at 18:30 (JST), June 13

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/20220613183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : nobuo urged
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220612_15/

Japanese Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo met his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe and urged China to exercise restraint in its unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force in the East China Sea, including areas around the Senkaku Islands.

The two ministers spoke for about one hour on Sunday on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, an Asian security forum in Singapore.

Kishi said many bilateral issues were pending, including those related to security. Among activities of concern, he pointed out the Chinese Navy's aircraft carrier Liaoning's drills conducted in waters near Japan.

Kishi said that Japan's basic stance on Taiwan has not changed, and that the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait is extremely important not only for Japan but for the international community.

Referring to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Kishi said it undermines the foundation of international order and is absolutely unacceptable.

He called on China to play a responsible role as a permanent member of the UN Security Council for the peace and security of the international community.

Kishi also expressed deep concerns about continued joint military action between China and Russia, including last month's joint flight by Chinese and Russian bombers around Japan.

He said the pending issues make it necessary for Japan and China to have candid communication.

The two ministers agreed to promote dialogue and exchanges between both countries' defense authorities.

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

Key words : south fired
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220613_04/

The South Korean military says North Korea fired multiple projectiles presumably from rocket launchers on Sunday morning.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on Sunday night that the projectiles were fired between 8:07 a.m. and 11:03 a.m.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported that about five projectiles were fired from the North's western coast toward the Yellow Sea, to the west of the Korean Peninsula.

The South Korean military stressed that it is maintaining a readiness posture in close coordination with the United States, while bolstering its surveillance of North Korea.

South Korea's presidential office convened a meeting to discuss responses. Officials expressed concern that Pyongyang continues to upgrade various weapons that pose a direct threat to South Korea. They reaffirmed Seoul's position that it will respond sternly.

Key words : taiwan detained
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220613_02/

Taiwanese police have detained a 19-year-old man for spraying black paint on a replica of the "Pillar of Shame" statue honoring the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident.

The statue in Taipei was found vandalized on Sunday. Police checked security camera footage, tracked down the suspect, and are investigating his background.

The suspect reportedly told investigators that he wanted to vent his anger over his hardships due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A civic group called the New School for Democracy organized the creation of the replica. Its chairman, Tseng Chien-yuan, said it is not merely an act of property damage.

Tseng said it is an attempt to silence any Taiwanese people who speak about the Tiananmen Square incident and all other historical mistakes made by the Chinese Communist Party.

The original sculpture created by a Danish artist had been on the University of Hong Kong's campus since 1998.

The university removed the statue last December following a series of arrests under Hong Kong's national security law that is used to clamp down on anti-government activities.

With permission from the Danish creator, the civic group reproduced the statue using a 3-D printer. It had been on display in a square in Taipei since June 4, the 33rd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square incident.

Key words : authorities tightening
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220613_01/

Authorities in Beijing are tightening anti-coronavirus measures in response to an outbreak discovered at a bar in the central district of Chaoyang. This comes after a month-long ban on indoor dining was lifted about a week ago.

City authorities say as of Sunday they had confirmed 166 linked cases, including those who visited the establishment.

The authorities are bracing for more cases as more than 6,000 people have been identified as close contacts. They include people who were at the bar at around the same time as those infected.

Bars and karaoke parlors in the district have been closed.
The authorities plan to conduct PCR testing of Chaoyang residents and others for three days, starting Monday.

Beijing officials are urging residents to take thorough anti-infection measures. Those who enter offices, commercial facilities and other public places continue to be required to show negative PCR test results.

On June 6, dine-in services resumed in the city except for some areas, as new infections were on a downward trend.

Key words : pakistan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220613_08/

Pakistan has been hit by soaring prices of wheat resulting from disruptions in imports from Ukraine and heat waves that have affected domestic production.

Exports of Ukrainian wheat to Pakistan have been suspended since Russia's invasion began in February. Ukrainian wheat accounts for 80 percent of the total Pakistan imports from abroad.

Pakistan has yet to secure the wheat it needs this year as domestic producers have been hit by a drought caused by higher temperatures that started in March.

In the southern Pakistani province of Sindh, a daytime high hit a record 51 degrees Celsius in May. The amount of rain during that month was less than 10 percent that of a year earlier, dealing a serious blow to farmers.

Qadir Samoon, who operates a farm in Sindh, began reaping wheat earlier than usual in an effort to mitigate damage from the drought. But the wheat had smaller grains and the yield was only a quarter of that of last year.

Samoon said he has never seen such drought damage. He expressed worries that not only farm products but also people's livelihoods could dry up.

Officials in the municipality where Samoon lives say that about 5,000 tons of wheat were produced locally last year, but this year's yield only amounted to roughly half of that.

The short supply of wheat has begun to affect prices of Pakistan's staple food, naan. A shop at a local market in Sindh decided in March to raise the prices of the tandoor-baked bread.

Naans now cost 25 percent more, putting a heavy burden on low-income households.

Muhammad Goheer, who heads the agriculture division of a think tank affiliated with the Pakistani government, says that it is going to be very tough this year as the country is facing a possible food crisis.

Key words : thailand cannabis
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220610_35/

People in Thailand can now legally grow and sell cannabis -- though they're still not meant to use it for recreational purposes. The government is encouraging people to cultivate the plant and has started handing out one million seedlings.

Health officials launched the campaign on Friday in the northeastern province of Buriram.
The decriminalization of cannabis the day before lets people grow plants at home, mainly for medical use.

The government hopes the move will lift Thailand's status as a medical and tourism hub as well as boost the agriculture industry, which employs a third of the labor force.
More than 300,000 people have already applied to the government for permission to grow the crop.

One cannabis shop had many customers on Friday afternoon.

Arun Avery, owner of Highland Cafe, said, "People came throughout the day yesterday, but we had to stop selling because we had no time to stock the product."

The government is promoting cannabis consumption for medical use, cooking and cosmetics. Plant extracts sold must contain less than 0.2% of THC -- the psychoactive ingredient. Smoking in public is still banned.

Key words : philippines beach
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220612_19/

Tourists and local residents are flocking to a new artificial beach on Manila Bay in the Philippines.

The opening of the beach on Sunday coincided with the Philippines' 124th Independence Day. Spain ruled the country for more than 300 years.

The 500-meter-long white sandy beach is made of crushed rocks from Cebu Island.

Many people enjoyed relaxing and taking photos at the newly-opened tourist spot.

A 21-year-old woman who visited with her family said she was so happy to see the beautiful beach. A Danish man who lives in Manila also praised the beach, saying it will attract many tourists.

The authorities have banned swimming at the beach because of the serious water contamination in Manila Bay. A government inspection in May found that the levels of e-coli bacteria per 100 milliliters of water were over nine times the legal limit.

An official of the Philippines' environment ministry says the government will step up efforts to purify the water in the bay to enable people to enjoy swimming and fishing along the artificial beach.

Key words : toyota won
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220613_03/

Japanese automaker Toyota won the Le Mans 24 Hours race in northwestern France on Sunday, for the fifth year in a row.

Japanese driver Hirakawa Ryo, Switzerland's Sebastien Buemi and New Zealand's Brendon Hartley took turns maneuvering Toyota's number 8 sports car on the track.

Toyota's number 7 car crewed by Japanese driver Kobayashi Kamui, Britain's Mike Conway and Argentina's Jose Maria Lopez placed second.

Toyota clinched a one-two finish for the second consecutive year.