英字新聞
読売、毎日、朝日各社英字新聞の主として社説を学習研究します

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Prioritize reinforcing governance of public pension fund management
年金運用改革　ガバナンス強化を優先したい

To manage a massive amount of funds safely and efficiently, it is vital to build an effective organization and system suited to carrying out the task.
　巨額の資金を安全かつ効率的に運用するには、それにふさわしい実効性ある組織や体制を構築することが肝要である。

A council of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has proposed that the current ban on direct stock investment by the Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) remain in place, at least for the time being.
　年金積立金管理運用独立行政法人（ＧＰＩＦ）による株式の直接運用の可否について、厚生労働省の審議会が、当面は認めず、現状を維持することが望ましいとする報告書をまとめた。

The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito has supported the proposal. The government has decided not to include direct stock investment by the GPIF in a bill related to pension reforms, which it plans to submit to the current Diet.
　自民、公明両党も、この内容を了承した。政府は、今国会に提出する予定の年金改革関連法案に直接運用を盛り込まない方針だ。

This was a reasonable conclusion, as it is not only doubtful if the GPIF, under the current structure and human resources, would be able to make appropriate stock investment decisions but also difficult to ensure impartiality and transparency in such investments.
　妥当な結論である。現在のＧＰＩＦの体制や人材で的確な投資判断ができるか、疑問が拭えないうえ、株式運用の公平・透明性を確保することも困難だからだ。

The GPIF, which manages the reserve funds of corporate employees’ pension programs and the national pension program — worth a combined total of about ¥140 trillion — is one of the world’s largest institutional investors.
　約１４０兆円に上る厚生年金、国民年金の積立金を運用するＧＰＩＦは、世界最大級の機関投資家である。

In principle, the GPIF manages funds through trust banks and other financial institutions, and is prohibited from making direct equity investments.
信託銀行などを通じた資金運用が原則で、株式への直接投資は認められていない。

The GPIF had called for lifting the ban on direct stock investment on the grounds that by flexibly responding to capital market movements, it will be able to earn more profits, while reducing the commissions it pays to the trust banks.
　ＧＰＩＦは、直接運用の解禁を求めていた。市場の動きに機動的に対応できれば、運用益が向上し、信託銀行へ払う運用委託手数料も節約できるという理屈だ。

But the decision-making power of the GPIF has been concentrated on its president, and few of its staff members specialize in fund management.
　しかし、ＧＰＩＦは現在、権限が理事長に集中しており、資金運用の専門人材も少ない。

Expert panel appropriate

The council’s proposal calls for reinforcing the GPIF’s governance structure to increase public trust in it.
　報告書は、国民の信頼を高めるため、ＧＰＩＦのガバナンス（統治）体制の強化を求めた。

The main point of the proposal is to establish an executive committee, comprising financial experts and other people, with a collegial decision-making system to consider such important matters as the component ratio of management assets. This is an appropriate recommendation.
金融専門家らを集めた経営委員会を新設し、運用資産の構成比率などの重要案件を合議制で決めることが柱だ。適切な提案である。

To carry out asset management stably over the long term, it will be important to develop its own specialists in fund management and enhance risk-management capabilities.
　長期的に安定した資産運用を行うためには、専門人材を自前で育成し、リスク管理能力を高めることも大切となろう。

The fund’s organizational reforms, led by welfare minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki, ran into difficulties last year due to differences of opinion with the Pension Bureau. We hope efforts to develop a new structure will be expedited.
　塩崎厚労相が主導した組織改革は昨年、年金局との意見の不一致で暗礁に乗り上げた。新たな体制整備を急いでもらいたい。

The ministry says it plans to study the issue of direct stock investment again three years from now.
　厚労省は、直接運用を３年後に再び検討するとしている。

Needless to say, there is risk involved in investing in stocks that fluctuate widely. Safety is an essential consideration to manage pension funds over the long term.
　だが、言うまでもなく、値動きが大きい株式投資にはリスクが伴う。長期の年金資金の運用には、安全性への配慮は不可欠だ。

