中国国防費膨張 「海洋強国化」は危険な軍拡だ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 7, 2013)
China's dangerous maritime expansion
中国国防費膨張　「海洋強国化」は危険な軍拡だ（3月6日付・読売社説）

China, which has trumpeted its desire to become a maritime power, has been rapidly expanding its military might.
　「海洋強国化」を掲げる中国が、軍事力を急激に膨張させている。

If Xi Jinping's administration wants to dispel the "China threat theory" being increasingly espoused by neighboring countries, it should commit itself to making its military power more transparent and actively engage in confidence-building steps.
　周辺国で高まる「中国脅威論」を、習近平政権が否定するのなら、軍事力の透明性向上や信頼醸成に積極的に取り組むべきだ。

At the National People's Congress, or parliament, that convened Tuesday, China unveiled a 10.7 percent year-on-year increase in defense spending in the 2013 national budget to about 740.6 billion yuan (about 11.11 trillion yen). This is about 2.4 times the size of Japan's defense budget.
　中国の全国人民代表大会（全人代＝国会）が開幕し、公表された２０１３年の国家予算案で、国防費は前年実績比１０・７％増の約７４０６億元（約１１兆１１００億円）に上った。日本の防衛予算の約２・４倍の規模である。

China's defense budget has logged double-digit increases for more than 20 consecutive years, excluding 2010, when the global recession buffeted that country. Its actual military expenditure remains unclear because the disclosed figure does not include money earmarked for weapon research and development, for example.
　世界同時不況が影響した１０年を除き、国防費の２ケタ増は２０年以上続いている。公表分に兵器の研究開発費などは含まれないとされ、不透明さは変わらない。

China should fully disclose the breakdown of its defense budget and plans to introduce military equipment.
　国防費の内訳や装備導入計画を公開することが求められる。

China's military expansion policy, which is behind the substantial rise in defense spending, also is a destabilizing factor that could trigger military expansion in neighboring nations, including India.
　国防費大幅増の背景にある軍拡路線は、インドなど周辺国の軍拡を招く不安定要因でもある。

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Senkakus need vigilance

The Xi administration probably will appropriate this budget predominantly to projects reinforcing China's navy and air force so it can encircle the East China Sea and the South China Sea as "China's Sea," to counter the U.S. strategy that places greater emphasis on Asia.
　習政権は、「アジア重視」戦略を進める米国に対抗し、東シナ海と南シナ海を「中国の海」として囲い込むため海空軍力増強に予算を重点的に投入するのだろう。

China's military has been accelerating development of its own stealth fighter jet and construction of domestic aircraft carriers and new frigates. It reportedly has conducted about 40 exercises this year.
　中国軍は、ステルス機の開発のほか、国産空母や新型フリゲート艦などの建造を急いでいる。今年の演習は約４０回に上るという。

This year's government work report delivered at the National People's Congress stressed that China will protect its maritime interests. The Chinese Navy and State Oceanic Administration have confirmed they will strengthen their cooperation.
　全人代の今年の政府活動報告は、「国家の海洋権益を守っていく」と強調した。海軍と国家海洋局は連携強化を確認している。

There is the possibility that Chinese surveillance ships, with assistance from the navy, could take a more hard-line stance around the Senkaku Islands. Chinese vessels might seize Japanese fishing boats or apprehend their crew members. Japanese authorities must step up their vigilance.
　尖閣諸島周辺で、中国の監視船が海軍の支援を受け、さらなる強硬姿勢をとる可能性も出てきた。日本漁船の拿捕(だほ)や船員の拘束も起きかねない。日本は警戒を強める必要がある。

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More provocations possible

Automatic spending cuts that have started in the United States could restrict U.S. military operations in the western Pacific. Given the circumstances, there are concerns the Chinese Navy may instigate a provocation similar to the incident this year in which a Chinese frigate locked its fire-control radar on a Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel.
　米国の歳出強制削減で西太平洋での米軍活動が抑制されかねない中、懸念されるのは、海上自衛隊艦艇へのレーダー照射事件のような中国海軍の挑発行動である。

China should try to build trust with Japan by resuming talks on establishing a bilateral system for emergency communications at sea. Tokyo must enhance the deterrence of the Japan-U.S. alliance and do everything in its power to defend the Senkaku Islands.
　中国は、海上での緊急連絡体制の構築を目的とする日本との協議を再開させ、信頼醸成を図るべきだ。日本は、日米同盟の抑止力を高め、尖閣諸島の防衛態勢に万全を期さなければならない。

Dealing with environmental problems is an urgent task for the Xi administration. Serious air pollution in China has exposed the limits of Beijing's policy of focusing on economic growth above all else. We think China should also appropriate more of its budget to expanding the social security system in preparation for the costs that will come with its rapidly graying population.
　習政権にとって喫緊の課題は環境問題への対応だ。深刻な大気汚染は成長至上主義の限界を露呈している。急速な高齢化に備えた社会保障の拡充にも、さらに予算を投入すべきではないか。

Meanwhile, China's domestic security budget exceeds the defense budget. This indicates that the Chinese government believes it has no choice but to flex strong state power to deal with disturbances that frequently erupt across that country.
　その一方で、国内治安対策費は国防予算を上回っている。全土で多発する暴動に、強権で対処せざるを得ないのだろう。

Stimulating a sense of national greatness among Chinese people by military expansion, thereby diverting domestic frustrations to external elements, is a dangerous game.
　軍拡によって国民の大国意識を刺激し、不満を外にそらすのは、危険な手法である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 6, 2013)
（2013年3月6日02時05分 読売新聞）