政権移行始動 基本政策は継続性が重要だ

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Sep. 1, 2009)
Continuity important for basic policies
政権移行始動　基本政策は継続性が重要だ（9月1日付・読売社説）

Democratic Party of Japan President Yukio Hatoyama has begun the process of launching a new administration. It is important for Hatoyama, first and foremost, to divide the policies pledged in the DPJ's manifesto into those that should be implemented immediately and those that the party should take time to fine-tune.
　民主党の鳩山代表が、新政権発足に向けて動き出した。

　鳩山代表はまず、衆院選の政権公約のうち、直ちに実施すべき政策と、時間をかけて練り直すべき政策とを整理することが肝要だ。

The DPJ has said that a new "national strategy bureau" that it will establish under the direct control of the prime minister will serve as a control tower for the government's budget compilation and foreign policy.
　民主党は、首相直属機関として新設する「国家戦略局」に、予算編成や外交政策などの司令塔の役割を与えるとしている。

The central government ministries and agencies have submitted their respective budgetary requests for fiscal 2010 ahead of Monday's deadline. The DPJ, however, plans to review the budgetary request guidelines, which were approved by the Cabinet on July 1.
　来年度予算の概算要求は８月３１日に締め切られ、各省庁が要求を提出した。だが、民主党は、７月１日に閣議了解された概算要求基準を見直す方針だ。

　◆補正組み替えは慎重に◆
A total of 7.1 trillion yen will be needed in the next fiscal year to fund the child benefit program and other policies that the DPJ pledged in its manifesto. Although the DPJ has promised that an "administrative reform council," another new government body the DPJ plans to establish, will eliminate wasteful spending, can the necessary funds be squeezed out merely through belt-tightening measures?
　民主党が公約した子ども手当などの施策で、来年度に要する財源は７・１兆円だ。同じく新設される「行政刷新会議」で予算の無駄を排除していくというが、それだけで財源を捻出(ねんしゅつ)できるのか。

The DPJ also is studying making savings by cutting some expenditures in the fiscal 2009 supplementary budget and appropriating the saved funds for the fiscal 2010 budget. But the party should deal carefully with the review of the supplementary budget, which is supporting the nation's economy.
　民主党は、今年度補正予算を組み替えることで財源を浮かせ、来年度予算に充当することも検討中だ。だが、景気を下支えしている補正予算の見直しは、慎重に対応しなければならない。

Since the establishment of the national strategy bureau requires a revision of a related law, Hatoyama plans to first create a strategy office, which can be set up under a new government ordinance, and have it present the outline of the fiscal 2010 budget. Wasting time in creating the new organization, however, will end up delaying budget compilation.
　鳩山代表は、法改正が伴う国家戦略局新設の前に、政令などで設置できる「戦略室」で、来年度予算の大枠を示そうとしているが、組織作りに手間取ると、予算編成作業に遅れが出てしまう。

Hatoyama should take to heart the importance of implementing economic measures speedily.
　景気対策はスピードが大事なことを肝に銘じてほしい。

After being appointed prime minister at a special Diet session that is scheduled to be convened in the middle of this month, Hatoyama plans to visit the United States, where he will undertake summit diplomacy.
　鳩山代表は、今月中旬召集の特別国会で首相指名を受けた後、訪米し、首脳外交を展開する。

Hatoyama is scheduled to attend summit-level meetings on climate change and nuclear nonproliferation at the United Nations in New York and address the U.N. General Assembly. He also is scheduled to attend the Group of 20 financial summit meeting in Pittsburgh.
　国連で開かれる気候変動や核不拡散の首脳級会合に出席し、国連総会で演説する。金融サミット（Ｇ２０）にも出席する予定だ。

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Emissions pledge unrealistic
　◆「２５％公約」は避けよ◆

Observers, however, have already voiced concerns about how Hatoyama will handle a midterm target for reducing Japan's emissions of carbon dioxide and other global warming gases by the end of 2020.
　この首脳外交で早くも懸念されているのが、２０２０年までに二酸化炭素など温室効果ガスの排出量をどれだけ減らすかという中期目標の扱いだ。

The DPJ has proposed that the emissions of such gases be reduced by 25 percent from the 1990 levels.
　民主党は公約で、「１９９０年比で２５％減」を掲げている。

If Hatoyama, as prime minister, repeats the DPJ's pledge at the General Assembly meeting or any other key international meetings, it is possible that Japan will be required to meet this numerical target under a successor treaty to the 2008-12 Kyoto Protocol being negotiated for conclusion by the end of December.
　鳩山代表が首相として、この数値目標を国連総会などで表明すれば、１２月に交渉期限を迎える「ポスト京都議定書」では、最低でもこの削減目標が日本に割り当てられる可能性が高い。

The goal of reducing gas emissions by 25 percent from the 1990 levels will not be attainable merely with halfhearted energy-saving efforts. It requires innovative technological development. But there are limits to what Japan can achieve.
　「９０年比２５％減」は、生半可な省エネ努力だけで達成できる数値ではない。革新的な技術開発が必要だが、限界があろう。

Emissions cuts have economic side effects, such as downward pressure on gross domestic product, and damaging people's livelihoods.
排出削減には、国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）の押し下げなど経済への副作用と国民生活への痛みも伴う。

