at 18:30 (JST), May 18

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/20230518183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : group of sanctions geopolitical
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230518_13/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is on his way to Hiroshima to host his counterparts at the Group of Seven summit. He is scheduled to meet US President Joe Biden on Thursday, one day before the summit gets underway.

Kishida spoke to reporters as he left Tokyo. He said, "I want the summit to be an opportunity to convey the G7 countries' strong determination towards a world without nuclear weapons and to safeguard a free and open international order based on the rule of law."

G7 leaders are scheduled to discuss the situation in Ukraine and geopolitical challenges in the Indo-Pacific. Food security and the state of the global economy will also be on the agenda.

President Biden has already left for Hiroshima but is cutting his visit abroad short as his government grapples with a standoff over the US debt ceiling.

Kishida and Biden are expected to talk about the response capabilities of their countries' alliance amid growing concerns over China and North Korea.

They are also expected to exchange opinions on cooperation in the economic field, including strengthening supply chains for semiconductors and important minerals.

The leaders are expected to make final adjustments on issues to be discussed from Friday, such as how to deal with sanctions against Russia and how to support Ukraine.

Kishida hopes to highlight the risks of nuclear weapons in the city that was the site of the world's first atomic bombing in 1945. On Friday, leaders are scheduled to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which is dedicated to detailing the devastation.

Key words : leaders of china and
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230518_03/

Leaders of China and Central Asian nations have gathered in inland China for a two-day summit to discuss enhancing collaboration through China's Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.

The China-Central Asia Summit brings together leaders from five Central Asian nations, including Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as China. The summit, which will be held for the first time, is taking place in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, starting Thursday.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry says President Xi Jinping will give a speech at the gathering. He will then exchange views with other leaders on cooperation in a broad range of fields.

The leaders are to wrap up the summit after jointly signing a political document.

Expanding participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, aimed at creating a massive economic zone, will be high on the agenda.

Xi is also expected to hold separate talks with each leader.

Ministry officials say Xi held talks with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Wednesday and stressed that the two countries have ushered in a new "golden age" of bilateral ties.

Xi expressed willingness to carry forward the traditional friendship shared between the two sides.

The summit comes as leaders of the Group of Seven bloc are set to meet in Hiroshima, western Japan, on Friday.

China appears determined to strengthen cooperation with Central Asian nations to elevate its presence in the region and keep the US in check.

Key words : thailand talk five
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230518_05/

In Thailand, the main opposition Move Forward Party has entered talks with five other opposition parties on forming a ruling coalition after emerging victorious in the general election.

Sunday's election saw Move Forward capture most seats in the lower house, although it failed to win a majority. The Pheu Thai Party, affiliated with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, came second.

Move Forward wants to eliminate the army's political influence in Thailand, currently led by pro-military parties. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha seized power in a coup nine years ago.

Against this backdrop, Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat met top representatives of five other opposition parties for coalition talks in Bangkok on Wednesday.

He later told reporters the discussions went smoothly, though he did not give details.

Move Forward and Pheu Thai remains far apart on some issues, including the lese-majeste law, which forbids insulting the royal family. Move Forward wants to amend that law.

It remains to be seen whether Move Forward can convince opposition parties to join hands and replace the pro-military government.

Key words : taiwan opposition
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230517_35/

Taiwan's largest opposition Kuomintang party has picked the mayor of New Taipei City, Hou Yu-ih, as its candidate for the 2024 presidential election. That sets up a three-way race among all major parties.

The party announced the nomination on Wednesday, saying it considered recent poll results and opinions of its lawmakers.

Hou said that internationally, Taiwan faces the danger of war, while domestically there are conflicts over divisions and countless things to be fixed. He vowed to lead the KMT to victory.

Hou served as national police chief, then deputy mayor of New Taipei City before winning its mayoral election in 2018. He was reelected last year.

Hou has said he is against Taiwan independence and does not agree to the "one country, two systems" framework. But he has rarely spoken about his stance on relations with China and other diplomatic issues.

In the race for the nomination, Terry Gou, the founder of Hon Hai Precision Industry, was also seen as a potential candidate.

Observers say Hou's nomination could stir dissatisfaction among KMT members, as Gou's support rate increased during the prolonged selection process. The party now faces the challenge of uniting to win back power for the first time in eight years.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party has named Vice President Lai Ching-te as its candidate for the presidential election to be held in January, while the Taiwan People's Party, the third-largest force in legislature, picked former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je.

Key words : vietnam summit
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230517_45/

Vietnam's Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son has expressed hope that issues facing emerging and developing countries are addressed during the Group of Seven summit, which will be held in Hiroshima, Japan, later this week.

Vietnam is one of the Southeast Asian nations invited to the expanded summit meeting.

On Tuesday, Vietnam's Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son spoke to reporters ahead of his trip to Hiroshima, along with Prime Minster Pham Minh Chinh.

He said, "We hope G7 members and participating countries will share with developing nations their lessons, best practices and effective methods for handling global issues, and help with challenges for sustainable development.

Son added his country also expects Japan, as the host nation and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, to lead efforts to secure a better environment.

The minister said, "We hope Japan will continue to promote its role and make active contributions toward creating peace and stability. We also want Tokyo to promote cooperation on global and regional problems, and support the sustainable growth of developing countries."

Key words : senior official opposition child abuse
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230517_30/

A senior official of Japan's largest opposition party says he will seek a revision to the child abuse prevention law. This comes after sexual misconduct allegations emerged against the late founder of a major talent agency.

Diet affairs chief of the Constitutional Democratic Party Azumi Jun made the remarks at a party meeting on Wednesday.

Johnny Kitagawa founded Johnny & Associates in 1962 and produced some of J-pop's biggest boybands. He died in 2019.

Kitagawa is accused of sexual misconduct on multiple former members including musician Kauan Okamoto who held a news conference in April.

On Tuesday, Okamoto and another alleged victim attended a CDP meeting. They called on the lawmakers to enact legislation to prevent such sexual abuses from recurring.

Azumi said the talent agency still has a large influence on media organizations, but it is not socially permissible that it had crossed the red line.

He said such victims should be given a helping hand. He said he will seek a non-partisan bill to amend the law during the current Diet session that ends in June.

Justice Minister Saito Ken told a Lower House committee that he wanted to refrain from commenting on the issues as a minister.

But he added that generally speaking, sexual misconduct is a malicious and serious crime that hugely impairs the dignity of its victims and continues to cause heavy physical and mental pain for many years. He said such misconduct should be severely punished.

Key words : treatment soldier several
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230517_42/

Japan's government is set to accept wounded Ukrainian soldiers at the Self-Defense Forces' main hospital as part of its support for the country.

Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu is scheduled to hold talks with Ukrainian Ambassador to Japan Sergiy Korsunsky at his ministry on Thursday.

The government has provided Ukraine with bullet-proof vests, helmets and other supplies owned by the Self-Defense Forces following Russia's invasion. It had been looking into whether it can provide further support.

The government now plans to accept several Ukrainian soldiers at the Self-Defense Force Central Hospital in Tokyo as early as next month.
The soldiers would include those who were wounded by land mines. They are expected to undergo treatment and rehabilitation with the costs to be borne by Japan.

The measure is in response to a request by the Ukrainian government.