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The Yomiuri Shimbun December 7, 2013
President Xi must pay heed to Japan, U.S. concerns over ADIZ
中国防空識別圏 習主席は日米の懸念に応えよ（12月6日付・読売社説）
China must take seriously the explicit declarations by Japan and the United States of their intentions regarding Beijing’s announcement of its new air defense identification zone.
日米両国の明確な意思表示を中国は重く受け止めるべきだ。
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday in Beijing, declaring that the United States does not recognize or accept the ADIZ recently established by China over the East China Sea, expressing Washington’s “significant apprehension.”
米国のバイデン副大統領が、中国の習近平国家主席と北京で会談し、東シナ海に設定された中国の防空識別圏を認めないと述べた上で「深い懸念」を表明した。
In the talks, Biden reportedly called for Beijing to take measures to reduce tensions with countries concerned, prodding the Chinese leadership to exercise self-restraint to prevent a crisis over the zone.
バイデン氏はさらに、中国に対し、関係国との緊張緩和に向けた措置を取り、この問題で危機を誘発するような行動を自制するよう要請したという。
Both of Biden’s calls were in line with what was confirmed in his talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the previous day.
いずれも、安倍首相との会談で確認した内容に沿ったものだ。
It was especially significant that Biden conveyed directly to Xi the strong sense of apprehension both Japan and the United States have over the way China declared the ADIZ and the rules of its implementation, which both Tokyo and Washington said deviate from international norms.
中国の防空識別圏の設定の仕方や運用が国際常識から外れているとの日米両国の強い懸念を、習氏に直接伝えた点に意味がある。
In declaring the ADIZ, which changes the status quo in the East China Sea, China failed to consult with countries concerned beforehand. Rather, it unilaterally implemented the zone and abruptly announced it.
中国は、現状を変更する識別圏設定に当たり、周辺国との事前調整をせず、一方的に発表した。
The means by which China implemented the new ADIZ strays from implementation protocol for air defense identification zones of other countries.
その運用方法も、国際社会のやり方とは大きく異なっている。
In the ADIZs of countries other than China, including Japan, only aircraft found to be heading toward the countries’ territorial airspace are subject to alert. China, however, made it mandatory for all aircraft passing through its new ADIZ to report flight plans to Chinese authorities. Also, Beijing has warned it will make planes that fail to comply with its ADIZ rules subject to unspecified “defensive emergency measures.”
日本などの防空識別圏では、領空に向かう航空機だけが警戒の対象となる。だが、中国は、識別圏内を飛行する全航空機に、飛行計画の提出を義務付けたばかりか、従わないと、「防御的緊急措置」の対象になると警告している。
Dangerous mind-set
Although most of the ADIZ is set above high seas, China’s warning is tantamount to treating the zone as part of its own airspace. We believe this is an illegitimate and dangerous mode of thinking.
識別圏の大半は公海上空に設定されているのに、自らの領空のように扱っている。不当かつ極めて危険な考え方である。
In reply to calls from Biden, Xi was cited as reiterating China’s “principled stance” that its new ADIZ was established “in accord with international law and practice.” Does China intend to continue treating its air zone in its own fashion?
バイデン氏に対し、習氏は、中国の「原則的な立場」を繰り返し、識別圏は「国際法や国際慣例に合致している」と述べたという。識別圏を引き続き、自己流で運用し続けるつもりなのだろうか。
As long as China takes such an attitude, it will never win the understanding of countries concerned, including Japan and the United States. First, Beijing should do away with its hard-line stance, which could invite the risk of an accidental military conflict.
こうした態度では、日米をはじめ関係国の理解は得られまい。中国は、偶発的な軍事衝突を引き起こしかねない強硬な姿勢を、まず改める必要がある。
In his talks with Xi, Biden was also quoted as calling for China to create a crisis management mechanism in cooperation with Japan, with which China has an ongoing sovereignty row over the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, and other countries surrounding the new air zone.
バイデン氏は習氏に、不測の事態を回避するために、沖縄県・尖閣諸島をめぐり対立する日本や周辺国と危機管理メカニズムを構築するよう促した。
It is crucial to expedite the opening up of communication channels among the countries concerned. The Chinese government has made an overture to the Japanese government to hold consultations with the aim of “securing safe flights” in the airspace where the two countries’ ADIZs overlap.
関係国間で、意思の疎通を図ることは欠かせない。中国政府も日本に対して、「識別圏が重なっている空域での安全な飛行」のための協議を呼びかけている。
We worry, however, that in the process of such consultations, China will insist that Japan acknowledge China’s ADIZ, including airspace over the Senkakus, as if it were a fait accompli.
ただ、気がかりなのは、話し合いの過程で、中国が、尖閣諸島上空を含む自らの防空識別圏を既成事実であるかのように主張してくると見られることだ。
Even if such consultations take place, Japan must not give up its stance of refusing to recognize China’s declaration of the air defense identification zone.
協議を行う場合でも、識別圏を認めないとの立場を崩してはならない。
In dealing with the ADIZ, it is important that Japan work closely with the United States in taking strategic measures against China.
防空識別圏の問題を巡っては、米国との足並みをそろえながら、中国に戦略的に働きかけることが肝要である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 6, 2013)
（2013年12月6日01時26分 読売新聞）
President Xi must pay heed to Japan, U.S. concerns over ADIZ
中国防空識別圏 習主席は日米の懸念に応えよ（12月6日付・読売社説）
China must take seriously the explicit declarations by Japan and the United States of their intentions regarding Beijing’s announcement of its new air defense identification zone.
日米両国の明確な意思表示を中国は重く受け止めるべきだ。
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday in Beijing, declaring that the United States does not recognize or accept the ADIZ recently established by China over the East China Sea, expressing Washington’s “significant apprehension.”
米国のバイデン副大統領が、中国の習近平国家主席と北京で会談し、東シナ海に設定された中国の防空識別圏を認めないと述べた上で「深い懸念」を表明した。
In the talks, Biden reportedly called for Beijing to take measures to reduce tensions with countries concerned, prodding the Chinese leadership to exercise self-restraint to prevent a crisis over the zone.
バイデン氏はさらに、中国に対し、関係国との緊張緩和に向けた措置を取り、この問題で危機を誘発するような行動を自制するよう要請したという。
Both of Biden’s calls were in line with what was confirmed in his talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the previous day.
いずれも、安倍首相との会談で確認した内容に沿ったものだ。
It was especially significant that Biden conveyed directly to Xi the strong sense of apprehension both Japan and the United States have over the way China declared the ADIZ and the rules of its implementation, which both Tokyo and Washington said deviate from international norms.
中国の防空識別圏の設定の仕方や運用が国際常識から外れているとの日米両国の強い懸念を、習氏に直接伝えた点に意味がある。
In declaring the ADIZ, which changes the status quo in the East China Sea, China failed to consult with countries concerned beforehand. Rather, it unilaterally implemented the zone and abruptly announced it.
中国は、現状を変更する識別圏設定に当たり、周辺国との事前調整をせず、一方的に発表した。
The means by which China implemented the new ADIZ strays from implementation protocol for air defense identification zones of other countries.
その運用方法も、国際社会のやり方とは大きく異なっている。
In the ADIZs of countries other than China, including Japan, only aircraft found to be heading toward the countries’ territorial airspace are subject to alert. China, however, made it mandatory for all aircraft passing through its new ADIZ to report flight plans to Chinese authorities. Also, Beijing has warned it will make planes that fail to comply with its ADIZ rules subject to unspecified “defensive emergency measures.”
日本などの防空識別圏では、領空に向かう航空機だけが警戒の対象となる。だが、中国は、識別圏内を飛行する全航空機に、飛行計画の提出を義務付けたばかりか、従わないと、「防御的緊急措置」の対象になると警告している。
Dangerous mind-set
Although most of the ADIZ is set above high seas, China’s warning is tantamount to treating the zone as part of its own airspace. We believe this is an illegitimate and dangerous mode of thinking.
識別圏の大半は公海上空に設定されているのに、自らの領空のように扱っている。不当かつ極めて危険な考え方である。
In reply to calls from Biden, Xi was cited as reiterating China’s “principled stance” that its new ADIZ was established “in accord with international law and practice.” Does China intend to continue treating its air zone in its own fashion?
バイデン氏に対し、習氏は、中国の「原則的な立場」を繰り返し、識別圏は「国際法や国際慣例に合致している」と述べたという。識別圏を引き続き、自己流で運用し続けるつもりなのだろうか。
As long as China takes such an attitude, it will never win the understanding of countries concerned, including Japan and the United States. First, Beijing should do away with its hard-line stance, which could invite the risk of an accidental military conflict.
こうした態度では、日米をはじめ関係国の理解は得られまい。中国は、偶発的な軍事衝突を引き起こしかねない強硬な姿勢を、まず改める必要がある。
In his talks with Xi, Biden was also quoted as calling for China to create a crisis management mechanism in cooperation with Japan, with which China has an ongoing sovereignty row over the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, and other countries surrounding the new air zone.
バイデン氏は習氏に、不測の事態を回避するために、沖縄県・尖閣諸島をめぐり対立する日本や周辺国と危機管理メカニズムを構築するよう促した。
It is crucial to expedite the opening up of communication channels among the countries concerned. The Chinese government has made an overture to the Japanese government to hold consultations with the aim of “securing safe flights” in the airspace where the two countries’ ADIZs overlap.
関係国間で、意思の疎通を図ることは欠かせない。中国政府も日本に対して、「識別圏が重なっている空域での安全な飛行」のための協議を呼びかけている。
We worry, however, that in the process of such consultations, China will insist that Japan acknowledge China’s ADIZ, including airspace over the Senkakus, as if it were a fait accompli.
ただ、気がかりなのは、話し合いの過程で、中国が、尖閣諸島上空を含む自らの防空識別圏を既成事実であるかのように主張してくると見られることだ。
Even if such consultations take place, Japan must not give up its stance of refusing to recognize China’s declaration of the air defense identification zone.
協議を行う場合でも、識別圏を認めないとの立場を崩してはならない。
In dealing with the ADIZ, it is important that Japan work closely with the United States in taking strategic measures against China.
防空識別圏の問題を巡っては、米国との足並みをそろえながら、中国に戦略的に働きかけることが肝要である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 6, 2013)
（2013年12月6日01時26分 読売新聞）
PR
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 6, 2013
Encouraging men to take child-care leave would benefit society
男性の育児休業 働く母親支える環境作りを（12月5日付・読売社説）
Increasing the amount of child-care leave taken by men will help create a social environment more conducive to child-rearing.
男性の育児休業をより増やすことが、社会全体で子育てを支援する環境作りにもなるだろう。
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has started discussions highly likely to result in raising the child-care benefits paid through employment insurance.
厚生労働省が、雇用保険から育児休業の取得者に支払われる給付額を増額する方向で検討に入った。
The anticipated change is designed to increase the number of working men who take child-care leave. Fewer than 2 percent do so now.
わずか２％足らずの男性の育児休業取得率を引き上げるのが目的だ。
The ministry plans to submit a bill to revise the Employment Insurance Law to the ordinary Diet session next year.
来年の通常国会に雇用保険法改正案を提出する。
Under the current system, a working couple is able to take child-care leave, in principle, until their baby is 14 months old if the leave is taken by only one parent at a time. A parent taking leave is entitled to receive benefits worth 50 percent of the wages earned before taking the leave.
育児休業は、夫婦がそれぞれ取得する場合、原則として、子供が１歳２か月になるまで認められる仕組みだ。その間、休業前賃金の５０％が支給される。
The government is likely to raise the child-care leave benefit to 67 percent of wages for at least the first six-month period for each parent.
政府は、この育児休業給付を最初の半年に限って６７％に引き上げる方針だ。
For example, if a new mother takes two months of maternity leave after giving birth, followed by child-care leave for six months, and then her husband takes child-care leave for the next six months, the couple would be assured of a full year of child-care benefits worth 67 percent of the wages of whichever parent was taking leave at the time.
例えば、妻が子供が２か月になるまで産休を取った後に半年育児休業を取得し、続いて夫も半年の育児休業に入れば、１年間は６７％を維持できる。
The government hopes that by boosting such economic assistance, the child-care leave taken by men will increase.
政府は、こうした経済的な支援の強化によって男性の育児休業が増えると期待している。
Companies must help
Yet there is also a sense of unwillingness in business circles.
だが、経済界には抵抗感もある。
While the central government pays for a little under 7 percent of the child-care leave benefit, the rest is to be covered by insurance for which employers and employees pay equally. Therefore, the increase in the benefit is likely to raise the financial burden on both labor and management.
育児休業給付の７％弱は国が負担し、残りを事業主と被保険者である労働者が折半するため、給付増で労使の負担が増すことになりかねないからである。
It is also unlikely that a hike in child-care leave benefits alone will be sufficient to increase the amount of child-care leave taken by men.
育児休業給付の増額だけで男性の休業取得が増える、とも考えにくい。
An opinion survey taken by the ministry found that men most often cited “workplace atmosphere” as a reason for not taking child-care leave.
厚労省の実施した世論調査によると、男性が育児休業を取得しなかった理由としては、「職場の雰囲気」が最も多かった。
If more working men were to take child-care leave, even for a very short period, it would give mental support to working women. We think it important for businesses to understand this well and to start creating environments in which men feel it is easier to take their child-care leave.
短期間でも男性が育児のために休暇を取るようになれば、働く女性の精神的な支えとなろう。企業がそれをよく理解し、休業を取得しやすい環境作りから始めていくことが大切ではないか。
At leading consumer products maker Kao Corp., winner of the grand prize of the “Ikumen Company Award 2013,” the rate of men taking child-rearing leave has been hovering in the 35-40 percent range in recent years. (“Ikumen” is a recently coined word for fathers who actively take part in raising children.)
厚労省の「イクメン企業アワード」のグランプリを受賞した日用品メーカーの花王では、近年の男性社員の育児休業取得率は、３５～４０％で推移している。
The company has established a system of giving its male employees fully paid child-care leave for up to five days. It encourages them to take the leave more actively by holding seminars. Although the average period of child-care leave taken by male employees is only 11 days, the company said its employees’ attitudes have been changing.
最高５日間の有給の休業制度を設けたほか、セミナーを開催するなど積極的な活用を呼びかけてきたという。男性の取得期間の平均は１１日間と短いものの、社員の意識も変わってきている。
Since earlier this year, the Tokyo Stock Exchange has selected listed companies that excel at utilizing women, calling these companies “Nadeshiko issues” and recommending their stock to potential investors. The rate of male workers taking child-care leave is one yardstick for the TSE’s selection.
