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

昨日のFNNニュースですが、原子力保安院の代表が女性問題で更迭されたというのが放送されていました。
原発の収束には消極的ですが、こちらの方面にはみたいですね＾＾。
驚きました。
（スラチャイ）

(Mainichi Japan) June 29, 2011
Strengthening of nuclear safety more important than TEPCO's 'internal company logic'
社説：東電株主総会　社内論理より安全守れ

Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), operator of the disaster-struck Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant, held its general shareholders' meeting on June 28, attracting the largest crowd and taking the most time of any shareholders' meeting in company history.
　福島第１原発事故を起こした東京電力の株主総会が開かれ、出席者数は過去最高、開催時間も過去最長を大きく更新した。

Shareholder questions covered a lot of ground, including board members' salaries, cuts to company pensions, nuclear disaster compensation payments, and nuclear safety policy.
株主からの質問は、取締役報酬や企業年金の減額、損害賠償、原発の安全対策など極めて多岐にわたった。

Overall, the executives on stage faced a barrage of harsh inquiries about not just management's responsibility for the Fukushima crisis, but also about the very state of the nuclear power industry.
今回の事故に対する経営責任、さらには原発事業のあり方が、厳しく問われているということだ。

"If TEPCO doesn't change its basic makeup, there will be disaster after disaster," came the rising tide of criticism.
　「東電の体質を変えないと何度も事故は起きる」。

The utility's managers must take that criticism to heart.
株主の間から上がった批判を東電経営者は重く受け止めるべきだ。

Since TEPCO's Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear power plant in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, was damaged in the 2007 Chuetsu Oki Earthquake, a natural plus a nuclear disaster has ceased to be a "virtually impossible hypothetical."
０７年の新潟県中越沖地震で東電柏崎刈羽原発が被災して以降、原発震災はありえない「仮想事故」ではなくなった。

Furthermore, the very real danger of a major earthquake striking off Japan's northeast coast was pointed out during a Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry commission of inquiry two years ago, but TEPCO did nothing to improve safety policies.
東北沖の巨大地震の危険性についても、２年前に経済産業省の審議会で取り上げられたが、東電の安全対策には生かされなかった。

Looking back even further, in the summer of 2002 TEPCO was lambasted for lax governance on safety issues after the company was caught hiding problems at Kashiwazaki Kariwa and the Fukushima No. 1 and 2 nuclear power plants.
　０２年夏に発覚した福島第１、第２原発や柏崎刈羽原発での「トラブル隠し」で、東電は安全管理に関するガバナンスの欠如を厳しく批判された。

Now, it can be said that because of the high level of technical specialization needed to get into the nuclear power industry, it has a tendency of insularity and exclusivity.
原発事業は専門性が高く、閉鎖的・排他的になりがちな分野ともいえる。

However, for that fact alone the industry must proactively release information to the public and accept an inspection regime.
それだけに、積極的に情報を公開し、社会のチェックを受け入れることが不可欠であるはずだ。

At TEPCO, however, that kind of thinking just never entered the management culture.
　しかし、東電にそうした文化は根付かなかった。

Masataka Shimizu, who stepped down as TEPCO president at the shareholders' meeting, admitted during the corporate earnings presentation that the firm had "lost sight of the good of the customer and of local areas, and there remains a tendency to make moves based solely on the company's internal logic."
今回の総会で退任した清水正孝・前社長は、５月の決算発表の席上、「（東電には）地域や顧客への目線を失い、社内論理でいってしまう傾向が残っている」と自戒した。

If that's the case, then now is the time to rebuild TEPCO corporate culture, doing away with the prioritization of parochial interests and inculcating the tools to create a thorough safety management system.
今度こそ、社内論理優先の社風を改め、安全管理を徹底する社内システムの構築を求める。

In the June 28 meeting, much attention was paid to a group of 402 stockholders who proposed a motion to gradually eliminate TEPCO's nuclear power stations.
　今回の株主総会では、４０２人の株主が提案した原発の段階的廃止も大きな焦点になった。

The motion was defeated by an overwhelming margin, but the very fact that an anti-nuclear power block could form is a major development.
否決はされたものの、一定の賛成を集めた意味は大きい。

