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

2010/10/14
--The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 13
EDITORIAL: Unified Germany at 20
ドイツの２０年―欧州統合への歩みに学ぶ

When the Berlin Wall came down, East Germans spilled into the streets and chanted, "We are one people." The outpouring of their longing for the freedom and prosperity of the West turned the wheels of history.
　ベルリンの壁が崩壊し、街に繰り出した旧東独の人々が叫んだ。「我々は一つの国民だ」。西側の自由と豊かさへのあこがれ。噴き出した人々の情念が歴史の歯車を動かした。

Germany's reunification, on Oct. 3, 1990, heralded a new era in contemporary history.
　１９９０年１０月の東西ドイツ統一は、現代史の新しい幕開けだった。

Celebrating the 20th anniversary, German President Christian Wulff noted: "In 1989 the East Germans chanted 'We are the people, we are one people.' This evoked a sense of national identity that had long been buried ... . Now, 20 years on, a new self-confidence has taken hold throughout Germany, a relaxed brand of patriotism, a frank assertion of belief in our country--a country that is aware of its great responsibility for the past and that is shaping the future accordingly."
　あれから２０年。統一記念式典で演説したウルフ大統領の言葉は印象的だ。
　「旧東独の人々の叫びが、眠っていた国民のアイデンティティーを呼び覚ました。２０年後のいま、この国には新しい自信、緩やかな愛国心、そして過去への大きな責任とともに、未来を担おうとの意識が生まれている」

We would say Germany has scored historic successes over the past 20 years.
　ドイツにとって、歴史的な成功を収めた２０年だったといえよう。

Back in 1990, Germany's neighbors were apprehensive about reunification. Although Germany engaged in deep soul-searching after its defeat in World War II, former victim nations had yet to fully get over their collective memories of the destruction caused by Germany in the two world wars and the unspeakable horrors of the Nazi death camps.
　当時、近隣国にはドイツ統一への警戒心が強かった。２度の大戦とユダヤ人虐殺。戦後ドイツが示した反省にもかかわらず、被害の記憶はなかなか消え去らなかった。

Aware of these sentiments, German leaders chose to incorporate their country into the multilateral cooperative framework of European nations which were striving to realize regional integration, even if that meant making some sacrifices.
　ドイツの指導者たちが取り組んだのは、地域統合をめざす欧州の多国間協力の枠組みに、代償を払ってでも自らを組み込むことだった。

Germany abandoned the Deutsche mark, which was Europe's strongest currency at the time, and agreed to adopt the euro. Germany also encouraged Poland, Czechoslovakia and other central and eastern European nations to join the EU as well as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. These policies won the support of the rest of Europe and the United States and the acceptance of Russia.
　欧州最強の通貨だった独マルクを捨て、単一通貨ユーロの導入を認めた。ポーランドやチェコなど中東欧諸国を後押しして、欧州連合（ＥＵ）や北大西洋条約機構（ＮＡＴＯ）に次々迎え入れた。欧州諸国や米国はこれを支援し、ロシアも受け入れた。

Rather than allow itself to be swallowed up in the current of history, Germany opted to go with the times and lead the nation in a direction that would best serve the interests of its people.
　歴史の奔流に身をまかせるのではなく、国民の利益のため、流れに棹（さお）さして望ましい方向へ導いていく。

There is no question that Bonn's foreign policy, based on this position, has worked very favorably for the country.
そんなドイツの自覚的な外交戦略が大きな果実をもたらしたのは明らかだ。

As a result of the integration of European markets, more than 60 percent of German exports today are bound for Europe. Germany's highly competitive automobile and chemical industries are helping to prop up the European economy as a whole.
　欧州市場の一体化により、ドイツの貿易のうち対欧は６割を超えた。自動車や化学品など強い産業競争力が欧州経済を下支えしている。

In foreign policy, Germany maintains independent relations with the United States and Russia, and is also party to negotiations over the Iranian nuclear issue. Also, many German troops are on missions in Afghanistan and the former Yugoslavia to restore law and order.
　外交では、米国やロシアと自立した関係を築く一方、イランの核問題の交渉に加わっている。アフガニスタンや旧ユーゴスラビアの治安回復に多くの兵士が活動している。

