防衛装備庁発足 調達と輸出を戦略的に進めよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Implement procurement, export of defense equipment strategically
防衛装備庁発足　調達と輸出を戦略的に進めよ

A framework has been put into place for Japan to efficiently procure defense equipment and expand its technological cooperation with countries with which it has friendly ties. The nation should advance its equipment policy strategically.
　防衛装備品の調達を効率化し、友好国との技術協力を拡大する体制が整った。装備政策を戦略的に展開すべきだ。

The Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency of the Defense Ministry was recently created as an external bureau of the ministry. It is in charge of defense equipment-related tasks ranging from research and development to procurement and export. It has a staff of 1,800 and will manage a yearly budget of about ¥2 trillion.
　装備品の研究開発から調達、輸出までを所管する防衛装備庁が、防衛省の外局として１８００人体制で発足した。年間２兆円近い予算を扱う。

Previously, the ministry’s Technical Research and Development Institute handled research and development involving defense equipment, while the ministry’s internal bureaus and the ground, maritime and air wings of the Self-Defense Forces separately carried out procurement.
　従来、研究開発は技術研究本部、調達は内部部局や陸海空３自衛隊が別々に行っていた。

It is quite significant that an organization capable of implementing equipment administration in an integrated manner has been created by doing away with administrative functions that was to be used vertically divided.
縦割りを廃し、装備行政を一元的に担う組織が誕生した意義は大きい。

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, in instructions to the agency’s staff, said the ministry will attach importance to this country’s ability to maintain technological capabilities that will be one step ahead of others, indicating his intention to expand R&D and technical cooperation with other countries.
　中谷防衛相は訓示で「一歩先んじた技術力の保持を重視する」と述べ、研究開発や他国との技術協力を拡充する考えを示した。

With the three principles on the transfer of defense equipment and technology that were approved and adopted by the Cabinet in April last year, export restrictions on defense equipment have been greatly eased, creating an environment for this country to expand equipment cooperation with other countries.
　昨年４月に閣議決定された「防衛装備移転３原則」で輸出制限が大幅に緩和され、他国との装備協力を拡大する環境が整った。

Based on the principles, Japan has started joint research on missile technology with Britain. It is also studying the possibility of implementing the joint development of submarines with Australia, and discussing with India Japan’s export of amphibious search-and-rescue planes to that country.
　英国とはミサイル技術の共同研究に着手した。豪州との潜水艦の共同開発や、インドへの救難飛行艇輸出も検討している。

Enhanced deterrence

Japan’s security cooperation with other countries is part of its strategy touted as “proactive contribution to peace,” and will lead to enhancement of the nation’s deterrent power. It will also contribute to the maintenance and fostering of defense technology and the nation’s production base.
　他国との安全保障分野での協力は、「積極的平和主義」の一環であり、日本の抑止力の向上につながる。防衛技術・生産基盤の維持や育成にも役立とう。

With the passage of security-related legislation, the SDF’s international activities will be expanded. It is important to pursue equipment procurement that accords with defense policy. Budget allocations among the three SDF arms should also be reviewed.
　安全保障関連法の成立で、自衛隊の国際活動が拡充される。防衛政策に合致した装備調達が大切である。陸海空３自衛隊の予算配分の見直しにも取り組みたい。

The new agency is also tasked with an important role of making weapons procurement more efficient.
　防衛装備庁は、武器調達の合理化でも重要な役割を担う。

Procurement of equipment separately by the three SDF arms had been an obstacle to the joint operation of the SDF. They were even unable to share ammunition.
　３自衛隊が従来、独自に装備品を調達していたことは統合運用の障害になっていた。弾薬などを融通し合うこともできなかった。

In the days ahead, the designs of Maritime Self-Defense Force’s transport vessels will be changed so that the vessels, which were capable of hosting only MSDF helicopters, will be able to carry Osprey transport aircraft, which the GSDF plans to adopt.
　今後は、海自ヘリしか搭載できなかった海自輸送艦に、陸自が導入する輸送機オスプレイなどを搭載できるよう、輸送艦の設計を変更する。

Equipment such as interceptor missiles and surface-to-air guided missiles will also be standardized among the three SDF branches.
ミサイル、地対空誘導弾なども３自衛隊で共通化する。

Under the severe fiscal circumstances, the ministry, in its Mid-Term Defense Program (fiscal 2014-fiscal 2018), has set a target of securing ¥700 billion by making equipment procurement more efficient.
　厳しい財政状況の中、２０１４～１８年度の中期防衛力整備計画では、調達効率化で７０００億円の財源を確保する目標を定めた。

In April this year, special legislation was enacted to save procurement costs through lump-sum purchases of equipment under long-term contracts.
　今年４月には、装備品の一括購入の長期契約で調達費を節約する特別措置法が成立した。

From fiscal 2016 onward, the ministry plans to use this policy to reduce procurement costs by ¥153 billion in the purchase of Ospreys and other equipment. By also cooperating with defense-related industries, the ministry should also make use of this method in the introduction of large equipment in the days ahead.
１６年度以降はオスプレイ購入などで１５３０億円の縮減を図る。防衛産業とも連携し、今後の大型装備導入でもこの手法を活用すべきだ。

High-tech equipment such as fighter planes tends to become exorbitantly expensive. Thorough cost-reducing efforts are vital.
　戦闘機などのハイテク装備は高額化の傾向にある。徹底的なコスト節減が欠かせない。

Defense equipment procurement has seen spates of corruption and bid-rigging scandals for many years. To prevent the ministry from forming cozy ties with the defense industry that may lead to corruption, comprehensive monitoring of equipment procurement must not be neglected.
　装備調達を巡っては長年、汚職や談合が繰り返された。防衛産業との癒着や不正行為を許さないように、様々な角度から厳しいチェックを怠ってはならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 4, 2015)

中国２邦人拘束 「法治」による統制が目に余る

The Yomiuri Shimbun
By arresting Japanese citizens, Xi displays high-handed rule by ‘law’
中国２邦人拘束　「法治」による統制が目に余る

The recent arrests of two Japanese nationals apparently symbolize efforts by Chinese President Xi Jinping’s government to defend its one-party dictatorship at all costs by bolstering its domestic control even further.
　中国の習近平政権が共産党の一党独裁を死守するため、国内統制を一層強めていることを象徴する動きと言えよう。

The Japanese government announced that Chinese authorities detained one Japanese in Liaoning Province and another in Zhejian Province in May this year. The two are male civilians who traveled to China from Japan.
　日本政府は、邦人２人が今年５月、中国遼寧省と浙江省で、それぞれ中国当局に拘束されたと発表した。２人は日本から渡航した民間人男性だ。

China’s Foreign Ministry said the two were arrested on suspicion of spying, and stressed they will be tried and punished under the law. However, the ministry has not disclosed any details of its suspicions.
　中国外務省は、拘束理由として「スパイ活動」を挙げ、「法に基づいて審理し、処罰を進める」と強調した。だが、容疑の詳細は公表していない。

