at 18:30 (JST), July 04

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/20230704183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : china export control
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230704_03/

China's government says it will impose export controls on gallium and germanium -- rare metals used in the production of semiconductor materials.

China's commerce ministry and General Administration of Customs released a statement on Monday saying that China would implement export controls on items related to gallium and germanium, "in order to safeguard national security and interests."

China accounts for a large share of the global output of the materials. Large amounts of those metals are sent to Japan to satisfy the needs of Japanese companies.

Under the controls, exporters will be required to file an application with authorities, specifying who will be the end-users and how the materials will be used.

Their application must be vetted and approved before they can ship the products. Violators will face punishment.

The measures take effect on August 1.

The move was apparently in response to the US and its allies ratcheting up pressure on China's high-tech industries.

Washington has tightened restrictions on semiconductor exports to China. Japan also said it will implement stricter export controls on chip-making equipment starting on July 23.

Key words : hong kong police wanted list
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230704_04/

Hong Kong police on Monday placed eight overseas-based pro-democracy activists on their wanted list on suspicion of violating the territory's national security law and offered rewards for information leading to their arrests.

The eight activists are all from Hong Kong and are currently living in countries such as Britain and Australia.

The national security law, which took effect three years ago, covers activities outside Hong Kong. Police said the charges against the activists include foreign collusion and inciting secession.

Pro-democracy activist Nathan Law was among the eight. He is accused of calling for sanctions on the governments in Beijing and Hong Kong during a foreign parliamentary hearing and media interviews.

Police offered rewards of one million Hong Kong dollars, or about 128,000 dollars, for information leading to each of their arrests.

It's quite rare for the Hong Kong police to reveal whom they have put on the wanted list as violators of the law.

Key words : sales of new surged
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230703_32/

Sales of new vehicles in Japan surged in the first half of this year as a semiconductor shortage eased.

Auto industry groups say that more than 2.4 million units were sold from January to June.

That's up 17.4 percent from the same period last year, when Japan's new-car sales sank to the lowest level in 10 years. Auto production returned to normal during the period after it was reduced during the pandemic.

Sales of regular passenger cars, trucks, buses and other types of vehicles jumped 21.7 percent. Mini cars rose 10.7 percent.

The industry groups say the introduction of new models helped lift sales. But they warn that it's still not clear if the trend will continue, given that the chip shortage isn't over.

Key words : no change treated water
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230703_21/

Japan's top government spokesperson says there will be no change in the plan to start releasing treated and diluted water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant around this summer. He added that the specific timing will be decided after comprehensive consideration.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu was commenting on Monday on a call from within the ruling coalition for a possible change in the timing of the discharge.

Yamaguchi Natsuo, chief representative of Komeito, the junior coalition partner of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party, told reporters on Sunday that the sea bathing season should be avoided for the release.

Yamaguchi said it's important not to invite unnecessary anxiety.

Matsuno was asked by reporters if there is a possibility that the government's plan to start the release around this summer may be changed. He responded that there will be "no change."

Matsuno said the treated and diluted water will be released into the ocean by strictly complying with regulations to ensure safety.

He said the government is stepping up efforts to increase awareness of the thorough steps to ensure safety by way of TV messages and online advertisements.

He said the government as a whole will make a comprehensive decision on the timing of the release by considering a variety of factors while confirming measures to ensure safety and prevent reputational damage.

The water used to cool molten nuclear fuel has been building up at the Fukushima plant. It mixes with rain and groundwater and is treated to remove most radioactive materials, but some tritium remains.

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

Key words : pacific island
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230704_17/

The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog is set to meet Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.

Rafael Grossi will present his agency's findings on the upcoming release of treated and diluted water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean.

It is the final stretch of talks involving the International Atomic Energy Agency, after Japan's government asked for a report into the plan's safety.

A team of experts from 11 countries, including China, South Korea and the US, have been working on it since February of last year.

Japan's own nuclear regulators have also finished inspecting the treated and diluted water release system.
It's expected to begin the operation sometime over the summer.

Grossi is set to meet with Japanese officials, including Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, to discuss the matter.

On Wednesday, he is scheduled to head to the Fukushima Daiichi plant itself.

Grossi is also expected to meet with locals.

Japan's fishing industry says it's concerned the release could cause reputational damage to its products.

Some governments, including China, South Korea, and a number of Pacific island countries, are also opposed to the plan.

Key words : south newspaper
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230703_19/

A South Korean newspaper says Japanese and North Korean officials have held contacts in third countries, including China.

A report on the front page of the Dong-A Ilbo's Monday edition quotes sources as saying the contacts took place behind closed doors in China, Singapore and elsewhere last month.

The report says officials from Japan and North Korea discussed issues, including the North's abductions of Japanese nationals and the possibility of high-level government talks. But it says they failed to close the gap.

The report also says Japan informed the United States of the contacts in advance.

In May, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio expressed hope of starting high-level talks to quickly realize a Japan-North Korea summit to secure the return of Japanese abductees.

North Korea's vice-minister of foreign affairs repeated the country's stance that the abduction issue has already been resolved. But he said there is no reason for a summit not to take place, if Japan tries to make a new decision and seeks ways of improving relations.

The Dong-A Ilbo says Pyongyang may have tried to use last month's contacts to create a rift in the trilateral cooperation among Japan, the US and South Korea.

Key words : yoneda
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230703_29/

Two astronauts chosen for the role by Japan's space agency in February have spoken to reporters in Tokyo before they begin training together.

Suwa Makoto and Yoneda Ayu were selected as astronauts in the first screening process in the country in 14 years.

They gave their first in-person joint news conference on Monday at a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, location in Tokyo.

Suwa was there as a JAXA team member for the first time. He said he is excited about the prospects that await him in his new role, to which he pledged to dedicate himself. He went on to say he will give much thought to ways in which he can contribute.

Yoneda has been making regular appearances at the agency's Tokyo outpost since April and has undergone some training ahead of Suwa.

She said that over the past three months she has gained a sense of both the vast timescale in which the aerospace industry operates and the expansive connections within and between organizations in the field.

She said she is pleased to start training with Suwa.

They are due to be qualified as fully fledged astronauts in about two years, after completing training that will include stints at facilities belonging to US space agency NASA.

Key words : new educational thailand
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230704_05/

A new educational facility in southern Thailand, built with financial support from Japan, is set to welcome children who have fled fighting in Myanmar.

The new building is an addition to the existing facilities in Phang-nga that are operated by a local non-governmental organization. The group has struggled with a surge in the number of children arriving from Myanmar with their families since a military coup two years ago.

Japan's government provided about 13 million yen, or nearly 90,000 dollars, in financial assistance for the construction.

On Monday, child dancers in tribal dress performed at a ceremony to celebrate the completion of the new building.

The executive director of the non-governmental group, Htoo Chit, thanked Japan for providing the new facility. The official said Myanmar's educational system has been paralyzed, and that the group's goal is to provide higher education and help migrant children find jobs in Thailand.

Oba Yuichi, a senior official at the Japanese embassy in Thailand, said Japan is committed to helping to provide educational opportunities for children from Myanmar. He added that, given the worsening situation in Myanmar, Japan plans to continue to provide neighboring Thailand with humanitarian assistance for children.