Naturally, Germany is not without problems. The per-capita income of former East Germans is still only 70 percent of that of their West German compatriots, and the jobless rate is high.
　もちろん陰の面もある。旧東独の１人あたり所得は旧西独の７割で、その失業率は高い。

During the ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of reunification, Wulff appealed to his countrymen to be more accepting of Turkish and other immigrants from the Islamic world.
ウルフ大統領は式典で、トルコなどイスラム系移民を社会に取り込む大切さを国民に訴えた。

What should the European Union do to reinforce its functions to overcome the problem of a single currency and fiscal concerns? How should the EU deal with conflict in the Middle East and the Iranian nuclear problem? The EU has an extremely important role to play in the international community.
　単一通貨ユーロや財政の不安を乗り越えるために、ＥＵの機能をどう強めるか。中東紛争やイラン核問題をどう解決していくか。ＥＵが国際社会で果たす役割は極めて大きい。

As a core EU member, Germany bears the responsibility of further advancing the integration of Europe and leading the way in resolving various global issues.
　ＥＵの中核メンバーとして、ドイツは欧州統合を深化させ、世界の課題解決の先頭に立つ責務がある。

This autumn, commemorative events to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Japan and Germany kicked off in Japan. In Asia, a divided nation exists on the Korean Peninsula, and disputes over sovereignty and territory continue to flare elsewhere.
　この秋、日本で「日独交流１５０周年」の行事が始まった。アジアでは、朝鮮半島に分断国家が残り、領土や主権をめぐる摩擦が起きている。

Japan's circumstances are obviously different from Germany's, but there are many things we can learn from Germany.
　置かれた環境は異なるが、ドイツの経験に学べることは少なくない。

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Oct. 14, 2010)
Continue dialogue with China to ensure security
海上安全保障　中国は協議に前向き対応を（10月13日付・読売社説）

The recent meeting between Japanese and Chinese defense chiefs marked a definite first step toward improving the soured relationship between Tokyo and Beijing, but the road ahead is not likely to be smooth.
　日中関係の改善に向けての新たな一歩ではあるが、今後の道のりは平坦(へいたん)ではなかろう。

Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa and his Chinese counterpart Liang Guanglie agreed to steadily promote a strategic, mutually beneficial relationship between the two nations in Hanoi on Monday. Their conversation was held on the sidelines of a defense minister's meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus eight countries that include Japan and the United States.
　北沢防衛相が訪問先のハノイで中国の梁光烈国防相と会談し、日中の戦略的互恵関係を着実に進展させることなどで一致した。

The meeting was in line with an agreement to "hold high-level talks when appropriate," made when Prime Minister Naoto Kan met Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Brussels on Oct. 4. With Monday's meeting, Japan-China relations seem to be gradually normalizing after being strained following collisions last month between a Chinese trawler and two Japan Coast Guard vessels in waters near the Senkaku Islands.
　会談が実現したのは、今月４日の日中首脳会談で合意した「ハイレベル協議の適宜開催」に沿うものだ。尖閣諸島沖の中国漁船衝突事件で悪化した日中関係は一応、正常化しつつあると言える。

===

China still reluctant to engage

However, the meeting also revealed Beijing is still cautious toward Tokyo. In response to requests from China, the meeting was unofficial, and a scheduled port call to Qingdao, China, from Friday by a fleet of Maritime Self-Defense Force training ships likely will be postponed.
　一方で、中国の慎重姿勢も目立った。中国側の要請で、会談は非公式な形式となった。１５日から予定されていた海上自衛隊練習艦による中国・青島寄港も、中国側の事情で延期される方向だ。

Liang reportedly told Kitazawa the naval exchange would be put off because China must carefully consider its citizens' feelings. But this claim sounds too one-sided and is difficult to understand.
　梁国防相は、延期の理由について「中国国民の気持ちと態度を慎重に考慮する必要がある」と語ったが、あまりに一方的な主張であり、理解しがたい。