China probably detained the two under its counterespionage law enforced in November. The law can be applied to the theft of national secrets, inciting public officials to sedition or bribing them, and activities deemed harmful to the safety of the country. It can also be applied to “any other spying activity.”
　中国は昨年１１月施行の「反スパイ法」を適用し、拘束したのではないか。この法律は国家機密の窃取や公務員の扇動・買収、国家安全への危害のほか、「その他のスパイ活動」も摘発対象だ。

At a press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said, “Our country has done no such thing.” He urged Beijing to release the two as soon as possible.
　菅官房長官は「我が国は、そうしたことは絶対していない」と反論し、早期解放を求めた。

It is a matter of concern that Chinese authorities may arbitrarily interpret and apply ambiguous stipulations in the law. Japan, the United States and Europe must exercise caution against any attempt by China to use the “rule of law” as a tool for single-party control.
　懸念されるのは、当局があいまいな規定を恣意しい的に運用する事態だ。中国が「法治」を一党支配の手段として利用することに、日本や欧米は警戒する必要がある。

The man arrested in Liaoning Province is said to have visited Dandong, a major city at China’s border with North Korea. Meanwhile, Zhejian Province is a significant area hosting facilities of the Chinese navy. Japan cannot remain completely aloof of an espionage war by China or North Korea.
　遼寧省で拘束された男性は、北朝鮮との国境の拠点都市、丹東を訪れたとされる。浙江省は中国海軍の施設などがある要所だ。日本も、中国や北朝鮮の諜報ちょうほう戦と全く無関係ではいられない。

Law for one-party regime

It is feared that the detention period for the two, already four months long, will be extended further. Pre-indictment procedures in China take more time than those in the United States and Europe. In addition, opacity is expected to increase in a case related to national security.
　４か月に及ぶ２人の拘束期間がさらに長期化する恐れもある。中国では、欧米諸国に比べて、起訴前の手続きに時間がかかる。国家安全絡みの事件では、不透明さが一段と高まるとみられる。

In March, an American woman who visited China on a business tour reportedly was detained and investigated on suspicion of harming national security.
　今年３月には、ビジネスツアーで訪中した米国人女性が「国家安全に危害を加えた疑い」で拘束され、調査を受けているという。

When Chinese authorities arrested four Japanese employees of midsize general contractor Fujita Corp. in 2010, some observers saw their arrests as revenge by Beijing for Japan’s actions after a Chinese fishing boat rammed a Japan Coast Guard vessel in seas off the Senkaku Islands.
　２０１０年、中堅ゼネコン「フジタ」の日本人社員４人が中国当局に拘束された際、尖閣諸島沖での中国漁船衝突事件を巡る中国の「報復」との見方が出ていた。

Beijing may have intended to rattle Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government by using the arrests of the two Japanese citizens this time as a tool to put diplomatic pressure on Japan.
　中国は今回、拘束した２人についても、対日圧力の外交カードとして、安倍政権を揺さぶる思惑がないとは言い切れまい。

In addition to the anti-spying law, the Xi government put a new national security law into effect in July to enhance domestic security measures. Beijing must be seriously concerned about the stability of Chinese society amid its slowing economy.
　習政権は、反スパイ法に加え、今年７月、治安対策強化を狙った新法の国家安全法も施行した。経済が減速する中、社会の安定に危機感を募らせているのだろう。

The Chinese government also submitted a bill to put foreign nongovernmental organizations working in the country under government surveillance, fearing that values such as democracy and human rights from the United States and Europe would infiltrate into China.
　欧米から中国に民主主義や人権などの価値観が流入、浸透するのを警戒し、外国の民間活動団体（ＮＧＯ）の監視などを目的とする法案も提出している。

If the Xi government turns its back to international criticism and continues its coercive rule of the country, it will only further show that China is an “aberrant superpower.”
　習政権が国際社会の批判に背を向け、強権統治を続けるのなら、「異質の大国」の姿がますます際立つだけである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 3, 2015)

新日鉄技術流出 巨額和解金が戒めた不正行為

The Yomiuri Shimbun
POSCO ends up paying high price over alleged theft of technology info
新日鉄技術流出　巨額和解金が戒めた不正行為

How to prevent leaks of trade secrets, including proprietary technology information, to maintain international competitiveness is a major challenge for businesses.
　国際競争力を維持するため、独自の技術情報など、営業秘密の漏洩ろうえいをどう防ぐのか。企業にとって大きな課題である。

A settlement has been reached over the damages lawsuits that Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp. filed in Japan and overseas against major South Korean steelmaker POSCO and its subsidiaries over the alleged illicit acquisition of steel sheet production technology. The settlement called for POSCO to pay ¥30 billion.
　新日鉄住金が、韓国の鉄鋼最大手ポスコに鋼板技術を盗用されたとして、損害賠償を求めていた訴訟で、和解が成立した。ポスコが新日鉄住金に３００億円の和解金を支払う。

According to the leading Japanese steelmaker, POSCO approached a former employee of Nippon Steel Corp., one of the two predecessors of Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal, and got him to leak the technology information illicitly in return for an enormous amount of money.
　新日鉄住金によると、ポスコは、旧新日鉄の元社員に働きかけ、多額の報酬を払う見返りに、技術情報を不正に流出させた。

The theft allegedly targeted cutting-edge technology for producing electrical steel sheets. Steel sheets of this kind are used for manufacturing parts of such familiar products as transformers and mobile phones.
　狙われたのは、電磁鋼板と呼ばれる最先端の鉄鋼製品だ。変圧器や携帯電話の部品など、身近な製品にも使われている。

POSCO had insisted that it manufactured the products with its own technology, but finally agreed to pay a huge settlement, exceeding half its annual profits. This can be regarded as a de facto victory for Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal.
　ポスコは、独自の技術で製造したと主張していたが、最終的に、年間利益の５０％を超える巨額の和解金の支払いに応じた。新日鉄住金の事実上の勝訴と言えよう。

It is highly significant that the practice of illegally acquiring and exploiting the secret information of rival companies to earn profits has created the feeling both at home and abroad that those who do so end up paying a high price eventually.
　ライバル企業の秘密情報を不正に入手して盗用し、利益を稼ぐ。こうした違法行為が、結局は大きな代償を伴うことを内外に印象付けた意義は大きい。

The alleged theft came to light following the testimony of a former POSCO researcher arrested by South Korean investigative authorities on suspicion of leaking information to a Chinese steelmaker. The former researcher also revealed the information leak from Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal.
　今回の問題は、中国の製鉄会社への情報漏洩容疑で韓国の捜査当局に逮捕されたポスコの元研究員が、新日鉄住金からの元社員による漏洩も証言したことで、たまたま明るみに出た。