東京証券取引所では、今年から女性を積極的に活用する企業を選定し、「なでしこ銘柄」として推奨している。男性の育児休業取得率も選定基準の一つだ。
Hiroshima Prefecture Gov. Hidehiko Yuzaki provided another positive example with his announcement that he was taking child-care leave himself, apparently pushing up the rate of men taking such leave at companies in the prefecture to 7 percent.
広島県のように知事の「育休宣言」が一つのきっかけとなり、県内企業の男性の育児休業取得率が７％にまで伸びた例もある。
Measures to deal with the low birth rate are a matter of urgency.
少子化対策は喫緊の課題だ。
Both the public and private sectors need to consider ways to broadly support child-rearing, including the child-care leave taken by men.
男性の育児休業も含め、官民で幅広い子育て支援策を考えたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 5, 2013)
（2013年12月5日01時50分 読売新聞）
Encouraging men to take child-care leave would benefit society
男性の育児休業 働く母親支える環境作りを（12月5日付・読売社説）
Increasing the amount of child-care leave taken by men will help create a social environment more conducive to child-rearing.
男性の育児休業をより増やすことが、社会全体で子育てを支援する環境作りにもなるだろう。
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has started discussions highly likely to result in raising the child-care benefits paid through employment insurance.
厚生労働省が、雇用保険から育児休業の取得者に支払われる給付額を増額する方向で検討に入った。
The anticipated change is designed to increase the number of working men who take child-care leave. Fewer than 2 percent do so now.
わずか２％足らずの男性の育児休業取得率を引き上げるのが目的だ。
The ministry plans to submit a bill to revise the Employment Insurance Law to the ordinary Diet session next year.
来年の通常国会に雇用保険法改正案を提出する。
Under the current system, a working couple is able to take child-care leave, in principle, until their baby is 14 months old if the leave is taken by only one parent at a time. A parent taking leave is entitled to receive benefits worth 50 percent of the wages earned before taking the leave.
育児休業は、夫婦がそれぞれ取得する場合、原則として、子供が１歳２か月になるまで認められる仕組みだ。その間、休業前賃金の５０％が支給される。
The government is likely to raise the child-care leave benefit to 67 percent of wages for at least the first six-month period for each parent.
政府は、この育児休業給付を最初の半年に限って６７％に引き上げる方針だ。
For example, if a new mother takes two months of maternity leave after giving birth, followed by child-care leave for six months, and then her husband takes child-care leave for the next six months, the couple would be assured of a full year of child-care benefits worth 67 percent of the wages of whichever parent was taking leave at the time.
例えば、妻が子供が２か月になるまで産休を取った後に半年育児休業を取得し、続いて夫も半年の育児休業に入れば、１年間は６７％を維持できる。
The government hopes that by boosting such economic assistance, the child-care leave taken by men will increase.
政府は、こうした経済的な支援の強化によって男性の育児休業が増えると期待している。
Companies must help
Yet there is also a sense of unwillingness in business circles.
だが、経済界には抵抗感もある。
While the central government pays for a little under 7 percent of the child-care leave benefit, the rest is to be covered by insurance for which employers and employees pay equally. Therefore, the increase in the benefit is likely to raise the financial burden on both labor and management.
育児休業給付の７％弱は国が負担し、残りを事業主と被保険者である労働者が折半するため、給付増で労使の負担が増すことになりかねないからである。
It is also unlikely that a hike in child-care leave benefits alone will be sufficient to increase the amount of child-care leave taken by men.
育児休業給付の増額だけで男性の休業取得が増える、とも考えにくい。
An opinion survey taken by the ministry found that men most often cited “workplace atmosphere” as a reason for not taking child-care leave.
厚労省の実施した世論調査によると、男性が育児休業を取得しなかった理由としては、「職場の雰囲気」が最も多かった。
If more working men were to take child-care leave, even for a very short period, it would give mental support to working women. We think it important for businesses to understand this well and to start creating environments in which men feel it is easier to take their child-care leave.
短期間でも男性が育児のために休暇を取るようになれば、働く女性の精神的な支えとなろう。企業がそれをよく理解し、休業を取得しやすい環境作りから始めていくことが大切ではないか。
At leading consumer products maker Kao Corp., winner of the grand prize of the “Ikumen Company Award 2013,” the rate of men taking child-rearing leave has been hovering in the 35-40 percent range in recent years. (“Ikumen” is a recently coined word for fathers who actively take part in raising children.)
厚労省の「イクメン企業アワード」のグランプリを受賞した日用品メーカーの花王では、近年の男性社員の育児休業取得率は、３５～４０％で推移している。
The company has established a system of giving its male employees fully paid child-care leave for up to five days. It encourages them to take the leave more actively by holding seminars. Although the average period of child-care leave taken by male employees is only 11 days, the company said its employees’ attitudes have been changing.
最高５日間の有給の休業制度を設けたほか、セミナーを開催するなど積極的な活用を呼びかけてきたという。男性の取得期間の平均は１１日間と短いものの、社員の意識も変わってきている。
Since earlier this year, the Tokyo Stock Exchange has selected listed companies that excel at utilizing women, calling these companies “Nadeshiko issues” and recommending their stock to potential investors. The rate of male workers taking child-care leave is one yardstick for the TSE’s selection.
東京証券取引所では、今年から女性を積極的に活用する企業を選定し、「なでしこ銘柄」として推奨している。男性の育児休業取得率も選定基準の一つだ。
Hiroshima Prefecture Gov. Hidehiko Yuzaki provided another positive example with his announcement that he was taking child-care leave himself, apparently pushing up the rate of men taking such leave at companies in the prefecture to 7 percent.
広島県のように知事の「育休宣言」が一つのきっかけとなり、県内企業の男性の育児休業取得率が７％にまで伸びた例もある。
Measures to deal with the low birth rate are a matter of urgency.
少子化対策は喫緊の課題だ。
Both the public and private sectors need to consider ways to broadly support child-rearing, including the child-care leave taken by men.
男性の育児休業も含め、官民で幅広い子育て支援策を考えたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 5, 2013)
（2013年12月5日01時50分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 5, 2013
Japan, U.S. must reinforce alliance to deal with China’s forceful methods
バイデン氏来日 対中国で日米同盟強める時だ（12月4日付・読売社説）
We heartily applaud the clear political message sent from a high diplomatic level that Japan and the United States will not tolerate any self-righteous step taken by China.
中国による独善的な措置は認めない、という明確な政治的メッセージを高いレベルで発信したことを評価したい。
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday held talks in Tokyo. They agreed both countries would not recognize China’s newly established air defense identification zone, which they called an “attempt by China to change status quo unilaterally by force,” and would cooperate closely on the issue.
安倍首相とバイデン米副大統領が東京で会談し中国の防空識別圏設定について、中国の「力による一方的な現状変更の試み」を黙認せず、日米が緊密に連携する方針で一致した。
They also confirmed they “will not condone any action that could threaten [the] safety of civilian aircraft.”
「民間機の安全を脅かす行動は許容しない」ことも確認した。
Biden is expected to present the opinions of Japan and the United States when he holds talks Wednesday with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
バイデン氏は４日の中国の習近平国家主席との会談で、こうした日米の考えを提起する予定だ。
Allowing China’s latest move to go unchallenged could set a bad precedent, as China is using strong-arm methods to back up its own assertions. This would send a message that China might misconstrue.
今回の措置を看過すれば、中国が強引な手法で主張を押し通すという悪(あ)しき前例を残しかねず、中国に誤ったシグナルを送る。
To halt Chinese diplomatic moves that deviate from existing international rules and threaten the regional peace and stability of Asia, it is vital that Japan and the United States reinforce their alliance and calibrate their diplomatic policies.
既存の国際規範を逸脱し、アジアの平和と安定を脅かす中国外交に歯止めをかけるには、日米両国が同盟関係を強化し、外交政策を調整することが欠かせない。
The Japanese version of the U.S. National Security Council, which is to be launched Wednesday, should assume a pivotal role in this task.
４日に発足する国家安全保障会議（日本版ＮＳＣ）がその中核的な役割を担うべきだろう。
It is also important to seek support on this issue not only with South Korea, whose air defense zone overlaps with the one China is claiming, but also with countries in Southeast Asia and Europe. A broad consensus must be built, based on the conviction that ensuring China abides by international rules is a common challenge for the global community.
防空識別圏が重なる韓国だけでなく、東南アジアや欧州各国とも共同歩調を取ることも大切だ。中国に規範を守らせることが、国際社会の共通課題だという幅広い合意形成を図らねばならない。
Move Futenma issue forward
During their talks, Abe and Biden confirmed they would “push forward with a strong resolve” the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station to the Henoko district in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture.
会談では、米軍普天間飛行場の辺野古移設について「強い決意で進める」方針を確認した。
The Futenma issue has been like a splinter stuck in the Japan-U.S. alliance since 1996. If Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima approves land reclamation necessary for the relocation off the Henoko district, the issue will take a great step forward. The issue is at a crucial juncture.
普天間問題は、１９９６年以来、日米同盟に突き刺さったトゲのような存在だ。沖縄県の仲井真弘多知事から辺野古埋め立ての承認を得られれば、問題は大きく進展するだけに、今が正念場である。
Making the relocation to Henoko a reality will eliminate the possibility of the Futenma base remaining where it is for years and years, and also accelerate the planned transfer of U.S. marines stationed in Okinawa Prefecture to Guam.
辺野古移設の実現は、普天間飛行場の長期の固定化を避けるだけでなく、在沖縄海兵隊のグアム移転も加速する効果を持とう。
Biden also emphasized that Washington would cooperate with Japan so the Futenma base can be moved soon.
バイデン氏は、米側も早期移設に協力する考えを強調した。
To create conditions in which Nakaima would find it easier to approve the reclamation, both Tokyo and Washington must do more to quickly alleviate Okinawa Prefecture’s burden of hosting U.S. military bases. Steps for this could include agreeing to allow prior on-site inspections of U.S. bases planned to be returned to the prefecture, and partially lifting restrictions in waters U.S. forces use for training exercises.
知事が承認しやすい環境整備のため、日米両政府は、米軍訓練海域の一部制限解除に加え、返還予定の基地への事前立ち入り調査の合意など、沖縄県の基地負担軽減策の具体化を急ぐ必要がある。
Abe and Biden agreed both countries would continue cooperating on a process to conclude Trans-Pacific Partnership trade accord negotiations by the end of the year.
環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉に関して、首相と副大統領は、年内の妥結へ道筋をつける方向で協力を続けることで合意した。
However, Japan is poised to refuse the total scrapping of tariffs on items in five key categories of rice, wheat and other farm products, leaving the talks between Japan and the United States with nowhere to go.
ただ、日本は、コメや麦など農産品の重要５項目の全面的な関税撤廃には応じない方針で、日米協議は平行線が続いている。
It is important for Japan to aim at concluding the TPP talks by reminding itself from a broader perspective that, while maintaining tariffs that are vital for Japan, reaching an agreement as a whole would serve the common interests of the 12 participating countries.
日本としては、守るべき関税は守りつつ、ＴＰＰ交渉全体の妥結は参加１２か国の共通の利益となるとの大局的観点を忘れず、交渉決着を目指すことが重要である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 4, 2013)
（2013年12月4日01時50分 読売新聞）
Japan, U.S. must reinforce alliance to deal with China’s forceful methods
バイデン氏来日 対中国で日米同盟強める時だ（12月4日付・読売社説）
We heartily applaud the clear political message sent from a high diplomatic level that Japan and the United States will not tolerate any self-righteous step taken by China.
中国による独善的な措置は認めない、という明確な政治的メッセージを高いレベルで発信したことを評価したい。
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday held talks in Tokyo. They agreed both countries would not recognize China’s newly established air defense identification zone, which they called an “attempt by China to change status quo unilaterally by force,” and would cooperate closely on the issue.
安倍首相とバイデン米副大統領が東京で会談し中国の防空識別圏設定について、中国の「力による一方的な現状変更の試み」を黙認せず、日米が緊密に連携する方針で一致した。
They also confirmed they “will not condone any action that could threaten [the] safety of civilian aircraft.”
「民間機の安全を脅かす行動は許容しない」ことも確認した。
Biden is expected to present the opinions of Japan and the United States when he holds talks Wednesday with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
バイデン氏は４日の中国の習近平国家主席との会談で、こうした日米の考えを提起する予定だ。
Allowing China’s latest move to go unchallenged could set a bad precedent, as China is using strong-arm methods to back up its own assertions. This would send a message that China might misconstrue.
今回の措置を看過すれば、中国が強引な手法で主張を押し通すという悪(あ)しき前例を残しかねず、中国に誤ったシグナルを送る。
To halt Chinese diplomatic moves that deviate from existing international rules and threaten the regional peace and stability of Asia, it is vital that Japan and the United States reinforce their alliance and calibrate their diplomatic policies.
既存の国際規範を逸脱し、アジアの平和と安定を脅かす中国外交に歯止めをかけるには、日米両国が同盟関係を強化し、外交政策を調整することが欠かせない。
The Japanese version of the U.S. National Security Council, which is to be launched Wednesday, should assume a pivotal role in this task.
４日に発足する国家安全保障会議（日本版ＮＳＣ）がその中核的な役割を担うべきだろう。
It is also important to seek support on this issue not only with South Korea, whose air defense zone overlaps with the one China is claiming, but also with countries in Southeast Asia and Europe. A broad consensus must be built, based on the conviction that ensuring China abides by international rules is a common challenge for the global community.
防空識別圏が重なる韓国だけでなく、東南アジアや欧州各国とも共同歩調を取ることも大切だ。中国に規範を守らせることが、国際社会の共通課題だという幅広い合意形成を図らねばならない。
Move Futenma issue forward
During their talks, Abe and Biden confirmed they would “push forward with a strong resolve” the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station to the Henoko district in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture.
会談では、米軍普天間飛行場の辺野古移設について「強い決意で進める」方針を確認した。
The Futenma issue has been like a splinter stuck in the Japan-U.S. alliance since 1996. If Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima approves land reclamation necessary for the relocation off the Henoko district, the issue will take a great step forward. The issue is at a crucial juncture.
