at 18:30 (JST), April 26

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/20230426183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : semiconductor 1.9 billion
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230425_18/

Japan's government will provide a second round of funding to a new Japanese semiconductor company.

Industry minister Nishimura Yasutoshi told reporters on Tuesday that Rapidus will receive 260 billion yen, or about 1.9 billion dollars.

He said, "Rapidus is a project that symbolizes cooperation among Japan, the US, and European countries in the field of semiconductors."

The money will be spent mainly on a production line in a new factory in the northern prefecture of Hokkaido.

Rapidus plans to build a trial line in 2025, aiming for mass production around 2027.

The company was formed last year with investments from Toyota Motor, telecom giant NTT, Sony Group and others.

Rapidus aims to produce leading-edge chips essential for self-driving vehicles and artificial intelligence at the new plant.

The ministry earlier provided financial support of 70 billion yen, or about 522 million dollars. The latest funding brings the government's investments to 330 billion yen, or about 2.5 billion dollars.

Key words : veteran journalist
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230425_39/

Sources say a veteran Chinse journalist has reportedly been indicted on spying charges. Dong Yuyu had been detained in February last year after meeting with an official at the Japanese Embassy in Beijing.

Sources say Dong, a 61-year-old former senior writer and editor at the Guangming Daily, a Communist Party-affiliated newspaper, was taken into custody immediately after meeting with the Japanese Embassy official.

The Japanese government lodged a protest against the Chinese government, as the official who met Dong was also temporarily detained.

Dong was then arrested by security authorities in Beijing, and indicted last month on charges of espionage.

The National Press Club, a professional organization for journalists based in Washington, issued a statement on Monday urging the Chinese government to release him. It said, "No evidence has been presented that justifies sending his case to trial."

The organization said Dong was well-known to many Western journalists and diplomats and was a contributor to the New York Times.

Meanwhile, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson was asked to comment on the issue at a news conference on Tuesday. The spokesperson said the ministry is unaware of the specific circumstances of the case.

Key words : defense ministry chinese aircraft
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230425_04/

Japan's Defense Ministry says a Chinese aircraft carrier sailing in the Pacific Ocean south of Japan has had more than 600 take-offs and landings of aircraft. The ministry is keeping a close watch on the vessel.

Maritime Self-Defense Force personnel spotted a fleet of six Chinese vessels, including the carrier Shandong, navigating about 420 kilometers south of Miyakojima Island in Okinawa Prefecture on Sunday evening.

The Shandong has been in the waters between Okinawa Prefecture and the Ogasawara Islands since April 7.
Ministry officials said about 610 take-offs and landings of fighter jets and helicopters on the vessel were observed through Sunday.

They said another Chinese vessel was spotted carrying out an at-sea refueling operation for the Shandong.

The Shandong, China's first domestically built carrier, was commissioned in December 2019. This is the first time the vessel has been observed in the Pacific.

Key words : thailand general election
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20230417204100553/

Young voters key in Thai general election

Thais will head to the ballot box in just under a month to vote in a general election. And while much of the focus has been on the contest between the military-backed ruling parties and the main opposition, another decisive factor will be the youth vote. People under 40 now make up around 40 % of all voters.