at 18:30 (JST), December 19

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/20231219183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : tokyo prosecutor two faction
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231219_02/

NHK has learned that the chief accountants of Japan's main ruling Liberal Democratic Party's two factions have admitted to not declaring some revenue from fundraisers during questioning by prosecutors.

The Abe and Nikai factions are suspected of paying kickbacks to member lawmakers who sold fundraising party tickets in excess of their quota, without recording the amount as revenue in their political fund reports.

Tokyo prosecutors are apparently trying to find out if the practice was systematic.

The sources told NHK that the chief accounting officers of both factions have admitted that they didn't register a portion of revenue from fundraising events.

They say the chief accountant of the Abe faction told investigators of having been aware that the funds should have been recorded in official documents.

Lawmakers in the Abe faction are estimated to have received unrecorded funds worth about 3.5 million dollars.

The policy chief of the largest opposition party is calling for more transparency. Under the political funds control law, details of donations must be recorded if the amount exceeds about 350 dollars per year. But for fundraising parties, the criterion is about 1,400 dollars per event.

Constitutional Democratic Party policy chief Nagatsuma Akira says that should be lowered to the same level as donations. He also said he wants to make sure that this kind of political greed and scandal never occurs again in Japan.

The secretary-general of the LDP Motegi Toshimitsu has also proposed a legal change. He says measures must be considered to ensure monetary transparency as soon as possible, including legal amendments such as revisions to the Political Funds Control Act.

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio did not rule out that option.
He said it is important for his party to take drastic measures, such as creating a new framework to regain public trust, at the appropriate time.

Key words : at least 118
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231219_09/

Chinese media reports say at least 118 people are confirmed dead after a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the inland province of Gansu late Monday night.

The quake occurred at 11:59 p.m. in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu, at a depth of 10 kilometers.

Local footage shows many collapsed buildings and rescue teams searching for survivors.

State-run media say more than 100 people have been confirmed dead in Gansu, with about 400 others injured.

They say 13 people were also killed in the neighboring province of Qinghai.

Reports say the affected areas are scattered over a wide region, and that damage could be extensive.

Key words : kim solid-fuel
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231219_08/

North Korean media says the country conducted a launch drill of the solid fuel ICBM-class Hwasong-18 on Monday. It also says that leader Kim Jong Un observed the launch.

North Korea's Workers' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun issued a report on Tuesday about what it called a launch drill for the Hwasong-18.

The newspaper said the missile traveled 1,002.3 kilometers, reached a maximum altitude of 6,518.2 kilometers and flew for 73 minutes.

It said the missile accurately came down on a target area located in open waters off North Korea's east coast.

The North test-fired the Hwasong-18 in April and July. But this is the first time that Pyongyang has announced a launch drill for the missile.

The country appears to be trying to give the impression that the solid-fuel ICBM, which can be launched more quickly than those that run on liquid fuel, is ready for deployment.

Kim watched the launch with his daughter. He said that the drill was an occasion to clearly show what kind of action the country is prepared to take, and what option it will take, if Washington makes the wrong decision regarding the nation.

He stressed that Pyongyang will need to counter the threats of its enemies by taking more offensive actions, if they continue to make the wrong choices.

The US mission to the United Nations says it asked the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday.

The US mission says this latest firing and all launches by North Korea that use ballistic missile technology are "violations of multiple Security Council resolutions." It stressed that the launches threaten the entire global community.

The Hwasong-18 is North Korea's first solid fuel new-type ICBM-class ballistic missile.

The North conducted a combustion test of a high-thrust solid-fuel engine in December 2022.

In February of this year, the Hwasong-18 appeared in the finale of a military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the North Korean military.

In April, Pyongyang announced that it had test-fired the Hwasong-18 successfully for the first time. The second test-firing was conducted in July.

Japan's Defense Ministry says the missile likely has a range of over 15,000 kilometers and may be able to reach any area in the United States.

