中国の領海侵入 尖閣諸島への挑発は目に余る

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 14, 2012)
China making waves again with Senkaku Islands incursion
中国の領海侵入　尖閣諸島への挑発は目に余る（7月13日付・読売社説）

It is disturbing to see Chinese government vessels again intruding into Japanese territorial waters off the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture.
　中国政府の船による尖閣諸島周辺での領海侵犯は目に余る。

Japan must call on China through diplomatic channels to exercise self-restraint and at the same time establish systems to deal with China's provocations.
　日本は、外交を通じて中国に自制を促すとともに挑発に対応できる体制を整えねばならない。

Three Chinese fishery patrol boats intruded into Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands on Wednesday and Thursday. The patrol ships were purportedly protecting Chinese fishing rights. It is unusual to see such aggressive activity by them on consecutive days.
　中国の漁業監視船３隻が１１～１２日、尖閣諸島近海の日本の領海を相次いで侵犯した。本来は中国の漁業権益を守るのが役目だが、連日の示威活動は異例だ。

When a Japan Coast Guard patrol ship asked the Chinese boats to leave, they insisted they were conducting legitimate official duties. They also told the JCG not to obstruct them and to leave "Chinese territorial waters" immediately. Afterward, they lingered in areas surrounding the Japanese territorial waters.
　海上保安庁の巡視船の退去要求に対し、中国側は「正当な公務の執行であり、妨害するな。ただちに中国の領海から離れよ」と強い表現で応答し、周辺海域からもすぐには立ち去らなかった。

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China's claims baseless

The incursion was likely a response to the Japanese government's expression of intent to purchase three of the islands. The Chinese government apparently wished to demonstrate its strong determination.
　日本政府が尖閣諸島の国有化方針を打ち出したことへの対抗措置なのだろう。中国政府の強い意志をうかがわせる行動である。

Infringement of Japan's sovereignty cannot be overlooked. It was a matter of course that Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba lodged a protest against China when meeting his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi, in Phnom Penh.
　日本の主権に対する侵害は看過できない。玄葉外相がプノンペンでの日中外相会談で楊潔?中国外相に抗議したのは、当然だ。

As Yang insisted that the Senkaku Islands were inherently Chinese territory, the talks ended in a stalemate.
　楊外相は、尖閣諸島を「中国固有の領土だ」と述べ、協議は平行線に終わった。

But it is important that Japan persevere in countering China's baseless claims and urging it to correct its behavior.
　しかし、中国の不当な主張には粘り強く反論し、行動を改めるよう求めていくことが肝要だ。

Chinese patrol vessels also entered Japanese territorial waters in March. China plans to increase the number of patrol vessels and beef up their capabilities. Its enhancement of its naval forces also has been noticeable. Growing tensions in waters off the Senkaku Islands appear inevitable.
　３月にも中国巡視船が日本の領海に入った。中国は今後、巡視船を増強する方針だ。海軍拡充も著しい。尖閣諸島周辺海域で緊張が高まることは避けられない。

Preparing for the contingency of illegal landings on the islands, the Japanese government needs to strengthen the JCG and the police, and establish necessary legislation in an urgent manner.
　日本政府は、尖閣諸島に不法上陸される事態に備え、海保や警察の体制強化を図るとともに、必要な法整備を急ぐ必要がある。

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Stronger measures called for

We wonder why the Diet has yet to start deliberations on a bill to revise the Japan Coast Guard Law to allow JCG officers to respond to crimes on remote islands. The revision should be enacted as soon as possible.
　国会は、離島での海保による犯罪検挙を認める海上保安庁法改正案について、なぜ審議入りしないのか。早く成立させるべきだ。

The Japan-U.S. alliance plays the most important role in deterring China. The U.S. government's clear statement that the Senkaku Islands fall within targeted areas for Japan-U.S. joint defense is extremely important.
　中国を抑止するため、最も重要な役割を果たすのが日米同盟だ。米政府が尖閣諸島について、日米共同防衛の対象地域だと明言していることは極めて重要である。

The Japanese government, for its part, intends to strengthen its defense capabilities for small island areas including the Nansei Islands. It is essential that concrete steps be taken.
　日本政府も、南西諸島など島嶼部の防衛強化を打ち出しており、着実な具体化が大事だ。

Member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations also are concerned about China's maritime expansion.
　中国の海洋進出を懸念しているのは東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）各国も同様である。

At a foreign ministers meeting with China in Phnom Penh, ASEAN proposed talks be started among nations concerned to devise a legally binding "code of conduct" for the activities of concerned nations in the South China Sea.
　ＡＳＥＡＮはプノンペンでの中国との外相会議で、南シナ海での関係国の活動を法的に拘束する「行動規範」を策定する協議に入るよう提案した。

But China has yet to agree. This is apparently because such a code of conduct, if established, could impose restrictions on Chinese acts.
　だが、中国はこれに応じていない。規範ができれば、中国の行動が制約されかねないからだ。

To prevent more serious conflict from breaking out, effective rules on maritime affairs are indispensible. The Japanese and U.S. governments should cooperate with ASEAN member states to persuade China in this regard.
　紛争を避けるには、実効性ある海のルールが欠かせない。日米両国はＡＳＥＡＮ各国と連携し、中国を説得すべきである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 13, 2012)
（2012年7月13日01時05分 読売新聞）