Of the nine major electric companies in Japan who have nuclear plants in their generating stock, shareholders at six have proposed abandoning nuclear power.
　今年は、原発を保有する９電力会社のうち東電や、政府の要請で停止した浜岡原発（静岡県）を抱える中部電力など６社で、脱原発を求める株主提案があった。

Meanwhile, some third-party firms giving advice on shareholder voting even warned institutional investors, "The continuation of nuclear power generation by private firms carries too high a risk," and therefore utility shareholders should support motions to abandon nuclear power.
議決権行使助言会社が機関投資家に対し、「原発は民間企業が続けるにはリスクが大きすぎる」として「脱原発」提案に賛成するよう助言する動きもあった。

Certainly, obtaining a site for a nuclear power station and managing nuclear safety both cost a great deal of money.
　確かに、原発の立地や安全管理には巨額の費用がかかる。

Also, in the case of a disaster like the one now unfolding at the Fukushima plant -- where there is as yet no upper limit or reprieve from compensation payments in sight -- the financial risk for power companies is extremely high.
事故が起きた際、事実上、損害賠償額の上限も免責も認めない現行の賠償制度では、電力会社のリスクは極めて大きい。

Meanwhile, the role of the national government in the whole situation is vague, though continuing entrusting nuclear power -- which remains a central part of Japan's energy policy -- to private firms in the present fashion would seem to be impossible.
一方で、国の責任はあいまいだ。国策である原発を、このまま民間企業の電力会社に委ねることには、無理がある。

Even if Japan comes to depend less on nuclear power from here on out, we will still have a certain number of reactors in operation to fill our electricity needs.
　今後、依存度を下げていくにしても、当面一定の原発は稼働することになる。

So, what form should the strengthening of nuclear safety -- that most important of considerations -- take?
最も大切な安全性を高めるには、どんな形態が望ましいのか。

This must be the focus of deep national discussion.
これを機に、国民的な議論を深める必要がある。

毎日新聞　2011年6月29日　東京朝刊

復興に訳の分からないかけ声はいらない。
ひとつひとつ、地道な努力が必要なのだ。決して綺麗事ではない。
復興を隠れ蓑にして新たな利権を求める動きには警戒が必要。
菅首相は４月退陣が８月まで引き延ばされ、まだまだ伸びそうな気配。
小沢氏に交代しても事態は好転しそうにない。
自民党は死に体だし、行き詰まり状態。
福島は一向に復旧のめどがたたない。
なんとかならないのか！
（スラチャイ）

2011/06/28
--The Asahi Shimbun, June 26
EDITORIAL: Rebuilding plan needs more work to avoid vested-interest trap.
復興提言―さらなる深化が必要だ

The Reconstruction Design Council has submitted a proposal to Prime Minister Naoto Kan that talks about "keeping our hearts as one with the people in the areas affected by the quake and tsunami, and to light the flame of hope in those areas through national solidarity and mutual support."
　「被災地の人々と心を一つにし、全国民的な連帯と支えあいのもとで、被災地に希望のあかりをともす」。そううたった復興構想会議の提言が菅直人首相に手渡された。

The proposal puts forth such lofty principles as "the basis of reconstruction efforts should place local communities at its center," and that we should "pursue the possibilities of an economic society that would lead the way into a possible future." The proposal also includes various prescriptions for reconstruction.
　「地域・コミュニティー主体の復興を基本とする」「来るべき時代をリードする経済社会の可能性を追求する」といった原則を掲げ、復興への様々な処方箋（しょほうせん）を盛り込んだ。

Specifically, the council proposes options for rebuilding communities that reduce the risk of disasters and plans for reviving industries in the affected areas.
The options are designed to fit the actual situation in each area.
　具体策では、「減災」のためのまちづくりや産業再興について、被災地の実情に合わせた選択肢を提示している。

The plan also proposes setting "special reconstruction zones" to make best use of local communities' abilities.
市町村の能力を最大限に引き出す「復興特区」の活用も挙げた。

The idea to create locations for developing renewable energy that nurture industries of the 21st century in Fukushima Prefecture is also very good.
２１世紀の産業を育てる再生可能エネルギーの拠点を福島などで展開する案もうなずける内容だ。

Some directions in this proposal overlap with areas that we have been seeking.
　提言の方向性は、私たちが求めてきたものと重なり合う。

