somalia's breakaway region.

Somaliland foreign minister Essa Kayd Mohamoud and three other ministers met Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen at the presidential office in Taipei on Wednesday.

Tsai said Taiwan and Somaliland are like-minded partners who share the values of democracy and freedom. She said Somaliland has become an important base for Taiwan to promote the "Africa Project" in East Africa.

Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991 by unilaterally declaring independence. It does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but the two sides mutually set up representative offices in 2020.

Last December, Taiwan's public oil company acquired an interest in a Somaliland oil field.

In January, coronavirus vaccines developed by a Taiwanese pharmaceutical firm were sent to Somaliland.

In Africa, Taiwan maintains diplomatic ties with only one country as a result of China's drive to have other countries sever ties with Taipei.

China has put priority on the Horn of Africa, which is seen as carrying geographically strategic importance, as it faces the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.

Early last month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced that Beijing will appoint a special envoy for the Horn of Africa.

Taiwan's reception of the Somaliland ministers is drawing attention as an apparent attempt by Taipei to move into the region.

Key words : ban student
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220209_46/

A ban on wearing hijab in schools in India's southern state of Karnataka has sparked a dispute among students.

Hijab is a headscarf worn by Muslim women.
The ban was ordered by the local government last month, a decision that angered Muslim students.

A female student said, "Why are they implementing such rules right now? We were told that we are allowed to wear scarves and now they are telling us we cannot wear them, that is not acceptable."

On the other hand, Hindu male student said, "The uniform is the same for everyone whether they are Hindu, Muslim or Christian. They should abide by the rules and only wear hijab outside the gate. We told the students and the school said they would take action but many girls are still wearing them."

Tensions have gotten so bad that the government has ordered educational institutions to shut down for three days.

Meanwhile, a?petition filed by one of the students with a local court was heard on Tuesday. It says that wearing hijab is a fundamental right to religion that is guaranteed by the constitution.

Observers say the ban discriminates against religious minorities and threatens to stoke unrest as the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi pursues what they say is its goal of making India a Hindu nation.

Key words : government security bill
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220209_27/

The Japanese government is readying an economic security bill meant to help ensure the supply chain is safeguarded. Now, the country's top business lobby is requesting that its impact on business be kept to a minimum.

The government plans to submit the economic security bill later this month.

Vice Chair of the Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, Katanozaka Shinya gave recommendations for the bill to Economic Security Minister Kobayashi Takayuki on Wednesday.

The bill is expected to enable authorities to check that the supply chains of certain products are not too reliant on specific countries.
Keidanren wants the scope of the products targeted to be narrowed down as much as possible.

The bill will also likely specify the details of any government check when businesses want to acquire infrastructure-related equipment from overseas.

The business lobby proposes that officials clarify in advance what will be subject to the process.

Keidanren Vice Chair, Katanozaka Shinya, says their proposals are based on ensuring freedom of economic activity and consistency with international rules. He added that the group supports the bill since they understand that economic security is an urgent issue.

Key words : sumo
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220210_03/

The governing body of professional sumo says a total of 252 wrestlers and officials have been confirmed infected with the coronavirus since the grand tournament ended in late January.

The Japan Sumo Association conducted PCR tests on all its members by Tuesday. It says nine wrestlers in the top or second-highest divisions, including Ozeki Champion Shodai, and 11 stable masters tested positive.

Yokozuna Grand Champion Terunofuji, Ozeki Takakeisho and Mitakeumi, who was newly promoted to Ozeki, among others have already been confirmed to have the virus.

The association says none of them has developed serious symptoms.

The association says it is implementing anti-infection measures based on experts' instructions in the run-up to the next grand tournament in Osaka in March.