at 18:30 (JST), November 30

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/20231130183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : eight people on board yokota
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231130_06/

The Japanese government is considering taking swift action following the reported crash of an Osprey in the country's southwest. Possible moves include a request for the temporary suspension of flights of the US military transport aircraft in Japan.

The aircraft reportedly crashed into waters off Yakushima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture on Wednesday afternoon. So far, what appears to be wreckage has been spotted near the site, and a person has been confirmed dead after being rescued from the sea.

The US Air Force Special Operations Command said eight people were on board the aircraft, which belongs to the US Yokota Air Base in Tokyo. Japan's coast guard and others are continuing search and rescue operations.

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said on Wednesday night that the government will do its utmost to save lives. He added that he will seek cooperation with the US military to figure out what actually happened and will consider taking action.

Sources close to the matter say possible government action includes asking the US side to temporarily suspend Osprey flights in Japan.

The government plans to make its final decision after getting information from the US on what led to the incident.

Key words : verted
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231129_38/

A US Osprey military aircraft carrying six people on board has crashed into the waters off southwestern Japan. One person is confirmed dead. A rescue effort by the Japanese coast guard is underway.

The crash occurred just before 3 p.m. local time on Wednesday near the island of Yakushima.

Japan's defense ministry says US officials are calling the incident an attempted emergency water landing.

According to an eyewitness, the aircraft appeared to roll over mid-flight before descending vertically towards the water.

The eyewitness said, "It was like the so-called inverted flight. After it turned over, a fire broke out from the propeller on the left wing. There was an explosion right after that. Then the aircraft went straight down without gliding.

Japan's coast guard spotted what appeared to be wreckage from the aircraft.

Defense Ministry officials say the aircraft is a CV-22 Osprey which belongs to the US Yokota Air Base in Tokyo. They say it was likely heading to the US Kadena Air Base in Okinawa.

The US deployed the Ospreys to Japan in 2018. CV-22s are mainly used to transport special forces. They have been involved in a number of serious accidents.

In 2010, an Osprey crash-landed in Afghanistan, killing 4 soldiers.

In 2012, a crash during a training mission injured five crew members in Florida.

In August last year, the aircraft were grounded by the US over a safety issue - but the flights were eventually resumed.

Key words : philippines negotiation
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231129_08/

The Philippine government and the country's communist rebels have agreed to resume peace negotiations aimed at ending one of the longest armed conflicts in Asia.

The two sides announced on Tuesday that they reached the agreement under the mediation of Norway.

In a joint statement, they say that cognizant of "the foreign security threats facing the country, the parties recognize the need to unite as a nation in order to urgently address these challenges."

Previous talks were terminated by then-Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte six years ago.

The government and the New People's Army -- the military wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines -- have been engaged in fighting since the 1960s. The conflict is said to have killed more than 40,000 people.

The government is believed to be trying to stabilize the domestic situation to focus on external security threats, with China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea in mind.

Key words : north soldier demilitarized
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231129_19/

North Korean soldiers in the Joint Security Area of the Demilitarized Zone that separates North and South Korea are carrying handguns in violation of a 2018 agreement aimed at reducing inter-Korean military tension.

The move follows the North Korean defense ministry's announcement last week that its military is no longer bound by the 2018 deal.

Sources close to the South Korean military say North Korean soldiers stationed in the area in Panmunjom resumed carrying pistols late last week.

The JSA has been disarmed under the 2018 agreement.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency said the South could rearm itself in the JSA if the current situation continues.

The sources also point out that North Korea has recently removed covers on the muzzles of artillery guns on the Yellow Sea coast in the west side of the Korean Peninsula, suggesting their combat readiness. They say the number of these guns has increased from one or two previously to 10 or more.

The South Korean military earlier said the North is putting guard posts back near the military demarcation line separating the two Koreas.

South Korea partially suspended the 2018 deal on November 22 in protest of the North's launch of a spy satellite the day before. Pyongyang in response said on Thursday last week that it will restore all military measures it froze under the agreement.

Key words : motor show thailand
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231130_13/

A major motor show opens on Thursday in Thailand, where Chinese automakers are hoping their electric vehicles will reduce Japanese brands' market dominance.

A media preview for the Thailand International Motor Expo was held on Wednesday. Forty manufacturers from Japan, China and elsewhere are showcasing their models at the 12-day event.

Major Chinese carmaker Changan Automobile unveiled its new electric SUV and sedan. The company has announced plans to start EV production in Thailand in 2025 and roll out more electric models.

Leading Chinese EV maker BYD, and Guangzhou Automobile Group's EV brand, Aion, also have plans for local production.

The Thai government subsidizes customers' purchases of EVs made in the country.

About 58,000 electric vehicles were newly registered in Thailand in the first 10 months of this year. That's a more-than eightfold increase from the same period last year.

Japanese automakers currently have an 80-percent share of the overall Thai auto market.

Honda has already announced plans to build EVs in Thailand and production is due to start in December.

Key words : sri lanka debts
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231129_37/

Japan and other countries working to restructure Sri Lanka's external debts have reached a basic agreement with the South Asian country.

Sri Lanka has suspended external debt repayments since April last year. Fiscal policy failures and other factors triggered a sharp depreciation of the country's currency and price rises.

In April this year, Japan, France and India took the initiative in launching a framework for talks to help Sri Lanka. Seventeen creditor countries have been discussing changes in repayment conditions.

Japan's Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs, Kanda Masato, told reporters on Wednesday that with the latest deal, the creditors reached a basic agreement with the Sri Lankan government on extending deadlines and lowering interest rates.

Kanda said the process will be highly transparent and fair. Details have yet to be announced.

China, Sri Lanka's biggest creditor, took part in the framework only as an observer. China earlier announced it had agreed with the Sri Lankan government on conditions for debt restructuring separately from the framework.

Kanda said that he heard China's deal is similar to their latest agreement, expressing hope for close cooperation with Beijing.

Key words : christmas diving
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231129_03/

Christmas is coming to one of the major diving spots in Japan. Divers have installed an underwater Christmas tree in the town of Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, ahead of the holiday season.

An association of diving service operators sets up an undersea Christmas tree every year as part of efforts to reinvigorate the local community.

Eight divers, some of them wearing Santa Clause costumes, on Tuesday headed to a diving spot about 200 meters from Cape Shionomisaki, the southernmost point of Honshu, Japan's largest island.

They used sandbags and ropes to fix the 3-meter-tree, decorated with ribbons and bells, on the seabed 18 meters below surface.

Association member Michii Hiroyuki says he hopes that divers will enjoy the underwater Christmas tree that can only be enjoyed around this time of year.

The tree will be in place until December 25.