at 18:30 (JST), June 16

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/20220616183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Kishida renew
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220615_32/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has renewed his pledge to support Ukraine in response to Russia's invasion. He wants to continue it in coordination with other members of the international community.

Kishida laid out his government's policies on Wednesday, as a 150-day ordinary session of the Diet came to a close.

He said, "We must show that any actions violating the international law will incur a high cost. We have drastically changed our policy toward Russia. We've been working with other G7 nations and wider international community to impose strict sanctions against Russia."

Kishida said Japan will continue to try to align Asian countries with the G7's views.

He also vowed to drastically strengthen Japan's defense capabilities, bring the Japan-US alliance to a higher level, and push for a free and open Indo-Pacific with like-minded nations.

Kishida said his government will try to enable people to return to regular, pre-pandemic life as much as possible, while also better preparing Japan for infectious diseases.

He said, "We will ensure that necessary medical care is always available and that the system will function well in the event of an emergency. We will also bolster public health care offices and strengthen testing systems. And we will make sure enough vaccines and medical supplies are available. To carry out emergency measures promptly and effectively, we will enhance the government's function as a control center."

The prime minister announced a new agency in the works. It will comprehensively plan, oversee and control anti-infection measures.

He said the government also wants to create a new organization comprised of medical and public health experts, which he describes as the Japanese version of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Key words : xi putin illegitimate
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220616_03/

Russia's presidential office says President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have confirmed their commitment to deepen economic and military cooperation.

The two leaders had a phone conversation on Wednesday.

The presidential office said Putin and Xi agreed to expand cooperation in energy, finance and other areas, as the global economic situation has become "more complicated due to the illegitimate sanctions policy pursued by the West."

The two also discussed the further development of military and defense ties.

The presidential office said Putin explained his "principled assessment of the situation in Ukraine," adding that Xi noted the "legitimacy" of Moscow's actions to protect fundamental national interests.

China's Foreign Ministry quoted Xi as saying that China has always made judgments on the Ukraine issue independently based on the historical background and has promoted world peace and the stability of the global economic order.

Xi said all parties should push for an appropriate solution to the Ukrainian crisis in a responsible manner. He went on to say that China is willing to continue to play its due role in this regard.

The two leaders last met in the Chinese capital on February 4, on the day of the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.

They spoke over the phone on February 25, immediately after Russian forces began invading Ukraine.

Key words : north outbreak
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220616_15/

North Korea has reported an outbreak of an intestinal epidemic, as it continues to tackle the spread of what is believed to be the coronavirus.

The ruling Workers' Party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on Thursday that the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, had sent medicines to the party committee in the southwestern city of Haeju, in South Hwanghae Province, where the outbreak occurred.

The article has a photo that shows Kim checking the medicines with his wife, Ri Sol Ju.

The newspaper does not name the disease or reveal its symptoms. South Korea's Yonhap News Agency suggests it could be typhoid or cholera.

Kim instructed party officials to contain the epidemic at the earliest date possible by quarantining suspected cases, and by thorough epidemiological examination and disinfection.

North Korea has been confirming cases of fever that are believed to be COVID-19 infections on a daily basis. Cases are reportedly on the decline, with the daily count dropping to just over 26,000 on Wednesday from the peak of over 390,000.

But the new infectious outbreak could put added strain on North Korea's healthcare system.

Key words : government not attend
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220615_29/

The Japanese government says it will not attend the first meeting of signatories of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as an observer.

The Foreign Ministry's press secretary, Ono Hikariko, announced the decision on Wednesday. The meeting will start next Tuesday in Vienna, Austria.

Japan has not ratified the treaty. But atomic bomb survivors and others have been calling on the government to attend the event as an observer, as Japan is the only country to have suffered atomic bombings.

Speaking to reporters, Ono said that in order to change the reality, cooperation of nuclear weapon states is necessary, but none of them have taken part in the treaty. She said Japan will work to promote practical efforts.

Ono said Tokyo hopes to continue to take effective measures for nuclear disarmament and move closer to a world without nuclear weapons.

Ono said Japan plans to make utmost efforts for the review conference for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to be held in August so that it will achieve significant results. Nuclear weapon states will also participate in the conference.

Key words : china introduced
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220615_30/

China says it has introduced a set of "trial outlines" on its armed forces military operations that are not war. Taiwan media cite experts' view calling for vigilance against the move.

China's state-run Xinhua News Agency recently reported that President Xi Jinping, who is also the chairman of the Central Military Commission, signed an order to promulgate the outlines, which take effect on Wednesday.

Details of the outlines are not disclosed. But Xinhua says the outlines, composed of 59 articles, will address emergencies and aim to "safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interest and world peace and regional stability."

It adds that the outlines "serve as a legal base for military operations other than war."

A Taiwanese newspaper, The Liberty Times, on its Tuesday online edition quotes an expert as saying Taiwan must be cautious because what China calls "military operations" could be used as a cover-up when it wages an act of war.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson told reporters on Monday that "certain countries call the Taiwan Strait 'international waters' in order to find a pretext for manipulating issues related to Taiwan and threatening China's sovereignty and security." He said, "China is firmly against this."

Observers say the remarks may indicate China's possible stance that it does not regard the strait as "international waters." They say China apparently aims to create an environment where international law will not be applied to a contingency involving Taiwan.

Key words : india younger
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220615_35/

India has revamped its military recruitment policy to have a younger force that can be ready to meet any challenges in the future.

The move comes with India sharing a heavily militarized border with Pakistan, and engaged in a stand-off with China to the north.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh announced the changes on Tuesday. He said most recruits would only be able to stay a maximum of four years. Under the old system, many tended to stay much longer.

Singh said 46,000 men and women between the ages of 17 and a half and 21 would be recruited each year.
Of these, only 25 percent will be retained after four years.
The defense ministry says this means the average age of military personnel would drop by about four to five years.

Army chief Gen. Manoj Pande said, "One of the most significant initiatives aims to make the army a future ready fighting force capable of meeting multiple challenges across the full spectrum of conflict."

India has one of the largest armed forces in the world, with about 1.4 million members.

Experts say the new system will also bring down the military's expenses for pensions and salaries, which form a big part of its budget.

Key words : toyota aim
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220615_31/

Executives at Toyota Motor say they aim to offer a range of models that cater to the needs of drivers around the world as part of its strategy to achieve carbon neutrality.

Toyota held its shareholders' meeting at its headquarters on Wednesday. More than 900 people took part.

Executive Vice President Maeda Masahiko spoke about the company's zero-emission strategy.

He said electric vehicles are becoming more popular in Europe where renewable energy use is growing, whereas bio fuel is more common in countries such as Brazil. He said, for now, the automaker should not narrow its options.

Responding to questions about his eventual successor, President Toyoda Akio said he wants it to be someone who respects the company's philosophy, and has acquired the necessary technical skills.

He said he's thinking deeply about the selection and related timing, and will work with shareholders to find and nurture the right person to take over his role.

Shareholders have approved five proposals presented at the meeting, including one regarding 9 directors' posts.