at 18:30 (JST), March 17

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/20220317183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : powerful earthquake shelter
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220317_89/

People across much of eastern Japan were woken Wednesday night by a powerful earthquake. Figures gathered by NHK show it left three people dead and more than 200 injured.

The quake registered 6 plus on the Japanese seismic scale of zero to 7. Damage has been reported in a number of places.

Hundreds of people living on the coast in the prefectures of Fukushima and Miyagi evacuated to shelters. One of the evacuees said, "It was a really strong quake, so I thought there might be a tsunami. I suffered in a tsunami once before."

Many buildings are believed to have been damaged in Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures.

The full picture is not clear as local authorities have yet to confirm all reports.

A Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train derailed in Miyagi Prefecture. Services are suspended on part of the line.

The earthquake left millions of households without electricity. The transmission firm Tohoku Electric Power Network says 1,800 households in Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures still had no power on Thursday evening.

The earthquake also disrupted water supplies. People in the city of Minami-Soma in Fukushima Prefecture had to stand in line a water supply station.

The Chief Cabinet Secretary says Self-Defense Force units have been sent to multiple locations in Fukushima Prefecture to supply water.

He also says the government received a request for water from the governor of Miyagi Prefecture and will send Self-Defense Force personnel there.

Key words : china accused provoke
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220316_46/

China has accused the administration of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen of seizing on the Ukraine crisis to provoke confrontation between China and Taiwan.

Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of China's State Council, floated the criticism at a news conference on Wednesday.

Zhu referred to a growing sense of alarm among people in Taiwan who draw parallels between the Russian invasion of Ukraine and what they see as China's military threat to Taiwan.

Zhu said Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party is using the Ukraine issue to take advantage of people's concerns. She said this is intended toward Taiwan's independence.

The spokesperson also said the party's attempts to incite confrontation and create hostility against Beijing will not succeed.

Regarding US President Joe Biden's refusal to dispatch troops to Ukraine, Zhu said many people in Taiwan have learned that the United States is unreliable during crucial times as it prioritizes its own interests.

Zhu said members of the Democratic Progressive Party are plotting for independence by becoming pawns of external forces that are trying to contain China. But she warned the effort will put Taiwan on a dangerous path.

Key words : kim inspected complete
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220316_14/

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has inspected a condominium construction site in the capital Pyongyang.

He issued instructions that the mass housing project be completed by April 15, which marks the 110th anniversary of the birth of the country's founder and his late grandfather, Kim Il Sung.

The Wednesday edition of the ruling Workers' Party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, carried a report on the younger Kim's inspection of the 10,000-unit residential complex.

Kim noted that his wish will soon come true when he sees people living in their own houses.

Meanwhile, April 11 marks the 10th anniversary of the younger Kim's assuming the Workers' Party leadership.

Observers are warning that North Korea may test-launch another missile at around that time. North Korea may wish to raise its national prestige at a time when it is being battered by the coronavirus pandemic and economic sanctions.

Key words : thailand russian
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220316_28/

In Thailand, a number of Russians and Ukrainians have been stranded by the conflict between their countries.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand says the seaside resorts of Phuket and Pattaya are especially popular with Russians. But many are now unable to return, as flights to their country have been canceled.

As well, US credit-card companies have blocked the use of cards issued by Russian banks.

The tourism agency said 6,000 to 7,000 Russians are believed stuck in Thailand. It's a popular destination in their country. About 23,000 people visited in January, topping the list of visitors for that month.

The agency says there are also about 1,000 Ukrainians unable to return home.

The Thai authorities are offering advice on low-cost accommodations. They've also set up hotlines for both Russians and Ukrainians in need of help.

Key words : indonesian rally
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220316_48/

About 100 people on the Indonesian resort island of Bali rallied for peace on Monday. The group included both Indonesians and Ukrainians.

A Ukrainian man participating in the rally said that as more people speak out about the situation in Ukraine, it raises awareness. He added that he hopes the Indonesian government will do more to help his country.

Bali is one of Asia's most popular tourist destinations.
About 5,000 Ukrainians are currently staying there.

Ukraine's honorary consul on the island, I Nyoman Astama, says some Ukrainians claim they have been unable to withdraw cash from ATMs following the Russian invasion. He says they may want to extend their visas, but are unable to pay.

Nyoman says he wants to address the problems by working closely with the Indonesian government and the Ukrainian embassy in Jakarta.

Key words : university fukuoka
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220316_20/

Three Ukrainian students arrived in the western Japanese prefecture of Fukuoka on Tuesday to attend a university there.

Staff from the Japan University of Economics in Dazaifu City holding flags and placards welcomed the students at the airport.

The university says the students came from the capital Kyiv and also Lviv, a city in western Ukraine. They evacuated to Poland in early March following Russia's invasion.

The university's President Tsuzuki Asuka says the students are now living away from their parents at a time when their country is in distress.

She says the university plans to provide mental health support so they can study with a positive and hopeful outlook.

The Japan University of Economics has had exchange programs with two universities in Ukraine since 2020.

The university has earlier decided to accept 70 students fleeing from Ukraine amid Russia's invasion. Japan's education ministry says the university is the first in the nation to accept evacuees from Ukraine.

The university says the additional students will arrive in Japan between March 25 and 31 to study Japanese language and business administration among other subjects for one year starting in April.

The university will offer dormitory accommodation and teaching materials free of charge, and will seek support from businesses to cover the students' living expenses.

Key words : vietnam
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220317_45/

Southeast Asian countries are easing coronavirus travel restrictions to prop up their economies.

Vietnam has reopened its borders to all international travelers, including tourists. It has also resumed its visa exemption policy for citizens from 13 countries, including Japan.

From Wednesday, people arriving in Vietnam are not required to self-quarantine if they can present negative test results.

Many people heading to Vietnam could be seen at an airport in Singapore, where airline staff were handing out gifts to passengers.

Indonesia on March 8 shortened the required quarantine period upon arrival to 24 hours for travelers who have received two or more doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The Indonesian government is considering scrapping quarantine for vaccinated travelers from April 1. It will make a decision after evaluating the situation in some resort islands, including Bali, where travelers are already allowed to enter quarantine-free.

The Malaysian government also plans to scrap quarantine for fully vaccinated travelers, starting April 1.

Thailand and Cambodia have already stopped requiring quarantine for international travelers who are fully vaccinated.

Key words : tomy
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220316_24/

Japanese toy maker Tomy has unveiled a small transformer-type robot for exploring the surface of the moon.

The Sora-Q is only about 8 centimeters in diameter, and weighs roughly 250 grams.

Tomy, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and other partners including Sony Group spent six years developing it.

The casing of the elliptical-shaped robot extends to make wheels to allow it to move over the lunar surface.

The Sora-Q has small cameras facing forward and backward to send images of the moon to Earth.

A Tomy employee said he is delighted that the company's toy-making technology has helped achieve the size-and-weight reduction needed for a space probe.

The developers plan to send the robot to the moon twice in the next 12 months to test its lunar-exploration capabilities.