防衛指針見直し 同盟強化へ日本の役割拡充を

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 23, 2013)
Japan's role must be enhanced in defense cooperation with U.S.
防衛指針見直し　同盟強化へ日本の役割拡充を（1月22日付・読売社説）

The effectiveness of the Japan-U.S. alliance cannot be guaranteed through a treaty and documents alone. It is essential to expand the role of the Self-Defense Forces and enhance the relationship of trust between the two nations by having Japan undertake its fair share of responsibilities and burdens.
　日米同盟の実効性は、条約や文書だけでは担保されない。自衛隊の役割を拡大し、日本が応分の責任と負担を引き受けて両国の信頼関係を高めることが欠かせない。

The Japanese and U.S. governments have started reviewing the guidelines for bilateral defense cooperation. Given the Chinese military's recent expanded maritime activities and other factors, the review of guidelines is meant to effectively strengthen cooperation between the SDF and U.S. forces.
　日米両政府が、日米防衛協力指針（ガイドライン）の見直し作業を開始した。中国軍の海洋進出などを踏まえ、自衛隊と米軍の連携を実質的に強化するものだ。

The current guidelines released in 1997 enabled the SDF to provide logistic support to U.S. forces in the event of an emergency in areas surrounding Japan, and led to the establishment of legislation in 1999 on the nation's response to such contingencies.
　１９９７年策定の現行指針は、日本周辺有事における自衛隊の対米軍後方支援を可能にし、９９年の周辺事態法整備につながった。

It was of great significance that defense cooperation was concretely stipulated in preparations for any contingency on the Korean Peninsula--a crisis that could happen on Japan's doorstep--and that a new direction for the Japan-U.S. alliance in the post-Cold War era was clearly spelled out.
　朝鮮半島有事という目の前の危機に備えて具体的な防衛協力を定め、冷戦後の新たな日米同盟の方向性を明示した意義は大きい。

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Security situation severe

But since then, the security situation in areas around Japan has become even more severe: China is pushing on with a robust military buildup and has engaged in saber-rattling around the Senkaku Islands, and North Korea conducted two nuclear tests.
　だが、その後、中国の大幅な軍備増強や尖閣諸島周辺での示威活動、北朝鮮の２回の核実験などによって、日本周辺の安全保障情勢は一段と厳しくなっている。

This fundamental review of Japan-U.S. defense cooperation, for the first time in 16 years, fits in neatly with the United States' "rebalance" toward Asia, which was clearly expressed in its new defense strategy guidelines released in January last year, and the planned revision of Japan's National Defense Program Guidelines as early as this year. We highly regard the review of bilateral defense cooperation.
　１６年ぶりに日米協力のあり方を抜本的に見直すことは、「アジア重視」を鮮明にした昨年１月の米国の新国防戦略や、年内にも日本の防衛大綱を改定する流れと合致しており、高く評価したい。

One focal point in this process will be tightening Japan-U.S. cooperation in times of peace.
　指針見直しの焦点の一つは、平時における日米協力の強化だ。

Since the contingency law was established, an emergency situation has yet to be recognized under the law. It is imperative that the SDF and U.S. forces work closely in sharing information to prevent a crisis from occurring and establish systems to jointly deal with any situation that has become tense but is yet to reach the point of being an emergency.
　法制定後、周辺事態は一度も認定されていない。周辺事態には至らないものの、情勢が緊迫した段階で、自衛隊と米軍が緊密に情報交換して危機を抑止し、共同対処する態勢を築くことが大切だ。

We want more joint exercises by the Ground Self-Defense Force and U.S. Marine Corps for the defense of remote islands, and expanded warning and surveillance operations through joint operations by the Air Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Air Force of Global Hawk unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft.
　陸上自衛隊と米海兵隊による離島防衛の共同訓練や、航空自衛隊と米空軍の無人偵察機グローバルホークの共同運用による警戒監視活動の拡充を着実に進めたい。

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Ease restrictions on support

The SDF can provide refueling and transport support to U.S. forces only in emergency situations. We suggest consideration be given to enabling these operations in times of peace as well.
　自衛隊による米軍への補給・輸送支援については、現在の有事限定から、平時も実施可能にすることを検討してはどうか。

Cooperation should not just be limited to the SDF and U.S. forces, but also concrete measures for cooperation involving such organs as the Japan Coast Guard and police, as well as the military forces of South Korea, Australia and India, should be compiled.
　自衛隊と米軍の協力にとどまらず、海上保安庁、警察や韓国、豪州、インド各軍などとの連携に関する具体策もまとめるべきだ。

Another key issue in the spotlight is whether Japan can exercise its right to collective self-defense.
　もう一つの焦点は、集団的自衛権の行使に関する問題である。

The government is expected to soon hear opinions again from an expert panel launched under the first Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and start studying how to handle the right to collective self-defense.
　政府は近く、行使容認を提言した第１次安倍内閣の有識者会議から改めて意見聴取し、集団的自衛権の扱いの検討を始める。

If a U.S. military vessel comes under attack during a joint exercise on the high seas, an SDF vessel will launch a counterattack. If a ballistic missile is heading toward the United States, Japan will intercept it. These are among four scenarios that had been studied by the expert panel. We think it is an urgent task to enable the nation to use its right to collective self-defense in these four scenarios.
　公海上で共同訓練中の米軍艦船が攻撃された際、自衛隊艦船が反撃する。米国に向かう弾道ミサイルを日本が迎撃する――。有識者会議が研究した、これら４類型については集団的自衛権の行使を可能にすることが急務である。

Reflecting such a tangible result properly in the process of reviewing the defense cooperation guidelines will further solidify the Japan-U.S. alliance.
　その結果をガイドライン見直しに適切に反映させることが、日米同盟をより強固にしよう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 22, 2013)
（2013年1月22日01時34分 読売新聞）