at 18:30 (JST), November 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/20231120183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : election officials taiwan second
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231120_03/

Election officials in Taiwan will accept applications from presidential candidates from Monday through Friday.

Talks between two opposition parties on fielding a unified candidate for the January race remain stalled.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party has chosen Taiwan Vice President Lai Ching-te to compete in the race. He intends to work with the United States, Japan, and other nations to counter pressure from China.

The largest opposition Kuomintang party has picked the mayor of New Taipei City, Hou Yu-ih, as its candidate.
The party stresses the need to boost exchanges with China. The second-largest opposition Taiwan People's Party has put forward former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je.

Opinion polls place Lai as the frontrunner, with Hou and Ko competing for second place.

In a bid to increase the chances of a change in government, the two opposition parties agreed on Wednesday that either Hou or Ko would run as their unified presidential candidate.

However, the parties were not able to reach a consensus and canceled the announcement that had been scheduled for Saturday.

In addition, Ko expresses no sign of compromise. He said on Sunday he would continue to fight till the end as the TPP's presidential candidate.

The founder of Hon Hai Precision Industry, Terry Gou, has also qualified to run as an independent.

Key words : north no mention holiday
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231119_08/

North Korean media have so far made no mention of a new national holiday to commemorate one year since the successful launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. There have also been no media reports on North Korean Leader Kim Jung Un for almost one month.

North Korea launched the Hwasong-17, which is said to be capable of reaching anywhere on the US mainland, on November 18 last year.

The front page of the Sunday-edition of the country's ruling Workers' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun, includes an article calling for the top economic targets for this year to be achieved. No articles about "missile industry day" were to be seen anywhere in the paper.

Meanwhile, there have been no media reports on Kim since his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was reported on October 20. If Kim stays out of media reporting until next Saturday, it would be the second longest period of his absence from media since he took office.

Some countries are closely watching for the North's next move, as Pyongyang has been warning that it will carry out its third launch of a military spy satellite. The North has also recently tested a solid-fuel engine for a new intermediate-range ballistic missile.

Key words : north kbs alert
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231120_23/

Japan's Defense Minister Kihara Minoru has indicated that the government will gather intelligence and stay on alert to prepare for a possible launch of a North Korean military spy satellite.

Kihara told reporters on Monday that North Korea expressed its intention to launch a satellite for the third time, following two failed attempts in May and August.

He said there is a possibility that Pyongyang will go ahead with the launch.

He also said the Defense Ministry has kept intact an order issued in May for the Self-Defense Forces to destroy any incoming missiles or other projectiles that could fall within Japanese territory.

Kihara added that SDF vessels equipped with Aegis radar systems and the land-based PAC-3 interceptor systems have been ready in case that happens.

South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said in an interview with public broadcaster KBS on Sunday that the launch could occur within a week or before November 30 at the latest.

Key words : provide bangladesh
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231120_09/

Japan's government has agreed with Bangladesh to provide four patrol boats under a new cooperation framework called Official Security Assistance, or OSA.

The new framework is designed to allow Japan to provide defense equipment and other materials to like-minded countries as a way to strengthen security cooperation.

Japanese officials say the Bangladesh Navy will use the patrol boats for monitoring and surveillance as well as disaster relief.

Officials at Japan's Foreign Ministry say Bangladesh is trying to lessen its dependence on China as the source of defense equipment. Japan apparently hopes to seize the opportunity to boost security cooperation with Bangladesh.

Earlier this month, Japan agreed with the Philippines at a bilateral summit to provide it with coastal surveillance radar systems under the OSA framework.

Japanese officials say they are also talking with Malaysia and Fiji to reach agreements under the OSA pact by the end of this year.

Key words : yemen 25 crewmembers
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231120_05/

Israel's military said on Sunday the Houthi rebel group in Yemen has seized a cargo ship in the Red Sea near Yemen. It says the ship was heading from Turkey to India.

The Prime Minister's Office of Israel says the cargo ship is owned by a British company and operated by a Japanese company.

It says the ship is carrying 25 people, including those from Ukraine, Bulgaria and the Philippines, and that no Israelis were on board.

Japanese shipping firm NYK Line says it operates the seized ship and it was in contact with the British company that owns the ship late on Sunday, Japan time.

NYK Line says the ship has a total of 25 crewmembers, but their safety remains unknown. It adds no Japanese nationals are among the crew.

The company says the ship was scheduled to head for an Indian port after sailing through the Suez Canal.

The Houthis, backed by Iran, have been launching ballistic and other missiles at Israel. The group has also warned it will target Israeli ships in the Red Sea.

Key words : australia destroyer
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231119_01/

Australia's defense ministry has criticized a Chinese military destroyer for engaging in "unsafe and unprofessional conduct." It says Australian naval divers were injured when the Chinese vessel used sonar in an area where they were operating.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles issued a statement on Saturday. He said an Australian frigate was in international waters inside Japan's exclusive economic zone on Tuesday when it stopped to clear away fishing nets that had become entangled around its propellers.

Marles said the Chinese destroyer approached the Australian vessel while diving operations were underway. He said the Australian side informed the Chinese ship that divers were operating in the area and asked the ship to stay clear. But the minister said the ship used its sonar in a manner that posed a risk to the safety of the Australian divers. Marles said the divers sustained minor injuries.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited China earlier this month. It was the first visit to the country by an Australian prime minister in seven years. The incident is likely to put a damper on the amicable relationship between the nations.

Key words : marcos xi expressed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231119_04/

The Philippines has expressed concern to China over incidents between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the South China Sea. The leaders of the two countries have discussed possible ways to ease tensions.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in San Francisco on Friday.

In October, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel collided with a Philippine military supply boat near the Spratly Islands.

The Philippine presidential office said that Marcos had brought up the plight of Filipino fishermen who have complained of Chinese vessels preventing them from fishing in the area.

Marcos also said the two leaders both agreed that the problems they have in the South China Sea should not be the defining element of their relationship.

Marcos and Xi last met in person in January when the Philippine leader visited China. Marcos said he requested Friday's meeting.

Key words : panasonic
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231120_15/

Japan's Panasonic Holdings says it has reached a basic agreement to sell a majority of its stake in an automotive systems unit to a US private equity firm.

The electronics giant is realigning its operations to focus on making batteries for electric vehicles.

Under the deal, funds managed by an affiliate of Apollo Global Management will acquire a stake in Panasonic Automotive Systems.

Talks are said to be underway to sell a stake of 50 to 80 percent to the US equity firm, with the aim of finalizing an agreement by the end of March next year.

Panasonic Automotive, which produces electronic parts and systems for cars, is wholly owned by Panasonic Holdings. It has a global workforce of around 30,000. Panasonic says it's negotiating with Apollo to retain the jobs.