ケネディ大使 新たな日米関係を構築したい

The Yomiuri Shimbun August 13, 2013
Appointment of new ambassador chance to build new Japan-U.S. ties
ケネディ大使　新たな日米関係を構築したい（8月11日付・読売社説）

We welcome the nomination of the incoming U.S. ambassador as indicating the great importance that President Barack Obama’s administration places on its relations with Japan. This should be used as a step forward to build more mature Japan-U.S. relations.
　オバマ米政権が日本を重視する姿勢の表れとして、歓迎したい。より成熟した日米関係を構築する一歩とすべきだ。

Obama has named Caroline Kennedy, a lawyer and the eldest daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy, as ambassador to Japan. Kennedy, 55, will be the first female U.S. ambassador to this nation. She will assume the post as early as this autumn, upon her Senate confirmation.
　オバマ大統領が、駐日大使にケネディ元大統領の長女の弁護士、キャロライン・ケネディ氏（５５）を指名した。女性の駐日大使は初めてで、上院の承認を得て、今秋にも着任する。

Kennedy comes from one of the most distinguished families in the United States. Early in 2008, before the presidential election later that year, she gave her support to Obama, helping create the momentum that led to Obama’s selection as the Democratic nominee for president. She also contributed to Obama’s reelection in 2012. Hers is a political nomination, a reward for her outstanding contributions to the Obama administration.
　ケネディ氏は米国屈指の名門の出身だ。２００８年大統領選では早々とオバマ氏を支持し、オバマ氏が民主党候補に選出される流れを作った。１２年の大統領再選にも貢献した。オバマ政権に目立つ論功行賞による政治任命である。

People with various careers and backgrounds have been apppointed as U.S. ambassadors in the past. These include heavyweight politicians such as Mike Mansfield, scholars like Edwin Reischauer and diplomats such as Michael Armacost.
　米国の歴代の駐日大使には、マンスフィールド氏ら大物政治家、ライシャワー氏のような学者、アマコスト氏ら外交官など、様々な経歴の人物が起用されてきた。

In recent years, the appointments have been based on strong personal relations with presidents, as in the cases of John Scheiffer and John Roos. Kennedy’s nomination can be said to be in this line.
　最近は、シーファー、ルース両氏のように、大統領との強い個人的関係に基づく人選が続いた。ケネディ氏もこの系統と言える。

Kennedy has no experience with diplomacy or politics, leaving her abilities as an ambassador unknown. On the other hand, she has strong connections with Obama and a close relationship with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
　ケネディ氏は外交や政治の経験がなく、大使としての手腕は未知数だ。一方で、オバマ大統領と太いパイプを持ち、ケリー国務長官とも親しいことが強みである。

Kennedy brings big guns

A big-name ambassador is expected to be able to get the president on the phone and explore ways to solve problems when bilateral Japan-U.S. relations reach a critical point. In this sense, Kennedy is equipped with an important “weapon.”
　大物の駐日大使に期待されるのは、日米関係が重大な局面を迎えた際、電話一本で大統領と直接連絡を取り、問題解決の道を探ることだ。その意味で、ケネディ氏は重要な“武器”を備えている。

Yet another of Kennedy’s strong points is her oustanding name recognition and popularity. As an iconic figure for stable Japan-U.S. relations, she will be asked to boost both Japanese and Americans’ interest in each other.
　ケネディ氏のもう一つの長所は抜群の知名度と人気だ。安定した日米関係の象徴的存在として、相手国に対する両国民の関心を高める役割が求められよう。

Both Japan and the United States are facing various important challenges.
　日米両国は現在、様々な重要課題に直面している。

How should they face China, which is becoming an economic and military power, and how should they confront North Korea, which is pursuing nuclear and missile development programs? How should Japan and the United States proceed with the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, and with bilateral defense cooperation? How should they promote free trade in Asia through such frameworks as the Trans-Pacific Partnership accord negotiations?
　経済、軍事両面で台頭する中国や、核開発を進める北朝鮮に、どう向き合うか。米軍普天間飛行場の移設問題や日米防衛協力をいかに進めるか。環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉などでアジアの自由貿易をどう推進するか。

To solve these thorny issues, it is vital to reinforce intergovernmental relations, including those on the summit level. We hope Kennedy will make a contribution in this area.
　こうした難題の解決には、首脳級を含む、政府間の関係強化が欠かせない。ケネディ氏には、その一翼を担ってもらいたい。

Recently, the number of Japanese students studying in the United States has been on the decline, falling to No. 7 among all the nations that send students to the states and raising concerns that bilateral exchange between the two countries will dwindle.
　近年は、米国への日本人留学生が減少し、出身国別で７位に低下するなど、日米交流の先細りが懸念されている。

If Japan weakens its presence in the United States, while China and South Korea are making ever-greater efforts to transmit information and expand exchanges there, it would harm Japan’s national interests.
中国や韓国が米国での情報発信や交流拡大に努める中、日本の存在感が薄れることは、国益にも悪影響を与えよう。

Expansion in grass-roots exchanges, including exchanges among the next generation of young people, will serve as the foundation for promoting mutual understanding and confidence-building efforts. We hope Kennedy, with her strong ability to communicate, will contribute in this field as well.
　次代を担う青少年などの草の根交流の拡充は、日米の相互理解と信頼醸成を進める基盤となる。この分野でも、発信力の高いケネディ氏の貢献に期待したい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 11, 2013)
（2013年8月11日01時17分 読売新聞）