安倍政権の課題 国力の向上へ経済に集中せよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun July 24, 2013
Abe administration must focus on economy to enhance nation’s power
安倍政権の課題　国力の向上へ経済に集中せよ（7月23日付・読売社説）

　◆真価が問われるのはこれからだ

The administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe must make all-out efforts to revitalize the national economy and concentrate on enhancing national power.
　日本経済の再生に全力を挙げ、国力を高めることに集中して取り組まねばならない。

The administration has made a new start after the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner New Komeito scored an overwhelming victory in Sunday’s House of Councillors election.
　参院選での自民、公明両党の圧勝を受け、安倍政権が再始動した。

Abe met with Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi Monday to confirm their policy of strengthening cooperation. It will be necessary for the two parties, which failed to put forth common campaign platforms for the upper house poll, to steadily promote coordination on various policies.
　安倍首相は、連立を組む公明党の山口代表と会談し、連携を強化する方針を確認した。両党は参院選では共通公約を掲げられなかったが、今後は様々な政策調整を着実に進める必要がある。

　◆消費増税の判断が焦点

In a news conference on Monday, Abe stressed he would put utmost priority on economic policy, saying, “Ending 15 years of deflation will be a historic undertaking.”
　首相は２２日の記者会見で、「１５年間にわたるデフレからの脱却は歴史的事業だ」と述べ、経済政策を最優先する意向を表明した。

The foundation for social security, diplomacy and security cannot be bolstered unless the country can regain a strong economy and national power. Revitalizing the national economy is a way of meeting the expectations the people expressed in the upper house election.
　「強い経済」を回復し、国力を取り戻さなければ、社会保障や外交・安全保障の基盤を強化できない。日本経済を再生することが、参院選で示された多くの国民の支持に応える道でもある。

Sales tax hike key issue

The biggest focal point for the moment is whether the government will decide to raise the consumption tax from 5 percent to 8 percent in April as scheduled.
　当面の最大の焦点は、来年４月に予定通り消費税率を５％から８％に引き上げるかどうかだ。

Abe said he would make a prudent decision by autumn after analyzing such economic data as the real-term gross domestic product for the April-June quarter, which will be released on Aug. 12.
　首相は、８月１２日に発表される４～６月期の実質国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）成長率などを踏まえて、秋までに慎重に判断するとしている。

The economy has been picking up steadily due to the effect of Abenomics. But raising the consumption tax before a full-scale business recovery may affect the economy adversely. Some of the prime minister’s economic advisers have come out in favor of postponing a tax increase.
　安倍政権の経済政策「アベノミクス」の効果で、経済は着実に上向いてきた。だが、本格的な回復前に消費増税を行うと、景気を腰折れさせかねない。首相の経済ブレーンの間には、消費増税の先送り論も出ている。

On the other hand, the nation’s fiscal condition is the worst among industrialized countries. Japan has made an international pledge to implement midterm fiscal reconstruction. The adverse effect of postponing a consumption tax increase on the government bond market is also a matter of concern.
　一方、日本の財政状況は、先進国で最悪であり、中期的な財政再建は国際公約になっている。消費増税を先送りした場合に国債市場に及ぼす悪影響も心配だ。

In a recent Moscow meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of 20 economies, Finance Miniser Taro Aso said the tax increase would be carried out as scheduled. Abe faces a hard policy decision on how to reach a balance between economic growth and fiscal reconstruction.
　麻生財務相は、モスクワでの主要２０か国・地域（Ｇ２０）財務相・中央銀行総裁会議で、予定通り増税する方針を示した。経済成長と財政再建の両立をどう図るか。首相は厳しい決断を迫られる。

Discussions on the consumption tax hike will be also unavoidable from the standpoint of promoting reforms of the social security system. Based on conclusions of the national conference on social security reform to be announced in August, the government needs to set forth policies to curb medical bills and pension benefits, which have been burgeoning due to the graying of society, as well as concrete measures to deal with the declining birthrate.
　社会保障制度改革を進める上でも、消費増税の議論は避けられない。政府は、国民会議が８月にまとめる結論を踏まえ、高齢化で増え続ける医療費と年金給付の抑制策や、少子化対応の具体策を打ち出す必要がある。

The government is being put to the test over how to implement a growth strategy, the “third arrow” of Abenomics after bold monetary easing and fiscal stimulation.
　アベノミクスでは、大胆な金融緩和、財政出動に続く「第３の矢」となる成長戦略をどう具体化するかが問われている。

