at 18:30 (JST), September 06

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/20220906183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : chinese 65
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220906_26/

China's state-run television says 65 people have been confirmed dead so far and more than 200 others injured in a powerful earthquake that struck the inland province of Sichuan on Monday.

The China Earthquake Administration said the magnitude 6.8 quake hit shortly before 1 p.m. on Monday. The epicenter was in Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan.

China Central Television reported on Tuesday that more than 50,000 people evacuated to shelters. The quake damaged more than 10,000 houses and disrupted power and water services. Landslides reportedly blocked several roads.

CCTV said tremors likely to be aftershocks continue to be felt in the area, and that more than 10 people are missing.
The Chinese government has sent troops and firefighters on disaster relief operations in the affected areas.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered all-out rescue efforts to minimize casualties.

Key words : china condemned strait
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220905_38/

China's foreign ministry has strongly condemned a US plan to sell Taiwan military equipment worth 1.1 billion dollars.

President Joe Biden's administration said last Friday that it had notified Congress of its intent to sell Taiwan 60 anti-ship missiles, 100 air-to-air missiles and other arms.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a news conference on Monday that the arms sales severely harm peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and send a gravely wrong signal to what it called "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

Mao went on to say China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the move. She added that China will take "resolute and strong measures" to firmly defend their sovereignty and security interests.

The spokesperson also said, "Taiwan is China's Taiwan. The Taiwan question brooks no external interference. No individual or force can halt the historic process of China's complete reunification."

China has stepped up pressure on Taiwan since a high-profile visit to the island by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. It has conducted large-scale military drills and sent fighter jets over the median line in the Taiwan Strait.

Key words : russia two employee
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220905_37/

Russia says two employees of its embassy in the Afghan capital of Kabul died in an apparent suicide attack on Monday. Eleven others were injured.

The Taliban interior ministry says its security forces tried to stop a man approaching the compound, but he blew himself up. Many people had reportedly gathered there to apply for visas.

The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement, "At 10:50 a.m. Kabul time on Monday, an unidentified attacker activated an explosive device right outside the entry to the consulate department of the Russian embassy in Kabul. "

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that it is a matter of course that this was a terrorist act, and described it as absolutely unacceptable. He added that the main thing that needs to be done is to get information from the scene.

Key words : xi state visit
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220906_06/

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Kazakhstan next week. It will be his first foreign trip since the coronavirus pandemic began.

On Monday, a Russian news agency quoted a Kazakh foreign ministry spokesperson as saying that Xi will visit the country for a state visit on September 14.

The spokesperson reportedly said that Xi will hold talks with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and sign a number of bilateral documents regarding cooperation in various sectors.

Xi has not visited a foreign country since the coronavirus began to spread globally in 2020.

There is speculation that Xi may attend a summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The conference will be held in Uzbekistan on September 15 and 16. Uzbekistan neighbors Kazakhstan.

Xi may meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the conference. That would be their first meeting since Russia's military operation in Ukraine started.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a multinational framework led by China and Russia.

Key words : russia scrapped free
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220906_07/

Russia says it has scrapped bilateral agreements with Japan that allow former Japanese residents of four Russian-held islands to travel there without visas.

Russia controls the islands. Japan claims them. The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. It says the islands were illegally occupied after World War Two.

On Monday, the Russian government unilaterally announced the termination of the bilateral agreements. The Kremlin ordered the foreign ministry to notify the Japanese government.

It is believed the move was taken in retaliation for sanctions Japan implemented on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

In 1991, Japan and Russia agreed on what is known as four-island exchange program. It allowed visa-free visits to promote exchanges between former residents and current residents of the islands.

In 1999, an additional agreement called free visits was made allowing for former residents and their relatives to visit their hometowns on the islands.

About 30,000 Japanese and Russians have taken part in the exchanges.

In March, the Russian foreign ministry said Moscow would suspend the visa-free exchanges. The ministry also said it would suspend peace treaty talks with Japan in response to its sanctions.

The ministry added that all responsibility for the move rested with the Japanese government, which it claimed had taken an anti-Russia stance.

Japan has imposed sanctions against Russia in line with other Group of Seven members.

Key words : hopes foreign and defense
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220906_01/

The Japanese and Indian governments are preparing to hold a meeting in Tokyo on Thursday that will be attended by the foreign and defense ministers of the two countries. Japan wants to reaffirm that cooperation with India is important. India is currently participating in a large-scale military exercise with Russia.

Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu plan to attend the conference. India will be represented by foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and defense minister Rajnath Singh.

This will be the second time that Japan and India will hold a "two-plus-two" meeting. The first conference took place in India three years ago.

The arrangements are being made as China continues to ramp up its effort to gain hegemonic power.

At the planned meeting, Japan and India will likely reaffirm that they are committed to cooperating in the effort to bring about a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Tokyo also hopes to underscore the importance of the four-way security dialogue known as the Quad. Japan, the United States, Australia and India are all members of the Quad.

India and China are participating in Russia's drill. It is the first large-scale military exercise that Russia has engaged in, since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine began.

Key words : agreement philippines and indonesia
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220905_40/

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has held talks with his Indonesian counterpart, Joko Widodo.

The leaders agreed to strengthen security ties.

Marcos is visiting Indonesia on his first foreign trip since taking office.

Marcos and Joko exchanged a defense and security cooperation agreement on Monday.

It enables the two countries to stage joint military drills and share information.

The leaders stressed the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has a crucial role to play in promoting regional stability.

In the joint press conference after their talks, Marcos said, "We agreed that ASEAN is going to be the lead agent in the changes that we would like to see in continuing to bring peace to our countries."

Joko said, "Indonesia wants to ensure that ASEAN continues to be the locomotive of regional stability, peace and prosperity."

The Philippines and Indonesia have disputes with China over territorial rights and interests in the South China Sea, where Beijing is flexing its muscles.

Marcos and Joko agreed to cooperate more closely on managing maritime borders.

Marcos flies to Singapore on Tuesday on the second leg of his overseas trip.