at 18:30 (JST), May 30

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/20220530183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : shanghai reopen semiconductor
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220530_04/

Authorities in Shanghai say restrictions on businesses will be removed from Wednesday, for the first time since the city was hit by a recent coronavirus outbreak.

The decision comes following two months of lockdown measures for the Chinese commercial hub.

The daily tally of new cases in Shanghai dropped to just over 100 on Saturday, from more than 20,000 at the peak.

Executive Vice Mayor Wu Qing told reporters on Sunday that the pandemic had a great impact on the economy and the city is facing an unprecedented predicament.

He announced that businesses will be allowed to reopen from June 1 on the condition that thorough anti-virus measures are taken.

So far only a limited number of companies have been allowed to resume operations, such as those in the semiconductor and auto industries.

The authorities earlier announced a plan to restore normal life and business activities from mid-June onward, while keeping coronavirus infections under control.

But residents in many parts of Shanghai are still banned from freely going outside.

Attention is now focused on whether companies can secure enough manpower to resume normal activities.

Key words : government protest radio
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220530_01/

The Japanese government says it has lodged a strong protest over a maritime survey conducted by a South Korean research ship in Japan's exclusive economic zone near the Takeshima Islands in the Sea of Japan.

South Korea controls the islands. Japan claims them.

The Japan Coast Guard confirmed that the ship, Hae Yang 2000, was operating in Japan's EEZ northeast of the islands from Saturday to Sunday, trailing what looked like a cable in the water.

The Coast Guard determined that the ship was highly likely engaged in a maritime survey. On Sunday, it demanded by radio that the ship halt the activity, but said the ship did not reply.

Japan's Foreign Ministry said South Korean officials admitted that the ship had been conducting a survey.

Funakoshi Takehiro, who heads the ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, lodged a strong protest against the ship's activity, and called for an immediate cessation.

He stressed that the maritime survey in Japan's EEZ violates a UN convention as it was carried out without Tokyo's prior consent.

The Japanese government maintains the Takeshima Islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. It says South Korea is illegally occupying them.

Key words : un human rights education
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220529_06/

The UN human rights chief has urged China to review its Uyghur policies following her visit to the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet held an online news conference from the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou on Saturday, the final day of her six-day China visit.

Bachelet said she was in Xinjiang for two days and inspected a prison and a facility which China says was used for vocational education and training. Beijing has said such training is part of measures to prevent the spread of terrorism.

Bachelet said she raised questions and concerns about the application of counter-terrorism measures and their impact on the rights of Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities.

She said she encouraged the Chinese government to review all counter-terrorism and de-radicalization policies to ensure they fully comply with international human rights standards and that they are not applied in an arbitrary and discriminatory way.

She also spoke of Uyghur families living abroad who have lost contact with their loved ones. She said she appealed to the authorities to prioritize measures to provide information to such families.

Bachelet stressed that her visit was not an investigation, suggesting it was difficult to grasp the full humanitarian situation of the Uyghur people.

She said the Chinese government agreed with her agency to establish a working group to facilitate substantive exchanges and cooperation.

She also referred to the situation in Hong Kong, saying the arrests of lawyers, activists, journalists and others under the National Security Law are deeply worrying.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu told reporters in Beijing that Bachelet was given a comprehensive introduction to China's measures on ethnicity and religion, and counter-terrorism.

Ma said that with the joint efforts of both sides, her visit had achieved "positive concrete results."

He also said that certain Western countries, out of ulterior motives, went to great lengths to disrupt and undercut the High Commissioner's visit, but their plot didn't succeed.

Ma was apparently referring to US State Department spokesperson Ned Price, who had expressed concern about Bachelet's visit.

Key words : relatives of
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220530_02/

The relatives of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago, have urged Japan's government to help all remaining abductees return home as soon as possible. They also demanded Pyongyang make an early decision to realize the return of their loved ones.

The relatives adopted a resolution listing these requests at a rally on Sunday. Prime Minister Kishida Fumio attended the gathering of roughly 800 people.

Yokota Takuya, a younger brother of abductee Yokota Megumi, gave a speech. He heads a group of relatives of Japanese abductees.

Yokota said the group would not object to Japan offering assistance to help North Korea address an ongoing coronavirus outbreak, if Pyongyang promises to return all remaining abductees to Japan immediately.

Yokota said the relatives of some abductees are advanced in age, and are anxiously awaiting the return of their loved ones.

He emphasized that Japan is responsible for resolving the abduction issue, not the United States or the international community.

Prime Minister Kishida stressd that his Cabinet places top priority on the issue. He explained that during his summit with the US president last week, Joe Biden expressed his support for an immediate resolution to the matter.

Kishida said he will lead his government in doing everything it can to realize the return of all remaining abductees at the earliest date possible.

He repeated his determination to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un without any preconditions.

The Japanese government says at least 17 citizens were abducted by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 80s. Five returned in 2002, but the other 12 remain unaccounted for.

Key words : sri lankan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220528_14/

A Sri Lankan who is suing Japan over the death of her sister in an immigration detention facility arrived at Narita airport near Tokyo ahead of a trial to start June 8.

Wishma Sandamali died March 6, 2021 in the detention facility in Nagoya, while being held for overstaying her visa. Wishma, 33, had complained of illness.

The Immigration Services Agency investigated and concluded that the facility lacked an appropriate system to provide medical care.

Wishma's relatives found the conclusion unsatisfactory and demanded access to all video footage of her at the facility.

In March this year, the relatives filed a suit against the Japanese government, seeking about 1.3 million dollars in damages.

Wayomi, Wishma's younger sister, told reporters she wants the court to show all the video of her late sister and clarify what happened and who was responsible for the death.

Another younger sister, Poornima, who has been staying in Japan, said that she is glad to have reunited with Wayomi, and that they will work together for the trial.

Key words : taiwan conducted
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220528_09/

Taiwan has conducted missile drills in its eastern waters, where China is escalating its military activities.

Taiwan's navy says it conducted the drills over several days this month at a missile base in the southern county of Pingtung, and in the Pacific Ocean off eastern Taiwan.

It says the missiles were launched from the ground, ships and aircraft against hypothetical enemy vessels, and were about 98 percent accurate. It also says a drill to fire a Hsiung Feng II, an anti-ship missile developed by Taiwan, was held for the first time using a new patrol vessel.

The Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning was deployed off Taiwan's east this month. More than 300 helicopter departures and landings from the carrier were confirmed.

Chinese fighter jets and bombers also frequently cross the area.

Key words : cannes hayakawa
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220529_09/

Japanese director Hayakawa Chie's film PLAN 75 has received a Special Mention by the jury for the Camera d'Or, an award for debut feature films, at the Cannes Film Festival.

The movie is set in Japan in the near future, when a government program encourages people aged 75 or older to be voluntarily euthanized as a remedy to the rapidly aging society.

The main character, an elderly woman, faces a choice of life or death and ponders the meaning of life.

The film was in the "Un Certain Regard" or "a certain glance" section, which presents works with non-traditional stories.

At the festival, South Korean actor Song Kang-ho received the Best Actor Award for his role in "Broker."

The movie by Japanese director Koreeda Hirokazu depicts the journey of a group of people brought together by a "baby box," where infants who cannot be cared for can be left anonymously.

The top award, the Palme d'Or, went to Swedish director Ruben Ostlund's class warfare comedy "Triangle of Sadness."