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 Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 5
EDITORIAL: Lawmakers can't be allowed to obscure issues on Japan’s future course
（社説）通常国会開幕　「戦後の岐路」問う論戦を

This year’s ordinary Diet session convened on Jan. 4, immediately after the traditional three New Year holidays, an unusually early start of the national legislature’s work.
　通常国会がきのう開幕した。三が日が明けて早々、異例に早い召集となった。

This is an extremely important Diet session.
　極めて重要な国会である。

The administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to initiate an amendment to the Constitution after the Upper House election slated for this summer.
　夏に参院選がある。安倍政権はその後、憲法改正の国会発議を視野に入れている。

The unusually early summoning of the Diet is a move to push ahead with a constitutional amendment.
　異例の早期召集は、そのための布石でもある。

The early beginning of the regular Diet session also makes it possible to hold simultaneous elections for both houses.
この時期の召集なら、衆参同日選も可能だ。

Although it is unclear if Abe will actually adopt this electoral tactic, simply having this option makes it easier for the ruling camp to create a division within the opposition bloc.
実際に踏み切るかはさておき、同日選の選択肢を手にするだけで野党を分断しやすくなる。

The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and its junior partner, Komeito, already controls more than a two-thirds majority in the Lower House. The Abe administration is aiming to secure a two-thirds majority also in the Upper House to rewrite the Constitution. Such a presence in both chambers is needed to initiate any constitutional amendment process.
　衆院は自公両党で発議に必要な総議員の３分の２以上の勢力をもつが、参院でも３分の２の「改憲勢力」を確保したい。それが政権の狙いだ。

ABE CHANGES STANCE AFTER ELECTIONS
　■選挙前後の使い分け

At the Upper House election, Japanese voters will have to decide on whether to give Abe a clear and lopsided mandate to pursue his political agenda. The election could shape up as a major turning point for postwar Japan.
　「安倍１強政治」を加速させるか、転換させるか。夏の参院選は、戦後日本の大きな分岐点になる可能性がある。

This Diet session will offer an important opportunity for the public to think about the nation’s future course before the Upper House election. We urge both the ruling and opposition camps to hold in-depth debates on key policy issues to give the voting public a well-founded basis for their decisions at the polls.
　この国会は、国民にとって、参院選を前に日本の針路を考える重要な機会となる。判断材料となるような、深みのある論戦を与野党双方に求める。

In his New Year news conference on Jan. 4, Abe said he wants to start tackling “new challenges for building a new future for the nation” in 2016, stressing his policy efforts to create “a society where 100 million people will play active roles,” his vision for Japan’s future.
　「新しい国づくりへの新しい挑戦を始める年にしたい」
　安倍首相はきのうの年頭会見で抱負を語り、１億総活躍社会づくりなどを強調した。

But we cannot take these words at face value. The Abe administration has a history of emphasizing economic issues before elections and then forcing through its favorite policy initiatives by using the power of numbers after winning the polls. The administration has often used this political ploy on the strength won through an election.
　だが、額面通りには受け取れない。選挙前は経済最優先と言いながら、選挙に勝てば、自らこだわる政策を数の力で押し通す――。選挙至上主義とも言えるそうした政治手法が、安倍政権では際立つからだ。

This was the case after the 2013 Upper House election, when the administration successfully sought the enactment of the state secrets protection law, and also after the 2014 Lower House election, when it pursued, again successfully, the passage of new national security legislation.
　２０１３年の参院選後の特定秘密保護法のときも、１４年の総選挙後の安保法制のときも、そうだった。

Lawmakers of both the ruling and opposition camps now believe that Abe’s next political goal is a constitutional revision.
次は憲法改正を持ち出すだろう、というのが与野党一致した見方である。

In a late November meeting of a group of conservative politicians he himself leads, Abe made the following remark: “We need to recall the original political goal adopted (by the LDP) at its foundation, which was to change the various systems created during the period of occupation (of Japan by the Allied Powers), including amending the Constitution.”
　昨年１１月末、安倍首相は自ら率いる右派系議員の会合で、こう述べている。
　「憲法改正をはじめ、占領時代に作られた様々な仕組みを変えていこうという（自民党の）立党の原点を呼び起こさなければならない」

