[PR]上記の広告は3ヶ月以上新規記事投稿のないブログに表示されています。新しい記事を書く事で広告が消えます。
Editorial: PM should carefully consider points of contention, timing of general election
社説:早期解散論 その発想はあざとい
Speculation is growing within the political world that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will likely dissolve the House of Representatives to call a snap general election by the end of this year. According to speculation, the prime minister will decide later this month to postpone the consumption tax hike from 8 to 10 percent, which is scheduled for October 2015, and ask voters to support his decision through an election.
安倍晋三首相が年内の衆院解散・総選挙に踏み切るのではないかとの見方が広がっている。来年10月の消費税率10%への引き上げの先送りを首相が判断し、民意を問うというシナリオが取りざたされている。
The ruling coalition has failed to make sufficient efforts to lay the groundwork for the tax increase. Moreover, the ruling bloc appears to be attempting to take advantage of public opinion against the tax hike to win an election. Serious questions remain as to whether a delay in the consumption tax increase should be recognized as a sufficient reason for calling a general election.
政権与党が税率引き上げの環境を整える努力を尽くさず、しかも増税に慎重な世論に乗じて選挙にまで利用しようという発想が感じられる。民意を問う大義たり得るか、今の議論には疑問を抱かざるを得ない。
Legislators are far from holding in-depth general debate in the Diet. Both ruling and opposition parties have already begun preparing for an election as speculation is spreading from the ruling coalition about the schedule for dissolving the chamber and holding an election.
腰を据えた国会論戦からはもはや遠い雰囲気だ。与党からは解散や選挙日程をめぐる観測が流れ、与野党は選挙準備に動き出している。
Despite these moves, Prime Minister Abe has denied intending to dissolve the lower house anytime soon saying that he has "not decided at all" about the timing of an election. Whether to dissolve the chamber is entirely up to the prime minister. There are observations among those within the political world that ruling coalition politicians are deliberately spreading rumors about a possible dissolution in a bid to keep opposition parties in check as the ongoing extraordinary Diet session is nearing an end.
首相は解散について「(時期は)何ら決めていない」などと説明している。実際に解散するかは首相の胸三寸だ。解散説は臨時国会の終盤を控え、与党による野党のけん制が狙いとの見方も依然としてある。
However, if the prime minister were to be seriously considering dissolving the chamber, the reason for that would be called into question. A senior government official pointed out that a delay in the consumption tax hike could be a justifiable reason for calling a general election because such a decision would overturn an agreement on the tax increase between the now ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), its coalition partner Komeito and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) which is now the largest opposition party. However, is this really so?
だが、本当に解散を検討しているのであれば、その理由が問われる。消費増税先送りについて政府高官は「増税の自公民3党合意をひっくり返すのだから(国民に)信を問う大義名分になる」と語っている。
国民の審判をもう一度仰ぐという理屈は一見もっともらしく聞こえる。だが、本当にそうだろうか。
The government should go ahead with the consumption tax increase to 10 percent as scheduled after addressing outstanding issues, such as lessening the burden on low income earners and slashing the number of seats in the lower house, which the legislature has failed to act on for a long time. The ruling coalition has not been enthusiastic about working on these issues.
10%への増税は本来、生活弱者の負担軽減策や、放置されたままの衆院定数削減など「宿題」を片付けて予定通り行うべきものだ。これまで与党がこうした課題の克服に真剣に取り組んできたとは言えまい。
Uncertainty over economic conditions, which some ruling coalition legislators cite as the reason for calling for a delay in the tax hike, is attributable to the failure of "Abenomics," the economic policy mix promoted by the Abe government, to produce sufficient results. If the economic conditions were to be so serious that the tax hike needs to be postponed, the government should scrutinize economic stimulus measures it has so far implemented.
与党内で先送り論の根拠とされる景気動向への不安にしてもアベノミクスが想定通りに運ばない反映ではないか。増税を先送りするほど状況が悪いというのであれば、必要なのは経済政策の検証であろう。
In the campaign for the previous general election, the LDP, Komeito and the DPJ asked voters to accept the tax hike because these main political parties were aware of the need to share the responsibility for increasing the tax burden on the public. These parties attempted to share a common view on tax and social security by putting aside their struggle for power.
さきの衆院選で自公民が増税実施の3党合意を掲げたのは国民に痛みを強いる責任を主要政党が分担する意味があったはずだ。政争と一線を画して税と社会保障の共通認識を得ようという政治の知恵だった。
If the ruling coalition were to scrap the three-party accord and pledge a postponement of the tax hike in the next lower house race, the efforts the three parties have patiently made to form a consensus among them would come to nothing.
ところが合意をほごにし、増税先送りを選挙で掲げるようでは、こうした努力を台無しにしかねない。
Some within the ruling coalition fear that it will be increasingly difficult to run the government next year when the administration needs to draft security bills as Komeito is wary of expanding the role Japan should play in global security. The economic outlook is also increasingly uncertain. If ruling party politicians were to be calling for a dissolution of the lower chamber because they believe they can rely on the relatively high approval rating for the Abe Cabinet, they should be criticized as being sly.
経済動向が不透明なうえ、公明党との調整が難航必至の安全保障法制の整備も控えるなど、与党には来年以降の政権運営を危ぶむ見方があるようだ。増税先送りを奇貨として、世論の追い風をあてこんだ解散論とすれば、あざとさすら感じる。
The DPJ has insisted that the consumption tax hike and expansion of the social security system should be implemented as a package. Concerns remain that voters could be forced to make a choice without clear points of contention or in-depth policy debate if a general election were to be called quickly. Prime Minister Abe should cautiously consider points of contention during a lower house race and select the timing of the election.
消費税率引き上げをめぐっては民主党も社会保障拡充などとのパッケージ化が前提だと説明している。急な選挙が行われた場合、争点が定まらず、政策論争も深まらないまま有権者が選択を迫られる懸念もぬぐえない。民意を問うテーマと時期について、首相は慎重に判断すべきだ。
毎日新聞 2014年11月12日 02時35分
安倍首相にくいさがられて、いやいやながら、握手したというところではないでしょうか。
日中首脳会談の写真だけ、両国国旗が映っていません。
習国家主席が、あの場面で、日本の安倍首相と仲良くするような写真を撮りたくなかったのは明白なんです。
まったく大人気ない対応だと感じました。
(スラチャイ)
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Time to shift Japan-China relations from confrontation to cooperation
日中首脳会談 対立から協調へ舵を切る時だ
It is time for Japan and China, as two great powers responsible for ensuring world peace and prosperity, to change their relationship from one of confrontation to cooperation.
世界の平和と繁栄に重い責任を持つ大国同士として、対立から協調関係へ舵かじを切る時である。
During their meeting in Beijing Monday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to improve bilateral relations by returning to the basic principle of a mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests. The two leaders also agreed to promote cooperation on various levels based on a statement listing four basic points of agreement, which was jointly released on Friday.
安倍首相と中国の習近平国家主席は北京で会談し、「戦略的互恵関係」の原点に立ち戻り、関係を改善することで一致した。7日に発表した4項目の合意文書に基づき、様々なレベルで協力することも確認した。
Abe was quoted as telling Xi that “China’s peaceful development is a good opportunity for the international community and Japan.” Xi reportedly expressed appreciation and responded by saying China “wants to work toward improving bilateral ties gradually.”