There is also the problem that if the GPIF takes a more active role in investing in stocks with massive amounts of pension funds, it will likely have greater influence on stock markets. This is because stock prices likely would be affected by which stock the GPIF buys and how much.
　巨額の年金資金を使って株式投資を積極化すれば、ＧＰＩＦの市場に対する影響力は一段と大きくなるという問題もある。ＧＰＩＦがどの会社の株式をどれだけ買うかによって、株価を左右する恐れが高まるからだ。

The GPIF’s fund management reforms are seen as part of the government’s measures to prop up stock prices. Should pension funds be used with short-term price increases in mind, it will distort stock prices. Sufficient consideration should also be given in this respect.
　市場では、ＧＰＩＦの運用改革が株価対策と受け取られている面もある。年金資金を短期的な株価下支えに使えば、株価形成を歪ゆがめる。こうした点にも十分に目配りせねばならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 22, 2016)

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Gaffe-prone lawmakers need greater awareness of their responsibilities
丸山議員の失言　国政を担う自覚はあるのか

There has recently been a succession of inappropriate remarks made by Diet members from both the ruling and opposition parties and by Cabinet members. This could heighten distrust in politics. They should be aware that they are in a position of heavy responsibility, and also feel a sense of alertness.
　与野党の国会議員や閣僚の不適切な発言が相次いでいる。政治不信を助長する恐れがある。重い職責を担う自覚と緊張感を持つべきだ。

The remarks in question include one made by Kazuya Maruyama, a House of Councillors member from the Liberal Democratic Party. At a session of the upper house Commission on the Constitution, he said: “In the United States, a black man is president [of the country] now. He is in a bloodline of black people who were slaves.” The remark could be taken as an expression of racial discrimination. Besides, the father of President Barack Obama was a Kenyan and not a descendant of slaves.
　参院憲法審査会で自民党の丸山和也氏が「今、米国は黒人が大統領になっている。黒人の血を引く。これは奴隷ですよ」と語った。人種差別と受けとられかねない。オバマ大統領の父はケニア人で、奴隷の子孫でもない。

The day after making that remark, Maruyama attempted to justify himself by saying, “I said that with the intention of praising the fact that the current United States came into being through self-transformation.” However, this cannot possibly be understood.
　翌日、「自己変革があって、今の米国が生まれたことをたたえるつもりで話した」と釈明したが、到底、理解されまい。

Maruyama also said, “If Japan becomes the 51st state of the United States, no controversy could erupt over its right of collective self-defense, and the abduction problem would not have arisen, either.” This is just preposterous and a remark that raises questions about his qualifications as a legislator.
　丸山氏は「日本が米国の５１番目の州になれば、集団的自衛権は問題にならないし、拉致問題も起こらなかった」とも述べた。荒唐無稽であり、国会議員としての資質を疑われても仕方ない発言だ。

The opposition Democratic Party of Japan cannot treat the recent inappropriate remarks as having nothing to do with itself.
　民主党も人ごとではない。

Masaharu Nakagawa, a House of Representatives member from the DPJ, said at a meeting of party lower house members, “Let’s fight to ensure Prime Minister [Shinzo] Abe develops a sleep disorder.”
　中川正春衆院議員は代議士会で「安倍首相の睡眠障害を勝ち取ろう」と訴えた。

Nakagawa made the remark when he referred to Akira Amari, former minister in charge of economic revitalization, who has been diagnosed with a sleep disorder. Nakagawa’s remark lacked consideration for people who suffer from such a condition.
睡眠障害と診断された甘利明・前経済再生相を引き合いにした発言だが、同じ病気に悩む人への配慮が欠けている。

The prime minister has expressed a sense of displeasure with the remark, saying it is “a question of human rights.”
　安倍首相は「人権問題だ」などと不快感を示した。

Focus on serious issues

There are a number of themes to be discussed in the Diet now, including the revitalization of the Japanese economy and the situation in northeast Asia. We hope each lawmaker will come to tackle Diet deliberations more seriously and deepen constructive discussions.
　日本経済の再生、北東アジア情勢など、国会で論じるべきテーマは多い。各議員は、審議にもっと真剣に取り組み、建設的な議論を深めてもらいたい。

Needless to say, Cabinet members must speak and act with even greater caution.
　無論、閣僚には、より慎重な言動が求められる。