Behind-the-scenes industrial espionage targeted at Japanese firms has been increasing. According to the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, there were 540 cases of corporate information leaks in fiscal 2013, five times the figure for fiscal 2009.
　水面下では、日本企業を狙った産業スパイ事件が増えている。経済産業省によると、２０１３年度の企業の情報漏洩件数は、０９年度の５倍の５４０件に上る。

Concern about brain drain

In a conspicuous trend, businesses of emerging economies are said to offer favorable terms of employment for Japanese engineers who have retired due to corporate restructuring or a mandatory age limit, and talk them into leaking information. Given the continued suspension of all nuclear power plants in Japan, concern has been increasing about a brain drain of nuclear-related engineers to China, South Korea and other countries.
　新興国の企業が、リストラや定年で退職した日本人技術者に好待遇を提示し、取り込む動きが目立つという。日本が原子力発電所の稼働ゼロを続けていたことで、関連技術者が中国や韓国などに流出する懸念も強まっている。

Many Japanese companies are passive about taking legal action, as they view the leakage of trade secrets as their own shame. The revised Unfair Competition Prevention Law, which was enacted in July, makes it mandatory for accused companies to prove that the technology information in question was not acquired illicitly for production, a legal step to lessen the burden on plaintiff companies.
　営業秘密の漏洩を身内の恥などと判断し、提訴に消極的な企業が多い。７月に成立した改正不正競争防止法は、訴える企業の負担軽減のため、被告の企業に、情報を不正に入手して生産した事実がないことの立証責任を負わせた。

The maximum possible fine against businesses or individuals for illicit utilization of trade secrets has been raised to ¥1 billion.
　営業秘密を不正に利用した企業や個人に対する罰金も、最大１０億円にまで引き上げた。

To prevent leaks, it is essential to make the revised law function effectively. Businesses must also pay more attention to managing information.
　漏洩防止のため、改正法を有効に機能させることが大切だ。
　加えて、情報管理に対する企業の意識向上も欠かせまい。

Companies must conclude non-disclosure agreements with their employees and retirees requiring them not to leak trade secrets to rival firms. The number of employees with access to secret information must be limited as much as possible.
　営業秘密をライバル企業に漏らさないよう従業員や退職者に約束させる秘密保持契約の締結を徹底する。機密情報にアクセスできる社員を可能な限り限定する。

We hope information leakage will be prevented through such measures.
　そうした取り組みにより、被害を未然に防止したい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 2, 2015)

米露首脳会談 シリア内戦収拾へ妥協を探れ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
U.S., Russia must find common ground to bring an end to Syria’s civil war
米露首脳会談　シリア内戦収拾へ妥協を探れ

The United States and Russia must try to find common ground to help bring an end to the civil war in Syria, which has killed more than 220,000 people and forced a massive number of people to flee as refugees.
　２２万人以上の死者と大量の難民を生み出したシリア内戦の収拾に向け、米国とロシアは妥協点を探らねばならない。

On the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly meeting, U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin held their first talks in about two years. On the Syrian issue, Obama expressed his view to call for President Bashar Assad to step down, stressing that stability in Syria would be impossible as long as the Assad administration stays in power.
　オバマ米大統領は、国連総会出席を機に、プーチン露大統領と約２年ぶりに会談した。シリア情勢について、「アサド政権が続く限り、シリアの安定はあり得ない」と強調し、アサド大統領の退陣を求める考えを示した。

Putin took a different tack and clearly expressed support for the Assad administration, describing it as a “bulwark” against extremist groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, which has expanded its control over parts of Syria and Iraq.
　プーチン氏は、シリアやイラクに勢力を拡大する「イスラム国」など「過激派組織に対する防壁だ」と、逆に政権支援を明言した。

The leaders of the United States and Russia have been at loggerheads over issues including the situation in Ukraine, but they did jointly recognize the importance of quickly wiping out ISIL. However, they remain far apart in their views on whether the Assad administration should be allowed any involvement in Syria’s future.
　ウクライナ情勢などを巡って対立する米露首脳は、「イスラム国」の早期掃討が重要だとの認識では一致している。しかし、アサド政権を関与させることの是非に関して、溝は埋まらなかった。

A chaotic civil war including the military forces under the control of the Assad administration and several antigovernment organizations continues for more than four years. The vacuum of power in parts of Syria has helped promote the growth of extremist groups, including ISIL. Assad’s army is at a disadvantage against its enemies, and the government now controls only about one-quarter of Syria, mainly in the west of that nation.
　アサド政権軍と複数の反体制派組織が入り乱れる内戦は、４年を超えた。力の空白は、「イスラム国」など過激派伸長を招く要因となっている。アサド政権軍は劣勢に立たされ、支配地域も西部など国土の約４分の１に縮小した。

Dealing with the Syrian issue, from where the threat of terrorism is proliferating, is an urgent task.
　テロの脅威を拡散するシリアへの対処は急務である。

Tricky diplomatic path

At a press conference after his talks with Obama, Putin criticized airstrikes conducted by nations such as the United States and France against ISIL targets to weaken that group, saying they were “illegal” because they had not been requested by Syria.
　プーチン氏は会談後、記者団に、「イスラム国」の弱体化を狙った米仏などの空爆は、シリアの要請がなく「不法だ」と非難した。

Russia has started airstrikes of its own to support the Assad administration. Moscow has set up an air base inside Syria and deployed fighter jets and tanks there. It has dispatched military advisers to Syria and will exchange strategic information with Iran and Iraq, which are close to the Assad government.
　ロシアは、アサド政権支援のため、空爆を始めた。シリアに航空基地を整備し、戦闘機や戦車を配備していた。顧問団を派遣し、アサド政権に近いイラン、イラクと作戦情報も交換する。

Russia is attempting to prop up the Assad government under the name of building an “antiterrorism coalition” that adds Syria and Iran to the U.S.-led “coalition of the willing.”
　ロシアは、米主導の「有志連合」にシリアとイランを加えた「反テロ連合」構築を名目に、アサド政権を温存しようとしている。

If the Russian military intervenes under the banner of trying to prolong the Assad government for as long as possible, while disregarding the numerous atrocities committed by the administration, the fighting in Syria could actually escalate. There are fears an accidental clash could occur with the United States and France.
　政権の数々の残虐行為を顧みず、露軍が政権永続化を掲げて介入すれば、内戦は、かえって激化しかねない。米仏との偶発的な衝突が起きる事態も懸念される。

Obama was quite right to strongly oppose this step by Moscow. It is obvious that the Assad administration lacks legitimacy.
　オバマ氏が強く反発したのは当然だろう。アサド政権が正統性を欠くことは、論を待たない。