首相は「中国の平和的発展は国際社会と日本にとって好機だ」と指摘した。習主席は、首相発言を評価し、「徐々に関係改善の努力をしていきたい」と応じた。
Intensified friction between Japan and China over the Senkaku Islands and the issue of historical perceptions has cooled their political and economic relations, exerting unfavorable effects on public opinion in the two countries. This was cause for concern for members of the international community, including the United States.
尖閣諸島や歴史認識などを巡る日中の深刻な対立は、政治・経済関係を冷え込ませ、両国の世論にも悪影響を与えている。米国など国際社会も懸念を示す。
The realization of a formal summit between Japanese and Chinese leaders, the first in almost three years, provided an important opportunity to build a new relationship of cooperation.
約3年ぶりの本格的な首脳会談の実現は、新たな協調関係を築く重要な好機である。
Xi had a stiff expression when he shook hands with Abe, but the momentum gained through holding the summit should not be temporary.
首相と握手した際の習主席の表情は硬いままだったが、今の機運を一過性にしてはなるまい。
It is essential for the two countries to steadily expand the scope of working-level cooperation by achieving an early resumption of high-level economic dialogue between economic ministers and strategic dialogue between officials at the vice foreign minister level.
中断している経済閣僚による「ハイレベル経済対話」や、外務次官級の戦略対話などを早期に再開し、実務的な協力を着実に拡大することが大切である。
Establish hotlines
Above all, the establishment of a maritime liaison mechanism must be urgently tackled to prevent accidental clashes at sea.
中でも、偶発的な海上衝突事故などを回避するため、海上連絡メカニズムの構築が急務だ。
Abe stressed the need to realize early operations of the mechanism, while Xi responded that “an accord has already been reached” on the matter. True to these words, it is imperative to establish hotlines between the defense bureaucrats and officers of the two countries and ensure they properly function.
安倍首相がメカニズムの早期運用の必要性を強調したのに対し、習主席は「既に合意はできている」と語った。その言葉通り、防衛当局間のホットラインを開設し、きちんと機能させねばならない。
Chinese government vessels have repeatedly intruded into Japanese territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands, and its jet fighter aircraft have repeated military provocations in the airspace around the Senkakus. It is imperative to have Beijing correct its stance of changing by force the status quo in the East and South China seas.
中国は、尖閣諸島周辺での公船の領海侵入や戦闘機による軍事的挑発を繰り返している。東・南シナ海で力による現状変更を目指す姿勢は改めさせる必要がある。
It is essential for the government to continue applying pressure on China, in cooperation with the United States and other countries, to make it comply with international rules.
政府は、米国などと連携し、国際ルールの順守を中国に引き続き働きかけることが重要だ。
During the summit, Abe reiterated his commitment to “taking over the historical perceptions of the previous governments.” Abe did this apparently because he took into consideration China’s opposition to his visit to Yasukuni Shrine, where convicted war criminals are enshrined together with the war dead, and his other historical perceptions.
安倍首相は会談で、「歴代内閣の歴史認識を引き継いでいる」と改めて表明した。中国が首相の靖国神社参拝などに反発していることに配慮したのだろう。
Without directly mentioning the Yasukuni issue, Xi told Abe that “historical issues concern the feelings of more than 1.3 billion Chinese people.” Xi also reportedly said, “It’s important to move toward the future while squarely looking at history.”
習主席は靖国問題に言及せず、「歴史問題は13億人以上の中国国民の感情に関することだ」と述べた。「歴史を直視して未来に向かうことが重要」とも語った。
If Xi aims to seriously strive toward building a future-oriented relationship with Japan, we suggest that Beijing refrain from the anti-Japan propaganda campaigns it has continued both at home and abroad.
習主席が未来志向の日中関係の構築を本気で目指すのなら、国内外で続ける中国政府の「反日宣伝」を慎むべきではないか。
Next year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, and it is feared that anti-Japan sentiment in China may rise. Abe and Xi must work toward preventing the issue of historical perceptions from undermining the bilateral relationship in its entirety.
来年は戦後70年の節目の年だ。中国では反日感情が高まる恐れがある。両首脳は、歴史認識の問題が日中関係全体を損なうことがないよう努力すべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 11, 2014)Speech
(スラチャイ)
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Decentralization of power imperative to revitalize regional economies
地方分権と創生 事務移譲を活性化につなげよ
A comprehensive set of policy measures must be adopted to revitalize regional economies, one of the main initiatives of the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Decentralizing power from the central government to local governments would be an effective step to help achieve this.
安倍政権が掲げる「地方創生」には総合的な政策が必要だ。地方分権も有力な手段となろう。
A governmental panel of experts on decentralization reform has compiled an interim report in which 129 of 935 administrative procedures that local governments want transferred from the central government’s ministries and agencies are deemed feasible.
政府の地方分権改革有識者会議は、自治体が移譲を求めた中央省庁の事務935件中、129件が実現するとの中間報告をまとめた。
The Cabinet Office called on local entities to work out during the May-July period what administrative procedures and authorities they believe should be transferred to them. If combined with items that can be handled without changing existing laws and regulations, the transfer of such procedures and authorities to the local governments stands at 218, about 20 percent of the proposed 935 items.
内閣府は5~7月、各自治体に事務・権限の分権提案を募集した。現行法制で対応可能な事務を合わせれば、提案の実質的な採用は約2割の218件に上る。
The government is set to finalize its decentralization plans by concluding by the year-end the screening process on about 660 pending items.
政府は年末までに、提案の採否が未定の約660件について結論を出し、最終方針を決定する。
The transfer of administrative procedures from the central government to local governments will help reinvigorate regional economies and possibly enhance the administrative efficiency of local entities.
中央から地方への事務・権限の移譲は、地域活性化に役立ち、行政効率化にもつながり得る。
On Friday, Shigeru Ishiba, state minister in charge of revitalization of local economies, called on other Cabinet members concerned to exert their leadership in “bringing to fruition the local governments’ proposals to the greatest possible extent,” noting decentralization of power “is absolutely necessary for reinvigorating regional economies.” The government should respond as much as possible to the demands of local governments.
石破地方創生相は7日、「地方分権は地方創生に不可欠だ。(地方)提案の最大限の実現に指導力を発揮してほしい」と関係閣僚に要請した。政府は、権限移譲の要求にできる限り応じるべきだ。
One envisaged transfer of administrative authority to prefectural governments, including Tokyo and Hokkaido, is the licensing and supervisory power of tap water services in entities with populations in excess of 50,000. As a result of the declining population, tap water supply services in many areas are subject to integration to expand the service areas. The roles of prefectural governments have increased in this respect, and the transfer of the authorities concerned is quite reasonable.
都道府県への移譲事務には、給水人口5万人超の水道事業の認可や指導監督がある。人口減に伴い、各地の水道事業は統合・広域化の傾向にある。都道府県の役割は増しており、移譲は妥当だろう。
The government also favors abolishing regulations under the Urban Parks Law to clarify that decisions to keep or abolish parks should be left up to the discretion of the municipalities concerned. This will help local entities devise community resuscitation programs on their own.
