at 18:30 (JST), January 09

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/20230109183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : factory
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230109_06/

A massive protest erupted at a factory manufacturing COVID-19 test kits in an inland Chinese city on Saturday, apparently resulting from a slump caused by a sudden change of the country's coronavirus policy.

Hong Kong media reported that more than 1,000 workers clashed with police over lay-offs and wages in Chongqing.

Footage released by Reuters on Sunday shows people believed to be workers yelling and throwing objects at police.

China ended its strict "zero-COVID" policy, and health authorities no longer conduct PCR and antigen tests from Sunday.

Testing is now limited primarily to medical workers and patients who have developed fevers.

Antigen test kits were in short supply last month amid the spread of infections across the country. But the prices have fallen recently as supply stabilizes.

Key words : health authorities record-high death
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230109_02/

Japan's health authorities are reporting record-high deaths from the coronavirus, with over 400 people succumbing each day. Sunday's count was down slightly from the figure for recent days. But experts warn the situation could get worse in the coming weeks.

Health officials across the country confirmed 407 fatalities linked to the virus on Sunday. The central prefecture of Aichi had the most of Japan's 47 prefectures, at 44. In Tokyo, 30 people died. Most of the victims were over 70.

A home nursing care provider in Tokyo said vulnerable people need extra help. The provider said, "The patient's condition worsened in a short period of time. Those with underlying conditions face greater risks." He said the number of infections has also been surging in retirement homes.

He also said that among about 110 institutions he sends nurses to, nearly half have had a recent outbreak. That's five times the number during last summer's peak.

An expert at Tokyo Medical University Hospital said the authorities don't really have an accurate picture of the total.

Hamada Atsuo, a professor at the hospital, said, "The daily infection counts have not officially exceeded the numbers of the last wave during the summer. But it's likely the real numbers are much higher than the previous peaks. I think that's why we are seeing a record number of deaths."

Hamada is calling on people across the country to take greater care to avoid overwhelming the medical system.

Key words : kishida left
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230109_05/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has left for France on the first leg of his tour of five Group of Seven nations.

Kishida plans to visit France, Italy, Britain, Canada and the United States from Monday through Sunday to hold talks with their leaders in the run-up to the G7 summit in Hiroshima in May. Japan holds the presidency this year.

Before departure on Monday, the prime minister told reporters that he hopes to hold candid talks to further deepen trust among G7 members.

He said he wants to share a common understanding of the current severe security situation and other matters, and to confirm coordination by presenting Japan's stance.

Referring to the Japan-US summit, Kishida said it will be a valuable opportunity for the two nations to further consolidate their bilateral alliance and reaffirm close cooperation.

He noted that the meeting comes shortly after his government unveiled revisions to three key security documents to reinforce Japan's defense capabilities.

Key words : china 22 billion
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230107_02/

China has pledged to invest more than 22 billion dollars into the Philippines in a deal to advance the Southeast Asian nation's mineral and renewable energy sectors.

Government officials in Manila made the announcement on Friday.

About 60 percent of the funds, or about 13.7 billion dollars, will likely go into renewables.

Another 7.3 billion dollars is earmarked for processing minerals such as nickel, a key material in electric car batteries.

The deal comes after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made a three-day visit to China earlier this week.

The Philippine government wants 50 percent of the country's total power generation to come from renewables by 2040.

In December, authorities amended a law to allow foreign investments into the sector.

Marcos said the deal with China will support his country's economic recovery and create more jobs.

But local media aren't so sure.

Reports say the previous government also had massive investment plans with China, but only a fraction of the funds were delivered.

Key words : fintech
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230108_07/

Chinese fintech giant Ant Group says its founder Jack Ma will effectively cede control of the firm.

Ant Group announced the decision on Saturday as part of a review of its corporate structure.

Observers say the firm has apparently heeded to the wishes of Chinese authorities, who have told the company to overhaul its business.

Ant Group had been forced to abruptly call off its market listing after Ma criticized China's financial regulators in October 2020.

The company is an affiliate of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group also founded by Ma, and runs the Alipay mobile payment app with more than one billion users.
The Chinese government toughened its stance after Ant Group rapidly expanded its business to small-lot lending and insurance by leveraging its massive customer base.

Key words : sompo
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230107_14/

A Japanese insurance giant has been sued by heirs of the former owner of a painting from Vincent Van Gogh's famed "Sunflowers" series.

Sompo Holdings owns the masterpiece through one of its predecessors. The US lawsuit seeks the return of the work and about 750 million dollars in damages.

The three heirs claim the Nazis forced the former German banker who owned the painting to sell it in 1934 because he was Jewish. In a suit filed in the US, they argue that the Japanese firm unjustifiably gained commercial profit by acquiring the work despite knowing its provenance.

A predecessor of Sompo Holdings, Yasuda Fire & Marine Insurance, purchased the painting in 1987 for about 40 million dollars, a record for a painting at the time.

Sompo Holdings said it has yet to receive the complaint. The insurer also said that it was purchased legitimately through an auction 35 years ago and there is no room for doubt over its ownership.

Key words : kinkaku
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230107_05/

The famed golden temple of Kinkaku-ji in Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto is raising its admission fees for the first time in 30 years.

The UNESCO World Heritage site plans to increase its general admission fee by 100 yen to 500 yen, or about 3.7 dollars, from April. Entrance for elementary and junior high school students will remain unchanged at 300 yen, and preschool children will continue to be admitted free.

The temple cited the falling number of visitors due to the coronavirus pandemic and increasing maintenance and security costs driven by rising prices.

A temple official asked for visitors' understanding. The official said it was a hard decision but increased revenue would help make the site more attractive.