at 18:30 (JST), October 04

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/20211004183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : new prime declining
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211004_03/

Monday is an important day in Japanese politics.
Lawmakers will elect a new prime minister -- charged with leading the country out of the pandemic. Kishida Fumio is almost certain to win.

He took the helm of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party last week. The LDP-led coalition controls both houses of the Diet.

Suga Yoshihide did not run for a second term as party leader. He said he wanted to concentrate on fighting the coronavirus.

Coronavirus cases surged while Tokyo hosted the Olympics and his Cabinet approval ratings were declining.

Kishida is vowing more support for the medical system and economy. He is also looking beyond borders.
The LDP president says he will raise Japan's global presence, while protecting its interests.

Kishida served as foreign minister for more than four years. He oversaw talks with Seoul to resolve sensitive historical issues.

Kishida also has experience with the White House. He arranged for Barack Obama to become the first sitting president to visit Hiroshima.

NHK has learned who will take on key posts in his Cabinet.

Motegi Toshimitsu is to remain as foreign minister.

Kishi Nobuo is also to remain as defense minister.

Suzuki Shunichi will be named finance minister.

Hagiuda Koichi will be named economy, trade and industry minister.

Matsuno Hirokazu will be named chief Cabinet secretary, who serves as the top government spokesperson.

The Emperor will ceremonially endorse the new prime minister and Cabinet at the Imperial Palace later on Monday afternoon.

Key words : communication line
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211004_09/

North Korea's state-run media reports that the country will reactivate all of its communication lines with South Korea from 9 a.m. on Monday.

The Korean Central News Agency says Pyongyang urges South Korea to make positive efforts to put inter-Korean ties back on track and settle important issues for bright prospects in the future.

The cross-border communication lines have been cut since August, when the United States and South Korea held joint military drills.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un indicated last week that he was willing to reopen communication channels with Seoul as early as October, in a bid to create peace on the Peninsula.

The North launched missiles in September and observers say it remains unclear whether the restoration of hotlines will help improve relations with the South.

Key words : nissan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211003_12/

Japan's Nissan Motor says it is in talks with China's Great Wall Motors to sell its factory in Spain as part of its structural reforms, and aims to reach a final agreement this month.

Nissan plans to close its Barcelona plant before the end of the year, but said it would negotiate a possible sale to the Chinese carmaker.

Nissan had initially planned to close the factory last year. But it put off the closure for a year after the plan met with strong opposition from the Spanish government and workers.

Nissan reversed ousted chairman Carlos Ghosn's expansion policy and is working to reduce its overall production capacity while focusing on markets in three countries -- Japan, China and the United States.

The sale of the Spanish factory will be a major step towards achieving this goal.

Key words : afghanistan explosion
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211004_05/

A deadly explosion occurred on Sunday afternoon in the Afghan capital Kabul. Media outlets say that at least five civilians are confirmed dead.

The blast occurred near the entrance of a mosque in a central area of Kabul.

Local media outlets say a prayer was being held for the deceased mother of Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid.

Members of the Taliban and many locals had reportedly gathered to attend the event.

It was the first major attack in the capital since the US completed its troop withdrawal from the country at the end of August. No one has claimed responsibility so far.

A source related to the Taliban told NHK that the ministry of the interior has opened an investigation.

Islamic State militants have escalated their attacks against the Taliban following their takeover of power in Afghanistan.

More than 100 people were killed by a suicide bombing on August 26th near the Kabul airport. A local Islamic State affiliate claimed responsibility for that attack.

Key words : afghan wemen rights
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Key words : philippine retire daughter
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211002_14/

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says he will not run for vice president in the country's upcoming presidential election and retire from politics.

Duterte had earlier said he would seek to become vice president, as the country's constitution bans presidents from running for reelection after the end of their term.

However, on Saturday he went back on the decision, saying the overwhelming sentiment of the public is that he is not qualified, and that standing for the vice-presidency would be a violation of the spirit of the constitution.

The country started registering candidates for May's election on Friday.

Newly retired boxing legend Manny Pacquiao has filed his candidacy.

The president's eldest daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, is seen as a possible candidate.

His earlier announcement to run for vice president led to criticism that he and Sara would monopolize power if she were elected.

Some experts and local media outlets say Duterte reversed his decision to run in order to support Sara's candidacy.

Key words : taiwan says 39
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211003_05/

Taiwan says 39 Chinese military aircraft entered its air defense identification zone on Saturday, setting another record daily entry by Chinese forces.

Taiwan's defense ministry says the aircraft entered the zone in two waves.

The first batch contained 18 fighter jets and two anti-submarine planes. It flew into the zone over waters southwest of Taiwan during the daytime.

The second group entered the same zone at night. It was made up of 18 fighter jets and an early warning plane.

The entry of 39 Chinese military planes is the largest in a single day since Taiwan's defense ministry started releasing data in its current format in September of last year. The number also marked a record high for the second day in a row. Thirty-eight Chinese aircraft entered the zone on Friday.

In a report released in late August, Taiwan's defense ministry said Beijing is trying to narrow the air area for Taiwan's military activity and burden its air defense by having the Chinese military drill off the coast of southwestern Taiwan.

Taiwan media quoted an expert as saying the Chinese military may be conducting drills on deploying multiple units in waves in the event of an armed conflict.

Key words : taiwan US issue
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211004_04/

The United States has urged China to stop its military pressure on Taiwan, apparently in response to a recent spate of entries by Chinese military aircraft into Taiwan's air defense identification zone.

US State Department spokesperson Ned Price issued a statement on Sunday.

Price said the US is "very concerned" by China's "provocative military activity near Taiwan, which is destabilizing, risks miscalculations, and undermines regional peace and stability." He urged "Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure and coercion against Taiwan."

Price pledged that the US "will continue to assist Taiwan in maintaining a sufficient self-defense capability."

He added, "The US commitment to Taiwan is rock solid and contributes to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and within the region."

Taiwan's defense ministry said 39 Chinese military planes entered its air defense identification zone on Saturday. That marked a record high for the second consecutive day.

The administration of US President Joe Biden has been deepening ties with Taiwan. The statement is Washington's apparent attempt to keep Beijing in check.

Key words : chinese journalist
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211003_17/

A Chinese citizen journalist who reported the medical collapse in the city of Wuhan in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic and went missing has reappeared after 20 months.

In a video posted on social media on Thursday, Chen Qiushi said when he was able to go out again, his health was so poor that he got tired after walking for one or two kilometers.

The remark suggests that he had been forced to live a restricted life. But Chen said the past is gone and good times have come back.

The former lawyer went to Wuhan in Hubei Province in January last year before the city was placed under a lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak.

He uploaded videos on social media that showed overwhelmed medical services.

Chen went missing and was believed to have been under surveillance by the Chinese authorities.

Also on Thursday, a Twitter account believed to belong to him carried a message that said he has been through a lot of things in the past year and 8 months, some of which he can talk about and some he cannot.

An account of a video-sharing app was also disclosed but it was deleted shortly afterwards.

It is believed that Chen is still under surveillance by the authorities.