at 18:30 (JST), May 06

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/20220506183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : sanction 140
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220506_03/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has announced additional sanctions on Russia.

He said Japan will freeze the assets of about 140 more individuals, as well more assets of Russian banks. About 70 more military-related entities will be added to the export ban. Quantum computers and other high-tech products will be banned from export to Russia.

Kishida was speaking in London on Thursday, where he wrapped up his week-long tour of Southeast Asia and Europe. He said: "The G7 has played a leading role in the efforts of the international community to deal with the situation in Ukraine. We need to further strengthen the unity of the G7 to protect global peace and order."

The prime minister visited Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand before arriving in Europe. He said he and the leaders of the three countries reaffirmed that sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected in any part of the world.

Kishida told reporters: "We must not allow any unilateral change of the status quo by force in the Indo-Pacific. In the face of the current crisis, Japan must promote its initiative of a free and open Indo-Pacific."

Kishida also said he and his counterparts discussed the increasingly challenging security situation in East Asia, including North Korea's missile and nuclear programs.

He also referred to the East and South China seas, where China is stepping up its activities.

Kishida said he and the Southeast Asian leaders agreed to work together to deal with these security issues, including the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korea decades ago.

Key words : tsai military buildup
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220505_24/

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has met in Taipei with a delegation from Japan's main ruling party. She expressed a willingness to contribute to regional peace along with Japan.

Delegates from the Liberal Democratic Party's Youth Division paid a courtesy call on Tsai at the presidential office on Thursday. They are the first Youth Division delegation to visit Taiwan in three years.

Tsai said authoritarianism is spreading around the world. She appeared to have Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's military buildup in mind.

She said security is not an issue Taiwan or Japan can handle alone. She said it should be considered from a geopolitical point of view for the first island chain.

What is known as the first island chain extends from Japan to Taiwan and the Philippines.

Tsai expressed her willingness to work for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region together with Japan.

LDP lawmaker Suzuki Norikazu, an acting director of the party's Youth Division, said stability in the Taiwan Strait leads to stability for Japan. He called Taiwan a "neighboring country" even though Japan and Taiwan have no diplomatic relations.

Suzuki said it is important for Japan and Taiwan to jointly send a message that any attempt to change the status quo by force is totally unacceptable.

Tsai asked the delegates to help with Taiwan's bids to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and to attend the WHO annual meeting in May. Suzuki agreed to help.

Key words : zero-covid
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220506_04/

China's political leadership has reiterated its plan to maintain a "zero-COVID" policy, even as people in much of Shanghai endure hardships under lockdown.

The state-run Xinhua news agency says President Xi Jinping chaired a session of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party's Central Committee on Thursday.

The meeting took place as lockdowns continue in Shanghai, despite officials reporting fewer than 5,000 new daily cases on Wednesday for the second consecutive day.

The leadership said that since March, China has withstood the most challenging test of its efforts to control COVID-19 since the fight against the epidemic in Wuhan, and has made progress thanks to concerted efforts nationwide.

But it warned that containment efforts should not be slackened because there is still much uncertainty on how the pandemic will develop.

The leadership said, "Relaxation will undoubtedly lead to massive numbers of infections, critical cases and deaths."

It argues that it is important to resolutely fight any attempts to distort, question or dismiss the anti-COVID policy.

Analysts say the authorities are trying to justify their zero-COVID policy and prevent criticism from growing.

They add the political leadership also has its sights on the party convention scheduled for the latter half of this year. The convention is only held once every five years.

Key words : philippines successor
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Key words : successor
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220502_01/

Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the eldest son of a former Philippine president, is maintaining his lead in the latest opinion poll, one week before the country's presidential election.

Filipinos will vote on May 9 to choose a successor to Rodrigo Duterte, as presidents are limited to serving a single six-year term.

Ten candidates are vying for the country's top office. Major campaign issues include Duterte's authoritarian rule, and how to deal with China.

The country's relations with Beijing have been strained over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

A survey in late April shows Marcos was the most preferred candidate with a 57 percent support rating.
Current Vice President Leni Robredo came in second with 21 percent, trailed by Francisco Domagoso, an actor and the current mayor of Manila, with 6 percent.

Marcos is attracting Duterte supporters by pledging to maintain the outgoing president's strategies. He is also broadening his support among young voters via social media.

Other contenders are trying to win over voters critical of Duterte's style of leadership such as his heavy-handed crackdown on illegal drugs.