at 18:30 (JST), February 15

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/20230215183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : defense ministry spy balloon three times
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230215_03/

Japanese officials say unidentified flying objects spotted in the country's airspace in recent years are strongly suspected to have been Chinese spy balloons.

The Defense Ministry announced their analysis on Tuesday.

Balloon-like objects were spotted over Japan's territory at least three times between 2019 and 2021.

Officials urged Beijing to confirm details and prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

They told their counterparts that violation of airspace by foreign spy balloons cannot be tolerated.

Defense Ministry sources say the analysis is based on intelligence from the United States about the Chinese balloon the US military shot down on February 4.

Beijing claims it was a "civilian airship" mainly used for weather research.

The US also downed three unidentified flying objects over North America this month.

China responded by claiming that high-altitude balloons from the US have flown through its airspace without permission more than 10 times since the start of 2022.

Washington denies the allegation.

Key words : japanese red cross
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230214_39/

The ongoing civil war in Syria is making relief efforts difficult after a round of devastating earthquakes.

In Damascus Tuesday, Japanese Red Cross Society representative Matsunaga Hajime described the difficulties.

Matsunaga said: "Things here were quite chaotic. There were conflicting reports. It was hard to gather important information."

Matsunaga is working with several organizations to coordinate support and rescue operations.

The regional representative says the conflict in Syria limits where they can carry out humanitarian duties.

Matsunaga says his team plans to focus on coordinating medical-related support. He says many in the region were already in need, and the earthquakes have only compounded the issue.

"People who fled the 12-year civil war have been affected by the earthquakes. There are people who have a lot of misfortune, so I want everyone to recognize the importance of humanitarian aid," he says.

Matsunaga says the international community needs to focus on providing help over the long term, not just now.

Key words : ueda nominated
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230215_32/

Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says the government nominated Ueda Kazuo to be the next central bank governor because he is a globally renowned economist with great expertise in finance.

The government presented Ueda's nomination to the Diet on Tuesday. Ueda would replace incumbent Kuroda Haruhiko whose term ends in early April if lawmakers approve.

Kishida told the Lower House budget committee on Wednesday that the possible impact of the nomination on financial markets was taken into account.

The prime minister said that close cooperation with the central bank governors of major economies, and communications with market players in and outside Japan have become more important since the 2008 global financial crisis. Kishida added that Ueda's strong communication skills were one of the factors in the government decision.

Kishida also said the government expects Ueda to lead the Bank of Japan so that the country can achieve economic growth accompanied by wage hikes and price stability.

Key words : ueda macroeconomics
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230214_18/

The Japanese government has officially proposed the appointment of Ueda Kazuo as the Bank of Japan's new governor. He would replace incumbent Kuroda Haruhiko, whose term ends in early April.

The government presented the nomination to executive members of the Steering Committees of both houses of the Diet on Tuesday.

Ueda is a specialist in macroeconomics and finance. He previously served on the BOJ Policy Board for seven years and helped the bank introduce its zero interest rate policy and quantitative easing.

The 71-year-old was also an economics professor at the University of Tokyo. He would be the first BOJ governor in the post-war era to come from academia. The bank's top post has customarily been occupied by a former BOJ or Finance Ministry official.

The government also presented the Diet with the nomination of Himino Ryozo as deputy governor. He is the former chief of the Financial Services Agency.

Current BOJ Executive Director Uchida Shinichi was tapped as the other deputy.

The new leadership will face the challenge of generating a stable economic cycle in which prices rise in tandem with salaries. It will also look to address the effects of the bank's massive monetary easing.

The three nominees have to be approved by both chambers of the Diet to assume their posts. They are expected to speak in front of the Steering Committees in the coming weeks.

Key words : high school student suzuki kei
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20230124085317526/

A Japanese high school student who has spent years battling cancer has recently started performing electronic piano concerts - in order to give other children who are also suffering from illness a much-needed boost of hope. This report explores how he hopes to spread peace and joy through music.