普天間問題は、１９９６年以来、日米同盟に突き刺さったトゲのような存在だ。沖縄県の仲井真弘多知事から辺野古埋め立ての承認を得られれば、問題は大きく進展するだけに、今が正念場である。
Making the relocation to Henoko a reality will eliminate the possibility of the Futenma base remaining where it is for years and years, and also accelerate the planned transfer of U.S. marines stationed in Okinawa Prefecture to Guam.
辺野古移設の実現は、普天間飛行場の長期の固定化を避けるだけでなく、在沖縄海兵隊のグアム移転も加速する効果を持とう。
Biden also emphasized that Washington would cooperate with Japan so the Futenma base can be moved soon.
バイデン氏は、米側も早期移設に協力する考えを強調した。
To create conditions in which Nakaima would find it easier to approve the reclamation, both Tokyo and Washington must do more to quickly alleviate Okinawa Prefecture’s burden of hosting U.S. military bases. Steps for this could include agreeing to allow prior on-site inspections of U.S. bases planned to be returned to the prefecture, and partially lifting restrictions in waters U.S. forces use for training exercises.
知事が承認しやすい環境整備のため、日米両政府は、米軍訓練海域の一部制限解除に加え、返還予定の基地への事前立ち入り調査の合意など、沖縄県の基地負担軽減策の具体化を急ぐ必要がある。
Abe and Biden agreed both countries would continue cooperating on a process to conclude Trans-Pacific Partnership trade accord negotiations by the end of the year.
環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉に関して、首相と副大統領は、年内の妥結へ道筋をつける方向で協力を続けることで合意した。
However, Japan is poised to refuse the total scrapping of tariffs on items in five key categories of rice, wheat and other farm products, leaving the talks between Japan and the United States with nowhere to go.
ただ、日本は、コメや麦など農産品の重要５項目の全面的な関税撤廃には応じない方針で、日米協議は平行線が続いている。
It is important for Japan to aim at concluding the TPP talks by reminding itself from a broader perspective that, while maintaining tariffs that are vital for Japan, reaching an agreement as a whole would serve the common interests of the 12 participating countries.
日本としては、守るべき関税は守りつつ、ＴＰＰ交渉全体の妥結は参加１２か国の共通の利益となるとの大局的観点を忘れず、交渉決着を目指すことが重要である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 4, 2013)
（2013年12月4日01時50分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 4, 2013
Review of taxation must also be discussed in pension system reform
年金制度改革 課税の見直しも議論したい（12月3日付・読売社説）
Finding ways to alleviate the sense of unfairness regarding financial burdens to be shared by pensioners and working generations is a crucial challenge for the nation that must be tackled to maintain the pension system with limited fiscal resources.
年金受給者と勤労世代の間にある負担の不公平感をいかに和らげるか。限られた財源の中で、年金制度を維持するために重要な課題である。
A bill that will set the procedures for a package of social security system reform programs is likely to pass the current session of the Diet. But the bill only says that pension system reform is necessary. The government must step up efforts to study ways to create a solid system and a timetable for its implementation.
社会保障制度改革の手順を定める「プログラム」法案は、今国会で成立する見通しだ。ただ、年金改革については、その必要性を明記するにとどまっている。政府は具体的な制度設計と実施時期の検討を急がねばならない。
In its August report, the National Council on Social Security System Reform, which laid the foundation for the bill, pointed out that “even the elderly must be asked to sustain the system in accordance with their burden-sharing ability.”
この法案の土台となった社会保障制度改革国民会議は、８月の報告書で「高齢者にも、負担能力に応じて制度の支え手になってもらうべきだ」と指摘している。
Pension payments amount to about ¥52 trillion, which is about half of social welfare spending. Welfare expenses are anticipated to increase year after year as the population ages. To ensure the system remains stable, pension benefits and payment burdens must be reexamined.
年金給付額は社会保障費の半分に当たる約５２兆円に上る。高齢化で社会保障費は年々増えていく。制度を安定させるには、給付と負担の見直しが欠かせない。
One concrete reform step would be to bolster pension taxation on high-income earners.
改革の具体策の一つが、高所得者に対する年金課税の強化だ。
For example, in the case of single people aged 65 or older who receive public pensions, at least ¥1.2 million is deducted when their tax payment is calculated. No income tax is imposed on a married couple when their annual income is no more than about ¥2.05 million.
例えば、公的年金を受給している６５歳以上の高齢者には、課税の際、最低でも１２０万円の控除が適用される。夫婦世帯では通常、年金収入が年間約２０５万円までなら所得税がかからない。
In the case of salaried workers, however, total tax deductions from their income amounts to ¥650,000, and the minimum taxable income is set as low as about ¥1.57 million.
一方、サラリーマンの給与所得控除は６５万円で、課税最低限は年収１５７万円程度と低い。
Unfair taxation
Many people, including low-income irregular workers who pay taxes while supporting their families, apparently consider the current situation, in which no tax is levied on pensioners even with the same amount of income as theirs, as unfair.
低賃金の非正規労働で家計を支えながら納税している人など、同じ年収でも年金受給者には課税されない現状を不公平に感じる人も少なくないのではないか。
Various measures for low-income earners are applied to pension-receiving households. For households with no resident tax imposed, their nursing care insurance premiums are reduced. In addition, a lower financial ceiling is set on treatment expenses they must pay to medical institutions.
非課税の年金受給世帯には様々な低所得者対策も適用される。住民税非課税世帯の場合、介護保険料の軽減措置を受けられる上、医療機関に支払う治療費の限度額も低く設定されている。
However, many senior citizens possess a large amount of assets even if their income is low. It would not be proper to regard tax-exempt pensioners in the same way as the socially vulnerable.
だが、低収入でも多額の資産を有する高齢者も多い。非課税の年金受給者を一律に社会的弱者とみなすのは適切ではなかろう。
Half of the basic pension is financed by state coffers. Even so, pension financing will remain difficult unless something is done. It is unavoidable to bolster taxation on pensioners to a certain extent so as not to impose an excessive burden on working generations.
基礎年金の２分の１は国庫負担で賄われているが、それでも、このままでは年金財政は厳しい。現役世代の負担を過重にしないためにも、年金受給者に対する一定の課税強化はやむを得まい。
Raising the age for beginning to receive pension payments is also a major challenge.
年金の支給開始年齢の引き上げも大きな課題である。
The age of people entitled to receive corporate employees pension benefits will be raised, in phases, to 65.
The United States, Britain and Germany have already decided to raise the entitlement age to 67 or 68.
厚生年金を受け取れる年齢は段階的に６５歳に引き上げられているが、米英やドイツは既に６７～６８歳への引き上げを決めている。
However, the population is aging faster in Japan than in these three countries. Raising the starting age for pension payments, therefore, is an inevitable course of action that Japan must take.
日本は、これらの国より高齢化が進んでいる。支給開始年齢の引き上げは避けられないだろう。
The next national election will be held almost three years from now at the latest. The ruling and opposition parties should work tenaciously and earnestly toward building a consensus on pension system reform.
次期国政選挙まで最大３年近く時間がある。与野党は、じっくりと腰を据えて合意形成への道を探るべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 3, 2013)
（2013年12月3日01時34分 読売新聞）
Review of taxation must also be discussed in pension system reform
年金制度改革 課税の見直しも議論したい（12月3日付・読売社説）
Finding ways to alleviate the sense of unfairness regarding financial burdens to be shared by pensioners and working generations is a crucial challenge for the nation that must be tackled to maintain the pension system with limited fiscal resources.
年金受給者と勤労世代の間にある負担の不公平感をいかに和らげるか。限られた財源の中で、年金制度を維持するために重要な課題である。
A bill that will set the procedures for a package of social security system reform programs is likely to pass the current session of the Diet. But the bill only says that pension system reform is necessary. The government must step up efforts to study ways to create a solid system and a timetable for its implementation.
社会保障制度改革の手順を定める「プログラム」法案は、今国会で成立する見通しだ。ただ、年金改革については、その必要性を明記するにとどまっている。政府は具体的な制度設計と実施時期の検討を急がねばならない。
In its August report, the National Council on Social Security System Reform, which laid the foundation for the bill, pointed out that “even the elderly must be asked to sustain the system in accordance with their burden-sharing ability.”
この法案の土台となった社会保障制度改革国民会議は、８月の報告書で「高齢者にも、負担能力に応じて制度の支え手になってもらうべきだ」と指摘している。
Pension payments amount to about ¥52 trillion, which is about half of social welfare spending. Welfare expenses are anticipated to increase year after year as the population ages. To ensure the system remains stable, pension benefits and payment burdens must be reexamined.
年金給付額は社会保障費の半分に当たる約５２兆円に上る。高齢化で社会保障費は年々増えていく。制度を安定させるには、給付と負担の見直しが欠かせない。
One concrete reform step would be to bolster pension taxation on high-income earners.
改革の具体策の一つが、高所得者に対する年金課税の強化だ。
For example, in the case of single people aged 65 or older who receive public pensions, at least ¥1.2 million is deducted when their tax payment is calculated. No income tax is imposed on a married couple when their annual income is no more than about ¥2.05 million.
例えば、公的年金を受給している６５歳以上の高齢者には、課税の際、最低でも１２０万円の控除が適用される。夫婦世帯では通常、年金収入が年間約２０５万円までなら所得税がかからない。
In the case of salaried workers, however, total tax deductions from their income amounts to ¥650,000, and the minimum taxable income is set as low as about ¥1.57 million.
一方、サラリーマンの給与所得控除は６５万円で、課税最低限は年収１５７万円程度と低い。
Unfair taxation
Many people, including low-income irregular workers who pay taxes while supporting their families, apparently consider the current situation, in which no tax is levied on pensioners even with the same amount of income as theirs, as unfair.
低賃金の非正規労働で家計を支えながら納税している人など、同じ年収でも年金受給者には課税されない現状を不公平に感じる人も少なくないのではないか。
Various measures for low-income earners are applied to pension-receiving households. For households with no resident tax imposed, their nursing care insurance premiums are reduced. In addition, a lower financial ceiling is set on treatment expenses they must pay to medical institutions.
非課税の年金受給世帯には様々な低所得者対策も適用される。住民税非課税世帯の場合、介護保険料の軽減措置を受けられる上、医療機関に支払う治療費の限度額も低く設定されている。
However, many senior citizens possess a large amount of assets even if their income is low. It would not be proper to regard tax-exempt pensioners in the same way as the socially vulnerable.
だが、低収入でも多額の資産を有する高齢者も多い。非課税の年金受給者を一律に社会的弱者とみなすのは適切ではなかろう。
Half of the basic pension is financed by state coffers. Even so, pension financing will remain difficult unless something is done. It is unavoidable to bolster taxation on pensioners to a certain extent so as not to impose an excessive burden on working generations.
基礎年金の２分の１は国庫負担で賄われているが、それでも、このままでは年金財政は厳しい。現役世代の負担を過重にしないためにも、年金受給者に対する一定の課税強化はやむを得まい。
Raising the age for beginning to receive pension payments is also a major challenge.
年金の支給開始年齢の引き上げも大きな課題である。
The age of people entitled to receive corporate employees pension benefits will be raised, in phases, to 65.
The United States, Britain and Germany have already decided to raise the entitlement age to 67 or 68.
厚生年金を受け取れる年齢は段階的に６５歳に引き上げられているが、米英やドイツは既に６７～６８歳への引き上げを決めている。
However, the population is aging faster in Japan than in these three countries. Raising the starting age for pension payments, therefore, is an inevitable course of action that Japan must take.
日本は、これらの国より高齢化が進んでいる。支給開始年齢の引き上げは避けられないだろう。
The next national election will be held almost three years from now at the latest. The ruling and opposition parties should work tenaciously and earnestly toward building a consensus on pension system reform.
次期国政選挙まで最大３年近く時間がある。与野党は、じっくりと腰を据えて合意形成への道を探るべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 3, 2013)
（2013年12月3日01時34分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 3, 2013
Apply new law effectively to curb use of quasi-legal drugs by young people
脱法ドラッグ 規制強化で若者への蔓延防げ（12月2日付・読売社説）
The use of so-called quasi-legal drugs must be checked from spreading further among young people.
いわゆる「脱法ドラッグ」が若者の間にこれ以上、蔓延(まんえん)するのを食い止めなくてはならない。
A bill to revise the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law designed to ban the possession, use and purchase of these hazardous substances has passed through the House of Representatives.
脱法ドラッグの所持や使用、購入を禁止する薬事法改正案が衆院を通過した。
The bill provides for imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to ¥3 million for violations. It should be passed into law as soon as possible so its provisions can be enforced.
違反者には、３年以下の懲役または３００万円以下の罰金が科される。規制強化のため、早期の成立が望まれる。
Quasi-legal drugs are not subject to laws and regulations, despite the fact that people who use them hallucinate or develop other symptoms similar to those caused by narcotics or stimulant drugs.
脱法ドラッグとは、麻薬や覚醒剤に似た幻覚、興奮作用がありながら、法による取り締まりの対象にならない薬物を指す。
The drugs can cause serious health problems such as disturbed consciousness and breathing difficulty. There have been a spate of fatal cases. Last year, 209 people were taken to the hospital by ambulance in Tokyo alone after using the drugs, a marked increase from the 11 such cases in the previous year.
使用すると、意識障害、呼吸困難など深刻な健康被害を招く恐れがある。死亡例も相次いでいる。昨年は東京都内だけで２０９人が救急車で搬送され、前年の１１人から大幅に増えた。
In some cases, drivers who had used the drugs struck and killed pedestrians. In one case, a man who had used them intruded into the premises of a primary school and chased students around. The use of the drugs should be considered a threat to public safety.
吸引して車を運転し、歩行者を死亡させた例がある。小学校に侵入して児童を追い回す事件も起きた。治安面でも看過できない。
Also worrisome is the fact that the use of such substances has spread among minors.
未成年者に乱用が広がっていることも憂慮される。
According to a survey of about 50,000 middle school students, 120 said they have taken quasi-legal drugs. Sixty percent of the users said they also took stimulant drugs.
約５万人の中学生を対象に行われた調査では、１２０人が「脱法ドラッグを使った経験がある」と回答している。そのうち６割が覚醒剤を使用していた。
This shows quasi-legal drugs may be “gateway drugs,” as people who casually take them face a risk of eventually using narcotics and stimulant drugs.
