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 (Feb. 9, 2012)
In-depth studies needed on extended Shinkansen routes
整備新幹線　着工ありきでなく十分検証を（2月8日付・読売社説）

We have nagging doubts about whether three new Shinkansen sections will produce effects that justify the huge investment required to build them.
　巨額の投資に見合った効果を上げられるかどうか、疑問が残る。

The government should avoid making a hasty decision based on the idea that starting construction is the basic premise.
「はじめに着工ありき」で拙速な判断をすることは避けねばならない。

A verification panel of scholars and experts of the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry has started discussions on the planned sections.
　整備新幹線の未着工区間について、国土交通省の有識者会議の議論が始まった。

They are reexamining whether simultaneously starting construction of the three sections, a policy confirmed by the government and the ruling parties late last year, is appropriate.
政府・与党が昨年末、同時着工方針を確認したことを受け、その可否を検証する。

The panel is checking sections planned to run between Shin-Hakodate and Sapporo on the Hokkaido Shinkansen line; Kanazawa and Tsuruga on the Hokuriku Shinkansen; and Isahaya and Nagasaki on the Kyushu Shinkansen.
　対象は、北海道の新函館―札幌、北陸の金沢―敦賀、九州の諫早―長崎の各区間である。

Total project costs will top 3 trillion yen.
　総事業費は３兆円を超える。

The panelists are required to properly check the profitability and economic effects of the extended lines.
採算性や経済効果を十分吟味することが求められよう。

Calls to start constructing the three sections were very strong when the Liberal Democratic Party-led administration was in power.
　３区間は自民党政権時代には着工を求める声が強かったが、

However, the Democratic Party of Japan-led administration froze the projects in 2009 as part of its review of public works projects.
民主党政権が２００９年、公共事業見直しの一環として凍結した。

===

New revenue source found

The DPJ-led administration's latest policy turnaround to start construction was possible, it said, because it had found the money to go ahead with the plan.
方針を転換したのは、財源確保にメドがついたためと説明している。

As a new revenue source, the government zeroed in on charges JR companies pay to the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency to use Shinkansen-related facilities.
　新たな財源として着目したのが、ＪＲが鉄道建設・運輸施設整備支援機構に支払っている新幹線の施設使用料だ。

Law revisions that came into effect last year enabled these charges to be used for construction costs.
昨年の法改正で建設費に回せるようになった。

For the time being, about 40 billion yen will be available annually.
当面は年間４００億円程度ある。

According to the government and the ruling parties, costs not met by these charges will be shouldered by the central and local governments.
　政府・与党案では、施設使用料からの転用分以外は、国と自治体が負担するとしている。

Furthermore, the construction period--which is usually 10 years--will be extended up to 24 years to reduce the financial burden required for a single fiscal year.
　さらに、単年度の負担を抑えるため、通常１０年の工事期間を最長２４年に延長する。

The government aims to open the Hokkaido section in fiscal 2035, the Hokuriku section in fiscal 2025 and the Kyushu section in fiscal 2022.
北海道３５年度、北陸２５年度、九州２２年度の開業を目指す計画だ。

However, we think this idea is strange.
　しかし、これはおかしい。

If the construction period is extended, the total project cost will grow by more than 200 billion yen from the initial estimate.
　工期を長期化した結果、総事業費は当初見込みより２０００億円以上も膨らむ。

Even if the cost for a single fiscal year is reduced, it is crystal clear that state and local government coffers will feel the pinch even more if huge budgets have to be poured into Shinkansen line construction for nearly 25 years.
単年度当たりの事業費は減るとしても、四半世紀にわたり多額の予算を投入し続ければ、国と地方の財政が一段と逼迫(ひっぱく)するのは自明の理だ。

The local governments concerned probably hope to make the Shinkansen lines a pillar for regional economic development.
　関係自治体は新幹線を地域振興の柱にしたいのだろうが、

However, in addition to forking out for construction costs, these local governments will inevitably face the difficult problem of regular railway lines that run alongside the Shinkansen lines falling into debt.
地元負担に加え、並行在来線の赤字という不可避の難題も待ち受ける。

===

Will passenger numbers increase?