The DPJ should take this power transfer as an opportunity to review the midterm target from a pragmatic perspective. At least, it should avoid the foolish act of constraining itself by presenting such a high target as an international pledge.
　民主党はこの際、現実的な視点で中期目標を見直すことが必要である。少なくとも、これを国際公約にして、自縄自縛に陥る愚は避けるべきだ。

Hatoyama has stated that a DPJ-led administration will need to respect the need for continuity in diplomatic and security policies, to a certain extent.
　鳩山代表は、「外交・安保の継続性もそれなりに認める必要がある」と述べている。

　◆外交は日米基軸で臨め◆
The next step he needs to take is to tell world leaders that the power transfer will not change Japan's basic stance on diplomatic relations and build relationships of trust with them.
　政権交代によっても、日本の対外関係の基本に変化がないことを、各国首脳に伝え、信頼関係を築くことが大切だ。

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Japan-U.S. alliance key

While in the United States, Hatoyama is expected to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama in their first Japan-U.S. summit talks. At that time, he should confirm that both countries will firmly uphold the Japan-U.S. alliance.
　鳩山代表は滞米中、オバマ大統領と初の日米首脳会談を行う際、日米同盟堅持を確認すべきだ。

The DPJ has maintained that the functions of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture should be transferred outside the prefecture or outside the country, although both countries have already agreed that the transfer will be made within the prefecture.
　民主党は、日米間で合意している米海兵隊普天間飛行場の沖縄県内移設について、県外か、国外への移設を主張している。

A review of the transfer agreement is equivalent to breach of the bilateral promise, which would inevitably damage the relationship of mutual trust between Japan and the United States.
　しかし、移設見直しは、日米合意を破棄するに等しく、同盟関係を損なうのは必至だ。

Hatoyama also said that his party would study enshrining into law Japan's three nonnuclear principles: Nuclear weapons shall not be developed, possessed or brought into Japan. Concerning the third principle, Hatoyama said he would ask Obama to clarify that the United States will not bring nuclear weapons into Japan. Such a request would be regarded as an abrogation of the U.S. military's nuclear deterrent role.
　鳩山代表は、非核三原則について「法制化を検討」し、三原則のうち「持ち込ませず」を明確化するよう大統領に求めるとも語っている。これでは米軍の核抑止力を否定していると受け止められてしまうのではないか。

The DPJ has argued that the Japan-U.S. relationship should be one between equals, but Hatoyama should not cling to abstract logic that lacks backing with concrete policy measures and make remarks that may undermine the bilateral alliance.
　民主党は「対等な日米関係」を主張するが、具体的政策の裏付けを欠く抽象論に固執し、同盟関係を弱体化させるような言動は慎むべきだ。

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DPJ shouldn't cave in to SDP

During the campaign period for the House of Representatives election, Hatoyama vacillated on the Maritime Self-Defense Force's mission to refuel vessels of other countries in the Indian Ocean as part of antiterrorism operations. He initially said it would be maintained for the time being, but later said the mission would not be extended after January next year.
　鳩山代表は、衆院選の最中、インド洋での海上自衛隊の給油活動をめぐって、「当面は継続する」「来年１月以降は延長しない」などと、発言が揺らいだ。

The Social Democratic Party, which the DPJ views as a prospective coalition partner, has been calling for Japan to immediately withdraw from the Indian Ocean mission.
　民主党が連立政権協議を呼びかけた社民党は、インド洋からの即時撤退を主張している。

On the antipiracy mission in waters off Somalia, the DPJ says it would allow the MSDF to be deployed, but the SDP opposes such a move. In its negotiations with the SDP on forming a coalition, the DPJ should not make easy concessions.
　ソマリア沖での海賊対策について、民主党は自衛隊の活用を認めるとしているが、社民党は反対だ。連立協議で民主党は、安易な妥協をしてはなるまい。

The DPJ must clearly demonstrate both at home and abroad a policy of continuity in respect of these issues as soon as possible.
　民主党は、いずれの活動についても「継続」する方針を、早期に内外に明示すべきである。

Meanwhile, North Korea's nuclear missile development will continue to pose a serious threat to Japan, even after the administration changes. Together with the issue of the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents, the problem cannot be overlooked.
　北朝鮮の核ミサイル開発は、日本にとって引き続き重大な脅威である。日本人拉致問題と合わせ、看過できない。

In the last ordinary Diet session, the DPJ refused to enter deliberations on various bills after it and other parties passed a censure motion against Prime Minister Taro Aso. As a result, a bill to enable inspections of North Korean cargo was scrapped.
　民主党は通常国会で、麻生首相問責決議を可決後、審議拒否に入り、結果として北朝鮮貨物検査特別措置法案は廃案になった。

The bill was designed to smoothly carry out the U.N. Security Council's resolution on sanctions against North Korea. It is indispensable that the bill pass the Diet as soon as possible.
　この法案は、北朝鮮に対する国連安全保障理事会の制裁決議を履行するためのものだ。速やかに成立させることが不可欠だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 1, 2009)
（2009年9月1日01時28分 読売新聞）