脱法ドラッグが麻薬や覚醒剤に手を染める「入り口」になっていることを示すデータだ。
Measures urgently needed
To prevent young people from being trapped in a vicious circle of drug abuse and addiction, measures must be urgently taken.
若者が薬物依存の深みにはまるのを防ぐためにも、対策は急務である。
These substances are sold almost openly under such names of “legal herbs” and “legal aroma” in entertainment areas and on the Internet. Many of them can be bought for several thousand yen.
「合法ハーブ」「合法アロマ」などと称し、繁華街やインターネットで半ば公然と売られている。数千円で買えるものが多い。
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry categorizes quasi-legal drugs as “designated items” based on the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law. Currently, however, the drugs are regulated only for their production, import and sales.
厚生労働省は、脱法ドラッグを薬事法に基づく「指定薬物」としているが、規制の対象は現在、製造や輸入、販売に限っている。
Probably behind the abuse of such substances is the ease of their use, which so far has not been legally penalized. Punishing both sellers and users is appropriate. Penalties under the revised law are nearly as severe as those for violations of the Stimulant Drugs Control Law and the Narcotics Control Law.
使っても刑罰が及ばない気安さが、乱用の背景にあるのだろう。売る側だけでなく、使う側も処罰の対象とするのは適切な措置だ。法改正により、覚醒剤取締法や麻薬取締法に次いで重い罰則が科されることになる。
It is important to properly teach young people, both at home and at school, the danger and illegality of quasi-legal drugs.
家庭や学校で、脱法ドラッグの危険性や違法性について、きちんと教えることが大切だ。
Some illegal substances whose chemical structures have been slightly changed to avoid being categorized as illicit drugs have been put on the market one after another, frustrating authorities.
脱法ドラッグを巡っては、薬物指定を逃れるため、化学構造を少し変えた薬物が次々に登場し、イタチごっこが続いてきた。
This spring, the ministry imposed a comprehensive ban on substances that do not have the exact chemical structures as substances subject to punishment but share their primary components. The ban makes it possible for narcotics officers to apprehend violators.
厚労省は今春、類似薬物に一括して網をかける「包括指定」を導入した。麻薬取締官による摘発も可能にした。
If the revised bill is passed into law, the overall framework of regulations will have been changed to make it possible for related measures to be implemented steadily.
今回の改正案が成立すれば、規制の枠組みが整い、対策は着実に前進しよう。
The reinforcement of regulation is also considered an effective way to contain crime syndicates, which use drug trafficking as a source of funds.
薬物を資金源とする暴力団を封じ込めるためにも、規制強化は有効と言える。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 2, 2013)
（2013年12月2日02時06分 読売新聞）
Apply new law effectively to curb use of quasi-legal drugs by young people
脱法ドラッグ 規制強化で若者への蔓延防げ（12月2日付・読売社説）
The use of so-called quasi-legal drugs must be checked from spreading further among young people.
いわゆる「脱法ドラッグ」が若者の間にこれ以上、蔓延(まんえん)するのを食い止めなくてはならない。
A bill to revise the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law designed to ban the possession, use and purchase of these hazardous substances has passed through the House of Representatives.
脱法ドラッグの所持や使用、購入を禁止する薬事法改正案が衆院を通過した。
The bill provides for imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to ¥3 million for violations. It should be passed into law as soon as possible so its provisions can be enforced.
違反者には、３年以下の懲役または３００万円以下の罰金が科される。規制強化のため、早期の成立が望まれる。
Quasi-legal drugs are not subject to laws and regulations, despite the fact that people who use them hallucinate or develop other symptoms similar to those caused by narcotics or stimulant drugs.
脱法ドラッグとは、麻薬や覚醒剤に似た幻覚、興奮作用がありながら、法による取り締まりの対象にならない薬物を指す。
The drugs can cause serious health problems such as disturbed consciousness and breathing difficulty. There have been a spate of fatal cases. Last year, 209 people were taken to the hospital by ambulance in Tokyo alone after using the drugs, a marked increase from the 11 such cases in the previous year.
使用すると、意識障害、呼吸困難など深刻な健康被害を招く恐れがある。死亡例も相次いでいる。昨年は東京都内だけで２０９人が救急車で搬送され、前年の１１人から大幅に増えた。
In some cases, drivers who had used the drugs struck and killed pedestrians. In one case, a man who had used them intruded into the premises of a primary school and chased students around. The use of the drugs should be considered a threat to public safety.
吸引して車を運転し、歩行者を死亡させた例がある。小学校に侵入して児童を追い回す事件も起きた。治安面でも看過できない。
Also worrisome is the fact that the use of such substances has spread among minors.
未成年者に乱用が広がっていることも憂慮される。
According to a survey of about 50,000 middle school students, 120 said they have taken quasi-legal drugs. Sixty percent of the users said they also took stimulant drugs.
約５万人の中学生を対象に行われた調査では、１２０人が「脱法ドラッグを使った経験がある」と回答している。そのうち６割が覚醒剤を使用していた。
This shows quasi-legal drugs may be “gateway drugs,” as people who casually take them face a risk of eventually using narcotics and stimulant drugs.
脱法ドラッグが麻薬や覚醒剤に手を染める「入り口」になっていることを示すデータだ。
Measures urgently needed
To prevent young people from being trapped in a vicious circle of drug abuse and addiction, measures must be urgently taken.
若者が薬物依存の深みにはまるのを防ぐためにも、対策は急務である。
These substances are sold almost openly under such names of “legal herbs” and “legal aroma” in entertainment areas and on the Internet. Many of them can be bought for several thousand yen.
「合法ハーブ」「合法アロマ」などと称し、繁華街やインターネットで半ば公然と売られている。数千円で買えるものが多い。
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry categorizes quasi-legal drugs as “designated items” based on the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law. Currently, however, the drugs are regulated only for their production, import and sales.
厚生労働省は、脱法ドラッグを薬事法に基づく「指定薬物」としているが、規制の対象は現在、製造や輸入、販売に限っている。
Probably behind the abuse of such substances is the ease of their use, which so far has not been legally penalized. Punishing both sellers and users is appropriate. Penalties under the revised law are nearly as severe as those for violations of the Stimulant Drugs Control Law and the Narcotics Control Law.
使っても刑罰が及ばない気安さが、乱用の背景にあるのだろう。売る側だけでなく、使う側も処罰の対象とするのは適切な措置だ。法改正により、覚醒剤取締法や麻薬取締法に次いで重い罰則が科されることになる。
It is important to properly teach young people, both at home and at school, the danger and illegality of quasi-legal drugs.
家庭や学校で、脱法ドラッグの危険性や違法性について、きちんと教えることが大切だ。
Some illegal substances whose chemical structures have been slightly changed to avoid being categorized as illicit drugs have been put on the market one after another, frustrating authorities.
脱法ドラッグを巡っては、薬物指定を逃れるため、化学構造を少し変えた薬物が次々に登場し、イタチごっこが続いてきた。
This spring, the ministry imposed a comprehensive ban on substances that do not have the exact chemical structures as substances subject to punishment but share their primary components. The ban makes it possible for narcotics officers to apprehend violators.
厚労省は今春、類似薬物に一括して網をかける「包括指定」を導入した。麻薬取締官による摘発も可能にした。
If the revised bill is passed into law, the overall framework of regulations will have been changed to make it possible for related measures to be implemented steadily.
今回の改正案が成立すれば、規制の枠組みが整い、対策は着実に前進しよう。
The reinforcement of regulation is also considered an effective way to contain crime syndicates, which use drug trafficking as a source of funds.
薬物を資金源とする暴力団を封じ込めるためにも、規制強化は有効と言える。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 2, 2013)
（2013年12月2日02時06分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 2, 2013
Stronger penalties against dangerous driving must help deter road tragedies
危険運転処罰法 悲惨な事故減らす「抑止力」に（12月1日付・読売社説）
A new law—the law on penalties for injury or death inflicted by motor vehicle operators—has been enacted to make punishments stiffer against such reckless, serious driving offenses as drunk driving.
酒酔いなど、悪質な運転で死傷事故を起こした際の刑罰を重くする自動車運転死傷行為処罰法が成立した。来年５月までに施行される。
The law, which will take effect in May 2014, should serve as a turning point in reducing the number of victims in traffic accidents caused by dangerous driving.
危険運転による事故の犠牲者を減らす契機としたい。
The enactment of the law means the revamping of the judicial system regarding dangerous driving. Stipulations in the Penal Code regarding “penalties against dangerous driving resulting in injury or death” have been separated in the new law and the sphere of application has been expanded significantly.
今回の立法措置は、危険運転に関わる法体系を見直したものだ。刑法の危険運転致死傷罪を新法に移し、適用範囲を広げた。
Under the Penal Code, a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment for injury or death due to dangerous driving, such as under the influence of alcohol or drugs, was handed down only when it could be substantiated that the driver was “in a state in which the ability to safely operate a vehicle is seriously impeded” at the time of an accident.
最高刑が懲役２０年の危険運転致死傷罪は、飲酒や薬物摂取で、運転手が「正常な運転が困難な状態」であることが適用条件だ。
Judging whether a driver’s ability was “seriously impeded” was extremely difficult for law-enforcement authorities, and dangerous driving cases under the Penal Code were strictly limited to offenses when the driver was totally inebriated.
しかし、「困難な状態」だったかどうかの線引きは難しく、泥酔状態での運転など立件されるケースは限られていた。
This resulted in drivers—regardless of the grave accidents they caused—facing the lesser charge of “negligence resulting in injury or death,” the maximum penalty for which is seven years in prison.
Many victims and bereaved families understandably criticized the law as far too lenient.
悪質な運転にもかかわらず、懲役７年の自動車運転過失致死傷罪となることが多く、被害者側は刑罰が軽すぎると批判していた。
The new law will make it possible to expand the definition of dangerous driving when an accident is caused by a person behind the wheel whose “ability to drive normally is impeded.” Driving offenses in this category are subject to prison sentences up to 15 years.
新法は、「正常な運転に支障が生じる恐れ」でも危険運転致死傷罪を適用可能とした。この場合、最高刑は懲役１５年となる。
The creation of a penalty falling between seven and 20 years’ imprisonment can be called a step forward.
懲役２０年と７年の中間的な刑罰を設けたのは、一歩前進と言えよう。
Stop hit-and-run deceptions
The Justice Ministry believes the new stipulations can be applied to an accident caused by a person driving who is slightly drunk. It is important to ensure the new law is publicized widely to deter dangerous driving.
法務省は、酒気帯び運転の事故にも、新たな規定が適用できるとの見解を示している。ドライバーに新法を周知し、危険運転の抑止につなげることが重要だ。
A new punishment of up to 12 years in prison has been created under the law in an effort to stop drivers from fleeing the scene of an accident and turning themselves into police later when indications of drunkenness have worn off. Allowing such hit-and-run drunk drivers to turn themselves in later after sobering up would deprive the new law of the effectiveness of the tougher penalties. Police must clamp down on such offenses.
飲酒運転などで事故を起こした運転手の逃走行為を罰する「発覚免脱罪」（懲役１２年以下）も新設された。酔いがさめてから出頭するような逃げ得を許しては、厳罰化の効果が失われる。積極的に立件してもらいたい。
Also characteristic of the new law is that drivers with “certain ailments” are now subject to penalties for dangerous driving resulting in injury or death.
「特定の病気」で運転に支障が生じた場合を危険運転致死傷罪の対象としたのも、新法の特徴だ。
This stipulation was inserted in the new law after the driver of a crane truck suffered epileptic seizures in Tochigi Prefecture in 2011, killing six children.
栃木県でクレーン車の運転手がてんかん発作を起こし、児童６人を死亡させた事故を教訓とした。
A list of specific ailments subject to the punishment is expected to be worked out by government ordinance. In compiling the list, sufficient consideration must be paid to patients’ groups and others who fear prejudices toward certain conditions might be aggravated because of the planned ordinance.
具体的な病名は今後、政令で定める。病気に対する偏見の助長を懸念する患者団体などの声に十分配慮することが求められる。
The law also includes heavier penalties against accidents caused by anyone driving without a license.
新法には、無免許運転による事故の刑罰をより重くする規定も設けられた。
In 2012, a boy driving a minivan killed or injured 10 people in Kameoka, Kyoto Prefecture. It was later learned that the boy had frequently driven without a license.
京都府亀岡市で昨年、少年が軽自動車で児童ら１０人を死傷させた。以前から無免許運転を繰り返していた。
In this case, the prosecution failed to apply charges of dangerous driving resulting in injury or death because the boy could not be considered “lacking in driving skills.”
検察は「運転技術は未熟ではない」として、危険運転致死傷罪の適用を見送った。
Public criticism subsequently mounted against the prosecution for failing to punish him severely in spite of his driving without a license.
無免許でありながら、厳罰に問えないことが問題となった。
Even under the new law, however, cases similar to the one in Kameoka cannot be covered by the penalty against dangerous driving resulting in injury or death unless a driver is drunk or high on drugs.
だが、飲酒や薬物摂取がなければ、新法でも亀岡市のようなケースは危険運転致死傷罪に問えない。
Even after the implementation of the new law, there should be further discussions about what penalties are considered adequate for driving without a license.
悪質な無免許運転の刑罰について、施行後も議論が必要だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 1, 2013)
（2013年12月1日02時14分 読売新聞）
Stronger penalties against dangerous driving must help deter road tragedies
危険運転処罰法 悲惨な事故減らす「抑止力」に（12月1日付・読売社説）
A new law—the law on penalties for injury or death inflicted by motor vehicle operators—has been enacted to make punishments stiffer against such reckless, serious driving offenses as drunk driving.
酒酔いなど、悪質な運転で死傷事故を起こした際の刑罰を重くする自動車運転死傷行為処罰法が成立した。来年５月までに施行される。
The law, which will take effect in May 2014, should serve as a turning point in reducing the number of victims in traffic accidents caused by dangerous driving.
危険運転による事故の犠牲者を減らす契機としたい。
The enactment of the law means the revamping of the judicial system regarding dangerous driving. Stipulations in the Penal Code regarding “penalties against dangerous driving resulting in injury or death” have been separated in the new law and the sphere of application has been expanded significantly.
今回の立法措置は、危険運転に関わる法体系を見直したものだ。刑法の危険運転致死傷罪を新法に移し、適用範囲を広げた。
Under the Penal Code, a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment for injury or death due to dangerous driving, such as under the influence of alcohol or drugs, was handed down only when it could be substantiated that the driver was “in a state in which the ability to safely operate a vehicle is seriously impeded” at the time of an accident.
