at 18:30 (JST), May 09

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/20220509183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : g7 solidarity in principle online
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220509_05/

Leaders from the Group of Seven nations have agreed to phase out or ban imports of Russian oil to "impose severe and immediate economic costs" on President Vladimir Putin's administration for the invasion of Ukraine.

The leaders issued a statement after their online summit.

The statement says the leaders commit to phase out their countries' dependence on Russian energy, "including by phasing out or banning the import of Russian oil."

The statement says the leaders "will take measures to prohibit or otherwise prevent the provision of key services on which Russia depends" to "reinforce Russia's isolation across all sectors of its economy."
The statement says the leaders "will continue to take action against Russian banks connected to the global economy and systemically critical to the Russian financial system."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined the summit. He claimed that a Russian bomb killed 60 civilians who had sought shelter in a school in the eastern region of Luhansk.

The statement says he "stated that Ukraine's ultimate aim is to ensure full withdrawal of Russia's military forces and equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine and to secure its ability to protect itself in the future."

The statement says President Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of the G7 continuing its assistance for Ukraine.

The summit came one day before May 9, Russia's annual commemoration of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two.

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio told his counterparts that the Russian aggression in Ukraine shakes the foundation of international order, not only in Europe, but also in Asia and beyond.

He said the unity of the G7 nations, which share universal values, has never been required more than now, when the world stands at a historic crossroads.

Kishida outlined Japan's additional sanctions on Russia, that include freezing the assets of another roughly 140 individuals.

Kishida expressed his intention to ban the import of Russian oil in principle in line with the G7 statement.
He said it is a hard decision for Japan to make as the country depends on imports for most of its energy sources. But he added that what matters most is G7 solidarity.

Key words : hong kong
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220508_12/

Hong Kong's former number-two official and ex-police official John Lee Ka-chiu has been elected as leader of the government.

Lee overwhelmingly won a vote of confidence in the chief executive race on Sunday. The election is held every five years. He was the sole candidate in the election and was running with support from Beijing.

Hong Kong's leader is not selected by the public, but by 1,461 Election Committee members, including lawmakers and those from finance, commerce and other industries.

Hong Kong carried out electoral reform last year under the guidance of the Chinese leadership, which advocates the "principle of patriots administering Hong Kong."

The Election Committee has since been dominated by pro-Beijing members, except for just one person. Lee won 1,416 votes in support.

Lee played a key role in cracking down on pro-democracy activists and media outlets.

There is concern that government control will be tightened further after he takes office on July 1 -- the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China from British rule.

Key words : sri lanka
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220507_07/

Authorities in Sri Lanka have declared a state of emergency following more than a month of anti-government protests over a deepening economic crisis.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa issued the decree on Friday on public security grounds. The move gives him greater powers to detain people without warrants. He previously declared a state of emergency in April.

Police earlier fired tear gas at demonstrators who massed outside the parliament to demand the president resign.

The unrest is being fueled by drastic inflation and the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, which has taken a heavy toll on the tourism industry.

Dwindling supplies of fuel have resulted in power outages, and shortages of medicine are adding to the sense of anger.

Last month, a major rating agency downgraded Sri Lanka's foreign currency sovereign credit rating to "selective default."

The Sri Lankan government is seeking financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund, but the discussions could take time.

Key words : considering reopen
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220507_01/

Japan's government is considering a plan to reopen the country to foreign travelers in phases from next month.

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said during a visit to Britain on Thursday that border controls against the coronavirus would be eased, in line with other G7 members.

Discussions are already underway with relevant ministries and agencies.

The government may also start accepting small group tours from certain countries on a trial basis before fully reopening.

Officials are also discussing what to do with the cap on overseas arrivals, currently set at 10,000 per day.

They plan to carefully assess the infection situation both in Japan and abroad, so that reopening does not cause an increase in new cases.

Key words : coast guard two chinese
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220509_13/

Japan Coast Guard officials say two Chinese government ships entered Japan's territorial waters off the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea on Monday morning.

They say the ships entered the waters off Minamikojima island shortly before 7 a.m. and reportedly approached a Japanese fishing boat.

The officials say that as of 7 a.m., the Chinese ships were navigating in Japan's territorial waters about 21 kilometers south-southeast and about 22 kilometers southeast from the island.

The Coast Guard is warning off the vessels and has sent patrol ships to ensure the safety of the Japanese fishing boat.

This is the seventh time this year that the Coast Guard has spotted Chinese government ships entering Japan's territorial waters off the Senkaku Islands.

Japan controls the islands and the Japanese government maintains they are an inherent part of the nation's territory. China and Taiwan claim them.

Key words : afghanistan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220508_06/

Afghanistan's Taliban rulers have declared that women must cover their face except for the eyes in public and stipulated in detail what they should wear to cover their body.

The Ministry for Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice issued a decree on Saturday for the "hijab" scarf.

It defined the hijab as something to cover a woman's body and that materials which are translucent enough to show parts of the body or which show body lines should not be used.

The decree also says that it is better for women to stay home unless there is a special need to go out.

Male relatives would face punishments for women failing to comply with the new restrictions. They will be summoned and detained for three days. If the women work for government agencies, they will be expelled from the job.

Women in Afghanistan were required to wear head-to-toe burqa during the Taliban's previous rule between 1996 and 2001.

Since the Taliban regained power in August 2021, they recommended that women wear headscarves and have been increasing restrictions on women and their rights.

Key words : okinawa
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220508_11/

The southern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa has urged the Japanese and US governments to resolve issues related to US military bases in the prefecture ahead of the 50th anniversary of its reversion to Japan on May 15.

The request was part of a set of proposals Okinawa released on Saturday.

A similar document was compiled in 1971, when the Diet was discussing the Okinawa Reversion Agreement between Japan and the United States. The government of the Ryukyu Islands wanted to convey voices of the local people to the lawmakers.

The new document says the prefecture and the central government shared the goal of making Okinawa islands of peace at the time of the reversion, but 50 years later, the goal has still not been achieved.

It calls for more public awareness about the significance and importance of Okinawa's return.

The new proposals also urge the governments of Japan and the US to fundamentally review the status of forces agreement and scrap a plan to relocate the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station within the prefecture. Work is under way to move the base from an urban area to a less populated coastal region.

The proposals call on the central government to play an active role in the international community by helping ease tension and build confidence through diplomacy and dialogue.

Okinawa Governor Tamaki Denny plans to personally deliver the document to Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, the heads of both chambers of the Diet and the US ambassador to Japan in Tokyo.