at 18:30 (JST), August 29

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/20230829183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : trade dialogue metal
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230829_N01/

US and Chinese officials are making efforts to mend their frayed ties. US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said they are working toward more "stable" relations. But she said US officials would not compromise on issues of national security.

Raimondo met in Beijing on Monday with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao. He said he was pleased to have the opportunity to "coordinate in the fields of economy and trade."

Last October, US officials introduced new rules limiting Chinese access to advanced chips. Earlier this month, Chinese officials restricted exports of gallium and germanium, metals that are needed to make some types of semiconductors.

The two sides have not resolved those differences. They did agree to set up a working group on trade and investment which would include government officials and representatives of the private sector. Raimondo said US officials would host the first meeting early next year.

Raimondo also announced a platform to exchange information on export controls. "This is meant to be a dialogue where we increase transparency, and we are clear about what we are doing as it relates to export control enforcement," Raimondo said.

Key words : industry minister tasted
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230828_37/

Japan's industry minister has paid a visit to Fukushima Prefecture. He sampled some of the local seafood, after Japan began discharging treated and diluted water from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi plant last week. It's part of a push to prevent any harmful rumors.

Industry minister Nishimura Yasutoshi tasted sashimi caught off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture on Friday, just one day after the release began.

Nishimura also met with local business owners, telling them the government is committed to transparency.

He said: "We will continue to confirm the safety and disclose all of the data in a transparent manner. That is the best way to prevent any reputational damage."

Japan's Fisheries Agency has analyzed fish caught within 10 kilometers of the plant. It says it found that levels of tritium were below what's considered "detectable."

But that hasn't stopped an apparent harassment campaign.

The Fukushima Daiichi plant's operator says it's received 6,000 spam calls since the release began. They appear to be originating from China. A number of unrelated Japanese businesses, including hotels and restaurants, have also been targeted.

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has urged Beijing to address the harassment campaign. He says China should be open to a scientific dialogue.

Kishida said: "Without that discussion, numerous spam calls, believed to be from China, have been made. People have thrown stones at the Japanese embassy and Japanese schools in China. This is obviously regrettable."

NHK spoke with an expert who says China may be allowing the campaign to continue to deflect attention away from domestic issues.

Professor Korogi Ichiro of Kanda University of International Studies said: "China's economy is very sluggish and serious problems have emerged, such as the property sector crisis and a high youth unemployment rate. The government may be using the release to help vent some of the discontent building in Chinese society."

Korogi also says China's suspension of all Japanese seafood imports could be used as a diplomatic tool in other trade disputes between Beijing and Tokyo.

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant suffered a triple meltdown in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Water used to cool molten fuel at the plant has been mixing with rain and groundwater, seeping into damaged reactor buildings.

The water is treated to remove most radioactive substances, but still contains tritium. Before releasing the treated water into the sea, the plant's operator dilutes it to reduce tritium levels to about one-seventh of the World Health Organization's guidelines for drinking water.

Before the accident, Fukushima Daiichi discharged around 2.2 trillion becquerels of tritium into the ocean per year.

Under the current plan, the plant's operator says it will not exceed 22 trillion becquerels annually. That is far lower than tritium released from other nuclear facilities around the world, including in South Korea and China.

Key words : taiwan founder
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230828_20/

Hon Hai Precision Industry founder Terry Gou says he will run in Taiwan's presidential election next year as an independent candidate.

Gou said at a news conference in Taipei on Monday that the ruling Democratic Progressive Party needs to be brought down. He said that in the past seven years of the DPP's rule, it has led Taiwan toward the danger of war and that it has made mistakes in its domestic policies.

Gou is the founder of Hon Hai, also known as Foxconn, one of the world's largest contract manufacturers of electronic devices.

He is known in Japan for leading a takeover of major electronics maker Sharp in 2016.

Hon Hai has large investments in China and Gou is a major shareholder. During Monday's news conference, he said that if China threatens to confiscate Hon Hai's assets for not complying with its policies, he would reply, "Yes, please do it." Gou stressed that he has never been under China's control and does not follow its instructions.

Gou had sought to run as the candidate for Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Kuomintang, in the January election, but the party chose New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih. Gou once expressed support for Hou, but has been touring Taiwan in recent weeks on his own account.

The KMT said Gou's move was extremely regrettable. It also said it believes Gou will ultimately support the KMT and Hou and will work with them to bring down the ruling party.