However, when Kitazawa requested the quick establishment of a maritime contact mechanism in the East China Sea, Liang reportedly agreed that tangible results needed to be produced soon.
　北沢防衛相は会談で、「海上連絡メカニズム」の早期構築を呼びかけ、梁国防相は「早く成果を上げることが重要だ」と応じた。

The contact mechanism would facilitate emergency communication between defense chiefs and high-ranking officers to prevent minor collisions between Japanese and Chinese naval vessels from developing into serious situations. China established similar military hotlines with the United States and South Korea two years ago.
　海上連絡メカニズムは、日中の防衛首脳や制服組幹部の緊急連絡体制を整備するものだ。艦船同士の些細(ささい)な接触が重大事態に発展するのを防ぐ狙いがある。中国は２年前、同様の軍事ホットラインを米国、韓国と設置している。

Although Japan and China have been planning such a system for more than 10 years, results have yet to materialize. But after the recent collisions off the Senkaku Islands and two incidents in which a Chinese Navy helicopter buzzed a MSDF destroyer this spring, establishment of a hotline is needed as quickly as possible.
　この問題は１０年以上前から日中間の懸案だが、実現していない。今回の漁船衝突事件や、今春の中国海軍ヘリによる海自艦船への異常接近を踏まえれば、日中は早急に協議を進める必要がある。

===

Resolve needed to mend ties

There are still bones of contention between Japan and China, but the strategic, mutually beneficial relationship can only take shape if the two countries continue engaging in dialogue and making tangible achievements.
　日中間には多くの意見の異なる問題が存在するが、対話を重ね、具体的な実績を上げてこそ、戦略的互恵関係は実態を伴う。

China's reluctance to promote bilateral defense exchanges, such as visits by high-ranking officers and port calls, is apparently motivated by a desire to keep its military situation hidden.
　高官や艦船の相互訪問など一連の防衛交流に中国が慎重なのは、軍の実情が明らかになるのを避けたい思惑もあるのだろう。

However, enhanced military transparency by China will help reassure its neighbors, which see Beijing as a threat. We believe this also will benefit China itself.
　しかし、軍事的な透明性の向上は、周辺国の中国警戒論の緩和にもつながる。それは中国自身の利益にも合致するはずだ。

While in Hanoi, Kitazawa met with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday. The two defense chiefs reportedly agreed to continue to cooperate and consult closely to deal with China's intensifying naval activities in the East China Sea and other waters.
　北沢防衛相はゲーツ米国防長官とも会談し、活発化している中国の海洋活動に関して日米が緊密に協議する方針を確認した。

On Tuesday, 10 ASEAN member states and eight other countries, including Japan, the United States and China, held the first meeting of their defense chiefs. The group adopted a joint declaration promoting multinational cooperation in maritime security and disaster rescue operations, among other areas.
　翌１２日には、東南アジア諸国と日米中など計１８か国による初の国防相会議も開かれ、海上安全保障や災害救助などの多国間協力に関する共同宣言が採択された。

To steadily urge China to contribute to Asia's stability, we believe it is vital for Japan to increase cooperation with the United States and other concerned nations.
　アジアの安定に向けて中国の協力を粘り強く促すためにも、日本は米国や関係国との連携を強化することが重要である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 13, 2010)
（2010年10月13日01時50分 読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Oct. 13, 2010)
NHK reporter violated ethics code
捜索情報漏洩　報道倫理逸脱したＮＨＫ記者（10月11日付・読売社説）

The illegal gambling on professional baseball by dozens of sumo wrestlers and stablemasters has taken yet another twist--one that raises serious questions about the ethics of the press.
　大相撲の野球賭博問題で、今度は報道側の倫理が厳しく問われる事態が明るみに出た。

A male reporter in his 30s, who then belonged to the sports section of NHK's News Department, allegedly sent an e-mail from his mobile phone in July to stablemaster Tokitsukaze, who was being investigated by the police over the gambling scandal. The reporter's e-mail allegedly tipped off Tokitsukaze, former makuuchi division wrestler Tokitsuumi, that the police would likely search sumo stables the following day.
　ＮＨＫの報道局スポーツ部に所属する３０歳代の男性記者が７月、警視庁の捜査対象になっていた時津風親方（元幕内時津海）に、「あす警察が捜索に入るようだ」などとメールを送信していたというのだ。