The transport ministry has estimated the three sections will produce average annual profits of between 2 billion yen and 10 billion yen after they open.
　国交省は、３区間とも開業後に年平均２０億～１００億円の利益が出ると試算している。

However, opening the Nagasaki-Isahaya section will trim the time between Hakata and Nagasaki stations on the Kyushu Shinkansen route by only 28 minutes, compared with the existing regular railway line.
　だが、博多―長崎間の所要時間の短縮は２８分にとどまる。

Extension of the Hokkaido route will mean Sapporo is an about five-hour ride from Tokyo.
札幌延伸で東京―札幌間は約５時間で結ばれるが、

Both lines will face fierce competition with airline companies, so it is anyone's guess whether they can attract more passengers.
いずれも航空会社との競争は厳しく、利用客が増えるかどうかは予断できない。

A ministry estimate on the lines' cost efficiency, which indicates the benefits to localities and passengers compared with the funds invested, came in at a smidgen over the break-even point of 1.
　投入する資金に対し、地元や利用者がどれだけ恩恵を受けるかを表す費用対効果の試算も、収支とんとんを示す「１」をわずかに上回る程度に過ぎない。

It is important to establish integrated networks of expressways, airline routes and railway lines.
　高速道路、航空、鉄道の整備を一体的に考えることが重要だ。

It is not too late to reexamine what to do with the Shinkansen sections whose construction has not started after parts now being built, including one between Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate stations, have been completed.
未着工区間の扱いは、新青森―新函館間など建設中の区間の完成後に再検討しても遅くはない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 8, 2012)
（2012年2月8日01時05分 読売新聞）

ビルマの夜明けはまだまだ先だ

要旨：
軍事政権が実権を握っている構図は何ら変わらない。
憲法も最近改正されて軍事政権の介入なしにはなにも出来なくされてしまっている。
変わったのは、そのやり方が一方的な弾圧から、民主的な方法で問題解決する手法に移っただけ。
狙いは、言うまでもなく、英米、欧州、日本などの経済制裁の解除。
ビルマ社会がこの長いトンネルを抜け出して、真の民主化を掴むのはまだまだ先のことだ。
それが、達成できるかどうかも分からないのだ。（ギャンブル状態）

実際に現地で足で稼いだ記事だと思います。
日本ビルマ情報ネットワークのダイレクター、ゆき　あきもと　さんの力作です。大変に美しい人です。
朝日新聞が掲載してくれました。
日本語訳はありません。最初の部分だけ意訳してみました。

（スラチャイ）

POINT OF VIEW / Yuki Akimoto: True democracy in Burma?
ビルマの夜明けはまだまだ先だ

February 08, 2012

These days, the media is full of upbeat reports about all the changes taking place in Myanmar (Burma). It is true that the government in Burma has undertaken certain reforms.
最近巷ではビルマ関連の記事で溢れてしまっている。ビルマが変わりつつあるのは間違いないようだ。

Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the pro-democracy movement, has been allowed to participate in the bi-elections scheduled for April, a marked change from elections in 2010 when several unfair legal provisions effectively banned her party from taking part. Many prominent former student activists have been released, and the once-strict censorship rules have been relaxed.

At the same time, there has been a rapid thaw in Burma’s relations with the United States and the United Kingdom, countries that used to regularly denounce Burma for its systematic human rights abuses and lack of democratic reforms, and that impose various sanctions because of this. Diplomats and politicians from around the world are visiting Burma.

Amid talk of the lifting of sanctions, aid organizations are preparing to re-engage in Burma, and heightened interest in the country among commercial investors has driven property prices soaring in key locations.

Despite all the optimistic commentary, however, Burma remains far from democracy. In the nominally civilian government, the president is a former army general, and 26 of the 30 ministers are also former military men (no woman is in the Cabinet). In the parliament, 25 percent of the seats are reserved for those in the military. Widespread irregularities were reported about the 2010 elections, whose outcome allowed the pro-military party to take most of the remaining seats.

The president may hand over all powers to Burma’s top military commander in a state of emergency--a legal coup d’etat. The Constitution that provides for all of this cannot be amended without the support of the military. Further, rule of law is not established, and the judiciary is not independent. Hundreds of political prisoners remain in prisons all over Burma. And despite reports of “peace agreements” reached, repression and abuses against civilians continue in ethnic conflict areas.