The United States has been providing military training to moderate Syrian antigovernment groups as it seeks to topple the Assad government and defeat ISIL. However, these efforts have not produced tangible results. Obama’s strategy has reached a deadlock.
　「イスラム国」とアサド政権の打倒を目指す米国は、シリアの穏健反体制派に軍事訓練を行ってきたが、成果は見られない。オバマ氏の戦略は行き詰まっている。

The United States also cannot resolve this problem just by demanding that Assad step down. In Europe, which is being directly affected by the flood of arriving refugees, there is an emerging opinion that negotiations with Assad also might be unavoidable.
　米国も、「アサド退陣」を訴えるだけでは、問題は解決しない。大量の難民流入に直面する欧州では、アサド大統領との交渉もやむなしとの声が出始めた。

Pressing ahead with diplomacy that curbs any increase in the strength of ISIL while also anticipating a transition to a new regime — this will be a difficult process, but unless the United States and Russia, the two major powers, act in concert, the situation in Syria will not improve.
　「イスラム国」の勢力拡大を抑えつつ、新体制への移行を見据えた外交を進める。困難な道のりだが、米露両大国が足並みをそろえなくては、事態は改善しまい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 1, 2015)Speech

日露首脳会談 領土交渉は腰を据えて進めよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Steadily conduct territorial talks with Russia to work out solution
日露首脳会談　領土交渉は腰を据えて進めよ

Negotiations for signing a bilateral peace treaty and the resolution of the northern territorial issue are inseparable.
　平和条約交渉と領土問題の解決は不可分だ。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in New York, their first meeting in about 10 months.
　安倍首相はニューヨークで、ロシアのプーチン大統領と約１０か月ぶりに会談した。

On the northern territorial issue, Abe and Putin confirmed that the two governments will proceed with negotiations on the peace treaty based on a 2013 bilateral agreement that the two countries will “work out measures to resolve the issue acceptable to both sides.” They also agreed to continue holding top-level dialogues on the sidelines of international conferences.
　北方領土問題について、「双方が受け入れ可能な解決策をまとめる」とする２０１３年の合意に基づき、平和条約交渉を進める方針を確認した。国際会議を利用した首脳対話の継続でも一致した。

It is highly significant for both countries to put the territorial negotiations back on track.
　領土交渉を再び軌道に乗せた意義は小さくない。

With regard to Putin’s visit to Japan, Abe said, “I want to realize it [the visit] when the timing is best,” indicating that he does not feel bound to the plan for Putin to visit by the year-end.
　首相は、プーチン氏の来日について「ベストなタイミングで実現させたい」と述べ、年内にはこだわらない考えを示した。

Now that there is no prospect for any tangible result on the territorial issue, it will not be necessary for Abe to adhere to the idea of realizing Putin’s visit to Japan this year, even at the cost of being out of step with the Group of Seven industrialized countries, which have imposed sanctions on Russia in light of the situation in Ukraine. Abe’s decision was appropriate.
　現状では領土問題で成果が見込めない以上、ウクライナ情勢を踏まえて対露制裁を継続中の先進７か国（Ｇ７）の足並みを乱してまで、年内来日に固執する必要はあるまい。首相の判断は妥当だ。

Saying that he has recently been reelected president of the Liberal Democratic Party, Abe indicated his willingness to proceed with bilateral talks by saying he would deal with the negotiations more steadily than ever before. Abe will serve three more years as president of the ruling party, while Putin will remain in office for the same length of time.
　首相は、先の自らの自民党総裁再選に言及し、「さらに腰を据えて交渉に取り組む」と意欲を示した。総裁任期は残り３年ある。プーチン氏の任期もまた３年だ。

The administrations of both Abe and Putin have solid foundations, and the two leaders enjoy a certain level of trust. It can be said that the environments needed for them to resolve such a politically difficult problem as the territorial issue have been put into place to a certain extent, such as the political leadership keeping the domestic opposition at arm’s length and there is sufficient time to deal with it.
　双方の政権基盤は強く、一定の信頼関係もある。国内の反対意見を抑える指導力や時間的余裕など、領土のように政治的に困難な問題の解決に必要な環境は、ある程度整っていると言えよう。

Hard-line stance intolerable

Putin, however, refrained from going deeply into the territorial issue this time. At the onset of the talks, Putin called for Japan’s economic cooperation, by saying, “Regrettably, the value of trade [between Japan and Russia] has been falling.”
　ただ、プーチン氏は今回、領土問題に深入りすることを避けた。会談冒頭、「残念ながら貿易額は減少が見られる」と語るなど、日本の経済協力を求めた。

Probably underlying his remarks is the serious decline in the state of Russian economy, which has been affected by the economic sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union and falling crude oil prices.
　背景には、欧米からの制裁や原油安による国内経済の落ち込みが深刻化していることがあろう。

Abe said, “I hope preparations for economic cooperation will be made in a constructive and calm atmosphere,” implicitly warning that visits to the northern territories by Russian government officials, including Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, would impede any improvement in the bilateral relations. It is a reasonable acknowledgment on Abe’s part.
　首相は「経済協力の準備は建設的で静かな雰囲気で進めたい」と述べた。ロシアのメドベージェフ首相らの北方領土訪問が日露関係改善の障害になるとクギを刺したもので、当然の認識である。

The recent hard-line stance of the Russian Foreign Ministry on the territorial issue is intolerable.
　最近、領土問題に対するロシア外務省の強硬姿勢が目に余る。

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said last week that Japan should recognize the reality of postwar history. Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov even said that the northern territories were lawfully transferred to his country as a result of World War II.
　ラブロフ外相は先週、「戦後の歴史の現実を認識すべきだ」と発言した。モルグロフ外務次官は、北方領土について「第２次大戦の結果として合法的に我が国に移った」などと言い放っている。

Russia, in diplomatic documents exchanged with Japan, has recognized the existence of the dispute concerning the possession of the four northern islands. As Russian officials, including Lavrov, have adopted stances that apparently ignore past bilateral negotiations, it will be important for Japan to directly approach Putin, who has tremendous political power.
　ロシアは日本との外交文書で、北方４島の帰属問題の存在を確認している。ラブロフ氏らが過去の交渉を無視するような姿勢を見せるだけに、日本としては、絶大な権力を持つプーチン氏に直接働きかけることが重要となる。

On Oct. 8, vice ministerial-level talks on the peace treaty will resume. Japan needs to work out a comprehensive diplomatic strategy toward Russia by thoroughly considering what things will be like two to three years from now.
　１０月８日からは次官級の平和条約交渉が再開される。日本は、今後２、３年を見据えた対露外交の総合戦略を練る必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 30, 2015)

五輪追加種目 「東京」を盛り上げる決定打に

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Make additional sports events winning hits to enliven Tokyo Games
五輪追加種目　「東京」を盛り上げる決定打に

It is hoped that the new initiative in which host cities pick out additional sports to be held during their Olympic Games will help enliven the Games.
　五輪で実施する競技を開催都市が選ぶ。新たな試みを、大会の盛り上がりにつなげたい。

