at 18:30 (JST), September 05

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/20220905183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : six vessels fired
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220905_04/

Japan's Defense Ministry says six vessels from the Russian and Chinese navies fired machine guns in the Sea of Japan. It suspects the act to be part of major Russian military drills.

The ministry says Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force confirmed that three Russian frigates and three Chinese ships were sailing east in waters about 190 kilometers west of Cape Kamui in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido on Saturday afternoon. It says the Chinese vessels included a destroyer.

The ministry says the six vessels fired machine guns in waters near where they were spotted. It adds that the ships later navigated through the Soya Strait and entered the Sea of Okhotsk.

Russia on Thursday launched a weeklong exercise called Vostok in the Sea of Japan and other areas. It involves forces from China and other countries.

Japan's Defense Ministry is continuing surveillance and monitoring.

Key words : taliban celebrate
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220905_06/

The Taliban reclaimed control of Afghanistan one year ago. The country is facing many challenges, including terrorist attacks and serious food shortages.

The United States completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan on August 30 last year. Taliban leaders celebrated the first anniversary on Wednesday of the start of a new chapter in the nation's history.

Taliban's acting prime minister Mullah Hasan Akhund said, "The country saw an end to massacres and oppression, although security has yet to be fully guaranteed."

This footage was filmed shortly after an explosion at a mosque in western Afghanistan on Friday. Local authorities suspect it could have been a suicide bombing targeting a religious leader.

Concern is growing that Afghanistan may become a hotbed of terrorism again, as some point to the Taliban's ties to the international terrorist group Al-Qaeda.

Many Afghans have decided to leave the country out of fear of the Taliban. Roughly 94,000 have gone to the United States.

Farzana Jamalzada moved to New York to begin a new life. She wants to show her gratitude for all the help she has received. Jamalzada works as a volunteer translator for women who have fled Afghanistan.

Jamalzada said, "I think I better know what they are going to and what their problems are, so I would be very happy to help them."

But Russia's invasion of Ukraine has diverted international attention away from Afghanistan.

Jamalzada said, "Now we hear nothing about Afghanistan. People are still suffering. We want, I mean, the world to focus about Afghanistan to help them."

Key words : japan revised overseas tourist
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220903_11/

The Japan Tourism Agency has revised its guidelines for overseas tourists. Foreigners can enjoy stays in Japan more freely, but individual travelers will still not be allowed to enter the country.

Japanese government will ease restrictions for foreign travelers next week. Starting on Wednesday, the government will allow tourists from all countries to enter Japan without joining a guided tour.

But only package tours in which itineraries and accommodation arrangements are set through travel agencies are permitted.

Destinations for the guided tours had been determined in advance. But going forward, tourists can freely decide their schedule for sightseeing and meals during the day.

Travel agencies will be responsible for the tours, and will need to obtain phone numbers and other relevant contact information from the tourists.

They will also be required to ask tourists to follow basic anti-infection measures, such as wearing face masks.

The Japan Tourism Agency says no overseas tourists have been reported infected with COVID-19 since Japan reopened to holidaymakers in June. The agency says it hopes to gradually increase the number of visitors, while taking thorough anti-infection measures.

Key words : municipalities aircraft
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220905_07/

Municipalities near an air base in Tokyo on Sunday asked for more evidence that flights of CV-22 Osprey aircraft are safe.

The US Air Force on Friday said the tilt-rotor transport aircraft was ready to fly again. Safety concerns caused them to be grounded last month.

Pilots at Yokota Air Base in Tokyo are scheduled to resume normal operations of CV-22 Ospreys on Wednesday after test flights.

A liaison body between the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and municipalities near the base submitted the request for more information to US forces and the Japanese Defense and Foreign ministries on Sunday.

The body said concerns about the safety of residents near the base would increase because of the planned resumption of CV-22 Osprey flights.

Japan's Defense Ministry and the US Defense Department are believed to have held talks on the matter.

Japanese defense officials reportedly said Japan and the US had established a procedure to safely operate CV-22 Ospreys without serious difficulties. They decided the aircraft no longer has issues that warrant blanket grounding.

Key words : defense ministry develop fighter jet
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220904_07/

Japan's Defense Ministry is making arrangements to work with Britain in developing a common fuselage for a new fighter jet.

Major Japanese and British firms began research in January on co-developing a new engine for the fighter jet to replace the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force's F-2 jets.

The two countries already agreed to draw up a plan on how they will cooperate to develop the new jet by year-end. The timetable was set when the prime ministers of the two countries met in May.

The defense ministry believes the joint-development will help reduce cost as the aircraft specifications that Japan and Britain require are almost the same.

Italy is also being considered as an additional partner for Japan as the country is already cooperating with Britain in fighter jet development.

The Japanese Defense Ministry has included143.2 billion yen, or about one billion dollars, to develop new fighter jets in a budget allocation request for next fiscal year.

It hopes to start to have the F-2 successor ready by the time the F-2 is retired, around 2035.

Key words : Kishida rising
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220905_01/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says his government plans to compile additional measures against surging prices on Friday.

Kishida said on Sunday that he wants to expand assistance to keep the prices of compound feed products at around current levels.

He said he will also take seamless and concrete steps to reduce the financial burden from rising fuel costs and stabilize electricity and gas rates.

Kishida instructed the agriculture ministry last month to draw up measures to keep the prices of imported wheat it sells to domestic flour mills at current levels.

At the time, he also told officials to increase a special grant for regional authorities to enable them to provide support that suits local situations.

Key words : myanmar ousted
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220902_36/

Myanmar's ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to three more years in prison by a court operating under military rule.

A source says the pro-democracy leader was sentenced in the capital Naypyitaw on Friday for alleged election fraud during the general election in 2020. The trial was closed, and no further details are available.

The conviction was Aung San Suu Kyi's 11th since she was detained following a military coup early last year. She faces a total of 20 years in prison. The court sentenced her to six years last month for corruption.

Meanwhile, local media say a court in the largest city Yangon sentenced former British ambassador Vicky Bowman and her husband to a year in prison.

They were found guilty of violating the country's immigration law. They were detained on August 24.

Japanese journalist Kubota Toru has also been held since late July on multiple charges. He is currently on trial, and the Japanese embassy is calling for his release.