However, more than a few points seem to require deeper thought.
　だが、踏み込み不足に思える点も少なくない。

Take the matter of land, for example.
　例えば、土地をめぐる課題だ。

The complex web of ownership rights needs to be sorted out soon, as it is obstructing reconstruction.
The proposal sidesteps this thorny problem by saying "necessary measures must be considered," and that government procurement of land is "problematic."
入り組んだ権利関係の調整といった復興の足かせになっている問題は「必要な措置を考慮しなければならない」、国などによる土地の買い上げは「難点がある」と述べるにとどめた。

The proposal includes using special zoning, but would it not have been better to offer a more specific solution for a breakthrough?
　手続きの迅速化に特区的手法を使うというが、もっと具体的な解決策を示して、事態を打開できなかったか。

Also, we cannot see how the affected local governments will be able to actually apply these proposals.
　また、被災自治体が提案を具体化する手順が見えない。

A road map that lays out which project should take priority, and what kind of preparation is necessary, is essential.
どの計画を優先的に進めるべきか、どんな段取りが必要なのか、という工程表も不可欠だ。

If not, local governments have no choice but to let central government ministries decide for them when to start a particular project or how to design a particular system. And if that happens, the principle of putting the local communities first is just an empty promise.
　そうでなければ、事業の着手や制度設計を省庁に委ねざるをえず、「地域主体」の原則が絵に描いた餅にすぎなくなる。

On the other hand, the proposal includes a plan to re-energize and revitalize the fishing industry by drawing in private sector funds.
　一方、漁業再生の手法として民間資金の導入による活力誘引策を盛り込んだ。

This resulted from strong lobbying by Yoshihiro Murai, the governor of Miyagi Prefecture. Even so, some local fishermen question the plan or are against it.
村井嘉浩・宮城県知事の強い要望を採り入れたものだが、地元の漁業者に疑問や反発の声がある。

In reality, many issues must be overcome. The Reconstruction Design Council is expected to have a say in the usual ministry-led process of coordinating the many conflicting interests of interested parties and point to a new path.
　このように、実現には越えるべき課題も多いが、従来の役所主導の利害調整に一石を投じ、新たな道筋を示すことこそ構想会議が果たすべき役割だ。

The council chairman, Makoto Iokibe, decided against delaying a final recommendation to the end of the year, as originally planned, and instead moved up the schedule to include proposals at this juncture.
　五百旗頭真議長は、当初予定していた年末の最終提言を取りやめ、前倒し的に今回の提言に盛り込んだという。

This might have been due to a sense of urgency created by Prime Minister Naoto Kan's offer to resign, for it was Kan who initiated the creation of the council.
背景には、構想会議の設立を主導した菅首相が退陣表明したことへの危機感もあろう。

It is true the Kan administration has wavered in the process of selecting the minister for reconstruction.
事実、復興担当相の人事ひとつとっても、菅政権の腰はふらついた。

The future role of the Reconstruction Design Council is also unclear.
構想会議の今後の役割も不透明だ。

Although the proposal takes into account the difficult conditions in the disaster-hit areas and opened up some hope, it needs to be deepened.
　提言は、困難な被災地の現状に向き合い、希望への道を切り開いたが、さらに深化させねばならない。

We intend to keep a sharp eye on the proceedings, lest reconstruction efforts end up falling into the trap of coordinating various vested interests.
私たちも復興の実行段階で既得権の調整に陥らぬよう、厳しく監視していきたい。

>避難所では女性のプライバシーが確保されていないことが問題となった。
女性のプライバシーって何だ？
トイレか？
（スラチャイ）

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jun. 27, 2011)
More effort must be made for gender-equal society
男女共同参画　「３０％目標」へ環境の整備を（6月26日付・読売社説）

Utilizing women's abilities is key to boosting the vigor of Japanese society, one of the reasons why encouraging efforts toward gender equality is extremely important.
　女性の能力を活用していくことが、より一層の活力をこれからの日本社会にもたらすだろう。男女共同参画の一つの意義もそこにある。

The government established a target in 2003 of raising the proportion of women in leadership positions in key sectors of society to at least about 30 percent by 2020.
　政府は、社会のあらゆる分野で指導的地位に女性が占める割合を、２０２０年までに少なくとも３０％程度にすることを、０３年から目標に掲げている。

