at 18:30 (JST), June 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/20220630183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : prime new document
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220630_08/

Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says his government and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will work out a new document on their cooperation.

He became the first Japanese prime minister to join a NATO summit when he did so in Madrid on Wednesday.

During the summit meeting, Kishida said that as the international community stands at a crossroads of history, the participation of partners, including Japan, shows a recognition that the security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific region cannot be separated.

Apparently referring to China, Kishida said unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force continue in the East China and South China seas. He said he has a strong sense of crisis that what is happening in Ukraine might occur in East Asia tomorrow.

Kishida said countries should unite to show that attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force will not succeed.

He also conveyed his government's intention to strengthen Japan's defense capabilities and step up security cooperation with countries that share values, such as freedom and the rule of law. He said NATO is an important partner for Japan.

Kishida said Japan and NATO also agreed to advance cooperation in areas such as cyber and maritime security. He called for deepening cooperation between defense authorities. He also said it is important that Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand regularly participate in NATO's council meetings.

Key words : sideline reaffirm north
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220630_04/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol have huddled with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Spain. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to countering the threat from North Korea.

Biden said, "Our trilateral cooperation, in my view is essential to achieving our shared objective, including a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and a free and open Indo-Pacific."

Kishida said, "It is essential to strengthen cooperation among our countries, including enhancing the deterrence of the Japan-US alliance, as well as that of the US-South Korea alliance."

It's the first time in about five years the leaders of the three countries have sat down for talks.

In this year alone, North Korea has conducted 17 missile tests. Military analysts say there are signs the nation is prepared to carry out its seventh nuclear test -- the first since 2017.

Kishida said there is grave concern about North Korea's provocative actions.

Key words : china lash
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220629_26/

China's government has lashed out at the Group of Seven leaders for referring to Taiwan in their summit communique.

The leaders wrapped up their summit in Germany on Tuesday with a communique saying, "We underscore the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and encourage a peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues."

A spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, Ma Xiaoguang, told reporters on Wednesday that Taiwan is China's domestic issue and that no outside intervention will be tolerated.

He protested what he called "extremely dangerous" efforts by the United States and the West to involve their allies in using the "Taiwan card" to suppress China's development and reunification.

Ma warned the G7 to stop sending the wrong messages to Taiwan's separatist forces and intervening in China's domestic affairs, telling them not to "play with fire."

Key words : heatstroke kanto region tokai
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220630_12/

Much of Japan is expected to experience temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius or higher on Thursday, which will heighten the risk of heatstroke.

Japan's Meteorological Agency says record temperatures were observed on Wednesday mostly in the Kanto region, which includes Tokyo. The city of Isesaki in Gunma Prefecture saw a high of 40 degrees.

Some areas in Kanto and the central region of Tokai could hit 40 degrees on Thursday.

Kumagaya City in Saitama Prefecture is expected to have a high of 39 degrees.

The Meteorological Agency and the Environment Ministry have issued a heatstroke alert for Kanto, the neighboring prefectures of Yamanashi and Nagano, and areas to the west through Kyushu.

People are advised to stay hydrated and to use air conditioners appropriately.

They are also encouraged to take off their face masks outdoors when there's little conversation.

Elderly people are particularly at high risk of heatstroke. Their relatives and neighbors are urged to be mindful of them.

Key words : xi zero-covid
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220630_10/

Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed confidence about preventing the spread of the coronavirus and pursuing economic development during a trip to the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

The city in Hubei Province was put under lockdown in 2020 after the first outbreak of the coronavirus.

Xi inspected businesses and residential areas of Wuhan on Tuesday.

He defended his government's strict zero-COVID policy and stressed that it will remain in place. He said that in view of China's large population, if it neglects infection control measures, the consequences would be unimaginable.

He added that a temporary impact on economic development would be more acceptable than harming the lives and health of the Chinese people. Xi described the zero-COVID policy as the most economical and effective choice for the country.

He also promised to bring economic development for this year to a relatively good level.

Some China watchers say it will be difficult for the country to achieve the government's target growth rate of roughly 5.5 percent this year.

Key words : cambodia visit
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220629_40/

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has been attempting to mediate dialogue between the military and pro-democracy groups.

The regional bloc's special envoy is making his second visit to Myanmar from Wednesday. Attention is focused on whether he will be able to meet pro-democracy groups that he failed to see last time.

Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn is the ASEAN special envoy on Myanmar. He will stay there until Sunday.

The crackdown on citizens protesting against the coup has continued since the military took power last year.

Prak Sokhonn said before his visit that he has conveyed to the junta ASEAN's "deep concern" about the transfer last week of ousted de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi to a prison. He called for her to be returned to her home where she was originally detained.

The ASEAN envoy's first visit to Myanmar took place in March. He met with coup leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, but left the country without seeing anyone from the pro-democracy side.

Key words : logistic labor shortage
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220629_27/

A Tokyo-based venture firm has developed a robot that can help human staff at warehouses pick out products for shipping. The aim is to alleviate labor shortages in the logistics industry as more people shop online.

The robot, developed by Rapyuta Robotics, is designed help collect products from across huge warehouses so they can be shipped out.

A system driven by artificial intelligence analyzes the warehouse layout and determines the most efficient way to navigate the maze of shelves.

The machine's width is only about 60 centimeters, allowing it to pass through narrow aisles.

In a demonstration, three of the robots worked together with human staff. Once items are placed on the robots, the next destination immediately appears on the screen.

The venture firm said its technology makes it possible for workers to pick up roughly twice as many products during a shift, while also reducing the distance they walk.