パナマ文書流出 課税逃れ防ぐ国際連携強めよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Reinforce international cooperation to eliminate offshore evasion of taxes
パナマ文書流出　課税逃れ防ぐ国際連携強めよ

The leak of documents revealing the use of tax havens by world political leaders is sending shockwaves around the globe.
　世界各国の政治指導者らによるタックスヘイブン（租税回避地）利用を暴露する文書が流出し、波紋を広げている。

The so-called Panama Papers show that a great number of politicians — as well as their families, relatives and aides — have connections to offshore companies in the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Sea and other tax havens. The long list of names contains former and current world leaders.
　文書は、現・元首脳を含む政治家とその親族、側近ら多数が、カリブ海の英領バージン諸島など租税回避地の会社に関与した記録だとされる。

In tax havens, tax rates are set at very low levels, prompting companies and wealthy individuals to use them to reduce tax payments. They are also known for their negative aspects, including being hotbeds for illicit activities such as tax evasion, money laundering and window dressing.
　極端に税率が低い租税回避地は、企業や富裕層の節税に利用されるケースが多い。脱税や資金洗浄、粉飾会計などの不法行為の温床という負の面もある。

Even if their involvement in tax havens is not illegal, world leaders can be held morally responsible for avoiding tax obligations in their countries, where they should have paid taxes in the first place. They must provide explanations for every tiny detail.
　法的には問題がなくても、政治家などは、本来の自国での納税義務を逃れるという道義的責任が問われよう。各国首脳らは説明を尽くさねばならない。

The documents are called the “Panama Papers” because they came from a law firm in Panama. After being obtained by the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung, they are now receiving multifaceted scrutiny from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.
　文書はパナマの法律事務所が出所で、「パナマ文書」と呼ばれる。独紙「南ドイツ新聞」が入手し、国際調査報道ジャーナリスト連合が多角的に分析している。

Iceland’s Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson was forced to resign for not disclosing ownership of an offshore company, and British Prime Minister David Cameron has his back against the wall after admitting he had invested in a Panamanian trust set up by his late father.
　会社所有が発覚したアイスランドのグンロイグソン首相は、情報開示を怠ったとして、辞任に追い込まれた。亡父がパナマにファンドを設立していたキャメロン英首相は投資の事実を認め、窮地に立たされている。

China response questionable

Judicial authorities in European and Latin American countries, including Germany and Panama, have begun investigations to determine if there were any legal violations connected to the scandal. As a matter of course, it is important to bring any tax evasion or other illicit activities to light. It is also essential that the international community make concerted efforts to make tax havens more transparent.
　ドイツやパナマなど欧州や中南米の司法当局は、違法行為の有無について捜査を始めた。脱税などを摘発するのは当然だ。国際社会が連携し、租税回避地の透明性を高めることも欠かせない。

Last year, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Group of 20 countries and regions compiled international rules to prevent multinational corporations from evading taxes under the name of fictitious business deals.
　経済協力開発機構（ＯＥＣＤ）と主要２０か国・地域（Ｇ２０）は昨年、多国籍企業が実態とかけ離れた取引を名目に課税逃れをするのを防ぐ国際ルールを策定した。

From the viewpoint of preventing money laundering and tax evasion, it is important to urge tax haven countries and regions to cooperate to establish such effective measures as sharing bank account information.
　資金洗浄や脱税防止の観点からは、租税回避地である国・地域にも働きかけ、口座情報の交換など実効性のある協力を着実に進めることが肝要である。

The response of China to the Panama Papers is questionable. The names of relatives of three top Communist Party leaders — including President Xi Jinping —emerged in the papers. The Xi administration not only flatly refused to offer any explanations but also tightened control on the Internet in an attempt to contain the spread of information.
　疑問なのは、中国の対応だ。文書では、習近平国家主席ら中国共産党最高指導部３人の親族の名が浮上した。習政権は一切の説明を拒むだけでなく、インターネット規制を強め、情報拡散を抑え込もうとしている。

China is the chair of this year’s G-20 summit and as such, it should take a leading role on measures against tax evasion. Given that, shouldn’t the behavior of China be considered inappropriate?
　課税逃れ対策を主導すべき今年のＧ２０議長国として、ふさわしくない振る舞いではないか。

Russian President Vladimir Putin also faces suspicion in connection with financial transactions conducted by a friend. The Russian president put forth a conspiracy theory, saying, “They are attempting to rock us.” But that is unpersuasive.
　ロシアのプーチン大統領も、友人が行った金融取引を巡る疑惑に直面している。ロシアへの「揺さぶりだ」などと語り、陰謀論を示唆したが、説得力に欠ける。

Tax evasion measures will be a key agenda item at the Ise-Shima Group of Seven summit meeting to be held in Japan. The G-7 nations should come up with a clear message on this issue.
　日本で開催される主要国首脳会議（伊勢志摩サミット）で、課税逃れ防止は重要な議題となる。先進７か国（Ｇ７）としての明確なメッセージを打ち出すべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 9, 2016)