The current rate, however, stands at just 10 percent. The 2011 government white paper on gender equality, approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday, says women's participation in many fields is still insufficient, and calls for redoubled efforts to promote gender equality in all parts of society.
　しかし、現在の達成率は１０％に過ぎない。今年の男女共同参画白書は、多くの分野で女性の参画がまだまだ不十分だとして、取り組みの強化を求めている。

The percentage of women occupying leadership positions has already reached 42 percent in the United States and 37 percent in Germany, meaning Japan has been lagging far behind the United States and European countries in terms of gender equality.
　既に米国では４２％、ドイツは３７％に達しており、欧米諸国との差は際だっている。

Twenty-five years have passed since the Equal Employment Opportunity Law came into effect, and women of what was called the "equal opportunity generation" have played active roles as corporate executives and in other managerial positions.
　男女雇用機会均等法の施行から２５年が過ぎ、“均等法世代”と呼ばれた女性たちの一部は、管理職や役員として活躍している。

However, the proportion of women working as section chiefs or higher in companies with at least 100 staff has remained extremely low at 6 percent.
だが、従業員１００人以上の企業の課長級以上に占める女性の割合は、６％に過ぎない。

===

Promote work-life balance

The low percentage of women in managerial posts is due primarily to the fact that many women stop working when they have their first child. There is an urgent need to increase the number of child care facilities and expand systems for child care leave.
　女性管理職が少ないのは、第１子出産を機に退職する女性が多いためだ。保育施設や育児休業制度を拡充していく必要がある。

It is encouraging that in recent years some companies have set such goals as increasing the proportion of women hired for the career track to at least 30 percent of employees fresh from college, and placing high priority on fostering female executives.
　近年は、総合職新卒採用の女性比率を３０％以上とすることを目標に掲げたり、女性幹部育成に力を入れたりする企業もある。

It is also important to promote the principle of work-life balance to make it possible for women to make work compatible with child rearing. No time should be wasted to provide a pleasant working environment for women.
　仕事と育児の両立ができるよう「仕事と生活の調和」（ワーク・ライフ・バランス）を図っていくことも肝要だ。女性が働きやすい職場環境の整備は急務である。

With the continued low birthrate and graying of the population, concern is growing over a decline in the working population. Currently, the number of people of working age--15 to 64--per older person stands at 2.7. Known as the old-age support ratio, this figure is predicted to drop to 1.8 in 2030.
　少子高齢化が進む中で、労働力人口の減少が懸念されている。現在は、６５歳以上の高齢者１人当たりに対し、２・７人の現役世代が支えている。３０年には、これを１・８人で支えなければならないとする試算もある。

The future of Japan's society can never be bright without effective use of women's working power.
　女性の労働力を抜きにして今後の日本社会は成り立たない。

To create a more comfortable and enriched living environment, it is imperative to value women's point of view more highly in all spheres of life.
　生活環境をより豊かなものにしていく上でも、女性の視点を取り入れていくことが求められる。

===

Respect for women's roles

Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Cabinet Office has prodded local municipalities in disaster-struck regions to set up consultation services for women, but municipalities have tended to be slow in doing so. Problems have occurred at many evacuation centers because of a failure to secure privacy for women.
　東日本大震災では、内閣府は被災地の自治体に対し女性相談窓口の設置などを働きかけたが、対応は後手に回りがちだ。避難所では女性のプライバシーが確保されていないことが問題となった。

In Tome, Miyagi Prefecture, a group of people, including female members of the city's drafting committee for a gender equality ordinance, created a support team for female victims of the disaster.
　宮城県登米(とめ)市では、男女共同参画条例策定委員の女性らが支援グループを組織した。

Based on requests from women at evacuation centers, team members have engaged in such activities as providing women's underwear and cosmetics in collaboration with companies that offered their support.
避難所の女性たちの要望を聞き取って、企業と連携しながら、下着や化粧品の配給に動いた。

Women also play an important role in providing mental care for disaster victims and improving the environment for child rearing. In the future projects for reconstruction from the March 11 disaster, women should be encouraged to give full play to their sensitive, considerate way of doing things.
　被災者の心のケアや、子育て環境の改善などにも、女性の果たす役割は大きい。今後の震災復興にも、きめ細かな女性の目を積極的に生かしていくべきだろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 26, 2011)
（2011年6月26日01時32分 読売新聞）