Just as it did under the former military regime, the army retains substantive control over the governance of the country. The top priority for the army, which is to hold onto its privileges and protect its interests, has not changed, either. The only difference are the tactics adopted by the military: instead of oppressing the people and any opposition by threat and use of bare force, the new government has opted to impress upon the people and the international community that it is “bent on democratic reforms,” thereby apparently trying to prevent frustration and opposition from reaching a boiling point. These tactics also provide cover for foreign governments and international financial institutions to lift sanctions and to resume or increase development aid.

Burma’s current government is not motivated by the goal of true democracy. President Thein Sein did not even bother to hide this fact in his recent interview with The Washington Post. Asked for a message to its American readers, Thein Sein declared: “If you would like to see democracy thrive in our country, you should take the necessary actions to encourage this by easing the sanctions. ...” This statement turns logic on its head. Sanctions were imposed because Burma would not embark on democratic reforms and refused to improve the human rights situation. Sanctions did not make Burma any less democratic. In any case, if one genuinely wanted democratization and were serious about obtaining it, one would not refer to the removal of sanctions as a condition.

Aung San Suu Kyi could have refused to cooperate with Thein Sein and his allies. She is presumably aware of all the pitfalls. Her decision to participate in the bi-elections, and her colleagues’ support for this move, do not mean that they recognize the current government as a legitimate democratic government or a trustworthy partner. They have decided to struggle within the system despite this understanding because they recognize that taking advantage of the current opportunity may eventually--perhaps in several decades--lead to an emergence of a truly democratic society where people can freely participate. Those of us outside Burma should understand that they are on a gamble, so to speak, and continue to support them in realizing their hope.

***

Yuki Akimoto is a director of BurmaInfo Japan (http://www.burmainfo.org/), where she researches and writes about Burma with a focus on human rights and environment.

(Mainichi Japan) February 7, 2012
Relocation of Futenma base must not be neglected in review of US force realignment
社説：普天間置き去りは困る

The issue of relocating U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture must not be left behind in a review of the planned realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.
(今回の米軍再編成により普天間の移設問題がうやむやにされてはならない。trans. by srachai )

Tokyo and Washington have agreed in principle to transfer some of the U.S. Marines in Okinawa to Guam in advance of the Futenma relocation, even though the two countries had decided to carry out both relocations as a package.
　日米両政府は、在沖縄米海兵隊のグアム移転と米軍普天間飛行場（沖縄県宜野湾市）の移設を「パッケージ」としてきた米軍再編の日米合意を見直し、海兵隊移転を切り離して先行させることで大筋合意した。

Specifically, the number of Okinawa-based Marines to be moved to Guam would be reduced to about 4,700 from the some 8,000 planned initially, while the remainder would be shifted to U.S. bases in Australia, the Philippines and other countries in a rotation.
　具体的には、海兵隊のグアムへの移転規模を当初の約８０００人から約４７００人に縮小し、残りの約３３００人はオーストラリアやフィリピンなどの米軍基地にローテーションで分散移転するという。

It is widely believed that the review has been put in motion on the U.S. government's initiative, with an eye to winning the support of a Congress calling for deep defense spending cuts, including to funds for the Okinawa-based Marines' relocation.
　グアム移転費を含めた国防費の大幅削減を求める米議会の理解を得るため、米政府が移転計画の見直しを主導したものとみられる。

The relocation of Futenma, which is aimed at eliminating the danger the base -- located right in the middle of the city of Ginowan -- poses to local residents, and the transfer of Marines to Guam under the U.S. forces realignment, do not in fact have anything to do with each other.
　もともと、普天間周辺の住民の危険除去を目的とする飛行場の返還・移設と、米軍再編の一環である海兵隊のグアム移転は、歴史的経緯もその性格も異なる。

However, these two separate issues were combined in a 2006 bilateral agreement on the realignment of U.S. forces.
それが、０６年の米軍再編に関する日米合意でセットにされたというのがいきさつだ。

If the transfer of Okinawa-based Marines goes ahead, it will undoubtedly reduce the U.S. base-hosting burden Japan's southernmost prefecture has shouldered for so many decades.
　沖縄に集中する海兵隊の海外移転が進めば、沖縄の基地負担の軽減に結びつくのは間違いない。

If the delinking of the two issues leads to an early transfer of Marines out of Okinawa, it should be regarded as a major step forward.
「切り離し」が早期の海兵隊移転につながるとすれば、それ自体は前進だろう。

