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The Yomiuri Shimbun
Are Russian airstrikes in Syria targeting ISIL in name only?
露のシリア空爆　「イスラム国」掃討は名目か

Russia’s full-scale use of military force in Syria has heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington, and the standoff is becoming increasingly entrenched.
　ロシアのシリアでの本格的な武力行使が、ロシアと米国の緊張を高め、固定化させつつある。

Russia has started expanding its military operations against armed antigovernment forces opposed to the administration of Syrian President Bashar Assad. The Russian attacks were conducted based on a request from Assad’s government.
　ロシアが、シリアのアサド政権と敵対する反体制派武装勢力への軍事行動を拡大し始めた。攻撃はアサド政権の要請に基づくものだ。

Since the end of September, in addition to conducting airstrikes for more than one week, Moscow also has fired cruise missiles from vessels stationed about 1,500 kilometers away in the Caspian Sea.
　９月末以来、１週間以上の空爆に加え、約１５００キロ・メートル離れたカスピ海に展開する艦艇から巡航ミサイル攻撃も行った。

More than 90 percent of the Russian targets have reportedly been moderate, pro-U.S. and Europe rebel groups. These attacks have apparently killed and injured many civilians, including children.
　ロシアの標的の９割以上が、親米欧の穏健な反体制派だとされる。子供を含む民間人死傷者が多数出たという。

Russia has concentrated its airstrikes in western Syria near Tartus, home to Russia’s only naval port in the Middle East and a stronghold of the Assad government.
　アサド政権の地盤で、ロシアが中東唯一の軍港を持つタルトゥスに近い西部に空爆は集中する。

Russia claims the objective of its attacks is to wipe out the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant(ISIL) extremist group. However, it is obvious that this offensive aims to support the weakened Assad government and protect Russia’s own national interests. It is a self-serving action.
　ロシアは過激派組織「イスラム国」の掃討が目的だとしている。だが、弱体化したアサド政権を支え、自国の権益を守る狙いが明白で、利己的な行動と言えよう。

There have also been reports that Russia will send “volunteer soldiers” to Syria. Russia appears poised to fight against Syrian antigovernment forces by working closely with units from Iran — a sworn friend of Syria and Shiite groups from Iraq and other nations.
　ロシアが「義勇兵」を派遣するとの情報もある。シリアの盟友イランの部隊やイラクなどのシーア派勢力と連携し、シリア反体制派と戦う構想だろう。

This Shiite-oriented strategy will do nothing but whip up a backlash from Sunni groups and their backers, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and inflame the sectarian conflict. The risk that this civil war could develop into a proxy war between Russia and Syria’s neighboring nations cannot be overlooked.
　シーア派を偏重した作戦は、スンニ派勢力と、後ろ盾のサウジアラビアやトルコの反発を買い、宗派対立を煽あおるだけだ。内戦が、近隣国とロシアとの代理戦争に発展する危険も軽視できない。

Friction with U.S.

Russia’s predecessor, the Soviet Union, intervened in the nearby nation of Afghanistan. About nine years of fighting there battered Russia’s economy and was a factor in the Soviet Union’s collapse.
　ロシアの前身であるソ連は隣国のアフガニスタンに介入した。約９年の戦いで経済が疲弊し、体制崩壊の一因ともなった。

The United States and Europe have imposed sanctions on Russia in response to the problem concerning Ukraine, and Russia’s economy is on the decline. Russia’s strategy in the Middle East is certain to further sap its strength. We think this is a foolish move that disregards the lessons of its operations in Afghanistan.
　ウクライナ問題を巡りロシアは現在、米欧の制裁下にあり、経済は下降線をたどる。中東での作戦が、ロシアの体力を一層奪うのは確実だ。アフガンでの教訓を顧みない愚行ではないか。

U.S. President Barack Obama warned Russia that its offensive in Syria will suck Moscow into a “quagmire.”
　オバマ米大統領は、ロシアは「泥沼にはまる」と警告した。

The United States has stepped up its airstrikes against ISIL positions and is supplying weapons to moderate rebel forces as it seeks to retain leadership over the situation in Syria. However, the impact of these steps is unknown.
　米国は、シリア情勢での主導権を握るため、穏健反体制派への武器供与と「イスラム国」の拠点への空爆を強化するというが、効果は未知数だ。

The United States has been reluctant to get more involved in Syria and is flatly refusing to cooperate with Russia on this issue.
　シリアへの関与を逡巡しゅんじゅんしてきた米国は、ロシアとの協力を断固として拒否している。

