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
ROK’s court decision in constitutional suit avoids new friction with Japan
韓国憲法裁判決　却下で「反日」火種は回避した

South Korea’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit claiming that the bilateral agreement with Japan that settled claims for wartime compensation was unconstitutional.
　韓国の憲法裁判所が、日韓請求権協定の違憲性の確認を求めた訴えを却下した。

The court did not render a judgment on whether the agreement was unconstitutional, so a situation in which the court’s decision would create a new source of friction between the two countries may have been avoided.
　憲法判断に踏み込まなかったことで、日韓関係の新たな火種になる事態は避けられたと言えよう。

The lawsuit was filed by the bereaved family of a South Korean man mobilized by the Japanese government as a civilian employee of the military during the war. His family asserted that a provision in the agreement stipulating that South Korea waives the rights to claim compensation from the Japanese government violates property rights guaranteed under South Korea’s Constitution, and is thus unconstitutional.
　訴えを起こしたのは、戦時中、日本政府に動員された軍属の男性の遺族だ。韓国側の請求権放棄を定めた協定の条項について、「憲法が保障する財産権を侵害し、違憲だ」と主張していた。

The bereaved family had originally filed a lawsuit over the money provided by the South Korean government to victims of those who were “forcibly mobilized.” It was in the course of that litigation that the family made its appeal over the agreement to the Constitutional Court.
　遺族は元々、「強制動員」被害者への韓国政府による支援金支給を巡って訴訟を起こし、その過程で憲法裁に訴えた。

As its reason for dismissing the case, the court said its judgment on whether the agreement was unconstitutional would not affect the ruling on the lawsuit (filed by the family regarding the South Korean government’s provision of money).
　憲法裁は「協定が違憲か否かは、（遺族の）訴訟の判決に影響を与えない」と却下理由を示した。

It also said the family’s claim does not meet the requirements for the case to be examined at the Constitutional Court.
訴えが憲法裁で審理する要件を満たさないとも指摘した。

Considering the content of the lawsuit, in which the family calls for an increase in the money provided by the South Korean government, we consider the court’s latest conclusion to be appropriate.
支援金の増額を求めている訴訟の内容を考えれば、穏当な判断だろう。

Since the left-leaning government under then South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun said in 2005 that the issue of so-called comfort women had not been settled, the country’s judiciary has apparently tended to interpret the bilateral agreement one-sidedly to favor South Korea.
　左派の盧武鉉政権が２００５年、慰安婦問題は「未解決」だと表明して以降、韓国司法は請求権協定を自国に都合の良いよう、一方的に解釈する傾向が目立つ。

Room for solution

Had the Constitutional Court ruled that the agreement was unconstitutional, it would have caused serious diplomatic friction, undermining the foundation of the bilateral relationship between Japan and South Korea.
　今回も、憲法裁が違憲判決を出せば、重大な外交問題に発展し、日韓関係の基盤が損なわれる恐れがあった。

As the court turned away the claim, it effectively left room for the two countries to strike a deal on the issue of so-called comfort women.
訴えを門前払いしたことで、慰安婦問題の妥結などに余地が残った形だ。

Following the court’s ruling, the Foreign Ministry of Japan issued a comment that both countries need to make efforts for the advancement of the bilateral relationship.
　判決を受け、日本の外務省は、「日韓関係前進のために双方が努力する必要がある」とのコメントを発表した。

The Agreement on the Settlement of Problems Concerning Property and Claims and on Economic Cooperation Between Japan and the Republic of Korea was concluded in 1965, concurrently with the signing of the Treaty of Basic Relations, which established diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea.
　請求権協定は１９６５年、両国が国交を樹立する「基本条約」と同時に締結された。

The agreement stipulated that Japan would provide South Korea with a total of $500 million in economic cooperation in the form of grants and loans, and said the problems concerning property and claims between the two countries as well as their people had been settled completely and finally.
日本が無償・有償で計５億ドルの経済協力を約束し、「両国および国民間の請求権に関する問題が完全かつ最終的に解決された」と明記している。

South Korea later utilized the cooperation money from Japan to build infrastructure, leading to the country’s economic development. The fact that the bilateral agreement has proved beneficial for both countries deserves praise.
　韓国は協力資金をインフラ建設などに活用し、経済発展につなげた。協定が両国のプラスとなったことは、評価されるべきだ。

