at 18:30 (JST), February 14

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/20220214183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : chancellor unity immediate sanction
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220214_08/

Amid growing concerns over Ukraine, diplomatic efforts are taking place. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday.

Moscow and Berlin have strong economic ties, with Russia supplying large amounts of natural gas to Germany.

Analysts say Putin may try to use the meeting to sway the unity of Western nations, which threaten to impose huge economic sanctions on Russia if it invades Ukraine.

Ahead of the meeting with Putin, Scholz said Russia will face immediate sanctions if it attacks Ukraine. The German Chancellor also plans to travel to Kyiv on Monday to meet the President of Ukraine.

Their meeting will come amid a flurry of diplomatic activity to resolve the standoff with the West.

On Saturday, Putin held phone talks with US President Joe Biden, following a call with French President Emmanuel Macron.

After the talks, a senior Kremlin official said that while Biden explained his view on security, it doesn't take into account key concerns of Moscow, including a halt to the further expansion of NATO.

The official added that President Putin will carefully study Washington's view and provide details of Moscow's reaction.

Russia is likely to continue its ongoing large-scale joint military drills this week in Belarus, a Russian ally bordering Ukraine.

Kremlin officials say President Putin had a telephone conversation with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday. The leaders are believed to have discussed responses to the situation.

Meanwhile, people in Kyiv appear calm and are carrying on their lives normally.

However, Kyiv's mayor said last week that the city is preparing for a possible attack by Russia.

Key words : japan evacuate all but
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220214_04/

Japan's Foreign Ministry says it will evacuate all but a few staff from its embassy in Ukraine due to rising tensions. It is urging Japanese nationals there to leave immediately.

The ministry said on Sunday that the Japanese embassy in Kyiv will offer only limited functions after the evacuation.

The ministry raised its safety risk warning for Ukraine on Friday to the highest, Level 4. It is urging some 150 Japanese nationals currently staying in the country to leave immediately.

The ministry said other nations have also moved to suspend or reduce their embassy operations in Ukraine.

Key words : foreign chief shared
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220213_10/

Foreign chiefs from Japan, the United States and South Korea have shared concerns over North Korea's repeated ballistic missile launches, saying they pose a threat to the peace and stability of the international community.

Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong met in Hawaii on Saturday, and agreed to step up security cooperation among the three countries to increase deterrence.

They confirmed the importance of strictly implementing the UN Security Council resolutions against North Korea, and agreed that their countries will closely coordinate on the Security Council's future responses, and deepen discussions about diplomatic efforts.

Blinken and Chung reportedly expressed support when Hayashi asked for continued cooperation on the issue of the Japanese nationals abducted by North Korean agents decades ago.

The ministers also discussed the situation surrounding Ukraine, and shared unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. They also agreed to continue to work closely together on the matter.

The top diplomats shared concerns over activities that undermine the rule-based international order, with China's assertive actions in mind.

They agreed to show strong opposition to unilateral actions, including attempts to change the status quo.

The ministers also agreed to cooperate in addressing issues of international concern, including responses to the coronavirus pandemic and climate change.

Hayashi told a joint news conference after the trilateral talks that the significance of cooperation among the three countries goes beyond responses to North Korea and is essential for the stability and peace of the region.

He said the three-way cooperation should also be strengthened among their leaders.

Key words : japan and south sado
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220213_09/

The foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea have discussed Japan's bid to have a group of primarily gold mines on Sado Island registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.

Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and his South Korean counterpart Chung Eui-yong talked for about 40 minutes in Hawaii on Saturday.

Chung protested Japan's move, insisting that people from the Korean Peninsula were forced to work in the mines during World War Two.

Hayashi told Chung that Japan cannot accept Seoul's claim, saying it is not based on facts.

He added that Japan will discuss the matter with the South Korean side in good faith.

Hayashi also urged Seoul to responsibly address the issues in relation with wartime labor and people referred to as wartime comfort women.

Chung expressed hope that travel between the two countries will return to the level it was at before the coronavirus pandemic. He asked for Japan's cooperation.

The ministers agreed to accelerate talks between diplomatic officials to improve the bilateral ties.

Key words : south candidate next
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220213_15/

Election officials in South Korea have started accepting filings from candidates for next month's presidential election.