During a lecture in which she referred to the nuclear accident that occurred at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, Environment Minister Tamayo Marukawa said the government’s decontamination goal of reducing radiation levels to an annual dose of one millisievert or less had “no scientific grounds.”
　丸川環境相は講演で、福島第一原発事故に関し、放射線量を「年間１ミリ・シーベルト以下」にする国の除染目標について「何の科学的根拠もない」と発言した。

Later, she offered an apology, saying, “I said that [with the aim of] stating that a full explanation has not been given about why [the target] was set at one millisievert.” In the end, Marukawa retracted her original remark.
　その後、「なぜ１ミリに決めたのか、十分に説明し切れていないと（いう趣旨で）言った」と陳謝して、最終的に発言を撤回した。

In response to requests from communities affected by the accident to thoroughly decontaminate their areas, the administration led by the then ruling DPJ announced it would pursue the goal of curtailing radiation levels to one millisievert or less. By international standards, evacuees from a nuclear accident-affected area can return to their community if radiation levels stand at 20 millisieverts or lower.
　民主党政権は、徹底除染を求める地元の要望を受け、１ミリ・シーベルトの目標を掲げた。国際的には、２０ミリ・シーベルト以下なら帰還可能とされる。

It has been pointed out that the high decontamination goal is hindering efforts to ensure that evacuees from communities struck by the disaster can return home, and to rehabilitate the affected areas.
高い目標が住民帰還や復興の障害になっているとの指摘がある。

Although Marukawa’s remark seems to make sense in some respects, there is no denying her statement was unguarded and worded immaturely.
　丸川氏の発言には、もっともな面もあるが、舌足らずで、不用意だったことは否めない。

Kensei Mizote, chairman of the LDP caucus of upper house members, referred to former lower house member Kensuke Miyazaki, who was discovered to have been seeing another woman just before his wife gave birth. “Some people may feel envious [of Miyazaki],” Mizote said. Though Mizote may have said this as a joke, his remark was thoughtless.
　自民党の溝手顕正参院議員会長は、妻の出産直前に別の女性と交際していた宮崎謙介前衆院議員について、「うらやましい人もいるんじゃないの」と語った。軽口にしても不見識である。

The LDP is being viewed sternly, for reasons such as the scandal involving Miyazaki, who had proposed establishing a system by which Diet members would be allowed to take childcare leave.
　国会議員の育児休業の制度化を唱えていた宮崎氏の不祥事などで、自民党への視線は厳しい。

Does all this demonstrate that the LDP may be filled with conceit at a time when the party is the sole dominant force in political circles? Now is the time for the LDP to pull itself together.
「１強」状況の中、慢心が生じていないか。タガを締め直すべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 21, 2016)

--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 20
EDITORIAL: Extent of suffering key to compensating Fukushima evacuees
（社説）原発自主避難　被害に応じた賠償を

An estimated 100,000 or so people are still living as evacuees as a consequence of the catastrophic accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in March 2011.
　東京電力福島第一原発事故で故郷を離れて避難している人はいまも約１０万人にのぼる。

This figure comprises about 18,000 evacuees who acted on their own initiative and fled from the 23 municipalities in Fukushima Prefecture that are outside government-designated evacuation zones. They include people who lived in areas that are not covered by the government-supported compensation program.
　このうち、国が避難指示などを出した区域の外側にある福島県内の２３市町村から別の場所に自主的に避難した人は、賠償対象区域の外側の人も含め、推計で約１万８千人いる。

The circumstances of their decisions to leave their hometowns are more or less similar to those of the people who fled from areas covered by the evacuation orders. Many of them were concerned about the health of their children or found it difficult to continue their businesses in the affected areas.
　「子どもの健康が不安だから」「商売ができなくなった」
　逃げざるを得なかった事情は避難指示区域内の住民と総じて大きくは変わらない。

But compensation paid to these “voluntary evacuees” by Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), the operator of the crippled nuclear plant, ranging from 120,000 yen to 720,000 yen ($1,000 to $6,400) per person, was far smaller than the amounts received by residents of the evacuation areas.
だが、東電からの慰謝料は１人あたり１２万～７２万円と、区域内の住民と比べて大きな隔たりがある。