However, concerns have been raised that the delinking of the two issues could lead to a slowdown in efforts to relocate Futenma out of Ginowan.
　しかし、この「切り離し」が普天間問題の「置き去り」を招くことになっては決してならない。

The Japanese and U.S. governments are required to respond to local governments' concerns, including that "the U.S. government may lose enthusiasm for settling the Futenma issue once it completes transferring Marines out of Okinawa" and that "the Futenma base may stay in Ginowan permanently."
　「米政府は海兵隊移転で普天間問題解決の意欲を失うのではないか」「普天間が固定化されるのでは」－－こうした沖縄の不安に、日米両政府はきちんと答える必要がある。

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said recently, "As we're aware that local residents are concerned that Futenma may remain there permanently, we'll put our utmost efforts into our negotiations on the issue with the United States."
　野田佳彦首相は「固定化への懸念は承知しているので、全力で（日米で）協議していく」と語った。

As he has pledged, the government should place priority on ensuring that Futenma will be relocated out of Ginowan.
言葉通り、普天間の固定化回避を最優先して取り組んでもらいたい。

The prime minister should have the courage to review the Japan-U.S. agreement to move the Futenma base to the Henoko district of Nago, also in Okinawa Prefecture, which Nago residents are opposing.
　毎日新聞は普天間移設について、沖縄が反対する「名護市辺野古への県内移設」の見直しを視野に入れて再検討するよう求めてきた。
そうでなければ最悪の事態である「普天間の固定化」が現実味を帯びてくるからだ。米側に再検討を提起する勇気を、野田首相に求める。

We would like to request that the two countries ensure that the following two points are carried out.
　また、海兵隊の海外移転見直しについて２点、注文したい。

First, Tokyo and Washington should speed up their consultations on early relocation of Marines to Guam, and work out the details of the plan to rotate the remaining troops to other areas in a way that will truly reduce the burden on Okinawa.
　まず、グアム移転早期実現の協議を急ぎ、残りの部隊の「ローテーションによる分散移転」が現実に沖縄の負担軽減となるよう詳細を詰めることだ。

It would be unacceptable if the Marines on rotation continued to place a burden on Okinawa.
ローテーションの内容しだいで、海外移転が事実上、グアム移転だけになり、負担軽減策が後退してしまうとすれば、論外である。

Moreover, with the decrease in the number of troops to be moved to Guam, the two countries need to review a bilateral agreement under which Japan is required to foot $6.09 billion of the $10.27 billion cost of the transfer.
　さらに、グアムへの移転規模の縮小に伴って、総額１０２．７億ドルのうち日本側が６０．９億ドルを負担するとした日米合意も見直さざるを得ない。

It is a matter of course that Tokyo demand its financial burden be reduced.
日本側の負担減額を要求するのは当然であり、

Japan should not agree to pay any unnecessary costs in an effort to ensure U.S. troops are rotated out of Okinawa.
「ローテーション」対策として安易な支出に踏み切るようなことは避けるべきだ。

毎日新聞　2012年2月7日　2時31分

(Mainichi Japan) February 6, 2012
Edano key person in Japan's nuclear future, but keeps true intentions hidden
風知草：枝野と鈴木貫太郎＝山田孝男

Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yukio Edano recently revealed in a magazine interview that the prime minister for whom he holds the highest regard is Kantaro Suzuki.
　枝野幸男経済産業相（４７）が最も高く評価している首相は鈴木貫太郎だそうだ。最近出た雑誌「ｇ２」（講談社）のインタビューで自ら語っている。

I found the mention of a taciturn, sage-like military chancellor by an eloquent lawyer-turned-minister striking.
口達者な弁護士閣僚と、寡黙で仙人めいた軍人老宰相。この取り合わせは面白い。

Suzuki was the prime minister of Japan when it surrendered to end World War II.
　鈴木は日本が第二次大戦に負けた時の首相である。

He was the one who brought the war to a close.
鈴木は戦争を終わらせた。

So what will Edano end?
枝野は何を終わらせるのか。

"Modernity," he promptly responded when I posed the question to him last weekend.
　先週末、枝野に直接確かめると、「近代でしょう」と即答した。