Key words : nippon steel third
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231219_N02/

Executives at Nippon Steel have announced an acquisition that will make their company the third largest steel producer in the world. They struck a deal on Monday to buy US Steel for more than 14 billion dollars. They said, by September, the firm will become one of their subsidiaries.

The executives have seen new US legislation promote the building of factories for semiconductors and electric vehicles. They believe that will drive up demand.

US Steel was once the largest company in the world. The firm has played a key role in American industry for more than a century. The company supplied the military with material for warplanes, ships and tanks during the two world wars.

Executives have struggled against competitors from China who account for more than half of global production. They had been weighing takeover bids from domestic rivals but have chosen to take the offer from overseas. They have seen Nippon Steel expand its production bases in India, Southeast Asia and elsewhere. They say the sale will benefit the US by "strengthening their presence globally."

Key words : founder trial
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231218_32/

A court in Hong Kong has begun the trial of the founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper on multiple charges over violating the territory's national security law.

Jimmy Lai is accused of colluding with foreign forces and endangering national security, among other charges. He has been a long-time supporter of Hong Kong's democracy movement.

More than 250 people gathered to observe the trial that opened on Monday amid tight security.

Lai's side has shown that he intends to deny all the charges.

He was arrested and indicted in 2020. The Apple Daily newspaper, known for its critical stance toward Beijing, was forced to close the following year.

Lai has already faced prison sentences at other trials while being held in detention for more than 1,000 days.

The British government has issued a statement saying the Beijing-imposed national security legislation "damaged Hong Kong, with rights and freedoms significantly eroded." It calls on the Hong Kong authorities to end their prosecution and release Lai.

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller criticized Hong Kong and Beijing authorities on Sunday for having "denied him his choice of legal representation."

He said the US government calls on "Hong Kong authorities to immediately release Jimmy Lai and all others imprisoned for defending their rights."

The spokesperson urged "Beijing and Hong Kong authorities to respect press freedom in Hong Kong."

Key words : bangladesh election
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231218_40/

In Bangladesh, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Dhaka on Saturday ahead of a general election slated for early in the new year. The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, or BNP, is demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. It says a fair vote is impossible under her administration.

The BNP accuses Hasina's government of harassing its members in the run-up to the national parliamentary election scheduled for January 7. The latest demonstration passed off peacefully, but that wasn't the case in October, when violence broke out at opposition rallies. Protesters clashed with security forces and torched buildings and cars, leaving hundreds injured. Thousands of BNP leaders and supporters have been arrested or jailed.

Hasina is seeking a fifth term. She has repeatedly rebuffed opposition calls to resign. The chief election commissioner says the army will be deployed to maintain law and order in the period around the vote.

The BNP is boycotting the election. The party is calling for a nationwide strike Tuesday at shops and public transportation. The UN says the election must be free and fair so that every Bangladeshi can vote, free of intimidation or repercussions.

Key words : cultural affairs agency
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231218_36/

Japan's Cultural Affairs Agency is set to propose to UNESCO that "Shodo," or Japanese calligraphy, be added to the organization's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

An agency panel agreed to make the proposal at a meeting on Monday.

Shodo is an art form of writing Chinese or hiragana characters in "sumi," or black ink, with a traditional technique and handling of "fude," or a writing brush.

The agency said it selected calligraphy as its proposed item from the view point of spreading the diversity and profundity of Japanese culture to the world.

It plans to submit the proposal to UNESCO by the end of next March after obtaining formal approval from the government. The United Nations cultural body is expected to discuss Japan's nomination for the listing in around November, 2026.

Japan also plans to propose more elements be added to some of its UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage items that have already been registered, as the screening process for the expansion of the items' scope has become easier. The items are Washi, craftsmanship of traditional Japanese hand-made paper, and Yama, Hoko, Yatai float festivals, as well as traditional architectural techniques.

Japan already has 22 items registered on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. They include Nogaku theater, and Washoku traditional Japanese cuisine.

Japan is currently proposing traditional sake brewing for UNESCO registration.