If this allegation is true, the reporter has committed an abominable act that violates journalists' code of ethics. NHK reportedly has been flooded with protests and complaints from the public following these revelations.
　記者倫理を逸脱した言語道断の行為である。ＮＨＫにも抗議や苦情が殺到しているという。

Several hours after the reporter sent the e-mail, the Metropolitan Police Department searched several sumo stables on suspicion of organizing illegal gambling for profit. The MPD discovered the reporter had leaked the information as they trawled through the contents of Tokitsukaze's mobile phone, which was confiscated as evidence during the search.
　当時、警視庁は賭博開張図利容疑で複数の相撲部屋を一斉捜索しているが、結果的に記者のメール送信から数時間後だった。その際に押収した親方の携帯電話の解析から情報漏洩(ろうえい)が発覚した。

===

Standards thrown out

If the information leak by the reporter had resulted in evidence being destroyed, it could have seriously impeded the police investigation. The reporter's actions also might have violated certain laws.
　仮に、この情報をもとに証拠隠滅などが行われていれば、どうだったろう。捜査に重大な支障が出た可能性があった。記者の行為が法に抵触する恐れもあった。

"Don't tell this to anybody else," the journalist's message reportedly said. "I'll get in huge trouble if you're found to have been tipped off by NHK." This suggests the reporter was fully aware that sending the e-mail was illicit.
　メールには「他言無用。ＮＨＫに聞いたとばれたら大変なので」などと記されていた。許されない行為であるという認識は、記者にもあったはずだ。

Nonetheless, the reporter fired off the e-mail because he wanted to reestablish his relationship with Tokitsukaze, the reporter reportedly said during an internal NHK investigation.
　それでも情報を送った理由として、記者は「メールをきっかけに、再び親方と関係作りをしたかった」と内部調査に答えている。

Objective reporting requires a journalist to keep some distance from the subject being covered. NHK reporters should observe this rule even more strictly than other sumo journalists because the broadcaster exclusively televises sumo tournaments live and enjoys special relations with the Japan Sumo Association.
　客観的な報道をするためには、取材対象と一定の距離を置く必要がある。独占的に大相撲を中継し、相撲協会とも特殊な関係にあるＮＨＫならば、なおさらだ。

On the day before the reporter sent the e-mail, NHK made the painful decision not to broadcast the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament live--the first time a basho would not be aired live since NHK started televising the national sport decades ago. If the reporter tried to glean information by currying favor with a subject of NHK's coverage, we have to say the reporter has absolutely no ethical sense.
　記者のメール送信の前日は、ＮＨＫが、テレビ中継始まって以来の名古屋場所の生中継中止という苦渋の決断をした日だ。その傍ら、取材対象に取り入ることで情報を得ようと記者が画策していたとしたらモラル欠如も甚だしい。

===

Lessons to be learned

An ironclad rule for journalism is that information gained through news gathering activities will not be used for anything but reporting purposes.
　そもそも、取材活動で知り得た情報を報道目的以外に使わないというのは鉄則だ。

NHK has claimed the reporter heard about the impending police search from a newspaper reporter. Even if that is true, it does not justify leaking police information to a person subject to investigation.
　ＮＨＫは、捜索情報は他紙の記者から得たもの、と強調するが、そうだとしても、捜査対象に漏らしていい理由にはなるまい。

In 2008, NHK found that three employees, including a director, had engaged in insider trading based on information distributed within the public broadcaster. Since then, NHK employees have been given in-house training such as workshops on broadcast ethics. However, these efforts have failed.
　ＮＨＫでは２００８年、元ディレクターらによる局内情報をもとにしたインサイダー取引が発覚した。以後、放送倫理の勉強会を開くなど、社内教育を徹底してきたというが、生かされなかった。