都市公園法で制限されている都市公園の廃止は、市町村の裁量でできることを明確化する。各市町村が独自の街づくりを進めるうえで、プラスとなろう。
Balancing conflicting tasks
However, many items have been shunted aside in the interim report. For instance, easing regulations for establishing day nurseries, which has been strongly sought by local entities, has been frowned on by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.
中間報告では、結論が持ち越されたものも多い。地方の要望が強い保育所の設置基準の緩和には、厚生労働省が難色を示した。
The minimum floor space of day nurseries has been set on a uniform basis throughout the country. The health ministry permitted exceptions for 40 densely populated areas in big cities, where many children are on waiting lists, but only for the three-year period from fiscal 2012 to 2014.
保育所の居室面積は、全国一律の基準が定められている。厚労省は2012~14年度に限り、待機児童の多い大都市部の40市区を対象に特例で基準を緩和した。
The city of Osaka, the only local entity that has made good use of the relaxation of this regulation, has reduced by half the minimum floor space for infants’ crawling, setting the space at 1.65 square meters per head. As a result, the number of children on the city’s waiting list fell by about 1,800 as of August this year.
特例を唯一活用した大阪市は、乳児の「ほふく室」の面積要件を全国基準の半分の「1人当たり1・65平方メートル以上」に緩和した。これにより、今年8月時点で約1800人の待機児童が解消した。
If the special measure is done away with at the end of this fiscal year as scheduled, about 750 children will reportedly have to be removed from day nurseries. Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto sent a written request last month to Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yasu-hisa Shiozaki asking for the extension of this period.
特例が今年度末に切れると、約750人が退所を求められるという。橋下徹市長は先月、塩崎厚労相に特例期間の延長を求める要望書を送った。
The easing of regulations regarding day nurseries helps support child-rearing services, a major countermeasure to the shrinkage of the population. The government should work out measures to ease day nursery-related regulations to enable local entities to secure a “desirable quality of day care services” suited to the realities of individual day nurseries.
人口減対策の柱である子育て支援に保育所の基準緩和は有効だ。自治体が現場の実情に応じて「保育の質」を確保できるように、基準を緩和する方策を探りたい。
As for the transfer of the power to permit the conversion of farmland into residential land or other purposes, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry objects on the grounds of “keeping the nation’s overall farmland acreage intact.” It is extremely important for the government to seek a middle ground by working out a balance between the promotion of farming industries and providing local entities with sufficient leeway to undertake community redevelopment projects at their discretion.
農地を宅地などに転用する許可権限の移譲も、「農地の総量確保」を掲げる農林水産省が拒んでいる。農業振興と自治体の自由な街づくりのバランスを取る形で、妥協点を見いだすことが大切だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 9, 2014)Speech
Japan, China must reaffirm mutually beneficial, strategic relationship
日中首脳会談 「戦略的互恵」を再確認せよ
Japan-China relations, which have been hampered by a long standoff, are now at a critical turning point. The summit meeting between the two countries must lead to a substantial improvement in the relationship.
対立が長期化していた日中関係の重大な転機である。実質的な関係改善につなげるべきだ。
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit, which will be held in Beijing on Monday and Tuesday. First and foremost, we wish to welcome the first top-level talks between Japan and China in almost three years.
安倍首相と中国の習近平国家主席が、北京で10、11両日に開かれるアジア太平洋経済協力会議(APEC)首脳会議の際に会談する見通しとなった。約3年ぶりの本格的な日中首脳会談を、まずは歓迎したい。
The Japanese and Chinese governments have released a four-point written agreement on the improvement of the bilateral relationship. The two sides confirmed that they will “continuously develop a mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests,” while agreeing to “gradually resume political, diplomatic and security dialogue” and “make efforts to build political mutual trust.”
日中両政府は、日中関係の改善に関する4項目の合意文書を発表した。「戦略的互恵関係を引き続き発展させていく」と確認し、「政治・外交・安保対話を徐々に再開し、政治的相互信頼関係の構築に努める」ことで一致した。
Japan has conventionally sought a summit meeting with China “without preconditions,” whereas China has called on Tokyo to acknowledge the existence of a territorial issue over the Senkaku Islands as one of the conditions for a summit meeting. As a result, the two nations have been at an impasse.
日本は従来、「前提条件なしの首脳会談」の開催を求めていたが、中国は、尖閣諸島について領土問題の存在を認めることなどを会談の条件に掲げ、対立していた。
But China might judge that the stalled political dialogue between the two countries could also determine the success of the APEC meeting, which the country will chair.
だが、中国も、APEC議長国として、日中の政治対話が途絶したままでは首脳会議の成功は難しいと判断したのだろう。
We hope that the leaders will deepen the discussion in the direction of mutual benefit from a broader perspective at the summit meeting. Needless to say, the realization of a meeting in itself represents a dramatic, favorable turn in the relationship between Japan and China. The two countries must continually make efforts to maintain regular dialogue at various levels and reach a compromise.
両首脳は会談で、大局的見地に立ち、日中双方の利益となる方向で議論を深めてもらいたい。無論、1回の会談で日中関係が劇的に好転するわけではない。様々なレベルで対話を重ね、双方が歩み寄る努力を続けねばなるまい。
Acknowledged differences
The agreement specified that the two sides acknowledged that “different positions” exist between them over the Senkakus, an issue that has caused tensions in the East China Sea.
合意文書は、焦点の尖閣諸島に関して、東シナ海で「緊張状態が生じていることについて異なる見解を有している」と明記した。
The existence of the “different positions” linked to tensions in the East China Sea, which was agreed upon by the two countries, does not hinder Japan’s long-held stance that “a territorial dispute does not exist.” It is quite laudable that Japan has found common ground with China on the issue, while holding firm to its own position.
東シナ海の緊張関係について「異なる見解」があるとしたことは、「領土問題は存在しない」とする日本の従来の立場を損ねるものではない。日本の主張を堅持しつつ、中国との妥協点を見いだしたことは前向きに評価できる。
The agreement also confirmed that they will “set up a crisis management mechanism to prevent contingencies from occurring.”
文書は「危機管理メカニズムを構築し、不測の事態の発生を回避する」ことも確認している。
The situation in the East China Sea has been dangerous, as Chinese fighter jets have repeatedly flown extraordinarily close to Self-Defense Forces planes over international waters. It is urgent that the Japanese and Chinese governments resume bilateral talks on the establishment of a maritime liaison mechanism between defense authorities of the two countries and open a hotline for that purpose.
東シナ海は、中国軍戦闘機による自衛隊機への異常接近が繰り返されるなど、危険な状況にある。日中両政府は、防衛当局間の海上連絡メカニズム構築の協議を再開し、ホットラインなどを設置することが急務である。
China sought a definite promise from Japan that the prime minister will not visit Yasukuni Shrine, but Japan refused to accept it. The agreement only mentioned that the two sides “reached some agreement on overcoming political obstacles between them” in the spirit of “facing history squarely and looking forward to the future.”
中国は、首相が靖国神社に参拝しない確約を求めていたが、日本は拒否していた。合意文書は「歴史を直視し、未来に向かう」精神に従い、「政治的困難を克服することで若干の認識の一致をみた」と言及するにとどめた。
While the prime minister should avoid visiting Yasukuni Shrine, there is no reason that the prime minister should make such a vow under the pressure of a foreign country. It is appropriate for the two countries to handle the problem with the intention of not affecting the overall Japan-China relationship.
