This is’Global Village Today’ that delivers major news from various countries around the world.
Moderator) What’s the news today?
Reporter) Yes. More than 3,000 people were arrested in a massive anti-government protest last weekend in Russia. The international community has condemned the actions of the Russian government. Conflict between the United States and China is rising again over the South China Sea. In the midst of this, China has passed a bill that allows firing on foreign vessels that engage in illegal activities in their waters. Following the news that the Afghan government has again arrested 600 Taliban militants that were released.
Host) This is the first news of the global village today. Massive protests took place in Russia last weekend?
Reporter) Yes. On the 23rd, a large-scale demonstration was held across Russia calling for the release of Russia’s leading opposition leader Alexei Navalni. At least 3,000 people are known to have been arrested to date.
Moderator) If there were more than 3,000 people arrested, the protests must have been very large?
Reporter) Yes. The scale of the protests is so large that accurate counting is not easy. In the case of the capital Moscow, the Associated Press reported that more than 15,000 people participated. Reuters reported that at least 40,000 people filled Pushkin Square in downtown Moscow.
Moderator) By the way, has the Russian government staged a hard crackdown against them?
Reporter) Yes. The Russian government initially said that it would ban all gatherings across the country and punish the participants because of the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus. Thousands of riot police raided hard on this day, wielding clubs. The demonstrators bleeding in the crackdown of the police and the scenes of being dragged during an interview with a foreign journalist were broadcast as it is.
Host) There were protests outside the capital Moscow?
Reporter) Yes. On this day, protests large and small were held in over 90 cities across Russia. Massive protests took place in St. Petersburg, Russia’s second city and home to President Vladimir Putin. Even in Yakutsk in northeastern Siberia, despite the extreme cold of minus 50 degrees Celsius, thousands of people flocked to protest, shouting anti-government slogans.
Host) What are the protesters’ demands?
Reporter) The superficial request is the immediate release of Alexey Navalni. However, some analyzes indicate that complaints about the Putin regime, which had been accumulated for a long time, were expressed. A citizen who participated in the protest exclaimed in an interview with the Associated Press that it is now completely lawless. “If we keep silent, this situation will continue forever.”
Moderator) It was said that there were over 3,000 people arrested right now. Has the Russian government confirmed these figures?
Reporter) The Russian government has not disclosed how many people have been arrested. But according to a private organization called OVD, which monitors political arrests and detention, about 1,100 people have been arrested in Moscow and more than 460 people have been arrested in St. Petersburg. Navalni’s wife, Julia, was also arrested.
Host) Mr. Navalni was arrested as soon as he recently returned to Russia, right?
Reporter) Yes. Navalni, who had been undergoing poison recovery treatment in Germany, was arrested at the airport on the 17th as soon as he returned home. Russian authorities cited the reason for the arrest because Navalni had stayed in Germany for five months, violating the probation sentence he received for money laundering charges in 2014.
Moderator) Navalni said he knew he would be arrested if he returned home?
Reporter) Yes. Mr. Navalni has argued that the Putin administration accused him of corruption with political intent, and has said he will return home as soon as it recovers and continue to protest in Russia. Navalni has also argued that the Russian government is behind her poisoning case. The Russian government dismissed it as Navalni’s own play.
Host) Is there anything known about Mr. Navalni’s recent situation?
Reporter) Yes. Mr. Navalni was tried in custody. Earlier, a Russian court accepted the authorities’ request and last week ordered Mr. Navalni to be detained for 30 days. Earlier next month, a trial will be held on whether or not Navalni will be sentenced to jail instead of probation.
Moderator) What was the sentence Nabalni received earlier?
Reporter) In 2014, Mr. Navalni was sentenced to three years and six months in prison and five years probation. Accordingly, if you are sentenced to jail this time, you can serve at least 3 years and 6 months. Even while in custody, Mr. Navalni continues to expose President Putin’s allegations of corruption through social media, with the help of his aides. Russian opposition and protesters are set to hold massive protests next week.
Moderator) How is the international community reacting to this situation in Russia?
Reporter) We are pressing Russia for an immediate release of Mr. Navalni. The U.S. State Department issued a statement, condemned the Russian government’s harsh treatment of protesters and journalists, and urged the immediate release of Mr. Navalni and all those arrested at the scene. European Union foreign ministers are also seeking a joint EU-level response.
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Host) Global Village Today is the next news. As soon as the new US government is launched, tensions between the US and China are rising over the South China Sea?
Reporter) Yes. The US Roosevelt Carrier Corps sailed the South China Sea on the 23rd. It’s been three days since the Biden administration was launched. The U.S. military officials say they have carried out the usual “free navigation” operation to ensure free navigation in the region. However, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs rebelled on the 25th, saying that the United States frequently sent military aircraft and warships to show off its force, saying that it was not beneficial to peace and stability in the region.
Moderator) You say tensions also rose in the Taiwan Strait over the weekend?
Reporter) Yes. The Taiwan Ministry of Defense said that Chinese fighters and bombers invaded the Taiwan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) for two consecutive days on the 23rd and 24th. However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Li Zhen did not confirm or deny the matter, saying it was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense.