正義の戦争というものはありえない。
オバマ大統領の決断は多分計画通りのものであったと思う。
暗殺されるようなことがあれば国際社会はアメリカを見捨てるべし。
戦争で飯を食う発想が、そもそも狂っているのだから。
（スラチャイ記）

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jun. 26, 2011)
U.S. withdrawal mustn't jeopardize Afghan security
駐留米軍撤収　アフガン治安を見極め慎重に（6月25日付・読売社説）

At long last, a path toward ending a war that has continued for nearly a decade has started to emerge.
　１０年近く続いた長い戦争も、ようやく終わりへの道筋が見え始めたということだろう。

U.S. President Barack Obama has announced 10,000 troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan by year's end, and that about 23,000 more will be pulled from the battlefield by the end of next summer.
　オバマ米大統領が、アフガニスタン駐留米軍の撤収計画を発表した。年内に１万人、来年夏までにさらに２万３０００人が戦地を離れる。

The remaining 68,000 troops will be steadily brought home after that as power is transferred from U.S. forces to Afghan national security forces, Obama said in his announcement.
　残る米軍６万８０００人も、アフガン治安部隊に権限を移譲するのに伴って、順次、帰国させていく方針という。

Such U.S. allies as Britain, Germany and France that have deployed troops in Afghanistan to bolster public order and security also plan to considerably reduce their personnel.
治安支援に部隊を派遣している英独仏など他の国々も本格的に引き揚げる予定だ。

The phased withdrawal of U.S. troops must, above all else, be conducted under the major premise that public security is ensured in Afghanistan.
　撤収は、何よりアフガニスタンにおける治安確保を大前提としなければならない。

We hope the withdrawal goes ahead while a close eye is kept on the realities on the ground in Afghanistan to ensure that country does not once again become a failed nation and hotbed of terrorism.
テロの温床となる破綻国家に逆戻りすることがないよう、現地の状況を見極めながら、慎重に進めてもらいたい。

Of the two wars started by the administration of his predecessor, George W. Bush, Obama criticized the Iraq war as a "wrong war," and has pulled many U.S. combat troops from Iraq.
　オバマ大統領は、ブッシュ前政権が始めた二つの戦争のうち、イラク戦争を「間違った戦争」と批判し、米軍の撤収を実行した。

However, Obama said military action against terrorists in Afghanistan is "necessary and just," and he sent additional troops to join the fighting there.
アフガニスタンでの対テロ戦争は「必要で不可欠」として、逆に米軍兵力の増強で対処してきた。

The start of the withdrawal suggests this "surge" has yielded some results.
　撤収開始は、この増派が一定の成果をあげたことによる。

===

Obama focusing on reelection

Certainly, the offensive capability of the Taliban, the former rulers of Afghanistan, has been weakened.
　確かに旧支配勢力タリバンの攻勢は弱まった。

Afghan national security forces now have nearly 300,000 personnel and been handed responsibility for ensuring security in some areas.
アフガン治安部隊も３０万人近くまで増え、治安権限の移譲も一部で始まっている。

The killing of Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden--the mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States--at his hideout in Pakistan last month by U.S. special forces was a key factor in Obama's decision to start bringing troops home.
　１０年前の米同時テロの首謀者で国際テロ組織アル・カーイダの指導者ウサマ・ビンラーディンを、潜伏先のパキスタンで米特殊部隊が殺害したことも、撤収への大きな要因となった。

However, concerns remain about the withdrawal plan.
　だが、今回の撤収計画には不安も残る。

The U.S. public is becoming increasingly weary of the war.
　米国内には、長引く戦争に厭戦(えんせん)気分が募っている。

There is growing dissatisfaction and anxiety over the snowballing costs of the war, the faltering U.S. economy and the stubbornly high unemployment rate.
かさむ一方の戦費、景気の低迷、高止まりする失業率への不満や不安。

Obama will focus more on domestic issues and rebuilding the United States than on other countries.
大統領自身、今後は、他国よりも米国の再建に焦点をあてる、と内向き傾向を強めている。

He also wants to avoid any deterioration of U.S. government finances as eyes begin to turn to the autumn 2012 presidential election.
　自らの再選がかかる来年秋の大統領選に向け、財政悪化を回避したいという思惑もあるだろう。