首相の靖国参拝は避けるべきだが、他国の圧力を受けて、参拝しない約束をする筋合いのものではない。この問題を日中関係全体に影響させない形で処理する方向となったことは適切である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 8, 2014)Speech
Chongryon must observe ruling of top court, vacate headquarters
総連本部売却 居座りはこれ以上許されない
The judicial branch of the government has made a final judgment. The General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) cannot stay any longer at its current headquarters.
司法としての最終判断である。これ以上の居座りは許されまい。
The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed Chongryon’s appeal against a court-led auction of its headquarters building and associated land in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. The ruling confirmed the sale of the property to Marunaka Holdings Co., a real estate firm in Takamatsu that won the auction.
東京都千代田区の在日本朝鮮人総連合会中央本部の土地・建物の競売を巡り、最高裁が朝鮮総連の抗告を棄却した。落札した高松市の不動産関連会社「マルナカホールディングス」への売却が確定した。
The top court ruled that the decision to sell the property to Marunaka is reasonable because it will bring about the sale through fair and speedy procedures.
最高裁はマルナカ社への売却決定について、「公正かつ迅速な手続きによる売却を実現するもので、合理的だ」と結論付けた。
Once payment is made, Marunaka will take ownership of the property. The organization — which represents pro-Pyongyang Korean residents in this nation — will be urged to leave the building and land that constitute its current headquarters, which have been seen as North Korea’s de facto embassy in Japan.
マルナカ社は、代金を納めれば、所有権を得る。総連は、北朝鮮の日本における大使館的な役割を担ってきた本部ビルからの退去を迫られる見通しだ。
An agent of Chongryon said that the top court’s ruling was “highly regrettable.”
総連の代理人は「大変遺憾」と語っている。
Now that the Supreme Court has recognized that the auction was legitimate, however, Chongryon must respond accordingly if Marunaka requests that the organization vacate the building and land.
だが、最高裁が正当な競売だと認定した以上、マルナカ社が明け渡しを求めれば、総連はそれに応じなければならない。
Chongryon’s headquarters was brought to the block by the successive collapse since 1997 of credit unions affiliated with pro-Pyongyang Korean residents in Japan. A major factor in their bankruptcies was the huge loans they extended to Chongryon, which became unrecoverable.
在日朝鮮人系の信用組合が1997年以降、相次いで破綻したことが、本部ビルが競売にかけられた発端だ。各信組から総連に向けた多額の融資の焦げ付きが、破綻の大きな要因だった。
Recovery of public funds
The government injected over ¥1 trillion in public funds to resolve the problem. The Resolution and Collection Corporation, which absorbed the bad loans, arranged to auction the property, which occupies a prime location in central Tokyo. We think this was a reasonable course of action by the government-affiliated body in executing its duty to recover the public money.
政府は、破綻処理に1兆円超の公的資金を投入した。不良債権を引き継いだ整理回収機構が、都心の一等地にある本部ビルを競売にかけたのは、公的資金の回収という使命を遂行する上で、当然の措置だったと言える。
A religious organization won the first auction in March last year, but it later abandoned the purchase because it could not raise enough money. The second auction, held in October last year, was won by a Mongolian firm that placed the highest bid, but the firm was later disqualified because it failed to submit the necessary documents.
昨年3月の1回目の入札で落札した宗教法人は、代金を調達できずに取得を断念した。昨年10月に行われた再入札では、モンゴル企業が最高値を提示したが、書類不備で失格とされた。
The Tokyo District Court then decided the headquarters should be sold to Marunaka, the second-highest bidder in the second auction. The Tokyo High Court also supported the decision. Dissatisfied with this, however, Chongryon appealed to the Supreme Court. Its protest was apparently a strategy to delay vacating the premises for as long as possible.
東京地裁は、次点のマルナカ社への売却許可を決定し、東京高裁も支持した。これを不服として、総連が特別抗告していた。総連側の抵抗は、明け渡しを引き延ばすための戦術だったのだろう。
According to the Public Security Intelligence Agency, Chongryon was given a strict order from the North Korean government to defend the headquarters at all costs.
公安調査庁によると、総連は中央本部の土地・建物の「死守」を本国から厳命されていた。
In talks held recently between Tokyo and Pyongyang on the reinvestigation into Japanese nationals abducted or believed to have been abducted by North Korean agents, the North Korean representatives expressed concerns over the auction of the headquarters. With the start of the reinvestigation, the Japanese government lifted restrictions on the transit of individuals between Japan and North Korea, which allowed a Chongryon leader to visit North Korea in September.
拉致被害者らの再調査に関する日朝政府間協議では、北朝鮮側が本部ビルの競売問題に懸念を表明していた。再調査の実施に伴い、日本政府が北朝鮮に対する人的往来の規制措置を解除したため、総連トップが9月に訪朝した。
The reinvestigation of Japanese abductees will soon enter a critical stage. The progress of Japan-North Korea talks must not be affected by the Supreme Court ruling.
拉致被害者らの再調査は今後、ヤマ場を迎える。最高裁の決定が、日朝協議の進展に影響を及ぼすことがあってはならない。
“We clearly told [North Korea] that the [Japanese] government cannot do anything about an issue already subject to legal procedures,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said.
菅官房長官は「法的手続きに入ったものについて、政府は何もできないと(北朝鮮に)明言している」と語った。
We think the government should state this position repeatedly to North Korea.
こうした立場を繰り返し説明していくべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 6, 2014)Speech
China must be urged not to unilaterally change status quo in South China Sea
南シナ海情勢 緊張高める中国の「現状変更」
On one hand, China is discussing peace in the South China Sea with its Southeast Asian neighbors, but on the other, it is trying to change the status quo there through unilateral actions. Beijing needs to realize this inconsistency will result only in aggravating tensions and distrust between the two sides.
南シナ海の平和について協議しながら、一方的な「現状変更」を強行する。これでは、関係国との緊張と相互不信を拡大させるばかりだ。
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s administration is undertaking reclamation work on several reefs it effectively controls in the Spratly Islands to create artificial islands. The reclamation work is under way at six of the seven reefs controlled by China, according to reports. All the reefs are subject to territorial disputes between China and other countries, such as Vietnam and the Philippines.
中国の習近平政権がスプラトリー(南沙)諸島で、実効支配する岩礁を埋め立てて、「人工島」を造成する工事を進めている。七つの岩礁中、六つが対象という。いずれも、ベトナムやフィリピンなどと領有権を巡って係争中だ。
China claims sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea based on the so-called nine-dash line it drew after ignoring international law. However, the international community, represented by Japan, the United States and Europe, does not recognize the nine-dash line because it lacks legal grounds.
中国は、国際法を無視する形で独自に設定した「九段線」を基に、南シナ海のほぼ全体に主権が及ぶと主張している。しかし、九段線には法的根拠がなく、日米欧を含む国際社会は認めていない。
It is apparent that the reclamation work runs counter to the 2002 Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, which was signed between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to avoid tensions from escalating or becoming more complex.
