at 18:30 (JST), October 27

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/20201027183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : suga first policy number of
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201026_24/

Japan's Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has delivered his first policy speech in the Diet since taking office last month. Topping the agenda was the coronavirus pandemic.

Suga said, "The number of confirmed cases accelerated in late June, but the spread of infection began to decline. The downward trend is now slowing and at this moment, the situation remains unpredictable. We will do everything to prevent an explosive increase in infections and protect people's health and lives. We will also resume social and economic activities and revitalize the economy."

Suga also said the government plans to bolster inspection capabilities so that global economic activities can safely resume.

He says the aim is for 20,000 people, notably from the business and educational sectors, to be able to enter the country every day by the end of next month.

Suga also says his administration is trying to secure enough vaccine to supply all citizens by the first half of next year.

The ruling coalition is hoping to pass legislation to secure coronavirus vaccines by the end of the Diet session, which runs until December 5.

On the subject of climate change, Suga said that Japan will aim to achieve a carbon neutral society by 2050.

Suga also reiterated his determination to host next year's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics in a safe and secure manner.

The prime minister will then face question and answer sessions in both the Lower and Upper Houses from Wednesday through Friday.

In addition to the coronavirus, the opposition will also likely focus on the controversy around Suga's refusal to appoint six scholars to the Science Council, the country's top academic body.

Key words : lockheed martin
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201026_34/

The Chinese government says it will impose sanctions on US firms and individuals involved in arms sales to Taiwan.

Last week, the administration of President Donald Trump approved arms sales, including air-to-ground missiles, totaling more than 1.8 billion dollars.

At a news conference on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said China will sanction Lockheed Martin, Boeing Defense, and Raytheon Technologies as well as individuals. He did not say when or what sanction measures will be taken.

Zhao urged the United States to respect the "One China" principle, stop arms sales to Taiwan, and stop any military ties with it.

Key words : commander
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201027_02/

The commander of US forces in Japan has said the capabilities of Japan's Self-Defense Forces and the US military can be used to "deliver combat troops to defend" the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

Lieutenant General Kevin Schneider was speaking to reporters on Monday aboard a Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer.

Schneider touched on a large-scale joint exercise that kicked off on the same day.

He said the US military and Japan's SDF are working to "develop new and better ways to operate and further integrate exercises like this one."

He said such an exercise "clearly demonstrates the growing inter-operability of the US-Japan alliance."

Schneider said the countries' ability to transport personnel "can and could be used to deliver combat troops to defend the Senkakus."

Officials from Japan's Defense Ministry view his remarks as a warning to China, which has been stepping up its activities in waters near the Senkaku Islands.

Japan controls the islands. China and Taiwan claim them. The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory.

In July, Schneider pledged support for Japan over the islands. He said his country "is 100 percent absolutely steadfast in its commitment to help" the Japanese government with the situation.

Key words : lawmaker thailand two-day
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201026_36/

Parliament in Thailand has begun a special session to discuss tensions over political protests.

The meeting comes as anti-government protesters have been taking to the streets almost daily demanding Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's resignation and reform of the monarchy.

The prime minister said: "I'm worried about inappropriate behavior, therefore the government has agreed to have this parliamentary session. We don't want to see clashes or chaos in the country".

The two-day special session runs through Tuesday. Lawmakers are debating the government's reaction to the protests, including the emergency decree and subsequent violent police crackdown in the capital this month. But discussions about the monarchy are not on the agenda.

Anti-government demonstrations led by young people have been held nearly every day in recent weeks, and a state of emergency was imposed for several days in Bangkok to suppress the protests. The special session is believed to be a sop to the demonstrators.

On Monday, protesters marched to the German Embassy to submit a letter seeking an investigation into whether King Maha Vajiralongkorn has been exercising sovereign power in Germany. The king spends most of the time in the country.

Royalists were also at the embassy to submit a letter. They urged the German government to ignore the protesters' demand, saying it's based on misleading information.

Key words : anime
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201026_29/

The animated movie "Kimetsu no Yaiba," or "Demon Slayer," has broken box office records in Japan, earning 10 billion yen in its first 10 days in theaters. It reached the milestone much faster than the 25 days it took the 2001 animated fantasy film "Spirited Away."

The movie is based on a hit manga series about a boy who battles demons in Japan about a century ago.

The film's distributor says nearly 8 million people saw the movie in theaters from October 16 to 25. It raked in 10.7 billion yen, or about 95 million dollars.

The distributor attributes the film's success to the popularity of the original comic book as well as a hit TV series among people of all ages.

It also says the movie is a hit because it is being shown at a large number of screens as relatively few films are available due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Demon Slayer" is the first Japanese movie to top the 10 billion yen mark since director Shinkai Makoto's anime film "Weathering With You" in 2019.

Key words : New Delhi
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201026_09/

People in India prayed for the coronavirus pandemic to end and burned a doll depicting the virus at a traditional Hindu festival on Sunday.

The nation's capital, New Delhi, celebrated a scaled down version of Dussehra. It is one of the three major Hindu festivals.

Many regions cancelled this year's festivities because the government advised against large-scale gatherings amid the pandemic.

Organizers in the capital obtained permission to hold the event by agreeing to enforce anti-infection measures. The festival normally attracts about 50,000 people, but only 100 participants were allowed to take part this year. They were required to wear face masks.

After a performance based on a legend, a doll-burning ritual was held. Effigies of evil, including one depicting the coronavirus, stood 7 to 15 meters tall. Fire crackers inside the dolls exploded with loud bangs as the dolls were set on fire. The dolls burned down in about one minute.

One participant said he was happy to be able to attend. He said he believes the pandemic will end quickly because the coronavirus doll were burned.

Key words : all nippon
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201026_14/

One Japanese airline is taking on additional costs to reduce its carbon footprint, despite the coronavirus crisis. All Nippon Airways is planning to begin flights soon using bio jet fuel derived from animal fat.

A company in Finland will supply the fuel, made with leftover fat from meat processing. It will cut CO2 emissions by about 90 percent compared to conventional jet fuel, including the production stage.

ANA plans to start using the biofuel from next month. It will be the first passenger service in Japan that does not operate on fuel derived from crude oil.

An ANA procurement official, Yoshikawa Kohei said, "Despite the severe business climate, we're taking a long-term perspective by trying to source alternative fuels globally."

The additional cost will be tough for the pandemic-hit carrier. Parent ANA Holdings is expected to post a loss of around 4.7 billion dollars for the current business year, but the airline says it needs to adapt rapidly to tougher environmental regulations introduced around the world.