Between 2004 and 2006, an increasing number of TV owners refused to pay NHK viewing fees following revelations of accounting irregularities at the broadcaster, including embezzlement of production money and fraudulent business trips by employees. We wonder if NHK has already forgotten just how difficult it is to regain viewers' trust.
　０４～０６年には、制作費着服やカラ出張など不正経理が続発し、受信料の支払い拒否が相次いだ。視聴者の信頼回復がいかに困難か、よもやＮＨＫは忘れていまい。

The latest scandal should not be dismissed simply as the actions of a single reporter. The whole NHK organization should examine the latest episode seriously and announce steps to prevent a repeat of similar scandals.
　記者個人の問題で終わらせてはならない。ＮＨＫは組織全体で今回の不祥事を検証し、改めて再発防止策を公表すべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 11, 2010)
（2010年10月11日01時06分 読売新聞）

2010/10/11
--The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 9
EDITORIAL: Nobel Peace Prize
平和賞―中国は背を向けるな

A strong message has been delivered to China's political leaders, who have shown little, if any, respect for democracy or human rights while their country has been accomplishing amazing economic growth.
　驚異的な経済発展とは裏腹に、民主主義や人権を大切にしてこなかった中国の指導者に、痛烈なメッセージが突きつけられた。

The 2010 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Liu Xiaobo, a jailed Chinese writer and pro-democracy activist.
　中国の民主活動家で作家の劉暁波氏に、ノーベル平和賞が授与されることになった。

Since he was involved in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, Liu has been consistently and passionately fighting for democracy in China. Liu has expressed his opinions in writing and spoken up without using violence or other radical means.
１９８９年の天安門民主化運動にかかわり、それ以来暴力など過激な手段を使わず、言論活動一筋に民主化を求めてきた人物だ。

The Norwegian Nobel Committee highly praised his peaceful struggle.
　ノルウェーのノーベル賞委員会は、こうした活動を高く評価した。

At the end of 2008, the year of the Beijing Summer Olympics, Liu drafted "Charter 08," a manifesto calling for fundamental reforms for democracy that would ultimately end the Communist Party's monopoly on power. This and his criticism against the party and its leaders earned him an 11-year jail sentence for "inciting subversion of state power."
　北京五輪のあった２００８年暮れ、劉氏は共産党独裁の廃止など根本的な民主化を訴える「０８憲章」を起草した。そのことと党や指導者に対する批判が、「国家政権転覆扇動罪」に問われて懲役１１年の判決を受けた。

Liu is now in prison in northeast Liaoning province.
今は東北部の遼寧省で獄中にある。

It is not clear whether Liu even knows yet that he won the Nobel Peace Prize. Many Chinese citizens probably are still unaware of the fact because of the media blackout imposed by the authorities.
　劉氏が平和賞の知らせを聞くことができたかは定かでない。少なからぬ国民も、当局による報道規制のために知らずにいるかもしれない。

But the news will spread, sooner or later. And it will provide a big morale boost to other Chinese activists who have been struggling, along with Liu, to give their country democratic freedoms.
しかし早晩、授賞の知らせは中国で広がり、劉氏らとともに民主化につとめてきた人々への大きな励ましとなるだろう。

Beijing warned the Nobel committee that awarding the peace prize to a dissident like Liu would be regarded as an unfriendly act, according to the committee.
　ノーベル賞委員会によれば、中国当局は「反体制派への授与は非友好的な行為と見なされる」と警告していたという。

If so, China again acted in a high-handed manner that apparently reflects the growing sentiment that it is now a major power fueled by its rapid economic growth and military buildup.
だとすれば、急成長する経済や軍事力の増強による「大国意識」を背景にした強権的な一面が、ここでも表れたといえる。

We applaud the Nobel committee for not giving in to pressure from China.
　しかし、委員会は中国側の圧力に屈しなかった。高く評価したい。

The committee chastised the Chinese authorities for violating international conventions approving peaceful expressions of political beliefs to which Beijing is a party, as well as the country's own constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and other human rights. It pointed out that China now must accept greater responsibility.
　中国当局は、政治的信条の平和的な表現を認める、自らも署名した国際規約に反し、言論の自由などをうたった中国憲法にも反している。委員会はそう厳しく批判し、中国の責任の大きさを指摘した。