Facilitator) In the midst of this, China passed a bill that allowed maritime police to fire on foreign ships in its own waters?
Reporter) Yes. China’s state-run media reported that the Standing Committee of the National People’s Delegates of China (Non-In University) passed a bill containing this information on the 22nd.
Facilitator) Of course, the Chinese Coast Guard unconditionally fires that a foreign ship has entered its waters, right?
Reporter) Yes. Foreign vessels involved in illegal activities in their own waters were able to fire when they did not obey the order of the sea. The draft bill, which was released earlier, allowed the coast guard to use any means necessary to stop or prevent threats from foreign ships.
Moderator) If all the necessary means are the use of weapons, right?
Reporter) Yes. The bill specifically addressed situations in which human-carrying weapons or traps and aircraft-mounted weapons could be used. In addition, the Coast Guard has allowed foreign facilities installed on coral reefs in their own waters to be removed or boarded on foreign ships that have entered their own waters to search.
Moderator) Do you think there are some countries that will be keen on this bill?
Reporter) That’s right. Countries that are having territorial disputes with China in the East China Sea and South China Sea are bound to be concerned.
Host) Is China confronting Japan in the East China Sea?
Reporter) Yes. The Japanese name “Senkaku Islands” and the Chinese name “Diao Yu Dao” are confronting each other, saying they are entering their own waters. Chinese maritime vessels appear periodically in the waters of the Senkaku Islands.
Moderator) How did Japan react to the legislation approved by the Chinese NPC?
Reporter) Yes. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi previously explained to reporters that he would watch the Chinese movement with great interest. Foreign Minister Motegi added that the Japanese government has repeatedly protested against the Chinese side of Chinese maritime vessels entering the Senkaku Islands.
Host) What is the US position on the Senkaku Islands dispute?
Reporter) The Senkaku Islands are the Japanese waters. US President Joe Biden is known to have confirmed to Prime Minister Suga in November that the Senkaku Islands are subject to the US-Japan defense treaty.
Facilitator) If it is the subject of the US-Japan defense treaty, what will happen in an emergency?
Reporter) Yes. If a dispute arises between China and Japan in Senkaku, the United States must protect Japan.
Host) Besides the East China Sea, are there other countries with interests in the South China Sea?
Reporter) Yes. Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Taiwan are in conflict with China over sovereignty over the South China Sea. China is blatantly showing its intention to occupy the South China Sea, such as installing artificial structures in the South China Sea.
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Host) Global Village Today, let’s look at one more news. Are you saying that the Afghan government has again arrested the Taliban members that were released?
Reporter) Yes. The Afghan government has again arrested 600 Taliban members that were released as part of the Afghan peace process. Afghan national security adviser Hamdula Mohib held a press conference on the 24th, criticizing the Taliban for not actively participating in the stabilization of Afghanistan and made the statement.
Host) Isn’t the release of prisoners one of the terms of negotiations between the Afghan government and the Afghan armed Taliban?
Reporter) That’s right. The Afghan government and the Taliban are currently negotiating for peace and stability in Afghanistan through US mediation. On that condition, they decided to exchange prisoners with each other. In response, the Taliban released about 1,000 prisoners of government forces, and the Afghan government released about 5,000 Taliban militants.
Moderator) But why did the Afghan government arrest them again?
Reporter) This is because the released prisoners returned to the battlefield and launched or planned bloody attacks against civilians and the Afghan government forces. Adviser Mohib said the release of prisoners was not contributing to the peace effort, accusing them of breaking their promises not to return to the Taliban when they were released, and reentering the battlefield.
Moderator) What is the Taliban saying about the Afghan government’s allegations?
Reporter) The Taliban dismissed the allegations that the released prisoners were either becoming Taliban fighters again or returning to the battlefield. The Taliban also denied the announcement that the Afghan government had arrested 600 people again.
Host) So what is the Taliban’s claim?
Reporter) Yes. Taliban spokesman Xavihula Mujahid told the VOA that people who had been released were killed in a surprise attack by Afghan government forces. Mujahid said at least 40 people were killed or arrested in recent raids in their homes or hospitals where they were being treated for leaking the peace negotiations process.
Host) How is the Afghan peace negotiation process going now?
Reporter) At the end of last year, after a long struggle, the foundation for peace negotiations between the Afghan government forces and the Taliban, that is, the Afghan parties, was laid. Earlier this year, full-scale peace negotiations are scheduled to resume. However, as the conflict between the two sides over the issue of the release of prisoners has resurfaced, voices of concern have been raised about whether negotiations will be held properly.
Host) How big is the US military force currently stationed in Afghanistan?
Reporter) About 2,500 people. This is a significant reduction from the level of 12,000 people a year ago. According to the peace treaty between the US and the Taliban, all US and NATO allies must withdraw by May this year.
Moderator) What is the new Biden administration’s position on this?
Reporter) The Biden administration is in a position to review the contents of the agreement again. President Joe Biden generally supports the Afghan peace treaty, but prefers to keep small US troops in Afghanistan for counter-terrorism operations. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan spoke with Afghan Adviser Mohib last week, reaffirming his support for the Afghan peace effort.
Moderator) Yes. The global village, I’ll listen to you today.
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