日米外相会談 同盟立て直しの一歩に

(Mainichi Japan) January 8, 2011
Japan-U.S. foreign ministerial meeting a chance to rebuild bilateral alliance
社説：日米外相会談　同盟立て直しの一歩に

Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton agreed in their recent talks in Washington to set new common strategic goals, which will serve as guidelines for bilateral security cooperation. 　前原誠司外相とクリントン米国務長官が、安全保障分野での日米協力の指針となる新たな「共通戦略目標」を策定することで合意した。

They also agreed on the need to step up bilateral consultations aimed at strengthening ties in case of any emergency situation such as an armed conflict in and around Japan.
また、日本有事や周辺事態が発生した際の協力強化に向けた協議を加速することでも一致した。

Their agreement is appropriate in that it is based on recent changes in the security environment in the Asia-Pacific region, such as rising tensions in the Korean Peninsula and China's increased activities at sea.
　日米外相の合意は、緊張を高める朝鮮半島情勢や活発な海洋活動を展開する中国の動向など、アジア太平洋地域の安全保障環境の変化を踏まえたものだ。妥当な判断といえるだろう。

Setting new common goals on Japan-U.S. security cooperation, which the two countries have not sufficiently discussed so far, is of great significance as it will help improve bilateral relations which were strained under the administration of former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.
　これまでは必ずしも十分な検討が行われてこなかった安全保障分野での日米協力の仕組みについて協議を深め新たな共通の目標を定めることは、鳩山前政権下でぎくしゃくした両国関係を立て直すためにも意味がある。

The current common strategic goals were worked out in the so-called two-plus-two talks by foreign and defense ministers of the two countries in February 2005 when the Liberal Democratic Party was in power.
The goals declare that the Japan-U.S. alliance will continue to play an essentially vital role in ensuring peace and stability in the region and the entire world, and call on both countries to continue to consider the roles, missions and capabilities of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) and U.S. forces.
　自民党政権時代の０５年２月、外務・防衛担当閣僚による日米安全保障協議委員会（２プラス２）でまとめられた現在の共通戦略目標は、日米同盟が地域、世界の平和、安定を高めるうえで「死活的に重要な役割を果たし続ける」とうたい、自衛隊と米軍の役割、任務、能力について検討を継続するとしている。

However, Japan was unable to hold in-depth discussions on the roles of U.S. forces and the SDF under the Hatoyama administration because bilateral ties were strained over the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture.
　しかし、鳩山前政権下では沖縄県の米軍普天間飛行場移設問題がこじれ、米軍の役割や自衛隊のあり方に関する論議を深めることができなかった。

A joint declaration on the deepening of the bilateral alliance, which Maehara and Clinton confirmed that the two countries will announce when Prime Minister Naoto Kan visits the United States this coming spring, will likely be based on the new common strategic goals.
　両外相は春に予定されている菅直人首相の訪米の際、日米同盟深化に関する共同声明を発表する方針を確認したが、新共通戦略目標が共同声明の基礎になる見通しだ。

The new National Defense Program Outline, which Japan adopted in December last year, describes China as a concern for the region and the whole world, and declares that Japan will strengthen its defense capabilities on the Nansei Islands in southwestern Japan that include Okinawa.
　昨年１２月に政府が決定した防衛計画の大綱は、中国について「地域・国際社会の懸念事項」とし南西諸島方面の防衛態勢強化を打ち出した。

China, which has been continuing its military buildup without ensuring transparency and increasing its activities aimed at expanding its interests in surrounding seas, is undoubtedly a major destabilizing factor for Japan and other neighboring countries.
不透明な軍事費増強を続け、海洋権益拡大に向け活発な活動を続ける中国の動きは日本をはじめ周辺の国々にとって大きな不安要因なのは間違いない。

However, Japan needs to work out a comprehensive strategy in not only the field of politics but also other fields including economy and culture in order to ensure that China will be a responsible member of the international community.
　だが、中国を国際社会の責任ある一員に導くためには軍事面の対応だけでなく政治、経済、文化などを含めた総合的な戦略が必要だ。

Foreign Minister Maehara told Clinton that Japan-China relations are getting on track to improvement. Japan should step up its efforts to ensure that move.
前原外相はクリントン長官に「日中関係は改善の軌道に乗りつつある」と説明したが、日本もそのために積極的に動くべきだ。

In their discussions, Maehara and Clinton shared the view that the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons program should be resumed if North Korea takes concrete action to abandon the agenda.
　北朝鮮の核開発をめぐる６カ国協議について両外相は、北朝鮮が核廃棄に向け具体的な行動を起こせば再開を認めるとの認識で一致した。

The two countries should exercise prudence in deciding whether to resume such talks in order not to repeat past mistakes.
過去の失敗を繰り返さないよう慎重に判断してほしい。

Regarding the Futenma relocation, Maehara and Clinton also agreed to discuss specific measures to lessen Okinawa's burden of hosting U.S. bases in Japan.
　普天間問題については沖縄の負担軽減策の具体化を進めることを確認した。

There is no prospect for a breakthrough in the deadlocked relocation. However, Tokyo and Washington should exercise prudence in responding to the issue to prevent the matter from hampering consultations on the strengthening of the bilateral alliance.
解決の見通しは全く立っていないが、この問題が同盟深化協議の妨げにならないよう双方の賢明な対応を求めておきたい。

毎日新聞　2011年1月8日　2時30分