バイデン氏来日 対中国で日米同盟強める時だ

The Yomiuri Shimbun December 5, 2013
Japan, U.S. must reinforce alliance to deal with China’s forceful methods
バイデン氏来日　対中国で日米同盟強める時だ（12月4日付・読売社説）

We heartily applaud the clear political message sent from a high diplomatic level that Japan and the United States will not tolerate any self-righteous step taken by China.
　中国による独善的な措置は認めない、という明確な政治的メッセージを高いレベルで発信したことを評価したい。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday held talks in Tokyo. They agreed both countries would not recognize China’s newly established air defense identification zone, which they called an “attempt by China to change status quo unilaterally by force,” and would cooperate closely on the issue.
　安倍首相とバイデン米副大統領が東京で会談し中国の防空識別圏設定について、中国の「力による一方的な現状変更の試み」を黙認せず、日米が緊密に連携する方針で一致した。

They also confirmed they “will not condone any action that could threaten [the] safety of civilian aircraft.”
　「民間機の安全を脅かす行動は許容しない」ことも確認した。

Biden is expected to present the opinions of Japan and the United States when he holds talks Wednesday with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
　バイデン氏は４日の中国の習近平国家主席との会談で、こうした日米の考えを提起する予定だ。

Allowing China’s latest move to go unchallenged could set a bad precedent, as China is using strong-arm methods to back up its own assertions. This would send a message that China might misconstrue.
　今回の措置を看過すれば、中国が強引な手法で主張を押し通すという悪(あ)しき前例を残しかねず、中国に誤ったシグナルを送る。

To halt Chinese diplomatic moves that deviate from existing international rules and threaten the regional peace and stability of Asia, it is vital that Japan and the United States reinforce their alliance and calibrate their diplomatic policies.
　既存の国際規範を逸脱し、アジアの平和と安定を脅かす中国外交に歯止めをかけるには、日米両国が同盟関係を強化し、外交政策を調整することが欠かせない。

The Japanese version of the U.S. National Security Council, which is to be launched Wednesday, should assume a pivotal role in this task.
　４日に発足する国家安全保障会議（日本版ＮＳＣ）がその中核的な役割を担うべきだろう。

It is also important to seek support on this issue not only with South Korea, whose air defense zone overlaps with the one China is claiming, but also with countries in Southeast Asia and Europe. A broad consensus must be built, based on the conviction that ensuring China abides by international rules is a common challenge for the global community.
　防空識別圏が重なる韓国だけでなく、東南アジアや欧州各国とも共同歩調を取ることも大切だ。中国に規範を守らせることが、国際社会の共通課題だという幅広い合意形成を図らねばならない。

Move Futenma issue forward

During their talks, Abe and Biden confirmed they would “push forward with a strong resolve” the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station to the Henoko district in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture.
　会談では、米軍普天間飛行場の辺野古移設について「強い決意で進める」方針を確認した。

The Futenma issue has been like a splinter stuck in the Japan-U.S. alliance since 1996. If Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima approves land reclamation necessary for the relocation off the Henoko district, the issue will take a great step forward. The issue is at a crucial juncture.
　普天間問題は、１９９６年以来、日米同盟に突き刺さったトゲのような存在だ。沖縄県の仲井真弘多知事から辺野古埋め立ての承認を得られれば、問題は大きく進展するだけに、今が正念場である。

Making the relocation to Henoko a reality will eliminate the possibility of the Futenma base remaining where it is for years and years, and also accelerate the planned transfer of U.S. marines stationed in Okinawa Prefecture to Guam.
　辺野古移設の実現は、普天間飛行場の長期の固定化を避けるだけでなく、在沖縄海兵隊のグアム移転も加速する効果を持とう。

Biden also emphasized that Washington would cooperate with Japan so the Futenma base can be moved soon.
　バイデン氏は、米側も早期移設に協力する考えを強調した。

To create conditions in which Nakaima would find it easier to approve the reclamation, both Tokyo and Washington must do more to quickly alleviate Okinawa Prefecture’s burden of hosting U.S. military bases. Steps for this could include agreeing to allow prior on-site inspections of U.S. bases planned to be returned to the prefecture, and partially lifting restrictions in waters U.S. forces use for training exercises.
　知事が承認しやすい環境整備のため、日米両政府は、米軍訓練海域の一部制限解除に加え、返還予定の基地への事前立ち入り調査の合意など、沖縄県の基地負担軽減策の具体化を急ぐ必要がある。

Abe and Biden agreed both countries would continue cooperating on a process to conclude Trans-Pacific Partnership trade accord negotiations by the end of the year.
　環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉に関して、首相と副大統領は、年内の妥結へ道筋をつける方向で協力を続けることで合意した。

However, Japan is poised to refuse the total scrapping of tariffs on items in five key categories of rice, wheat and other farm products, leaving the talks between Japan and the United States with nowhere to go.
　ただ、日本は、コメや麦など農産品の重要５項目の全面的な関税撤廃には応じない方針で、日米協議は平行線が続いている。

It is important for Japan to aim at concluding the TPP talks by reminding itself from a broader perspective that, while maintaining tariffs that are vital for Japan, reaching an agreement as a whole would serve the common interests of the 12 participating countries.
　日本としては、守るべき関税は守りつつ、ＴＰＰ交渉全体の妥結は参加１２か国の共通の利益となるとの大局的観点を忘れず、交渉決着を目指すことが重要である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 4, 2013)
（2013年12月4日01時50分 読売新聞）