at 18:30 (JST), March 03

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/20230303183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : taiwan defense sales
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230302_21/

The United States has approved arms sales totaling 619 million dollars to Taiwan, including missiles to be used for F-16 fighter jets.

The US State Department said in a statement on Wednesday that it had approved the sales of the missiles as well as equipment to support them. The Department said it had notified Congress of the move.

The department statement says, "The proposed sale will contribute to the recipient's capability to provide for the defense of its airspace, regional security, and interoperability with the United States."

Taiwan's defense ministry expressed gratitude for the US decision to approve the sales.

The ministry said the missiles would help to "effectively defend the airspace to deal with threats and provocations from the Communist military" and would bolster defense stockpiles.

The move follows the US approval last December of arms sales to Taiwan worth 428 million dollars, including replacement parts for Taiwan's fleet of F-16 fighters and C-130 transport planes.

China has been stepping up military pressure on Taiwan by conducting air drills near the region. The United States has been demonstrating its resolve to help Taiwan bolster its defense capability through arms sales.

Key words : G20 foreign without
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230303_01/

The war in Ukraine was on the agenda for the G20 foreign ministers when they met for two days in New Delhi. They did not find common ground and ended their meeting without a joint statement.

Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said there were differences on the Ukraine issue which they could not reconcile between various parties and different positions.

The ministers discussed the global surge in energy and food prices. But they were not able to come up with a unified response.

A senior US official says Secretary of State Antony Blinken briefly spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines.

The official says the exchange lasted about 10 minutes and that Blinken reaffirmed America's commitment to supporting Ukraine.

The G20 meeting was held behind closed doors. According to the US government, Blinken said the meeting had again been marred by what he described as Russia's unprovoked and unjustified attacks on Ukraine.

Russian state media said foreign minister Lavrov criticized Western sanctions on Russia. They said he called for barriers against what he described as illegal sanctions that undermine free trade.

According to the Chinese government, Foreign Minister Qin Gang said international issues should be decided through discussions and that different camps should not confront each other.

Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa was not part of the meeting. He had to attend a Diet committee session in Tokyo. He left Japan for India Thursday night to attend a meeting of the Quad security framework, which is made up of Japan, the US, Australia, and India.

Key words : vietnam youngest
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230302_42/

Vietnam's parliament elected Vo Van Thuong as president in an extraordinary session on Thursday. His role is the country's second-highest after Communist party leader.

The 52-year old Thuong is the youngest member of the party's Politburo, but he is viewed as a political veteran after holding key party posts.

In January, his predecessor Nguyen Xuan Phuc stepped down to take responsibility for a wide-ranging corruption scandal involving coronavirus pandemic measures. Phuc's resignation was unusual in that it came in the middle of his term.

Thuong's election could help reassure the country's foreign investors, some of whom had voiced concerns about political turmoil.

Key words : piano
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230302_20/

A piano damaged in the tsunami that hit northeastern Japan in 2011 has been put on display at an airport in Miyagi Prefecture for anyone to play.

The grand piano was temporarily installed at Sendai Airport on Wednesday. Visitors are recalling their memories of the disaster while playing what has been dubbed the "reconstruction piano."

The instrument was engulfed in the tsunami that was triggered by the massive earthquake on March 11, 2011.

Self-Defense Force personnel used heavy machinery to pull it out of the water.

The piano has been repaired and tuned. But the marks on the case have been left intact, along with partial damage to one of the white keys.

A woman in her 70s from Sendai City says she has heard about the piano, but this is the first time she has seen and touched it. She says it's wonderful that it produces beautiful sounds.

Another woman from Fukushima Prefecture says she enjoyed playing the piano with her daughter. She says she would like to pass on her experiences of the disaster to her daughter through opportunities like this.

The piano will be on display at the airport's arrival lobby on the first floor through March 12.

Key words : yashio pakistani
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/

The city of Yashio in Saitama Prefecture is home to around 4,000 people from outside Japan ... including around 160 from Pakistan. Although it's a small community, it has established such a strong identity that it's now come to be known by the nickname "Yashiostan".