It is hard to understand the very fact that a lawsuit of this kind was filed with the Constitutional Court.
今回のような訴えが憲法裁に提起されること自体、理解し難い。

South Korean courts are examining other lawsuits whose outcomes also could affect the bilateral relationship. Particularly worrisome is litigation over former requisitioned workers who were mobilized during the war.
　今回の事案以外にも、韓国の裁判所は、日韓関係に影響を及ぼしかねない訴訟を審理している。特に懸念されるのは、戦時中に動員された元徴用工の裁判である。

In 2012, the South Korea’s Supreme Court ruled that illegal actions directly linked to the colonial rule were difficult to recognize as subject to the bilateral agreement on property and claims.
　韓国最高裁は１２年、「植民地支配と直結した不法行為」などについては、協定の対象と認め難いという判断を示した。

High courts that had their rulings remanded by the top court handed down numerous decisions ordering Japanese companies, the former employers of the requisitioned workers, to compensate them. These cases are now being heard again at the top court in South Korea.
　審理を差し戻された高裁で、日本企業に賠償を命じる判決が相次ぎ、再び最高裁で審理中だ。

The South Korean government earlier took the position that issues related to the former requisitioned workers were also not subject to the bilateral agreement. We hope the top court in Seoul will make level-headed judgments.
　韓国政府は従来、元徴用工も協定の対象という立場だった。最高裁には冷静な判断を求めたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 24, 2015)Speech

ポイントタウン
頭を使わなくても気軽に稼げます
20ポイント＝1円　は業界最低レベルのポイント換算レートです
1年気軽に稼いで500円程度になります




マクロミルアンケートサイト
おしゃれでファッショナブルなアンケートサイト
1ポイント＝1円　は業界最高レベルのポイント換算レートです
1年ファッショナブルに楽しみながら1万円程度は稼げます

The Yomiuri Shimbun
U.S. weapons sale to Taiwan crucial contribution to regional security
米の武器台湾へ　地域の安定へ関与が不可欠だ

Active U.S. engagement is essential for preserving peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and by extension the whole of East Asia.
　台湾海峡、ひいては東アジアの平和と安定の維持には、米国の積極的な関与が欠かせない。

The administration of U.S. President Barack Obama has decided to sell weapons worth $1.83 billion (about ¥220 billion) to Taiwan. Two decommissioned frigates, amphibious assault vehicles and small surface-to-air missiles are among the weapons the United States will provide to Taiwan.
　オバマ政権が台湾に対し、総額１８億３０００万ドル（約２２００億円）の武器売却を決めた。退役フリゲート艦２隻や水陸両用車、小型の地対空ミサイルなどを供与する。

A domestic U.S. law stipulates that the United States can provide weapons intended to enable Taiwan to maintain sufficient self-defense capabilities. This stipulation was made with China in mind.
　米国は国内法で、中国を念頭に、台湾の自衛力維持を目的とする武器の提供を定めている。

This latest arms sale is not only a political message in defense of Taiwan. It also appears aimed at keeping Beijing in check as it pushes ahead with the creation of artificial islands in the South China Sea and the establishment of military strongholds on those islands.
　今回の売却決定には、「台湾防衛」の政治的メッセージだけでなく、南シナ海で人工島を造成し、軍事拠点化を進める中国をけん制する狙いもあるのだろう。

A candidate of Taiwan’s largest opposition party, which strongly favors Taiwan independence, will likely win January’s presidential election and usher in a new administration. This may lead to deterioration in the ties between Beijing and Taipei. It seems the United States announced the weapons sale this month due to concern that doing so after the election could cause regional tensions to soar.
　来年１月の台湾総統選では、「台湾独立」志向の強い最大野党の候補が勝利し、政権交代する可能性が大きい。中台関係の悪化も予想される。その局面で決定すれば、地域の緊張が高まると懸念し、今回、決めたのではないか。

The United States and China earlier this month confirmed they would cooperate with regard to the Paris agreement, a framework that spells out steps to counter global warming from 2020. Both sides also want to avoid any decisive confrontations.
　米中両国は、２０２０年以降の地球温暖化対策の枠組み「パリ協定」合意を巡って協調を確認したばかりだ。双方とも決定的な対立は避けたい思惑で一致する。