On Feb. 18, a local court handed down a ruling that may open the door to greater relief for these evacuees.
　一昨日、自主避難者の救済に道を開く司法判断が示された。

The Kyoto District Court ordered TEPCO to pay about 30 million yen to a man and his wife for mental illnesses the husband suffered following their “voluntary evacuation” from the calamitous accident. The man, who is in his 40s, together with his wife and three children, filed a lawsuit against the utility seeking 180 million yen in damages, claiming he became unable to work because of mental and physical problems caused by the effects of the nuclear disaster.
　福島県から京都市に自主避難した４０代男性が、原発事故の影響で心身に不調をきたし、働けなくなったとして妻子４人とともに東電に損害賠償を求めた訴訟で、京都地裁は約３千万円を支払うよう東電に命じた。

Concerned about the possibility of his children’s exposure to radiation, the man decided to leave his home with his family. After they fled, the family stayed at hotels and lived in rented accommodation outside the prefecture.
　男性は子どもの被曝（ひばく）を恐れて避難を決意し、県外のホテルや賃貸住宅を転々とした。

As he had to live in unfamiliar surroundings, the man developed insomnia and depression. The district court acknowledged that the nuclear accident was the cause of these health problems.
慣れない生活から不眠症やうつ病を発症した。地裁はこれらを原発事故が原因だと認めた。

Compensation payments to such voluntary evacuees are based on guidelines set by a central government panel addressing disputes over compensation for nuclear accidents. The guidelines say compensation payments should be based on three factors: increases in living expenses due to evacuation, mental damages and expenses incurred in fleeing and returning home.
　自主避難者への賠償は、国の原子力損害賠償紛争審査会（原陪審）が決めた指針に沿って支払われている。指針は、（１）生活費の増加分（２）精神的損害（３）避難や帰宅に要した費用――を基本に算定するというものだ。

TEPCO had paid a total of 2.92 million yen to the family based on the guidelines, but the family claimed the compensation was insufficient.
　男性側にも指針に基づき東電から２９２万円が支払われたが、不十分だと訴えていた。

In its ruling, the district court argued that the guidelines only show “items and scope of damages that can be classified according to type.”
　判決で京都地裁は指針について「類型化が可能な損害項目や範囲を示したものに過ぎない」と指摘、

The ruling showed the view that damages with a causal link to the accident should be compensated for according to the circumstances involved. The basic principle for compensation espoused by the ruling is that the amounts of damages to be paid should be determined according to the circumstances of individual cases instead of being uniform and fixed.
事故と因果関係のある被害は事情に応じて賠償すべきだとの考え方を示した。賠償金額は個別事情に則して決定すべきで、一律な線引きは許されない、という賠償のあり方そのものを問うたといえる。

Compensation payments to victims of the nuclear disaster, such as evacuees and affected businesses, come out of a 9 trillion yen treasure chest provided by the government to TEPCO.
　福島の被災者への賠償は、国が東電に９兆円を援助し、東電がこの中から避難住民や企業に賠償金を払う仕組みだ。

With its management priority placed on its own early recovery from the consequences of the accident, however, the electric utility has been trying to terminate the payments as soon as possible and keep the amounts within the framework set by the guidelines. The company’s compensation policy has been criticized for failing to make the benefit of residents a primary consideration.
　だが経営再建をめざす東電は、賠償の早めの打ち切りや枠内で極力抑えようとし、救済が住民本位になっていないという批判がある。

About 10,000 evacuees are involved as plaintiffs in damages suits filed with 21 district courts and branches around the country. This points to the high level of discontent with the compensation payments that have been paid out.
　避難者らが起こした集団訴訟は、全国２１地裁・支部で続いている。原告の総数は約１万人にのぼり、相当数の人が正当な賠償を受けていないという不満を抱えている。

TEPCO should respond with appropriate sincerity to the demands of victims entitled to compensation and review its compensation policy and procedures.
　東電は賠償対象者に誠実に向き合い、賠償対応のあり方を見直すべきだ。