According to elections regulations, Gou needs to gather about 290,000 signatures, which is 1.5 percent of all eligible voters, to qualify as an independent candidate.

The ruling DPP has named Vice President Lai Ching-te as its candidate. Another opposition force, the Taiwan People's Party, has chosen Ko Wen-je to run in the presidential race.

Analysts have noted that opposition votes could be split if Gou runs. Talks for cooperation among the opposition camps are expected to intensify as they aim for a change of government.

Key words : bali special tax
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230828_36/

The Indonesian resort island of Bali says it will impose a special tax on foreign visitors starting next year.

The island's governor says the levy will be used to protect the nature and cultural heritage of the so-called "Island of the Gods."

The Bali provincial government plans to charge 150,000 rupiahs, or about 10 dollars per person. It will start as early as February.

Bali's governor says the money will be used to improve infrastructure to attract future tourism.

The number of foreign visitors to the island has been recovering from the steep drop during the pandemic. More than 2 million people visited in the first half of this year.
The governor says the new tax won't disrupt the recovery, as foreigners have worked for Bali's environment and sustainable tourism in the past.

But the island has been facing frustration with some visitors, who have been disrespectful of the local culture and religion.

A Russian man was deported for uploading half-naked photos to social media taken at the top of a sacred mountain.

The local government has issued a list of "dos and don'ts" for tourists to promote understanding of local values and encourage people to behave themselves.

Key words : former resident russia
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230828_22/

August is the time for many Japanese to pay their respects to their ancestors. But former residents of four Russia-held islands are not allowed to visit their family graves in the Northern Territories. So dozens of them and their family members have offered prayers at a ceremony held on the sea.

Sixty-eight people set off from Nemuro Port in Hokkaido on Monday morning aboard a ship built specifically for former islanders to visit the territories.

Yamamoto Shigeki, the head of an association working to resolve Northern Territories issues, said the situation remains tough.

He said he hopes the participants will be able to honor their ancestors in locations as close to their hometowns as possible.

The ship stopped behind the so-called median line between the Nemuro Peninsula and the disputed islands, before returning to the port in the afternoon.

Monday's ceremony is the first of six such events scheduled to be held by September 30. About 400 people from across Japan are due to take part.

This is the second straight year that an at-sea ceremony has been held.

Former residents used to be allowed visa-free visits to the islands, but these have been suspended since Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year. It is not known when they can be resumed.

Russia controls the four islands. Japan claims them.
The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. It says the islands were illegally occupied after World War Two.

Key words : afghanistan agriculture
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230829_07/

Japan and a United Nations agency plan to cooperate in promoting agriculture in Afghanistan using the irrigation method devised by late Japanese doctor Nakamura Tetsu.

Afghanistan has been suffering from a serious food shortage, as prolonged drought has affected crop harvests. In 2021, the Taliban regained power in the country.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency, or JICA, and the Food and Agriculture Organization, or FAO, will launch a new project to help Afghanistan boost food production with financial aid granted by the Japanese government.

At a signing ceremony in the capital Kabul on Monday, Japanese Ambassador to Afghanistan Okada Takashi and an FAO representative exchanged documents.

Okada said, "Japan will continue to support Afghans to help themselves so that they can rebuild their livelihoods."

The new project aims to promote the irrigation method created by Dr. Nakamura, who was fatally shot in Afghanistan in 2019. He had dedicated himself to improving the lives of the Afghan people.

As the local head of the Japanese NGO Peshawar-kai, Nakamura had worked on farmland regeneration projects, including the construction of irrigation systems, in Afghanistan for many years.

His method makes it easier for local people to maintain and operate irrigation facilities. Members of the Peshawar-kai will help renovate the facilities and train local people in the eastern province of Kunar.

The project is expected to improve the livelihoods of about 12,000 people in the province.

Key words : tokyo anime
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230828_26/

Tokyo has long been a center of Japanese anime culture and a draw for fans from around the world. Now local officials plan to give the industry a home in the capital.

Tokyo's metropolitan government has leased a building in the Ikebukuro district where many anime-related shops are located.

The space is set to open on October 31. It will display sketches and scripts from popular animation. It will also stage large-scale exhibits.

The "anime hub" will be operated by an industry association. The group plans to hold workshops so visitors can experience the creative process behind the craft and see the latest works. The facility will also have a shop for anime goods.