If the ruling coalition wins in simultaneous elections for both Diet houses, the administration will have three years to pursue its policy agenda without having to face any national poll. Even if Abe does not opt to dissolve the Lower House for simultaneous elections, a victory in the upper chamber will give the coalition more than two election-free years.
　仮に参院選で与党が勝てば、同日選なら３年間、参院選単独でも２年以上、大きな国政選挙に臨まなくても済む「時間」を手にすることになる。

That will create a political environment that allows the Abe administration to make even bolder political moves than those it has already taken, including initiating a constitutional amendment.
　改憲の発議を含め、これまで以上に思い切った手を打てる環境が整う。

BLOCK ATTEMPTS TO OBSCURE REAL ISSUES
　■争点隠しを許さない

The Abe administration has shown a clear tendency to change its policy narrative after elections in various areas, including the economy.
　「選挙前」と「選挙後」を使い分ける政権のやり方は、これにとどまらない。
　一つは、経済だ。

One typical approach used by the administration involves talking only about “benefits” for voters before elections, delaying any reference to a painful increase in the burden on taxpayers until after the polls.
　有権者受けする「給付」を先行させる一方、痛みを伴う「負担増」は選挙後に先送り。そんな手法が目立つ。

The draft supplementary budget for the current fiscal year, for instance, contains 330 billion yen ($2.77 billion) of spending to pay 30,000 yen each to old people with small pension pots.
　今年度補正予算案には、年金額が少ない高齢者に１人あたり３万円、総額３３００億円を配ることを盛り込んだ。

This spending will put a heavy financial burden on future generations while its beneficiaries include many people with ample assets.
低年金者には資産を多く持つ人もいるのに、巨額の給付のツケが将来世代に回される。

As for the proposed food exemptions from the scheduled consumption tax rate hike in April 2017, the administration has postponed its decision on how to finance the 1 trillion yen needed for the measure.
　１７年度から導入する消費税の軽減税率も、１兆円もの税収減の財源探しを先送りした。

The administration has also shown a habit of changing its political tune in the area of national security.
　もう一つは、安全保障だ。

Although the security legislation that passed the Diet last year is slated to come into force in March, the administration has decided to put off, until after the Upper House election, the addition of one important task to the list of new missions the Self-Defense Forces is expected to perform in United Nations peacekeeping operations under the laws.
The task is to rescue foreign forces or other organizations that have come under attack in areas away from the zone where the SDF is engaged in PKO activities.
　安保法制が３月に施行されるが、政権は国連平和維持活動（ＰＫＯ）に派遣する自衛隊への「駆けつけ警護」任務の追加を参院選後に先送りする。

The administration has also postponed submitting a bill to the Diet that would revise Japan’s Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) with the United States to expand the scope of the SDF’s logistic support for U.S. forces. The revision would allow the SDF to provide ammunition to U.S. forces, for example.
　米軍への弾薬提供など、後方支援を広げる日米物品役務相互提供協定（ＡＣＳＡ）改定案の国会提出も先送りだ。

Public opinion is sharply and equally divided over the security legislation. The administration apparently wants to avoid stirring up fresh public opposition to the legislation before the vital election.
　安保法制に対する世論は二分されている。重要な選挙を前にして、反発を再燃させたくないという判断だろう。

The opposition parties have the heavy responsibility to prevent the ruling camp from obscuring key policy issues during the last Diet session before the election and ensure in-depth discussions on these topics.
　選挙前の最後の論戦となる国会で、与党の「争点隠し」とも言える動きをどう覆し、議論を深めていくか。
　野党の責任は重い。

OPPOSITION PARTIES SHOULD SEEK BROAD COOPERATION
　■幅広い国民と連帯を

What kind of role should the opposition parties perform to counter the Abe administration’s dominant power?
　「安倍１強政治」に対抗するために、野党がいま、果たすべき役割は何か。

First and foremost, they should offer a realistic alternative to Abe’s government through effective maneuverings at the Diet, electoral cooperation and joint policymaking.
　まず国会対応や選挙協力、政策づくりを通じて、１強に代わりうる「もう一つの選択肢」を国民に示すことだ。

Calls for repealing the security legislation, which is strongly suspected to be unconstitutional, and protecting constitutionalism, which the Abe administration has failed to respect, can galvanize opposition parties into joining forces against the powerful ruling coalition.
　違憲の疑いが濃い安保法制を白紙に戻す。安倍政権が軽視する立憲主義を守る。それが結集軸になるはずだ。

As long as the opposition camp remains fragmented, there will be no political force that can effectively represent people concerned about the direction in which the government is trying to lead the nation.
　野党がバラバラなままでは、今の政治に危惧を抱く民意は行き場を見いだせない。

