at 18:30 (JST), November 02

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/20231102183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : pakistan police officer
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231101_37/

Pakistan's government says it will start transferring undocumented immigrants to detention facilities on Thursday. It says this is part of a deportation process.
Many Afghan people fled to neighboring Pakistan, after the Taliban retook power in their country. They are now voicing concerns about their safety.

Authorities in the capital Islamabad were seen demolishing the homes of some Afghans on Tuesday. The officials said the move was necessary to end what they described as an "illegal occupation."

Scores of people from Afghanistan are returning home voluntarily. Trucks carrying household goods are lined up near one of the border crossings. The Pakistani government says more than 100,000 Afghans have already crossed the border.
Large numbers of Afghans fled to Pakistan, after the Taliban seized power in 2021. Individuals affiliated with the ousted government and human rights activists were among them.

One woman served as a police officer, until the Taliban returned to power. She says she did not have enough time or money to get a Pakistani visa, before she fled from her home. She said, "It will be terrible. I will not be safe over there because my life will be in danger. And what will I do? There are no jobs. They will kill me, and they will kill my daughter."

The Pakistani government believes Afghan nationals are behind the recent suicide bombings that have been carried out in the country. The government notes that there are 1.7 million undocumented Afghans in Pakistan.

Key words : thailand foreign minister immediate
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231101_25/

The government of Thailand has asked Qatar to help secure the release of Thai hostages being held by the Islamic group Hamas.

Thailand's Foreign Ministry says Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara arrived in Qatar's capital Doha on Tuesday and spoke with Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.

The ministry said, "On this occasion, the Thai side requested Qatar's support in finding ways to ensure the immediate release of the foreign hostages, including Thai nationals."

About 30,000 Thais live in Israel and many of them work on farms.

The Thai government says 32 nationals were killed in the raid by Hamas on October 7, and 22 others were taken hostage.

Qatar has been mediating hostage negotiations.

The Thai Foreign Ministry says Qatar agreed to fully support efforts to free the hostages.

Key words : north korea hong kong
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231101_31/

North Korea appears to have decided to shut down some of its diplomatic missions, prompting speculation that the country is not able to maintain them due to economic difficulties amid international sanctions.

Multiple sources say North Korea's Foreign Ministry recently notified China of its decision to close the consulate general in Hong Kong, possibly to streamline the operation of overseas diplomatic establishments.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency has reported that the North also conveyed its intention to close down its embassies in Uganda, Angola and Spain to the respective governments, according to local media reports and other sources.

North Korea has not made any announcements, but its state-run media reported on Monday that its ambassadors to Uganda and Angola had paid farewell courtesy calls to those countries' presidents.

Sources related to South Korea's Unification Ministry say North Korea has about 50 diplomatic missions worldwide.

The sources say the move to close down overseas missions appears to show it is no longer financially feasible for the North to maintain them due to strengthened sanctions.

Key words : founder
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231102_02/

Hon Hai Precision Industry founder Terry Gou has submitted a batch of petition signatures he has collected to qualify as an independent candidate in Taiwan's presidential election in January next year.

Gou presented the signatures to the Taipei City Election Commission on Wednesday, a day ahead of the deadline.

Gou claims he has collected well above the about 290,000 signatures from eligible voters required to secure his candidacy.

The Central Election Commission will determine by November 14 whether he qualifies as a candidate.

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

The largest opposition Kuomintang party has picked the mayor of New Taipei City, Hou Yu-ih, as its candidate.

The Taiwan People's Party, the third-largest force in the legislature, has decided to field former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je.

The KMT is calling on the TPP to back a unified candidate. But the negotiation is facing difficulties due to their differences over how to decide between the two.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party has named Taiwan Vice President Lai Ching-te to run in the presidential race.

Some analysts say a larger number of candidates could offer an advantage for Lai.

Key words : toyota motor electric battery
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231101_17/

Toyota Motor is doubling down on its push into electric vehicles. The Japanese automaker says it's boosting investment in an EV battery plant in the United States.

Toyota said on Tuesday it will put nearly 8 billion dollars more into a plant that's under construction in the southern state of North Carolina.

The firm aims to ramp up US production of batteries for EVs and plug-in hybrids. This will bring total investment in the plant to about 13.9 billion dollars.

The plant is slated to kick off production in 2025. It will supply batteries for EVs, including sport utility vehicles, that will be produced at a plant in Kentucky, also in the southern US.

Meanwhile, Honda is building an EV battery plant in the midwest state of Ohio with South Korea's LG Energy Solution.

Key words : jica resumed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231102_05/

The Japan International Cooperation Agency has resumed operations at its office in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, after a hiatus triggered by Russia's invasion of the country.

JICA opened the Kyiv office in 2017. But it temporarily closed it and evacuated its Japanese staff in late January of 2022, just before Russia launched the invasion. The staff have since continued their work remotely from neighboring Moldova and elsewhere.

The agency brought back its full-time staff to Kyiv and restarted operations at the office on Wednesday to accelerate Japan's assistance for Ukraine's reconstruction.

Of assistance pledged by the Japanese government for Ukraine, JICA is in charge of projects worth about 170 billion yen, or over 1.1 billion dollars. The agency has already provided generators and technological assistance to remove land mines.

JICA now plans to use its Kyiv office to facilitate collaboration with Ukraine in providing support in a wide range of fields, including agriculture and education, as well as helping Japanese firms operate in the country.

Matsunaga Hideki, director general of JICA's Middle East and Europe Department, said it is important for the organization's staff to stay in Ukraine to build a relationship of trust with local people. He said expectations are high in the country for Japan, and that his agency intends to make use of Japan's experience in disaster recovery and offering reconstruction assistance in other countries.

JICA plans to increase the number of its full-time staff in Ukraine and begin full-fledged operations from next year.

Key words : philippines radar
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231101_04/

Sources say the Japanese government is making arrangements to provide the Philippines with maritime surveillance radar and other equipment under the new Official Security Assistance framework. If realized, it will be the first application of the plan.

The government launched the OSA framework in April to provide defense equipment and other supplies to like-minded countries to enhance security cooperation.

Japan's government is seeking to strengthen ties with the Philippines, as both nations are wary of China's increasing maritime activities.

Tokyo is also considering the possibility of starting negotiations with Manila to conclude a Reciprocal Access Agreement. The agreement is designed to arrange in advance numerous details needed for Japan's Self-Defense Forces and the Philippine military to conduct joint drills and other activities.

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is expected to discuss the matter with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at a summit in Manila on Friday.