日中防衛相会談 安全保障認識の差を狭めたい

The Yomiuri Shimbun　(Mar. 22, 2009)
Japan, China must get in tune on security issues
日中防衛相会談　安全保障認識の差を狭めたい（3月22日付・読売社説）

Differing perceptions between Japan and China on key East Asia security issues were again all too obvious during talks between the defense ministers of the two nations in Beijing.
　東アジアの安全保障をめぐる日中両国の認識の違いが改めて浮き彫りになった。

It is essential that both sides make efforts to narrow these gaps through more frequent dialogues.
より頻繁な対話を通じて、隔たりを狭める努力が肝要だ。

At their meeting Friday, Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and his Chinese counterpart, Liang Guanglie, discussed North Korea's planned rocket launch, which many observers suspect to be a long-range missile. Liang reportedly said to Hamada, "It would be best if North Korea does not fire" a rocket, but added, "Japan and other parties should keep cool heads."
　中国の梁光烈国防相が北京での浜田防衛相との会談で、北朝鮮の長距離ミサイル発射について「撃たないのが一番いい」としつつ、「日本などが冷静な態度を取った方がいい」と語った。

Liang's comments can be interpreted as tacitly tolerating North Korea's planned missile launch. His comments also might have been intended as a warning because Japan and the United States are considering intercepting the missile.
　北朝鮮のミサイル発射を容認するかのような発言だ。日米両国がミサイルの迎撃を検討していることをけん制したとも見られる。

Japan, South Korea and the United States have indicated the missile launch--even if it is a satellite, as Pyongyang claims--would violate several U.N. resolutions. Japan, in particular, lies in the path of the missile and faces the very real danger of having part of the rocket fall on its territory or in its waters. We think the government is absolutely justified in considering shooting down the missile.
　日米韓３か国は、「人工衛星の打ち上げ」の名目でも、ミサイル発射は国連決議に違反するという立場だ。特に日本は、ミサイルの一部が自国の領土・領海内に落下する恐れも否定できない。迎撃検討は当然の対応だ。

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Discord benefits North Korea

Disarray between China, which wields some influence over North Korea through its economic cooperation and other channels, and Japan, South Korea and the United States only benefits North Korea. The Japanese government needs to relentlessly seek China's understanding and cooperation on this issue so North Korea cannot drive a wedge between them.
　経済協力などを通じて北朝鮮に影響力を持つ中国と日米韓との足並みの乱れは、北朝鮮を利するだけだ。政府は、中国の理解と協力を粘り強く求める必要がある。

During the meeting, Hamada requested that Beijing explain its defense policy in more detail and more frequently to other nations and increase the transparency of its military capabilities. He also mentioned neighboring nations' concerns over China's military buildup.
　浜田防衛相は会談で、中国が国防政策の対外説明を増やし、軍事力の透明性を一層向上させるよう要請した。中国の軍備増強に対する周辺国の懸念にも言及した。

Liang, however, brushed off this request, saying that China has employed defensive policies and that such concerns are unfounded. He then spoke of China's intention to possess an aircraft carrier.
　梁国防相は、「中国は防御的な政策をとっており、必要のない懸念だ」と反論したうえ、空母保有への意欲を表明した。

The rapid modernization of the Chinese military and the expansion in its activities, particularly by its naval forces, could destabilize security in Asia. If China is sincere in wanting to defuse accusations that it poses a military threat, it must disclose more information on the breakdown of its military spending and details on the quantity and and procurement plans of its military equipment.
　中国軍の急速な近代化と、海軍を中心とする活動範囲の拡大は、アジア安保の不安定要因だ。中国が「中国脅威論」を払拭(ふっしょく)するためには、軍事費の内訳や装備の数量・調達計画に関する積極的な情報公開が欠かせない。

Japan, for its part, should continue pressing China to be more open about its military activities.
　日本も、引き続き透明性向上を促していかねばならない。

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More substance needed

During their meeting, the ministers agreed on 10 points regarding defense exchanges, including Liang's visit to Japan by the end of this year. However, this visit should not end up merely being a chance to share warm fuzzies. Japan should clearly express its concerns over issues that need to be addressed and hold substantial and constructive discussions with China.
　会談では、梁国防相の年内来日など計１０項目の防衛交流に合意した。単なる友好行事に終わらせてはなるまい。日本側の問題意識をきちんと提起し、実質的で建設的な議論をすべきだ。

Given that China likely will become a military power in the mid- to long-term, it is important not only to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance but also to establish strategic partnerships with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
　中国の中長期的な軍事大国化を見据えれば、日米同盟の強化に加えて、東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）との戦略的な連携を構築することも重要となろう。

In this regard, it was meaningful that a vice ministerial-level meeting of defense officials of Japan and ASEAN member nations--the first of its kind--was held Tuesday in Tokyo, and that attendees decided to hold such meetings regularly. Japan and ASEAN members have deepened their diplomatic and economic relations over the years, but ties in the security area pale in comparison.
　その意味で、日本とＡＳＥＡＮの防衛次官級会議が１７日に東京で初めて開催され、定例化が決まった意義は小さくない。日本とＡＳＥＡＮの外交・経済関係は深いが、安保面は遅れていた。

The theme of the meeting was "common security challenges," such as responses to large-scale natural disasters and antipiracy and other maritime safety measures. We hope participating nations steadily expand and deepen their discussions at next year's meeting and beyond.
　会議の議題は、大規模災害への対応、海賊対策を含む海上安全保障など「共通の安全保障課題」だった。来年以降は、徐々に協議の内容を広げ、深めていきたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 22, 2009)
（2009年3月22日01時24分 読売新聞）