at 18:30 (JST), May 25

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/20230525183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : cambodia general election
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230524_33/

Cambodia's Prime Minister has warned Western nations not to interfere in his country's internal affairs, ahead of its upcoming general election in July.

Hun Sen spoke in the capital Phnom Penh on Tuesday. His remarks came amid growing international concern over the election, after the country's major opposition party was disqualified from taking part.

"Cambodia is an independent and sovereign country," Hun Sen said. Addressing Western nations, he added, "I would like you all to understand that from now until the election, please be silent."

Cambodia's election committee rejected the Candlelight Party's registration earlier this month, claiming the opposition party did not submit necessary documents.

This was not the first time the opposition has been excluded from elections. Candlelight, which came in second in last year's local races, was established after courts forced the Cambodia National Rescue Party to disband in 2018.

The European Union's diplomatic service released a statement after Candlelight's registration was rejected. It called the development a "worrying sign," and said the EU strongly objects to the decision.

A statement from a US Embassy spokesperson in Cambodia cited "threats and incidents of harassment" against media and the opposition, which it said impede the Cambodian people's participation in democracy.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has been in power for nearly four decades. Cambodia holds general elections every five years. At its previous vote in 2018, the ruling party claimed all 125 seats.

Key words : china and russia g7
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230524_30/

Chinese President Xi Jinping has told Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin that relations between the two countries are developing at a high level.

Xi and Mishustin met in Beijing on Wednesday. Mishustin arrived in China the previous day on his first official visit there since he took office.

A Russian state-run news agency reported that Xi hailed the developing ties of the two nations and their cooperation in various fields.

Chinese state-run media quoted Xi as saying China is willing to continue working with Russia to firmly support each other on issues involving each other's core interests.

Xi stressed that China hopes to strengthen collaboration with Russia in multilateral forums such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Group of 20 economies.

Mishustin pointed to growing tension in the international situation. He said Russia and China are jointly standing against attempts by Western nations to use what he called illegal sanctions to maintain their influence on the world and impose their will on other countries.

Analysts say China and Russia are stressing their closer ties in an apparent bid to keep the Group of Seven countries in check. At their recent summit in the western Japanese city of Hiroshima, the G7 nations showed unity in taking a tough stance against Beijing and Moscow.

Key words : hong kong carrier
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230524_26/

Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific Airways says it has dismissed three flight attendants accused of discrimination against non-English speakers.

The accusation was made online against the crewmembers of the airline's flight from the Chinese city of Chengdu to Hong Kong on Sunday.

Hong Kong media say they made fun of a passenger who mixed up the English terms "carpet" and "blanket." In what appears to be a recording from the flight that circulated widely online, someone says, "If you cannot say 'blanket' in English, you cannot have it."

The post went viral, drawing accusations of discrimination against Chinese speakers.

Cathay Pacific CEO Ronald Lam said on Wednesday that the airline had fired the three, and extended his "sincerest apologies." He said he would conduct a comprehensive review of services and staff training, and vowed to enhance the airline's service.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said on Wednesday that he was disappointed to learn about the incident and urged the airline to prevent a recurrence.

Key words : haruki award
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230525_06/

Japanese author Murakami Haruki has won Spain's Princess of Asturias Award for Literature this year. It is one of the most prestigious awards in Europe.

The Princess of Asturias Foundation announced on Wednesday that the jury chose Murakami from among 37 candidates of 17 nationalities.

The foundation says, "A cult author who has been translated into more than forty languages, according to specialists Murakami is an unnerving writer, with a prose that reveals the influences of authors such as Dostoyevsky, Dickens, Capote and Vargas Llosa."

It goes on to say that in his works, "He employs an intimate tone -- at times surrealistic and with traces of humour and suspension of belief."

It adds he "confronts the most serious social problems and the fight to defend essential human values."

The Princess of Asturias Awards are often called Spain's Nobel Prizes. They cover eight categories, including arts, literature, sports, and technical and scientific research.

It is the first time that a Japanese person has won the literature award.

In 1999, Japanese astronaut Mukai Chiaki received the honor in the international cooperation category. Last year, another Japanese, architect Ban Shigeru was given the award for concord.

Key words : defense ministry ceremony
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230524_28/

Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force will provide about 100 vehicles to embattled Ukraine.