China's behavior concerning the collisions between a Chinese trawler and Japan Coast Guard patrol vessels near the Senkaku Islands and the actions it took against Vietnamese fishermen operating near disputed islands in the South China Sea have alarmed the international community and strengthened China's image as a country willing to ignore rules for the sake of its interests.
　尖閣諸島沖の衝突事件や南シナ海での行動は、中国がルールに従わない国という警戒感を国際社会に与えた。

As economic interdependence among countries has grown, the international community has been inclined to overlook China's trampling on universal values.
　経済の相互依存が強まるなかで、国際社会は中国による普遍的価値の侵害に目をつぶりがちだった。

The United States and Europe, which traditionally place great importance on human rights, have also been willing to turn a blind eye to Beijing's poor human rights record to keep relations with the rising economic power on friendly terms. China also faced no harsh criticism at the recent Asia-Europe Meeting in Brussels.
人権問題を重視してきた欧米諸国も、最近は中国との関係維持を優先させていた。先のアジア欧州会議（ＡＳＥＭ）首脳会合でも厳しい注文はつけなかった。

The Nobel committee's decision to award the prestigious honor to a Chinese dissident should be taken seriously as a warning, especially to industrial nations.
　そうした風潮の中でのノーベル賞委員会の決定は、とりわけ先進国への警鐘として重く受けとめたい。

China's Foreign Ministry has criticized the committee's move, saying Liu violated Chinese law and his actions run counter to the spirit of the prize. The ministry also indicated that the decision would adversely affect ties with Norway.
　中国外務省は「劉暁波は中国の法律を犯しており、その行為は平和賞の趣旨に背いている」と批判し、ノルウェーとの関係悪化も示唆した。

There are concerns about the possibility that Beijing may tighten its crackdown on democracy advocates and other activists in China.
民主活動家らへの国内での締め付けが厳しくなることも心配だ。

Taking a hard-line posture both at home and abroad, however, will not serve China's interests.
　内外で強硬な姿勢をとることは、長い目で見て中国の利益にならないだろう。

Chinese leaders must realize now that their country will never be recognized as a legitimate world power unless they start respecting universal values.
経済発展を続けても、普遍的な価値を大切にしなければ真の大国として認められないことに、中国当局は早く気づかねばならない。

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Oct. 11, 2010)
China must fully explain detention of Fujita 4
高橋さん解放　中国は事態の全容を説明せよ（10月10日付・読売社説）

China on Saturday released Sadamu Takahashi, the last of four Japanese employees of construction company Fujita Corp. detained last month.
　中国当局に拘束された建設会社「フジタ」の社員４人のうち、１人残されていた高橋定さんが９日、解放された。

First and foremost, we rejoice at his safe release.
　まずは、無事の解放を喜びたい。

However, Takahashi was freed after 20 days in custody; such a long detention represents flagrant contempt for human rights. Chinese authorities must explain in detail what led to Takahashi's release and the reasons for his detention.
　しかし、２０日間に及ぶ長期拘束の末の解放はあまりに遅く、人権軽視も甚だしい。この間の経緯や拘束の理由について、中国当局は詳しく説明する責任がある。

The four were taken into custody Sept. 20 by state security authorities for allegedly illegally videotaping what China called "military targets" in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, while they were looking at potential construction sites for a plant to process chemical weapons left behind by the Japanese military during World War II.
　４人は先月２０日、河北省石家荘市内にある遺棄化学兵器の処理事業の建設予定地を視察中、「軍事目標」を違法に撮影したとして国家安全局に拘束された。

Takahashi and the others were questioned while in the custody of security authorities at a hotel in the city. China freed all the employees except Takahashi on Sept. 30.
　市内のホテルで監視下に置かれたまま取り調べを受けていたが、高橋さんを除く３人は３０日、「釈放」された。

