at 18:30 (JST), July 12

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/20220712183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : funeral kishida
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220712_25/

The funeral for former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo was held in Tokyo on Tuesday, four days after he was shot and killed during a speech.

The funeral was held at Zojoji temple. There was also a wake there Monday night, drawing 2,500 mourners including Abe's political allies and adversaries, foreign dignitaries and business leaders.

A hearse is scheduled to bring Abe's body to the prime minister's office and other places in Nagatacho, a neighborhood that is central to Japanese politics. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to say farewell at the entrance of the office.

While people paid their respects, investigators continued working to find out as much as possible about the sole suspect.

Police arrested Yamagami Tetsuya at the scene of the shooting. Sources within the investigation tell NHK the suspect apparently made up his mind to kill the former prime minister a year ago.

The 41-year-old also told investigators he initially planned to use explosives, but reportedly switched to a firearm to ensure he would hit Abe and no one else.

Police searching Yamagami's home came out with what are believed to be homemade weapons. They say he test-fired them in a mountainous area.

Police believe he carefully waited for a chance to approach Abe, opening fire when he was just a few meters away from his target.

People across the nation continue to hold vigils for Japan's longest-serving prime minister. More farewell ceremonies are set to be held in Tokyo and Yamaguchi Prefecture, which Abe represented in the Diet.

Key words : south korean foreign
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220711_09/

South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin has visited the Japanese Embassy in Seoul to offer condolences over the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.

Park made the call on Monday. He offered flowers for Abe, signed a condolence book, and closed his eyes for a while to mourn him.

Park later said he would like to express his deep condolences to Abe's bereaved family and the people of Japan.

He said he had hoped to visit Japan and meet Abe to hear his views on relations between his country and Japan.

Abe was fatally shot last Friday while giving an election campaign speech in the western Japanese city of Nara.

South Korean officials say Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and other senior government officials will visit the embassy on Monday as well.

President Yoon Suk-yeol also reportedly plans to pay his respects. When he will visit the embassy has not been disclosed.

The embassy will make books for offering condolences available for two days through Tuesday.

The South Korean government is set to send a delegation to a memorial ceremony expected to be held in Japan. Prime Minister Han and national assembly members are expected to be on the delegation.

Key words : taiwanese vice
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220711_23/

Diplomatic sources say Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te has visited Japan to offer condolences on the death of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.

The sources say Lai departed from Taipei on Monday morning and arrived in Tokyo.

A Taiwanese legislator close to Lai says President Tsai Ing-wen instructed him to pay the visit.

The presidential office said it will not disclose Lai's schedule to respect the wish of Abe's family.

Taiwanese media are reporting that Lai is the highest-ranking Taiwanese official to have visited Japan since the two sides severed diplomatic ties 50 years ago.

Another diplomatic source says Lai visited Japan in a private capacity.

It's rare that a sitting Taiwanese vice president's trip to Japan has been made public.

The visit could draw ire from China.

Key words : investigative sources year ago
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220712_03/

Investigative sources say that the suspect in the shooting death of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo told them that he made up his mind to kill Abe one year ago.

Yamagami Tetsuya is being held on suspicion of shooting the former prime minister while he was giving a campaign speech in the city of Nara on Friday.

The 41-year-old suspect has told investigators that his motive was a grudge against a religious organization. He said he believed Abe had close ties with the group.

The sources also say that Yamagami said he had initially plotted to use explosives, but eventually opted to use a firearm. He explained that this was because his only intended target was Abe.

Police have confiscated other handmade guns from his home. They also found out that Yamagami may have test-fired guns in mountainous areas.

Key words : macao
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220711_24/

The government of Macao has placed the Chinese special administrative region under lockdown following a surge in coronavirus infections.

Macao had been without a major outbreak since the first case was reported in January, 2020.

But health authorities say the number of Omicron variant cases has rapidly increased since mid-June and more than 1,500 people have tested positive over the past three weeks.

