at 18:30 (JST), June 28

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/20220628183000_english_2.mp3


Key words : provide 200 million pledge
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220628_01/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio talked briefly with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Germany on Monday.

The two leaders exchanged opinions on the situation in Ukraine. They confirmed that their countries will closely coordinate sanctions against Russia while supporting Ukraine.

They also agreed to cooperate toward the success of the economic version of a "two-plus-two" meeting between the foreign and economic ministers of the two countries. Arrangements are underway for the talks to be held at the end of July.

On the second day of the G7 summit being held in southern Germany's Schloss Elmau, Kishida pledged about 200 million dollars to help address a global food crisis amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Kishida said an invasion like Russia's could occur elsewhere. He said it is the responsibility of the international community to help the people of Ukraine fighting on the frontlines. He went on to say that sanctions on Russia should not be lifted.

Kishida said Russia is spreading a false narrative that blames the global food crisis on Western sanctions. He said it is necessary to show that Russia's invasion is to blame.

He said Japan's aid would go to Ukraine and to Middle Eastern and African countries that are being hit hard by soaring food prices.

Kishida also announced plans to provide a total of 1.1 billion dollars in aid, including an additional 100 million dollars for humanitarian assistance.

Key words : china pushed back
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220627_37/

China has pushed back in reaction to a new framework launched by the Group of Seven to promote investment to meet the infrastructure needs of developing countries.

US President Joe Biden announced on Sunday he reached agreement with other G7 leaders to launch an infrastructure partnership to mobilize 600 billion dollars by 2027 in global infrastructure investments.

The initiative is believed to be part of efforts to counter China's growing influence in Asia, Africa and elsewhere through massive lending.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Monday that his country continues to welcome all initiatives to promote global infrastructure development.

But he said Beijing is opposed to smearing its Belt and Road initiative under the pretext of infrastructure construction.

He downplayed concerns that China's excessive lending for infrastructure projects has left recipient nations in a debt trap. He said relevant nations have benefited during the nine years the initiative has been in place.

He said there is no partner of China that supports the allegation that the initiative creates the so-called debt trap.

Key words : unicef afghanistan waterborne disease
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220628_06/

A UNICEF official says Afghanistan faces the growing risk of outbreaks of infectious diseases following last week's earthquake that left the country's lifeline infrastructure battered.

UNICEF's Chief of Communications in Afghanistan, Samantha Mort, said in an interview with NHK on Monday that she is concerned about possible outbreaks of waterborne diseases.

Mort said water and sanitation systems were destroyed in affected areas. She added that efforts are underway to prevent the spread of acute watery diarrhea and Cholera.

The magnitude 5.9 quake last Wednesday left at least 1,040 people dead and more than 1,600 injured in the provinces of Khost and Paktika, according to local authorities.

UNICEF relief teams have been working there ever since.

Video footage from Paktika, taken by UNICEF staff members, shows residents cleaning up around their damaged houses, children sitting huddled together under tents, and people receiving treatment in hospital.

Mort said there are many children who lost family members, and that UNICEF has sent psychosocial therapists to help those children.

She appealed to the international community for support in rebuilding people's homes and their livelihoods.

Key words : government power shortage
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220628_32/

Japan's government has extended its advisory on possible power shortages in Tokyo and surrounding areas to Wednesday as sweltering heat is expected to continue.

The government announced the extension on Tuesday as intense heat hit the Kanto region, including Tokyo, for a fourth straight day.

It said reserve capacity may drop below 5 percent for Tokyo Electric Power Company, which serves the capital and surrounding areas. Electricity demand for uses such as air conditioning is expected to remain high.

The advisory has been in effect since it was first issued on Sunday under a new protocol to alert people about possible electricity shortages.
The government is asking people in the region to again reduce power consumption on Wednesday, especially between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. The period is longer than those of the two previous days.

The government also announced that it will not issue advisories for areas served by Hokkaido Electric and Tohoku Electric, both in northern Japan, as their reserve capacity is expected to be above 5 percent.

Key words : weather officials next two weeks
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220627_22/

Weather officials in Japan are warning that a record-level heat wave is forecast for the next two weeks after the rainy season apparently ended unusually early in some regions.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued the warning after announcing on Monday that it believes the season has ended in the Kanto-Koshin region, which includes Tokyo, as well as in Tokai and southern Kyushu.