Abe regards the autumn extraordinary Diet session as an opportunity to realize his administration’s growth strategy and is aiming for early passage of a bill to boost the competitiveness of the Japanese industry, including an investment tax cut to encourage businesses to make capital investment.
　首相は、秋の臨時国会を「成長戦略実現国会」と位置づけ、企業に設備投資を促す投資減税などを盛り込んだ産業競争力強化法案の早期成立を目指している。

Boosting the vitality of Japanese companies could help realize a virtuous circle of wage hikes and an expansion of job opportunities.
　企業活力をさらに引き出し、賃金上昇や雇用拡大などの好循環を実現したい。

In promoting the growth strategy, however, it is essential to secure a stable supply of electricity.
　成長戦略を推進する上で不可欠なのは、電力の安定供給だ。

TPP talks in full swing
　◆ＴＰＰ交渉も本番に

The Nuclear Regulation Authority has launched safety checks of nuclear power plants seeking to restart their idled reactors in line with new safety standards. To efficiently implement various kinds of safety checks, the safety examination system of the NRA should be reinforced.
　原子力規制委員会は、原発の再稼働に向けて、新規制基準に基づく原発の安全審査を始めた。多岐にわたる審査を効率的に進めるには、規制委の審査体制を強化・改善すべきではないか。

Abe’s leadership is also needed to win the understanding of local governments and communities to resume the operations of nuclear plants.
　原発再稼働に地元の理解を得るため、首相の指導力も必要だ。

The government should promote a realistic energy policy, while considering its impact on the economy, employment and the global environment.
　経済や雇用、地球環境への影響なども考慮し、政府は現実的なエネルギー政策を推進すべきだ。

Also important are the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, which Japan will join for the first time on Tuesday. Japan should seize the opportunity to promote free trade and bring out the vitality of Asia.
　２３日から日本が初参加する環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉も重要である。自由貿易推進によりアジアの活力を取り込む好機としたい。

Efforts must also be made to boost the international competitiveness of our agricultural sector in preparation for market liberalization.
　自由化に備えた農業の競争力強化も急がねばならない。

On the diplomatic front, the biggest issue is how to improve bilateral relations with China.
　外交では、対中関係の改善が最大の課題だ。

Abe said, “The important thing is to have heart-to-heart talks with each other,” emphasizing the importance of dialogue. Also needed are persistent diplomatic efforts by both Japan and China to solve their differences.
首相は「お互いが胸襟を開いて話すことが大切」と、対話の必要性を強調している。
日中双方の粘り強い外交努力が求められる。

China is still behaving provocatively by having its marine surveillance vessels sail around the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. It was also recently learned that China is developing a new gas field near the median line between Japan and China in the East China Sea, which is escalating bilateral friction.
　中国は依然として沖縄・尖閣諸島周辺に海洋監視船を送り込み、挑発的な行動をとっている。中国による東シナ海でのガス田開発問題も新たに発覚しており、日中間の摩擦は高まる一方だ。

With China’s recent aggressive and intimidating actions and its military buildup, and North Korea’s nuclear and missile development threats, Japan’s security environment has been deteriorating.
　一連の中国の示威活動や軍備増強、さらに北朝鮮の核・ミサイルの脅威など、日本の安全保障環境は悪化している。

Review collective self-defense
　◆集団的自衛権を見直せ

It is only reasonable for the government to review its interpretation of the Constitution with regard to the use of the right to the collective self-defense, a pending issue for many years. Such a review would strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance.
　政府が、長年の懸案である集団的自衛権行使に関する憲法解釈の変更に取り組むのは当然だ。日米同盟の強化にもつながろう。

An expert panel of the government will compile a new report on the issue by mid-October and is expected to propose that Japan should exercise its right to collective self-defense. Based on the proposal, the government should proceed to change its interpretation of the supreme law.
　政府の有識者会議は、１０月前半にも新たな報告書をまとめ、集団的自衛権の行使を可能にするよう提言する。政府はこれを受け、解釈変更を進めるべきだ。

The nation’s security system needs to be strengthened by establishing the Japanese version of the U.S. National Security Council, promoting the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station to the Henoko district in Nago and compiling new National Defense Program Outlines.
　国家安全保障会議（日本版ＮＳＣ）創設や、米軍普天間飛行場の辺野古移設の推進、新たな防衛大綱の策定と合わせ、安全保障体制を強化しなければならない。

The next national election is not scheduled for three years. It is crucial for Abe to proceed with diplomatic and security issues step by step, together with his economic policy.
　次の国政選までは、最大３年ある。首相は、経済政策とともに外交・安保の課題も段階を踏んで進めていくことが肝要だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 23, 2013)
（2013年7月23日01時31分 読売新聞）