事態の複雑化や紛争を避けるため、中国と東南アジア諸国連合(ASEAN)が2002年に署名した南シナ海の「行動宣言」にも反する行動ではないか。
The reclamation work has drawn angry responses from Hanoi and Manila, and nations indirectly involved have expressed deep concern. We call on China to exercise restraint in building artificial islands, which is an attempt by China to reinforce its control over the reefs in the Spratly Islands.
ベトナムやフィリピンは強く反発し、関係国は懸念している。中国は、実効支配の強化を狙った人工島造成を自制すべきだ。
Hegemonic behavior
In October, China revealed that Fiery Cross Reef, a reef that used to be submerged at high tide, had become an “island” with an area of about one square kilometer, the biggest island in the Spratly chain. About 200 military personnel are now stationed there, and Beijing has decided to build an airfield there, according to reports.
中国誌は10月、満潮時に水没する暗礁だった「永暑礁」が、南沙諸島で最大の約1平方キロの「島」になったと伝えた。軍関係者約200人が駐留し、飛行場の建設も決まっているという。
Currently, there are no airfields in the Spratly Islands. China’s aim is apparent — to develop Fiery Cross Reef into a military base so it can command the skies in the area. Some observers believe China is now considering the establishment of an air defense identification zone in the South China Sea.
現在、南沙に中国の飛行場はない。「制空権確保」に向け、永暑礁を軍事拠点化する中国の狙いは明らかだ。防空識別圏の設定を検討しているとの見方もある。
For Japan and the United States, important sea-lanes straddle the South China Sea. Ensuring the freedom of navigation there is vital for the two nations. China’s hegemonic behavior should never be condoned.
日本や米国にとって、南シナ海は主要な海上交通路(シーレーン)に位置する。「航行の自由」の確保が死活的に重要だ。中国の覇権主義的行動は、看過できない。
ASEAN is now calling for upgrading the nonbinding 2002 declaration to a legally binding code of conduct.
ASEANは、南シナ海の「行動宣言」を、関係国への法的拘束力を持つ「行動規範」に格上げすることを求めている。
China has agreed to hold talks with ASEAN, but is extremely reluctant on formulating the code of conduct. The two sides were unable to start compiling a draft at a high-level meeting last month. We cannot help but conclude that China is using the talks to gain time until it succeeds in amassing faits accomplis, such as building artificial islands.
中国は、協議に応じながらも、規範策定には極めて慎重だ。10月の高官協議でも、原案の策定作業に入れなかった。人工島などの既成事実化までの「時間稼ぎ」と批判されても仕方あるまい。
Next week, a summit meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum will take place in Beijing. The East Asia Summit will also be held in Myanmar.
来週には、北京でアジア太平洋経済協力会議(APEC)首脳会議、ミャンマーでは東アジア首脳会議(EAS)が開かれる。
The security situations in the South China and East China seas will likely become a point of contention at the two meetings.
南・東シナ海の安全保障情勢も一つの焦点となるだろう。
The importance of preventing nations from using their military or economic power to unilaterally change the status quo and of establishing order on the high seas based on the rule of law should be widely shared by state leaders.
軍事力や経済力を背景にした一方的な現状変更を許さず、「法の支配」による海洋秩序を構築する。この重要性の認識を首脳レベルで広く共有しなければならない。
It is important for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Barack Obama to join hands with other nations concerned to press China to take responsible actions.
安倍首相やオバマ米大統領が、関係国と連携し、中国に責任ある行動を促すことが大切である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 5, 2014)Speech
Editorial: Prime Minister Abe's 'fabrication' remarks lack levelheadedness
社説:首相の「捏造」発言 冷静さを欠いている
It's mindboggling that a nation's prime minister can flippantly accuse a major newspaper of fabricating a story.
一国の首相の口からこんな発言が軽々しく飛び出すことに驚く。
安倍晋三首相が朝日新聞を名指しして、その報道を「捏造(ねつぞう)だ」と国会の場で断じた。
By definition, a fabrication is the act of making something up where nothing exists; it is not a misinterpretation or misunderstanding of facts. During Diet deliberations, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe accused the Asahi Shimbun of fabricating a story. But the prime minister needs to calmly rethink whether the report he was referring to in his statement constitutes a fabrication.
だが、捏造とは事実の誤認ではなく、ありもしない事実を、あるかのようにつくり上げることを指す。果たして今回の報道がそれに当たるかどうか、首相は頭を冷やして考え直した方がいい。
Here are the facts: On Oct. 29, the prime minister had lunch with his close aides. After the meeting, one of the lawmakers who had been in attendance told reporters that the prime minister had said the ruling and opposition camps "should call a cease-fire" over the political funding scandals. The next morning, the Asahi and other media outlets, including the Mainichi Shimbun, Yomiuri Shimbun, Sankei Shimbun and the Nikkei daily newspapers, reported the story.
経過はこうだ。首相は先月29日昼、側近議員らと食事した。終了後、出席者の一人が報道陣に対し、首相はその席で政治資金問題に関し「(与野党ともに)『撃ち方やめ』になればいい」と語った、と説明した。これを受け、朝日のみならず毎日、読売、産経、日経など報道各社が、その発言を翌日朝刊で報じた。
But during Diet deliberations on Oct. 30 and 31, the prime minister singled out the Asahi's article, saying, "I did not say that. Creating a fire where there is nothing is fabrication."
ところが首相は30、31両日の国会答弁で朝日の記事だけを指して「私は言っていない。火がないところに火をおこすのは捏造だ」などと批判し続けた。
The aide who had attributed the "cease-fire" comment to the prime minister subsequently retracted the earlier statement, saying, "I was the one who said that. I said, 'This should result in a cease-fire,' and the prime minister merely agreed." In other words, the prime minister's aide made the error that led to the news reports.
一方、当初、報道陣に首相発言を説明した出席者はその後、「発言者は私だった。私が『これで撃ち方やめですね』と発言し、首相は『そうだね』と同意しただけだ」と修正した。つまり発端は側近らのミスだったということになる。
Abe argued that "statements should be confirmed with the person who made them." We agree. But at present, reporters are only given occasional opportunities to pose questions to the prime minister at times deemed convenient by the prime minister's camp. If the prime minister feels so strongly about statements coming directly from the source, why not set regular interviews with reporters twice a day, as was the practice when Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was in office?
首相は「発言を本人に確かめるのは当然」と言う。その通りである。ただし現在、首相と担当記者との質疑の場は実際には首相側の都合で時折設定されているに過ぎない。首相がそう言うのなら、小泉純一郎首相時代のように1日2度、定期的にインタビューの場を設けてはどうか。
The prime minister seems to be entrenched in viewing the Asahi as his enemy. Even in his latest remarks, he appears to be trying to say that the Asahi is bent on criticizing him no matter what. He told the Diet, "The editor-in-chief of the Asahi apparently once said that the company's mission is to bring down the Abe administration." However, the Asahi has denied such allegations, and it remains unclear how much evidence the prime minister has to back up such a statement.
