at 18:30 (JST), February 01

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/20220201183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : myanmar state of six
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220201_04/

Myanmar's military says it is extending a state of emergency for another six months, ahead of the one-year anniversary of the military coup.

The military announced via the country's state-run television the extension of the measure, which was due to expire on Monday. It was declared following a coup that took place exactly one year ago.

Under constitutional rules, authorities will be able to extend the current measure for another six months, thereby keep the country under the state of emergency for a total of two years.

Military officials are planning an election for August 2023. The extension gives the military time to prepare for the election and explore ways to solidify its grip on power.

The military has been facing persistent opposition from anti-coup protesters. In the country's largest city of Yangon, there have been sporadic attacks on military and police facilities, purportedly staged by pro-democracy forces.

Tensions between the military and citizens are rising, as activists plan to hold a "silent strike" to mark the first anniversary of the coup.

They are calling on people to take the day off and stay at home, while authorities are threatening legal action for anyone who joins such protests.

The US government on Monday imposed sanctions on seven individuals and two entities connected to Myanmar's military.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that since the coup the people of the country "have stood firm in rejecting military rule and calling for their country's return to the path to inclusive democracy."

He added that the "United States will continue to work with our international partners to address human rights abuses and press the regime to cease the violence, release all those unjustly detained."

Key words : myanmar killed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220201_27/

Myanmar people living in Japan have held a rally to protest military rule in their country on the first anniversary of its military coup.

About 300 Myanmar people and their supporters gathered in front of Japan's Foreign Ministry in Tokyo on Tuesday.

The protesters shouted "Free Aung San Suu Kyi" and "Never recognize Myanmar's military-led government." They also urged Japan's government to strengthen efforts to democratize their country.

A human rights group in Myanmar says more than 1,500 people have died in crackdowns by the military since the coup. The United Nations estimates that over 300,000 people have been displaced by violence.

One protester said innocent people, including women and children, are being killed every day. She added that she hopes Japanese people will help Myanmar.

Another participant said he's very worried about Myanmar people who are fighting and risking their lives. He said the military's acts cannot be forgiven.

Key words : myanmar lawmaker
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220131_31/

A nonpartisan group of Japanese lawmakers has called on the country's government to do more to help resolve the situation in Myanmar.

The group handed a letter making the request to Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Miyake Shingo on Monday, ahead of the first anniversary of the military coup in the Southeast Asian country on Tuesday.

Members invited a man from Myanmar to their meeting to hear about the situation in his home country.

Group leader Nakagawa Masaharu of the Constitutional Democratic Party said the government says it has a special channel with Myanmar's military and is making diplomatic efforts, but it has failed to produce results.

Nakagawa said the government may need to review its basic policy.

The group urges the government to step up efforts to persuade the military to immediately halt its use of force and violence against civilians, and release Aung San Suu Kyi and other prodemocracy leaders at once.

The group also urges the government to approve the national unity government formed by the prodemocracy camp in Myanmar and start official dialogue.

The lawmakers also call for the suspension of all sorts of assistance that could benefit the military.

Key words : kishida basic position
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220131_17/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says that for now his government is not considering declaring a coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo.

Kishida said on Monday that intensive quasi-emergency measures are already in place in the capital.

He said the government's basic position is that the effectiveness of the measures should be thoroughly examined, and changes in the situation should be monitored.

Kishida said the government will then make a comprehensive judgment in cooperation with the local governments concerned.

His remarks come as coronavirus infections continue to surge in Tokyo.
The daily tally of new cases was 15,895 on Sunday. The number of new daily infections topped the 15,000 mark for four consecutive days.

Key words : lunar bach
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220201_07/

China was in an especially festive mood on Tuesday, just days ahead of the opening of the Winter Olympic Games and on the start of the Lunar New Year holidays.

In a program celebrating the lunar new year, China's state-run television station aired greetings from International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, following a show featuring the Olympic and Paralympics mascots.

Bach spoke a few words of Chinese to wish people a "happy, successful and prosperous Year of the Tiger."

High-rise buildings in the Chinese cities of Chongqing and Qingdao displayed Beijing 2022's official motto, "Together for a Shared Future." Olympics and Paralympics mascots and emblems were lit up, evoking a festive mood.

But the Chinese government is on high alert for coronavirus infections, only three days before the Olympic Games open.

Beijing reported its first case of the Omicron variant on Jan.15. Sporadic infections of both the Omicron and Delta variants have since been confirmed, numbering over 100.

Key words : toyota
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220131_33/

Japanese automaker Toyota Motor has reached a settlement with the family of an employee who committed suicide 12 years ago after suffering from depression.

The family and its lawyers made the announcement at a news conference on Monday. They did not disclose the amount of settlement money.

The 40-year-old was employed at the company's parts production section and took his life in 2010.

His family had filed a lawsuit with the Nagoya District Court, demanding more than 120 million yen, or over 1 million dollars, in compensation from Toyota. The family argued that his suicide was caused by factors such as an increase in his workload due to a change in his job role and power harassment from his boss.

The family and its lawyers said Toyota President Toyoda Akio offered an apology to the family last October. They quoted Toyoda as saying that the matter had been left unattended due to the company's cover-up mentality.

They said Toyoda pledged efforts to prevent a recurrence by setting up a special team to thoroughly investigate the matter. They added the company promised the family that it would do its utmost to properly manage its employees' work and health and would report their efforts to the family for the next five years.

Last September, the Nagoya High Court recognized the case as a work-related death, ruling that there was a causal relation between the worker's suicide and his excessive work and power harassment from his boss.

Key words : south economies
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220201_03/

A regional economic partnership covering Japan, China and other Asia-Pacific economies entered into force in South Korea on Tuesday.

A delay in domestic proceedings had prevented the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, from taking effect in South Korea.

South Korea has become the 11th country to join the regional trade bloc, following Japan, China, Singapore, Australia, and others, where the pact came into force on January 1.

It is the first economic partnership deal that eliminates tariffs between Japan and South Korea on a range of items.

An analysis by Mizuho Research & Technologies shows that the RCEP immediately removes tariffs on roughly 25 percent of Japanese exports to South Korea, or over 3,000 items. Tariffs will eventually be abolished on 83 percent of items.

The items include chemical and textile products, as well as auto parts.

South Korea will see tariffs on clothes, plastics, and liquor products removed when they are exported to Japan.

However, it remains to be seen whether the latest development will give the two countries the impetus to improve ties.

Since the 2011 nuclear accident in Fukushima, South Korea has restricted imports of food products from the prefecture and other parts of Japan. The countries have also been at odds over wartime labor and other historical issues.