When the U.S. government announced weapons sales worth about $12 billion in total to Taiwan in 2010 and 2011, China responded angrily and temporarily suspended military exchanges with the United States. Compared with such instances, the latest sale does not include any cutting-edge weapons and could be described as “restrained.”
　米国が１０年と１１年に計約１２０億ドルの武器売却を決めた際には、中国がいずれも猛反発し、米中軍事交流を一時停止した。それに比べると、今回の売却には最新兵器も含まれず、抑制的と言える。

China has upper hand

China has deployed a huge number of missiles along its coast facing the Taiwan Strait, and is mass-producing sophisticated fighter aircraft and frigates. The military balance is overwhelmingly tilted in China’s favor.
　中国は台湾海峡を挟んだ沿岸部に大量のミサイルを配備し、新型戦闘機とフリゲート艦などを量産している。軍事バランスは圧倒的に中国優位に傾いている。

Strengthening Taiwan’s air defense readiness and its ability to repel a landing force will be essential to the island’s defense. Taiwan had urged the United States to provide new-model fighter jets and submarines, as well as Aegis-equipped destroyers, but this did not eventuate. The Obama administration apparently did not authorize the sale of such weapons because they were deemed not to be necessary.
　台湾防衛には、防空態勢や上陸阻止能力の強化が不可欠だが、台湾の求める新型戦闘機や潜水艦、イージス駆逐艦の売却は実現しなかった。オバマ政権は「必要ない」として認めなかったという。

China’s Foreign Ministry has demanded that the United States scrap the weapons deal, and announced sanctions would be imposed on U.S. companies involved in the arms sale. However, Beijing did not go as far as halting military exchanges or taking other steps, so this protest was at a lower level than in previous cases. It appears China has judged that this arms package will not be a substantial threat to its security.
　中国外務省は米国に武器売却の撤回を求め、売却に関与する米企業に制裁を科すと表明した。軍事交流停止などには踏み込まず、控えめの抗議だ。実質的に、中国の脅威になる売却ではないと判断しているのだろう。

The administration of Chinese President Xi Jinping is mistaken if it thinks it can continue military exchanges with the United States and avoid a cooling of bilateral relations even without halting its self-righteous maritime advances.
　習近平政権が、独善的な海洋進出をやめなくても、米国との軍事交流を継続し、関係冷却化を回避できると計算しているのなら、筋違いである。

It is also important that Washington continues its strategy of sending U.S. military vessels through waters within 12 nautical miles of the artificial islands China has built in the South China Sea. Such an operation was conducted in late October, and we think the United States needs to stick to its plan to conduct these patrols about twice every three months.
　米国が、南シナ海の人工島の１２カイリ内に米艦艇を航行させる作戦を継続することも重要だ。１０月下旬に実施したが、３か月に２回程度の頻度で巡視を行う方針を維持する必要がある。

The United States must continue to take concrete steps to urge China to exercise self-control and show that it will not tolerate Beijing’s provocations.
　挑発を容認していると受け取られないよう、具体的な行動で自制を促し続けねばならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 24, 2015)

December 20, 2015 (Mainichi Japan)
Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Christmas is the season for everyone to feel their worth
香山リカのココロの万華鏡: Ｘマスは「あなたの日」　／東京

It's almost Christmas -- a fact that is greeted by most visitors to my office not with joyful anticipation, but rather as a reminder of how lonely they feel. Many of my patients tell me with dark expressions on their faces, "When the streets are bustling and lively, it just makes me feel all the more miserable."
　クリスマスが近づいてきた。診察室では「楽しみです」と言う人より「孤独だと思い知らされる」「街がにぎやかだとよけいに自分がみじめ」と顔を暗くする人のほうが多い。

While I was wondering what I could say to these people, I received a handmade pamphlet from a minister by the name of Yoshikazu Okado, who has been turning out the publication for many years.
　どんな言葉をかけてあげればよいのか、と思っているところに、大門義和氏という牧師から小冊子が送られてきた。大門牧師が手づくりで長年、発行しているものだ。

"Christmas is a declaration that all people are important," he writes in the introduction.
　冒頭に「すべての人が貴い人であるとの宣言がクリスマス」という言葉が記されていた。

As I read this I thought, "Isn't Christmas for Jesus Christ, and romantic partners and families?" Further along, however, came a passage about how the Bible says that the light of Jesus shines on everyone without exception or discrimination.
「クリスマスはイエス・キリストと、あとはハッピーな恋人や家族のものじゃないの？」と思いながら読むと、こんなことが書かれていた。聖書にはイエスは「例外なくすべての人を照らす光」とあり、その光は人を区別したり分類したりはしない。

