鳩山外交始動 日米同盟基軸を行動で示せ

Words alone not enough for Japan-U.S. alliance
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Sep. 20, 2009)
鳩山外交始動　日米同盟基軸を行動で示せ（9月20日付・読売社説）

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama will leave for the United States on Monday, where he plans to attend a series of international conferences that will discuss such important global issues as climate change, nuclear arms reduction, nuclear nonproliferation, the world economy and international finance.
　鳩山首相があす、米国に向けて出発する。
　今回の訪米では、気候変動、核軍縮・不拡散、国際経済・金融など世界規模の重要課題を討議する国際会議が目白押しだ。

Hatoyama also is scheduled to hold summit meetings with U.S. President Barack Obama as well the leaders of countries including Britain, China, France, India, Russia and South Korea.
　オバマ米大統領をはじめ、中国、韓国、英国、フランス、ロシア、インドなど各国首脳との会談も予定されている。

These planned meetings indicate the keen interest that world leaders have in the diplomatic stance of Hatoyama, who has effected a change in government.
　首脳会談が相次いで行われる背景には、政権交代を実現した鳩山首相の外交姿勢に強い関心が抱かれていることがあろう。

　◆継続性重視アピールを◆
During the campaign for last month's House of Representatives election, Hatoyama stressed that "continuity is important for diplomacy." During his U.S. visit, we hope he will assert to the world that there will be no fundamental changes in this country's foreign policies following the recent change in power. This means maintaining the Japan-U.S. alliance, respecting the principle of international cooperation and promoting the free trade system.
　首相は選挙中、「外交は継続性が重要だ」と指摘している。日米同盟の堅持、国際協調主義、自由貿易体制の推進といった日本外交の骨格は、政権が交代しても何ら変わらないことを積極的に発信してもらいたい。

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No room for misinterpretation

It is particularly important for Hatoyama to convey clearly to the United States that the Japan-U.S. alliance will continue to be the axis of this nation's foreign policy.
　中でも重要なのは、日米同盟が引き続き外交の基軸であることを米側に明確に伝えることだ。

A Hatoyama op-ed article carried on the Web site of a U.S. newspaper late last month was seen to criticize U.S.-led globalism, and was thus construed as being "anti-U.S.," stirring controversy in Washington.
　先月末に米紙に掲載された首相の論文は、米国主導のグローバリズムを批判するなど、「反米的」と受け止められ、米国内で波紋を呼んだ。

Hatoyama later said his true opinions were not conveyed accurately.
　首相は、真意が伝わらなかったと釈明している。

It is important for the prime minister to dispel such concern during his U.S. visit by giving a full account of his stance in his own words.
今回の訪米を機会に、自らの口できちんと説明し、米側の懸念を払拭(ふっしょく)することが大事だ。

To this end, Hatoyama also must show that actions speak louder than words. He should, for example, clarify the kind of assistance Japan plans to provide to Afghanistan--a country at the forefront of the "war against terror."
　そのためには、「言葉」だけではなく、具体的に裏付ける「行動」を示さなければなるまい。
　例えば、「テロとの戦い」の最前線国家アフガニスタンに対して日本はどんな支援をするのか。

If Afghanistan once again becomes a haunt for international terrorist organizations, global peace and security could be quickly destabilized.
　アフガンが再び、国際テロ組織の巣窟(そうくつ)と化せば、世界の平和と安全は一気に不安定化する。

During a phone conversation earlier this month, Obama's asked Hatoyama for Japan's help in sweeping militants out of Afghanistan--apparently prompted by the U.S. president's recognition of the dire situation in the war-torn country.
オバマ大統領が今月初めの電話会談で、首相に「アフガンの過激派の掃討」への協力を求めたのも、そんな厳しい認識からだろう。

　◆問われるアフガン支援◆
If Japan suspends the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean--as the Democratic Party of Japan pledged to do during campaigning for the recent election--the United States would conclude that Japan was withdrawing from the fight against terrorism. This could cause a serious rift in the Japan-U.S. relationship.
　民主党が選挙で公約した通り、日本がインド洋での海上自衛隊の給油活動を中止すれば、「テロとの戦いから離脱した」と受け止められ、日米関係に亀裂が生じる恐れがある。

As an alternative measure, Hatoyama has said he would reinforce civilian activities in Afghanistan. However, Japan has been engaging in a range of activities in the country, including the provision of agricultural assistance and the construction of schools.
　首相は、代わりにアフガン本土での文民活動を強化する考えだが、日本はすでに農業支援や学校建設など様々な活動に取り組んでいる。

Is Hatoyama's plan really a feasible alternative? We believe he should explore the possibility of continuing the refueling mission.
代替策になるのか。
　首相はやはり、給油活動継続の可能性を探るべきだろう。