最高刑が懲役２０年の危険運転致死傷罪は、飲酒や薬物摂取で、運転手が「正常な運転が困難な状態」であることが適用条件だ。
Judging whether a driver’s ability was “seriously impeded” was extremely difficult for law-enforcement authorities, and dangerous driving cases under the Penal Code were strictly limited to offenses when the driver was totally inebriated.
しかし、「困難な状態」だったかどうかの線引きは難しく、泥酔状態での運転など立件されるケースは限られていた。
This resulted in drivers—regardless of the grave accidents they caused—facing the lesser charge of “negligence resulting in injury or death,” the maximum penalty for which is seven years in prison.
Many victims and bereaved families understandably criticized the law as far too lenient.
悪質な運転にもかかわらず、懲役７年の自動車運転過失致死傷罪となることが多く、被害者側は刑罰が軽すぎると批判していた。
The new law will make it possible to expand the definition of dangerous driving when an accident is caused by a person behind the wheel whose “ability to drive normally is impeded.” Driving offenses in this category are subject to prison sentences up to 15 years.
新法は、「正常な運転に支障が生じる恐れ」でも危険運転致死傷罪を適用可能とした。この場合、最高刑は懲役１５年となる。
The creation of a penalty falling between seven and 20 years’ imprisonment can be called a step forward.
懲役２０年と７年の中間的な刑罰を設けたのは、一歩前進と言えよう。
Stop hit-and-run deceptions
The Justice Ministry believes the new stipulations can be applied to an accident caused by a person driving who is slightly drunk. It is important to ensure the new law is publicized widely to deter dangerous driving.
法務省は、酒気帯び運転の事故にも、新たな規定が適用できるとの見解を示している。ドライバーに新法を周知し、危険運転の抑止につなげることが重要だ。
A new punishment of up to 12 years in prison has been created under the law in an effort to stop drivers from fleeing the scene of an accident and turning themselves into police later when indications of drunkenness have worn off. Allowing such hit-and-run drunk drivers to turn themselves in later after sobering up would deprive the new law of the effectiveness of the tougher penalties. Police must clamp down on such offenses.
飲酒運転などで事故を起こした運転手の逃走行為を罰する「発覚免脱罪」（懲役１２年以下）も新設された。酔いがさめてから出頭するような逃げ得を許しては、厳罰化の効果が失われる。積極的に立件してもらいたい。
Also characteristic of the new law is that drivers with “certain ailments” are now subject to penalties for dangerous driving resulting in injury or death.
「特定の病気」で運転に支障が生じた場合を危険運転致死傷罪の対象としたのも、新法の特徴だ。
This stipulation was inserted in the new law after the driver of a crane truck suffered epileptic seizures in Tochigi Prefecture in 2011, killing six children.
栃木県でクレーン車の運転手がてんかん発作を起こし、児童６人を死亡させた事故を教訓とした。
A list of specific ailments subject to the punishment is expected to be worked out by government ordinance. In compiling the list, sufficient consideration must be paid to patients’ groups and others who fear prejudices toward certain conditions might be aggravated because of the planned ordinance.
具体的な病名は今後、政令で定める。病気に対する偏見の助長を懸念する患者団体などの声に十分配慮することが求められる。
The law also includes heavier penalties against accidents caused by anyone driving without a license.
新法には、無免許運転による事故の刑罰をより重くする規定も設けられた。
In 2012, a boy driving a minivan killed or injured 10 people in Kameoka, Kyoto Prefecture. It was later learned that the boy had frequently driven without a license.
京都府亀岡市で昨年、少年が軽自動車で児童ら１０人を死傷させた。以前から無免許運転を繰り返していた。
In this case, the prosecution failed to apply charges of dangerous driving resulting in injury or death because the boy could not be considered “lacking in driving skills.”
検察は「運転技術は未熟ではない」として、危険運転致死傷罪の適用を見送った。
Public criticism subsequently mounted against the prosecution for failing to punish him severely in spite of his driving without a license.
無免許でありながら、厳罰に問えないことが問題となった。
Even under the new law, however, cases similar to the one in Kameoka cannot be covered by the penalty against dangerous driving resulting in injury or death unless a driver is drunk or high on drugs.
だが、飲酒や薬物摂取がなければ、新法でも亀岡市のようなケースは危険運転致死傷罪に問えない。
Even after the implementation of the new law, there should be further discussions about what penalties are considered adequate for driving without a license.
悪質な無免許運転の刑罰について、施行後も議論が必要だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 1, 2013)
（2013年12月1日02時14分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 1, 2013
Suspicions haunt Tokyo Gov. Inose over borrowing from Tokushukai
猪瀬氏の５０００万 「借用証」でも疑念は消えない（11月30日付・読売社説）
Why did Tokyo Gov. Naoki Inose borrow a huge amount of money? Even one week after his first press conference on the scandal, suspicions have not been diminished.
巨額の借入金の趣旨は何だったのか。最初の釈明記者会見から１週間が過ぎても、疑念は一向に消えない。
Concerning the ¥50 million he received from the Tokushukai medical group, which faced a compulsory investigation over a suspected violation of the election law, Inose stressed in his general policy speech at the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly on Friday that he “borrowed the money for personal use.”
強制捜査を受けた医療グループ「徳洲会」側から５０００万円を受け取っていた東京都の猪瀬直樹知事が、都議会の所信表明で改めて「個人の借り入れだった」と強調した。
His explanation, which went no further than his earlier explanations, drew boos and jeers from the floor. It was natural that various groups of assembly members expressed anger at his explanations, denouncing them as insufficient.
これまでの釈明の域を出ない内容に、議場から激しいヤジが飛んだ。各会派が「説明不足だ」と反発したのはもっともだ。
In his press conference Tuesday, he displayed an IOU he wrote when he received the money, which he said he had kept in a safe-deposit box.
猪瀬氏は２６日の記者会見で、現金授受の際に記入したとする「借用証」を公開した。貸金庫に保管していたという。
The IOU contained only the lender’s name, House of Representatives member Tsuyoshi Tokuda; the date; the amount of money and the governor’s name. There was no mention of a repayment date or an interest rate.
貸し手の徳田毅衆院議員の名前と日付が印字されているほかは、金額と知事の署名があるだけだ。返済時期や利子の記載もない。
Even if the IOU is authentic, it is not enough to prove that the money “was not for election campaigning” as claimed by Inose.
これが本物であるとしても、借用証だけでは、「選挙運動のためではない」という猪瀬氏の主張が証明されたとは言えまい。
Inose dined with Tokuda six days before he received the money on Nov. 29 last year, before the campaign for a Tokyo gubernatorial election kicked off. During the meeting, there was reportedly talk to the effect that elections are costly. Inose revealed in the news conference that Tokuda proposed lending him money, quoting him as saying, “If you can’t prepare enough money, I’m ready to lend you some.”
猪瀬氏は現金受領の６日前に徳田議員と会食し、その際、選挙には金がかかることが話題に上ったという。徳田議員が「お金がないなら、いつでも貸します」と語ったことも、猪瀬氏は記者会見で明らかにしている。
Money for electioneering?
Taking this conversation into consideration, it would be natural to assume the cash was provided for financing Inose’s election campaign.
このやり取りを踏まえれば、選挙のために現金が提供されたと考えるのが自然だろう。
The Public Offices Election Law makes it mandatory for a candidate’s campaign funds manager to record revenues and expenses in election campaign financial reports. Writing financial records, if done without awareness of falsehood, does not constitute an illegal act.
公職選挙法は、選挙運動に関する収入と支出を選挙運動費用収支報告書に記載するよう、候補者の出納責任者に義務づけている。出納責任者に虚偽記載の認識がなければ、違法行為にはならない。
There was no mention of the ¥50 million in Inose’s campaign financial report. He stressed he had not told his funds manager that he had received the money, probably out of consideration of the law’s stipulation.
猪瀬氏の報告書に５０００万円の記載はなかった。猪瀬氏が出納責任者に現金受領を伝えていなかったと強調するのは、公選法の規定を意識してのことだろう。
Inose needs to give sufficient explanations to dispel suspicions still surrounding him.
疑念は払拭されていない。猪瀬氏は説明を尽くす必要がある。
He said he “didn’t know” the Tokushukai group operated a hospital and a nursing care and health facility in Tokyo when he received the controversial money.
知事は現金受領の際、徳洲会グループの病院と介護老人保健施設が都内にあることを「知らなかった」とも述べている。
The group received about ¥850 million in subsidies from the metropolitan government over the past five years. Having served as a vice governor of Tokyo since 2007 to 2012, Inose cannot escape the charge of dereliction of duty.
グループには、過去５年間に都から約８億５０００万円の補助金などが出ている。２００７年から副知事の要職にあった人物として無責任のそしりは免れまい。
General employees of the metropolitan government face punishment if they borrow money from outsiders related to their duties. Naturally, a stricter code of conduct is necessary for a governor and a vice governor, whose authority extends over all metropolitan administrative matters.
都の一般職員が、職務上の利害関係がある業者から借金をすれば、懲戒処分の対象になる。都政全般に職務権限が及ぶ知事や副知事が、一般職員以上に襟を正さねばならないのは当然である。
Next week, the metropolitan assembly is scheduled to hold question-and-answer sessions involving representatives and rank-and-file members from various groups of assembly members. The groups must play a major role in digging into the facts of the scandal.
都議会では来週、代表質問と一般質問が予定される。真相究明に向け、各会派の役割も重い。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 30, 2013)
（2013年11月30日01時43分 読売新聞）
Suspicions haunt Tokyo Gov. Inose over borrowing from Tokushukai
猪瀬氏の５０００万 「借用証」でも疑念は消えない（11月30日付・読売社説）
Why did Tokyo Gov. Naoki Inose borrow a huge amount of money? Even one week after his first press conference on the scandal, suspicions have not been diminished.
巨額の借入金の趣旨は何だったのか。最初の釈明記者会見から１週間が過ぎても、疑念は一向に消えない。
Concerning the ¥50 million he received from the Tokushukai medical group, which faced a compulsory investigation over a suspected violation of the election law, Inose stressed in his general policy speech at the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly on Friday that he “borrowed the money for personal use.”
強制捜査を受けた医療グループ「徳洲会」側から５０００万円を受け取っていた東京都の猪瀬直樹知事が、都議会の所信表明で改めて「個人の借り入れだった」と強調した。
His explanation, which went no further than his earlier explanations, drew boos and jeers from the floor. It was natural that various groups of assembly members expressed anger at his explanations, denouncing them as insufficient.
これまでの釈明の域を出ない内容に、議場から激しいヤジが飛んだ。各会派が「説明不足だ」と反発したのはもっともだ。
In his press conference Tuesday, he displayed an IOU he wrote when he received the money, which he said he had kept in a safe-deposit box.
猪瀬氏は２６日の記者会見で、現金授受の際に記入したとする「借用証」を公開した。貸金庫に保管していたという。
The IOU contained only the lender’s name, House of Representatives member Tsuyoshi Tokuda; the date; the amount of money and the governor’s name. There was no mention of a repayment date or an interest rate.
貸し手の徳田毅衆院議員の名前と日付が印字されているほかは、金額と知事の署名があるだけだ。返済時期や利子の記載もない。
Even if the IOU is authentic, it is not enough to prove that the money “was not for election campaigning” as claimed by Inose.
これが本物であるとしても、借用証だけでは、「選挙運動のためではない」という猪瀬氏の主張が証明されたとは言えまい。
Inose dined with Tokuda six days before he received the money on Nov. 29 last year, before the campaign for a Tokyo gubernatorial election kicked off. During the meeting, there was reportedly talk to the effect that elections are costly. Inose revealed in the news conference that Tokuda proposed lending him money, quoting him as saying, “If you can’t prepare enough money, I’m ready to lend you some.”
猪瀬氏は現金受領の６日前に徳田議員と会食し、その際、選挙には金がかかることが話題に上ったという。徳田議員が「お金がないなら、いつでも貸します」と語ったことも、猪瀬氏は記者会見で明らかにしている。
Money for electioneering?
Taking this conversation into consideration, it would be natural to assume the cash was provided for financing Inose’s election campaign.
このやり取りを踏まえれば、選挙のために現金が提供されたと考えるのが自然だろう。
The Public Offices Election Law makes it mandatory for a candidate’s campaign funds manager to record revenues and expenses in election campaign financial reports. Writing financial records, if done without awareness of falsehood, does not constitute an illegal act.
公職選挙法は、選挙運動に関する収入と支出を選挙運動費用収支報告書に記載するよう、候補者の出納責任者に義務づけている。出納責任者に虚偽記載の認識がなければ、違法行為にはならない。
There was no mention of the ¥50 million in Inose’s campaign financial report. He stressed he had not told his funds manager that he had received the money, probably out of consideration of the law’s stipulation.
猪瀬氏の報告書に５０００万円の記載はなかった。猪瀬氏が出納責任者に現金受領を伝えていなかったと強調するのは、公選法の規定を意識してのことだろう。
Inose needs to give sufficient explanations to dispel suspicions still surrounding him.
疑念は払拭されていない。猪瀬氏は説明を尽くす必要がある。
He said he “didn’t know” the Tokushukai group operated a hospital and a nursing care and health facility in Tokyo when he received the controversial money.
知事は現金受領の際、徳洲会グループの病院と介護老人保健施設が都内にあることを「知らなかった」とも述べている。
The group received about ¥850 million in subsidies from the metropolitan government over the past five years. Having served as a vice governor of Tokyo since 2007 to 2012, Inose cannot escape the charge of dereliction of duty.
グループには、過去５年間に都から約８億５０００万円の補助金などが出ている。２００７年から副知事の要職にあった人物として無責任のそしりは免れまい。
General employees of the metropolitan government face punishment if they borrow money from outsiders related to their duties. Naturally, a stricter code of conduct is necessary for a governor and a vice governor, whose authority extends over all metropolitan administrative matters.
都の一般職員が、職務上の利害関係がある業者から借金をすれば、懲戒処分の対象になる。都政全般に職務権限が及ぶ知事や副知事が、一般職員以上に襟を正さねばならないのは当然である。
Next week, the metropolitan assembly is scheduled to hold question-and-answer sessions involving representatives and rank-and-file members from various groups of assembly members. The groups must play a major role in digging into the facts of the scandal.