More than anything else, opposition parties need to seek cooperation with a broad spectrum of people by responding sympathetically to their wishes and concerns.
　そして何より、幅広い国民の思いや不安と共感しながら、連帯をはかることである。

Last year, the government’s initiative to enact the security legislation provoked various civil actions against the move, including demonstrations in front of the Diet building.
　昨年、安保法制をめぐって国会前の街頭活動など市民の動きが呼び起こされた。

What opposition parties should recall now is the fact that decisions on the future of the nation are, after all, up to the people with whom sovereign power resides.
　野党が改めて思い起こすべきは、国の針路を最終的に決めるのは、主権者たる国民だということだ。

The Diet can initiate constitutional amendments, but they must be approved by the people with a majority vote in a special referendum.
憲法改正も、国会議員による発議だけでは決まらない。国民投票による過半数の賛成が必要である。

The vital choice facing the nation is between politics simply driven by the power of a majority won through an election and politics more based on broad consensus built through sympathy and solidaity with the public.
　選挙での勝利や、議員の数の力で押し切る政治か。国民との共感と連帯に基づく、合意形成を重視するのか。

This choice offers hope for new politics.
　その問いに、新たな政治の可能性が見えてくる。

The voting age will be lowered to 18 from the current 20, starting with the Upper House election.
　今回の参院選から１８歳選挙権が認められる。

The Diet has a duty to debate key policy issues from a long-term perspective that encompasses not only the present but also the future when the new young voters will play leading roles in society.
　今だけでなく、彼らが生きて行く未来を見すえた論戦をしなければならない。

-- The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 1
EDITORIAL: We must heal dangerous divisions in the world
（社説）分断される世界　連帯の再生に向き合う年

A new year has arrived, with the world remaining to be plagued by deep and dangerous divisions.
　地球が、傷だらけで新年を迎えた。

Our world today is full of divisions due to racial, religious, economic, generational and various other factors.
　民族や宗教、経済、世代……。あらゆるところに亀裂が走っている。

Globalization is supposed to create a world where national borders become increasingly permeable and irrelevant, but, ironically, the world as we see it is crisscrossed with dividing lines.
国境を超越した空間を意味するはずのグローバル世界は今、皮肉なことにたくさんの分断線におおわれている。

To heal these divisions, world leaders should be striving to build a society where people can live with a sense of security by promoting reconciliation and removing inequalities.
　それを修復するために、和解を進め、不公平をなくし、安心できる社会を実現する――。
　それこそが指導者の使命であろう。

Regrettably, however, there are many political, religious and opinion leaders across the globe who try to promote their agendas by taking advantage of divisions in society. And such people often earn plaudits by doing so.
だが、むしろ社会の分断につけこむ政治家や宗教者、言論人も登場し、しばしば喝采を浴びている。

But there have also been some notable efforts to heal rifts and explore new forms of global consolidation. The 2015 United Nations climate change conference (COP21), held in Paris late last year, for instance, produced a landmark agreement on a new international framework for reducing planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions in the years after 2020. The breakthrough was made possible as countries united for a real solution to the challenge of stemming global warming, which transcends their parochial interests.
　他方、亀裂を埋めて新しい連帯の形を探す。そんな動きも出ている。たとえば昨年末、パリでの国連気候変動会議（ＣＯＰ２１）で、各国は地球温暖化対策で新しい枠組みに合意した。それぞれの思惑を超えた真の解決に向けて結束した。

The world needs to start its efforts in the new year to tackle the formidable challenges it faces today by confronting, one by one, the crises of solidarity and empathy threatening its future.
　新年の挑戦は、連帯と共感の危機にひとつひとつ向き合うことから始まる。

POLITICS TO DEEPEN RIFTS
　■溝を深める政治

The Islamic State (IS) is an extremist organization that tries to divide people by promoting its fanatic dogma.
　「イスラム国（ＩＳ）」は、狂信的な教義を掲げて人々の分断を謀る過激派組織だ。

The IS not only enslaves and kills people who refuse to obey it in areas it controls. The group is also working to create a deep rift between Muslims and the rest of the world by inciting hatred among Muslims toward other religions and cultures.
　支配地域で従わない人々を隷属化し殺害するだけではない。ほかの宗教や文化を憎悪の対象にしてイスラム教徒との間に深い溝を作ろうとしている。

