2022年8月4日木曜日

at 18:30 (JST), August 04

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/20220804183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : nancy six median line
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220804_02/

Taiwan's defense authorities say more than 20 Chinese military aircraft have crossed the so-called median line on the Taiwan Strait, following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

The authorities say 27 Chinese fighter aircraft approached airspace near Taiwan on Wednesday and 22 of them crossed the median line.

It is rare for such a large number of Chinese warplanes to be confirmed to have entered Taiwan's side of the line in one day.

The median line is meant to prevent accidental clashes between Chinese and Taiwanese forces. It is considered highly provocative for military planes to cross it.

Meanwhile, the Chinese military says it will launch important military exercises and training activities including live-fire drills in six areas surrounding Taiwan from Thursday.

The areas include Japan's exclusive economic zone. Taiwan media say they involve what Taiwan claims is its waters.

Pelosi's visit to Taiwan until Wednesday has drawn sharp reactions from China, which says Taiwan is integral part of its territory.


Key words : russia new company
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220804_22/

The Russian government says it will establish a new company to take over the Sakhalin-2 oil and liquefied natural gas project in the country's Far East.

The announcement adds uncertainty for the Japanese companies with stakes in the project.

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that the new company will be based in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, the main city of the Sakhalin region.

The project is currently operated by Sakhalin Energy Investment Company.

Its shareholders are Russia's state-affiliated gas firm Gazprom, Britain's Shell and Japanese trading houses Mitsui & Co. and Mitsubishi Corporation.

Shell has a 27.5 percent stake in Sakhalin Energy, while Mitsui and Mitsubishi hold 12.5 percent and 10 percent respectively.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an order on June 30 to establish a new company and transfer Sakhalin Energy's assets to it.

The government on Tuesday said the necessary registration process should be carried out within three days.

Putin's order requires the foreign companies to notify Russia within a month from the launch of the new firm whether they wish to continue investing in the project.

Almost all the natural gas Japan uses comes from overseas.

Sakhalin-2 produces about 10 million tons of LNG a year and Japan imports about 6 million tons of that.

The Japanese government considers Sakhalin-2 a key factor in the country's energy security. It expects the project to provide natural gas at relatively low cost over a long timescale.

The Russian Far East is geographically closer to Japan than the Middle East and other gas suppliers. It only takes about three days for LNG from Sakhalin to reach Japan.

Another advantage is that there are no conflict areas on the route from Sakhalin, reducing the risk of incidents.

The two Japanese trading houses involved in the project say they are assessing the situation.

Mitsubishi officials said they are aware of Russia's decision. They said they will coordinate with the Japanese government and partners to decide what to do.

Mitsui said it is examining the ramifications of the Russian decision for the company. Officials said they will continue to consult with the Japanese government and other stakeholders to respond properly.

Japan's Economy Minister Hagiuda Koichi said the government has not yet decided on a course of action.

He said "Currently we're scrutinizing what Russia has said about the project, so we won't be commenting at this point. We've been preparing for all kinds of contingencies together with the companies. So far there is no change in our basic stance on this matter. As Sakhalin-2 is crucial for Japan's stable energy supply, we remain committed to keeping stakes in the project."

Hagiuda added that he will closely examine any investment conditions set out by Russian side to be able to retain an interest.

Japan has imposed economic sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, together with the other Group of Seven nations.

The question now is if and how Tokyo can protect its interests in Sakahlin-2, while maintaining a tough stance on Russia over the invasion.


Key words : philippine rocket
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220803_39/

The Philippine Coast Guard says it has found debris from a Chinese rocket launched last month in waters off the coast of the western Philippine island of Mindoro.

The Coast Guard says fishermen found the debris on Tuesday. Footage taken at the time shows a large sheet-shaped metal object was floating just beside a fishing boat.

Philippine officials say the debris weighs about 100 kilograms and bears a part of China's national flag. They say Chinese characters are written on it.

China launched its Long March 5B rocket on July 24.

The Philippine Space Agency says the debris has been identified to be a part of the payload fairing that was detached from the rocket.