Nevertheless, their interests coincide on the point of seeking to deplete the strength of ISIL. It would be significant if the United States and Russia could coordinate their strategies to prevent accidental clashes and narrow down the targets of their attacks.
　ただ、「イスラム国」の弱体化を目指す点では、利害は一致する。米露の偶発的衝突を避け、攻撃の標的を絞り込むためなら、作戦を調整する意義はあろう。

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stance of easily resorting to military means is becoming an element of instability in the international community.
　安易に軍事手段に訴えるプーチン大統領の姿勢は、国際社会の不安定要因になっている。

Hostility between Washington and Moscow is escalating and the world is sliding toward a situation that could be called a new kind of Cold War. This will unavoidably have implications for Japan’s diplomacy.
　米露の対立が深刻化し、世界は新型の「冷戦」とも呼ぶべき局面を迎えつつある。日本外交への影響も避けられまい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 9, 2015)

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan must prepare strategically to beat China for overseas orders
高速鉄道戦略　中国との受注競争に備えよ

Japan must strategically prepare to compete for overseas orders with China, a country that mounts an export offensive even by offering virtually bargain prices.
　投げ売りに近い輸出攻勢をかける中国との受注競争に、日本は戦略的に備えねばならない。

In a fiercely contested race between Japan and China to build a high-speed railway in Indonesia, Japan lost. The project in question is to build a railway system connecting Jakarta and Bandung, a distance of 140 kilometers, with trains running at speeds over 300 kph.
　日中が争ってきたインドネシアの高速鉄道計画で、日本が敗れた。首都ジャカルタ―バンドン間の１４０キロを時速３００キロ以上で結ぶ構想だ。

The project proposed by Japan would have financed most of the estimated total project cost of about ¥540 billion with the use of yen loans, requiring a loan guarantee from the Indonesian government.
　日本案は総事業費約５４００億円の大半を円借款で賄うもので、インドネシアの政府保証が必要だった。

Japan had initially led China in bidding for the project by, for instance, conducting a feasibility study starting as early as around 2008.
日本は、２００８年頃から事業性を確認する調査を行うなど、中国よりも先行していた。

The actions taken by the Indonesian government were problematic. In early September, Jakarta announced it would review its railway project, and would not adopt either the Japanese or Chinese proposals.
　問題なのは、インドネシア政府の対応だ。９月初め、日中両案を採用せず、計画を見直すと公表した。

Yet, less than a month later, the government reversed its policy and adopted the Chinese proposal.
だが、１か月足らずで、その方針を覆し、中国案に決めた。

The Indonesian government chose the Chinese proposal as Beijing accepted Jakarta’s conditions that the government be free from any fiscal spending or loan guarantee for the project.
　政府支出も債務保証もしないというインドネシアの条件を、中国が受け入れたことが理由だ。

It was understandable for Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga to strongly express the Japanese government’s dissatisfaction, saying, “It’s important for a large-scale infrastructure project to be implemented in a transparent and fair manner.” It is vital to examine the decision-making process taken by the Indonesian government.
　菅官房長官が「大型インフラ計画は透明かつ公正に実施されることが重要だ」と強い不満を表明したのは、もっともである。決定プロセスの検証が欠かせない。

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson engaged in self-praise by saying China enjoys great superiority over Japan in regard to loan conditions and work periods.
　中国外務省は「中国には、融資条件や工期などの面で比較的大きな優位性がある」と自賛した。

China may have hinted at extending financial assistance to the project through the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Silk Road Fund, a state-owned investment fund of the Chinese government.
中国主導のアジアインフラ投資銀行（ＡＩＩＢ）や自前の「シルクロード基金」を通じた資金援助をちらつかせたのではないか。

Fierce export drive

Many people are skeptical about the feasibility of the Chinese proposal, which promises to complete the construction of the railway system in three years. It is a matter of concern that the Indonesian government’s lax judgment over its adoption of the Chinese proposal may come into question again.
　３年での完工などを約束した中国案には、実現性を危ぶむ見方も多い。インドネシア政府の判断の甘さが改めて問われることにならないか、懸念されよう。