都議会では来週、代表質問と一般質問が予定される。真相究明に向け、各会派の役割も重い。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 30, 2013)
（2013年11月30日01時43分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun November 30, 2013
Step up efforts to pave way for Futenma base relocation plan
自民県連転換 辺野古移設へ環境整備を急げ（11月29日付・読売社説）
An important step has been taken to resolve the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture, which was left pending for a long time.
長年の懸案である米軍普天間飛行場の移設問題を解決するうえで、重要な一歩と言える。
The step was a decision by a group of Liberal Democratic Party members of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly to approve the station’s relocation to the Henoko district in Nago after reversing its stance of pushing for relocation outside the prefecture. Five LDP Diet members belonging to the prefectural party chapter had earlier shifted their stance to back the Henoko relocation plan. The chapter will soon make a formal decision on its relocation approval policy.
自民党の沖縄県議団が従来の「県外移設」の方針を転換し、名護市辺野古への移設を容認することを決めた。沖縄県連所属の国会議員５人も辺野古移設を容認しており、県連は近くこの方針を正式決定する。
Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima is scheduled to decide in December whether to approve a request made by the central government for a land reclamation project in public waters necessary to achieve the Henoko relocation plan.
沖縄県の仲井真弘多知事は１２月中にも、政府が申請した辺野古移設に伴う公有水面埋め立てについて、可否を判断する予定だ。
If the plan falls through, it is highly likely to solidify the status quo, in which the danger posed by the Futenma base being located in a residential area will continue for a long period. Behind the prefectural chapter’s about-face could be its realistic judgment to avoid the worst-case scenario.
仮に辺野古移設が頓挫すれば、住宅地にある普天間飛行場の危険な現状が長期間、固定化する公算が大きい。県連の方針転換の背景には、この最悪の状況は避けたいという現実的な判断がある。
The policy shift by the LDP’s prefectural chapter, which backs the governor as the ruling party in the prefectural assembly, is expected to push the governor to make a proactive decision on the relocation issue.
知事与党の自民党県連が辺野古移設容認に転じたことは、知事の前向きな決断を後押ししよう。
The government and ruling parties must continue such efforts as urging New Komeito’s Okinawa prefectural headquarters to reverse its stance of opposing the Henoko relocation plan as they try to obtain approval from a wider spectrum of local people.
政府・与党は、「県外移設」を唱える公明党県本部の翻意を促すなど、地元関係者の理解を広げる努力を続けねばなるまい。
Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine has submitted a letter of opinions to the Okinawa prefectural government, in which he argues against the reclamation plan, saying environment conservation measures are insufficient.
移設先である名護市の稲嶺進市長は、環境保全策が不十分などとして、埋め立てに反対する意見書を沖縄県に提出した。
In addition to Inamine, two other politicians who both endorse the Futenma relocation plan have announced their candidacy for the Nago mayoral election set for January. Like the past four mayoral elections, the biggest issue is likely to be the relocation.
来年１月の名護市長選には、稲嶺市長と、辺野古移設を容認する２氏が出馬表明している。過去４回の市長選と同様、移設の是非が最大の争点となる見通しだ。
Security a matter of state
In the first place, national security should not be influenced by the outcome of a local election. Although it is necessary to give due consideration to the will of local residents, the central government should be primarily responsible for security policies based on a comprehensive view.
日本の安全保障が一地方選の結果に左右される事態は本来、あってはならない。地元の民意は十分勘案すべき要素であっても、安保政策は、政府が総合判断し、責任を持つべきものだからだ。
The mayor is not authorized to refuse the relocation plan, but to promote the plan smoothly, it is desirable to obtain the mayor’s approval. The LDP should step up efforts to make the two pro-relocation candidates to form an alliance and have just one run.
市長に移設を拒否する権限はないが、移設を円滑に進めるには無論、市長が容認している方が望ましい。自民党は、容認派の２人の一本化を急ぐべきだろう。
The government, for its part, needs to make all-out efforts to have Nakaima give reclamation the green light before the election.
政府も、仲井真知事が市長選前に埋め立てを承認できる環境整備に全力を挙げる必要がある。
It is essential to accelerate the efforts to decrease the prefecture’s burden for hosting the U.S. military.
重要なのは、沖縄県の米軍基地負担の軽減を加速することだ。
The Japanese and U.S. governments will soon lift a ban on partial fishing operations in the waters used by the U.S. military for training. It is also important to steadily expand training areas for the new U.S. Osprey transport aircraft outside Okinawa Prefecture.
日米両政府は近く、米軍の訓練海域における漁船操業の一部を解禁する。新型輸送機オスプレイの訓練の県外移転も、着実に拡大することが大切である。
If the Futenma relocation plan gets moving, it will give momentum to the transfer of U.S. marines in Okinawa Prefecture to Guam and the return of U.S. military facilities to Japan.
普天間飛行場の移設が動き出せば、在沖縄海兵隊のグアム移転や米軍施設返還にも弾みがつく。
Efforts must also be made to promote prefectural development.
沖縄振興にも力を入れたい。
The Cabinet Office has asked for a budgetary allocation of ¥340.8 billion for fiscal 2014, up 13 percent over the current fiscal year. The government should think hard to work out more effective local revitalization policies, such as establishing national strategy special zones and effective utilization of U.S. base sites.
内閣府は来年度予算で、今年度より１３％も多い３４０８億円を要求している。国家戦略特区の創設や基地跡地の有効活用など、より効果的な地域活性化策となるよう大いに知恵を絞るべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 29, 2013)
（2013年11月29日01時32分 読売新聞）
Step up efforts to pave way for Futenma base relocation plan
自民県連転換 辺野古移設へ環境整備を急げ（11月29日付・読売社説）
An important step has been taken to resolve the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture, which was left pending for a long time.
長年の懸案である米軍普天間飛行場の移設問題を解決するうえで、重要な一歩と言える。
The step was a decision by a group of Liberal Democratic Party members of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly to approve the station’s relocation to the Henoko district in Nago after reversing its stance of pushing for relocation outside the prefecture. Five LDP Diet members belonging to the prefectural party chapter had earlier shifted their stance to back the Henoko relocation plan. The chapter will soon make a formal decision on its relocation approval policy.
自民党の沖縄県議団が従来の「県外移設」の方針を転換し、名護市辺野古への移設を容認することを決めた。沖縄県連所属の国会議員５人も辺野古移設を容認しており、県連は近くこの方針を正式決定する。
Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima is scheduled to decide in December whether to approve a request made by the central government for a land reclamation project in public waters necessary to achieve the Henoko relocation plan.
沖縄県の仲井真弘多知事は１２月中にも、政府が申請した辺野古移設に伴う公有水面埋め立てについて、可否を判断する予定だ。
If the plan falls through, it is highly likely to solidify the status quo, in which the danger posed by the Futenma base being located in a residential area will continue for a long period. Behind the prefectural chapter’s about-face could be its realistic judgment to avoid the worst-case scenario.
仮に辺野古移設が頓挫すれば、住宅地にある普天間飛行場の危険な現状が長期間、固定化する公算が大きい。県連の方針転換の背景には、この最悪の状況は避けたいという現実的な判断がある。
The policy shift by the LDP’s prefectural chapter, which backs the governor as the ruling party in the prefectural assembly, is expected to push the governor to make a proactive decision on the relocation issue.
知事与党の自民党県連が辺野古移設容認に転じたことは、知事の前向きな決断を後押ししよう。
The government and ruling parties must continue such efforts as urging New Komeito’s Okinawa prefectural headquarters to reverse its stance of opposing the Henoko relocation plan as they try to obtain approval from a wider spectrum of local people.
政府・与党は、「県外移設」を唱える公明党県本部の翻意を促すなど、地元関係者の理解を広げる努力を続けねばなるまい。
Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine has submitted a letter of opinions to the Okinawa prefectural government, in which he argues against the reclamation plan, saying environment conservation measures are insufficient.
移設先である名護市の稲嶺進市長は、環境保全策が不十分などとして、埋め立てに反対する意見書を沖縄県に提出した。
In addition to Inamine, two other politicians who both endorse the Futenma relocation plan have announced their candidacy for the Nago mayoral election set for January. Like the past four mayoral elections, the biggest issue is likely to be the relocation.
来年１月の名護市長選には、稲嶺市長と、辺野古移設を容認する２氏が出馬表明している。過去４回の市長選と同様、移設の是非が最大の争点となる見通しだ。
Security a matter of state
In the first place, national security should not be influenced by the outcome of a local election. Although it is necessary to give due consideration to the will of local residents, the central government should be primarily responsible for security policies based on a comprehensive view.
日本の安全保障が一地方選の結果に左右される事態は本来、あってはならない。地元の民意は十分勘案すべき要素であっても、安保政策は、政府が総合判断し、責任を持つべきものだからだ。
The mayor is not authorized to refuse the relocation plan, but to promote the plan smoothly, it is desirable to obtain the mayor’s approval. The LDP should step up efforts to make the two pro-relocation candidates to form an alliance and have just one run.
市長に移設を拒否する権限はないが、移設を円滑に進めるには無論、市長が容認している方が望ましい。自民党は、容認派の２人の一本化を急ぐべきだろう。
The government, for its part, needs to make all-out efforts to have Nakaima give reclamation the green light before the election.
政府も、仲井真知事が市長選前に埋め立てを承認できる環境整備に全力を挙げる必要がある。
It is essential to accelerate the efforts to decrease the prefecture’s burden for hosting the U.S. military.
重要なのは、沖縄県の米軍基地負担の軽減を加速することだ。
The Japanese and U.S. governments will soon lift a ban on partial fishing operations in the waters used by the U.S. military for training. It is also important to steadily expand training areas for the new U.S. Osprey transport aircraft outside Okinawa Prefecture.
日米両政府は近く、米軍の訓練海域における漁船操業の一部を解禁する。新型輸送機オスプレイの訓練の県外移転も、着実に拡大することが大切である。
If the Futenma relocation plan gets moving, it will give momentum to the transfer of U.S. marines in Okinawa Prefecture to Guam and the return of U.S. military facilities to Japan.
普天間飛行場の移設が動き出せば、在沖縄海兵隊のグアム移転や米軍施設返還にも弾みがつく。
Efforts must also be made to promote prefectural development.
沖縄振興にも力を入れたい。
The Cabinet Office has asked for a budgetary allocation of ¥340.8 billion for fiscal 2014, up 13 percent over the current fiscal year. The government should think hard to work out more effective local revitalization policies, such as establishing national strategy special zones and effective utilization of U.S. base sites.
内閣府は来年度予算で、今年度より１３％も多い３４０８億円を要求している。国家戦略特区の創設や基地跡地の有効活用など、より効果的な地域活性化策となるよう大いに知恵を絞るべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 29, 2013)
（2013年11月29日01時32分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun November 29, 2013
Passage of NSC bill vital development in safeguarding nation’s peace, security
ＮＳＣ法成立 意義深い与野党の幅広い合意（11月28日付・読売社説）
We welcome the passage of a bill designed to establish an organ to play a key role in issuing directives related to our country’s diplomatic relations and national security. This legislation will soon launch a Japanese version of the U.S. National Security Council, with the aim of ensuring the nation’s peace and security and defending its national interests.
日本の平和と安全を確保し、国益を守るため、政府の外交・安全保障政策の司令塔が誕生することを歓迎したい。
On Wednesday, the Diet enacted the NSC establishment law. Our country’s NSC will be inaugurated in early December. The first task of the soon-to-be-launched command center will be drafting a comprehensive national security strategy, the first of its kind for Japan, while also writing a new version of the National Defense Program Guidelines. This will likely be followed by the launch in January of a national security secretariat that will serve as the NSC’s executive office.
国家安全保障会議（日本版ＮＳＣ）設置法が成立した。１２月初めに日本版ＮＳＣが創設され、まず初の国家安保戦略と、新しい防衛大綱を策定する。年明けには、事務局の国家安全保障局が発足する見通しだ。
The NSC establishment law was endorsed by the governing coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, as well as the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) and Your Party. National security policies should be formulated based on suprapartisan consensus. Given this, it is highly significant that more than 90 percent of lawmakers in both Diet chambers united to pass the NSC bill into law.
設置法には、自民、公明の与党のほか、民主、日本維新の会、みんなの党も賛成した。安保政策は超党派の合意を基に進めるのが望ましい。衆参両院議員の９割超が足並みをそろえた意味は重い。
The envisaged NSC’s central pillar will be a meeting of the prime minister and three key cabinet members—the chief cabinet secretary, the foreign minister and the defense minister. As a general rule, the meeting is to be held once every two weeks, also attended by the deputy prime minister.
ＮＳＣの中核は、首相、官房長官、外相、防衛相による「４大臣会合」で、副総理も交えて、原則、２週間に１回開かれる。
It is most significant that a new system will be set up, by which the prime minister and relevant cabinet members will meet periodically to discuss important issues related to our country’s security and develop a common view on such matters. Themes will include situations related to China and North Korea, the ongoing realignment of U.S. armed forces in this country and issues related to our territory.
中国・北朝鮮情勢や在日米軍再編、領土に関する問題などの重要案件について、首相と関係閣僚が定期的に議論し、共通認識を持つ体制を構築する意義は大きい。
The NSC scheme will make it possible for top officials at the Prime Minister’s Office to afford a certain amount of time and energy to address diplomatic and security matters even at a time when the government is confronted by a number of tasks to be tackled at home. This task will be supported by the NSC executive office, which will comprise personnel with professional expertise, including senior Self-Defense Forces members.
多くの内政課題を抱えている時も、首相官邸が外交・安保案件に一定の時間と精力を充てる。自衛隊の制服組を含め、専門的知見を持つ事務局がこれを支える。
We hope all these arrangements will do much to ensure that diplomatic and security policies are given higher priority and are better formulated.
外交・安保政策の優先度を高め、充実させることにつなげたい。
Ensuring PM takes the lead
It will be necessary to ensure the Prime Minister’s Office takes the lead in determining the direction of security policy, a task that requires eliminating a lack of coordination among pertinent ministries and agencies.
重要なのは、関係省庁の縦割り行政を排し、首相官邸が政策の方向性を主導することだ。
This can be exemplified by such immediate tasks as responding to China’s recent move to set up an expanded air defense identification zone and the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture. Seeking solutions to both problems requires cooperative relations among several government ministries and agencies. The NSC will be tested over its ability to coordinate and adjust cooperation among these government offices.