In other words, Christmas -- the day Jesus was born -- is a joyous moment about happiness for all. It is a holiday in which each person is celebrated.
だから、イエスが生まれたクリスマスは、分け隔てなくすべての人にとっての喜びであり、どんな人をも尊び祝う日なのだ……。

When a person arrives in our offices, doctors like me apply the science of psychiatry to determine what illness they may have, and how severe it may be.
　私のような医者は、診察室に来た人の問診をして「何の病気か」「重症度はどれくらいか」とその人を精神医学の体系にあてはめていく。

People leave the office having been treated entirely as "patients," and I send them off with the words, "Don't push yourself too hard, and I'll see you next week."
そして、診察室を出る頃にはその人をすっかり「患者さん」として扱い、「無理しないでくださいね。ではまた来週」と送り出す。

You could say that classifying people is my job.
そうやって区別、分類するのが私の仕事と言ってもよい。

Within that context, I eventually start to wonder about which more personalized categories patients may fall into. Are they happy, or lonely, or feeling pitiable?
　しかし、その医者としての「区別や分類」は、いつの間にか、その人が幸福なのか、孤独なのか、かわいそうなのか、といった人間的な部分にまで及んでいたかもしれない。

And I don't think it's just me.
そして私だけではなくて、

The patient, too, may begin to classify themselves with labels like "worthless," or "loser."
患者さん側も、自分で自分を「私には価値がない」「負け組です」などと分類しているのではないか。

Okado's little pamphlet points out that in Christianity, Christmas is not a holiday to make lonely people feel even more so.
　先の小冊子で私は、キリスト教では、クリスマスは孤独な人がより孤独を感じる行事ではなく、

Rather, it is a day for everyone -- even those feeling lonely -- to have someone tell them, "It's wonderful that you're alive."
孤独だと思っている人も「あなたが生きているのはすばらしいことです」とたたえられるための日なのだ、と知った。

This was something of an epiphany for me.
なるほど、と私は膝を打った。

For the rest of December, I will tell my patients, "I've heard that Christmas is a day when no-one is singled out or discriminated against."
これから１２月の診察室では、「クリスマスは誰も区別されない日なんですって」と話すことにしよう。

Actually, I don't think I'll limit this to just the Christmas season.
　いや、クリスマスだけではない。

I'll do the same for New Year's, for all of the various winter festivals around the country, and for all kinds of holidays throughout the year.
お正月、各地で行われる冬のイベント、いろいろな祝日。

If someone says to me with a sad expression on their face, "When everyone around me looks like they're having fun, it just makes me feel all the more miserable," I want to tell them, "This day is for you."
「まわりが楽しそうだとよけいにみじめになる」と暗い顔をする人には、そのたびに「これはあなたのための日ですよ」と声をかけてみることにしたい。

This Christmas season, why don't you try telling yourself, "I'm a precious person, too"?
まずはこのクリスマスシーズンをひとりですごしている人も、「私も貴い人間なんだよね」と笑顔になってみてはどうだろう。

(By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist)
（精神科医）

ポイントタウン
頭を使わなくても気軽に稼げます
20ポイント＝1円　は業界最低レベルのポイント換算レートです
1年気軽に稼いで500円程度になります




マクロミルアンケートサイト
おしゃれでファッショナブルなアンケートサイト
1ポイント＝1円　は業界最高レベルのポイント換算レートです
1年ファッショナブルに楽しみながら1万円程度は稼げます

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Protecting community medical care crucial in revision of fee schedules
診療報酬改定　地域医療を守る視点が重要だ

Reining in medical care expenses, which have been swelling with the aging of society, is indispensable in order to maintain the social welfare system. To this end, reducing overall medical treatment fees paid to medical institutions under the public health insurance system is unavoidable.
　高齢化で膨らむ医療費の抑制は、社会保障制度を維持する上で欠かせない。診療報酬のマイナス改定はやむを得まい。

In the revision of such fees for fiscal 2016, the government has decided on a 0.84 percent reduction in total. The previous revision of fiscal 2014 called for an increase of 0.1 percent, but it represented a decrease of 1.26 percent if the hike in the consumption tax is excluded. Therefore, the latest revision means medical treatment fees will have been virtually cut for the second time in a row.
　２０１６年度の診療報酬改定で、政府は全体として０・８４％引き下げることを決めた。前回１４年度改定はプラス０・１％だったが、消費増税の対応分を除けばマイナス１・２６％だった。実質的に２回連続の引き下げだ。