首相はかねて朝日新聞を「敵」だと見なしているようで、今回の記事も「最初に批判ありきだ」と言いたいようだ。「安倍政権を倒すことを社是としていると、かつて朝日の主筆がしゃべったということだ」とも国会で発言している。だが、朝日側はその事実はないと否定しており、首相がどれだけ裏付けを取って語っているかも不明である。
Does Abe believe that a large proportion of the public will applaud him if he employs the term "fabrication" to criticize a newspaper that has been embroiled in a scandal involving its reporting of the so-called wartime comfort women issue and testimony by the late former head of the disaster-hit Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant?
あるいは慰安婦報道や東京電力福島第1原発事故の「吉田調書」報道問題で揺れる朝日を、「捏造」との言葉で批判すれば拍手してくれる人が多いと考えているのだろうか。
Regardless, in the latest case, the prime minister does not appear to have closely investigated the events that led to the reports. The problem could have been easily resolved if he'd just clarified that he was not the one who made the "cease-fire" remark, and asked media outlets to correct the misunderstanding.
いずれにしても今回、報道に至る経過を首相が精査したうえで語っているようには見えない。「私は語っていない」と報道各社に修正を求めれば済む話だったと考える。
Prime Minister Abe tends to devote his efforts to making attacks, rather than lending an ear to criticism. With the money scandals involving Cabinet ministers nowhere near resolution, he seems to be irritable of late. But witnessing him vigorously criticizing the media brings into question his ability to be levelheaded in dealing with the various domestic and diplomatic challenges that Japan faces.
従来、批判に耳を傾けるより、相手を攻撃することに力を注ぎがちな首相だ。特に最近は政治とカネの問題が収束せず、いら立っているようでもある。しかし、ムキになって報道批判をしている首相を見ていると、これで内政、外交のさまざまな課題に対し、冷静な判断ができるだろうかと心配になるほどだ。
毎日新聞 2014年11月02日 02時30分(最終更新 11月02日 13時55分)
Editorial: More monetary easing at BOJ risks slide into economic chaos
社説:日銀の追加緩和 泥沼化のリスク高まる
The Bank of Japan (BOJ), the country' central bank, has further eased its monetary grip. The move comes 18 months after the BOJ took unprecedentedly large-scale monetary easing steps as the "first arrow" of Abenomics, an economic policy mix promoted by the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Moreover, the latest round of monetary easing coincided with end of the U.S.'s own quantitative relaxation program.
日銀が量的緩和を一段と強化した。アベノミクスの「第一の矢」として異例の大規模緩和が登場し1年半。米国が量的緩和を終了したタイミングでの日本の追加緩和だ。
Financial markets reacted sharply to the move, with the yen diving and share prices spiking.
驚いた市場は反応し、円安、株高が大幅に進んだ。
However, the BOJ was pressured to implement additional monetary easing steps because its ultra-easy money policy, adopted in April 2013 by newly appointed BOJ Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda, had not proven sufficiently effective. One cannot help but doubt whether the reinforcement of measures that had not produced the desired results the first time round will brighten prospects for steady economic growth. Moreover, the central bank's latest round of monetary relaxation is, so to speak, a dangerous drug that could produce serious side-effects.
しかし、である。ここで追加緩和に踏み切らざるを得なくなったのは、昨年4月に黒田東彦新総裁の下、導入した「異次元緩和」が十分効果を上げていないことの裏返しと言える。うまくいっていないものを一段と強化した先に果たして展望は開けるのだろうか。しかも副作用の多い、劇薬なのである。
Under the scenario of the "first arrow," the government and the BOJ projected that their goal of 2 percent annual inflation would be achieved and the economy pulled out of its slump if the money supply from the central bank doubled over a two-year period. In other words, the government and the BOJ attempted to convince the public that consumer prices would rise by dramatically increasing the money supply.
「物価の年間上昇率2%」を明確な目標として宣言し、お金の量を2年で2倍に増やせば、目標が達成でき、経済も復活する−−。第一の矢のシナリオだった。衝撃的な量の資金供給を行うことで人々に「物価上昇の時が来た」と信じこませる効果を狙った。
True, consumer prices gradually increased, but the rise has slowed down because the fall in the yen's value has not produced sufficient results and oil prices have declined. The first arrow has not led to a virtuous cycle in which higher spending on factories, equipment and consumer goods increases corporate profits and wages, which in turn expand consumption.
確かに物価は徐々に上昇基調に転じたものの、円安による効果が抜け落ち、原油価格の下落も手伝って、このところ上昇幅は縮む一方である。設備投資や消費が活発化し、企業収益が増え、賃金が上昇し、さらに消費が増える、といった望ましい循環が起きているとは言い難い。
The BOJ ended up implementing additional monetary easing steps on a step-by-step basis. This is very much like the central bank's policy under the governorship of Masaaki Shirakawa, though Kuroda had criticized his predecessor's measures as ineffective in overcoming deflation.
結局、あれほど「デフレ脱却の効果はない」と批判していた白川方明前総裁時代の段階的な追加緩和の手法を取らざるを得なくなった。
In the meantime, the BOJ's massive purchases of government bonds as part of its ultra-easy money policy have adversely affected the domestic bond market. Especially bonds that are due to mature shortly are in extremely short supply, causing abnormal situations such as negative interest.
一方、量的緩和により日銀が国債を大量に買い占めている影響で、国債市場のゆがみも目立ってきた。満期までの期間が短いものを中心に極端な品薄状態となり、マイナス金利という異常事態も起きている。
Despite these circumstances, the BOJ further eased its monetary grip. If the yen becomes weaker -- aided partly by the end of U.S. quantitative relaxation -- the prices of imported goods will rise, which would squeeze household budgets further.
そうした中にあって、さらにアクセルを踏むという。ドル高に作用する米国の量的緩和終了も相まって、円安が一層進めば、輸入品の値段が上がる。物価上昇には役立っても、家計を圧迫するだけだ。国債市場のゆがみも一段と深刻化するだろう。
Through the latest monetary easing steps, the BOJ will increase the amount of long-term government bonds the central bank buys annually by 30 trillion yen to some 80 trillion yen. If investors were to believe that the BOJ accepts a huge amount of the government's debts, international confidence in Japan would be lost, causing the market prices of government bonds to plummet and rates of long-term interest on such bonds to rise, which could throw Japan's economy into chaos.
今回の追加緩和により、日銀が年間に買い増す長期国債の額は30兆円拡大し、約80兆円に達する。日銀が政府の借金を丸抱えしていると市場からみなされれば、国の信用が疑われ、国債価格が急落(長期金利は急騰)する恐れがある。経済の大混乱は避けられまい。
Despite the latest additional monetary easing steps, the BOJ predicts that next fiscal year's inflation rate will be 1.7 percent, falling short of the 2 percent target. As the BOJ has repeatedly eased its monetary grip, the central bank could find it increasingly difficult to find an exit ramp out of the policy, as the U.S. has just done. Moreover, concerns have been raised that the implementation of such abnormal monetary policy measures could be prolonged.
今回の追加緩和をもってしても、日銀の予測では、目標となる来年度の物価上昇率が1.7%と2%に満たない。追加緩和を繰り返し、出口がますます遠のきはしないか。異例の政策が長期化することによる弊害が心配だ。
The BOJ has ventured deeply into a dangerous area that it should not, as the central bank, have entered in the first place.