The government has told residents to stay indoors for one week starting Monday, except to buy food or other necessities. It warned that violators would be criminally punished.

Casinos, Macao's main industry, were ordered to close on Monday, following movie theaters and karaoke parlors that have been closed since late last month.

Macao has been taking antivirus measures not necessarily in line with Beijing's policy because it is given a high degree of autonomy under the "one country, two systems" framework.

But the latest measures are more aligned with Beijing's "zero-COVID" policy. The stricter measures are affecting Macao's economy and the lives of residents.

Key words : all nippon beijing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220711_17/

Passengers flights from China's capital to Japan have resumed after a hiatus of two years and three months caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Japanese airline All Nippon Airways on Monday resumed offering once-weekly flight service from Beijing to Narita International Airport near Tokyo.

At the check-in counter at Beijing Capital Airport, passengers presented staff with negative PCR test results, which are required to enter Japan.

A man returning to Japan said he hopes the pandemic will end and people will be able to travel freely again. He also expressed hope that more flight links will soon be available.

The Chinese authorities are considering easing restrictions on people entering the country by such means as shortening the mandatory quarantine period. But they still impose strict limitations on cross-border movement as part of the country's "zero-COVID" policy.

Flights from Narita to Beijing continue to be unavailable because Chinese authorities have not given permission for their resumption, citing the need to prevent infections.

Key words : sales
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220711_26/

Sales of new cars in China are rebounding from the impact of recent coronavirus restrictions. In June, they were up from a year ago for the first time in four months.

The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers says 2.5 million new units were sold last month, up 23.8 percent from a year ago.

The industry group attributes the gains to a recovery in production and supply chains since the Shanghai lockdowns ended. Government incentives also paid off.

Among Japanese automakers, Honda and Toyota led the way. Sales were up 19.4 percent and 19.2 percent respectively from last year.

Nissan, however, saw its sales drop 4.8 percent. Those at Mazda were down 40.3 percent.

Key words : mayor deployment
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220712_09/

The mayor of Kanoya in southern Japan says he has decided to accept the deployment of US unmanned military aircraft at a Self-Defense Forces' base in his city.

The Japanese and US governments plan to deploy eight MQ-9 drones to Kanoya Air Base in Kagoshima Prefecture this month to step up surveillance of China's increasing maritime activities.

Japanese defense officials say up to around 200 US military personnel will be stationed for the deployment.

Residents living near the base have expressed worries about possible accidents or other incidents involving the unmanned aircraft.

Mayor Nakanishi Shigeru told the city assembly on Monday that the Japanese Defense Ministry has presented measures to deal with the concerns. He said there was little choice but to accept the deployment.

The city plans to sign an accord to seek guarantees from the central government that it will be responsible for safety measures and local development plans.

The mayor told reporters that the decision was difficult, but one that he made after serious thought. He said he has asked regional defense officials to take concrete steps to ease citizens' anxiety.

He said the city also hopes to coordinate with the US military via Japan's Defense Ministry to ensure the safety and security of Kanoya.

The mayor plans to meet residents on Tuesday and Wednesday to brief them about his decision.

Key words : united nations india
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220712_07/

The United Nations says India will likely surpass China as the most populous country in the world in 2023.

The UN released a report on Monday saying China is the most populous country this year, with a population of 1.426 billion, followed by India at 1.412 billion.

The report projects that India's population will overtake that of China next year and continue to grow for years to come.

It also says that in 2050 India is estimated to have a population of more than 1.66 billion and China will be lagging far behind with a population of about 1.31 billion.

The Indian government has implemented a policy to curb rapid population growth.

But the UN attributes India's population growth to the declining infant mortality rate in the country, as reported by the World Bank.

China started a one-child policy around 1980, resulting in a declining birthrate and a growing proportion of elderly people.

The UN report estimates that the world's population will reach 8 billion in November this year, and that it will hit 9.7 billion in 2050.