at 18:30 (JST), April 07

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/20230407183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : macron taking actions
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230407_02/

The leaders of France and China have agreed that Russia and Ukraine should resume peace talks as soon as possible. They also agreed that no one should use nuclear weapons.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing.

Xi said China and France have a responsibility to promote multilateralism and protect the peace, stability, and prosperity of the world.

Macron expressed hopes that China will work for peace in Ukraine. He said he's counting on Xi to bring Russia back to reason and everyone back to the negotiating table.

At a joint news conference later, Xi said China insists on promoting peace negotiations and a political settlement.

"China is willing to work with France to call on the international community to stay rational and restrained, and avoid taking actions that will further make the crisis deteriorate or even get out of control," Xi said.

Xi and Macron both said nuclear weapons must not be used.

Macron said, "The desire that France shares is that nuclear weapons be totally excluded from this conflict, that all international treaties on the subject be respected, and that under no circumstances nuclear weapons be deployed outside the territory of states."

He said Russia's plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus goes against a commitment it made to China.

Macron said negotiations should be resumed as soon as possible to build a sustainable peace. He also said respect for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity is a condition for realizing peace.

Key words : ground self-defense 10 personnel vanish
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230407_01/

A search is underway for the crew of a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter that went missing off the coast of an island in the southwestern prefecture of Okinawa.

The Defense Ministry says a UH-60JA multi-purpose chopper vanished from radar while flying over waters north of the island of Miyakojima at around 3:56 p.m. on Thursday.

It says the helicopter was carrying 10 personnel, including the head of the GSDF's 8th Division, to which the craft belongs.

The ministry says the helicopter left a base on Miyakojima at 3:46 p.m. and was scheduled to return at 5:05 p.m.

It says wind velocity, visibility and other weather conditions near the island were good enough for a helicopter flight, and that the crew was checking its surroundings visually.

Coast guard officials say their search has discovered what appear to be parts of the chopper in or near waters where it went missing. It has also found oil floating on the water surface.

The Defense Ministry says it is trying to confirm whether the parts are from the helicopter.

The ministry says the incident was likely an accident, and has set up an accident investigation committee at the GSDF.

GSDF Chief of Staff General Morishita Yasunori apologized at a news conference on Thursday. He said the GSDF will continue doing everything it can to find and rescue all personnel of the helicopter as soon as possible.

The GSDF has grounded all its helicopters of the same type nationwide, except for disaster dispatches and other incidents.

Key words : thailand candidate
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230406_36/

Thailand's largest opposition party has unveiled its candidates for prime minister. A general election is set for mid-May.

The Pheu Thai Party has officially named Paetongtarn Shinawatra as of one its candidates to head the government. She's the daughter of ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The party held a major campaign rally on Wednesday near the capital, Bangkok. It leads the race with support of nearly 50 percent from voters according to the latest poll.

Paetongtarn said her party will work together to "take back democracy." She said it is "taking back the good livelihood and prosperity which has been missing for the past decade."

Paetongtarn says she needs to win with a landslide. Five hundred Lower House seats are up for grabs. Her party is expected to win most seats.

But the prime minister will be picked by both chambers. The senate has a significant say, with 250 members who were chosen by the military.

Incumbent Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has filed his candidacy with the United Thai Nation Party. The latest poll puts his party third in the race, at about 12 percent.

He led Thailand's military coup in 2014, and made himself interim prime minister. He became prime minister after winning the country's 2019 election.

Key words : despite the personal risk ordinary people struggling
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20230313200553412/

A Myanmar filmmaker has documented his fellow citizen's struggle against the military junta following the coup in 2021.