The organizing committee of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games on Monday decided on the additional events to be proposed to the International Olympic Committee. The formal decision on the additional events will be made at a general meeting of the IOC next summer.
　２０２０年東京五輪の組織委員会が、国際オリンピック委員会（ＩＯＣ）に提案する追加種目を決めた。来夏のＩＯＣ総会で正式決定される。

Proposed were five sports with 18 medal events: baseball/softball, karate, skateboard, sports climbing and surfing. For those athletes in the proposed sports, the increased likelihood that they will be able to participate in the Tokyo Games will certainly be great encouragement.
　野球・ソフトボール、空手、ローラースポーツ（スケートボード）、スポーツクライミング、サーフィンの５競技１８種目だ。これらの選手にとって、東京五輪の舞台に立てる可能性が高まったことは、大きな励みになるだろう。

The implementation of the additional events and new competitions is one of the main features of the Olympic reforms, which the IOC has been promoting since late last year.
　追加種目の実施は、ＩＯＣが昨年末から進めている五輪改革の目玉の一つだ。

These are aimed at enhancing public interest in the Games by adding sports that are popular in the host country and sports in which athletes of the host country are likely to win medals.
開催する国で人気のある競技や、メダル獲得が有望な競技を加えることにより、五輪への関心を高める狙いがある。

Underlying the new initiative is a sense of crisis within the IOC. Due to such factors as local citizens’ opposition to massive financial burdens that are borne by host cities, a number of cities have recently given up bidding to host the Games in turn.
　背景にあるのは、ＩＯＣの危機感である。巨額の財政負担に対する市民の反発などで、五輪招致を断念する都市が相次いでいる。

The Tokyo Games will serve as a test of whether the additional events can bring out new potential in the Olympics.
　追加種目が五輪の新たな可能性を引き出せるかどうか、東京五輪が試金石となる。

In Japan, baseball is a national sport. As there are many well-equipped stadiums, the overall construction cost of the Games would be reduced. The Tokyo organizing committee must cooperate with pro and amateur baseball circles to promote to the IOC the attractiveness of the sport that has taken hold in Japan.
　日本において、野球は国民的スポーツだ。設備の整った球場が多数存在するため、建設コストを削減できる。組織委だけでなく、プロとアマチュア球界が協力し、日本に根付いた野球の魅力をＩＯＣに訴えていく必要がある。

Cooperation vital

Baseball was dropped as an Olympic event after the 2008 Beijing Games. Its failed candidacy since that time has been due chiefly to such negative factors as top players of the U.S. major leagues not participating in the Games, as the events were to be held mid-season for them.
　０８年北京五輪を最後に、五輪競技から外れた。この際には、米大リーグのトップ選手が、シーズン中であるために出場しないことなどがマイナス材料となった。

It is essential for the Tokyo organizing committee to seek the cooperation of the major leagues as much as possible.
大リーグ側に可能な限りの協力を求めていく努力も欠かせない。

The beaming smiles of members of the Japanese national women’s softball team, who won gold at the Beijing Games, have made a great impression. The return of women’s softball to the Games is also a long-held wish in the world of softball.
　ソフトボール日本代表の女子選手たちが、北京五輪で金メダルを獲得した際の笑顔は、感動をもたらした。五輪への復帰は、ソフトボール界にとっても悲願だ。

This time, the strategy of newly establishing the World Baseball Softball Confederation and petitioning, jointly with men’s baseball circles, to the IOC for the return of women’s softball as a Games event is about to bear fruit.
　今回、世界野球ソフトボール連盟を新設し、男子の野球と一体となってアピールしてきた戦略が実を結びつつある。

Karate, which originated in Japan, has the advantage of being a sport with a large population of players the world over. For the competitions, existing facilities such as the Nippon Budokan can be used as venues. Such matters as making its rules known more widely will be a task for the future.
　日本発祥の空手は、世界的に競技人口が多いことが強みだ。会場には、既存の日本武道館などを活用できる。ルールの周知などが課題となるだろう。

The selections of skateboard, sports climbing and surfing were made in line with the IOC’s desire to add sports that are popular among young people.
　ローラースポーツ、スポーツクライミング、サーフィンについては、若者に人気の競技を重視するＩＯＣの意向に沿った選考だ。

In connection with the Tokyo Games, the organizing committee has suffered major setbacks over the construction plan for the new National Stadium and the cancellation of the official emblem for the Games.
　東京五輪を巡っては、新国立競技場建設計画とエンブレムの白紙撤回で失点が続く。

In order not to disappoint public expectations any more, the organizing committee must thoroughly prepare for negotiations with the IOC as it moves toward a final decision.
　国民の期待をこれ以上、裏切らぬよう、組織委は最終決定に向けたＩＯＣとの折衝に万全の態勢で臨まねばならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 29, 2015)

難民大量流入 欧州の支援策は奏功するのか

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Will refugee assistance measures by EU countries prove effective?
難民大量流入　欧州の支援策は奏功するのか

The true value of European Union cooperation will be put to the test through EU efforts to slow down the influx of refugees and illegal migrants from the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere and build a system to assist them in an orderly manner.
　中東やアフリカなどから難民や不法移民が流入するスピードを抑え、秩序だった難民支援の体制を構築できるのか。欧州連合（ＥＵ）の協調の真価が試されよう。

The EU recently held a summit of its leaders and pledged at least an additional €1 billion (about ¥130 billion) to international organizations, including the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This is to support refugees in countries neighboring Syria.
　ＥＵは、首脳会議を開き、国連難民高等弁務官事務所（ＵＮＨＣＲ）など国際機関に少なくとも１０億ユーロ（約１３００億円）を追加拠出することを決めた。シリア周辺国で難民を支援するためだ。

More than 4 million people have fled Syria, a country where a civil war continues, to such countries as Turkey and Jordan.
　内戦が続くシリアからは、４００万人以上がトルコやヨルダンなどに流出した。

To reduce the number of refugees heading for Europe, it is vital to help stabilize the lives of people living as refugees in Syria’s neighbors. The EU’s assistance can be considered a desperate measure to tackle the refugee crisis, as a path to ending the civil war is not in sight.
　欧州に向かう難民を減らすには、周辺国での難民生活を安定させることが肝要である。ＥＵの支援は、内戦終結の道筋が見えない中での苦肉の策と言えよう。

The leaders of EU member countries have also agreed on establishing facilities for registering refugees and taking fingerprints in Greece and Italy, European gateways for refugees, by the end of November. It is to differentiate legitimate refugees from illegal migrants. The EU and its member countries will also cooperate in tightening border security.
　首脳会議は、難民流入の玄関口であるギリシャとイタリアに、難民登録や指紋採取を行う施設を、１１月末までに設置することでも合意した。難民と不法移民を区別する狙いだ。ＥＵと加盟国が連携して国境警備を増強するという。

