連立政権協議 現実的な安保政策が不可欠だ

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Sep. 3, 2009)
New coalition govt needs realistic security policy
連立政権協議　現実的な安保政策が不可欠だ（9月3日付・読売社説）

The Democratic Party of Japan, the Social Democratic Party and the People's New Party began talks Wednesday on forming a tripartite coalition government.
　民主、社民、国民新の３党が、連立政権樹立に向けた協議を始めた。

However, before forming their coalition, it is vital that they reach a consensus over policy issues, as any outstanding ambiguities will lead to serious problems in the future. All three parties must be prepared to make necessary adjustments to their respective policies.
連立政権は政策の合意が前提となる。あいまいな合意は禍根を残す。十分な政策のすり合わせが肝要だ。

The DPJ won an unprecedented 308 seats in Sunday's House of Representatives election, though it has less than a single-party majority in the House of Councillors. The DPJ is thus forging a coalition government with the SDP and the PNP in an apparent attempt to ensure policy measures are carried out in a stable manner.
　民主党は衆院で空前の３０８議席を獲得したが、参院では単独過半数に満たない。社民、国民新両党との連立を目指すのは、より安定した政権運営のためだろう。

In previous coalition governments, there have been a number of cases in which small parties have stuck steadfastly to their individual policies to stress the significance of their existence within the government. However, this merely caused confusion. The DPJ should learn lessons from such precedents and be wary about making easy concessions.
　ただ、過去の連立政権では、少数政党が存在意義をアピールしようと、自らの主張に固執し、混乱した例も少なくない。安易な譲歩は禁物である。

The SDP is demanding that a ruling coalition organ be established to review bills and other policies before they are approved by the Cabinet. Though this kind of body has existed in the past, it likely would cause problems this time around, as it would contradict the DPJ's policy to make its administration the sole arbiter vis-a-vis policy decisions.
　社民党は、法案などを閣議決定前に事前審査するための与党協議機関の設置を要求している。こうした機関は過去にも存在した。だが、今回、問題なのは、民主党が目指す「政策決定の政府への一元化」と矛盾することだ。

Meanwhile, it is rumored that DPJ Acting President Ichiro Ozawa likely will be given an important post within the DPJ, but not as part of the Cabinet. However, Ozawa has many supporters and wields considerable influence, and if he has a large say in policy decisions, it would lead once again to a dual system of power.
　民主党の小沢一郎代表代行は入閣せず、党の要職にとどまる方向とされる。実力者の小沢氏が党内の支持勢力を背景に、政策決定面で強い影響力を持てば、「権力の二重構造」の再現になろう。

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Common policies

The coalition talks are based on "common policies" for six items--including a freeze on the consumption tax rate--that the three parties agreed upon prior to the lower house election.
　連立協議は、３党が衆院選前に合意した、消費税率据え置きなど６項目の「共通政策」が土台となる。

However, the real issues to be thrashed out during the talks are foreign and security policies. These topics were not included in the common policies because the parties' respective stances are so different.
焦点は、各党の立場の隔たりが大きく、共通政策に含まれなかった外交・安全保障政策だ。

For example, the DPJ believes that Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels should continue their refueling mission in the Indian Ocean until January, but the SDP is demanding an immediate pullout.
　インド洋での海上自衛隊の給油活動について、民主党は来年１月まで続ける考えだが、社民党は公約で即時撤退を求めた。

In addition, the DPJ approves of the MSDF's antipiracy mission in waters off Somalia, while the SDP insists the Japan Coast Guard should be running the operation.
民主党はソマリア沖での海自の海賊対処活動を容認するが、社民党は海上保安庁への切り替えを主張する。

The refueling mission represents Japan's sole contribution of personnel to international efforts against terrorism, and the nation's efforts are highly appreciated by the countries concerned. We believe it is a matter of course that this mission continue, even after January.
　給油活動は、「テロとの戦い」における日本唯一の人的支援策で関係国の評価も高い。本来、来年１月以降も継続すべきである。

Furthermore, it is unrealistic for the JCG to take the place of the MSDF in the antipiracy mission in light of differences in their respective equipment and backup systems.
　海賊対策も、装備・体制面で海保への切り替えは非現実的だ。

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Wasted negotiations?

A more pressing concern is that both the DPJ and the SDP have policies to review the plan to relocate U.S. forces in Japan. According to the plan, the transfer of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan to the shores of Camp Schwab in Nago, both in Okinawa Prefecture, would occur five years from now.
　より深刻な問題は、民主、社民両党がともに掲げる在日米軍再編の見直しだ。海兵隊普天間飛行場の沖縄県内移設は、あと５年で実現する段階にある。

If this planned transfer is canceled, 13 years of negotiations between the Japanese and U.S. governments will have been for naught, and the return of the air station site to Japan will be deferred. In addition, a plan to relocate 8,000 marines to Guam--a measure aimed at alleviating burdens on people in the prefecture--would be scrapped.
　これを白紙に戻せば、１３年間の日米双方の努力が無に帰すうえ、飛行場返還は遠のく。在沖縄海兵隊８０００人のグアム移転という地元負担軽減策もなくなる。

It is completely understandable that a U.S. State Department spokesman on Monday said Washington will never renegotiate the relocation plan.
　米国務省報道官が米軍再編について「再交渉しない」と言明したのは、十分理解できる。

In the world of diplomacy, it is not possible under normal circumstances for one nation's desires to be completely realized. Therefore, the DPJ should never compromise its flexibility nor reduce its options in diplomatic affairs by sticking to the various stances it adopted as the opposition when it was criticizing the government.
　外交では、通常、自国の主張が１００％実現することはあり得ない。民主党は、政府批判に重点を置いた野党時代の主張にとらわれ、外交面での柔軟性と選択肢を自ら狭めるべきではあるまい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 3, 2009)
（2009年9月3日01時30分 読売新聞）