===

Make Japan aid effective

Some observers wonder if a hasty U.S. pullout could result in the Taliban regaining strength.
　米国が兵力縮小を急ぐことによって、再びタリバンが勢いづくようなことにならないか。

While maintaining military capabilities that can overwhelm Taliban forces, the United States should step up efforts to ensure public security in Afghanistan.
　タリバンを圧倒する軍事力を維持しつつ、治安確立へ努力を倍加すべきだろう。

To achieve this, Washington will need to strengthen the Afghan government and security forces, and boost cooperation with neighboring Pakistan in operations to stamp out terrorist elements.
アフガン政府とその治安部隊を強化し、隣接するパキスタンとも協力して対テロ掃討を徹底する必要がある。

Since the Democratic Party of Japan came to power in 2009, Japan's policy has been to help stabilize Afghanistan and surrounding areas through massive monetary aid, rather than contributions of personnel.
　日本は民主党政権に交代後、人的貢献の代わりに、アフガニスタンに巨額拠出することで、地域安定化へ側面支援をしてきた。

This monetary assistance, however, has produced meager results.
　だが、その効果は大して上がっていない。

The government must seriously consider how this money could be used more effectively.
今後の実効ある使い道を真剣に探るべきである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 25, 2011)
（2011年6月25日01時07分 読売新聞）

終戦直後、普天間基地は当時の広大な空き地に建設された。
基地を当て込んで人々が住み始めたのは、その後のことだ。
それを今更移設しろというのは筋が違うと思いますが。
普天間基地の周辺は米軍基地で成り立っている。
周辺の住民が辺野古移設を強硬に求めているというのはウソ。
辺野古に移設しないと困るのは、辺野古周辺に土地を買い占めた議員たちだけでしょう。
（スラチャイ）

--The Asahi Shimbun, June 23
EDITORIAL: More talks needed on bilateral defense alliance
日米安保合意―同盟修復にはなったが

For the first time in four years, the foreign and defense ministers of Japan and their U.S. counterparts reviewed "common strategic objectives" on June 21 and agreed on military cooperation and role-sharing.
　日米両国の外務・防衛担当閣僚が、４年ぶりに「共通戦略目標」を見直し、防衛協力や役割分担について合意した。

The first meeting of its kind since the Democratic Party of Japan came into power, it served a certain purpose as an occasion for Tokyo and Washington to compare notes on various issues, especially the East Asia situation that has grown more complex.
　民主党政権では初めてのことであり、不透明さを増す東アジア情勢などをめぐり、日米が認識や政策をすりあわせたことには一定の意義があった。

A joint statement issued after the meeting warned of "challenges posed by the increasingly uncertain security environment" in East Asia due to China's emergence, and urged China to "adhere to international norms of behavior."
　新たな戦略目標は、中国の台頭に「地域の安全保障環境を不安定にしうる」との懸念を示し、国際法の順守や責任ある役割を促した。

With regard to North Korea, the statement also spelled out a new common strategic objective, which is to "deter provocations by North Korea."
北朝鮮にも「挑発を抑止する」と強い姿勢で臨んでいる。

Another point that should be noted is that Tokyo and Washington are now calling for multilateral security cooperation with Australia, South Korea, India and others.
　オーストラリアや韓国、インドなどと多国間の安保協力を進めようという発想も目を引く。

But the main purpose of the meeting was to mend and reinforce the Japan-U.S. alliance that became shaky over the proposed relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, since the DPJ came to power.
　ただ、今回の合意は民主党政権になって、普天間飛行場の移設問題をめぐって揺らいだ同盟関係を、修復させることに大きなウエートがおかれた。

Although the joint statement was titled "Toward a Deeper and Broader U.S.-Japan Alliance: Building on 50 Years of Partnership," we believe the partners were well aware of the need to stop the alliance from further deterioration.
　副題には「より深化し、拡大する日米同盟に向けて」とあるが、「同盟の退化を止めた」というのが実情だろう。

While the successful Japan-U.S. cooperation in aiding survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11 helped advance the bilateral alliance, some of the new common strategic objectives the partners agreed on suggest that Tokyo bit the bullet in order to accommodate Washington's wishes.
　東日本大震災での日米協力の成功がその機運を高めたとはいえ、米側の期待に応えようとして日本側が困難を承知の上で、あえて盛り込んだと映る内容もある。