How are people and countries who have become targets of terror attacks by the IS responding to the threat?
　その刃を向けられた側は、どう応えようとしているか。

In Europe, a wary attitude toward refugees from the Middle East and Muslim immigrants in the region has intensified sharply. In France and some other European countries, there is strong public support to xenophobic rightist parties.
　欧州では、中東からの難民やイスラム系移民層への警戒感が急速に強まった。フランスなどで、排他的な右翼政党の支持が高い。

In the United States, Donald Trump, the leading contender to become the Republican Party’s presidential nominee, has called for a “total and complete shutdown” of the country’s borders to Muslims and made some other outrageous proposals. He remains very popular.
米国では共和党の大統領候補選びで「イスラム教徒を入国禁止に」などと放言し続けるトランプ氏の人気が衰えない。

People such as Trump call for measures that create divisions to fight the efforts to create divisions by people like Muslim extremists. Their approaches are strangely similar to those of their supposed enemies in that they are designed to divide the world.
　分断に分断で対抗する。敵対し合っているはずの勢力が、世界を分断するという点では奇妙に共鳴し合っている。

Social rifts due to widening economic inequality are also becoming increasingly serious in many parts of the world.
　経済的な不平等の拡大による社会の亀裂も深刻化している。

According to a report released last year by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, in 2013 income gaps were the largest in the past 30 years in most of its 34 member countries. Assets are even more concentrated in the hands of the wealthy few than income, according to the OECD.
　経済協力開発機構（ＯＥＣＤ）の昨年の発表によると、２０１３年に、大半の加盟国（３４カ国）の所得格差が過去３０年で最大になった。また、資産は所得以上に富裕層に集中しているという。

In his best-selling book “Capital in the Twenty-First Century,” which has attracted global attention, French economist Thomas Piketty points out that inequality can lead to serious social divisions. In a society with extreme levels of wealth concentration, Piketty maintains, people’s discontent triggers a revolution unless it is suppressed with an iron fist.
　フランスの経済学者ピケティ氏は、世界的に注目された大著「２１世紀の資本」のなかで、あまりに富の集中が進んだ社会では、人々の不満を強権で抑えつけるか、革命が起きるしかなくなる、と不平等がはらむ危険を指摘している。

SPIRIT OF BROTHERHOOD GONE AWRY
　■「同胞」意識の迷走

Japan is not free from the various divisions plaguing the world, either.
　日本もこうした多くの亀裂を免れているわけではない。

Japan cannot be described as a country eager to accept refugees, who number in the tens of millions in the world. Japan’s refugee policy doesn’t reflect any keen awareness of the unfolding crisis of solidarity.
　世界で数千万にのぼる難民の受け入れという点で積極的な国とは言えない。そこに連帯の危機への問題意識は低い。

Japan is no exception, either, to the global trend toward greater economic inequality.
　経済的な不平等についても例外国ではない。

In fact, income equality in this nation has widened to a level even higher than the average among the OECD countries.
それどころか所得格差はＯＥＣＤ平均を超えて広がっている。

The ratio of poverty among children and the percentage of non-regular workers in the overall workforce in Japan are both on the rise.
子どもの貧困率や雇用の非正規率も上昇している。

Japan is now a mere shadow of the country of equality it used to be.
かつての平等な国の姿はすっかり遠くなった。

Despite growing inequities, the proposed integrated tax and social security reform to improve the situation has been making little headway. Social solidarity in this nation is only weakening.
にもかかわらず、社会保障と税の一体改革もままならず、この国の社会的連帯は弱まるばかりだ。

The issue of the heavy concentration of U.S. military bases in Okinawa Prefecture is also causing a division in Japan. What many of the people in Okinawa are asking the mainland to do is to share the burden of hosting so many U.S. bases, which is simply too heavy for just one prefecture to keep bearing.
　沖縄の米軍基地問題も日本に分断を生んでいる。県民の多くが本土に求めるのは、一県には重すぎる負担の分担だ。

They are asking for help from their fellow countrymen.
「同胞」から「同胞」への支援要請である。

But the mainland has been making rather cool responses to Okinawa’s request for support. Political leaders in Tokyo have cast the issue as a partisan battle over security policy.
　しかし本土の反応は冷たい。政治は問題を安全保障をめぐる党派的な対立の構図に還元してしまう。

