at 18:30 (JST), July 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/20230725183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : vaccine side-effects
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230725_10/

Japanese authorities are being urged to grasp the full extent of the health damage caused by coronavirus vaccines and offer quick relief to those affected, as more than half of the applications for the relief have yet to be screened.

The appeal was made Monday by a group formed by people, including patients and their families, who say they suffered adverse side-effects after getting the shots.

Japan has a relief program for such people under the Immunization Act. The government covers medical fees when it determines that a causal link cannot be denied between the person's health damage and the inoculation. A lump sum is provided in the case of death.

The health ministry says 8,138 applications for the program had been filed as of July 14, but 4,229 have yet to be screened.

The group's representative said it takes time for application documents to be sent from municipalities to the central government, forcing people to wait in anxiety while they undergo treatment.

The group says its members include children who had been prevented from attending school. It called on the central and local governments to make sure these children are given the chance to receive an education. It also requested relief for people who are unable to work.

Health ministry officials say they will try to expedite procedures for providing relief by asking experts to screen more cases.

Key words : un command
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230724_33/

The deputy commander of the UN Command in South Korea says the body has been in contact with the North over a US soldier who crossed into the country last Tuesday.

Lieutenant General Andrew Harrison told foreign media on Monday that the UN command and the North Korean military have been in touch over the matter.

The consultations are taking place by means of communication lines in place in the Joint Security Area that straddles the demarcation between the two Koreas and is overseen by the UN Command.

He also said the primary concern is the wellbeing of the soldier, who has been identified as Private Travis King.

Harrison declined to give details, but said he remained optimistic despite the fact that "there was no way to know how the conversation with North Korea would proceed."

South Korean media say that Private King belongs to the US forces stationed in the country. He was reportedly detained after causing trouble and was about to be sent back to the US to face disciplinary action.

Instead, he fled the airport and took part in a civilian tour of the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas, which encompasses the Joint Security Area.

Experts in South Korea suggest that the North may use the US soldier to carry out so-called "hostage diplomacy," but Pyongyang has so far given no indication of its intentions.

Key words : consumer spending
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230725_06/

China's Communist Party says the country's economy is facing "new difficulties and challenges" and has pledged to take steps to expand domestic demand.

Communist Party Politburo members discussed economic policies for the second half of 2023 in a meeting chaired by President Xi Jinping on Monday.

The state-run Xinhua News Agency quoted the Politburo as saying the economy is facing new difficulties and challenges due to such factors as insufficient domestic demand and some struggling enterprises.

The officials pledged to rev up consumer spending by boosting residents' income. They said they will try to shore up consumption of automobiles, electronic products and household items, as well as to promote spending in tourism and other service sectors.

The sluggish real estate industry was on the agenda as well. The attendees said China should adjust and optimize policies in a timely manner to ensure the stable and sound development of the property market.

The officials also made clear that the country is ready to take effective measures to curb the risks related to debt among local governments.

China's economic recovery following the end of its zero-COVID policy has lost steam. Its gross domestic product grew at a mere pace of 0.8 percent in the April-to-June period, compared to the previous quarter.

Key words : foreign delegation
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230725_02/

North Korea says a Chinese delegation will visit the country to attend celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice.

The announcement, made on Monday via the state-run Korean Central News Agency, comes as the country is preparing to celebrate the anniversary on July 27, which Pyongyang calls "Victory Day."

The group of Chinese Communist Party and government officials will reportedly be led by Li Hongzhong, vice chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

Chinese officials said the group's trip will start on Wednesday. This will make it the first foreign delegation to be officially welcomed by North Korea since the country put stringent border controls in place in January 2020 as part of its fight against the coronavirus.

The move is seen as an attempt by North Korea to highlight its amicable ties with the country's major backer, China, while stepping up its confrontational stance toward the US.

Key words : china spreading
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230724_24/

A senior Japanese government official says China is spreading inaccurate information about Tokyo's plan to release treated and diluted water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean.

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Isozaki Yoshihiko told reporters on Monday that some of the information being released by China is false, and the Japanese government has made science-based objections on multiple occasions.

Beijing has been critical of the plan and has indicated that it will tighten import controls on Japanese food products. Japanese seafood is being kept at Chinese customs for longer than usual to undergo radiation screening.

The Fukushima nuclear plant suffered a triple meltdown in the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Water used to cool molten nuclear fuel at the plant mixes with rain and groundwater. The accumulated water is treated to remove most radioactive substances, but still contains tritium.

The government plans to dilute the treated water to reduce the tritium level to about one-seventh of the World Health Organization's guidelines for drinking water quality before releasing it into the sea.

Isozaki said that if China is indeed screening all imported Japanese food for radiation, it runs counter to the international trend, and the government has expressed its strong concern over the matter.

He also said the government will try to grasp the situation in detail.

He added that the false information about the plan circulating online hurts the feelings of people in the regions hit by the 2011 disaster.

He added that the government will take necessary action and provide accurate and detailed information.

Key words : shelter studying miyakojima
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230725_08/

The Japanese government is making arrangements to build a shelter on Miyakojima Island in Okinawa Prefecture, with a possible contingency in Taiwan in mind.

The government has been studying how to protect residents on the southwestern Nansei Islands, including Miyakojima, in case of such a contingency or other emergencies.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu visited the region from Saturday through Monday and met with city and town mayors.

Wrapping up his three-day visit, Matsuno said that he had heard the opinions of the local officials regarding how to strengthen cooperation between the central and local governments to ensure the safe evacuation of the residents.

He indicated that the governments will work together to establish facilities where residents can take shelter in case of an emergency and expand the functions of airports and seaports.

Sources say that the central government is making arrangements to build a shelter on Miyakojima as one way to protect people.

Local officials have already told the Defense Ministry that the new shelter needs to be underground.

Taking into account the local request, the government intends to seek a conclusion and allocate necessary funds in its draft budget for fiscal 2024.

Key words : bigmotor outrage
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230725_18/

Japanese used car dealer Bigmotor has been facing public outrage over claims it intentionally damaged customer cars in order to repair them. Now insurance companies plan to seek compensation for what they say were fraudulent claims.

Three major Japanese insurance companies say they will demand that the company immediately disclose all fraudulent claims and repairs, and return those payouts.

They also want Bigmotor to offer refunds and repairs to any customers affected.

Bigmotor president Kaneshige Hiroyuki has told NHK that his company intends to contact customers and rectify the problems. He is expected to hold a news conference on Tuesday.

All three insurance companies have at some point loaned workers to Bigmotor.

One of them, Sompo Japan, says its workers claim they knew nothing of the alleged fraud, but it plans to have outside lawyers investigate.

When the issue first came to light about a year ago, all three insurers cut ties with Bigmotor. But Sompo Japan says it later resumed business with the firm temporarily.