at 18:30 (JST), November 30

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/20211130183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : confirmed infected Namibia
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211130_21/

Japan has confirmed its first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

The government says the infected person recently arrived from the southern African country of Namibia.

The man in his 30s tested positive for the coronavirus, on Sunday, at Narita Airport near Tokyo.
He has been quarantined at a designated facility since his sample was sent for analysis.

Key words : government ban another month
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211129_35/

Japan is reimposing a ban on new foreign arrivals. The government tied the decision to the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, a potentially infectious strain first detected in South Africa.

Foreign students, business people and technical trainees counting on recently eased border controls look set to wait at least another month.

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said, "I decided to put entry restrictions in place for foreigners from all over the world starting on Tuesday, as an emergency measure. We are aiming to avoid the worst situation from occurring in this country."

Kishida calls the measures temporary. He also said officials are testing to see if a traveler from Namibia may have been infected with the variant.

The government is tightening restrictions on residents returning home from over 40 countries, including parts of Africa and Europe.

They must now stay at designated facilities for up to 10 days upon arrival.

Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases classified Omicron as a "variant of concern" and called on residents to remain vigilant.

Key words : asian countries countermeasure
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211129_38/

Fears over the Omicron variant have prompted Asian countries to take quick countermeasures.

India's health ministry has revised its guidelines for international arrivals, effective from Wednesday.
Travelers from several nations and regions, including South Africa, Britain and European countries, will need to follow additional measures on arrival in India.

The ministry is instructing them to stay at airports until they get a negative PCR test result.
It also requires them to self-quarantine for seven days.
The Civil Aviation Ministry had recently announced the resumption of international commercial flights from December 15 after a 21-month gap.
Meanwhile, the Philippine government said Sunday it has reversed its decision to allow entry to some international tourists. That was just two days after it said it would begin accepting double-jabbed foreign travelers from "low-risk" countries and territories.
Indonesia is also tightening its border controls.
The government has banned travelers who have recently been in any of several African countries and Hong Kong.
Quarantine for overseas travelers -- previously set at three days -- has been extended to seven days.

Key words : taiwanese disinformation
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211129_25/

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen called for cooperation in the effort to address authoritarianism and disinformation during a meeting with lawmakers from three Baltic nations. She apparently had China and Russia in mind.

The lawmakers are from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. They arrived in Taiwan on Sunday.

During her meeting with them at the presidential office in Taipei on Monday, Tsai said the world faces challenges posed by the expansion of authoritarianism and the threat of disinformation.

She said Taiwan is willing to share the experiences it has had tackling disinformation with its European friends. She also stressed the need to protect their shared values and to secure a free and democratic way of life.

Lithuanian lawmaker Matas Maldeikis told Tsai that Taiwan is developing its economy and democracy in a well-balanced manner in a complex geopolitical environment. He also said the purpose of the lawmakers' visit is to demonstrate their solidarity with Taiwan.

This is the latest in a series of recent moves made by European lawmakers to strengthen relations with Taiwan.

On November 18, Taiwan announced that it had set up a "Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania" in the city of Vilnius. Lithuania has no diplomatic ties with Taiwan. China responded to the move by downgrading its diplomatic ties with Lithuania to the charge d'affaires level.

During Monday's meeting, Tsai welcomed agreements reached with Lithuania in October aimed at increasing cooperation in semiconductors, satellites, and biotechnology. She said she hopes to cooperate with Estonia and Latvia in various fields.

Key words : china vaccine boost
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211130_03/

China has pledged to provide more coronavirus vaccine doses to Africa in an apparent bid to boost its influence on the continent.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a speech virtually at a meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation on Monday. The first forum in three years opened in Dakar, Senegal.

Xi said China will provide one billion doses in addition to those already offered and send 1,500 medical personnel and public health experts to Africa.

China's so-called "vaccine diplomacy" is unfolding on the continent amid growing concerns over the Omicron coronavirus variant, which has been confirmed in South Africa and elsewhere.

China says it has offered 200 million doses to Africa. But there is suspicion in parts of Africa about the efficacy of Chinese-made vaccines. Countries like the United States are increasing the number of doses they are providing to African nations.

Xi also pledged to increase the value of imports from Africa to 300 billion dollars over the next three years in a move that would address Africa's discontent with the trade imbalance with China.

Key words : sapporo
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211129_32/

The city of Sapporo in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido has outlined a new plan, with reduced cost estimates, to bid for the 2030 Winter Olympic and Paralympics.

The original plan announced in 2019 called for spending up to 370 billion yen, or 3.26 billion dollars.

The new plan, disclosed at a Sapporo assembly meeting on Monday, calls for budget reduction of up to 790 million dollars.

Through the maximum use of existing facilities and personnel cost reductions, Sapporo estimates operational costs of between 1.76 and 1.94 billion dollars.

About 700 million dollars will go for infrastructure development.

The overall cost is expected to be between 2.46 and 2.64 billion dollars.

Sapporo plans to hold a sustainable Olympic and Paralympic Games well-suited to the city. It will not build new venues for the Games, but plans to utilize 13 existing facilities in the city and beyond, including one in Nagano City, central Japan, the host of the 1998 Winter Games.

Sapporo aims to resume a dialogue with its residents in January to win their support for its candidacy and carry out a survey of preferences of Hokkaido residents before the end of next March. The city will make a final decision on its bid for the Games based on the survey results and other factors.

Under the latest plan, the Spiral, a venue built for the bobsledding, luge and skeleton events at the Nagano Games will be used.

Before Sapporo can be named the host city, it needs to hold discussions with the International Olympic Committee in order to improve its plan until the city is judged to be worthy of hosting the event.

When the IOC Executive Board approves Sapporo as an official candidate, it will need to release its final plan at the IOC General Assembly, where a vote will be held.

Key words : global production
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211129_34/

Most of Japan's major automakers say their global production continued to decline sharply in October. Coronavirus lockdowns in Southeast Asia have disrupted the supply of semiconductors and other components.

Mazda saw the biggest year-on-year drop, with output down by 48.7 percent. Subaru recorded a slide of 33.2 percent, Honda reported a 27.9 percent decline, and Toyota a 25.8 percent fall. Elsewhere, output decreased 23 percent for Suzuki, 21.5 percent for Nissan and 17.8 percent for Daihatsu.

Looking ahead, some firms say the shortage of auto parts is starting to ease. Toyota is forecasting record global output in December, while Honda expects operations at its domestic plants to return to normal next month.