at 18:30 (JST), March 13

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/20230313183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : and south five years
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230313_02/

The United States and South Korea are poised to begin their regular joint military exercise on Monday, with large-scale field training set to resume. But this may prompt North Korea to act provocatively.

The 11-day Freedom Shield exercise will take place on the assumption of a Korean Peninsula emergency. It will be the first spring drill of its kind since South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol took office last May.

The exercise will see major field training resume for the first time in five years. It was suspended under the administration of former President Moon Jae-in.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reports that the exercise will involve about 20 kinds of training, including amphibious landing.

It adds that the exercise may proceed concurrently with the deployment of a US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and submarine to waters near the Korean Peninsula.

The South Korean military says it will further reinforce its response capabilities through the exercise that will reflect North Korea's advanced nuclear and missile development, as well as the changing security environment.

North Korea has strongly protested the exercise and suggested it might respond provocatively if the drill goes ahead.

The Sunday edition of the Korean Workers' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun reports that an enlarged meeting of the party's Central Military Commission adopted important practical steps for making more effective, powerful and offensive use of the war deterrent of the country.

South Korea's intelligence agency said on Tuesday that North Korea is expected to stage large-scale military exercises in March and April.

The agency added that the exercises could entail Pyongyang's first-ever launch of a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile. Solid fuel enables quicker launches of missiles compared to conventional liquid fuel.

Key words : eased mask
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230313_03/

The Japanese government eased its coronavirus mask-wearing guidelines on Monday, leaving it up to individuals to decide whether to put on face coverings.

But the government maintains its recommendation that people wear masks on occasions, such as visiting medical institutions and using crowded buses or trains.

The government says this is to prevent the coronavirus from spreading to senior citizens and others at high risk of developing serious symptoms.

The government plans to use social media, TV commercials and other methods to explain when and where people should consider wearing masks.

Industry organizations have reviewed their anti-infection guidelines in view of the change. About 80 percent of them say they decided to allow each business to set their own mask rules.

Under Japan's five-tier scale for infectious diseases, COVID-19 is currently classified as equivalent to category two -- the second most severe level.

The government will downgrade it to category five, the lowest and the same as seasonal influenza, on May 8.

Key words : china reunification
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230313_15/

China's President Xi Jinping has reiterated his determination to push for the reunification of Taiwan in a speech to the National People's Congress.

Xi gave the speech as the legislature wrapped up its session in Beijing on Monday. The congress unanimously endorsed his unprecedented third term as president last week.

Xi said he will advance the process of the reunification of the motherland, stressing that China will firmly oppose pro-independence and secessionist activities and the interference of external forces.

His remark is apparently aimed at keeping the United States in check.

Xi also pledged to build what he calls a "great modern socialist country" by the middle of the 21st century.

He stressed that security is the bedrock of development, and pledged efforts to further strengthen China's military.

He said China must advance the modernization of national defense and armed forces to turn them into a "great wall of steel" to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.

The congress approved a report that set this year's target for economic growth at around 5 percent, as well as a budget that calls for a 7.2-percent increase in defense spending.

Xi had won reelection as the top leader of the Communist Party last year. He has now cemented his power after his allies were appointed to key posts by the legislature.

Key words : Saturday marks nuclear
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230311_01/

Saturday marks 12 years since a massive earthquake and tsunami devastated northeastern Japan. The disaster triggered one of the world's worst nuclear accidents.

At 2:46 p.m. on March 11, 2011, a magnitude-9.0 quake struck off the coast, sending waves as high as 10 meters crashing into communities across the Tohoku region.

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant suffered a triple meltdown, releasing large amounts of radioactive substances.

Hundreds of thousands of people were forced to abandon their homes.

Statistics from the National Police Agency show 15,900 people died due to the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, and 2,523 people remain missing.

The number of evacuees whose deaths are certified as related to the disaster increased by six over the past year to 3,792.

As of last month, there were still 30,884 evacuees.

Last year, Japan's nuclear regulators announced that treated and diluted water from the crippled nuclear plant will be released into the ocean.

The water is pumped in to cool molten fuel. It mixes with rain and groundwater that has seeped into the damaged reactor buildings.

Japan's government says most radioactive substances have been filtered out of the water. The hydrogen isotope tritium remains but will be lowered to one-seventh of World Health Organization standards for drinking water.

The release is scheduled to begin this spring or summer. But local fishery industries oppose the plan. People in other countries have also expressed concern.