Filing began on Sunday for the March 9 election to choose the successor to Moon Jae-in, whose five-year term will expire in May.

Those who filed their candidacies included Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party, and Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party.

Lee, a former governor of Gyeonggi Province, gave a speech on Jeju Island and stressed that he would revive regional economies through infrastructure projects.

Former top prosecutor Yoon received a proposal from the leader of the minor opposition People's Party, Ahn Cheol-soo, that they should consider fielding a unified opposition candidate.

Yoon said he positively assesses the proposal aimed at a change of government, but he will think about it.

Gallup Korea announced on Friday that Yoon and Lee are neck-and-neck with approval ratings of 37 percent and 36 percent, respectively.

Ahn is third with 13 percent.

Candidates for the South Korean presidential election will be accepted until Monday. The official campaigning will start on Tuesday.

Key words : debate
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220212_06/

A debate among South Korea's presidential candidates has drawn a media backlash after the two frontrunners focused on each other's scandals instead of policies for young people.

The finger pointing involved former Gyeonggi province governor Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party, and Yoon Suk-yeol, a member of the main opposition People Power Party and former top prosecutor.

The televised debate took place on Friday night among four candidates. They were expected to discuss ways to improve job opportunities for young people.

Yoon raised doubts about Lee's pledge to build more houses, citing his alleged wrongdoing in an urban development project while mayor.

Lee denied the allegation, and demanded that Yoon explain his wife's suspected involvement in stock manipulation. Yoon said an investigation is yet to reveal any irregularities.

Polls released on Friday put the two candidates neck-and-neck, with Lee supported by 36 percent against Yoon's 37 percent.

But more than 60 percent of respondents said both are unfavorable. South Korean media say presidential candidates have never been so unpopular.

The election takes place on March 9.

Key words : myanmar called on
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220212_17/

Myanmar's military leader has called on armed ethnic minorities to stop supporting pro-democracy protesters and join peace negotiations with the military.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on Saturday was speaking at a ceremony in Naypyitaw on Union Day, which commemorates a 1947 agreement between independence leader General Aung San and various ethnic groups. To seek unity, Aung San promised the ethnic minorities autonomy after independence from Britain.

Some minority groups attended the ceremony.

Since the military coup last year, some pro-democracy protesters have been engaged in fierce fighting with the military after receiving weapons and training from ethnic minority militants.

Min Aung Hlaing reiterated his justification of the coup. He criticized the pro-democracy protesters, describing them as "terrorists" and saying their supporters should understand reality and change their ways.

The military chief called on armed ethnic minorities to stop cooperating in acts of terrorism.

He urged them to stop supporting the pro-democracy forces and join peace talks with the military.

The military apparently aims to prevent the ethnic minority militants from joining hands with the pro-democracy forces by calling for their participation in peace talks.

Key words : open embassy
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220214_11/

The US government says it will open an embassy in the Solomon Islands as part of its policy to counter China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. The US had closed its embassy there in 1993.

Speaking in the South Pacific nation of Fiji on Saturday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated his country intends to open the embassy to deepen its "cooperation with Pacific Island partners."

He said, "these steps are only the beginning," and the US will continue to advance its "engagement and investments in the Indo-Pacific."

In 2019, the Solomon Islands cut its diplomatic ties with Taiwan and established relations with China.

US President Joe Biden has described China as America's "most serious competitor."

Last week, the US government laid out its diplomatic policy in the region in a document titled the "Indo-Pacific Strategy of the United States." It said the region faces mounting challenges, particularly from China.

The US strategy included plans to open new embassies and consulates in Southeast Asia and Pacific island nations.

Key words : shogi
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220213_03/

Teenage shogi prodigy Fujii Sota has become the youngest player ever to clinch five major professional titles in the Japanese board game.

Fujii won the Osho title by beating the reigning champion, Watanabe Akira, in the fourth game of the best-of-seven title match on Saturday in Tokyo.

Fujii is 19 years and six months old. Habu Yoshiharu set the previous record 28 years ago at the age of 22 years and 10 months.

Fujii said he is honored to be the youngest player to have won the fifth title. He said he needs to train harder to become worthy of being a five-title holder.

Shogi has eight major titles. Fujii now holds the most titles among active professional shogi players.