at 18:30 (JST), November 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/20211125183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : united states invited taiwan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211124_23/

The United States has invited Taiwan to its first democracy summit next month. China opposes the invitation.

The US government on Tuesday made public a list of about 110 countries and regions that will join the Summit for Democracy to be held online on December 9 and 10.

The government says the three key themes at the meeting are defending against authoritarianism, addressing and fighting corruption, and promoting respect for human rights.

Taiwan is invited, along with Japan, European countries and other democracies. But the list does not include China and Russia, which the US sees as authoritarian states.
The administration of President Joe Biden said relations with China are a battle between democracy and autocracy.

Observers say the US wants to counter China by strengthening cooperation with its allies and friendly nations that value democracy.

Meanwhile, China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian told a news conference on Wednesday that China firmly opposes any official interaction between the US and Taiwan. She also said China urges the US to honor the one-China principle and properly address issues related to Taiwan.

Key words : crude oil rose
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211124_31/

Crude oil prices rose sharply in Tokyo on Wednesday despite the Japanese government's decision to release some of its strategic oil reserves.

Benchmark Dubai futures for April delivery finished the day at 55,190 yen per kiloliter. That is up 6.2 percent from Monday's close. Tuesday was a national holiday in Japan.

Investors are worried that the coordinated action by major oil-consuming nations might trigger opposition from OPEC members and other producers. That could affect the balance between supply and demand as winter starts in the northern hemisphere.

Key words : sri lankan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211125_05/

The Sri Lankan government has disclosed plans to assign a Chinese firm to build a container port in Colombo.

Sri Lanka sealed a pact with Japan and India to develop Colombo Port's East Container Terminal in May 2019, but effectively scrapped the agreement in February by announcing the project will be carried out solely by the island nation.

The government on Wednesday announced cabinet approval for a Chinese enterprise that had won the right to construct one of its key port infrastructures.

The development comes as China continues to increase its influence in Sri Lanka, which is mired in an economic crisis.

Sri Lanka in 2017 agreed to lease its southern Hambantota port to China for 99 years in a bid to write off a massive debt on the construction cost.

Critics call the deal a classic case of debt trap.

The United States, Japan and other nations regard Sri Lanka as an important strategic hub for a free and open Indo-Pacific region linking the Middle East and Asia.

Meanwhile, the island state is expected to play a key role in China's "Belt and Road" initiative.

Key words : infection south
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211124_15/

South Korea's daily tally of coronavirus infections has topped 4,000 for the first time. The prime minister suggested that emergency anti-coronavirus restrictions may be re-imposed.

The South Korean government confirmed 4,115 new cases on Tuesday. The figure was more than 800 higher than its previous daily record on November 17.

The number of critically ill patients also hit an all-time high of 586.

The occupancy rate of hospital intensive care units surpassed 80 percent in the capital Seoul and surrounding areas, where infections are concentrated.

The government described the risk level in the greater Seoul area as "very high," topping a five-tier scale.

South Koreans started to resume daily activities at the beginning of this month, when the government eased anti-coronavirus restrictions. The vaccination rate stands at 79.1 percent.

Experts partly attribute the spike in infections to a growing number of cases among elderly people who were inoculated at an early stage as well as unvaccinated children.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said on Wednesday that in areas around the capital, the situation was critical enough to consider immediately implementing an emergency plan.

Key words : immigration
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211124_30/

A male US citizen has filed a lawsuit seeking damages from Japan's government, saying he was assaulted by staff at the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau.

52-year-old Mark Gordon was detained at a bureau facility in June last year when he tried to reenter Japan with an expired visa.

He refused to accept soap he was given, saying it was bad for his asthma. He says staffers then took him to a single-person room and assaulted him, leaving him with injuries. He is seeking 30 million yen, or more than 260,000 dollars, in damages.

Surveillance camera images disclosed by the bureau at Gordon's request show what appear to be several staffers holding him to the floor, with one of them kneeling on his head and another handcuffing him.

The bureau says it will respond accordingly once it receives and studies the complaint.

Key words : japanese companies charge electric
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211124_18/

Japanese companies are working on ways to make it easier and greener to charge electric vehicles. Setting up charging stations in the country is seen as key to making EVs more popular.

Electronics giant Hitachi has developed a charging system that uses 40 percent less space and weighs 70 percent less than conventional models. It can also charge several vehicles at the same time.

A senior Chief Researcher at Hitachi, Nakatsu Kinya, says the system itself is now very compact and light, making it possible to install it in more kinds of facilities.

The firm Plugo develops and sells charging stations. Since September, all of its systems use only renewable sources, such as solar or wind power.

Plugo officials say they made the change because some have pointed out that even if there are more EVs on the road, using electricity produced from fossil fuels would not reduce carbon emission enough.

The Japanese government is aiming for a five-fold increase in the number of charging stations by 2030.