On the thorny Futenma relocation issue, for instance, Tokyo agreed to spell out the construction of a facility in the Henoko district of Nago in the prefecture even though there is still no prospect of building such a facility because of adamant local opposition.
　たとえば、懸案の普天間飛行場の移設問題では、沖縄の根強い反対で実現の見通しが立たない名護市辺野古への代替施設建設を明記した。

The agreement has not only reversed the clock to the days of the coalition government of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, but is also certain to further deepen the rift between Tokyo and Okinawa.
自公政権時代の合意に戻っただけでなく、沖縄とのミゾをさらに深めるのは確実だ。

The new agreement means Okinawa's demand for the relocation of U.S. military training facilities remains unanswered, and a dangerous military base is going to become a permanent fixture in a crowded residential zone.
　これでは、地元が求める訓練移転が進まないまま、住宅密集地の中に危険な軍用空港が固定化されてしまうことになる。

With regard to the proposed transfer of U.S. carrier-based aircraft to the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Tokyo agreed to consider Mageshima island in Kagoshima Prefecture as the site of the landing and takeoff training facility required by Washington.
　また米空母艦載機の岩国基地への移駐にからみ、米側が求める発着訓練の実施先として、鹿児島県の馬毛島を検討することも決めた。

The locals are resisting this vehemently, and Tokyo has certainly created a new source of strife.
地元の反発は強く、米軍再編の新たな火種になるのは避けられない。

Moreover, on the matter of export to third countries of jointly-developed ballistic missile interceptors, Tokyo agreed to Washington's proposal without coming up with any clear guidelines of its own.
　それだけではない。共同開発を進める弾道ミサイル防衛用の迎撃ミサイルの第三国移転についても、あいまいな指針で、なし崩し的に合意してしまった。

We have consistently called for serious discourse in the Diet concerning our country's three basic principles of arms export.
　私たちはかねて、武器輸出三原則に絡めた国会での本格論議を求めてきた。

We cannot possibly allow the new export agreement in the absence of any regulatory measure.
具体的な歯止めがないまま移転が進む事態は、とても見逃すことができない。

Japan is going to pay dearly for the result of the ministerial meeting in Washington.
　日本が背負う代償が大きいのに、

But Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who has already announced his intention to resign, is in no shape to handle the situation.
いったん退陣表明をした菅直人首相には、まともに向き合う余裕はない。

And U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is stepping down at the end of this month.
米側も今月末で国防長官が交代する。

Given these irregular circumstances in which the ministerial agreement was hammered out, a fresh round of talks must be held to give the agreement any meaning and truly deepen the bilateral alliance.
　こんな、どたばたの中での合意に意義を持たせるには、改めて同盟深化を着実に進めるための仕切り直しが必要だ。

社説は内容で勝負。
毎日新聞や朝日新聞に内容で負けているのは残念。
英文は洗練されているが。
この程度の内容なら、誰も感動しないだろう。
（スラチャイ）

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 25, 2011)
U.S. economy still ailing as QE2 nears its end
量的緩和終了　米国の景気減速に警戒解けぬ（6月24日付・読売社説）

The U.S. economy is limping along and its future looks uncertain.
　米国の景気がもたつき先行きは不透明だ。

The steering of financial policy is becoming increasingly difficult.
金融政策の舵(かじ)取りは、一段と難しくなっている。

The U.S. Federal Reserve Board decided to end, as scheduled at the end of June, the second round of its quantitative easing policy, known as QE2, which has been implemented on an unprecedented scale since November.
　米連邦準備制度理事会（ＦＲＢ）は、昨年１１月から異例の規模で実施した量的な金融緩和策第２弾（ＱＥ２）を６月末で終了することを決めた。

The Fed's program has purchased 600 billion dollars in U.S. Treasury bonds and increased the supply of funds to the financial market.
　ＦＲＢは６０００億ドル（約４８兆円）もの米国債を買い入れ、市場への資金供給を増やした。

It was a last-ditch measure aimed at shoring up the economy and containing deflationary concerns at the same time.
景気下支えを狙うとともに、デフレ懸念を封じ込める苦肉の策だった。

