at 18:30 (JST), December 22

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/20231222183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : china rare-earth
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231222_01/

China has announced a ban on exports of rare-earth technologies, an apparent response to tighter US controls on semiconductor shipments to the country. China accounts for roughly 70 percent of global rare-earth output.

China's Commerce Ministry said on Thursday it is barring the export of a rare-earth technology to make high-powered magnets, as well as restricting shipments of rare-earth refining technology.

The magnets are necessary to manufacture a broad range of products, such as motors of electric vehicles.

The United States, Japan and others rely on China for its rare-earth refining and processing technologies to make the magnets.

This is the latest in a series of China's export controls on important mineral resources used in the production of high-tech products.

In August, China initiated export controls on items related to the chip-making materials, gallium and germanium. On December 1, Beijing started restricting exports of graphite products, which are key to making lithium-ion batteries.

Key words : malaysia banned
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231221_29/

The Malaysian government has banned Israel-flagged ships from docking at its ports in response to the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The government of the Muslim-majority nation says, "Israeli actions ignore basic humanitarian principles and violate international law through the ongoing massacre and brutality against Palestinians."

It announced the sanctions in a statement on Wednesday.

The government singled out one of Israel's biggest shipping companies ZIM.

It also banned any ship en route to Israel from loading cargo at Malaysian ports.

A number of pro-Palestinian rallies have taken place across the country. In October, thousands of people gathered at a rally in which Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called on Israel to immediately stop the attacks.

In Malaysia, Muslims are said to account for more than 60 percent of its population. The government has long kept a position of supporting the Palestinians and it doesn't have diplomatic ties with Israel.

Key words : south ordered wartime
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231221_11/

South Korea's Supreme Court has ordered Japanese companies to compensate individuals who say they or their relatives were forced to work for these firms during World War Two.

The court ruled in two lawsuits on Thursday that the former workers have the right to seek compensation for their work for Nippon Steel and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries during World War Two.

Four plaintiffs, including Korean women and a family member, sought compensation for their work at Mitsubishi's munitions factory in Nagoya, central Japan.

Another set of plaintiffs also did this for their work at plants of Nippon Steel's predecessor in Fukuoka and Iwate prefectures.

Lower courts have also ruled in their favor. The Japanese firms appealed the rulings.

Japan says any right to claims was settled completely and finally by the bilateral agreement in 1965 when Japan and South Korea normalized ties.

This is the first time in five years that South Korea's Supreme Court has handed down a ruling on wartime labor issues. The top court in 2018 ordered Nippon Steel and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to compensate former Korean workers.

In March, the South Korean government announced a payment scheme in which a government-affiliated foundation pays damages in place of the Japanese firms.

Seoul said this would also apply to ongoing lawsuits when Japanese firms are ordered to pay compensation. For the plaintiffs that refused to accept the payments, the foundation took procedures to deposit the amount with the court, but the court has decided repeatedly not to accept the funds.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa said in a news conference on Thursday that the ruling violates the 1965 agreement. He said the court's decisions are extremely regrettable and unacceptable that Japan has lodged a protest with South Korea.

Hayashi said the South Korean government has already announced the foundation will cover the amount and the interest on delayed payments if the plaintiffs win, and it plans to act in line with that.

As some plaintiffs choose not to accept payments from the foundation, the risk remains of the firms' assets being sold. Hayashi added that he understands that the South Korean government will continue to make the utmost effort to gain the understanding of the plaintiffs.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries says the company regards any right to claims was settled completely and finally by the 1965 agreement. It said the rulings and procedures that run counter to the agreement are extremely regrettable.

Nippon Steel says it recognizes that the issue was settled by the 1965 agreement. The company said the latest ruling violates the agreement and is extremely regrettable.

Key words : pakistan afghan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/radio/asianview/interviews/202312191817/

“AFGHANS IN PAKISTAN HAVE NOWHERE TO GO”

Pakistan’s policy of deporting people it says are in the country illegally has raised concerns among the 1.7 million undocumented Afghan nationals living there. The government is urging all immigrants without legal status to leave voluntarily or face deportation. We spoke about this with Hasibullah Mowahed, an Afghan who fled to Japan last year. He is now a researcher at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and Chiba University.