at 18:30 (JST), October 25

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/20211025183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : china and russia
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211024_01/

China and Russia say their navies have held the first joint patrols in the western part of the Pacific Ocean.

The Chinese defense ministry said on Saturday that the patrols took place for seven days through Saturday in the Sea of Japan, the Western Pacific, and the East China Sea.

The defense ministries of the two countries said the joint maritime cruise involved a total of 10 vessels and six shipborne helicopters.

They added that during the cruise, the navies conducted drills of practical use of weapons.

They noted the China-Russia combined ship formation strictly abided by the provisions of international law and didn't enter the territorial waters of other countries during the cruise.

Russia's defense ministry said the patrols were aimed at maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

It added the group of ships passed through the Tsugaru Strait for the first time as part of the patrol. The strait separates Japan's main island of Honshu and Hokkaido.

Last Monday, Japan's defense ministry confirmed that Chinese and Russian naval vessels jointly passed through the strait.

On Thursday, the ministry also spotted two helicopters taking off from Chinese and Russian naval vessels cruising off the Izu Islands in the Pacific.

The two countries are apparently trying to strengthen their cooperation as the United States has repeatedly conducted drills with its allies in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China's growing presence there.

Key words : myanmar warned nhk
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211023_03/

Myanmar's military has warned a special envoy of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations not to contact the country's pro-democracy camps, which the generals have labeled "terrorist groups."

NHK has obtained a report compiled by the envoy, Brunei's second foreign minister Erywan Yusof, ahead of the ASEAN summit next week.

Erywan has been negotiating with Myanmar's military leaders over the implementation of the so-called Five-Point Consensus. It is aimed at realizing constructive dialogue among all relevant parties in Myanmar, and bringing an end to the violence that has continued since February's coup.

In the report, the envoy says he has highlighted the necessity to engage with "key individuals" including detained State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint. But he says the military refused because both are now on trial.

He also says he "was warned against recognising, communicating or engaging with entities declared 'unlawful' and 'terrorist groups," including the National Unity Government launched by pro-democracy lawmakers.

The report underscores the wide gulf between the envoy and Myanmar's military. ASEAN recently decided not to invite Myanmar's top general to the upcoming summit, citing the country's uncooperative stance. Myanmar's military denounced the decision.

Key words : north criticized
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211023_11/

North Korea has criticized the United States for growing tensions between Washington and Beijing over Taiwan.

In response to China's stepped-up military pressure on Taiwan, the US Navy earlier this month conducted drills in waters southwest of Okinawa with 5 other countries including Japan and Britain.

North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong Ho released a statement through the state-run Korean Central News Agency on Saturday.

He said the aim of having US troops in South Korea is to put pressure on China while the huge US force concentration near Taiwan can be committed to a military operation targeting North Korea at any time.

Pak said this proves the US aims to stifle North Korea and China, both socialist countries.

He defended Beijing's position by saying issues regarding Taiwan are entirely an internal affair of China.

Key words : china border
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211024_19/

China has passed a law to strengthen border protection amid a standoff over boundaries with India and other countries.

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress passed the Land Borders Law on Saturday.

The law stipulates that China will take measures to protect territorial sovereignty and land border security.

The country can also build infrastructure related to transportation, communication and defense on its side of the border with a neighboring country.

The law says that without approval, any organization or individual should not build permanent structures.

The legislation allows the use of weapons against those who illegally cross the border into China and commit acts of violence. It prohibits flying drones near borders.

But the law does not stipulate exactly which part of the border areas are China's territories.

The legislation comes after confrontations between China and India over the construction of roads and military facilities in disputed border areas, including a fatal military clash in June last year.

Key words : china family education
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211024_05/

China has adopted a new law to promote family education, bolstering efforts to teach children to love the country and Chinese Communist Party, and to enhance their sense of national identity.

The law was approved at a session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee on Saturday.

It stipulates that local governments or schools should step in and offer guidance if parents or guardians are found to be providing insufficient education at home.

The law also seeks to lessen children's school work load while also preventing them from spending too much time on the Internet. It does so by requiring parents to organize their children's schedules to balance study, rest and physical exercise.

This comes amid intense competition for educational opportunities in China which experts say has led parents to prioritize study over other aspects of their children's lives.

China has issued a series of restrictions and guidelines on education in recent months, such as limits on homework and after-school tutoring. It also implemented limits on online gaming by minors.

Key words : singapore
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211024_11/

The government of Singapore will make COVID-19 vaccination virtually mandatory for workplaces starting on January 1 next year.

About 84 percent of the population is fully vaccinated but cases are surging again after restrictions were relaxed in August. New daily infections have regularly exceeded 3,000 this month.

The government announced the measure on Saturday, saying its aim was "to keep the workplace safe."

Under the new rule, unvaccinated people are only allowed to return to work if they can produce negative tests valid for 24 hours or have recovered from the virus within the past 270 days.

Singapore has already banned unvaccinated people from entering shopping malls or dining inside restaurants.

Key words : lifted across the nation
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211024_10/

In Japan, coronavirus restrictions are being lifted across the nation.

In Kyoto Prefecture in western Japan, restaurants and bars have been allowed to operate without restrictions on serving alcohol and operating hours for the first time in about six months.

This weekend, families and student groups on school excursions were seen strolling in the Arashiyama area, one of Kyoto's popular tourist spots.

A woman who came from Tokyo with her family said they decided to visit Kyoto after coronavirus cases started to decline. She said she is enjoying great food.

Local souvenir shops have seen a gradual return of tourists, especially young ones, but they say tourists are not spending as much as before.

A senior official of one such business says he has not seen sales rising to correspond with an increase in tourist traffic. He called on the government to take measures that help stimulate consumption.