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio conveyed support for Ukraine in a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Hiroshima on Sunday.
Kishida said that Japan will provide high-mobility vehicles that can accommodate 10 people, as well as carrier dump trucks owned by the Ground Self-Defense Force. About 30,000 emergency food rations will also be offered.

On Wednesday, a ceremony was held at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo. State Minister of Defense Ino Toshiro handed to Ukraine's ambassador to Japan the list of materials to be sent.

Ino said all of the vehicles have played important roles in GSDF missions. He said they will be collected from units across Japan and transported to Ukraine.

Ambassador Sergiy Korsunsky expressed heartfelt gratitude and described Japan as Ukraine's trusted, crucial partner.

The Defense Ministry also plans to accept two injured Ukrainian soldiers at a Self-Defense Forces hospital next month.

Key words : team of south delegation
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230524_31/

A team of South Korean experts has completed its examination of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to assess the safety of Japan's plan to discharge treated and diluted water into the ocean.

The delegation of about 20 members includes senior officials of South Korea's Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, as well as marine environment specialists.

They examined the nuclear plant on Wednesday, the final day of their two-day visit.

Yoo Guk-hee, the chief of the delegation, later told reporters that the team looked at equipment for diluting treated water and releasing it into the sea.

He also said they checked facilities including one for analyzing radioactive substances in treated water.

On Thursday, the experts are scheduled to have final talks with Japanese government officials and others in Tokyo. They are due to return to South Korea on Friday.

Japan plans to release treated water after diluting it to reduce tritium levels to one-seventh of the World Health Organization's safety standards for drinking water.

The plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, is preparing to start releasing water by around this summer.

Japan's government says it hopes understanding will be deepened and concerns dispelled in South Korea through the visit.

South Korea's government says the purpose of the visit was to meticulously verify the effects on South Korean waters and marine products and to promptly take necessary steps.

Key words : south currently ban
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230522_31/

A team of South Korean experts has started a four-day survey in Japan to check on the safety of treated and diluted water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant that is slated to be released into the sea.

Under the government plan, the treated water from the plant will be diluted to reduce tritium levels to meet World Health Organization safety standards for drinking water before it is released into the ocean.

Tokyo Electric Power Company, the operator of the plant, is making preparations for a first release around this summer.

The Japanese and South Korean leaders agreed at their summit on May 7 that Seoul would send experts for an on-site survey in Japan.

The team of about 30 includes senior officials of the country's Nuclear Safety and Security Commission and marine environment experts. They arrived in Japan on Sunday and will stay through Friday.

Sources say the team held talks with Japanese government officials on Monday. The officials reportedly told the team about progress of construction work needed to facilitate the release.

The team will make a two-day visit to the plant starting Tuesday to examine how the treated water is stored and see an analysis of data on the water.

Concerns are being voiced in South Korea about the release of the treated and diluted water.

Tokyo wants to use this occasion and any other opportunity it gets to convince Seoul that the plan ensures the safety of such a release.

Seoul says the team was sent to understand how released water would impact South Korea's territorial waters and fisheries products. It says it will promptly take necessary measures based on the team's findings.

South Korea currently bans certain fisheries products from Fukushima and several other prefectures due to safety concerns over radioactive contamination.

Key words : honda return
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230524_19/

Honda says it will return to Formula One racing in the 2026 season, after withdrawing in 2021. The automaker has a deal to provide Aston Martin with hybrid engines.
The team will be called Aston Martin Aramco Honda.

Honda Motor President and CEO Mibe Toshihiro said, "The technology and know-how gained from F1 could be directly used in future mass-production electric vehicles, including our flagship sports models."

Honda in 1964 became the first Japanese automaker to participate in the world's top motor race. Engines made by the company were in many cars that won from the late '80s to early '90s.

Honda more recently said it would concentrate its managerial resources on its de-carbonization efforts, and formally withdrew in 2021.

The automaker aims to shift its global new car sales entirely to EVs and fuel cell vehicles by 2040.

Honda says it decided to return to the race because rules starting in the 2026 season are in line with the company's policy to pursue de-carbonization.

Honda explained that F1 will require use of sustainable fuel and that a race vehicle get at least half of its power from a source other than a combustion engine.