The courts that are hearing these cases should hand down rulings that give sufficient consideration to the plight of the victims.
集団訴訟を扱う裁判所も、被害者の窮状を十分にくんだ判断をしてもらいたい。

The Yomiuri Shimbun
More outward approach needed to fix ‘comfort women’ misperception
政府慰安婦説明　誤解払拭へ国際発信を強めよ

Japan must ramp up outbound dissemination of information in an effort to eliminate misperceptions about the so-called comfort women issue.
　慰安婦問題に関する誤解を払拭するため、国際的な情報発信を一段と強化せねばならない。

During a recent session of the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women in Geneva, the government gave comprehensive explanations about facts related to the issue for the first time, saying among other things that no documents confirming forcible recruitment of comfort women have been found.
　政府は、ジュネーブでの国連女子差別撤廃委員会で、慰安婦の強制連行を裏付ける資料は発見されていないことなど、事実関係について初めて包括的に説明した。

Referring to testimony by the late Seiji Yoshida that he “hunted women” for recruitment of comfort women on Jeju Island in what is now South Korea, Deputy Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama denounced his testimony as a total fabrication and said The Asahi Shimbun, which had reported his testimony, had since admitted it was an erroneous report and apologized over it.
　杉山晋輔外務審議官が、韓国で「女性狩り」をしたとする吉田清治氏の証言は捏造ねつぞうで、吉田証言を報道した朝日新聞が誤報を認め、謝罪したことにも言及した。

Though the government’s rebuttal came belatedly, it is absolutely necessary to accurately correct the international community’s misunderstanding of the facts and actively rebut assertions that could damage the reputation of Japan.
　遅きに失した感はあるが、国際社会では、事実誤認は的確に正し、日本を貶おとしめる主張には積極的に反論することが欠かせない。

Touching on Japan’s support for former comfort women based on the Asian Women’s Fund and the Japan-South Korea agreement last December, Sugiyama said, “Criticisms that the Japanese government denies history and has taken no action on the matter run counter to facts.”
　杉山氏は、アジア女性基金や昨年１２月の日韓合意に基づく元慰安婦支援に触れ、「日本政府が歴史の否定をしているとか、何の措置もとっていないという批判は事実に反する」と強調した。

With this as a starting point, Japan must step up diplomatic efforts to disseminate all facts related to the comfort women issue across the world.
　これを機に、慰安婦問題に関して、正確な事実関係を世界に広げる外交努力を加速させたい。

Of concern is the global spread of the misperception that “200,000 women were forced by the Japanese military to become sex slaves.”
　懸念されるのは、「日本軍が２０万人の女性を性奴隷にした」といった誤った言説が、世界各国でひとり歩きしていることだ。

Contrary to facts

The spread of that misperception was triggered by a report by Radhika Coomaraswamy, submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Commission in 1996.
　誤解を広げた発端は、１９９６年に国連人権委員会に提出されたクマラスワミ報告である。

Using the Yoshida testimony as part of its grounds for concluding that the comfort women were “sex slaves,” the report mentioned that the number of comfort women hailing from the Korean Peninsula alone totaled 200,000. Such a mistaken expression was inscribed as part of the epitaphs of comfort women statues installed in the United States.
　吉田証言を論拠の一つとして慰安婦を「性奴隷」と断じた。慰安婦の数は、朝鮮半島出身者だけでも２０万人と記載した。こうした誤まった表現は、米国に設置された慰安婦像の碑文にも刻まれた。

Arguing that there can be no ground for asserting that there were “200,000” comfort women, Sugiyama also said the expression “sex slaves” was “contrary to the facts.”
　杉山氏は今回、「２０万人」に根拠はなく、「性奴隷」との表現は「事実に反する」と指摘した。

History researchers in Japan and foreign countries have assumed certain numbers of comfort women based on such data as the number of soldiers at the time. Their majority view is that 200,000 is an overestimated figure.
　慰安婦の数は、国内外の複数の歴史研究者が兵士の数などを基に推計しているが、２０万人は過大だとの見方が有力である。

It is regrettable, however, that the Foreign Ministry did not make any effective refutation when the Coomaraswamy’s report was submitted to the United Nations panel.
　悔やまれるのは、クマラスワミ報告が出た時点で、外務省が有効な反論をしなかったことだ。