The latest revision calls for raising technical fees for doctors and other health professionals by 0.49 percent and lowering the fees paid for pharmaceuticals by 1.33 percent in accordance with market prices.
　今回、医師らの技術料である「本体部分」を０・４９％引き上げる一方、医薬品の価格である「薬価部分」は、実勢価格に合わせて１・３３％引き下げる。

After deciding early on to reduce all medical treatment fees with a view to putting fiscal conditions on a sound footing, the government had looked into the possibility of also cutting the technical fees, the main portion of the fees. However, the Japan Medical Association and other organizations strongly asked for an upward revision arguing that a reduction might cause the medical care system to collapse.
　政府は、財政健全化に向けて全体のマイナス改定を早々に決め、本体部分への切り込みも検討してきた。日本医師会などは、医療崩壊を招きかねないとして、プラス改定を強く求めてきた。

Some people point out that the revision was decided in consideration of medical institutions ahead of the House of Councillors election set for next summer.
　来年夏の参院選を前に、政府・与党が医療機関側に配慮する形で決着したとの見方もある。

Since the previous virtual reduction of medical treatment fees, hospital management has been on the trend of deterioration. At the same time, the doctor shortage in local areas remains serious. Raising the main portion of fees, which covers personnel expenses for those engaged in medical practice, can be regarded as a necessary measure to protect community medical service and alleviate the people’s anxiety.
　前回の実質マイナス改定以降、病院経営は悪化傾向にある。地方の医師不足も依然として深刻だ。医療従事者の人件費となる本体部分の引き上げは、地域医療を守り、国民の不安を和らげるためには、必要な措置と言えよう。

Drug expenses to be curbed

Simultaneously with the revision of medical treatment fees, the government will carry out institutional reform to curb pharmaceutical expenses. The reform calls for, among other things, lowering the prices of newly developed popular drugs that exceeded ¥100 billion in annual sales and limiting the amount of compresses prescribed by doctors.
　報酬改定と同時に、薬剤費抑制のための制度改革を実施する。国内での売り上げが年１０００億円を超えたヒット新薬の値下げや、医師が処方する湿布の枚数制限などが見込まれている。

Use of less costly generic medicines must also be accelerated.
　安価なジェネリック医薬品（後発薬）の利用促進も急ぎたい。

Fees to be paid to drugstores will also be reexamined. To help promote the spread of “regular pharmacies” that use unified management of patient’s drug information, the fees paid to pharmacies located near major hospitals will be reduced. This measure was taken in response to strong criticism that they are making too much profit.
　薬局に支払われる報酬も大幅に見直す。患者の服薬情報を一元管理する「かかりつけ薬局」の普及を促すため、大病院周辺に立ち並ぶ「門前薬局」の報酬は減額する。もうけ過ぎとの批判が強いことを受けたものだ。

Allocation of fees for each medical treatment will be discussed early next year. A medical care system must be built to meet the needs of a super-aging society. It is imperative to allocate fees in the order of priority to promote the quality of medical treatment while reining in expenses.
　診療行為ごとの報酬の具体的な配分は、年明けに議論される。超高齢社会に適した医療提供体制を構築する。費用を抑えつつ、医療の質を向上させる。こうした方向性に沿ったメリハリのある配分にすることが重要である。

Prefectural governments are drawing up community medical service plans that incorporate future needs for medical treatment and the number of beds needed. The plans are aimed at decreasing the number of costly beds for patients requiring acute treatment and improving support for discharge from hospitals and treatment at home.
　都道府県では、将来の医療ニーズと必要な病床数を盛り込んだ地域医療構想の策定を進めている。高コストの急性期向け病床を減らし、退院支援や在宅診療などを充実させるのが狙いだ。

It is necessary to correct the situation in which elderly patients whose conditions are stable are being hospitalized in great numbers because the number of beds for acute patients has increased excessively.
　急性期病床が増えすぎ、症状の安定した高齢患者が多数入院している現状は改める必要がある。

Strengthening the collaboration between medical treatment and nursing care is also important to make it possible for senior citizens to live at peace in the community. This should be treated as a priority in the allocation of the medical treatment fees.
　高齢者が地域で安心して暮らせるよう、医療と介護の連携強化も大切だ。報酬配分で重点課題とすべきである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 22, 2015)