And what did he mean by "modernity"?
近代って？　

"A society of standardized mass production."
「規格大量生産の社会」。

Was that the same as bringing nuclear power to an end?
原発を終わらせることとは違う？　

"Nuclear power is not (our biggest challenge). Rather, energy conservation is."
「原発がメーン（の課題）ではない。むしろ省エネがポイントです」。枝野はそう言った。

The aforementioned interview spanned 20 pages in the most recent issue of the magazine G2, and addressed a wide range of topics -- including disillusionment with regime change, energy policy, the Constitution, and Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) bigwig Ichiro Ozawa.
　「ｇ２」のインタビューは２０ページに及ぶ。政権交代への幻滅、エネルギー政策、憲法、小沢一郎と話題は多岐にわたるが、

The common thread throughout the entire interview, however, was "the abandonment of modernity."
全編を貫くキーワードは「脱近代」である。
観念的と言えば観念的。

As the interviewer, Katsuyuki Yakushiji, a professor of sociology at Toyo University and a former chief editor of the Asahi Shimbun's political news section, challenged Edano on his highly conceptual remarks.
インタビュアーの薬師寺克行東洋大教授（元朝日新聞政治部長）が、さまざまな突っ込みを入れている。

"So what do you mean by modernization?" Yakushiji asked.
　－－近代化とは？

Edano answered: "The economic development process in which we achieve affluence by selling products to other countries."
　枝野「経済成長のもとで、物を他国に売って豊かになっていくプロセスです」

"Are the things that the DPJ views as problematic, including the widening gap between the rich and the poor and rising unemployment, signs of the contradictions arising (from continued modernization)?" Yakushiji pushed further.
　－－民主党が批判している格差拡大や非正規雇用の増加はそうした（＝近代化継続の）矛盾の表れですか？

"Countries that have achieved modernity are chased by countries who are newly reaching modernity.
　枝野「近代化を成し遂げた国は、新たに近代化する国に追いかけられ、

When these modern countries try to compete on the same footing as up-and-coming countries, their societies deteriorate.
（新興国と）同じ土俵で競争すれば社会が悪くなっていく。

What (former Prime Minister Junichiro) Koizumi did was just that.
小泉（純一郎）さんがやったことがそれ。

I think such issues need to be overcome through the creation of a 'postmodern' social system."
こうした問題は『ポスト近代』の社会システムをつくることで克服すべきだと思う」……。

Though Suzuki and Edano may seem to have nothing in common at first glance, their similarities become clearer when one focuses on a certain characteristic: they're both key figures in deciding national policy whose real intentions are difficult to read.
　似ても似つかぬ２人だが、見方によっては共通点がある。国の重要政策を左右するキーパーソンだが、ハラの内は読めないというところだ。

Suzuki became prime minister in April 1945, nearing the end of World War II.

Cabinet members comprised military and "pro-peace" factions, and the legend goes that Suzuki, a former naval officer, did not reveal his true intentions.
　鈴木は第二次大戦末期の１９４５（昭和２０）年４月、首相になった。

Instead, he committed himself to saving the face of those pushing for more fighting, while artfully leading the way to peace.
当時、内閣は和平派閣僚と抗戦派閣僚の呉越同舟だった。海軍出身の鈴木は本心を明かさず、抗戦派の顔を立てながら、巧みに和平へ導いたというのが通説である。

How about Edano?
　枝野はどうか。

When it comes down to it, is he for nuclear power, or against it?
この人はつまるところ脱原発なのか、原発維持なのか。

People on both sides are desperately trying to figure out what lies in the minister's heart of hearts.
脱原発派も、原発維持派も、枝野の本心を読み解こうと一生懸命だ。

Of Japan's 54 nuclear reactors, only three are now running. If they, too, undergo scheduled inspections, all 54 will be out of operation by late April, with no prospects of restarting.
　全国５４基の原発は順次定期検査に入っており、このままなら４月末に全部止まる。

Edano had been expected to pour his efforts into talking local municipalities into giving the go-ahead for the restarts, but in a newspaper interview published on Jan. 27, he suggested that Japan would get by fine without nuclear power.
枝野は自治体に再稼働容認を働きかけるかと思いきや、「原発ゼロでも大丈夫」と言わんばかりの新聞インタビュー（朝日新聞１月２７日朝刊）が出た。