As a result, long-term interest rates have gone down, encouraging companies to increase capital investment.
　その結果、長期金利が低下して、企業の設備投資の呼び水になった。

As U.S. stock market prices have gone up, personal spending has increased.
米株式相場の上昇に伴い、個人消費も持ち直してきた。

Deflationary concerns are subsiding.
デフレ懸念も後退している。

However, the negative side effects were significant.
　一方で、副作用も大きかった。

A huge amount of money from the United States filled markets around the world, raising crude oil and crop prices.
米国発の巨額マネーが市場にあふれ、原油や穀物などの価格を押し上げた。

Inflation has become conspicuous, especially in emerging countries.
新興国などのインフレも目立つ。

We agree with the Fed's judgment that the quantitative easing policy has fulfilled its role for the time being.
　ＦＲＢが、ひとまず、量的緩和策の役割は終わったと判断したのは妥当だろう。

===

Fed keeps zero-interest policy

The Fed has indicated its resolve to maintain a policy of virtually zero percent interest rates and to keep the federal funds rate, which is a target for short-term interest rates, at its current level.
　今回、ＦＲＢは、短期金利の誘導目標であるフェデラル・ファンド（ＦＦ）金利については、事実上のゼロ金利政策を据え置き、当面維持する方針を示した。

If the Fed hurriedly adopts an "exit policy" such as a measure to return interest rates to their levels before the global financial crisis, it will cool the business climate and harm the global economy.
　金利水準を金融危機前に戻すような「出口戦略」を急げば、景気を冷え込ませ、世界経済に悪影響を及ぼす。

The Fed should be very careful in deciding the timing of a transition to a tighter monetary policy.
金融引き締めのタイミングは慎重に見極めるべきだ。

However, one problem is that the momentum of the economic recovery is still weak.
　問題は、景気回復の勢いが弱いことである。

The U.S. real economic growth rate in the January-March quarter dropped to 1.8 percent on an annually adjusted basis from the previous quarter.
　米国の今年１～３月期の実質経済成長率は、前期比年率で１・８％に低下した。

U.S. manufacturers were forced to reduce production because the supply of parts from Japan became bogged down as a result of the Great East Japan Earthquake.
　東日本大震災の影響で、日本からの部品供給が滞り、米製造業は減産に追い込まれた。

Economic stagnation has continued in the April-June quarter.
４～６月期も景気低迷が続く。

Unemployment remains high at the 9 percent level.
失業率は９％台に高止まりしている。

If the economy slows down further, can the Fed take any additional effective measures?
　景気が一段と減速した場合、ＦＲＢが有効な追加策を打ち出せるかどうか。

Interest rates in the United States are certain to remain extremely low for a long time.
米国の超低金利の長期化は必至だろう。

===

Stop overly strong yen

However, Japan must be cautious about the fact that the yen has been growing stronger against the dollar in connection with the low U.S. interest rates.
　だが、これに関連して、円高・ドル安が進んでいることに日本は警戒しなければならない。

U.S. authorities apparently have approved the weakening of the dollar, which is an advantage in exporting U.S. products abroad.
米当局も輸出に有利なドル安を容認しているようだ。

Stricken by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the Japanese economy has fallen into negative growth.
　大震災に直撃された日本経済はマイナス成長に陥っている。

The earnings of Japanese automobile and other export-oriented companies will decrease if dollar-selling based on the U.S. situation leads to excessive appreciation of the yen.
米側の事情によるドル売りで、過度に円高が進めば、自動車などの輸出企業の収益が落ち込む。

It will eventually lead to serious circumstances in which efforts to repair damage from the disaster will be hindered.
震災からの復興に冷や水を浴びせる深刻な事態となろう。

When the yen's appreciation skyrocketed in mid-March, Japan, the United States and some European countries undertook a coordinated intervention and succeeded in putting a brake on the soaring yen.
　３月中旬に円が急騰した際、日米欧の協調介入で円高に歯止めをかけた。

Likewise, the government and the Bank of Japan should take decisive action to hold the market in check and prevent the yen's excessive appreciation.
政府・日銀は、市場をけん制し、円高阻止に断固とした姿勢で臨むべきである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 24, 2011)
（2011年6月24日01時22分 読売新聞）