中央銀行として踏み込むべきではない領域にまた深く、日銀は足を進めてしまった。
毎日新聞 2014年11月01日 02時33分
What does China’s plan for a new infrastructure bank portend for Asia?
アジア投資銀 過剰な中国主導で大丈夫か
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a new international financial organization led by China, will be established in 2015 based on a basic agreement reached recently by 21 nations, including India and nine Southeast Asian nations.
The establishment of the AIIB has been proposed by China to accelerate infrastructure building in Asia.
中国の主導する新たな国際金融機関「アジアインフラ投資銀行」(AIIB)が、設立されることになった。
アジアのインフラ整備促進を目的に掲げ、中国が創設を提唱していた。インドや東南アジアの9か国など21か国が、2015年中の発足で基本合意した。
Demand for investment to build infrastructure, such as railways and roads, in Asia through the end of 2020 will total an estimated $8 trillion, or about ¥860 trillion.
アジアでは20年までに、鉄道や道路などのインフラ投資の需要が、総額8兆ドル(約860兆円)に上るとの試算もある。
It is true that the existing international financial organizations, including the Asian Development Bank, will face difficulty in shouldering such a huge cost by themselves.
アジア開発銀行(ADB)など既存の国際金融機関だけで、これほどの巨費を賄うのが難しいのも事実である。
Emerging Asian economies, which want to use infrastructure development as a locomotive for growth, understandably have high expectations for the AIIB.
インフラ開発を成長の原動力としたいアジア新興国が、AIIBに期待するのは理解できる。
Japan, however, will not participate in the AIIB because its significance and management policy are not clear. Australia and South Korea are also conspicuously absent.
一方、日本は参加を見送った。AIIBの意義や、今後の運営方針が不透明だからだ。オーストラリアや韓国も不参加だった。
In July, China also decided to set up a new development bank in collaboration with the other emerging economies in the so-called BRICS grouping, which comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
中国は今年7月、ロシアやインドなどと協力し、新興5か国(BRICS)による「新開発銀行」を創設することも決めた。
China apparently wants to use the AIIB and the BRICS bank to counter Japan, the United States and European countries that lead the International Monetary Fund regime and establish a new order in international financing.
どちらも、国際通貨基金(IMF)体制を主導する日米欧に対抗し、新たな国際金融秩序を構築する思惑があるようだ。
A bank for China’s benefit?
In particular, the AIIB is aimed at providing China’s domestically struggling state-owned enterprises with opportunities to enter the huge market for building infrastructure in Asia. Furthermore, China apparently has a strategy to increase the number of friendly nations by utilizing its foreign currency reserves, now swollen to as much as $4 trillion.
特にAIIBは、中国国内で行き詰まる国有企業に、アジアのインフラ整備という巨大な市場を提供する狙いがあるのだろう。
4兆ドルに膨らんだ外貨準備を有効活用し、「中国シンパ」の国を増やす戦略もうかがえる。
It is also worrisome that China’s influence over the AIIB will likely be overwhelming.
気がかりなのは、AIIBに対する中国の影響力が、突出して強くなりそうなことである。
The bank will be headquartered in Beijing and aims to procure $100 billion in capital. The ratio of investment will likely be decided in accordance with the scale of each economy, which will make China a majority stakeholder.
北京に本部を置き、資本金は1000億ドルを目指す。出資比率は経済規模に応じて決める方針で、中国が過半を占める見通しだ。
There are nagging concerns that the AIIB will recklessly provide tied loans — such as requiring Chinese companies to win infrastructure contracts — in the guise of an international financial institution and will put priority on development projects that are beneficial to China. If its loan screening becomes lax, it is feared that development projects neglecting environmental and human rights concerns will be encouraged.
国際機関の名の下で、中国企業の受注を条件とする「ひも付き」の融資が乱発され、中国を利する開発案件ばかりが優先されることはないか。融資審査が甘くなれば、環境や人権を無視した開発を助長する恐れもある。
A financial support framework that is excessively dependent on China could stall development projects should the Chinese economy stumble.
中国に過度に依存した金融支援の枠組みでは、中国経済が変調をきたした際に、開発プロジェクトが滞るリスクも大きくなる。
It is essential for Japan, the United States and other nations to jointly beef up monitoring to see if the AIIB will be operated in a way to contribute to the healthy development of the Asian region.
アジア地域の健全な発展に資する運営が行われているか、日米などが連携して、監視を強めることが重要だ。
Nonetheless, we should take heed of the use of China’s ample funds for Asian growth. Japan, the biggest ADB stakeholder, should work to establish a proper complementary relationship between the ADB and AIIB.
潤沢な中国マネーを、アジアの成長に生かす視点も忘れてはならない。ADBの最大の出資国である日本は、ADBとAIIBが適切な補完関係を築けるよう、働きかけるべきである。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 29, 2014)Speech
Don’t be fooled by Islamic State propaganda; united front needed
「イスラム国」 過激派の勧誘に惑わされるな
Propaganda by extremist groups justifying terrorism could generate new terrorist outrages in industrially advanced countries.
テロを正当化する過激派の宣伝が、先進国で新たなテロを生む。
This vicious circle must be severed.
この悪循環を断ち切らねばならない。
A Muslim convert, who planned to go to the Middle East, was shot dead by Canada’s parliamentary sergeant at arms after the man killed a soldier and then went on a shooting spree inside the parliament building in Ottawa.
カナダの首都オタワで中東行きを計画していたイスラム教徒の男が、兵士1人を射殺した後、国会議事堂内で銃を乱射した。男は衛視に射殺された。
Near Montreal, soldiers were killed and injured recently in what appeared to be a terrorist attack, while in New York, a man attacked police officers with a hatchet.
モントリオール郊外や米ニューヨークでも、男が兵士や警官を殺傷する事件が起きた。
In both incidents, the perpetrators were known to be sympathizers of Islamic extremism. The New York attacker had reportedly watched the site of the extremist group Islamic State.
いずれの事件の犯人も、イスラム過激主義に共鳴していたことが分かっている。ニューヨークの事件の犯人は、過激派組織「イスラム国」のサイトを見ていた。
It is obvious that the radical beliefs of the Islamic State, which is expanding its influence in Iraq and Syria, lie behind the recent spate of attacks.
イラク、シリア領内で勢力を拡大するイスラム国の過激思想が、一連の事件の背景にある可能性は否定できまい。
Young people from a number of countries have joined the Islamic State as combatants. Advanced countries were alert to the possibility of those fighters launching terrorist attacks when they return to their home countries.
イスラム国には、各国の若者が戦闘員として加わっている。先進諸国は、戦闘員が帰国してテロを起こす事態を警戒していた。
Yet there has been no indication that any of the perpetrators of the recent attacks was a combatant who had returned home. Nevertheless, these incidents pose a new threat as they can be considered “home-grown” terrorism in advanced countries.
だが、今のところ、一連の事件の犯人が戦闘員だった形跡はない。先進国における“国産テロ”と言えよう。新たな脅威だ。
The recent spate of incidents is also characterized by the fact that they were each carried out by a person acting alone.
単独犯であることも特徴だ。
As there appears to be no conspiracy with similar-minded people, investigative authorities have great difficulty in detecting such acts of violence in advance, presenting them with a huge challenge.
