at 18:30 (JST), October 31

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/20231031183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : thai prime send
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231030_31/

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin says he will send a cabinet minister to the Middle East to try to secure the release of Thai hostages held by Hamas.

The Thai government says the surprise attack by Hamas on October 7 left 32 Thais dead. The government also says it has confirmed 22 others are being held hostage by the group.

Srettha disclosed the plan on Sunday without giving details. The government apparently aims to promote negotiations to free the Thai nationals by talking directly to related countries.

Meanwhile, Thailand on Sunday criticized Israel's display of a grisly video clip at the UN General Assembly.

On Thursday, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, showed what he said was a Hamas video showing their fighters beheading a Thai farm worker. He said: "Israel is not at war with human beings. We are at war with monsters."

The Thai foreign ministry issued a statement that said displaying the video failed to show "proper respect and due consideration" for the victim and his family.

The ministry also condemned the killing of innocent civilians and called for the immediate release of all hostages. The statement mentioned neither Israel nor Hamas as the Thai government takes a neutral stance on the conflict.

Key words : major pro-democracy
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231031_03/

Hong Kong's largest pro-democracy party has failed to field any candidates for the December district council elections, under the territory's electoral system that was revised in favor of pro-Beijing parties.

More than 100 members of the parties backing the governments in Beijing and Hong Kong filed their candidacy for the election before the registration period ended on Monday.

Major pro-democracy parties, meanwhile, failed to field any candidates. Among them was the territory's largest pro-democracy group, the Democratic Party. It sought to have six of its members running for the poll.

Anyone wishing to run for the election must get a certain number of nominations from members of government-appointed committees under the new electoral system introduced in July. But none of the six Democratic Party members reached that number.

District council elections were said to have reflected the opinions of Hong Kong voters in the most accurate manner. In the previous 2019 election, the pro-democracy camp swept to a landslide victory, with the Democratic Party winning 91 seats.

The electoral system was revamped in favor of pro-Beijing politicians following the 2020 enactment of the national security law for Hong Kong aimed at cracking down on anti-government activities in the territory.

Observers say the "one country, two systems" framework in Hong Kong remains in name only.

Key words : china attempt
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231030_18/

China's top uniformed officer has warned that the military "will not be soft-handed" if anyone attempts to "separate" Taiwan from China.

The Central Military Commission's vice chair, General Zhang Youxia, spoke on Monday at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum.

Delegates from more than 90 countries and organizations are taking part, including Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu and US Defense Department officials in charge of China affairs.

The forum, organized by groups related to the Chinese military, is being held without a defense minister after Li Shangfu was dismissed last week.

General Zhang said China will "deepen strategic cooperation with Russia" and is "willing to develop military ties with the US."

But he warned that countries should not deliberately provoke other nations on major and sensitive issues.

The US and China recently traded accusations over each other's military activities around the South China Sea.

Washington accused a Chinese fighter jet of conducting an unsafe intercept of a US bomber. Meanwhile, Beijing alleged that a US destroyer crossed in front of a Chinese destroyer near a group of islands it claims.

Attention is on whether participants from the two sides will have contact during the forum.

Key words : foreign minister palestinian envoy
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231030_29/

Japan's Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko has conveyed her concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian envoy in Japan.

Kamikawa met with Waleed Siam, Representative of the Permanent General Mission of Palestine, in Tokyo on Monday, as Israel's military continues intense air raids and ground operations in the enclave.

The foreign minister said Japan has unequivocally condemned the recent terror attacks by Hamas and others.

Kamikawa also explained the Japanese government's decision to extend 10 million dollars in emergency aid to help civilians in Gaza. In response, Siam expressed his appreciation.

The two also said they will continue close communication toward de-escalating the situation and stabilizing the region.

Key words : kioxia western digital
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231031_14/

Merger talks between Japanese flash-memory maker Kioxia Holdings and its US partner Western Digital have ended without a deal.

The American storage maker instead announced plans to separate its flash business and restructure on its own.

Kioxia and Western Digital had aimed to close the deal by the end of October, but negotiations reportedly stalled last week after South Korean chipmaker SK hynix, an indirect shareholder in Kioxia, opposed the merger.

Western Digital said in a statement on Monday that spinning off its flash business is the best option at this time, but added it will remain open to strategic opportunities.

Sources say Kioxia is also keeping the door open for restarting talks with Western Digital.

Flash-memory firms must bear the burden of making huge investments in facilities and equipment to remain competitive.

Key words : anime tokyo
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231030_30/

Fans of Japanese anime will have access to a new exhibition center in Tokyo's Ikebukuro district starting Tuesday.

Members of the media on Monday were invited to visit the Anime Tokyo Station, which will be jointly run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and an industry organization, the Association of Japanese Animations.

The center occupies three floors of a building near Ikebukuro station.

The basement floor exhibits some 50,000 anime related items, including images drawn on celluloid sheets, and screenplays of popular anime series. They will be showcased in a climate-controlled space to help prevent wear and tear on the items.

On the first floor are monuments depicting famous anime scenes. Visitors can also try producing an anime at a workshop that will be opened periodically.

The second floor will feature exhibitions of popular anime series. The venue currently features the Naruto TV series, which has been widely viewed overseas.

Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko, who attended the pre-opening event, called Japanese anime and manga "killer contents" of Japan, as well as Tokyo.

She expressed hopes that the center, which will showcase anime, will be enjoyed by people around the world.

Anime Tokyo Station will be open between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. The building will be closed on Mondays.