A thorny problem for the EU is how to fairly share among member countries refugees who have entered Europe.
　ＥＵにとっての難題は、欧州入りした難民の受け入れについて、加盟国がどう分担するかだ。

During a justice and interior ministers’ meeting, held prior to the summit talks, the ministers decided that the member countries would jointly take in 120,000 refugees, now hosted by Greece and Italy, over the next two years.
　首脳会議に先立って開催された法相・内相理事会では、ギリシャとイタリアが抱える難民１２万人を２年間で、加盟国が共同で受け入れることを決めた。

As Hungary, Slovakia and two other East European countries opposed the refugee sharing plan, the ministerial meeting had no other choice but to reach its conclusion through an unusual majority vote.
　ハンガリーやスロバキアなど東欧４か国が反対し、異例の多数決で決着せざるを得なかった。

Sustainable system needed

The number of those refugees applying for European asylum is forecast to top 1 million this year. The latest decision on sharing refugees will be like a drop in a bucket, we think. Building a sustainable system to accept refugees is urgently needed.
　欧州での難民申請者は今年、１００万人を超えると予測されている。今回の分担決定は焼け石に水ではないか。持続的な受け入れ体制を作ることが急務である。

The EU has hammered out the latest measures, including one to contain the influx of refugees, as its member countries are alarmed that the large numbers of refugees and migrants crossing their borders will threaten the social stability of their countries.
　ＥＵが流入抑制を含む対策を打ち出したのは、大量の難民らが殺到することが各国の社会の安定を脅かすという危機感からだ。

In Greece, a country burdened with fiscal woes, a far-right anti-immigrant party placed third in the general elections held on Sept. 20.
　財政危機のギリシャで２０日行われた総選挙では、反移民を掲げる極右政党が第３党になった。

Germany, an economic powerhouse which has been generous in taking in refugees, began, in the middle of this month, limiting the influx of refugees with border checks. The measures are linked largely to protests by local authorities, whose capacity to accommodate refugees has surpassed their limits due to the upsurge in the influx. Also evident are the activities of ultra-right groups opposed to accepting the refugees.
　経済大国ドイツは難民を寛大に受け入れてきたが、今月中旬、国境検問による制限を始めた。流入急増で収容能力を超えた地元当局が抗議の声を上げたことが大きい。受け入れに反発する極右集団の活動も顕在化している。

The influx of refugees into Europe has now become an issue that the international community as a whole must tackle. The United States and Australia have pledged to accept more Syrian refugees.
　欧州への難民流入は今や、国際社会全体が取り組むべき問題だ。米国やオーストラリアはシリア難民の受け入れ拡大を表明した。

Japan, for its part, has focused on extending such assistance as the provision of food to refugees in Syria’s neighbors and the improvement of water supply systems in these countries, contributing more than $1.1 billion (about ¥130 billion).
　日本は、シリア周辺国の難民に対する食料供与や上水道整備など支援に力を入れ、１１億ドル（約１３００億円）以上を拠出してきた。

It is time for this country to rack its brains on how it can contribute further, in response to the worsening humanitarian crisis.
人道危機の深刻化を受け、一層の貢献へ知恵を絞る時である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 28, 2015)

米中首脳会談 「独善」で大国関係は築けない

The Yomiuri Shimbun
China’s self-justified stance won’t help build major-power relations
米中首脳会談　「独善」で大国関係は築けない

It will be impossible for China to build what it calls a “new type of great power relations” with the United States as long as it continues to challenge international order through self-justified conduct.
　中国が独善的行動で国際秩序に挑戦し続ける限り、自らが望む米国との「新しいタイプの大国関係」は構築できまい。

Chinese President Xi Jinping is making an official visit to the United States and held talks with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington.
　中国の習近平国家主席が米国を公式訪問し、ワシントンでオバマ大統領と会談した。

Obama expressed “very serious concerns” about Chinese cyber-attacks on U.S. corporations and citizens, and demanded Xi ensure a halt to such activities.
　オバマ氏は、米企業や国民への中国発のサイバー攻撃に対して、「非常に深刻な懸念」を表明し、習氏に停止を要求した。

With a presidential election scheduled for next year, U.S. public opinion is increasingly harsh on China. It seems that Obama had to adopt an even more critical stance on China.
　大統領選挙を来年に控えた米国では、対中世論が硬化している。オバマ氏も一層厳しい姿勢を示さざるを得なかったのだろう。

The two leaders agreed that their countries would not conduct or support cyberattacks to steal trade secrets and other confidential information. They also agreed to initiate a ministerial-level dialogue.
　両首脳は、企業秘密などを盗み出すサイバー攻撃を実行、支援しないことでは一致した。閣僚級対話の創設でも合意した。

The question is whether this agreement will be followed by action. The international community must pay close attention to whether the mutual agreement will be truly honored by China, which has denied involvement in cyber-attacks.
　問われるのは実際の行動だ。攻撃への関与を否定する中国が合意を本当に順守するのか、国際社会は注視しなければならない。

The two leaders’ talks led to no agreement on the issue regarding China’s reef reclamation activities in the South China Sea.
　中国が南シナ海で岩礁を埋め立てている問題を巡って、両首脳の議論は平行線に終わった。

At a joint press conference following the talks, Obama warned the Chinese leader on the issue. “The United States will continue to sail, fly and operate anywhere that international law allows,” he said. Xi, however, stood his ground firmly, insisting, “We have the right to uphold our own territorial sovereignty and lawful and legitimate maritime rights and interests.”
　オバマ氏は会談後の共同記者会見で、「米国は国際法が許す場所ではどこでも、航行や飛行、軍事行動を継続する」とクギを刺した。習氏は「領土主権と、合法的で正当な海洋権益を守る権利がある」と強弁し、譲らなかった。

Arbitrary policy management

It has recently been found that China is building 3,000-meter runways on three of the reclaimed islands. If these facilities are completed, a vast expanse of waters in the South China Sea could, in effect, come under Chinese control, according to some experts.
　最近、中国が埋め立てた岩礁の３か所で３０００メートル級の滑走路を建設していることが判明した。完成すれば、南シナ海の広大な海域が中国の事実上の支配下に入る可能性も指摘されている。

China’s bid to change the status quo by force cannot be overlooked. The United States needs to join hands with Japan and other pertinent countries in urging China to exercise self-restraint in this respect. If China wants an equal relationship with the United States and a position as a major power in the international community, it should fulfill its share of responsibility for securing regional stability.
　中国の力による現状変更は看過できない。米国は、日本など関係国と連携して、中国に自制を促す必要がある。中国が米国との対等な関係や国際社会での大国としての地位を望むなら、地域の安定に相応の責任を果たすべきだ。