This attitude gives no hint of true nationalism, which creates empathy for and solidarity with fellow countrymen.
そこに「同胞」への共感と連帯をもたらす本来のナショナリズムは、見る影もない。

The kind of narrow-minded nationalism that tilts toward exclusion instead of embrace, like populism, causes society to become divided rather than united.
　「包摂」より「排除」に傾くナショナリズムは、ポピュリズムと同様に社会を統合するより分断する。

BEFORE DEMOCRACY COLLAPSES
　■民主主義壊れる前に

What is needed for the world to overcome the trend toward becoming more and more divided?
　克服には何が必要だろうか。

The agreement reached in the COP21 conference seems to be a result of a globally shared pragmatic recognition of the reality that countries cannot find a true solution to this challenge as long as they focus on trying to avoid bearing their fair share of the burden for the time being.
　ＣＯＰ２１の合意は、自分の負担を避けようとするだけでは、問題のほんとうの解決にはつながらないと、各国の間で実際的な考えが共有された成果ではないだろうか。

Eisaku Ide, an economics professor at Keio University who has received the “Osaragi Jiro Prize for Commentary” for his book “Keizai no jidai no shuen” (End of the age of economy), stresses the importance of pragmatic thinking.
　また、経済の視点から社会の分断を考察した「経済の時代の終焉（しゅうえん）」で大佛次郎論壇賞に決まった慶応義塾大学経済学部の井手英策教授も、実際的な考え方の重要性を指摘する。

Ide, who studied social divisions from the economic viewpoint in the book, says in Japan a deep rift has emerged between high- and middle-income groups on the one hand and the low-income class on the other, rapidly eroding empathy among people for other members of society.
　教授によると、日本では中高所得層と低所得層の間に溝ができ、人々の間の共感が消滅しつつある。

What is crucial for fixing this problem, Ide argues, is not any ideology or doctrine but the pragmatic recognition that people gain from mutual help by becoming beneficiaries and happy people themselves.
修復には理念ではなく「お互い助け合った方が得をする、自分も受益者になる、幸せになるという視点が必要だ」と話す。

The effectiveness of promoting people’s understanding of the benefits of pursuing practical solutions rather than doctrines and ideologies offers an important insight into the efforts to revive solidarity and empathy in society.
　理念より実際的な解決への理解を広める。連帯や共感の再生への取り組みを可能にするための重要な手がかりではないか。

Social divisions pose a serious threat to democracy. People stop respecting political decisions unless they feel that they have been involved in making the decisions.
　社会の分断は民主主義にとって脅威だ。「私たちみんなで決めた」という感覚がなければ、人々は政治的な決定を尊重しようとはしなくなる。

This situation then causes society to be divided further into smaller groups in a vicious cycle.
そしてそれはさらに社会を細分化する悪循環を招く。

We must confront our society’s illness of becoming more and more divided and make effective efforts to enhance policies and opinions that refuse to take advantage of such divisions.
　私たちの社会が抱える分断という病理を直視し、そこにつけ込まない政治や言論を強くしていかなければならない。

We must do so before the problem becomes so serious as to ruin democracy.
　民主主義さえも台無しにするほどに深刻化する前に。

The Yomiuri Shimbun
International community must solidify its unity against ISIL
脅威増す世界　対「イスラム国」で結束強めよ

　◆米主導の秩序をどう維持するか◆

The threat of terrorism stemming from extremism is shaking the U.S.-led international order based on law and democracy.
　過激思想によるテロの脅威が、米国主導の法と民主主義に基づく国際秩序を揺さぶっている。

About 25,000 foreign fighters from over 100 countries have joined the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), an extremist group based in Syria and Iraq. There has also been a stream of so-called “homegrown terrorism,” with young people who were raised in the United States or Europe, and influenced by radical beliefs, committing violent acts within their native countries.
　シリアとイラクを拠点とする過激派組織「イスラム国」には、１００か国以上の外国人戦闘員約２万５０００人が参加する。感化された欧米の若者が自国で犯行に及ぶ「ホームグロウン・テロ」も続発している。

Terrorism is an issue that is not exclusive to such regions as the Middle East or Europe. It is a challenge that must be addressed by the whole world. The international community must stand together, with the United States taking the lead, to continue fighting a protracted battle.
　テロはもはや中東や欧州などの地域にとどまらない。世界全体で取り組むべき課題である。米国を中心に国際社会が結束して、息の長い戦いを続けねばならない。

