at 18:30 (JST), September 19

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/20230919183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Kishida expected functionality
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230919_01/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is to depart for the United States on Tuesday morning to attend the UN General Assembly.

Kishida believes that the international community is now mired in multiple crises, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine, global food and energy issues and climate change.

During a speech at the assembly in New York, Kishida is expected to stress the importance of cooperation among countries and the need to reinforce the functionality of the UN.

Kishida will also attend a meeting with the leaders of the UN Security Council member states to discuss the situation in Ukraine.

He is expected to reiterate his stance that any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force should not be tolerated. He will also likely call on his counterparts to join forces in maintaining and reinforcing an international order based on the rule of law.

Kishida is eager to build momentum toward a world free of nuclear weapons. On the sidelines of the UN gathering, Japan, along with the Philippines and Australia, plan to host a meeting aimed at urging countries to start negotiations on the proposed Fissile Material Cut Off Treaty. The purpose of the proposed pact, for which a UN resolution was adopted three decades ago, is to ban production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices.

Key words : okinawa support
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230919_10/

Okinawa Governor Tamaki Denny sought support before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday for his opposition to the relocation of a US military facility within the prefecture.

Tamaki said, "I am here today to ask the world to witness the situation in Okinawa." He said US bases are concentrated in Okinawa, threatening peace, and equal participation in decision making.

Japan's central government has begun reclamation work to move the US Futenma Air Station from Ginowan City to the Henoko district in Nago City.

Tamaki said the Japanese government is building on precious waters and proceeding with the construction of a new base. He said, "The reclamation work proceeds despite the fact that it was clearly opposed by Okinawan voters in a democratically held referendum" in 2019.

Tamaki said building up military strength generates concern over heightening tension around Japan and runs counter to the wishes of the people of Okinawa for peace. He asked that relevant governments make more diplomatic efforts.

Tamaki is scheduled to stay in Geneva until Friday. He will speak before the council on two more occasions and meet with relevant UN officials.

Key words : defense ministry record number
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230918_13/

Taiwan's defense ministry says a record number of Chinese military aircraft were spotted in airspace around Taiwan during a 24-hour period until Monday morning.

The ministry says a total of 103 aircraft operated around Taiwan in the 24 hours until 6 a.m. local time.

Of them, 40 crossed the median line between Taiwan and mainland China or entered the air defense identification zone southwest and southeast of Taiwan.

Some of the J-16 fighter jets and KJ-500 early warning and control aircraft flew over the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines after crossing the median line, and reached the Pacific Ocean southeast of Taiwan.

Y-20 aerial refueling aircraft flew to waters off the Hengchun Peninsula, the southern tip of Taiwan's main island.

This is the first time the number of Chinese military aircraft detected in airspace around Taiwan has exceeded 100 in a single day since the ministry began releasing information in the current format.

The ministry said the continuous harassment by the Chinese military can easily escalate tensions and worsen regional security.

The ministry urged Chinese authorities to take responsibility and immediately stop destructive and unilateral action.

Key words : import seafood two-thirds
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230918_15/

China's imports of Japanese seafood fell by two-thirds in August from the same month last year, as Beijing halted all such imports following the release of treated and diluted water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Chinese customs authorities said on Monday the value of such imports in August was 149 million yuan, or about 20.4 million dollars.

That was down by more than 67 percent from the same month a year ago. The fall was much sharper than the roughly 30 percent drop in July.

The Chinese government suspended imports of Japanese seafood in response to the start of the water discharge on August 24.

Japan's ministry of agriculture and fisheries says China is the world's top importer of Japanese seafood. Imports last year were worth about 590 million dollars.

Key words : leader opposition hospital
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230918_11/

The leader of South Korea's main opposition party has been taken to hospital after his health deteriorated on the 19th day of a hunger strike.

The Democratic Party said on Monday that Lee Jae-myung was transported to hospital earlier in the day.

Lee began fasting in late August to protest the policies of President Yoon Suk-yeol, including the response to Japan's release of treated and diluted water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

South Korean media report that Lee was fasting in a tent in front of the National Assembly, but rested in his office at night.

The ruling People Power Party ridiculed Lee for commuting to his hunger strike, and said his action lacked cause or reason.

After Lee was rushed to hospital, the ruling party said he had dragged the National Assembly into political strife.

Lee began the hunger strike amid corruption allegations against him.

Prosecutors interviewed him last week over his alleged involvement in a company's illegal cash remittance to North Korea.

And on Monday, prosecutors requested an arrest warrant for him on suspicion of bribery and breach of trust over a land development project when he was the mayor of Seongnam City.

Key words : indonesia test-rides
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230918_14/

Indonesia's first high-speed railway is offering free test-rides to local people as construction nears completion.

The railway's construction is a key project of China's Belt and Road Initiative. China won the bid for the project in 2015 after a fierce competition with Japan.

The railway connects the capital, Jakarta, with Bandung, capital of West Java province about 140 kilometers away. The maximum speed is about 350 kilometers per hour, and travel between the two cities takes about 45 minutes. By conventional train it normally takes more than two and a half hours.

The railway is due to start operating next month after a four-year delay. The free test-rides began on Monday.

Passengers took photos and enjoyed the view from the speeding train. Display monitors in the cars advertised China's involvement in the railway's construction.

One passenger said he is proud Indonesia now has a high-speed railway. He said advances in China's technology led to cooperation in building the railway.

A university student studying in Bandung said low-income people may not be able to try the train yet because of the expensive fares.

China initially proposed a plan that would not put a financial burden on Indonesia. But some Indonesians have expressed concerns as construction costs ballooned, resulting in a financial burden.

Key words : toyota production
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230919_02/

Toyota Motor is preparing a new manufacturing method for next-generation electric vehicles that it plans to put on the market in 2026.

The Japanese automaker says production lines for the next-generation EVs won't use conveyor belts to carry around cars being built. Instead, the company says vehicles will drive through the production process on their own.

This scheme is already partially employed in Toyota's Motomachi plant in Aichi Prefecture. Officials say partially-finished vehicles drive themselves slowly inside the plant, as if they are being carried by conveyor belts, by combining sensor recognition and self-driving technologies.

New technology will also be introduced for car body manufacturing.

The body of a next-generation EV consists of three main components -- the front, center and rear sections. Officials say giga-casting technology -- which involves giant casting machines -- will be used for the front and rear sections.

Toyota seeks to slash its investment in plants by half from the current level by streamlining the manufacturing process.

The company also aims to put all-solid-state batteries into commercial use as early as 2027. Officials expect the batteries to offer quicker charging times and better cruising range.

Key words : automaker lower
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