例えば、当面の課題である中国の防空識別圏や、米軍普天間飛行場の移設の問題などは、複数の省庁の連携が欠かせない。ＮＳＣの総合調整力が試される。
Making appropriate decisions about security issues requires improving the ability of all government organs to gather and analyze information.
安全保障問題で的確な判断をするには、政府全体の情報収集・分析力の向上が前提となる。
The NSC establishment law states that relevant ministries and agencies are required to supply the new organ with information related to its function. Information to be managed by the NSC will include government secrets whose confidentiality would be tightly guarded under an envisaged law seeking to stiffen penalties on public servants who leak such information.
設置法は、関係省庁のＮＳＣへの情報提供義務を明記した。ＮＳＣは特定秘密も扱う。
With this in mind, relevant cabinet members must give their ministry personnel instructions necessary for facilitating a smooth information supply.
円滑な情報提供が実現するよう、関係閣僚は官僚に指示せねばならない。
It is also essential that the Diet does not fail to pass the bill designed to prevent the leakage of specified government secrets. The government should also make progress in reforming the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office, although it has not done so in connection with the NSC scheme.
関係国との情報交換を進めるため、情報漏洩(ろうえい)を防ぐ特定秘密保護法案も成立させる必要がある。
今回は見送られた内閣情報調査室（内調）の改革も進めるべきだ。
Some duties of the NSC and the intelligence and research office may overlap, including analyzing the overseas state of affairs and intelligence regarding acts of international terrorism. The two organizations should promote effective cooperation between them.
ＮＳＣと内調は、海外情勢や国際テロ情報の分析などの業務が重複する可能性がある。効果的な連携体制が求められる。
The Diet has also adopted a resolution supplementary to the NSC establishment law that will require the government to consider producing the minutes of NSC ministerial meetings. This resulted from negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties.
国会では、与野党協議の結果、ＮＳＣの議事録の作成を検討するとの付帯決議が採択された。
Admittedly, it is necessary to create a system for compiling records regarding how decisions are made about important policy issues, so that each decision-making process could be verified in the future. Nonetheless, whether to produce the minutes of NSC meetings and disclose related information must be considered by putting all relevant government meetings into perspective, including cabinet meetings and conferences attended by cabinet ministers related to the NSC scheme.
重要政策の決定過程の記録を残し、後世の検証を受ける仕組みは大切である。ただ、議事録や情報公開は、閣議や関係閣僚会議なども含めた政府の会議全体について総合的に検討するのが筋だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 28, 2013)
（2013年11月28日01時34分 読売新聞）
Passage of NSC bill vital development in safeguarding nation’s peace, security
ＮＳＣ法成立 意義深い与野党の幅広い合意（11月28日付・読売社説）
We welcome the passage of a bill designed to establish an organ to play a key role in issuing directives related to our country’s diplomatic relations and national security. This legislation will soon launch a Japanese version of the U.S. National Security Council, with the aim of ensuring the nation’s peace and security and defending its national interests.
日本の平和と安全を確保し、国益を守るため、政府の外交・安全保障政策の司令塔が誕生することを歓迎したい。
On Wednesday, the Diet enacted the NSC establishment law. Our country’s NSC will be inaugurated in early December. The first task of the soon-to-be-launched command center will be drafting a comprehensive national security strategy, the first of its kind for Japan, while also writing a new version of the National Defense Program Guidelines. This will likely be followed by the launch in January of a national security secretariat that will serve as the NSC’s executive office.
国家安全保障会議（日本版ＮＳＣ）設置法が成立した。１２月初めに日本版ＮＳＣが創設され、まず初の国家安保戦略と、新しい防衛大綱を策定する。年明けには、事務局の国家安全保障局が発足する見通しだ。
The NSC establishment law was endorsed by the governing coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, as well as the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) and Your Party. National security policies should be formulated based on suprapartisan consensus. Given this, it is highly significant that more than 90 percent of lawmakers in both Diet chambers united to pass the NSC bill into law.
設置法には、自民、公明の与党のほか、民主、日本維新の会、みんなの党も賛成した。安保政策は超党派の合意を基に進めるのが望ましい。衆参両院議員の９割超が足並みをそろえた意味は重い。
The envisaged NSC’s central pillar will be a meeting of the prime minister and three key cabinet members—the chief cabinet secretary, the foreign minister and the defense minister. As a general rule, the meeting is to be held once every two weeks, also attended by the deputy prime minister.
ＮＳＣの中核は、首相、官房長官、外相、防衛相による「４大臣会合」で、副総理も交えて、原則、２週間に１回開かれる。
It is most significant that a new system will be set up, by which the prime minister and relevant cabinet members will meet periodically to discuss important issues related to our country’s security and develop a common view on such matters. Themes will include situations related to China and North Korea, the ongoing realignment of U.S. armed forces in this country and issues related to our territory.
中国・北朝鮮情勢や在日米軍再編、領土に関する問題などの重要案件について、首相と関係閣僚が定期的に議論し、共通認識を持つ体制を構築する意義は大きい。
The NSC scheme will make it possible for top officials at the Prime Minister’s Office to afford a certain amount of time and energy to address diplomatic and security matters even at a time when the government is confronted by a number of tasks to be tackled at home. This task will be supported by the NSC executive office, which will comprise personnel with professional expertise, including senior Self-Defense Forces members.
多くの内政課題を抱えている時も、首相官邸が外交・安保案件に一定の時間と精力を充てる。自衛隊の制服組を含め、専門的知見を持つ事務局がこれを支える。
We hope all these arrangements will do much to ensure that diplomatic and security policies are given higher priority and are better formulated.
外交・安保政策の優先度を高め、充実させることにつなげたい。
Ensuring PM takes the lead
It will be necessary to ensure the Prime Minister’s Office takes the lead in determining the direction of security policy, a task that requires eliminating a lack of coordination among pertinent ministries and agencies.
重要なのは、関係省庁の縦割り行政を排し、首相官邸が政策の方向性を主導することだ。
This can be exemplified by such immediate tasks as responding to China’s recent move to set up an expanded air defense identification zone and the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture. Seeking solutions to both problems requires cooperative relations among several government ministries and agencies. The NSC will be tested over its ability to coordinate and adjust cooperation among these government offices.
例えば、当面の課題である中国の防空識別圏や、米軍普天間飛行場の移設の問題などは、複数の省庁の連携が欠かせない。ＮＳＣの総合調整力が試される。
Making appropriate decisions about security issues requires improving the ability of all government organs to gather and analyze information.
安全保障問題で的確な判断をするには、政府全体の情報収集・分析力の向上が前提となる。
The NSC establishment law states that relevant ministries and agencies are required to supply the new organ with information related to its function. Information to be managed by the NSC will include government secrets whose confidentiality would be tightly guarded under an envisaged law seeking to stiffen penalties on public servants who leak such information.
設置法は、関係省庁のＮＳＣへの情報提供義務を明記した。ＮＳＣは特定秘密も扱う。
With this in mind, relevant cabinet members must give their ministry personnel instructions necessary for facilitating a smooth information supply.
円滑な情報提供が実現するよう、関係閣僚は官僚に指示せねばならない。
It is also essential that the Diet does not fail to pass the bill designed to prevent the leakage of specified government secrets. The government should also make progress in reforming the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office, although it has not done so in connection with the NSC scheme.
関係国との情報交換を進めるため、情報漏洩(ろうえい)を防ぐ特定秘密保護法案も成立させる必要がある。
今回は見送られた内閣情報調査室（内調）の改革も進めるべきだ。
Some duties of the NSC and the intelligence and research office may overlap, including analyzing the overseas state of affairs and intelligence regarding acts of international terrorism. The two organizations should promote effective cooperation between them.
ＮＳＣと内調は、海外情勢や国際テロ情報の分析などの業務が重複する可能性がある。効果的な連携体制が求められる。
The Diet has also adopted a resolution supplementary to the NSC establishment law that will require the government to consider producing the minutes of NSC ministerial meetings. This resulted from negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties.
国会では、与野党協議の結果、ＮＳＣの議事録の作成を検討するとの付帯決議が採択された。
Admittedly, it is necessary to create a system for compiling records regarding how decisions are made about important policy issues, so that each decision-making process could be verified in the future. Nonetheless, whether to produce the minutes of NSC meetings and disclose related information must be considered by putting all relevant government meetings into perspective, including cabinet meetings and conferences attended by cabinet ministers related to the NSC scheme.
重要政策の決定過程の記録を残し、後世の検証を受ける仕組みは大切である。ただ、議事録や情報公開は、閣議や関係閣僚会議なども含めた政府の会議全体について総合的に検討するのが筋だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 28, 2013)
（2013年11月28日01時34分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun November 28, 2013
Scope of secrecy must be narrowed; more Diet discussions needed
秘密保護法案 指定対象絞り「原則公開」確実に（11月27日付・読売社説）
◆参院で文書管理の論議を深めよ
The House of Representatives’ passage of a bill to tighten the confidentiality of specified government information can be regarded as a clear indication that many legislators believe this country needs such legislation comparable to what has already been enacted in other advanced nations.
日本にも他の先進国と同様の機密保全法制が必要だとの意思が、明確に示されたと言えよう。
The bill is designed to tighten penalties on public servants and others who leak classified information related to national security. On Tuesday, the legislation was laid before a plenary session of the lower house, which approved it with the endorsement of a significant 70 percent of lawmakers in that chamber—those from the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, as well as Your Party and some other legislators. The bill was then forwarded to the House of Councillors for further discussions.
安全保障に関する機密情報を漏えいした公務員らへの罰則を強化する特定秘密保護法案が、衆院本会議に緊急上程され、自民、公明の与党とみんなの党など議席の７割もの賛成多数で可決、参院に送付された。
Members of the opposition Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) left the chamber before the bill was put to a vote, despite its earlier agreement to support the legislation if some modifications were incorporated into it. Ishin no Kai was antagonized by the governing coalition’s decision to vote on the bill Tuesday instead of going along with its calls for more discussions.
法案修正で合意していた日本維新の会は採決に反発し、退席した。
Although Ishin no Kai regrettably refused to vote in favor of the bill, we find it commendable that the legislation passed the lower house with the backing of many lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties.
維新の会が賛成票を投じなかったのは残念だが、与野党の枠を超えた多くの支持によって、衆院を通過したことは評価できる。
Japan NSC comes into play
◆日本版ＮＳＣと両輪だ
Still, debates on revisions to the initial bill—an amendment drafted by the ruling parties, Your Party and Ishin no Kai—were far from sufficient. It is also a stretch to say that public anxiety about the nature of the bill has been laid to rest, as shown by the widespread fear that the legislation could restrict the people’s right to know.
ただ、与党とみんな、維新がまとめた修正案に対する審議は十分ではない。「知る権利」が制限されることなどへの国民の懸念が払拭されたとも言い難い。
The government and the ruling parties should carefully explain how the envisaged law would be applied in actuality during upper house debates on it, with the aim of gaining broad support for it.
政府・与党は参院審議で、幅広い支持を目指し、制度の運用のあり方も丁寧に説明すべきだ。
Japan’s security environment has become even more difficult in recent years due to such factors as North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs and China’s growing military build-up.
北朝鮮の核・ミサイル開発や中国の軍備拡大など日本の安全保障環境は厳しさを増している。
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had every reason to tell a session of the lower house Special Committee on National Security that “information gathering is critical for defending the safety of the people.”
衆院国家安全保障特別委員会で、安倍首相が「国民の安全を守るため情報収集が極めて重要だ」と述べたのはもっともだ。
The Abe administration intends to establish a Japanese version of the U.S. National Security Council that would play a central role in issuing directives related to Japan’s diplomatic relations and national security. Every nation needs to refine its legal framework to ensure none of its secrets are leaked. This is essential for promoting efforts to exchange and share critical information among allies and friendly powers.
安倍政権は、外交・安全保障政策の司令塔となる国家安全保障会議（日本版ＮＳＣ）を創設する方針だ。同盟国や友好国と重要情報の交換・共有を進めるには、機密が漏えいしない法制を整えることが必要である。
Given this, the envisaged NSC and legislation for preserving the secrecy of crucial information are inseparable when it comes to the government’s strategic decision-making function.
日本版ＮＳＣと機密保全法制は、政府の戦略的な意思決定に欠かせない車の両輪と言える。
The most contentious issue debated in connection with the bill was how the government would actually apply the envisaged law. During debates in the lower house, legislators said it would be impossible to dispel the anxiety that the government could arbitrarily expand the scope of information to be designated under the legislation, thus making it possible to keep concealing such secrets.
法案を巡る最大の論点は、政府が恣意(しい)的に秘密指定を拡大し、都合の悪い情報を秘匿し続けるという懸念が拭えないことだった。
The prime minister brushed off that assertion as a mistaken notion about the bill. He insisted that the legislation would be used as a multilayered system by which the government would be prevented from making arbitrary decisions about designating information as secret. Steps to be taken for that purpose include limiting the scope of designation to items stated in a table attached to the bill, and setting standards for secrecy designation based on the opinions of experts.
首相は、それを誤解だとし、指定範囲が法案の別表に限定され、かつ指定基準も有識者の意見に基づくなど恣意性を排除する「重層的な仕組み」だと主張した。
Information to be classified under the legislation would be removed—as a general rule—from the list of secrets 30 years after its designation. The modified bill stipulates the term of designation for each secret could be renewed by consent of the cabinet, but that the ultimate period would not exceed 60 years, except for areas of critical importance, including secret codes used by the government and sources of confidential information.
特定秘密は原則３０年で解除される。内閣の承認を得て指定が継続されたとしても、暗号や情報源など７項目の例外を除いて「６０年は超えられない」と修正された。
The prime minister told the lower house that information whose designation period could be extended beyond 30 years would be limited, as a general rule, to these seven areas.
首相は、３０年を超えて指定を継続する情報は「７項目に限ることを基本とする」とも表明した。
Debates on the bill in the lower house certainly did much to clarify the government’s thinking about how to apply the law, and also imposed tighter limits on the duration of secrecy designation.
審議を通じて、政府の考え方が明確になり、指定期間もより限定的になったのは確かだろう。
Fend off arbitrary judgment
◆恣意的判断の排除を
Nonetheless, bureaucratic organizations, with their ingrained principle of not rocking the boat, are expected to broaden the range of documents subject to protection as specifically designated secrets and become more cautious about declassifying them.
