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/20230210183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : leaders philippines
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230209_41/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. have agreed to strengthen economic and security cooperation for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The two leaders met in Tokyo on Thursday evening. Marcos is visiting Japan for the first time since he took office last June.

At the beginning of the talks, Kishida said Japan views cooperation with the Philippines, which is a maritime country neighboring Japan, as being extremely important. He said he hopes discussions would be fruitful.

The two leaders shared the significance of maintaining international order based on the rule of law against the backdrop of China's increasing maritime activities in the South and East China seas.

Kishida and Marcos agreed to strengthen economic cooperation, including Japan's financial assistance for infrastructure projects in the Philippines.

They also agreed to step up security cooperation through joint exercises between the Philippine military and Japan's Self-Defense Forces and other measures.

Kishida told Marcos that Japan will provide public and private funds worth 600 billion yen, or about 4.6 billion dollars, by March 2024 to help promote economic growth of the Philippines.

Kishida later stated at a joint news conference that Japan aims to take bilateral relations to a higher level, and contribute further to peace and stability of the region and the world.

Key words : china taiwan independence
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230210_04/

The head of China's administrative body for Taiwan policies says Beijing is willing to enhance exchanges with Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Kuomintang, based on the common political foundation of opposing Taiwan's independence.

Song Tao, the director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the comment during a meeting with the Kuomintang's vice chairman Andrew Hsia in Beijing on Thursday.

China's state-run Xinhua News Agency says Song conveyed Beijing's commitment to promoting the spirit of the Communist Party's National Congress that took place last year.

Song also pledged that China would honor the orders made by President Xi Jinping regarding Taiwan affairs.

Xi used his address to the National Congress to reiterate his commitment to what he called the "reunification" of his country.

He also refused to renounce the use of force to accomplish the goal and underscored his intention to implement the "one country, two systems" principle in Taiwan.

The Kuomintang says Hsia told Song that the impact of cross-strait political differences on trade and people's lives should be limited as much as possible.

The remark was an apparent reference to China's suspension of imports of agricultural products, seafood and other goods from Taiwan.

This is the second time in the past six months that the Kuomintang has sent Hsia to China.

Analysts say the Kuomintang is seeking to cast itself as a party that can talk with Beijing in order to differentiate itself from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party ahead of the presidential election next year.

But the Kuomintang is also believed to be wary of being seen as overly conciliatory toward China. The party says a separate delegation is currently visiting the United States and will travel to Japan next week.

Key words : government face mask
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230210_12/

The Japanese government plans to allow people to make their own choices about wearing face masks to prevent coronavirus infections, beginning in March.

The government currently recommends that masks be worn indoors. It is reviewing the recommendation because the coronavirus will be reclassified to the same category as seasonal influenza from May 8.

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio will discuss the timing of the change and other details with health minister Kato Katsunobu and other officials on Friday.

Kishida aims to allow people to make their own decisions about mask-wearing from March, as new infections have been declining nationwide.

The government is expected to formally approve the plan on Friday after seeking expert opinions and obtaining consent from members of the government's coronavirus taskforce.

The health ministry plans to notify the public about situations where masks would be effective, such as when the elderly and others at higher risk of serious illness go to crowded places.

Key words : craft whiskey
#N/A