at 18:30 (JST), July 07

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/20220707183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : covid-19 decline
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220707_13/

In Japan, COVID-19 cases are increasing again after a period of decline. On Wednesday, the nationwide count came to 45,000, or double the figure a week earlier.

Many of those cases were reported in Tokyo where over 8,300 new infections were confirmed on the day. It was the first time since mid-April that the daily tally in the capital topped 8,000.

People in the metropolis are voicing concern about the risk of infection.

One woman said, "I feel like trains are more crowded. I also see more people out when I am walking."

A man said, "I'm worried about this increase. I just have to be careful."

The rebound is already affecting hospitals. In six prefectures, more than 20 percent of hospital beds set aside for coronavirus patients are occupied.

The occupancy rate is rising in western Japan, which has been reporting some of its highest numbers since the pandemic began.

Key words : china philippines golden age
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220707_05/

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has told Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that China wants to expand cooperation to usher in a new "golden age" in ties between the two countries.

Wang met with Marcos in the Philippines on Wednesday, ahead of a Group of 20 foreign ministers meeting in Indonesia.

China's Foreign Ministry says Wang also said Beijing hopes to speed up cooperation in a range of areas, including agriculture, infrastructure and energy, which Marcos advocates as key fields in his policies.

On disputes over the South China Sea, Wang said the two countries should strengthen dialogue and deal with the matter properly.

After the talks, Marcos took to Twitter, saying he and Wang discussed "agriculture, infrastructure, energy, and our commitment to maintaining the strong relationship between our peoples."

Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan attended Marcos' inauguration ceremony on June 30. China's series of overtures to the Philippines comes as the US is also seeking better ties with the country.

Key words : 87 india
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220706_33/

Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama has turned 87.
In a rare move, a top local official of India's ruling party participated in birthday celebrations on Wednesday in the northern city of Dharamshala.

The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh state joined the event online. He praised the Dalai Lama for fighting for the Tibetan cause in a peaceful manner.

Indian leaders have generally taken a cautious approach toward the spiritual leader to avoid upsetting China. But lately, they have been expressing solidarity with him.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter he conveyed birthday greetings to the Dalai Lama over the telephone. The exchange is seen by some as a shift in the Indian government's stance.
The Tibetan spiritual leader did not attend the event, as Covid cases are still on the rise in India. He has refrained from making public appearances for the past two years due to the pandemic.

Among the attendees were Hollywood actor Richard Gere and officials of the Tibetan government in exile.

New Delhi recognizes Tibet as an autonomous region of China, but has territorial disputes with the country on its northern border.

The Dalai Lama fled Tibet more than six decades ago after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.

Key words : south ordered test
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220706_22/

South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol has ordered the country's military to "swiftly and firmly" punish North Korea if it carries out any provocation.

Yoon issued the instruction on Wednesday at a meeting with top commanders at military headquarters.

He stressed a firm stance against Pyongyang's nuclear and missile development, saying the threats are increasing.

The president also ordered enhanced deterrence capabilities in line with South Korea's alliance with the United States, as well as early improvement of abilities to intercept missiles and counterattack.

South Korea's defense ministry announced on Tuesday the arrival of six F-35A stealth fighters from the US Air Force to the Korean Peninsula. The ministry said they will join drills with the country's air force until July 14.

Local media say it is the first publicly announced deployment of US F-35 fighters to the Korean Peninsula since 2017, when the North conducted its sixth nuclear test.

They say the move appears to be a powerful warning to Pyongyang, which appears to be preparing to carry out another nuclear test.

Key words : south intercept counterattack
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220707_10/

South Korea plans to establish a "strategic command" to counter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. The command will oversee the operations of the country's core military assets to bolster deterrence.

The South Korean defense ministry announced the plan following a meeting of President Yoon Suk-yeol with top commanders on Wednesday.

The South Korean military is building a three-pronged strategy against the North's missile threats. It consists of preemptive strikes against signs of a launch, interception in the event of a launch and counterattacks against offensives.

South Korean media reports say that the military aims to set up the strategic command in 2024. The command is expected to oversee the assets of the country's army, navy and air force, including fighter jets, missiles and submarines.

Yoon ordered the military to swiftly punish North Korea if it carries out any provocation.

Key words : china admitted
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220706_32/

Local authorities in southern China have admitted they took a baby boy from his parents 32 years ago based on the country's one-child policy, sending a shockwave.

Government-affiliated online media and other outlets are reporting that a one-year-old boy was taken from a couple in the municipality of Quanzhou in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in 1990.

The couple last month filed a petition with police seeking an investigation into the whereabouts of their seventh child.

Local health authorities responded in writing last Friday that children who were born in violation of the population control policy at the time were subject to what they called "social adjustment" based on decisions by local governments.

The one-child policy triggered illegal abortions, child trafficking and other issues in China.

It is unusual for local Chinese authorities to admit that they were involved in taking children from their parents based on that policy.

The whereabouts of the boy remains unknown.

On Chinese social media, a barrage of criticism is directed against authorities. One person says if an ordinary person takes away a child from the parents, it would be called kidnapping, but it will be social adjustment if authorities were involved.

Key words : kurashiki
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220706_18/

People in parts of western Japan devastated by torrential rains four years ago remembered the victims of the disaster in ceremonies held on Wednesday.

Kurashiki City in Okayama Prefecture was one of the hardest-hit areas, with 75 people killed. The city held a memorial ceremony in Mabi Town, which suffered extensive damage in the disaster. About 60 people took part.

Hiramatsu Yorio, who lost his mother, spoke as a representative of the bereaved families.

He said he still regrets not having been able to urge his mother to evacuate earlier. But he added that his 87- year-old mother taught him how important it is to evacuate early to protect lives.

In Kure City in the neighboring prefecture of Hiroshima, people visited the municipal hall to lay flowers to remember the victims.

One person said the events of that time are still seared in their memory and urged people not to forget that a similar disaster could happen again.

The heavy rains in July 2018 triggered mudslides and flooding that claimed the lives of 282 people in Hiroshima, Okayama, Yamaguchi and Ehime prefectures, including those who died afterward from disaster-related causes. Some people remain unaccounted for.

Reconstruction work including rebuilding of homes remains a challenge.

About 90 people are staying in temporary housing in Hiroshima and Okayama prefectures.

In Ehime Prefecture, all those remaining in temporary housing are expected to move out by the end of this month. But as of the end of last month, 25 people in two cities were living in private rental housing provided by local governments.

Key words : charity ballet
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220706_10/

Japanese and Ukrainian ballet dancers have staged a charity event to support Ukraine's national ballet company amid Russia's ongoing military invasion.

The performance was held in Tokyo on Tuesday. It was organized by Kusakari Tamiyo, a former ballerina who was one of Japan's top dancers.

Nineteen Japanese dancers who are active domestically and abroad performed repertoire ranging from classical to contemporary ballet.

Ukrainian dancers Anna Muromtseva and Nikita Sukhorukov from Kyiv Ballet, Ukraine's national ballet company, also took the stage. They fascinated the audience with their graceful and powerful moves.

Muromtseva said after the performance that she had danced to convey the emotions, spirits and sorrows of the Ukrainians. She said she was truly happy to perform with Japanese dancers in Japan.

Kusakari said the event helped her reaffirm that the arts are rooted in the desire to stand by people in need. She said it was a meaningful performance for everyone involved.

Donations from the audience will be sent to Ukraine's national ballet company.