at 18:30 (JST), February 15

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/20220215183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : tonga struggling
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220215_02/

Tonga is struggling to recover from the damage caused by last month's undersea volcanic eruption, with relief efforts hampered by local coronavirus outbreaks.

The January 15 eruption triggered tsunami waves, which officials said reached as high as 15 meters when they hit the Pacific island nation. Four people were confirmed dead and scores of buildings collapsed.

A World Bank report released on Monday says the eruption, tsunami and ash falls caused an estimated 90.4 million dollars in damages. The number is equivalent to approximately 18.5 percent of Tonga's GDP.

The report also says broader economic losses, such as the ongoing impact on agriculture and tourism, are not reflected in the data, and are expected to rise significantly.

Adding to the struggle is a coronavirus lockdown in Tongatapu Island and other parts of the country that has continued for nearly two weeks.

As of Monday, 139 people have been confirmed infected with the virus across the country since the first cases of community infection were detected on February 1.

A senior Tongan government official told NHK that a large number of people are in need of drinking water amid the lingering effects of volcanic ash.

The official added that staff numbers were curtailed as part of measures against the coronavirus, which made swift delivery of relief goods difficult.

Key words : international labour
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220215_06/

The International Labour Organization has expressed deep concern about the working environment of ethnic minorities in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

An expert committee of the ILO issued its annual report on working conditions in countries around the world.

In the report, the committee cited an international confederation of trade unions that pointed out alleged forced labor of the Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minorities by the Chinese government under the name of reeducation in Xinjiang.

The ILO committee expressed grave concerns about working conditions of the minorities, saying they are apparently forced to work by the government and local authorities in violation of the right to freely chosen employment.

The committee urged the Chinese government to take specific steps toward eliminating racial and religious discrimination in employment and occupation.

The US State Department welcomed the ILO report in a statement. It reiterated its call for China to "end its genocide and crimes against humanity perpetrated against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang, as well as its use of these groups for forced labor."

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin refuted the ILO report. He told reporters on Monday that "there is no discriminatory policies and practices targeting ethnic minorities in Xinjiang."

Wang said, "Some comments and recommendations of the Committee are not objective or fair." He said, "The Chinese government regrets that its statement in reply is not fully accepted by the Committee."

Key words : economy rebound
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220215_12/

Japan's economy rebounded in the final quarter of last year, as coronavirus cases fell and consumption picked up.

The Cabinet Office says the economy expanded an annualized 5.4 percent in the October-to-December period. It was the first rise in two quarters.

Consumer spending grew 2.7 percent from the previous three months. Demand rose in service industries like restaurants and hotels.

That was as the coronavirus remained under control after the government lifted the state of emergency on October 1st.

Exports logged a rise of one percent. Auto shipments improved as parts-supply bottlenecks eased.

Corporate investments in facilities and equipment were up 0.4 percent. Demand for chip-making devices rose, as did software-related investments.

The Cabinet Office also announced full-year growth for 2021. GDP grew 1.7 percent in real terms. It was the first rise in three years.

Key words : afghanistan aid
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220215_04/

People in Afghanistan are suffering severe food shortages due to the country's worsening economy under the Taliban regime.

The Taliban have been struggling to achieve international recognition since seizing control in August 2021.

The legitimacy of its rule has not been recognized by any other nation and as a result, international assistance has been impacted.

The United Nations last month urged member countries to provide more than 4 billion dollars to assist Afghanistan -- a record high amount for a UN single country aid appeal. Only nine percent has been raised so far. The country's overseas assets also remain frozen.

Meanwhile, the security situation continues to deteriorate. There are reports of the Islamic State group's local offshoots carrying out regional attacks.

More than 100 former government officials and soldiers have been killed in the past six months. Most of them are believed to have lost their lives in revenge attacks by Taliban fighters.

Key words : myanmar this week
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220215_07/

Myanmar's military has announced that it will not attend a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers in Cambodia this week.

Myanmar's foreign ministry issued a statement on Monday, confirming its absence from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations gathering.

Myanmar officials turned down ASEAN's request that the country send a non-political representative instead of a military-appointed foreign minister to Thursday's meeting.

The statement expressed regret that ASEAN had made a decision Myanmar could not accept, despite its efforts to promote cooperation within the regional bloc.

ASEAN foreign ministers are due to discuss the security situation in Myanmar, following a military coup last February.

ASEAN members say Myanmar has made little progress in implementing the "Five-Point Consensus" reached last year.

The agreement includes a call for the immediate cessation of violence and allowing a visit by a special envoy to Myanmar.

Myanmar was also absent from an ASEAN summit last October, after the group decided not to invite the country's top military leader.

Key words : kirin
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220214_43/

Japanese beer giant Kirin Holdings has decided to withdraw completely from the Myanmar market. The brewer says it is in talks to terminate its ties with a local joint-venture partner that is linked to the military.

Isozaki Yoshinori of President & CEO, Kirin Holdings said, "We re-confirmed earlier this month that Myanma Economic Holdings has no intention of selling its stake in Myanmar Brewery."

The joint venture was set up with Myanma Economic Holdings in 2015 when Kirin acquired a majority stake in the country's biggest beer maker Myanmar Brewery.

Kirin decided to dissolve the venture following the military coup last February. That was because its local partner manages a welfare fund for the military.

But Myanma Economic Holdings rejected Kirin's proposals.

Kirin says it is determined to complete its withdrawal from Myanmar by the end of June. It is looking to sell its entire stake in two local joint ventures to non-military-related companies.

Key words : hanyu thank
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220214_50/

Following a disappointing singles showing, Japanese figure skater Hanyu Yuzuru held a news conference on Monday.

The double Olympic champion says he is not sure about his future.

Hanyu said, " As a figure skater, there is no stage like the Olympics where I have to stand up and take on the challenge even if I'm injured. I felt happy during my performance, so of course I feel like trying again."

Hanyu finished fourth in the men's singles event.
He opened his free skate program with an attempt at a quad axel jump. Despite a stumble, it was certified... making him the first skater ever to pull off the move.

The 27-year-old also revealed that he had hurt his ankle in practice... suffering a bad sprain.

Hanyu praised gold medalist Nathan Chen's performance and thanked his fans and officials for their support.

Hanyu said, " I couldn't win a third consecutive title and the pressure's off. But as I said after the Sochi Games, I'm still an Olympic champion, and a two-time winner, so I can be proud of that."

Hanyu also said he would continue to respect and strive to master his favorite sport of figure skating.