それでも官僚機構は、「事なかれ主義」の発想で秘密指定の対象を拡大し、解除にも慎重になることが予想される。
Presently, the government possesses about 420,000 documents containing specially managed secrets. Ninety percent of these documents are said to be related to Japan’s information-gathering satellites. The government should narrow down the range of classified information to be protected when it transfers documents into the category of specifically designated secrets.
現在、政府が保有する特別管理秘密文書は４２万件に上っている。その９割は日本の情報収集衛星に関する情報だというが、特定秘密に移行する際は、さらに対象範囲を絞る努力をすべきである。
If the number of specifically designated secrets grows too large, it would be physically difficult to check every piece of classified information and to declassify them should “the heads of administrative organizations” be replaced through a change of government or a cabinet reshuffle. It is important to work out a structure that prevents bureaucrats from hanging on to specifically designated secrets for too long.
特定秘密が大量になれば、政権交代や内閣改造によって「行政機関の長」が代わっても、秘密指定をいちいちチェックし、解除することは、物理的に難しい。官僚が特定秘密を抱え込まない仕組みを工夫することも肝要だ。
During a Diet session, Abe went so far as to say the government should establish a “third-party body” that would examine the appropriateness of the designation of documents branded as secret. He referred to such organizations as the Information Security Oversight Office within the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.
秘密指定の妥当性を検証する「第三者機関」設置について、首相は、米国の国立公文書館にある情報保全監督局などを参考に、「設置すべきだと考えている」と踏み込んだ答弁をした。
It would be unreasonable for specifically designated secrets to be examined by people outside the organization. It would also give rise to the danger of information leaks. If a third-party organization is to be set up, it would be proper to have an internal unit within an administrative organization do the job, modeled on the setup in the United States.
部外者が特定秘密をチェックするのは無理がある。情報漏れのリスクも生じる。第三者機関を設けるならば、米国にならって、行政の内部組織の方が適切だ。
According to the modified bill, all secret documents that have been declassified “are to be made public, in principle” after a certain period. This modification is an improvement that will enable future generations to examine these documents.
修正案で、秘密が解除された情報は一定期間後に「原則公開」とされ、後世の検証が可能になるように改善されたと見ていい。
How such documents should be made public, stored or destroyed are major issues to be resolved. The Democratic Party of Japan asserted that certain rules should be established on information disclosure so that courts will be able to look at specific documents when handling a lawsuit that involves classified information. We think this proposal has some merit.
文書の公開や保存、廃棄のあり方は大きな課題となる。民主党が主張するように情報公開のルールを整備し、機密を巡る訴訟で裁判所が対象文書を見ることを可能にするのも一案ではないか。
As to the Diet’s involvement in specifically designated secrets, the ruling and opposition parties should stipulate such matters as the management of closed meetings through lawmaker-initiated legislation.
国会の特定秘密への関与については、与野党が秘密会の運営など議員立法で規定すべきだ。
Protecting ‘right to know’
◆「知る権利」どう担保
The bill also clearly gave some consideration to the freedom of news gathering and reporting. We welcome the fact that news gathering activity by people in the media will not be considered a crime unless it is conducted illegally or extremely improperly.
法案には、取材・報道の自由への配慮が明記された。報道関係者の取材行為は違法または著しく不当でない限り、罪に問われないとした点は前向きに評価できる。
Some opposition parties have been up in arms and claimed this bill “will cover the people’s eyes and ears and muzzle their mouths” and “control the state’s information and silence any criticism of the Japan-U.S. alliance.” But such fears are off the mark.
一部の野党がこの法案を「国民の目と耳、口をふさぐ」「国家の情報を統制し、日米同盟への批判を封じ込める」と声高に非難しているが、これは的外れである。
That being said, there is a danger that public servants will become so afraid of leaks that they will reject requests for interviews, making it harder for the media to share necessary information with the public.
だが、公務員が萎縮して取材に応じず、報道機関が必要な情報を伝えられなくなる恐れは残る。
How should the protection of classified information for national security be balanced with the people’s “right to know”? This topic also needs in-depth discussion in the upper house.
安全保障のための機密保全と、「知る権利」のバランスをどうとっていくか。この問題も参院で掘り下げるべきテーマだろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 27, 2013)
（2013年11月27日02時13分 読売新聞）
Scope of secrecy must be narrowed; more Diet discussions needed
秘密保護法案 指定対象絞り「原則公開」確実に（11月27日付・読売社説）
◆参院で文書管理の論議を深めよ
The House of Representatives’ passage of a bill to tighten the confidentiality of specified government information can be regarded as a clear indication that many legislators believe this country needs such legislation comparable to what has already been enacted in other advanced nations.
日本にも他の先進国と同様の機密保全法制が必要だとの意思が、明確に示されたと言えよう。
The bill is designed to tighten penalties on public servants and others who leak classified information related to national security. On Tuesday, the legislation was laid before a plenary session of the lower house, which approved it with the endorsement of a significant 70 percent of lawmakers in that chamber—those from the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, as well as Your Party and some other legislators. The bill was then forwarded to the House of Councillors for further discussions.
安全保障に関する機密情報を漏えいした公務員らへの罰則を強化する特定秘密保護法案が、衆院本会議に緊急上程され、自民、公明の与党とみんなの党など議席の７割もの賛成多数で可決、参院に送付された。
Members of the opposition Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) left the chamber before the bill was put to a vote, despite its earlier agreement to support the legislation if some modifications were incorporated into it. Ishin no Kai was antagonized by the governing coalition’s decision to vote on the bill Tuesday instead of going along with its calls for more discussions.
法案修正で合意していた日本維新の会は採決に反発し、退席した。
Although Ishin no Kai regrettably refused to vote in favor of the bill, we find it commendable that the legislation passed the lower house with the backing of many lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties.
維新の会が賛成票を投じなかったのは残念だが、与野党の枠を超えた多くの支持によって、衆院を通過したことは評価できる。
Japan NSC comes into play
◆日本版ＮＳＣと両輪だ
Still, debates on revisions to the initial bill—an amendment drafted by the ruling parties, Your Party and Ishin no Kai—were far from sufficient. It is also a stretch to say that public anxiety about the nature of the bill has been laid to rest, as shown by the widespread fear that the legislation could restrict the people’s right to know.
ただ、与党とみんな、維新がまとめた修正案に対する審議は十分ではない。「知る権利」が制限されることなどへの国民の懸念が払拭されたとも言い難い。
The government and the ruling parties should carefully explain how the envisaged law would be applied in actuality during upper house debates on it, with the aim of gaining broad support for it.
政府・与党は参院審議で、幅広い支持を目指し、制度の運用のあり方も丁寧に説明すべきだ。
Japan’s security environment has become even more difficult in recent years due to such factors as North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs and China’s growing military build-up.
北朝鮮の核・ミサイル開発や中国の軍備拡大など日本の安全保障環境は厳しさを増している。
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had every reason to tell a session of the lower house Special Committee on National Security that “information gathering is critical for defending the safety of the people.”
衆院国家安全保障特別委員会で、安倍首相が「国民の安全を守るため情報収集が極めて重要だ」と述べたのはもっともだ。
The Abe administration intends to establish a Japanese version of the U.S. National Security Council that would play a central role in issuing directives related to Japan’s diplomatic relations and national security. Every nation needs to refine its legal framework to ensure none of its secrets are leaked. This is essential for promoting efforts to exchange and share critical information among allies and friendly powers.
安倍政権は、外交・安全保障政策の司令塔となる国家安全保障会議（日本版ＮＳＣ）を創設する方針だ。同盟国や友好国と重要情報の交換・共有を進めるには、機密が漏えいしない法制を整えることが必要である。
Given this, the envisaged NSC and legislation for preserving the secrecy of crucial information are inseparable when it comes to the government’s strategic decision-making function.
日本版ＮＳＣと機密保全法制は、政府の戦略的な意思決定に欠かせない車の両輪と言える。
The most contentious issue debated in connection with the bill was how the government would actually apply the envisaged law. During debates in the lower house, legislators said it would be impossible to dispel the anxiety that the government could arbitrarily expand the scope of information to be designated under the legislation, thus making it possible to keep concealing such secrets.
法案を巡る最大の論点は、政府が恣意(しい)的に秘密指定を拡大し、都合の悪い情報を秘匿し続けるという懸念が拭えないことだった。
The prime minister brushed off that assertion as a mistaken notion about the bill. He insisted that the legislation would be used as a multilayered system by which the government would be prevented from making arbitrary decisions about designating information as secret. Steps to be taken for that purpose include limiting the scope of designation to items stated in a table attached to the bill, and setting standards for secrecy designation based on the opinions of experts.
首相は、それを誤解だとし、指定範囲が法案の別表に限定され、かつ指定基準も有識者の意見に基づくなど恣意性を排除する「重層的な仕組み」だと主張した。
Information to be classified under the legislation would be removed—as a general rule—from the list of secrets 30 years after its designation. The modified bill stipulates the term of designation for each secret could be renewed by consent of the cabinet, but that the ultimate period would not exceed 60 years, except for areas of critical importance, including secret codes used by the government and sources of confidential information.
特定秘密は原則３０年で解除される。内閣の承認を得て指定が継続されたとしても、暗号や情報源など７項目の例外を除いて「６０年は超えられない」と修正された。
The prime minister told the lower house that information whose designation period could be extended beyond 30 years would be limited, as a general rule, to these seven areas.
首相は、３０年を超えて指定を継続する情報は「７項目に限ることを基本とする」とも表明した。
Debates on the bill in the lower house certainly did much to clarify the government’s thinking about how to apply the law, and also imposed tighter limits on the duration of secrecy designation.
審議を通じて、政府の考え方が明確になり、指定期間もより限定的になったのは確かだろう。
Fend off arbitrary judgment
◆恣意的判断の排除を
Nonetheless, bureaucratic organizations, with their ingrained principle of not rocking the boat, are expected to broaden the range of documents subject to protection as specifically designated secrets and become more cautious about declassifying them.
それでも官僚機構は、「事なかれ主義」の発想で秘密指定の対象を拡大し、解除にも慎重になることが予想される。
Presently, the government possesses about 420,000 documents containing specially managed secrets. Ninety percent of these documents are said to be related to Japan’s information-gathering satellites. The government should narrow down the range of classified information to be protected when it transfers documents into the category of specifically designated secrets.
現在、政府が保有する特別管理秘密文書は４２万件に上っている。その９割は日本の情報収集衛星に関する情報だというが、特定秘密に移行する際は、さらに対象範囲を絞る努力をすべきである。
If the number of specifically designated secrets grows too large, it would be physically difficult to check every piece of classified information and to declassify them should “the heads of administrative organizations” be replaced through a change of government or a cabinet reshuffle. It is important to work out a structure that prevents bureaucrats from hanging on to specifically designated secrets for too long.
特定秘密が大量になれば、政権交代や内閣改造によって「行政機関の長」が代わっても、秘密指定をいちいちチェックし、解除することは、物理的に難しい。官僚が特定秘密を抱え込まない仕組みを工夫することも肝要だ。
During a Diet session, Abe went so far as to say the government should establish a “third-party body” that would examine the appropriateness of the designation of documents branded as secret. He referred to such organizations as the Information Security Oversight Office within the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.
秘密指定の妥当性を検証する「第三者機関」設置について、首相は、米国の国立公文書館にある情報保全監督局などを参考に、「設置すべきだと考えている」と踏み込んだ答弁をした。
It would be unreasonable for specifically designated secrets to be examined by people outside the organization. It would also give rise to the danger of information leaks. If a third-party organization is to be set up, it would be proper to have an internal unit within an administrative organization do the job, modeled on the setup in the United States.
部外者が特定秘密をチェックするのは無理がある。情報漏れのリスクも生じる。第三者機関を設けるならば、米国にならって、行政の内部組織の方が適切だ。
According to the modified bill, all secret documents that have been declassified “are to be made public, in principle” after a certain period. This modification is an improvement that will enable future generations to examine these documents.
修正案で、秘密が解除された情報は一定期間後に「原則公開」とされ、後世の検証が可能になるように改善されたと見ていい。
How such documents should be made public, stored or destroyed are major issues to be resolved. The Democratic Party of Japan asserted that certain rules should be established on information disclosure so that courts will be able to look at specific documents when handling a lawsuit that involves classified information. We think this proposal has some merit.
文書の公開や保存、廃棄のあり方は大きな課題となる。民主党が主張するように情報公開のルールを整備し、機密を巡る訴訟で裁判所が対象文書を見ることを可能にするのも一案ではないか。
As to the Diet’s involvement in specifically designated secrets, the ruling and opposition parties should stipulate such matters as the management of closed meetings through lawmaker-initiated legislation.
国会の特定秘密への関与については、与野党が秘密会の運営など議員立法で規定すべきだ。
Protecting ‘right to know’
◆「知る権利」どう担保
The bill also clearly gave some consideration to the freedom of news gathering and reporting. We welcome the fact that news gathering activity by people in the media will not be considered a crime unless it is conducted illegally or extremely improperly.
法案には、取材・報道の自由への配慮が明記された。報道関係者の取材行為は違法または著しく不当でない限り、罪に問われないとした点は前向きに評価できる。
Some opposition parties have been up in arms and claimed this bill “will cover the people’s eyes and ears and muzzle their mouths” and “control the state’s information and silence any criticism of the Japan-U.S. alliance.” But such fears are off the mark.
一部の野党がこの法案を「国民の目と耳、口をふさぐ」「国家の情報を統制し、日米同盟への批判を封じ込める」と声高に非難しているが、これは的外れである。
That being said, there is a danger that public servants will become so afraid of leaks that they will reject requests for interviews, making it harder for the media to share necessary information with the public.
だが、公務員が萎縮して取材に応じず、報道機関が必要な情報を伝えられなくなる恐れは残る。
How should the protection of classified information for national security be balanced with the people’s “right to know”? This topic also needs in-depth discussion in the upper house.
安全保障のための機密保全と、「知る権利」のバランスをどうとっていくか。この問題も参院で掘り下げるべきテーマだろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 27, 2013)
（2013年11月27日02時13分 読売新聞）
プロフィール
ＨＮ：
srachai
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男性
職業：
civil engineer
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子育て
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■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
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・03/07 カイちゃん誕生
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・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
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・翻訳和文で専門用語確認
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