At a press conference on Jan. 18, Edano also made the comment: "Emotionally, I lean toward the notion that we should be as cautious as possible regarding the resumption of operations (of nuclear reactors)."
　「心情としては、再稼働に限りなく慎重であるべきだという主張に近い」という発言（１月１８日記者会見）もあった。

This is the same person, however, who has given his permission to the export of Japan's nuclear technology, and stands by the government's new growth strategy under which the exports will be carried out.
その枝野は、同時に、原発輸出を容認し、新成長戦略の旗を降ろさぬ枝野でもある。

Edano and the DPJ are at the center of contradiction and chaos.
　枝野も、民主党政権も、矛盾と混乱のまっただ中にいる。

Pressed about this, he responded: "The Meiji Restoration was also a time of confusion. Turbulent times themselves are not a problem. What's important is whether our actions lead to the construction of a new era."
そこを突かれると、枝野は切り返した。「明治維新も混乱期だった。混乱そのものが問題なのではなく、次の時代の建設に向かう動きかどうかということが本質だと思います」

It was in explaining to his interviewer that he is currently not aiming to become prime minister that Edano mentioned Suzuki.
　枝野が鈴木の名を持ち出したのは、「自分は今は首相を目指していない」と強調するくだりだった。

Suzuki only agreed to take the helm of the Cabinet at the recommendation of the Emperor's advisers and coaxing from the Emperor himself.
鈴木は敗戦間近、重臣の推挙と天皇の説得で渋々、内閣を率いた。

"People sought out by the specific era should become prime minister," Edano said. "They are the ones who accomplish great things."
「時代から求められた人が首相になるべきで、そういう人が大きな仕事をするんですよ」と枝野。

Will this era be calling on Edano?
　時代は枝野を呼び出すだろうか。

(By Takao Yamada, Expert Senior Writer)
（敬称略）（毎週月曜日掲載）

毎日新聞　2012年2月6日　東京朝刊

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Feb. 6, 2012)
Rework arrangements needed to get relocation issue moving
沖縄局長「講話」　「普天間」前進へ態勢立て直せ（2月5日付・読売社説）

The Defense Ministry is considering possible punishment of Ro Manabe, chief of the Okinawa Defense Bureau, who reportedly encouraged his subordinates to vote in the mayoral election in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, slated for Feb. 12.
　防衛省が、１２日投票の沖縄県宜野湾市長選への投票を職員に呼びかけた真部朗沖縄防衛局長について、処分を検討している。

There is no denying that Manabe's actions could have led to misunderstandings, even though they may not have been illegal.
　違法ではないが、誤解を招きかねない行為だったのは否定できない。

Late last month, Manabe allegedly gave "lectures" on the mayoral election to 66 of his subordinates who either live in the city or have relatives there.
　真部局長は１月下旬、宜野湾市内に本人か親族が住む職員６６人に講話を行った。

While explaining the standpoint of the central government and prospective candidates on the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station, located in Ginowan, Manabe called their attention to the principle that public servants must be politically neutral.
米軍普天間飛行場の移設問題に関する政府の立場や立候補予定者の考え方を説明する一方、「公務員は政治的中立性が要求される」と注意を促した。

At a meeting of the House of Representatives Budget Committee to which he was summoned as an unsworn witness, Manabe emphasized that his lectures were rooted in the ministry's code of conduct for civil servants, which forbids recommending any particular candidate.
　真部局長は参考人として招致された衆院予算委員会でも、特定の候補を推薦してはいけないなどとする防衛省の服務規律の通達を踏まえた講話だったと強調した。

The upcoming mayoral election is likely to be a one-on-one fight between conservative and reformist candidates, with the outcome expected to affect the relocation issue.
　宜野湾市長選は保革一騎打ちが予想され、その結果は普天間問題にも影響すると見られていた。

===

Good intentions

Manabe, for his part, allegedly gave the lectures in the hope they would promote progress on the relocation issue, and meant to act within a scope that would not violate the Public Offices Election Law, which prohibits using the status of a public servant in an election campaign.
　真部局長とすれば、公務員の地位を利用した選挙運動を禁じる公職選挙法に抵触しない範囲で、普天間問題の前進の一助となれば、と考えて講話をしたのだろう。

The Defense Ministry has found that Manabe did not express support for any specific person during the lectures and there were no illegal acts.
　防衛省は、特定候補を支持する発言はなく、違法行為はなかったとしている。