More than 300 square kilometers of land near the power plant are still classified as "difficult to return."

Key words : hong kong security law
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230311_19/

A Hong Kong court has handed jail term sentences to three pro-democracy activists involved in annual vigils for victims of the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989.

Chow Hang-tung and two others were given four and a half month terms on Saturday after being accused of failing to provide authorities with information on their now-defunct pro-democracy group.

Chow had been vice chairperson of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which was forced to disband in 2021.

The court said the defendants violated the national security law for Hong Kong by failing to submit documents on members, operations and other details of their group to police. The court also said national security is important to public interests and the nation.

Chow made a statement before the sentencing, despite occasional interruptions by a judge. She said she and other activists will fight injustices wherever they must, "be it on the streets, in the courtroom or from a prison cell."

Chow and other former leaders of the group as well as the group itself have also been indicted on charges of inciting subversion of state power.

In addition to organizing the annual Tiananmen vigils, the group ran a museum devoted to materials related to the clampdown on pro-democracy protesters.

Authorities have banned the vigils and arrested senior members of the group. The moves are part of China's crackdown on pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong following their massive demonstrations in 2019.

Key words : energy crisis asia
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230313_04/

Fierce fighting continues in eastern Ukraine. The war's ripple effects are felt not only in the region but in other countries as well, including some in South Asia.

Pakistan faces a severe gas shortage. Surging energy prices have made it difficult for the country to import liquefied natural gas. Even residential areas in the capital's center are experiencing supply halts that can last half a day. "I don't know what or how I'm going to cook. This situation makes me cry," says a woman in Islamabad.

Some people are turning to crime. A man living in northwestern Pakistan says he regularly gets gas from people who steal it from a nearby pipeline. He says some people obtaining gas have been injured when it leaked and ignited.

He said he has to keep using the stolen gas in order to survive.

Sri Lanka is facing a spike in food prices. Local people say rice costs almost doubled from last year. Soaring energy prices have driven up transportation and production costs. This has further damaged the island nation, already struggling amid an economic crisis.

Children are among those suffering the most. A girl almost lost consciousness during a morning assembly. She had not eaten since the day before.

She said, "My family can no longer get eggs, meat or fish. The whole situation has changed and bread is very expensive. We cannot eat bread like we used to."

Her school says 75 percent of its students are in the "low weight" category as defined by the World Health Organization. That number is up 30 percentage points from a year earlier.

Christian Skoog, UNICEF Sri Lanka Representative, said, "If things don't get back to normal quickly, it will be a significant setback for a generation to come."

UNICEF is working with Sri Lanka's government to deliver free meals to children. The UN Children's Fund is appealing to the international community for further assistance.

Key words : advanced final italy
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230313_05/

Japan's two-way superstar Ohtani Shohei has blasted a home run to help his team cruise past Australia 7-1 in their last game in the first round of the World Baseball Classic. Samurai Japan has advanced to the quarterfinals as the top finisher in Pool B.

Japan faced Australia at Tokyo Dome on Sunday. Ohtani came to bat in the first inning and belted a three-run moonshot that went over the right-field fence and hit an advertising board above the stands.

Japan's starting pitcher, Yamamoto Yoshinobu, kept the Australian batters at bay with a combination of breaking pitches and fastballs clocking over 150 kilometers per hour. He threw four scoreless innings, notching eight strikeouts and only allowing one hit.

Japan is aiming for its third World Baseball Classic title after winning the tournament in 2006 and 2009.

The global powerhouse wrapped up its Pool B campaign with four wins and no losses, booking a ticket to the second round for the fifth straight tournament since the WBC's inauguration in 2006.

Japan will clash with the Pool A runner-up, Italy, in a quarterfinal game at Tokyo Dome on Thursday.

Japan's Manager Kuriyama Hideki said after the game against Australia that there were upsides and downsides to how his team played in its first-round games. But he added that he is relieved to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.

Ohtani said he could hit a home run in a good trajectory for the first time in a while although he had recently been unable to send balls up as he hoped with pull hitting.

Ohtani added that he wanted to hit his first home run in the WBC as soon as possible because he had been dreaming of it since he was a child. He said he will work hard to deliver another homer in the next game.

Yamamoto said he was a little nervous but able to pitch without unnecessary strains from the first inning thanks to Ohtani's home run.

Yamamoto hurled 60 pitches over four innings. He said he threw needlessly more pitches than he had planned as he lost control of his pitching from time to time. He added that he will make adjustments to retain control.