This is probably because the ministry was bound by the fact that the report used some quotes from the statement made by then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono in 1993. Kono said that “in many cases they were recruited against their own will” and “administrative/military personnel directly took part in the recruitments.” Revision of the Kono Statement is a heavy challenge for the future.
　慰安婦募集が「総じて本人たちの意思に反して行われ」「官憲等が直接これに加担したこともあった」とした９３年の河野官房長官談話の一部が報告に引用され、それに縛られたのだろう。河野談話の見直しは今後の重い課題だ。

The South Korean government has contended during the U.N. panel session in Geneva that “the forcible mobilization of comfort women is a historical fact.” But it refrained from making a strong condemnation in consideration of the last year’s bilateral agreement that called for both parties to exercise self-restraint on criticizing each other at the United Nations and other international forums.
　韓国政府は、「慰安婦動員の強制性は歴史的事実」と主張した。一方で、国連などで相互批判を自制するとの昨年の日韓合意を踏まえ、強い非難はしなかった。

Japan’s focus this time on explaining the facts about comfort women can be deemed to be based on the same intention. Japan-South Korea relations have started improving after remaining stagnant for a long time. They must avoid a return to the folly of waging a futile battle of mutual criticism.
　日本が今回、事実関係の説明に徹したのも同じ趣旨だろう。長く停滞していた日韓関係は今、改善傾向にある。不毛な批判合戦に逆戻りする愚は避けるべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 19, 2016)

The Yomiuri Shimbun
U.S., ASEAN warn Beijing over outrageous actions in S. China Sea
米ＡＳＥＡＮ　南シナ海での狼藉に警告した

A message has been sent to China, which is attempting to turn the artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea into military strongholds, warning that its self-serving actions are unacceptable.
　南シナ海で人工島の軍事拠点化を図る中国に、独善的な行動は許されないとのメッセージを送ったということだろう。

U.S. President Barack Obama invited leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations for the first U.S.-ASEAN summit to be held in the United States.
　オバマ米大統領が東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）１０か国の首脳を招き、米国で初めて会議を開催した。

With the South China Sea in mind, a joint statement by the leaders set forth the importance of maintaining maritime security and safety by ensuring the right to the freedom of navigation, nonmilitarization and self-restraint. It avoided making pointed references to China but implicitly issued a warning regarding China’s outrageous behavior.
　共同声明では、南シナ海を念頭に、「航行の自由」の確保や非軍事化、行動の自制を通じて、海洋の安全を維持する重要性が明記された。名指しは避けたが、中国の狼藉ろうぜきへの警告を意味している。

One of the artificial islands China has built in the Spratly Islands reportedly contains a 3,000-meter-class runway and hangars for fighter jets.
　スプラトリー（南沙）諸島の中国の人工島には、３０００メートル級の滑走路や戦闘機用の格納庫が整備されたという。

Test flights were conducted on the island at the beginning of this year, and full-fledged operations of the runway are expected to start shortly.
今年初めに試験飛行が実施され、滑走路の本格運用が近く始まるとみられる。

China has also reportedly deployed an advanced surface-to-air missile system and a radar system on an island it effectively controls in the Paracel Islands.
　パラセル（西沙）諸島で中国が実効支配する島には、新型の地対空ミサイルとレーダーシステムが配備されたとも報じられた。

Viewing the United States as an “extra-regional state” in the South China Sea, China refuses to accept U.S. intervention in the region. China may be making too light of the situation, thinking that once it excludes U.S. influence from the region, it can make its maritime interests a fait accompli.
　中国は、米国を南シナ海の「域外国」と位置づけ、介入を拒んでいる。米国の影響力を排除すれば、海洋権益を既成事実化できると高をくくっているのだろう。

Yet the safety of sea lanes is a common good for the international community, including Japan.
　だが、海上交通路（シーレーン）の安全は、日本を含む国際社会共通の利益だ。

It was natural for Obama and ASEAN leaders to have announced in the joint statement the significance of “an international order where international rules and norms and the rights of all nations are upheld.”
オバマ氏とＡＳＥＡＮ首脳が、「すべての国の権利を保護する、ルールに基づいた国際秩序」の意義を共同声明で打ち出したのは当然である。