President must lead
　◆次期大統領は指導力を

In the November U.S. presidential election, major points of contention will include Washington’s measures to fight the ISIL, its policy on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement and its rebalancing to Asia policy. We hope in-depth discussions will be conducted through the election campaigns in a direction that will encourage the United States to take a more leading role.
　１１月の米大統領選では、「イスラム国」対策をはじめ、環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）、「アジア重視」政策などが主要な争点になる。選挙戦を通じて、米国がより指導的な役割を果たす方向で議論が深まることを期待したい。

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, has emphasized that “if the United States does not lead, there is not another leader, there is a vacuum and we have to lead.” Her remarks likely express her desire for more U.S. involvement on the diplomatic front.
　民主党の候補争いでトップを走るヒラリー・クリントン前国務長官は、「米国以外にリーダーはいない。米国が主導しなければ、力の空白が生まれる」と強調している。外交面で米国の関与を拡大する意欲の表れだろう。

If the United States falls into isolationism, there will be a power vacuum in various parts of the world, as Clinton has asserted, and turmoil will spread around the globe.
　米国が孤立主義に陥れば、クリントン氏の主張する通り、世界各地で「力の空白」が生じ、混乱が広がるだけである。

It is a matter of concern that Donald Trump, a real estate giant who aims to win the Republican presidential nomination, has been gaining popularity with his extreme remarks, including a call for banning all Muslims from entering the United States.
　懸念されるのは、共和党の大統領候補指名を目指す不動産王ドナルド・トランプ氏が、イスラム教徒の入国禁止案など極端な発言で人気を集めていることだ。

Trump may run out of steam as the presidential race gets into full swing. But the fact that he has so far retained strong support, despite his extreme remarks, may indicate U.S. citizens’ dissatisfaction with the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama.
　選挙戦の本格化に伴い、トランプ氏が失速する可能性はある。それでも、根強い支持を保ってきたところに、国民のオバマ政権への不満が見てとれる。

From the bitter lessons learned from the fatalities of U.S. soldiers and increased anti-American sentiment due to the Iraq war, Obama has maintained a policy of not sending large numbers of ground combat troops to areas of conflict. We can understand his belief that long-lasting stability cannot be built in the Middle East just through the power of U.S. forces.
　オバマ大統領は、イラク戦争後の米兵の犠牲や反米感情の増大に苦しんだ教訓から、紛争地に大規模な地上戦闘部隊を派遣しない方針を維持してきた。米軍の力だけで中東に長期的な安定は築けないという考えは理解できる。

Ease sectarian strife
　◆宗派対立緩和が不可欠

Yet his administration’s measures for wiping out the ISIL have been one step behind. It is questionable that Obama has been deciding to increase U.S. airstrikes and inject special forces every time local situations deteriorate. Washington must build a solid strategy.
　だが、「イスラム国」掃討作戦では、対応は後手に回った。現地情勢が悪化するたびに、米軍の空爆拡大や特殊部隊の逐次投入を決めているのは疑問だ。確固とした戦略を構築する必要があろう。

Many countries in the Middle East have seen their turmoil deepen with civil war and sectarian struggles.
　中東の多くの国は、内戦や宗派対立で混迷を深めている。

In Syria, it is important to create an environment in which Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government and anti-regime groups reach a truce so the United States, Europe and Russia can concentrate on fighting against ISIL.
　シリアでは、アサド政権と反体制派が停戦し、米欧露が「イスラム国」との戦いに集中できる環境を作り出すことが肝要である。

The international agreement that established a road map for a truce and a transition of power should be steadily implemented.
停戦と政権移行の行程を定めた国際合意を着実に履行すべきだ。

ISIL is nothing but a terrorist organization that has borrowed the name of a religion. Decisive action must be taken against its propaganda war, which fans the flames of hatred against Western society through the Internet. ISIL cannot be eradicated without the support of moderate Muslims for the United States and Europe.
　「イスラム国」は、宗教に名を借りたテロ集団にほかならない。インターネットを通じて米欧社会への憎悪を煽あおる宣伝戦には断固とした対処が求められる。穏健なイスラム教徒が米欧に協力する構図にしなければ、撲滅できまい。

Iraq, Libya and Yemen share the same problem with Syria — the absence of a government that can control a whole country and unite various religious and ethnic groups allows the emergence of radicals. The international community must help change these situations with diplomatic arbitrations and financial support.
　イラクやリビア、イエメンも、シリアと同じ問題を抱える。全土を掌握し、多様な宗派と民族を束ねるような政権の不在が過激派の台頭を許している。国際社会は外交調停や資金支援によって後押しすることが欠かせない。

