at 18:30 (JST), August 10

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/20230810183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : china condemned
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230809_20/

China has condemned remarks over Taiwan by Aso Taro, vice-president of Japan's main ruling Liberal Democratic Party, after he said that "a readiness to fight" serves as a deterrence in the region.

Aso, who formerly served as Japan's prime minister, made the remarks during a speech in Taipei on Tuesday.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday released a comment saying a certain Japanese politician visited Taiwan despite Beijing's strong opposition, to hype up cross-strait tensions and interfere in China's internal affairs.

The ministry added, "China has made serious demarches to Japan and strongly condemns this."

The Chinese Embassy in Tokyo described Aso's remarks as "nonsense."

The embassy said in a comment Wednesday that if some people in Japan insist on linking China's internal affairs to Japan's security, Japan will once again go down the wrong path.

Key words : and angola
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230810_07/

Japan and Angola have signed an investment protection treaty aiming to promote the entry of Japanese firms into the African country.

Japan's economy and industry minister Nishimura Yasutoshi attended the signing ceremony in Angola's capital, Luanda, with Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco.

The agreement safeguards the assets of firms operating in each other's country. It also forbids requesting unfair technology transfers.

Angola is the sixth African nation with which Japan has signed an investment treaty.

Angola is one of Africa's major crude oil suppliers. China has been deepening its ties with the country through massive loans and assistance to improve the country's infrastructure.

Japan hopes to help Japanese companies expand their business and investments in the African country, which has also been trying to promote ties with countries other than China.

Key words : allow indonesia group tour
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230810_05/

China has allowed its travel agents to sell group tours to Japan for the first time in about three and a half years.

The Chinese government announced on Thursday the lifting of the ban that was implemented in January 2020 when the coronavirus first spread in China.

The government has been lifting bans on group tours to other countries since February. Tours are currently permitted to 60 countries, including Thailand, Indonesia and Russia.

Multiple sources said the Chinese Embassy in Japan informed Japan's Foreign Ministry that the restriction could be lifted as early as Thursday.

It is still unclear how soon Chinese travel agents will start selling travel packages, but the number of Chinese tourists to Japan is expected to increase dramatically.

The Japan National Tourism Organization says that about 9.59 million Chinese tourists visited Japan in 2019, before the pandemic. They accounted for 30 percent -- the largest portion -- of the overall number of inbound travelers.

Key words : rainfall beijing 33
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230809_17/

Beijing officials report that 33 people have died in the Chinese capital due to recent record rainfall. Heavy rains since late July have caused flooding and landslides in northern and northeastern parts of the country.

The officials also said Wednesday that 18 people were missing. They added the downpours have affected 1.29 million people and caused the collapse of 59,000 homes.

Hong Kong media say work to remove the floodwaters is underway in Hebei Province, which neighbors Beijing. But reports say dissatisfaction is growing among residents who are unable to return home from evacuation after prolonged periods.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang said at a government meeting Tuesday that authorities will work to quickly restore affected farmland and agricultural facilities as well as rebuild damaged homes.

The meeting also highlighted plans to step up the construction of infrastructure facilities in the country's northern area from a long-term perspective.

Key words : china consumer price first time
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230809_16/

Consumer prices in China fell in July from a year earlier for the first time since February 2021 amid weak demand.

China's National Bureau of Statistics said Wednesday that the consumer price index dipped 0.3 percent last month year-on-year.

Officials pointed out that crude oil and other energy prices were on a downward trend. They also said weak consumption led to lower prices for cars, smartphones and other items. They noted that consumers were increasingly becoming budget-conscious.

Prices for furniture and home appliances also dropped as housing sales were sluggish.

The producer price index also slid 4.4 percent in July from a year earlier, representing the 10th consecutive month of decline.

There is a growing sense of uncertainty about China's economic outlook. Some analysts are starting to voice concerns about the possibility of deflation.

Key words : food self-sufficiency 38
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230807_14/

Japan's agriculture and fisheries ministry says the country's food self-sufficiency rate has remained at 38 percent for the second year in a row. That's well below the government's target of 45 percent by fiscal 2030.

The figure in terms of calorie intake for the year that ended in March was up one percentage point from fiscal 2020. But it remained flat from fiscal 2021.

Domestic wheat and seafood production dropped. But Japan also saw a decrease in the amounts of imported oils and fats.

The self-sufficiency rate was 99 percent for rice, 75 for vegetables, 17 for livestock products, 16 for wheat and three for oils and fats.

The food self-sufficiency rate for fiscal 2022 on a production value basis was 58 percent. The figure is down five percentage points from the previous year and is the lowest since fiscal 1965.

The volume of food imports did not sharply fluctuate. But higher international grain prices and the weaker yen made imports more expensive, weighing down the rate.

Ministry officials say Japan still has a long way to go to meet the government's target. They say they will continue to take steps to boost the self-sufficiency rate for wheat and soybeans, to achieve the goal.

Key words : job applicant
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230807_16/

Japan is seeing a steady decline in the number of those seeking to become career-track bureaucrats with the central government.

The trend comes as more bureaucrats are giving up their careers as they leave their workplace within 10 years on the job.

There were more than 23,000 applicants for the national civil servant exams in the spring of fiscal 2012, when the current recruitment exam system was introduced.

The number of applicants has since declined. In fiscal 2018, those wishing to take the spring exam numbered 19,600. It was the first time applications dipped below 20,000.

This fiscal year the number shrunk to just above 14,300, the second smallest on record. That's about 60 percent of the figure for 2012, when applications peaked.

The National Personnel Authority has found that in fiscal 2013, the number of those that quit after less than 10 years on the job stood at 76. The number grew to 116 in fiscal 2018, and 139 the following year.

Another 109 bureaucrats resigned before 10 years of service in fiscal 2020.

Key words : shipment flower
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230810_14/

Chrysanthemum flower shipments are reaching their peak in Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan, ahead of the country's mid-August "bon" holiday period.

During the bon season, many Japanese people visit the graves of their ancestors. It is customary to place chrysanthemums on graves and Buddhist altars.

The city of Goshogawara in Aomori is a major producer of the flowers.

In the early hours of the day, a local grower was seen harvesting a variety that produces white blossoms and has a harmonious balance of petals and leaves.

The grower carefully picked the chrysanthemums while examining the colors and sizes of the buds to ensure the flowers would bloom during the bon holiday period.

The grower says he is carefully tending to the flowers amid the ongoing summer heat. He says the specific type of chrysanthemum he grows lasts longer and retains its beauty when the water is changed frequently.

A local agricultural cooperative says chrysanthemums are starting to bloom slowly this year due to the high temperatures. But it expects about 1.3 million flowers will be shipped, consistent with the average quantity for previous years.