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Clarify nuclear stance

The prime minister has stressed his intention to realize a unified Asian currency and build an East Asia community. This has given rise to concerns in the United States that the new Japanese government's diplomatic policy is based on "independence from the United States and better regional relations in Asia."
　首相は、アジア共通通貨の実現や「東アジア共同体」の構築を目指すと強調している。このため、米国内には、「鳩山外交の基本は『脱米入亜』ではないか」と不安視する向きもある。

Up until now Japan's basic stance has been to offer cooperation in specific fields within a given region--such as liberalization of trade and investment and help with environmental measures--but has not engaged in regional cooperation that has excluded certain countries.
　これまでの日本政府の基本姿勢は、域内の貿易投資自由化や環境など個別分野の協力から始め、特定の国を排除する形の地域協力はしない、というものだ。

The prime minister has indicated that he favors this tack. We believe Hatoyama does not want his policy stance to be taken to mean that he undervalues the Japan-U.S. alliance. He should thus make a point of carefully explaining that he has no intention of trying to distance Japan from the United States.
　首相も同様の見解を示しており、日米同盟軽視と受け取られるのは本意ではあるまい。米国離れを志向しているのではないことを、丁寧に説明すべきだろう。

Regarding the issues of nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, Obama has called for a world free of nuclear weapons.
　核軍縮・不拡散に関し、オバマ大統領は、「核兵器のない世界」を提唱している。

How can the international community pressure North Korea into abandoning its nuclear development program? What steps can be taken to persuade China to reduce the number of its nuclear weapons and disclose information on its military might, such as how many nuclear warheads it presently holds?
　北朝鮮の核開発をどのようにして断念させるか。中国に核弾頭数などの情報を開示させ、核兵器を削減させるにはどうすべきか。

One of the DPJ's manifesto pledges was to realize a nuclear-free Northeast Asia. However, if concrete measures are not thrashed out to tackle this issue, the plan is mere pie in the sky.
　首相が政権公約で示した「北東アジア非核化」構想も、こうした問題への具体的取り組みを欠いては、何の説得力もない。

Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada is scheduled to accompany the prime minister to the United States. During a press conference held after he had taken up his new post, Okada reiterated his desire for the United States to renounce the preemptive use of nuclear arms.
　首相と一緒に訪米する岡田外相は、就任の記者会見で、米国は核の先制不使用を明示すべきだとの持論を改めて示した。

The United States' nuclear umbrella is the only protection Japan has in the face of the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear missiles. In this regard, we believe the idea of renouncing preemptive nuclear attacks neglects the regional security environment, and could seriously harm this nation's peace and security.
　日本にとって、北朝鮮の核ミサイルの脅威に対する唯一の対抗手段は、米国の「核の傘」だ。地域の安保環境を無視した先制不使用論は、日本の平和と安全を著しく害することになる。

Preaching one's own philosophy is fine if you are a member of the opposition bloc. However, as Okada is now this country's foreign minister, stating a view that differs from that of the prime minister creates an impression of confusion within the government and ruins Japan's credibility overseas.
　野党時代なら持論を唱えても問題にはならない。だが、外相として首相と異なる見解を述べれば、政府が混乱している印象を与え、対外的な信用を損ねる。

We urge Hatoyama and Okada to bear in mind Japan's diplomatic policies and discuss carefully--prior to their departure for the United States--the positions they intend to take during the talks with world leaders.
　首相と外相は、これまでの日本外交の基本をしっかりと踏まえ、一連の会談に臨む対処方針について、出発する前に十分練り合わせてほしい。

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Climate pledge conditional

　◆２５％削減の前提も説け◆
On the climate change issue, Hatoyama has announced that Japan will aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent from 1990 levels by 2020.
　気候変動問題では、首相は、２０２０年までに１９９０年比で２５％の温室効果ガス排出削減を目指す考えを表明している。

European countries hold this pledge in high esteem, but this likely is because they want to make Japan stick to its promises. As such, we should not take their enthusiasm purely at face value.
　欧州各国は高く評価するが、日本の立場が後退しないよう布石を打っているのだろう。額面通り受け止めるわけにはいかない。

Hatoyama also has said that other major countries must agree to make "ambitious" reduction targets as a "precondition" for Japan's emissions-cut goal. The pledge to reduce emissions by 25 percent should not be allowed to take on a life of its own. The prime minister should stress the conditional elements of his pledge at the U.N. summit on climate change in New York.
　首相は、「すべての主要国の参加」が前提とも述べている。「２５％削減」が独り歩きしては困る。会議では、あくまで前提条件付きであることを強調すべきだ。

International conferences and summit meetings are the arenas in which world leaders strike bargains while keeping a strong eye on their own national interests. Our new prime minister and foreign minister should stay focused during these occasions, and be careful about making promises or remarks before the international community that could harm this nation's interests.
　国際会議や首脳会談は、各国首脳がそれぞれの国益を主張し、駆け引きを演じる場である。首相と外相は、国益を害するような国際約束や発言をしないよう、気を引き締めて臨むべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 20, 2009)
（2009年9月20日01時19分 読売新聞）