at 18:30 (JST), December 20

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/20211220183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : hong kong election first
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211220_10/

Pro-Beijing candidates have won almost all of the 90 seats contested in Hong Kong's Legislative Council election amid a record-low turnout.

On Sunday, Hong Kong held its first Legislative Council poll since electoral reform was carried out under Chinese President Xi Jinping to ensure the "principle of patriots administering Hong Kong." A total of 153 people vied for the 90 seats.

Pro-democracy parties did not field any candidates because the reform set stricter conditions for running. Only about 10 self-described pro-democracy or centrist candidates ran.

With vote counting over, only one candidate from a centrist party secured a seat.

All of the 20 seats that are directly elected by voters went to pro-Beijing candidates. Self-described pro-democracy contenders failed to win any seats.

The election commission says the preliminary turnout is 30.2 percent, a record low. The turnout for the last legislative council election in 2016 was 58.3 percent.

Many voters who support the pro-democracy camp apparently abstained.

Key words : philippine national
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211220_02/

Philippine national police say the death toll from Typhoon Rai has surpassed 160.

The powerful storm tore through Cebu Island and other parts of the central Philippines from Thursday night through Friday. It destroyed houses and caused floods in wide areas.

Police say at least 169 people were killed and 50 others are missing, mainly on the islands of Cebu and Bohol.
They also say more than 180,000 people sought shelter at schools and other facilities.

The country's disaster agency is facing difficulty assessing the full extent of the damage to remote islands, as transportation and communication lines have been disrupted on some islands.

The government said on Sunday that it will allocate 2 billion pesos, or about 40 million dollars, to deliver water, food, tents and other relief goods to people in the affected areas.

But rescue and emergency assistant efforts are being hampered by roads that have been cut off and damaged ports in many areas.

Key words : learned medical clinic
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211220_03/

NHK has learned that a 61-year-old man suspected of starting a deadly fire at a medical clinic in Osaka City, western Japan, bought gasoline in the city in late November. Police believe the suspect had made advance preparations for setting the fire.

Police say Tanimoto Morio is suspected of carrying out an arson attack on Friday, at the clinic located on the fourth floor of an eight-story building. Twenty-four people were killed.

Investigators say security camera footage shows Tanimoto placing a paper bag containing liquid on the floor of the clinic and apparently lighting it on fire.

Informed sources say liquid was detected near the entrance of the clinic, and closer examination confirmed it was gasoline.

They also say investigators found that Tanimoto had earlier bought gasoline from a service station in Osaka City, which had a record of him presenting identification.

Police say he is now in hospital in critical condition.

Key words : okinawa more than 150
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211219_17/

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu has indicated that the government will urge the US military to ensure that antivirus measures are in place, after a cluster infection occurred at a base in Japan.

Matsuno inspected areas near Camp Hansen in Okinawa Prefecture and spoke with local mayors on Sunday.

He told reporters that the government is well aware that local communities are worried about the cluster.

He said the US side told Japan that it shares the concern and takes the matter seriously, and virus carriers are under strict quarantine inside the camp.

Matsuno added that the government will do all it can to ease local people's concerns.
More than 150 personnel and employees have tested positive for the coronavirus at Camp Hansen.

Some of them are infected with the Omicron variant.

Key words : more than 170 across japan
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Key words : voters referendum
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211219_02/

Voters in Taiwan supported the position of President Tsai Ing-wen's administration on four issues in a referendum on Saturday. The opposition-proposed items include re-imposing an import ban targeting US pork.

In January, the Tsai administration eased regulations on the leanness-enhancing additive ractopamine, which is widely used in the United States.

The administration said import restrictions that do not meet international standards should be scrapped in order to conclude a free trade deal with Washington.

Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Kuomintang, called for reinstating the import ban on food safety grounds. It proposed the referendum as a test of confidence in the Tsai administration.

Ahead of the vote, Tsai had suggested the pork issue also involves whether Taiwan will be able to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP.

Tsai welcomed the rejection vote in the referendum, saying "Taiwan's people want to go out into the world, and are willing to actively participate in the international community."

The outcome was a major setback for the Kuomintang, as it is hoping to make a comeback.

Key words : indonesia
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211219_15/

Indonesian authorities are warning that a volcano on the country's Java Island could have another major eruption and produce large pyroclastic flows.

Mount Semeru erupted on December 4, leaving at least 48 people dead and 36 missing after mixtures of super-heated volcanic ash, lava and gas hit villages at the foot of the mountain.

Minor eruptions and pyroclastic flows have been observed on a daily basis since then. An eruption on Sunday morning sent ash over wide areas.

Officials had raised the alert level for the volcano to the second highest on a four-tier scale.

Over 10,000 residents have been staying at shelters since the first eruption more than two weeks ago.
President Joko Widodo visited the affected areas on December 7 and indicated that the government might consider the mass relocation of residents.

Key words : families abducted age of 83
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211218_10/

The families of Japanese people abducted by North Korea have made one appeal after another to see their loved one again. Now, they have lost one of their biggest allies.

Iizuka Shigeo spent years spearheading campaigns for the return of the missing. He died of illness at the age of 83.

Iizuka had been in poor health since 2017, and was hospitalized in mid-November.

North Korea carried out the abductions in the 1970s and 80s. Iizuka headed a group of the victims' relatives.
He met seven Japanese prime ministers over the course of his work, and urged them all to do more on the issue.

The younger brother of abductee Yokota Megumi has expressed his grief at Iizuka's passing. Yokota Takuya took Iizuka's place earlier this month as head of the abductee action group.

Yokota said, "I am devastated by this sudden news. Mr Iizuka had been fighting on the front line to rescue abductees, but in the end, he was unable to meet his abducted sister. It really hurts my heart to think about this."

A Japanese government spokesperson said the abduction issue is one of the most important challenges facing the government. The spokesperson said every effort will be made to realize the return of all abductees as soon as possible.