The ministry's judgment can be called appropriate, in principle.
その判断は、基本的に妥当と言えよう。

Manabe allegedly gave similar lectures during recent elections, including one for the city assembly of Nago, also in the prefecture, held in 2010.
　真部局長は一昨年の名護市議選などでも同様の講話を行った。

This time the issue is more controversial, as local people have become highly critical of the bureau due to the inappropriate comments by Manabe's predecessor, which cost him his post in late November. There has also been turmoil over the delivery of an environmental impact report compiled by the central government regarding relocation of the base, and gaffes made by former and current defense ministers Yasuo Ichikawa and Naoki Tanaka.
　今回は、一川、田中の２代の防衛相の失言・迷言に加え、前任局長の不適切発言や環境影響評価書提出時の混乱で、沖縄防衛局への地元の視線が険しくなっていたことが、問題を大きくした。

Tanaka initially intended to penalize Manabe by replacing him on Friday.
　田中防衛相は当初、３日に真部局長を処分・更迭する考えだったが、

However, support for Manabe was expressed during the committee meeting and Tanaka's talks with senior ministry officials, leading him to postpone his decision on punishment.
予算委などで局長の擁護論が出たため、決定を先送りした。

Tanaka said that to aid the ministry's investigation of Manabe, he would have the bureau chief fulfill his responsibility to explain. This is a disgraceful stance, as Tanaka is trying to avoid his own responsibility for the confusion caused by the postponement of his decision.
　田中氏が「局長に説明責任を果たさせる」と語ったのは、判断先送りで混乱を招いた自らの責任を回避するもので、不見識だ。

===

Consider bureaucrats' morale

If the defense minister commits the similarly irresponsible act of forcing a bureaucrat to take the blame for the turmoil concerning a key policy issue, as the previous chief of the Okinawa Defense Bureau was forced to do, it will erode the morale of bureaucrats who are sincerely working on key policy issues. This would weaken the defense administration as a whole.
　前局長に続き、官僚に責任を押しつける安易な対応を重ねれば、政策課題に真剣に取り組んでいる官僚の士気をくじき、防衛行政自体を弱体化させかねない。

Also questionable is the response to this issue by the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, which have criticized the administration of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda over the relocation issue.
　野田政権を追及する自民、公明両党の対応にも、疑問がある。

It was the then ruling coalition parties of the LDP and Komeito that decided to transfer the functions of the Futenma Air Station from Ginowan to the Henoko district of Nago.
　そもそも普天間飛行場の辺野古移設を決めたのは自公政権だ。

It is only reasonable for opposition parties to criticize any problematic elements of the government.
　野党として、政府の問題点を批判するのは当然だが、

But if they end up making it difficult to realize the relocation to the Henoko district, it will destabilize bilateral relations between Japan and the United States, thus damaging national interests.
結果として辺野古移設の実現を困難にすれば日米関係を不安定化させ、国益を損ねる。

Both parties need to make judgments from a broader perspective, instead of merely pursuing their party interests.
党利党略でなく、より大局的な対応が求められる。

The relocation issue is now at a crucial stage.
　普天間問題は今、正念場にある。

If the transfer to the Henoko district comes to a standstill, the Futenma Air Station will inevitably remain in the same location.
辺野古移設が頓挫すれば、普天間飛行場は固定化が避けられない。

The Noda administration needs to rework its arrangements and do its utmost to realize the relocation.
野田政権は態勢を立て直し、移設実現に全力を挙げるべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 5, 2012)
（2012年2月5日01時34分 読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Feb. 4, 2012)
Resist Chinese pressure over Senkaku Islands
尖閣無人島命名　領土で中国の圧力に屈するな（2月3日付・読売社説）

What does the Japan-China agreement to make the East China Sea "a sea of cooperation and friendship" actually mean?
　東シナ海を「協力と友好の海」にするとの日中合意は何だったのか。

The government should call on China to exercise self-restraint and show a resolute attitude over territories and maritime interests.
　政府は、中国に今後も自制を促すとともに、領土や海洋権益で毅然(きぜん)とした態度を示すべきだ。

The Chinese government recently protested the Japanese government's plan to name four uninhabited islands in the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
　尖閣諸島にある四つの無人島に名称をつけるという、日本政府の方針に、中国政府が抗議した。