If confirmed, it will be the earliest end in Kanto-Koshin and the second earliest in the other two regions since record-keeping began. It will also be the shortest rainy season on record for the three regions.

Agency official Umeda Takafumi said the agency made the announcement because sunny weather is expected to continue after a Pacific high-pressure system pushed the seasonal rain front northward.

Umeda urges people to take measures to prevent heatstroke, saying that intense heat is forecast in the coming two weeks. He also warns that a rain front and approaching typhoons could bring heavy rain.

Key words : earthquake fukushima
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220627_02/

Japan's government has issued an advisory for possible power shortages in Tokyo and surrounding areas. It is the first such advisory announced under the country's new alert system.

Sweltering heat is expected to continue on Monday in the Kanto region, including Tokyo. Demand for electricity, such as the use of air conditioners, is expected to surge.

Government officials are calling on households and businesses in the areas to cut back on energy use as much as possible, especially between 3 and 6 p.m. on Monday.

But they also ask people to use air conditioners properly to prevent heatstroke.

Under the new alert system established in May, the government will issue an advisory at 4 p.m. That's when the reserve power-supply capacity is expected to drop below 5 percent the next day, even after additional supplies are offered by other regional utilities.

The government estimates that the reserve capacity will fall below 5 percent in the Greater Tokyo area on Monday. The rate will likely drop further to under 4 percent before 5 p.m.

Japan faces potential power crunches during extreme weather conditions due to a decline in power supply capacities at utility companies.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company, which services the Kanto region, says the utility's supply capacity has fallen as operations of some power plants in Fukushima Prefecture remain suspended due to the damage caused by an earthquake that hit the area in March.

The country also has aging thermal power plants that have been closed temporarily or permanently.

Key words : bank of japan massive
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220627_32/

Documentation outlining the Bank of Japan's latest board meeting reveals that policymakers are stressing the need to continue with massive monetary easing to achieve wage increases amid rising prices.

The BOJ released its "Summary of Opinions" from discussions at a two-day policy meeting earlier this month.

One board member said the range of higher-priced items is widening due to the rise in commodity prices and moves in currency exchange rates.

But the policymaker also said the Bank's price stability target has not been achieved along with a virtuous cycle accompanied by wage increases. Therefore, it remains appropriate to stick with current monetary policy.
One member said achieving a sustainable and stable inflation target of two percent requires wage rises exceeding that level.

Another said the continuation of monetary easing can be considered effective to encourage sustained wage hikes by firms.

Key words : south north unification
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220628_02/

The South Korean minister in charge of Seoul's relations with North Korea says Pyongyang is ready to conduct its seventh nuclear test at any moment.

Unification Minister Kwon Young-se told a group of foreign reporters in Seoul on Monday that it's only a matter of when a political decision is made.

The minister said he has no idea why such a decision has yet to be made, but suspects that Pyongyang is gauging the situation in and outside of the North to make the test well timed to maximize its effects.

He warned that the North would face a barrage of criticism from the international community should it carry out the test, and that the scope of such criticism may not be limited to the verbal variety.

The minister stressed the need for countries, including China, to keep urging Pyongyang not to go ahead.

So far this year, the North has repeatedly launched intercontinental ballistic missiles and also test-fired short-range missiles.

The minister said North Korea's target appears to be South Korea. He added that Pyongyang is apparently aiming to have offensive capabilities strong enough to face off against both South Korea and the United States.

Key words : north online symposium
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220627_38/

North Korea has criticized Japan and the United States over an online symposium held earlier this month on the abduction of foreign nationals by North Korea.

The North Korean foreign ministry released an opinion article written by a researcher of the Institute for Studies of Japan on Monday.

The article addressed the UN symposium held on June 16, which was organized by Japan, the US, Australia and the European Union.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu, whose responsibilities include the abductions issue, was one of the main figures at the event. He called for international support for realizing the return of all abductees as soon as possible.

The North Korean article accused Japan of having conspired with the US to stage an abduction campaign with an "ulterior motive" to bring down North Korea's reputation and isolate it internationally.

The article repeated Pyongyang's claim that, "It is our invariable stand that the abduction issue does no longer exist as it had already been resolved once and for all by our sincerity and efforts."

It concluded, "As for the abduction issue, the buck stops with Japan and the US, which are deceiving the international society, being given to falsehood."