仲間との謀議などがないため、捜査当局にとっては、事前の察知が難しい点が大きな問題だろう。
Even Japanese affected
In Japan, a male university student is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department on suspicion of planning to privately engage in military combat by attempting to go to Syria to join the Islamic State as a foreign combatant.
日本では、イスラム国に外国人戦闘員として加わる目的で、シリアへの渡航を企てたとして、男子大学生が私戦予備・陰謀容疑で警視庁の捜索を受けている。
The student allegedly received assistance on travel to Syria and converted to Islam at the advice of a former university professor, who specializes in Islamic law.
男子学生は、イスラム法学が専門の元大学教授から渡航方法の助言を受け、イスラム教に入信した。
The student reportedly said: “I want to die as I’ve been fed up with this world. I wouldn’t mind being killed in Syria.” Another man, who was living with the student, was reportedly planning to go to Syria with him.
「この世界が嫌で死にたい。シリアで殺されてもいい」と語っているという。一緒に住んでいた男性も同行予定だったとされる。
Is the clever propaganda that justifies rule by the Islamic State affecting the minds of those who feel alienated in their home country?
イスラム法による支配を正当化する巧みな誘いが、疎外感を抱く者の心に付け入っているのか。
The Islamic State is a heinous organization that justifies mass murder and slavery. In this year alone, it has received about ¥2.2 billion in ransom money for hostages. Before U.S. warplanes bombed oil refineries operated by the Islamic State in September, the group was said to be earning about ¥100 million a day through the illicit trade of crude oil.
イスラム国は、大量殺りくや奴隷制を肯定する凶悪組織だ。今年に入り、人質の身代金で約22億円を手にした。米国が9月に製油施設を空爆するまでは、原油の密売で1日約1億円を得ていた。
Supported by unprecedented funding, the terrorist organization is believed to be carrying out an extensive propaganda campaign. It is important for nations to expose the true nature of the Islamic State through such tools as the Internet.
テロ組織としては類のない資金力を背景に、大がかりな宣伝戦を仕掛けているのだろう。各国は、イスラム国の真の姿をネットなどで広く知らせる必要がある。
Needless to say, the most important thing is to annihilate the Islamic State. The U.S.-led coalition has conducted more than 550 airstrikes in Iraq and Syria. But the fighting is said to be fluctuating, with combatants sometimes advancing and sometimes retreating.
無論、最も重要なのは、イスラム国の壊滅だ。米国などの有志連合は、イラク、シリア領内で550回以上の空爆を行ってきたが、戦闘は一進一退の状態にある。
There also is disarray in the coalition over strategy. It is essential to restore a united front against the Islamic State.
有志連合には、戦術面で足並みの乱れもある。共闘態勢を立て直すことが急務である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 28, 2014)Speech
■近況
2009年の9月15日に脳梗塞を発症、右手が少し不自由になりました。
MRAで脳梗塞の部位を特定でき、素早い処置をとれたので大事に至りませんでした。
快復にむけてリハビリ中です。
(2011/01/01更新)
■自己紹介・リンク
[ はじめに ]
タイのスラチャイです。
英語学習に王道はありません。
毎日毎日の地道な努力の積み重ねが必要です。
スラチャイはNHKのラジオ英語会話で現在の英語力を身につけました。
一日僅か15分の学習でも数年間継続すれば相当な学習効果が期待できます。
[ 名前 ]
松井 清 (スラチャイ)
[ 略歴 ]
・福岡県出身
・国立高知大学卒業
・準大手建設会社に就職
・50歳で会社を早期退職
・99/10 タイ全土を旅行
・00/10 タイに移住
・03/07 カイちゃん誕生
・07/06 シーファーちゃん誕生
・現在タイ国コンケン在住
[ 座右の銘 ]
Slow and steady wins the race.
遅くとも着実な者が勝利する
(NHK基礎英語芹沢栄先生)
[ 学習の手引き ]
・音読して耳から英語を吸収
・Think in English.
・ネイティブ発音付辞書活用
・英英辞典を活用(英和も)
・翻訳和文で専門用語確認
[ English Newspapers ]
Yomiuri
Mainichi
Asahi
Japan Times
Washington Post
Newyork Times
Bangkok Post
The Nations
Phuket Gazette
[ 英字新聞の英和対訳学習 ]
英字新聞(読売)
英字新聞(毎日)
英字新聞(朝日)
英字新聞(朝日2)
[ スラチャイ編集の辞書 ]
タイ日辞書(改訂版)
日タイ辞書(改訂版)
ラオ日辞書
日ラオ辞書
スラチャイの家族紹介
私の家族
スラチャイの手作りリンク集
スラチャイタイ在住9年目
中国語会話基礎(北京語)
タイ日辞典(単語帳)
タイ語の子音
タイ語の母音
スラチャイ編曲のmidiのギター曲
スラチャイ編曲のJ.S.Bachです
スラチャイの多国言語学習
初歩のタイ語
初歩の中国語
初歩のラオス語
初歩のビルマ語
初歩のシンハリ語
初歩のタガログ語
タイ語の基礎
タイ文字
タイ日辞書
タイ語の副詞
タイ語の前置詞
タイ語の助動詞
タイ語の接続詞
基礎タイ語一覧(タイ文字、ローマ字)
seesaaサイト内リンク一覧:
01 あいさつ
02 別れのあいさつ
03 声をかけるとき
04 感謝の言葉と答え方
05 謝罪の言葉と答え方
06 聞き直すとき
07 相手の言うことがわからないとき
08 うまく言えないとき
09 一般的なあいづち
10 よくわからないときの返事
11 強めのあいづち
12 自分について述べるとき
13 相手のことを尋ねるとき
14 頼みごとをするとき
15 申し出・依頼を断るとき
16 許可を求めるとき
17 説明してもらうとき
18 確認を求めるとき
19 状況を知りたいとき
20 値段の尋ね方と断り方
21 急いでもらいたいとき
22 待ってもらいたいとき
23 日時・場所・天候を尋ねるとき
24 その他
基礎タイ語一覧(タイ文字、音声付き)
サイト外HPリンク一覧:
01 あいさつ
02 別れのあいさつ
03 声をかけるとき
04 感謝の言葉と答え方
05 謝罪の言葉と答え方
06 聞き直すとき
07 相手の言うことがわからないとき
08 うまく言えないとき
09 一般的なあいづち
10 よくわからないときの返事
11 強めのあいづち
12 自分について述べるとき
13 相手のことを尋ねるとき
14 頼みごとをするとき
15 申し出・依頼を断るとき
16 許可を求めるとき
17 説明してもらうとき
18 確認を求めるとき
19 状況を知りたいとき
20 値段の尋ね方と断り方
21 急いでもらいたいとき
22 待ってもらいたいとき
23 日時・場所・天候を尋ねるとき
24 その他
タイの文化一覧:
01 雨の日にも傘をささないタイ人
02 勉強熱心なタイ人女性たち
03 タイ人は敬謙な仏教徒
04 タイの市場
05 タイの食堂
06 タイ人は外食が大好き
07 果物王国タイランド
08 タイ人の誕生日
09 タイの電話代は高い
10 微笑みの国タイランド
14の戒律(テラワーダ仏教戒律)
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14の戒律(テラワーダ仏教戒律)
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14の戒律解説
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