at 18:30 (JST), February 07

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/20220207183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : kishida boost 1 million
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220207_04/

NHK has learned that Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio will instruct relevant ministers to step up efforts to administer 1 million coronavirus vaccine booster shots per day at the earliest date possible this month.

Kishida will issue the directive on Monday amid the spread of the coronavirus across the country. He will also ask municipalities and businesses to help achieve the goal.

The prime minister confirmed his plan to expedite the rollout of third vaccine doses during talks with the relevant ministers on Sunday.

Kishida will seek active efforts to promote vaccinations for teachers and nursery staff as the virus has been spreading at schools and day-care facilities for children.

He will also encourage police and firefighters to be inoculated so they can maintain their social services.

Kishida plans to ask two state-run, large-scale vaccination sites to increase their daily inoculation capacity to last year's levels. The facilities in Tokyo and Osaka are operated by the Self-Defense Forces.

Key words : Japan 100,000 cases
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220205_16/

Japan on Saturday topped 100,000 new cases of the coronavirus for the first time.

Health authorities across the country reported 100,949 cases as of 6:30 pm.

They include 21,122 cases in Tokyo. The figure is the second highest daily count after Wednesday's and a record high for Saturday. It is about 1.2 times the number reported a week earlier.

The occupancy rate of hospital beds for coronavirus patients in Tokyo is 55.1 percent, up one percentage point from Friday.

Key words : US state
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220205_06/

The US State Department has announced that the top diplomats of Japan, the United States and South Korea will hold talks in Hawaii to discuss threats from North Korea.

Officials said on Friday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken will host Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 12.

It said the three will meet to deepen trilateral cooperation in addressing threats from Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs and confronting global challenges.

North Korea test-fired missiles seven times last month.

A Hwasong-12 type intermediate-range ballistic missile launched on January 30 has an estimated range of up to 5,000 kilometers. That's enough to reach the US territory of Guam, where a US military base is located.

Washington has condemned the tests as violations of UN Security Council resolutions. It is calling on Pyongyang to resume bilateral dialogue toward denuclearization, but North Korea has not agreed.

On Friday, the US State Department also said Blinken will attend a foreign ministerial meeting of the Quad alliance during his visit to Australia from February 9 to 12. The Quad partnership includes Japan, the US, Australia and India.

Key words : washington steel
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220205_05/

NHK has learned that the US government has told Japan that it will partially remove additional tariffs on steel imports from Japan, but keep them in place for aluminum.

The administration of former US president Donald Trump imposed the measures in 2018. It set extra levies of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum.

At the time, the White House cited a security threat, with imports from China in mind.

Sources say the United States is considering the introduction of a tariff-rate quota system that would remove additional duties on certain volumes of steel imports from Japan.

Japan plans to continue urging Washington to eliminate the extra tariffs on both steel and aluminum.

The US decided from January not to apply the additional duties on certain amounts of steel and aluminum from the European Union.

Key words : xi banquet
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220205_19/

Chinese President Xi Jinping has hosted a banquet in Beijing to welcome foreign dignitaries who attended the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games.

The banquet was held at the Great Hall of the People on Saturday, one day after the opening ceremony which was attended by leaders and other representatives of more than 20 countries.

China's state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Xi as saying China has made every effort to counter the impact of COVID-19, earnestly fulfilled its solemn pledge to the international community, and ensured a smooth opening of the Games as scheduled.

He was also quoted as saying the international community should stand closer together, and that countries need to practice true multilateralism, uphold the international system centered on the United Nations and the international order underpinned by international law.

The remark comes after the United States and other countries decided not to send government officials to the Beijing Olympics, citing alleged human rights abuses by China.

Prior to the banquet, Xi met Russian President Vladimir Putin and leaders from other countries including Egypt and Serbia.

Analysts say Xi is seeking to bolster relations with those nations through in-person talks, from which he has refrained since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Key words : antonio
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220206_11/

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has told Chinese leaders that he expects the UN human rights representative to be allowed to make a "credible visit" to the country's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Guterres met with President Xi Jinping on Saturday during a visit to the country for the opening of the Olympic Games in Beijing on Friday.

The US, Britain and several other countries have not sent any government officials to the Games as part of a "diplomatic boycott" over China's alleged human rights abuses in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

But a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said late last month that China extended an invitation to High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet what he said was "a long time ago."

The spokesperson said China welcomes for her trip to Xinjiang, stressing the purpose of the visit is to "promote exchange and cooperation."

The UN noted that Guterres made the comment so that the visit will not be a mere formality.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry noted that Xi stressed that his country will continue to cooperate with the UN in its effort to tackle issues, including the pandemic.

But the ministry did not say whether the one-on-one meeting touched on the situation in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Key words : toshiba
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220205_11/

Japanese conglomerate Toshiba is reportedly reconsidering its plan to split into three separate entities, and instead divide into two. The development comes as shareholders voice opposition to a three-way split.

Toshiba announced last November it would spin-off its two core businesses -- infrastructure, including power generation, and devices.

But one of Toshiba's major shareholders, a Singapore-based asset-management company, opposed the plan, saying the decision lacked transparency.

Under the reported new plan, the firm would break off only its device business including the semiconductor concern and get it listed, while retaining its infrastructure business within Toshiba.

Toshiba is apparently trying to reduce costs associated with a breakup. It is also reportedly planning to sell its air conditioning subsidiary.

Officials say they will give detailed briefings at an investors' meeting scheduled for next week.

Key words : labor shortage ogata
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220205_04/

Researchers estimate that Japan could by 2030 face a shortfall of 630,000 foreign workers required to cover the nation's chronic labor shortage.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency's Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development conducted a study focusing on 13 countries from where many people come to Japan to work. They include Vietnam.

The study hypothesizes that capital investment will reduce the need for human labor. Under the best-case scenario, Japan needs 4.19 million foreign workers in 2030, but will actually have 3.56 million.

The study cites narrowing wage gaps between Japan and countries where workers typically come from, and also declining birthrates in those countries.

The study shows that the required amount of foreign workers in 2040 will account for more than 10 percent of all people aged 15 to 64 in Tokyo and eight other prefectures. The figure in the capital is estimated to exceed 18.9 percent.

JICA Vice President Shishido Kenichi says other countries are also trying to acquire foreign workers, and that fewer people will be willing to work in Japan, even if visa requirements are relaxed. He says the country needs to create a society in which foreigners feel they can settle.