China said after the rocket launch that the probability of any harm on the ground is extremely low, as most of the rocket components would burn up when entering the earth's atmosphere.

Philippine officials say the waters where the debris was found are part of the country's Exclusive Economic Zone and many fishing boats operate there.


Key words : asian nations reconsider
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220803_48/

Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have kicked off a series of meetings in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh.

The country currently serves as chair of ASEAN, and its Prime Minister Hun Sen has voiced strong concerns over issues in Myanmar. He has said the situation there could be even worse than it was before.

The event is ASEAN's first in-person meeting of its kind in three years. Top diplomats from the US and China will be among the attendees. Myanmar's junta was not invited.

To open the meeting, Hun Sen said ASEAN members are all deeply disappointed by Myanmar's recent executions of four pro-democracy activists.

He said the action jeopardizes an agreement reached last year calling for dialogue, an end to violence, and humanitarian assistance.

He said that if the junta executes more prisoners, "we will have to reconsider our roles in the five-point consensus that has been agreed upon by ASEAN."

The main focus of the meetings will be how far ASEAN will go to address Myanmar's situation. The group has a principle of non-interference in each other's internal affairs.

Delegates are also expected to discuss challenges related to the South China Sea, where Beijing has been expanding its maritime activities.


Key words : detained kubota subjected
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220803_33/

A group of people close to Japanese journalist Kubota Toru has urged Myanmar's military to release him as soon as possible.

The Japanese Embassy in Myanmar says Kubota was detained by security forces on Saturday at an anti-coup rally in the country's largest city of Yangon.

Kubota's business partners and friends spoke out at a news conference in Tokyo on Wednesday, seeking his early release.

The group included Japanese journalist Kitazumi Yuki, who was detained in Yangon in April last year and freed about a month later.

Kitazumi said Kubota's safety cannot be guaranteed, as a local who was detained with him has reportedly been subjected to violence.

Kubota's friend from Myanmar who lives in Japan said he was very surprised and upset to learn of the detainment.

He asked the Japanese government to persuade Myanmar's military to free Kubota and other innocent young people held in the country.

Separately, PEN International and the Japan PEN Club issued a joint statement on Tuesday, calling for the "immediate and unconditional release" of Kubota.


Key words : marcos no intention
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220802_17/

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says his country has no intention of rejoining the International Criminal Court, which plans to investigate his predecessor's deadly war on drugs.

Marcos Jr. told reporters in Manila on Monday that an investigation is already underway in the Philippines and questioned why an ICC probe is necessary.

His predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, pulled the country out of the ICC in 2019 after it launched a preliminary probe into police killings of suspected drug dealers and users.

Judges at The Hague-based court later authorized a prosecutor to investigate alleged crimes against humanity.

Philippine government records show more than 6,200 people were killed during a six-year crackdown, although the actual toll is believed to be higher.

A Philippine-based human rights group has criticized Marcos Jr.'s decision, saying "it is not surprising" that the president would protect Duterte against the charge of crimes against humanity.


Key words : university nagasaki
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220802_22/

The University of Tokyo is planning to hold an exhibit in New York that uses digital technology to convey the experiences of those who went through the atomic bombings in Japan.

The event will take place at the university's office in New York from Saturday for two days. The exhibit coincides with the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and a review conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons at the UN headquarters.

Visitors will be surrounded by large screens showing the Hiroshima Archive and Nagasaki Archive websites, which display videos and photographs of about 300 hibakusha survivors.

Viewers can feel as though they are meeting hibakusha in person and hear what they experienced.

There will also be digital maps that show damaged buildings and other destruction in Ukraine caused by Russia's invasion. The maps combine satellite images and 3D data to display the scenes in great detail.

Researchers hope that the exhibit will enable people to feel the scope of destruction caused by war.

On the first day of the event, three hibakusha are scheduled to speak about their experiences.

University of Tokyo Professor Watanave Hidenori says the testimonies of hibakusha will be conveyed in a more understandable way to those who have not had much interest in the impact of the atomic bombings. He said he hopes this will be an opportunity to think about the importance of peace.


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