In making an official visit to the United States, Xi signed a contract for a huge purchase of 300 passenger airplanes with Boeing Co. It was evident that he tried to use the deal as leverage for wooing and winning over the U.S. business community.
　習氏の訪米に合わせて、中国は米ボーイング社から旅客機３００機を購入する大型契約を結んだ。経済カードで米財界を懐柔し、取り込む狙いが明白である。

However, the United States has a deepening distrust of China’s arbitrary policy management, which can be illustrated by its market intervention aimed at maintaining stock prices and the devaluation of the yuan.
　だが、株価維持の市場介入や人民元切り下げなどに見られる中国の恣意しい的な政策運営に、米国は不信感を強めている。

At the press conference, Xi emphasized that China would attach importance to market principles. “There is no basis for the renminbi to be devalued for a long period,” he said. We hope the Chinese president will be as good as his word to carry out highly transparent reforms in accordance with international rules.
　習氏は記者会見で、「長期的には人民元を切り下げる根拠はない」と述べ、市場原理を重視する考えを強調した。その言葉通り、国際ルールに則のっとった透明性の高い改革を推進してもらいたい。

The two leaders reconfirmed their nations would increase cooperation in addressing climate change-related problems. Climate change may be one of the few areas in which the two countries can facilitate a cooperative relationship. China and the United States — the world’s largest and second-largest greenhouse gas emitters — should make steady progress in reducing their emissions.
　気候変動問題に関して、両首脳は協力強化を改めて確認した。協調を打ち出せる数少ない分野の一つではないか。温室効果ガス排出量の世界１、２位の中国と米国は着実に削減を進めるべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 27, 2015)

ＶＷ排ガス不正 顧客を欺く大規模な規制逃れ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Consumers betrayed by VW’s scheme to evade controls on vehicle emissions
ＶＷ排ガス不正　顧客を欺く大規模な規制逃れ

Despite being touted as “clean diesel” cars, Volkswagen vehicles were found to have discharged emissions that far exceeded the required environmental standards.
　「クリーンディーゼル車」と銘打ちながら、環境基準を大幅に超える排ガスを出していた。

This act betrayed consumers who are strongly concerned about environmental conservation and was extremely pernicious.
　環境保護意識の高い消費者を欺いた行為は、極めて悪質である。

It was recently revealed that the German carmaker had taken illegal measures to ensure its vehicles passed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s emission control tests.
　独フォルクスワーゲン（ＶＷ）が、米環境保護局（ＥＰＡ）の排ガス規制を違法にクリアしていたことが発覚した。

The scheme involved software installed in diesel engines that was designed to make vehicles’ emission levels meet the standard required by the U.S. authorities — but only at the time of the emissions test.
　ディーゼル車の排ガス試験の際、エンジンに搭載したソフトウェアを作動させることにより、基準値を満たすように細工していた。

When the vehicles were driven on the road, the engines were reportedly found to discharge nitrogen oxide at levels up to 40 times the standard.
実際に道路を走行すると、基準値の最大４０倍の窒素酸化物などを排出していたという。

Eleven million Volkswagen vehicles around the world have been affected by the test-rigging scandal. This includes a number of popular models, including the Golf.
　対象車数は世界で１１００万台に上る。ゴルフなどの人気車種も数多く含まれている。

In announcing his resignation to take responsibility for the scandal, Volkswagen Chief Executive Officer Martin Winterkorn said, “I am stunned that misconduct on such a scale was possible in the Volkswagen group.” We have to say that Volkswagen lacks corporate governance despite its status as a world-leading carmaker.
　引責辞任するマーティン・ウインターコーン最高経営責任者は「これほどの規模の不正が行われていたとは信じられない」と語った。有数のメーカーでありながら、ガバナンス（企業統治）が欠如していると言わざるを得ない。

Were company executives involved in the irregularities? We want the factors behind the misconduct to be thoroughly revealed by investigations by the EPA and others.
　経営陣は不正に関与していなかったのか。ＥＰＡなどによる調査で、不正の経緯を徹底的に解明してもらいたい。

VW has Audi, Porsche and other carmakers under its wing. With fuel-efficient diesel vehicles as its mainstay product, VW doubled its global car sales to 10 million in the decade from 2004, thereby bringing it into competition with Toyota Motor Corp. for the No. 1 position in the world.
　ＶＷは、アウディ、ポルシェなどのメーカーを傘下に抱える。燃費の良いディーゼル車を主力に据え、２００４年からの１０年間で世界の販売台数を１０００万台に倍増させた。今やトヨタ自動車と首位を競う規模に躍進した。

Heavy price to pay

However, the German maker has been forced to fight an uphill battle in the U.S. market, where strict emission controls are in place and there is strong competition from hybrid vehicles manufactured by Toyota and other carmakers. VW’s irritation over this, it could be said, led to the wrongdoing.
　だが、排ガス規制の厳しい米市場では、トヨタのハイブリッド車などに押され、苦戦を強いられている。ＶＷの焦りが、不正につながったと言える。

VW may be fined up to $18 billion (about ¥2 trillion), which would top its annual profits. The price for its misconduct is very heavy.
　ＶＷには、年間の利益を上回る最大１８０億ドル（約２兆円）の制裁金が科される可能性がある。違法行為の重いツケである。

VW’s diesel vehicles are not officially sold in Japan, although they were scheduled to enter the market next year. The company will inevitably have to reexamine its sales strategy.
　日本では、ＶＷのディーゼル車は正規販売されていないが、来年にも投入される予定だった。販売戦略の見直しは避けられまい。

The European Commission, which is the executive body of the European Union, called for its member nations to conduct a fact-finding survey based on suspicions that carmakers other than VW have also engaged in misconduct. The automobile industry, which holds a key position in each country in which it conducts business, is being tested on its ability to cleanse itself of wrongdoing.
　欧州連合の執行機関、欧州委員会は、ＶＷ以外のメーカーでも不正の疑いがあるとして、加盟国に実態調査を求めた。各国で基幹産業と位置付けられる自動車業界も、自浄能力を試される時だ。

Fierce competition for fuel efficiency among car manufacturers could be behind the VW scandal. Consumers have a strong tendency to choose vehicles that perform even just a little better than others in terms of fuel efficiency. Moreover, many people have pointed out that even in Japan, there is a huge difference between the fuel efficiency figures in product catalogs and what is actually seen in normal use, which causes confusion.
　今回の問題の背景には、メーカー間の激しい燃費競争もあろう。消費者には、少しでも燃費の良い車を求める傾向が強い。日本でもカタログ表記の燃費と実際の走行時の数値の差が大きく、混乱を招いているとの指摘が多い。

A sincere attitude is needed on the part of carmakers to provide consumers with accurate information.
　メーカーに求められているのは、正確な情報を消費者に伝える真摯しんしな姿勢である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 26, 2015)