The Jan. 17 issue of the People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, carried an editorial comment denouncing the plan as "a blatant move to damage China's core interests."
　１月１７日の中国共産党の機関紙「人民日報」は、「公然と中国の核心的利益を損なう振る舞いだ」と、日本を非難する評論を掲載した。

It is the first time China has used the expression "core interests" in connection with the Senkaku Islands.
尖閣諸島に「核心的利益」との表現を用いたのは初めてだ。

China defines "core interests" to mean national sovereignty, maintenance of territorial integrity and other areas over which it will not compromise at any price.
　中国の定義によると、「核心的利益」は、中国が絶対に譲歩できない国家主権や領土保全などを意味する。

China has used the expression for Taiwan and Tibet, but in recent years, Beijing reportedly used it for the South China Sea where armed conflicts with neighboring countries have occurred.
これまでは、台湾やチベットなどに用いていたが、近年は周辺国と武力衝突も起きた南シナ海にも使っているとされる。

By using such a strong expression, China is pressuring Japan with the apparent aim of forestalling the move to name the islands.
　中国側には、強い表現によって、日本に圧力をかけ、命名の動きにブレーキをかける狙いがあるとみられる。

===

Naming islands is correct

The Japanese government manages remote islands based on the Basic Law on Ocean Policy, which was enacted in 2007. Since 2009, Japan has named uninhabited islands one after another.
Until this process, the islands had no names although they are within the country's exclusive economic zone.
　日本政府は２００７年制定の海洋基本法に基づき、離島の管理に取り組んでいる。０９年以降、日本の排他的経済水域（ＥＥＺ）の基点でありながら、名前がない全国の無人島に対し、名付け作業を順次進めてきた。

The Senkaku Islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory and the Japanese government's move to name the islands is correct.
　尖閣諸島は日本固有の領土であり、政府の対応は当然だ。

There is no reason for Japan to be condemned by China.
中国側に非難されるいわれはない。

The Japanese government must quickly name the four islands with the help of the Okinawa prefectural and Ishigaki municipal governments and put those names on nautical charts.
政府は、地元の沖縄県や石垣市と調整し、名前を早急に確定して、海図に記載しなければならない。

Since September 2010, when a Chinese trawler collided with Japan Coast Guard vessels, Chinese fisheries patrol boats have increased their activities around the Senkaku Islands, and have even intruded into Japan's territorial waters.
　１０年９月の中国漁船衝突事件以来、尖閣諸島周辺で、中国は、漁業監視船によるパトロール活動を活発化させている。監視船による日本の領海侵犯も起きた。

As seen in its hard-line stance in the South China Sea, China has a strategy of expanding the sea areas it controls through faits accomplis.
　南シナ海で強硬姿勢を取ってきたように、中国には、既成事実を積み重ね、支配海域を広げていく戦略があるのだろう。

The JCG and the Self-Defense Forces must strengthen their vigilance and monitoring activities.
海上保安庁や自衛隊は警戒・監視活動を強化しなければならない。

===

Improve management

Depending on China's actions, it also will be necessary to improve management of the Senkaku Islands. 　中国の出方次第では、尖閣諸島に対する管理を強化することも必要だ。

Conducting maritime, meteorological and other scientific research on the Senkaku Islands is one idea.
政府が、尖閣諸島で海洋や気象などの科学的調査を実施するのも一案だろう。

Among gas fields near the median line between Japan and China in the East China Sea, Japan and China agreed to jointly develop a gas field known as Shirakaba in Japan and Chunxiao in China.
However, China has refused to resume negotiations on a treaty on joint development. This is a problem.
　東シナ海では、日中中間線近くのガス田のうち、両国が共同開発で合意した白樺（中国名・春暁）の条約交渉再開に中国が応じていないのも問題だ。

A flare was recently confirmed at the Kashi gas field, known as Tianwaitian in China.
　折しも、中国の樫（中国名・天外天）の採掘施設で炎が確認された。

Beijing's development of gas fields without Japan's consent closes the path to resolving problems through negotiations.
日本の同意なしで、一方的に開発を進めるのは、話し合いによる問題解決の道を閉ざす。

It is natural for Japan to protest to China and it must continue to press Beijing to stop developing the gas fields unilaterally.
政府が中国に抗議したのは当然で、開発中止を求め続ける必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 3, 2012)
（2012年2月3日01時19分 読売新聞）