===

Obvious retaliation

The three were released after explaining they were unaware they were in a military zone and entered accidentally. China must have realized from the beginning that their actions were not malicious. If so, why did China keep Takahashi in custody even after releasing the others?
　３人は「軍事管理区域と気づかなかった。故意ではない」と中国当局に説明し、その上で解放されている。悪質性がなかったことは、中国側も当初から承知のはずである。ならば高橋さんだけ拘束が解けなかった理由は何なのか。

Although Beijing denies it, there is no doubt the arrest and detention of the captain of a Chinese fishing boat that collided with Japan Coast Guard vessels off the Senkaku Islands affected the case involving the Fujita employees.
　中国側は関係を否定するが、尖閣諸島沖で起きた中国漁船の衝突事件で、中国人船長が逮捕、拘置された問題が影響していることは間違いない。

The four were detained the day after the Ishigaki Summary Court in Okinawa Prefecture authorized prosecutors to extend the captain's detention for 10 days. It is likely that China, which expected Japan to release the captain at the end of the first 10-day detention period, retaliated to prevent criticism from its people.
　フジタ社員４人が拘束されたのは、中国人船長の１０日間の拘置延長が決まった翌日である。最初の拘置だけで釈放されることを期待していた中国政府が、国内世論が政府批判に向かわぬよう報復措置に出たと見ることもできる。

The three were released five days after the Naha District Public Prosecutors Office released the captain without further legal action against him for the time being. After that, China partially eased its restrictions on rare earths exports to Japan, which may have been an effort to present a softened stance on the issue before the image of China as a threat to global stability spread around the world.
　一方、３人の解放は、那覇地検が船長を処分保留で釈放した５日後だった。以後中国は、レアアース（希土類）の対日輸出規制も一部緩和している。中国脅威論が世界に広がる前に、軟化姿勢を示そうという戦略だったのだろう。

Since then, the Japanese government came under growing public criticism over its handling of the captain's release. Calls also heightened for the release of video footage of one of the fishing boat collisions and for the Japanese government to take a tough approach toward China to realize the release of the detained Fujita employees.
　その後、日本国内では船長の釈放をめぐって政府の対応を批判する声が強まった。衝突ビデオの公開や、フジタ社員拘束問題などでの中国側への強い働き掛けを求める機運も高まった。

The Chinese government may have been closely watching how the Japanese government would respond to these issues, using Takahashi as a diplomatic bargaining chip to pressure Tokyo.
　これらの問題に日本政府がどう対処するか、中国政府は高橋さんを“圧力カード”に、監視の目を光らせていたのではないか。

===

Visitors must be wary

The prolonged detention of Japanese company employees indicates the possibility that so-called China risk will continue to exist in every area for the time being.
　今回、日本企業社員が長期拘束された問題は、当面あらゆる分野で「中国リスク」が継続する可能性を示したと言えるだろう。

Employees of companies doing business in China and those doing business with Chinese companies should be very careful about their actions in that country. The same holds for people who visit China on cultural exchanges or as tourists.
　中国進出企業や取引企業の社員は、現地での行動に十分注意すべきだ。文化交流や旅行などで中国に行った場合も同様だ。

We must keep in mind that China is a country where the government limits human rights, and there is always a possibility this will happen.
　国家の思惑で人権が制約される。その可能性が残る国であることを肝に銘じる必要があろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 10, 2010)
（2010年10月10日01時15分 読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Oct. 10, 2010)
Liu's Nobel pressures China on democracy
ノーベル平和賞　中国に民主化を迫る授賞だ（10月9日付・読売社説）

The winning of the Nobel Peace Prize by an imprisoned Chinese pro-democracy activist sends a strong message to China to respect fundamental human rights. The nation, which has grown into a major economic power, is overdue to take steps toward democratization.
　経済大国化しながら民主化を怠る中国に対し、基本的人権などの重視を求める強いメッセージと言えよう。

The Norwegian Nobel Committee said it honored Liu Xiaobo, who has been sentenced to 11 years in prison, "for his long and nonviolent struggle for fundamental human rights."
　今年のノーベル平和賞が、懲役１１年の刑で服役中の中国の民主活動家、劉暁波氏に授賞されることが決まった。
　理由について、ノルウェーのノーベル賞委員会は、劉氏の長年にわたる非暴力的な人権活動を評価したものだとしている。

