at 18:30 (JST), August 31

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/20210831133000_english_1.mp3


Key words : self-defense airlift
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210831_06/

Japan's government plans to soon recall Self-Defense Forces aircraft that have been sent to help airlift evacuees from Afghanistan.

The government has kept the aircraft on standby in neighboring Pakistan since last week, when a Japanese national and 14 Afghans were airlifted to the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.

Officials say they are aware of more than 500 people still stranded in Afghanistan, including Afghans working for the Japanese Embassy and other organizations.

Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu discussed the matter at an online ministerial-level meeting on Monday with countries including the US and Britain.

Motegi stressed the need for governments to closely coordinate their evacuation operations.

The Japanese government will keep foreign ministry officials in neighboring countries to continue helping the evacuation efforts. It also plans to seek cooperation from Qatar and other countries that have connections with the Taliban.

Key words : music festival
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210830_24/

An outdoor music festival held on Sunday in central Japan has come under fire for failing to take anti-coronavirus measures, including serving alcoholic drinks to the crowds packing the venue.

The "NAMIMONOGATARI2021" event was held at an open-air facility on an island in Tokoname City in Aichi Prefecture.

Guidelines posted on the organizer's homepage required participants to wear face masks, maintain social distancing and refrain from screaming.

But videos shared on social networks by the performing artists and attendees at the event showed many young people packed closely together and yelling without masks.

The venue is managed by Aichi Prefecture. Governor Ohmura Hideaki said on Monday that prefectural officials had called on the organizer to take thorough anti-infection measures, such as refraining from serving alcohol.

The governor said it is extremely regrettable that the requests were not complied with, and indicated that the organizer will be banned from using facilities belonging to the prefecture.

Tokoname City officials also expressed strong criticism of the organizer, saying that the incident took place at a time when they are asking residents to adhere to various antivirus measures.

Key words : nuclear agency
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210831_02/

The International Atomic Energy Agency has expressed serious concern over signs that North Korea has resumed the operation of a nuclear reactor in Nyongbyon.

The UN's nuclear agency released its latest report, dated Friday, about North Korea's nuclear development programs.

The agency wrote that, "since early July 2021, there have been indications, including the discharge of cooling water, consistent with the operation of the reactor."

It added that there had been no such indications from early December 2018 to the beginning of July 2021.

It also pointed out that a steam plant at the Nyongbyon nuclear site had operated for approximately five months, from mid-February 2021 to early July 2021.
It said the five-month period is consistent with the time required to reprocess spent fuel.

The IAEA said the continuation of North Korea's nuclear program is a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions and is deeply regrettable.

Key words : schoolchildren watch
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210830_29/

The Japanese prefecture of Chiba has decided to pull out of a program to allow schoolchildren to watch Tokyo Paralympic events in person.

Chiba Governor Kumagai Toshihito announced the decision on Monday, saying many parents are worried about the safety of their children.

Before the Paralympic Games began, more than 23,100 students in the prefecture had been expected to take part in the program.

The governor had said the plan should go ahead with strict anti-coronavirus measures in place, as it has great educational value in raising inclusivity awareness.

But the announcement on Monday came after a string of last-minute cancellations and the confirmation that two teachers who took students to a Paralympic event have tested positive for the virus.

The governor said that although the two teachers were believed to have been infected before going to the event, all remaining participation will be canceled, starting Tuesday.

Kumagai said it would require more precautionary measures, such as PCR tests, to assure the parents and teachers of the children's safety, and that would be a huge burden.

Key words : nikai five years
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210831_13/

Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide plans to remove Nikai Toshihiro as secretary-general in a personnel reshuffle of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Suga told Nikai and Acting Secretary-General Hayashi Motoo about his plan on Monday. This comes ahead of elections for the party's leadership and the Lower House.

Nikai indicated that he will accept the move. He said he has already served as secretary-general for more than five years, so he would like the personnel change to be conducted without reservations.

Suga is expected to continue adjustments and implement the changes before the end of September, when the terms of the executives' posts expire.
An LDP executive has indicated that the personnel reshuffle may take place next week.

Nikai is the longest-serving secretary-general on record. Some party members have commented that he has been in the post for too long.

Former LDP Policy Research Council Chairperson Kishida Fumio, who has announced his candidacy in the party leadership election, has indicated that he will limit executives' terms to three consecutive years.

Campaigning for the LDP presidential election will officially begin on September 17, and voting is scheduled for September 29.

Senior members of the ruling camp have said that the Lower House election should be held around October 21, when the legislators' terms end.
They say a political vacuum created by the dissolution of the chamber should be avoided.

Key words : coast guard
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210830_11/

Japan's Coast Guard says four Chinese government vessels entered Japanese territorial waters off the Senkaku Islands early on Monday.

The vessels were reportedly approaching a Japanese fishing boat. Coast Guard personnel are trying to ensure the safety of the Japanese fishers, and they are warning the Chinese vessels to immediately leave the waters.

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

The Coast Guard says the four Chinese ships entered Japan's waters off Uotsuri Island and Minamikojima Island, two of the Senkaku Islands, one after another starting at around 2:40 a.m.

It says that, as of 3:30 a.m., three of the vessels were sailing 12 to 17 kilometers south of Uotsuri Island. It says the other was traveling about 15 kilometers south-southwest of Minamikojima Island.

This is the 28th occasion this year on which Chinese government ships have been confirmed to be navigating in Japan's territorial waters off the Senkaku Islands. The last intrusion was reported on Saturday.

Key words : china announced
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210831_01/

The Chinese government has announced new rules instructing online game providers to limit the time users under the age of 18 can play to Fridays, weekends, and holidays, and up to one hour each day.

China's state-run Xinhua news agency on Monday reported on the restrictions aimed at preventing minors from becoming addicted to online gaming.

Under the new rules, companies will only be able to offer online gaming services to children from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays, weekends and holidays.

Firms are also barred from providing any gaming services to players who fail to register their real name.

The report said authorities will strictly deal with companies that fail to follow the rules.

The move comes as the gaming industry faces scrutiny in China due to children becoming addicted to online games.

A state-run media recently called for more measures to prevent addiction, describing online games as "spiritual opium."