at 18:30 (JST), October 20

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/20231020183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : 83 israel
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231020_06/

The Japanese government says a Self-Defense Force aircraft evacuated 83 people from Israel on Thursday night, local time. They consist of 60 Japanese nationals and four non-Japanese family members, as well as 18 South Koreans and a non-South Korean family member.

The defense and foreign ministries say the KC-767 aerial refueling and transport aircraft made a stopover in Jordan, the eastern neighbor of Israel. They say it is expected to arrive at Tokyo's Haneda Airport as soon as early Saturday morning, Japan time.

This is the seventh time an SDF aircraft has evacuated Japanese and other citizens from countries outside Japan. The previous such operation took place in April, rescuing people from conflict-hit Sudan.

The Defense Ministry says two SDF C-2 transport aircraft are on standby -- one in Jordan and the other in the African country of Djibouti -- in case more Japanese and others need to be evacuated.

Last weekend, a South Korean military aircraft evacuated 51 Japanese citizens along with 163 South Koreans and six Singaporeans from Israel to a suburb of Seoul. A chartered plane arranged by the Japanese government also carried eight nationals from Tel Aviv to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

The Foreign Ministry says a total of about 900 Japanese nationals were in Israel and the Palestinian territories as of Thursday.

Key words : chinese arrested
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231019_29/

Japan's embassy in Beijing says Chinese authorities have formally arrested a Japanese businessman who has been detained since March on suspicion of espionage.

Embassy officials say the formal arrest was made in mid-October. The man, who is in his 50s, has been identified as an employee of major Japanese drug maker Astellas Pharma. He has lived in China for a total of about 20 years.

Chinese security authorities detained him in Beijing in March on suspicion of violating China's criminal law and anti-espionage law. His status was changed to criminal detention last month.

It will take up to seven more months before a decision is made on whether to indict him.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu told reporters on Thursday that the government has confirmed the man's arrest and has been doing everything possible to support him and his family.

Matsuno said Japan has strongly urged the Chinese authorities through various channels and occasions to release the man at an early date. He said the government will continue these efforts.

The man is one of the Japanese nationals detained by China for alleged spying activities under the anti-espionage law that came into force in 2014. The scope of activities that amount to spying was expanded in a legal revision that took effect in July, raising concerns among foreign businesses operating in China.

Key words : b-52 south commitment
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231019_31/

US forces have unveiled a nuclear-capable B-52 strategic bomber deployed at a South Korea air base, in an apparent show of force against North Korea.

The B-52 was put on full display for a group of reporters in the central city of Cheongju on Thursday, in the strategic bomber's first known arrival at a South Korean air base.

On Tuesday, the B-52 made a flyover at a defense equipment exhibition near Seoul. Later in the day, the bomber took part in a joint drill with the Korean air force.

On Thursday, General Kim Seung-kyum, Chairman of South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited the air base along with other US and South Korean officials.

General Kim warned, "If the enemy uses nuclear weapons, the North Korean regime will face its end."

The South Korean military said the deployment of the B-52 is part of efforts to bolster the US' extended deterrence commitment to mobilize the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend its ally.

Several South Korean media organizations quoted a South Korean military official as saying that the B-52 is expected to conduct joint drills on Sunday with the country's air force and Japan's Air Self-Defense Force.

Key words : tension philippines water canon
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/radio/asianview/interviews/202310181814/#

PHILIPPINES STANDS UP TO CHINA

Tensions between China and the Philippines are ramping up in the disputed South China Sea. The last several months have seen incidents in which the China Coast Guard has used military-grade laser lights and water cannons against Philippine ships. On Thursday, the Philippines said it is suspending a military exchange program with China that was launched in 2007. We spoke with Associate Professor Kiba Saya from Kobe City University of Foreign Studies. She specializes in Southeast Asian politics.