at 18:30 (JST), July 03

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/20230703183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : china espionage concern
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230701_01/

China's revised legislation designed to expand the scope of activities that amount to espionage takes effect on Saturday.

The law first took effect in 2014 to enforce a crackdown on spying. The government of President Xi Jinping approved the changes in April.

There are concerns among the international community about the legislation being implemented arbitrarily due to the vague definition of what amounts to espionage.

On top of stealing state secrets and information, the definition of spying activities now includes theft of documents, data, reference materials and items related to national security and interests.

Japanese government officials say Chinese authorities have detained at least 17 Japanese nationals for alleged spying since 2014.

Nine were sentenced and served prison terms. The trials were held behind closed doors, and Chinese authorities did not elaborate on how they had breached the law.

Eleven have returned to Japan after being released or completing their terms. One died of illness in prison. Five are still being detained or serving time in prison.

In May, China's counterintelligence authorities reportedly investigated an international consulting firm based locally and in the United States for allegedly acquiring state data illegally.

The revised legislation raises concerns about a wider crackdown on foreign nationals and firms in China.

Key words : cambodia landslide victory
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230701_17/

Cambodia's 18 political parties have started campaigning for the July 23 general election.

Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party is virtually guaranteed a landslide victory as the main opposition party has been barred from running.

Hun Sen laid out his administration's achievements to tens of thousands of supporters who gathered at a party rally in the capital, Phnom Penh, on Saturday.

Hun Sen called on supporters to vote for his eldest son Hun Manet, who is running for the first time and has been appointed as his successor.

Hun Sen has been in power for almost 40 years.

In the election five years ago, the biggest opposition party at the time was ordered to dissolve, enabling Hun Sen's party to win all the seats.

The current main opposition party that took over from the previous one has also been banned from running, causing concern in Europe and the United States over Hun Sen's iron-fisted control.

Key words : climber
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230702_11/

Climbing season at Mount Fuji has started for the trail that is in Yamanashi Prefecture, central Japan.

The highest mountain in Japan opened to trekkers on Saturday.

Cars carrying climbers drove up the road one after another after the gate of a toll road connecting the foot of the mountain and the fifth station opened at 3 a.m.

A ritual was held at a Shinto shrine at the station to mark the opening of the trail.

A man who came from Tokyo with his 10-year-old son said he chose to climb the mountain on the opening day. He said he would stay at a lodge and intended to observe the sunrise on the summit.

Although rain occasionally intensified, climbers enjoyed the sight of Lake Yamanaka and the lakeside areas at the foot of the mountain when they came into clear view.

A 50-year-old climber who came from Japan's southwestern prefecture of Okinawa said he was making his first ever visit to Mount Fuji. He said he was moved by the beautiful scenery.

The mountain straddles the prefectures of Shizuoka and Yamanashi. The trails on the Shizuoka side are due to open on July 10.

The summer climbing season in Yamanashi prefecture will continue until September 10.

Key words : tankan 9,000 companies
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230703_12/

The Bank of Japan's latest Tankan survey shows that business sentiment among the country's major manufacturers has improved for the first time in seven quarters.

The BOJ polled over 9,000 companies from late May to the end of June.

The closely-watched index gauging the mood among large manufacturers stands at plus 5. That's up 4 points from the previous survey in March.

A positive number indicates that more companies are optimistic about business conditions than those taking a negative view.

A recovery in auto production as shortages of semiconductors and other parts eased was the main factor behind the improved sentiment. It was also helped by better earnings.

Companies raised prices to pass on the costs of more expensive raw materials and labor shortages.

Meanwhile, large non-manufacturers are even more upbeat.

The index tracking their mood is up 3 points to plus 23. That's the fifth straight quarter of improvement. The reading is the highest since June 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic.

An increase in foreign tourists and a business recovery at hotels and restaurants were the major drivers.

Key words : pakistan russia
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230703_01/

Pakistan's foreign minister says he hopes the country will build stronger ties with Russia, as the South Asian country grapples with economic turmoil.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari made the remark in an exclusive interview with NHK in Tokyo on Sunday.

Pakistan has been plagued by high inflation and a serious foreign currency shortage since devastating floods last year.

Last month, Pakistan began importing crude oil from Russia. Observers say Islamabad is seeking closer ties with Moscow, which is facing Western economic sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine.

Bhutto said the aim of the procurement is to meet the energy needs of the people and not to shift imports from anyone to anyone else.

Bhutto said Pakistan-Russia relations are on a positive trajectory and he hopes they will be further strengthened.

But he added his country is not keen on being part of any sort of political blocs like other countries.

Bhutto is scheduled to meet Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio on Monday.

Key words : railway resumed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230702_15/

India's railway authorities are continuing to try to identify the cause of a deadly train crash that occurred in the eastern state of Odisha one month ago.

An express train traveling to the southern city of Chennai entered a loop line, collided with a stationary freight train and derailed on June 2.

Some of the derailed carriages then hit another express train.

The multiple-train crash left more than 290 people dead and more than 1,000 injured.

The tracks have been restored, and service has resumed.

The authorities have indicated that a change made to the system that switches signals and tracks caused the accident, but details have not been revealed.

Indian media say the board investigating the accident has compiled the results of the probe, but the content has not been disclosed.

Investigators are reportedly considering charges of negligence resulting in death, and others.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told local media that it is necessary to know the actual facts and the technical root cause. He added that future steps will be decided after the investigation is completed.

Key words : student hiroshima
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230702_13/

Japanese students have heard the testimony of a survivor of the US 1945 atomic bombing, or hibakusha, during a training session of guides for foreign visitors in Hiroshima City.

The 85-year-old survivor, Ogura Keiko, was invited as a guest instructor for the training session on Sunday. She talked about her experience in English in front of about 40 high school and university students who are volunteer guides at the city's Peace Memorial Park.

She elaborated on her experience right after the bomb was dropped at 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945. Ogura said she fainted immediately after seeing a bright light. She said when she opened her eyes she saw destroyed and burning buildings and that she could not understand what had happened.

The students listened to her intensively, with some taking notes.

University student Yamauchi Yuna said she was impressed by Ogura's determination to speak about the tragedy, because she thought it is not easy for hibakusha to share their experiences.

"Foreign visitors probably don't know a lot about what hibakusha went through. I want to pass on their stories to foreign visitors," Yamauchi said.

In May, Ogura shared her experience in English with world leaders who gathered for the G7 summit in the city.