The United States and Europe will begin to lift economic sanctions against Iran as early as in January, based on their agreement with Tehran on its nuclear development. Iran has influence over Syria and other places, and should be involved in the process of stabilizing the Middle East. Countries concerned should also keep an eye on Iran so Tehran will not violate the nuclear accord.
　イランでは核開発問題に関する合意に伴い、今月にも米欧の経済制裁解除が始まる。シリア情勢などに影響力を持つイランを引き込み、中東の安定につなげたい。核合意が破られないよう、関係国が監視を続けることも大切である。

Russia is supporting the Assad government and heightening its military intervention in Syria. Russia is still at odds with Turkey, which shot down a Russian military plane.
　ロシアはアサド政権を支援し、シリアへの軍事介入を強めている。露軍機を撃墜したトルコと対立したままだ。

Moscow is increasingly making its annexation of Crimea a fait accompli, and the ceasefire agreement between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russia militants in the eastern part of Ukraine is not being observed.
　ロシアのクリミア併合は既成事実化が進む。ウクライナ東部の政府軍と親露派武装勢力の停戦合意も順守されていない。

Despite economic sanctions by the United States and Europe on Russia, President Vladimir Putin maintains his tough stance. He probably aims to challenge the U.S.-led international order. His attempt to change the status quo with military power should not be tolerated any longer.
　米欧の経済制裁にもかかわらず、プーチン大統領が強硬姿勢を貫くのは、米国が主導する国際秩序に挑戦する狙いがあるからではないか。軍事力による現状変更をこのまま許してはならない。

Measures for refugees
　◆難民対応が重い課題だ

The European Union is facing a challenge. The number of refugees and immigrants flowing into that region from Africa and the Middle East has exceeded 1 million. Some of the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks in Paris have disguised themselves as refugees to enter Europe.
　欧州連合（ＥＵ）は試練に直面している。中東、アフリカなどから流入した難民と移民は、１００万人を超えた。パリ同時テロでは犯行グループの一部が難民に紛れて入り込んでいた。

Opposition to accepting refugees is spreading in East European and other countries. How can the EU strike a balance between its ideal of European integration and maintaining security? The refugee issue presents an enormous challenge to the EU.
　東欧を中心に、難民受け入れに対する反発が広がっている。欧州統合というＥＵの理念と治安維持をどう両立するか、重い課題が突きつけられたと言えよう。

The EU is discussing with other entities the creation of an organization to guard its borders with countries outside the EU. It is urgent for the EU to regain the public’s trust regarding security maintenance, with thorough enforcement of border controls with countries outside the region.
　ＥＵが主体となって域外との国境を警備する組織の創設が検討されている。域外国との国境管理の徹底を通じて、治安への信頼を取り戻すことが急務だ。

A huge number of refugees is expected to flow into Europe this year as well, so the support of the international community in that regard is essential. Japan should keep making contributions such as humanitarian assistance to Europe.
　欧州には、今年も難民の大量流入が予想される。国際社会全体の支援が不可欠だ。日本も人道援助などで貢献を続けたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 3, 2016)

頭を使わなくて稼げるのが魅力です

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Iron-fisted rule of Chinese govt causes delays in fighting air pollution
中国大気汚染　環境改善を遅らせる強権統治

China’s air pollution can be described as a due consequence of the nation’s efforts to achieve economic growth at any cost, combined with delays in improving the situation as a result of the Chinese Communist Party’s one-party dictatorship established to rule the country with an iron fist.
　成長至上主義のツケに加えて、中国共産党の一党独裁による強権統治が事態の改善を遅らせていると言えよう。

Many parts of China are experiencing serious air contamination. In December, Beijing’s municipal authorities issued red alerts twice, signaling the worst-level pollution in the city.
　中国各地が深刻な大気汚染に見舞われている。北京市当局は今月、２度にわたって、最悪レベルの汚染を示す「赤色警報」を発令した。

In some sections of Beijing, the density of fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, known as PM2.5, topped 700 micrograms per cubic meter — 20 times greater than the level set in Japan’s environmental standards.
　北京の一部地域では、直径２・５マイクロ・メートル以下の微小粒子状物質（ＰＭ２・５）の濃度が１立方メートルあたり日本の環境基準の２０倍に相当する７００マイクロ・グラムを超えた。

