施政方針演説 政権交代の果実を具体化せよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 2, 2013)
Use transfer of power to achieve specific results
施政方針演説　政権交代の果実を具体化せよ（3月1日付・読売社説）

"The close alliance between Japan and the United States has now been perfectly revived," and "Let's begin in-depth discussions toward revising the Constitution."
　「緊密な日米同盟は完全に復活」「憲法改正へ向けた議論を深めよう」

These remarks from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's policy speech to the Diet on Thursday were especially conspicuous, as they marked changes in Japan's key policies following the transfer of power late last year.
　安倍首相の施政方針演説には政権交代を印象づける言葉が目立った。

We appreciate the prime minister's fundamental stance to seek a "strong Japan" centering around the keyword of the nation's "self-reliance."
　「自立」をキーワードに「強い日本」を目指す、という基本姿勢は、前向きに評価したい。

With such countries as China apparently in mind, Abe spoke about the integrity of Japan's land, territorial waters and airspace, as well as the challenges being made to its sovereignty, during the key policy speech.
Abe mentioned his plan to increase Japan's defense spending for the first time in 11 years, while launching full-fledged discussions on creating an organ similar to the U.S. National Security Council. It is of truly high importance for the government to steadily put these ideas into practice.
　首相は、中国などを念頭に、日本の領土・領海・領空と主権に対する挑発が続いていると指摘し、１１年ぶりの防衛費増額や国家安全保障会議（日本版ＮＳＣ）の設置検討に言及した。着実に具体化していくことが重要だ。

China has defined 2013 as the first year of its becoming a naval power, and is augmenting its maritime capabilities.
　中国は今年を海洋強国化元年と位置づけ、海軍を増強している。

The Japanese government must appeal strongly to the international community for the need to solve international problems not through the use of force but on the basis of law.
政府は、力の行使ではなく、法に基づく問題解決の重要性を国際社会に強く訴えねばならない。

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Many urgent tasks await

The prime minister referred in the speech to his recent summit meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama, vowing that Japan will play additional roles to help beef up bilateral security arrangements.
　首相は日米首脳会談に触れ、安全保障体制の強化のために日本が更なる役割を果たすと語った。

The nation must urgently solve such pending issues as asserting its entitlement to exercise the right to collective self-defense and relocating the functions of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.
集団的自衛権の行使や米軍普天間飛行場の移設など、懸案事項に道筋をつけることが欠かせない。

Regarding the politically sensitive issue of whether Japan should participate in the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership talks, Abe explained in the speech that the multilateral negotiations will not be held "on the premise of abolishing tariffs without exception."
He indicated the government's willingness to take part in the TPP talks, saying a final judgment on whether to participate "will be made on the government's responsibility."
　米国主導の環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉の参加問題では「聖域なき関税撤廃」が前提ではないことをオバマ米大統領と確認したと説明した。「政府の責任で交渉参加について判断する」と述べ、参加に意欲を示した。

Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers backed by farming organizations and other groups that oppose Japan's participation in the TPP negotiations have begun to shed their wariness at joining the talks on the condition that Japan secure a guarantee through international negotiations that certain trade items will be excluded from the planned abolition of tariffs.
　農業団体などの支援を受けた自民党内のＴＰＰ慎重派も、参加を容認し、国際交渉を通じてコメなど例外品目を勝ち取る戦術に転換してきている。

Therefore it can safely be said that the environment is right for the prime minister to officially announce Japan's intention to participate in the TPP talks.
首相の参加表明の環境は、整いつつある。

Japan does not have sufficient time to be involved in crafting the guidelines governing free trade rules in the TPP talks. The government should proceed swiftly with procedures for taking part in the talks to protect Japan's national interests.
　自由貿易のルール作りに日本が関与できる時間はあまり残されていない。速やかに参加の手続きを進めて、国益を確保すべきだ。

In the policy speech, Abe also stressed that the government will do its utmost to make Japan the world's best country for business.
　首相は、「世界で一番企業が活躍しやすい国」を目指すと強調した。

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Moves for partial coalition

He stated his government will formulate a responsible energy policy, and expressed his resolve to restart nuclear reactors if their safety is ensured. But simply making such a statement is hardly enough.
責任あるエネルギー政策を構築し、「安全が確認された原発は再稼働する」と述べたが、これだけでは物足りない。

Screenings for the reactivation of reactors will not come before July, when the Nuclear Regulation Authority is scheduled to decide on a set of new safety standards. Given this, there will not be satisfactory progress in restarting reactors unless the NRA conducts the screenings in a highly efficient manner. The stable supply of energy and reductions in its cost could be jeopardized.
　原発再稼働の審査は、原子力規制委員会が新安全基準を決定する７月以降になる。よほど効率的に審査しないと再稼働は進むまい。エネルギーの安定供給とコスト低減がおぼつかなくなる。

The prime minister must fully exercise his leadership to achieve the earliest possible restart of reactors.
　首相は率先して再稼働へ指導力を発揮しなければならない。

At the end of his speech, Abe called for the opposition to engage in constructive discussion to produce good results, instead of engaging in partisan bickering with the ruling coalition.
　最後に首相は、与党と足の引っ張り合いをするのではなく、建設的な議論を行い、結果を出そうと野党に呼び掛けた。

His call for expediting interparty talks to review the electoral system and discussions by the panels of both Diet houses on the study of constitutional revisions can also be considered appropriate.
選挙制度の見直しや憲法審査会の論議促進を求めたのも妥当な認識と言える。

Despite the divided Diet, in which the opposition controls the House of Councillors while the ruling camp has a majority in the House of Representatives, a partial coalition is gaining momentum as exemplified by the passage of a supplementary budget through the upper house.
　衆参ねじれ国会でも補正予算が参院で可決、成立するなど部分連合の機運が高まっている。

We strongly hope to see the ruling and opposition blocs work together to form a consensus on key issues.
与野党の合意形成に期待する。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 1, 2013)
（2013年3月1日01時32分 読売新聞）