Regular sailings needed

Last October and in January this year, U.S. Navy vessels sailed close to disputed islands in the South China Sea, conducting patrols to concretely demonstrate the right to the freedom of navigation.
　米軍艦艇は昨年１０月と今年１月に、南シナ海で「航行の自由」を行動で示す巡視活動を行った。

At a press conference, Obama said the United States would “continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows,” clarifying again that the United States would continue its activities in the region. To deter China from taking provocative steps, it is essential for U.S. warships to sail there regularly.
　オバマ氏は記者会見で「国際法が許すところでは、どこでも実施し続ける」と述べ、活動継続を改めて明言した。中国の挑発を抑えるには、定期化が欠かせない。

The noticeable difference among ASEAN countries’ enthusiasm for holding China in check is a matter of concern. Such countries as Laos, the current ASEAN chair, and Cambodia have close economic ties with China. A situation in which ASEAN members become further divided in their positions, weakening the pressure they put on China, must be avoided.
　懸念されるのは、ＡＳＥＡＮ内の温度差が目立つことである。議長国ラオスやカンボジアなどは中国と経済関係が深い。ＡＳＥＡＮの分断が進み、対中圧力が弱まる事態は避けねばならない。

The United States is being called on to promote its rebalancing policy, which focuses on Asia, and to exercise strong leadership. Obama’s planned visit to Vietnam in May is part of such efforts.
　米国には「アジア重視」政策の推進と強い指導力が求められる。オバマ氏が５月にベトナムを訪問するのも、その一環となる。

Obama and ASEAN leaders at the summit also discussed the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade accord, participated in by 12 countries, including Japan and the United States.
　首脳会議では、日米など１２か国による環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）についても話し合われた。

Obama welcomed the participation of four ASEAN members, including Singapore, while expressing support for the remaining six, including Indonesia and Thailand, to join.
オバマ氏は、シンガポールなど４か国の参加を歓迎し、インドネシア、タイなど残る６か国の参加に向けた支援を表明した。

An expanded membership in the TPP accord, which strictly regulates trade and investment, would help restrain China, which is taking hegemonic actions in economic fields as well. Greater participation in the TPP by ASEAN member countries would also help vitalize Japan’s trade.
　高い水準の貿易・投資ルールを適用するＴＰＰの拡大は、経済面でも覇権的行動をとる中国への牽制けんせいになる。ＡＳＥＡＮからの参加国の増加は、日本の貿易活性化にもつながろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 18, 2016)

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Vigilance must be increased over North Korean military provocation
朝鮮半島緊張　「北」の軍事挑発に警戒怠るな

Ignoring repeated calls for self-restraint from the international community, North Korea continues taking provocative actions. Pyongyang should quickly recognize that such actions will only deepen its isolation and aggravate its plight.
　国際社会の再三の自制要求を顧みず、北朝鮮が挑発を重ねている。孤立を深め、自らの困窮を悪化させるだけであることを早く認識すべきだ。

The Korean Central News Agency reported Monday that Kim Jong Un, the first secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, called for more satellite launches in the future. This suggests that the country will launch long-range ballistic missiles again.
　朝鮮中央通信は、北朝鮮の金正恩第１書記が「衛星をもっと多く打ち上げねばならない」と述べたと伝えた。長距離弾道ミサイルの再発射を示唆したものだ。

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani pointed out Tuesday, “We cannot rule out the possibility of North Korea’s repeatedly launching missiles on the pretext of launching satellites.”
　中谷防衛相は「北朝鮮が人工衛星の打ち上げを口実としたミサイル発射を繰り返す可能性も否定できない」と指摘した。

It is important for Japan to cooperate with other countries concerned, including the United States and South Korea, and increase its vigilance.
日本は、米韓など関係国と連携して、警戒を強めることが大切である。