The red alerts were kept in place for about seven days, during which emergency measures were enforced, including traffic restrictions aimed at nearly halving the passage of vehicles and a halt in the operation of factories. There also are concerns about the adverse effects incurred on the Japanese community in the city. The school for local Japanese students was temporarily closed, while Japanese corporations switched to work-at-home operations during the period.
　警報期間中の計約７日間、通行車両をほぼ半減させる交通規制や工場の稼働停止などの緊急措置をとった。日本人学校が休校し、日系企業が在宅勤務に切り替わるなど邦人社会への影響も心配だ。

Forcible traffic controls were also enforced during a summit meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in the autumn of 2014 and a military parade in September.
　強引な交通規制などは、昨秋のアジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）首脳会議や今年９月の軍事パレードでも実施された。

We feel the restrictions may have been intended, first and foremost, to save face for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s administration during these important events. Just repeating such ad hoc measures will do little to fundamentally resolve the problem.
　重要行事の際に、習近平政権のメンツを保つのが最大の目的だったのではないか。こうした場当たりな対応を繰り返すだけでは、抜本的解決は図れまい。

The cause of China’s worsening air pollution is such pollutants as sooty smoke from combusted coal and exhaust from automobiles powered by low-quality gasoline. Long-term, persistent anti-pollution efforts are indispensable for rectifying the situation.
　大気汚染悪化の原因は、石炭を燃やす際に生じる煤煙ばいえんや低品質のガソリンを使った自動車の排ガスなどだ。改善には、長期的で粘り強い取り組みが欠かせない。

Words don’t match actions

The Chinese government has expressed its readiness to attach great importance to the fight against environmental problems, including a plan to enforce the revised air pollution prevention law early in the new year.
　政権は、改正大気汚染防止法を年明けに施行するなど環境対策を重視する姿勢は示している。

China has proclaimed it will stand by the rule of law, but the independence of the judiciary is nowhere to be seen in that country. The swift disclosure of information is indispensable in this respect, but provincial government bureaucrats, by and large, have little awareness of what should be done. They also have an extremely strong tendency to cover up inconvenient things.
　だが、中国では「法治」を掲げながら、「司法の独立」はない。迅速な情報公開が不可欠にもかかわらず、地方官僚の意識は概おおむね低く、隠蔽体質も甚だしい。

It may be difficult to reform the collusive relations between corporations and regional authorities, as priority is given to economic interests and consequently aggravates the spread of pollution.
　経済的な利益を優先し、汚染の蔓延まんえんを助長してきた地方当局と企業の癒着の構造にメスを入れるのは難しいだろう。

In the spring of 2015, steps were taken to make it impossible to watch an Internet video that had caused a stir by denouncing the authorities over the air pollution problem. It is important for nongovernmental organizations and the media to keep watch on corporations. However, the fact is that the Chinese government is increasing restrictions on NGOs and news organs.
　今春、大気汚染を巡って当局を告発し、大反響を呼んだインターネット動画は閲覧不能になった。民間活動団体（ＮＧＯ）やメディアによる企業に対する監視が重要だが、政権はむしろＮＧＯや報道への締め付けを強めている。

If the current situation goes unchecked, China’s pledge to curtail greenhouse gas emissions in the anti-global warming fight could be reduced to an empty slogan.
　このままでは、地球温暖化問題を巡って表明した温室効果ガス削減の公約すら、そらぞらしい。

The Xi administration has said it will pursue the goal of transforming the country, by the end of 2020, into a “society with breathing space,” in which people feel somewhat comfortably off. In trying to achieve this objective, there is a pressing need for China to make all-out environmental efforts, to say nothing of the need to improve the living standards of its people.
　習政権は２０２０年までに、いくらかゆとりのある「小康社会」の構築を目標に掲げている。実現には、国民の生活水準の向上は無論、環境対策の徹底が急務だ。

China’s air pollution cannot be treated as having nothing to do with Japan. PM2.5 and other pollutants come flying into our nation, carried by the prevailing westerlies. Japan must continue to promote environmental cooperation with China while at the same time urging that nation to become serious about addressing the problem.
　中国の大気汚染は日本にとってもひとごとではない。ＰＭ２・５などが偏西風に乗って飛来している。日本は環境協力を進める一方、中国が対応に本腰を入れるよう促し続けねばならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 31, 2015)