尖閣不法上陸 再発防止へ態勢を強化せよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 18, 2012)
Beef up measures to prevent future Senkaku intrusions
尖閣不法上陸　再発防止へ態勢を強化せよ（8月17日付・読売社説）

It was an act of blatant defiance against Japan's sovereignty. To prevent the recurrence of such actions in the future, the government should enhance its preparedness to handle such cases.
　日本の主権に公然と挑戦する行為である。再発防止へ、政府は態勢の強化に努めるべきだ。

A boat belonging to an anti-Japan group based in Hong Kong recently traveled to Uotsurijima, one of the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, and some of the group members landed on the island.
　沖縄県の尖閣諸島・魚釣島に香港の反日団体の船が接岸し、活動家が上陸した。

The Okinawa prefectural police and the Japan Coast Guard arrested all 14 members who were aboard--five who illegally landed on the island and nine others who were on the boat--on suspicion of violating the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law.
県警と海上保安庁は、不法上陸した５人、船に乗っていた９人の計１４人全員を出入国管理・難民認定法違反容疑で逮捕した。

This group let Hong Kong television reporters accompanying them broadcast the activists' landing live on the Internet. They obviously intended to provoke Japan and whip up Chinese nationalism. They probably attempted to take advantage of a Japan-South Korea standoff over the Takeshima islands in Shimane Prefecture as well.
　この団体は、香港のテレビ局の記者を同行させ、上陸の様子をネット中継した。日本を挑発し、中国のナショナリズムを煽(あお)る意図は明らかだ。竹島を巡る日韓両国の対立につけ込む狙いもあろう。

The JCG and police should be hailed for cooperating on such steps as the deployment of their respective members in advance and promptly making the arrests.
　海保と警察が魚釣島への事前の要員配備などで連携し、速やかに検挙したことは評価できる。

The 14 arrested people likely will soon be deported by immigration authorities after being investigated. The same steps were taken after Chinese activists landed illegally on Uotsurijima in March 2004.
　逮捕された１４人は取り調べを受けた上で、入国管理局を通じて強制送還される見通しだ。２００４年３月の中国人による魚釣島不法上陸時と同様の措置となる。

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Smooth actions will bolster control

It is significant that Japan smoothly acted in accordance with the law to maintain order on the Senkaku Islands. It will help Japan bolster its effective control over the islands.
　尖閣諸島の秩序を守るため、日本が法令を円滑に執行するという実績を残した意義は小さくない。尖閣諸島に対する日本の実効支配を補強することになろう。

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said the government would strictly deal with the matter in accordance with the law. We hope the government duly moves ahead with procedures.
　野田首相は「法令にのっとり厳正に対処する」と明言した。手続きを粛々と進めてもらいたい。

After a Chinese trawler collided with JCG patrol ships near the Senkaku Islands about two years ago, the trawler's skipper was sent to prosecutors on suspicion of obstructing official duties, which is a serious crime.
　約２年前の漁船衝突事件では、公務執行妨害という重大な犯罪行為があったため、身柄送検した。

If the activists arrested this time are probed over alleged violations of the immigration law only, it is appropriate, at least for now, to settle the case quickly with their deportation.
今回、入管難民法違反にとどまるのなら、強制送還による早期の事態収拾はひとまず適切だろう。

What is important is not to allow the recurrence of such illegal entries into Japan's territory.
　大事なのは、同様の不法入国を繰り返させないことだ。

Hong Kong authorities could have prevented the departure of the anti-Japan organization's boat, but instead gave it tacit approval. We sense the Chinese government's intention to pressure Japan over the Senkaku issue.
　香港当局は、反日団体の船の出港を制止できたにもかかわらず、事実上容認した。尖閣問題で日本を牽制(けんせい)しようという中国政府の思惑も見え隠れする。

But it is obvious that if turmoil arises, Japan-China relations would be harmed, which would bring disadvantages for China as well.
　だが、混乱が生じれば、日中関係は悪化し、結果的に中国にも不利益となるのは自明の理だ。

The government should make Chinese and Hong Kong authorities understand this point and urge them to take measures to prevent similar acts in the future through such means as strengthened surveillance of anti-Japan organizations.
　政府は、中国や香港当局に対しそのことを理解させ、反日団体の監視強化などの再発防止策を取るよう働きかけるべきだ。

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Did JCG do enough?

The opposition Liberal Democratic Party and others are stepping up their criticism of the fact that the JCG failed to block the activists' landing. The JCG needs to thoroughly examine whether it was sufficiently vigilant and further beef up its equipment and personnel.
　海保が活動家の上陸を阻止できなかったことについて、自民党などが批判を強めている。海保は、警戒態勢に不備がなかったか、十分に検証し、装備や人員の一層の拡充を図る必要がある。

A bill to revise the law governing the coast guard to strengthen the JCG's power has finally passed the House of Representatives six months after it was submitted to the Diet. We attribute the long delay in passing the bill, which was unanimously approved, to the negligence of ruling and opposition parties.
　海保の権限を強化する海上保安庁法改正案は、国会提出から半年たってようやく衆院を通過した。全会一致の法案をこれまで放置してきたのは与野党の怠慢だ。

It is essential to put the Senkaku Islands under state control to achieve stable administration of the islands. We hope the government expedites procedures for their nationalization by coordinating with the Tokyo metropolitan government, which plans to purchase the islands.
　尖閣諸島の安定的管理を図るには国有化が欠かせない。政府は購入を計画している東京都と調整して手続きを急いでもらいたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 17, 2012)
（2012年8月17日01時36分 読売新聞）