The committee then called on China to respect freedom of speech and other rights of its people.
　その上で、中国に対し、言論の自由など国民の権利を尊重するよう注文をつけた。

The Nobel Peace Prize is seen as highly political in nature, having been awarded to such figures as the 14th Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, in 1989, and Aung San Suu Kyi, a Myanmar pro-democracy leader, in 1991.
　ノーベル平和賞はこれまで、１９８９年にチベット仏教の最高指導者ダライ・ラマ１４世、９１年にミャンマーの民主活動家アウン・サン・スー・チーさんに授与されるなど極めて政治性の高い賞だ。

This year's recognition of Liu apparently is in line with such precedents.
　今回も、その流れに沿った動きと言っていいだろう。

===

Beijing lashes out

But the head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Information Department lashed out at the Nobel committee's decision, saying that Liu is "a criminal who has been sentenced for violating Chinese laws." The decision to award him the peace prize runs counter to the purpose of the award, the senior spokesman added.
　これに対し、中国の外務省報道局長は、「劉氏は中国の法律を犯し、有罪判決を受けた人物。平和賞の趣旨に背く行為だ」と強く非難した。

Prior to Friday's announcement, a Chinese vice foreign minister visited Norway and pressured the Nobel committee not to award the peace prize to Liu. With this request now clearly rejected, China likely will continue criticizing the decision.
　今回の発表に先立ち、中国の外務次官がノルウェーを訪れ、劉氏に平和賞を授けないよう、ノーベル賞委員会の事務長に政治的圧力をかけていた。それが無視された形で、中国の反発が今後も続くのは避けられまい。

Liu, who is also an author, played a leading role in writing Charter 08, a document listing 19 demands including direct elections and freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of religion.
　作家の劉氏は０８年末に、直接選挙の実施、言論や集会、宗教の自由など、１９項目の要求を盛り込んだ「０８憲章」を起草した中心人物である。

Chinese authorities arrested and indicted Liu, saying that his speech and acts were aimed at subversion of the government. A jail sentence for Liu was finalized at an appeal hearing in February.
　中国当局は、劉氏の言動が政権転覆を狙ったものとして逮捕・起訴した。今年２月には控訴審で劉氏の実刑が確定した。

===

Rights charter suppressed

Chinese authorities suppressed Charter 08, and further stepped up regulations and oversight of media and publications.
　その劉氏らの「０８憲章」は当局に握りつぶされ、報道や出版物に対する監督・規制は一段と強化されているのが実態だ。

Chinese President and Communist Party General Secretary Hu Jintao and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao have recently called for some political reform. It is likely they can no longer ignore the international community's calls for political reform in China.
　胡錦濤総書記や温家宝首相は最近、相次いで政治改革の必要性を訴えた。政治改革を求める国際的な声を無視できないのだろう。

The party leadership aims to carry out political reform within the framework of the socialist regime. But there is no sign that any concrete steps toward reform have been taken.
　党指導部が目指すのは社会主義体制の枠内での政治改革だが、それでも具体的に動き出す気配は見られない。

China's defense spending has increased every year since the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident, at an even faster pace than the nation's economic growth. While the military buildup has been proceeding, China has flourished economically. But in terms of the people's rights, no progress has been seen. We wonder how long such a distorted situation can continue.
　中国の国防費は８９年の天安門事件以降、経済成長率を上回る規模で毎年増加している。軍備増強の中、経済的には豊かになったが、国民の権利は一向に改善されない。こうしたいびつな状態が、いつまで続くのか。

If China wants to become a responsible member of the international community, it must take to heart the meaning of Liu's winning of the Nobel Peace Prize.
　国際社会で責任ある地位を占めようとするのなら、中国は劉氏のノーベル平和賞受賞の意味を重く受け止めなければならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 9, 2010)
（2010年10月9日01時12分 読売新聞）