海自Ｐ３Ｃ派遣 海賊対策で他国を助ける番だ

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 1, 2009)
P-3C aircraft vital boost for antipiracy mission
海自Ｐ３Ｃ派遣　海賊対策で他国を助ける番だ（6月1日付・読売社説）

Japan's antipiracy efforts off Somalia are set to enter a new stage.
　ソマリア沖の海賊対策が新たな段階に入る。

Two Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C patrol aircraft were dispatched to Djibouti. The two planes are expected to start warning and surveillance flights as soon as early this month in conjunction with the protective activities of the two MSDF destroyers convoying Japan-linked commercial ships in the Gulf of Aden.
　海上自衛隊のＰ３Ｃ哨戒機２機がジブチに派遣された。６月上旬にも、アデン湾での護衛艦２隻による日本関係船舶の警護活動と連動して、上空からの警戒監視飛行を開始する予定だ。

The destroyers have been active in the area since late March. But the two vessels can only actually properly protect three vessels at a time on average and so have been able to convoy fewer than a quarter of all the Japan-related ships sailing in the area.
　護衛艦の活動は３月末に始まった。ただ、実際に警護した船舶は１回平均３隻強で、現地を航行する日本関係船舶全体の４分の１以下にとどまっている。

If cargo ships arrive at their destinations behind schedule, expenses can mount up for the operator. Many ships likely are forced to sail through the area without escort despite the risk posed by pirates, when their schedule cannot be matched to that of the MSDF destroyers.
　民間船舶は、目的地への到着が遅れれば費用がかさむ。護衛艦の航行日程と合わない場合、多少の危険を承知のうえで警護なしで航行する例が多いようだ。

With their higher mobility, the P-3C planes can surveil a wider swath of ocean in support of the destroyers' activities.
　Ｐ３Ｃは、その機動力でより広い海域をカバーし、護衛艦の活動を補完する意義を持つ。

More importantly, the P-3C activities can contribute to ensuring the safety of foreign ships by tracking pirate ships and providing the information via radio to both cargo ships and the appropriate naval vessels in the area.
　さらに重要なのは、海賊船の動向を監視し、関係国の艦船や民間船舶に無線で情報提供することで、他国の船舶の安全確保にも貢献できるということだ。

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Dispatch slowed

Due to problems in coordinating the mission domestically, the departure of the destroyers was delayed. Until their dispatch, Japan had been totally dependent on other countries to protect Japan-linked ships
　日本は、国内調整の遅れから、護衛艦の派遣までに時間を要し、その間は、日本関係船舶の警護は他国任せという状態が続いた。

Currently, four other countries--France, Germany, Spain and the United States--have three to five P-3C flying patrols off the coast of Somalia. The participation of the two MSDF planes in their activities would strengthen the antipiracy forces.
　現在、日本以外では、米仏独スペインの４か国が現場海域で３～５機のＰ３Ｃを飛行させている。海自の２機が加わることは、大きな“戦力”強化となる。

The MSDF has about 100 P-3Cs and the planes have an established reputation as capable patrol aircraft. The government intends to dispatch two P-3C planes in four-month shifts. The international community will welcome Japan's activities.
　海自はＰ３Ｃを１００機近く保有し、その哨戒能力の高さは定評がある。今後も４か月交代で２機を派遣し続ける方針で、国際社会からも歓迎されよう。

　Ｐ３Ｃの警戒監視区域を他国と分担するとか、より効果的な活動に向けての選択肢も広がろう。

At the same time, the number of pirate incidents off Somalia this year was 125, already exceeding the 111 recorded for all of 2008. The damage done by pirates has been rapidly increasing, especially off the eastern coast of Somalia where the security is relatively poor.
　一方で、今年のソマリア沖での海賊被害は１２５件で、すでに昨年１年間の１１１件を上回った。警護の手薄なソマリア東方沖での被害が急増している。

More than 20 countries have dispatched navy ships to the area, but their effectiveness has been limited. Relevant countries need to be ready for a long battle with pirates and get serious about antipiracy measures.
　２０か国以上が艦船を派遣しているが、その効果が出ているとは言えない状況だ。関係国は長期戦の覚悟で、海賊対策に本腰を入れる必要がある。

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New laws vital

For the MSDF to operate more effectively, it is important to pass into law earlier an antipiracy bill under deliberation at the House of Councillors.
　海自がより効率的な活動を行うためには、参院で審議中の海賊対処法案の早期成立が重要だ。

As Japan has sent the destroyers to the Gulf of Aden on an antipiracy mission under the authority of the maritime police action provision of the Self-Defense Forces Law, their duties are basically limited to the protection of Japan-linked ships. The passage of the bill would expand the mission's scope by enabling the Self-Defense Forces to protect foreign vessels and broaden the rules on the use of weapons by the SDF.
　現在は、自衛隊法の海上警備行動に基づく派遣のため、任務は日本関係船舶の警護に基本的に限定される。法案が成立すれば、日本だけでなく、他国の船舶も守れるし、武器使用権限も拡大する。

With the enactment of the bill, when the destroyers are asked for help by other countries' ships, they would be allowed to respond more appropriately by firing warning shots or even by opening fire on suspicious vessels in addition to simply warning them off with loudspeakers.
　護衛艦が他国の船から救援要請を受けた際も、大音響発生装置で不審船を追い払うという対応にとどまらず、警告・船体射撃を含め、より的確な対応ができる。

Under the new law, there would be a wider range of alternatives for more effective activities, such as coordinating the warning and surveillance work of the P-3Cs with other countries.
　Ｐ３Ｃの警戒監視区域を他国と分担するとか、より効果的な活動に向けての選択肢も広がろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 1, 2009)
（2009年6月1日01時41分 読売新聞）