at 18:30 (JST), September 21

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/20210921183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : treated water
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210921_07/

A Japanese Cabinet minister has explained to the International Atomic Energy Agency the country's plan to release treated water from a crippled nuclear power plant in Fukushima.

Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy, Inoue Shinji, explained the plan in a video message to the IAEA General Conference on Monday.

Inoue said that the Japanese government plans to dilute tritium and other substances within the treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi plant to levels far below national standards. He said it will then start releasing the water into the ocean in about two years.

IAEA senior officials visited Japan earlier this month to discuss the safety of the plan with the country's officials.

Inoue said that Japan will continue to explain the plan in a transparent manner to the international community based on scientific evidence.

He stressed that Japan is willing to cooperate with the IAEA's review of the operation.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said in a speech that the organization will send a team of global experts to Japan later this year, including those from surrounding countries.

South Korea's delegation expressed the country's concerns about Japan's release plan at a previous IAEA general conference.

Key words : new security framework tension
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210920_12/

Southeast Asian countries are voicing concern that a new security framework between the United States, Britain and Australia may escalate an arms race and raise tensions in the region.

Under AUKUS, the US and Britain will help Australia build nuclear-powered submarines, with China's increasing maritime activities in mind.

The partnership is raising concern among nations that are at odds with Beijing over territorial claims or maritime interests in the South China Sea.

Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob told Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday that "AUKUS could potentially provoke other powers to act more aggressively, especially within the South China Sea region."

Indonesia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying the country "is deeply concerned over the continuing arms race and power projection in the region."

Philippine National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana stressed his nation's stance of neutrality on AUKUS, saying that Manila wants to maintain good bilateral defense relations with all countries in the region.

AUKUS is likely to be discussed at an ASEAN summit scheduled for late October.

Key words : north destroy
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210920_10/

North Korea says the recent decision by the US to work with Britain to help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines will destroy regional peace and stability.

The foreign news section chief of North Korea's foreign ministry issued a statement through the state-run Korean Central News Agency on Monday.

It follows the announcement last week that the United States and Britain will provide assistance to Australia under their new security partnership, called AUKUS.

The North's statement says it is quite natural that neighboring countries, including China, "condemned these actions as irresponsible." It adds that the moves will destroy the international nuclear non-proliferation system as well.

The statement also says Pyongyang "will certainly take a corresponding counteraction" if the United States has even a small adverse impact on North Korea's security.

Key words : india suspend
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210921_05/

India says it will resume exporting coronavirus vaccines later this year, after suspending shipments in April as infections skyrocketed in the country.

India, one of the world's largest vaccine suppliers, granted or exported domestically-produced Astrazeneca vaccines to other countries before the halt.

The country saw more than 400,000 new cases per day in early May. But the recent daily figure has dropped to about 30,000.

Health minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced on Monday the planned resumption of vaccine exports in the October to December quarter.
He said the country's monthly vaccine output is set to reach 300 million doses next month.

India's suspension has dealt a serious blow to the global vaccine rollout, as the country was supposed to provide 70 percent of the supply for COVAX program in the first half of the year. The UN-backed scheme aims to provide inoculations to the neediest people in the world.

The Indian government has yet to elaborate on details, including exactly when it will restart exports and how much it will supply. But the government says it will fulfil its responsibility toward COVAX.

Key words : north dismissed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210920_11/

North Korea has dismissed South Korea's recent announcement that it successfully test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency on Monday carried a comment by the chief of North Korea's Academy of National Defense Science.

Jang Chang Ha said the missile was clearly not an SLBM and it was fired from a shallow depth.

Jang also said "It had the typical structure and form of a surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile," and "is far from a sea-based one."

He added that the missile "is not in the stage of being considered as a threatening weapon," calling it "nothing more than a rudimentary, toddling-stage weapon."

He said, "The South's enthusiastic efforts to improve submarine weapons systems clearly presage intensified military tension on the Korean Peninsula," adding that "it awakens us again and makes us sure of what we ought to do."

South Korea announced last Wednesday that the country succeeded in its first SLBM test with President Moon Jae-in present at the site.

Key words : honda
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210920_03/

NHK has learned that Honda Motor will become the first Japanese automaker to start selling new cars online in Japan.

It's in response to a growing desire among customers to avoid face-to-face communication during the coronavirus pandemic.

Sources say the automaker will launch a website as early as next month to handle all sales procedures, including estimates, contracts and screenings for loans.

The site will feature flagship models with high sales volume. Areas to be covered will be expanded outward from cities.

Deliveries of cars will be done at dealerships, as before.

New car sales negotiations are usually conducted in-store as they involve large monetary transactions. But Honda is responding to a growing demand from customers wanting to avoid in-person conversations.

The automaker also expects to cultivate new customers amid the pandemic, especially young people who in recent years have been less interested in car ownership.

US automaker Tesla and Germany's BMW are already selling their vehicles online in Japan.

Key words : women study role
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210920_01/

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development released an annual report titled "Education at a Glance." Its data showed that among its member countries, Japan had the lowest ratio of female entrants into tertiary education studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics in 2019.

In natural sciences, mathematics and statistics, the ratio of female students in Japan was the lowest at 27 percent, compared with the OECD average of 52 percent. Slovakia led with 65 percent.

In engineering, manufacturing and construction, Japan's ratio was 16 percent. That was 23 points fewer than Iceland, which topped the list. The OECD average was 26 percent.

Stressing the high level of Japanese women's knowledge and ability, the OECD noted the effects of the strong imposition of stereotypical images for women's career options in Japan, and the lack of role models in science fields.

Amid its population decline, Japan faces the challenge of increasing women working in the sciences to advance technological innovation, and to sustain growth.