安倍総裁続投 「経済最優先」に軸足を戻せ

大切なのは、威勢のよい発言ではなく、地に足のついた目標と、対策の着実な実行である。そのためにも、アベノミクス「第１ステージ」の総括が欠かせないはずだ。
日本銀行による異次元緩和や政府の補正予算編成の功罪を検証し、予想されるリスクを分析する。これまでの成果として政権は雇用や賃金の指標が好転していることを強調するが、国民に実感が乏しいのはなぜか。アベノミクスの成否を左右すると位置づけてきた成長戦略の方向性は間違っていないか。
個別の政策についても同様だ。介護では、政府は財政難から特別養護老人ホームなど施設の建設に一定の歯止めをかけ、在宅介護を中心にすえている。介護職員の不足が深刻さを増すなかで、年１０万人とされる介護離職者をどうやってゼロにしていくのか。
国民が聞きたいのは言葉ではない。実現可能な具体策と、財源などその裏付けである。

二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず！
選手交代の時期到来です。
解散総選挙する前に、違憲状態にある現在の選挙制度を改革してください。
地方区はなくして全国国1本化するしか解決方法がないのは、子供でも理解できることです。
全国から人物本位で選べるようにしたらよい。


The Yomiuri Shimbun
Abe administration must focus on 'economy-first' policy priorities
安倍総裁続投　「経済最優先」に軸足を戻せ

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s basic stance of shifting the focus of his policy platform from the nation’s security to the economy revitalization is reasonable.
　政策の軸足を安全保障から経済再生に移す。そうした安倍首相の基本方針は妥当である。

After being formally reelected as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, the prime minister on Thursday held a news conference. He declared, “The nation is close to coming out of deflation,” emphasizing his intention to place maximum priority on economic policies.
　首相が、自民党総裁再選の正式決定を受けて、記者会見した。今後の政権運営について、「デフレ脱却はもう目の前だ」と語り、経済政策を最優先する考えを示した。

He also indicated to increase the nation’s annual nominal gross national product to ¥600 trillion, compared to ¥490 trillion in fiscal 2014.
　昨年度は４９０兆円だった名目国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）を６００兆円に増やす目標も掲げた。

Fulfilling his ¥600 trillion target will most likely be difficult to achieve. As seen by the GDP’s negative growth rate in real terms for the April-June period compared to the previous quarter, the recovery pace has made little headway. Although the major companies have posted favorable business results, the performances of small and midsize businesses and the degree of vitalization of regional economies have shown limited progress.
　ＧＤＰ６００兆円という目標の達成は、簡単ではあるまい。４～６月期の実質ＧＤＰが前期比マイナスとなるなど、景気回復は足踏みしている。大企業の決算は好調だが、中小企業の業績改善や地方活性化はまだ限定的である。

Of the “three arrows” of the Abenomics economic policy package, bold monetary relaxation and ramping up fiscal measures have produced such positive results as rectifying the yen’s excessively high appreciation and helping boost stock prices. However, the other arrow — growth strategy — has yet to produce any tangible outcome.
　経済政策「アベノミクス」の３本の矢のうち、金融緩和と財政出動は、円高是正、株高などの成果を上げた。反面、成長戦略は目に見える結果を出していない。

Since the spring of last year, the Abe administration has placed particular emphasis on getting legislation passed to secure the country’s peace and security. The enactment of the security legislation can be said to have provided Abe’s new term with a good opportunity to return to the starting line at the time of the inauguration of the Second Abe Cabinet, which pledged to put economy at the top of its list of priorities.
　安倍政権は昨春以降、平和安全法制の整備に力点を置いてきた。安全保障関連法の成立は、経済最優先という第２次政権発足時の原点に立ち返る好機と言える。

In the second phase of Abenomics, the government must buckle down primarily to the tasks of strengthening up the growth strategy, such as by reforming tough regulations in the fields of medical services, agriculture and labor, as well as expanding infrastructure exports.
　アベノミクスの第２段階では、医療、農業、労働分野の岩盤規制の改革やインフラ輸出の拡大など、成長戦略の強化に重点的に取り組む必要がある。

Hike wages, cut workload

At the news conference, Abe announced new “three arrows” to steer the administration’s economic policy: a combination of creating an “economy robust enough to nurture hopes of the public,” “dream-inspiring support for child-rearing” and “reassuring improvement of social security services.”
　首相は、「希望を生み出す強い経済」「夢をつむぐ子育て支援」「安心につながる社会保障」を新たな３本の矢と位置づけた。

The newly defined tasks are quite different qualitatively from the initial three arrows, but the concentration on social security is understandable.
　最初の３本の矢とはかなり性格が異なるが、社会保障を重視する姿勢は理解できる。

Regarding social security policy, the prime minister has hammered out a new goal of “reducing to zero the number of people who quit their jobs to provide nursing care.” Through such steps as increasing special nursing homes, the Abe administration will reduce the number of people waiting to enter such nursing facilities, who are required care at level 3 or higher on a scale of 5 nursing care requirements — which currently stands at about 150,000 — to zero by 2020.
　首相は、社会保障政策に関し、「介護離職ゼロ」という新たな目標を打ち出した。特別養護老人ホームを大幅に増やすことなどで、「要介護３」以上の特養ホーム入所待機者約１５万人を、２０２０年までにゼロにするという。

The number of people, most of whom are in their 40s and 50s, who quit their jobs to provide nursing care has reportedly reached about 100,000 per year. Ensuring people in their most productive years remain among the working population must be helpful for the growth strategy.
　親の介護目的の離職者は、４０、５０歳代を中心に年１０万人に上るとされる。働き盛りの労働力の確保は成長戦略にも役立とう。

The task of building special nursing homes will require a huge amount of financial resources. The task should be undertaken in a coordinated manner with the expansion of nursing care at homes which social security expenditures will reduce. To secure personnel necessary for proper nursing care services, measures must be taken to rectify low wages and the heavy workloads.
　特養ホーム増設は巨額の財源を要する。社会保障費の抑制につながる在宅介護の拡充とバランスを取りつつ、進めたい。必要な介護人材を確保するため、低賃金・重労働も是正せねばなるまい。

It is also important to make it easier for workers to obtain temporary absence from work and temporary paid leave for nursing care purposes. The percentage of those obtaining temporary absence for nursing care is currently no more than 3.2 percent. The statutory rule that allows those who need a temporary leave to utilize the system only once, in principle, per person in need for nursing care constitutes a major obstacle in this respect.
　介護休業・休暇を取りやすくすることも重要だ。介護休業の取得率は３・２％に過ぎない。要介護者１人につき原則１回しか取れないことが高いハードルである。

The government is now considering a revision to a law to allow people to take temporary leave more than once. While securing understanding and cooperation from companies, reform efforts should be made to turn the current system into one that is easier to use.
　政府は、複数回の取得を可能にする法改正を検討している。企業の理解と協力を得ながら、利用しやすい仕組みに改革すべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 25, 2015)Speech