at 18:30 (JST), January 23

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/20230123183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : urban worker beijing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230122_18/

People in China are flocking to temples, parks and other sightseeing spots across the country, as the week-long Lunar New Year holidays have begun.

This year's holiday comes after the Chinese government ended its severe coronavirus restrictions earlier in January.

Events marked New Year's day, which fell on Sunday this year.

The Yonghe Temple, a Tibetan Buddhist temple in the capital Beijing, was crowded with families and visitors. Worshippers lined up on Sunday morning to offer prayers.

A mother who came from Beijing with her daughter said she was happy to observe the traditional practice for the New Year.

However, many people are concerned about the possible spread of coronavirus infections in rural areas, as urban workers travel back to their hometowns for the holidays.

The Chinese government estimates people will make 2.1 billion passenger trips during the 40-day period before and after the holidays.

On Wednesday, President Xi Jinping instructed senior officials to reinforce medical systems seen as vulnerable to the virus. He said he was most worried about farmers and other people in rural areas.

Key words : hospitalized
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230122_14/

China's health authorities said over 12,000 hospitalized people infected with the coronavirus died in the seven days through Thursday.

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Saturday that 12,658 patients had died in medical institutions between January 13 and 19.

Officials said 681 people died of respiratory failure while 11,977 others died of complications.

The announcement marked the first time in seven days that the Chinese government has updated official death counts.

Concerns are growing about the spread of infections in rural areas, as people travel to their hometowns for the Lunar New Year holidays which began on Saturday.

The Chinese government estimates people will make 2.1 billion passenger trips during the 40-day period before and after the holidays.

Key words : moscow fishing boat unfriendly
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230122_06/

NHK has learned that Russia notified Japan it cannot hold annual talks this year that are aimed at ensuring the safety of Japanese fishing boats when they operate near the four Russian-held islands claimed by Japan.

The Japanese embassy in Moscow says it received a unilateral notification from Russia's foreign ministry on Thursday.

The annual talks are based on an agreement the two countries' governments made in 1998. It safeguards fishery workers operating in waters near the islands from being detained by Russian authorities.

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.

The governments have negotiated each year to decide the fishing period, size of catches and amount of money the Japanese side pays.

The agreement mainly covers walleye pollack, Okhotsk atka mackerel and octopus. The fishing period usually starts as early as January.

Japanese embassy officials called Russia's move regrettable. They say they will strongly urge Moscow to start talks soon to allow fishing boats to begin operations as soon as possible in this season.

Moscow has included Japan in its list of "unfriendly" countries that are imposing sanctions on Russia in relation to its invasion of Ukraine. In March, Russia unilaterally announced that it was suspending peace treaty talks with Japan.

Key words : philippines support
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230121_03/

The Philippine Coast Guard is increasingly turning to Japan in a push to beef up its presence in the South China Sea.

On Friday, Admiral Artemio Abu said his country will ask Japan for support in acquiring at least five large patrol vessels.

He said the plan would include assistance for the construction of a new headquarters, with a wharf exclusively for the boats.

Abu was speaking to reporters after meeting with Japan International Cooperation Agency President Tanaka Akihiko.

The Philippine Coast Guard has already received 12 Japanese patrol vessels to counter China's increasingly assertive activities in the region.

Chinese coast guard boats have in recent years blocked the passage of Philippine resupply boats.

Chinese fishing vessels have also moored inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is scheduled to visit Japan for the first time in February.

The two governments are expected to discuss ways to step up cooperation.

Key words : kunieda
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230122_10/

The world's number one men's wheelchair tennis player, Kunieda Shingo, has decided to retire. He accomplished many achievements, including a Career Golden Slam of all four majors and the Paralympics.

Sources familiar with the matter say Kunieda has informed the International Tennis Federation that he is retiring as of Sunday.

The 38-year-old Japanese player competed in five consecutive Paralympics, starting with the 2004 Athens Games, winning the singles gold medal in three of them, including the Tokyo Games in 2021.

In 2022, he clinched his first Wimbledon singles title to complete his Career Golden Slam. Overall, he won a record 28 Grand Slam singles titles in his career.

Sources say he decided to retire at the beginning of this month, after finding it difficult to keep motivated.

Kunieda is expected to hold a news conference next month to explain the decision.

Key words : cambodia landmine five-day
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230121_01/

Cambodia and Japan are helping Ukraine remove landmines and unexploded shells. Many of the explosives have been left behind in regions occupied by invading Russian forces.

Eight members of Ukraine's State Emergency Service have been taking part in a training program in Cambodia. The Cambodian government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, or JICA, organized the five-day session that ran to Friday.

On Thursday, the visitors went to Cambodia's northwest where the explosive remnants of past conflicts remain in the soil. They learned how to use mine detectors that will be provided by Japan.

Ukrainian authorities say roughly a quarter of the country, or 160,000 square kilometers, is affected by landmines and other unexploded bombs.

The Cambodian government and JICA will continue their assistance by drawing up manuals on landmine removal and sending experts to Ukraine's neighbor Poland.

Key words : russian living in japan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230121_18/

Amid Russia's ongoing military attacks in Ukraine, about 20 Russians living in Japan gathered in Tokyo's Shibuya district to protest against President Vladimir Putin's regime on Saturday.

Participants who responded to calls made on social media held up signs saying "No war" and other messages. They also waved white-blue-white flags, which have become a symbol of opposition to Russia's invasion.

They chanted, "Peace for Ukraine," and "Stop Putin," calling for an immediate withdrawal of Russian forces to end the invasion.

One woman who has been living in Japan for five years says civilians being killed is the worst thing, and she feels responsible as a person from Russia.

She said she wants to continue to voice her opposition and support the Ukrainian people.

A man who has been working in Japan for six years says crackdowns by the Kremlin are making it difficult to hold rallies in Russia, and he wants to act for those in his home country.

Key words : hiroshima candle
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230123_08/

A civic group in Hiroshima held a candlelight vigil on Sunday marking the second anniversary of the United Nations treaty banning nuclear weapons.

About 50 people took part in the event in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome in the city of Hiroshima. It was organized by a group that advocates for the abolishment of nuclear weapons.

The participants lit about 1,500 candles arranged to spell out "Peace for Ukraine" and "No nuke war."

The group's adviser, Moritaki Haruko, said that she sometimes experiences feelings of hopelessness.

She said she believes Hiroshima has an obligation to tell the world that any threat to use a nuclear weapon is inhumane, especially given that people are being killed and injured right now.

After the vigil, Moritaki said it's disappointing that the reality of the world remains far from what the nuclear ban treaty aims to achieve two years after it took effect.

She added that people must stand against countries that rely on nuclear deterrence. Japan has not joined the treaty.

The group plans to post photos of the candle-lit messages on social media to show people around the world.