South Korean President Park Geun-hye said in a parliamentary address, “If time passes like this with no change, Kim Jong Un’s regime, on a reckless run without brakes, will deploy nuclear missiles.” It was reasonable for Park to have warned the nation of the danger of an increasing North Korean threat in light of advances in the North’s military technologies.
　朴槿恵韓国大統領が国会で「このままでは、ブレーキなしに暴走する金正恩政権が核ミサイルを実戦配備する」と演説した。軍事技術向上により北朝鮮の脅威が高まる危険性を訴えたのは当然だ。

In imposing sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear test last month and the latest launch of a long-range ballistic missile, South Korea suspended all operations at Kaesong industrial park, a jointly run cooperation project in North Korea.
　韓国は、北朝鮮の核実験と長距離弾道ミサイル発射への独自制裁として、南北協力事業「開城工業団地」の操業を全面中断した。

Problematic is that North Korea has unilaterally declared the Kaesong complex a military control zone and shut down cross-border telecommunications hot lines for both military forces.
　問題なのは、北朝鮮が一方的に開城工業団地を「軍事統制区域」にすると宣言し、南北の軍同士の通信を閉鎖したことである。

North Korea has taken these steps apparently because it was upset by Seoul’s aiming to cut financial resources of the Kim regime.
　金政権の資金源を標的にしたことに猛反発したとみられる。

Concerted trilateral moves

Since the Kaesong industrial complex started operations in 2004, North Korea has earned a total of $560 million (or about ¥63.4 billion) in foreign currency, including workers’ wages. Seventy percent of the money paid in wages and for other things is said to have gone to the Workers’ Party, which funneled it toward its nuclear and missile development programs or to purchase luxury goods.
　開城工業団地の２００４年の操業開始以来、北朝鮮は労賃など計５億６０００万ドル（約６３４億円）の外貨を得ている。労賃などの７割が朝鮮労働党に上納され、核・ミサイル開発や、ぜいたく品購入などに流用されたという。

There were also news reports saying that the chief of staff of the North Korean Army was recently executed. First Secretary Kim may have become unable to maintain his regime without resorting to a reign of terror by purging one aide after another among senior officials of the military or the ruling party.
　北朝鮮軍の総参謀長が最近、処刑されたとの情報もある。金第１書記は側近の軍・党幹部を次々に粛清する恐怖政治でしか、体制を維持できないのではないか。

It is inevitable for the tensions between the two Koreas to increase. The U.S. forces will deploy a nuclear-powered attack submarine and F-22 stealth fighter planes in and around South Korea. The United States and South Korea should cooperate and deter North Korea from engaging in military provocations.
　南北の緊張が高まるのは避けられまい。米軍は攻撃型原潜やステルス戦闘機Ｆ２２を韓国周辺に展開する。米韓が協調し、北朝鮮の軍事挑発を抑止すべきだ。

In her address, Park emphasized that her country is advancing the buildup of defense capabilities of the U.S.-South Korea alliance.
　朴氏は演説で、米韓同盟の「防衛力増強を進めている」と力説した。

Park’s new policy of negotiating with Washington over the deployment of a state-of-the-art U.S. missile defense system in her country, which she had been wary about, is also part of the defense buildup.
これまで慎重だった最新鋭の米ミサイル防衛システムの韓国配備について、米国と協議する方針に転換したのもその一環だ。

In South Korea, senior officials of the ruling party, a leading newspaper and others have begun to publicly refer to the idea of arming the country with nuclear weapons. Park’s parliamentary remarks may also be aimed at cooling off such a move.
　韓国では、与党幹部や有力紙などが公然と核武装論に言及し始めた。朴氏の発言には、これを沈静化する狙いもあるのだろう。

Park has highly rated Japan’s imposition of unilateral sanctions on North Korea, saying it has demonstrated Japan’s strong will not to overlook its behavior.
　朴氏は、日米の対北朝鮮独自制裁の動きについて、「北朝鮮の行動を看過しないという強い意思を示している」と評価した。

It is vitally important to make use of the momentum of concerted moves by Japan, the United States and South Korea toward tough sanctions against North Korea so as to realize the adoption of a resolution by the U.N. Security Council.
　厳格な北朝鮮制裁で日米韓の足並みがそろった機運を生かし、国連安全保障理事会の制裁決議採択につなげることが肝要である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 17, 2016)