米大統領選 団結を求めたクリントン候補

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Democratic presidential candidate Clinton calls for national, global unity
米大統領選　団結を求めたクリントン候補

In the U.S. presidential election, the difference in outlook has become clear between Republican nominee Donald Trump, who advocates an “America first” policy, and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, who calls for international cooperation and national reconciliation.
　米大統領選で、「米国第一主義」を唱える共和党のドナルド・トランプ氏と、国際協調や国民融和を訴える民主党のヒラリー・クリントン氏の立場の違いが鮮明になった。

Clinton, a former secretary of state, was nominated as a presidential candidate at the Democratic convention, kicking off the full-fledged election campaign.
　民主党大会でクリントン前国務長官が大統領候補に指名され、本格的な選挙戦が始まった。

In her acceptance speech, Clinton said, “We’ve reached a milestone in our nation’s march toward a more perfect union,” emphasizing the significance of having been nominated as the first female presidential candidate of a major party.
　クリントン氏は指名受諾演説で「我々はより完全な国になるための転換点に達した」と述べ、主要政党として初の女性大統領候補が生まれた意義を強調した。

The important thing is that Clinton spelled out her commitment to reinforce alliances, saying, “We are stronger when we work with our allies around the world.”
　重要なのは、クリントン氏が「米国は世界の同盟国と協力した時、より強くなる」と語り、同盟強化を打ち出したことである。

When Clinton was secretary of state, she promoted the policy of attaching importance to Asia. She was the first within the administration to make clear that the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture are covered by Article 5 of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, which stipulates that the United States is obliged to defend Japan.
　クリントン氏は国務長官時代に、アジア重視政策を推進した。沖縄県の尖閣諸島が、米国の対日防衛義務を定めた日米安保条約５条の適用対象であることを政権内でいち早く明言していた。

It is also reassuring for Japan that there are more than a few people within the Clinton camp who are knowledgeable about Japan, including Kurt Campbell, a former assistant secretary of state.
　陣営にキャンベル前国務次官補ら知日派が少なくないことも、日本にとっては心強い材料だ。

While making no direct reference to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade accord, Clinton went only so far as to express her opposition to “unfair trade deals” in her speech. We can rate positively that she left some room for the U.S. ratification of the accord, while paying consideration to left-wingers within the party who oppose the TPP.
　クリントン氏は演説で、環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）には直接言及せず、「不公正な貿易協定」への反対を表明するだけにとどめた。ＴＰＰに反発する党内左派に配慮しつつ、批准の余地を残したことは評価できる。

Japan must help U.S. ratify TPP

It is vital for Japan to move ahead swiftly with procedures for Diet approval so as to create an environment that will make it easier for the United States to ratify the pact.
　日本が国会の承認手続きを迅速に進め、米国が批准しやすい環境を整えることが欠かせない。

Clinton criticized Trump, who advocates an exclusionary immigration policy, saying, “He wants to divide us — from the rest of the world, and from each other.” She said, “People are looking for steady leadership,” and promoted her feasible policies.
　排他的な移民政策を掲げるトランプ氏に対し、クリントン氏は「世界や米国の分断を望んでいる」と非難した。「国民は堅実な指導者を求めている」と述べ、実行可能な政策をアピールした。

At the Democratic convention, U.S. President Barack Obama, Sen. Bernie Sanders, who had fiercely vied with Clinton for the Democratic presidential candidacy, and others made speeches in support of Clinton. It can be said that she succeeded in orchestrating a reconciliation within the party.
　民主党大会では、オバマ大統領や、候補の座を激しく争ったバーニー・サンダース上院議員らが応援演説を行った。党内融和の演出には成功したと言えよう。

A challenge for Clinton is her record-low popularity as a presidential candidate, similar to Trump’s. During her tenure as secretary of state, Clinton used her private e-mail address for communication of classified information against the state department’s rules.
　課題は、トランプ氏と同様、好感度が大統領候補として記録的に低いことだ。長官在任中、国務省の規定に反し、私用メールアドレスで機密情報を扱った。

Judicial authorities did not bring charges against Clinton over the case but said she was “extremely careless.”
司法当局は立件を見送ったが、「極めて不注意だった」と指摘した。

When the scandal was uncovered, she initially refused to explain her case in detail or to apologize. This may have led to a national sentiment that she cannot be trusted.
　発覚当初、十分な説明も謝罪も拒んだことが、「信用できない」という国民感情につながっているのではないか。

Clinton, who was a first lady and also served as a senator, has been regarded as “a symbol of the establishment” by young people and others who support Sanders.
　大統領夫人や上院議員も務めたクリントン氏は、サンダース氏を支持する若者らから、「既存の支配層の象徴」と目されてきた。

During the presidential campaign, she needs not only to make her claim to be the “anti-Trump,” but also to win support of those who are discontented about the present state of things. Otherwise, she may not even be able to unite the whole nation.
　選挙戦では、「反トランプ」を主張するだけでなく、現状に不満を抱く人々の支持を得なければ、国全体の団結も実現できまい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 31, 2016)