Behind China’s fierce export drive is the excessive production capacity of its high-speed railway industry. The country has built a 16,000-kilometer high-speed railway network in a matter of 10 years, more than six times longer than Japan’s Shinkansen bullet train network. A surplus of rolling stock, railway facilities and workers is likely to continue for some time.
　中国の輸出攻勢の背景には、高速鉄道産業の生産能力のだぶつきがある。国内の高速鉄道網はわずか１０年ほどで１万６０００キロに拡大し、日本の新幹線網の６倍を超えた。車両や設備、労働者などの過剰は続くだろう。

Japan should keep an eye on China in the days ahead, as it is a country that has to enter overseas markets regardless of whether it profits or not.
　採算を度外視してでも、国外市場に打って出ざるを得ない中国を今後も日本は警戒すべきだ。

The administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe considers the export of infrastructure development as one of the central pillars of its growth strategy and has focused on marketing such projects through cooperation between the public and private sector.
　安倍政権はインフラ輸出を成長戦略の柱と位置づけ、官民で連携して売り込みに注力してきた。

In particular, railway projects are considered promising in this respect, with demand expected to grow worldwide. Japan hopes to win orders from such countries as Malaysia and the United States in the days ahead. On the basis of its defeat in its bidding for the Indonesian project, Japan will need to rebuild its export strategy urgently.
　中でも鉄道事業は、世界的に需要増が見込まれる有望分野で、これからもマレーシアや米国などで受注を目指す考えだ。今回の敗北を踏まえ、輸出戦略の早急な立て直しが求められよう。

Japan has conventionally promoted the safety and the technological prowess of its high-speed railway system, Japan’s strongpoints in this sector. In addition, it will also become important for Japan to understand, more precisely than before, what its trading partner needs.
　日本は従来、強みである安全性や技術力をアピールしてきた。加えて、相手国のニーズをより的確に把握することも重要になる。

If Japan wants to win orders, it will be necessary to put more effort into presenting proposals as a package that includes traffic control systems and maintenance and checkups, rather than merely undertaking the design and construction of projects. Extending cooperation in the fostering of technical personnel will also prove effective.
　設計や建設工事を請け負うだけでなく、運行管理や保守・点検などを一括して受託する提案に力を入れる必要がある。技術者育成に協力することも有効だろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 7, 2015)

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Steady scientific exploration has earned 2 Japanese Nobel prizes
ノーベル科学賞　地道な探究心が実を結んだ

For a second consecutive day, an outstanding feat was achieved.
　２日続きの快挙だ。

Takaaki Kajita, director of the University of Tokyo’s Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, was announced as a corecipient of this year’s Nobel Prize in Physics.
　東京大宇宙線研究所の梶田隆章所長が、今年のノーベル物理学賞を受賞することになった。

The announcement came a day after Satoshi Omura, a distinguished professor emeritus of Kitasato University, was selected as a cowinner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. We would like to heartily hail a string of honors awarded to these Japanese researchers as Nobel Prize-winners.
　前日には、北里大の大村智・特別栄誉教授に生理学・医学賞が贈られることが決まった。日本人研究者の相次ぐ受賞決定を心からたたえたい。

The award honors Kajita for his success in discovering that neutrinos have mass. Many mysteries remain about the neutrino as an elementary particle, an ultimate constituent of matter.
　梶田さんは、物質の究極の姿である素粒子の中でも、多くの謎が残る「ニュートリノ」に質量があることを突き止めた。

With a group of researchers he headed, Kajita measured neutrinos flying around by using observation equipment set up at the now unused Kamioka Mine in Hida, Gifu Prefecture. Findings from his group’s research provided epoch-making data that made it essential to reconsider basic theories regarding the universe, including the origin of the universe and matter.
　研究グループを率い、岐阜県飛騨市の旧神岡鉱山内に設置した観測装置で、飛来するニュートリノを測定した。宇宙や物質の成り立ちなど、万物の理論に見直しを迫る画期的なデータとなった。

His corecipient, Arthur McDonald, a professor emeritus at Queen’s University, Canada, observed a similar phenomenon by using observation equipment built on the opposite side of the Earth. The awarding of the prize to the two scientists shows that their efforts have come to fruition.
　共同受賞するカナダ・クイーンズ大のアーサー・マクドナルド名誉教授は、地球の反対側にある観測装置で、同様の現象を観測した。両者の協力が結実した。

The theme of their studies has been explored since the 1960s. “It was good that I have properly continued [to carry out observations],” Kajita said with joy.
　このテーマは１９６０年代から探究されてきた。梶田さんは「しっかり（観測を）続けてきたことが良かった」と喜びを語った。

In Japan, the study of elementary particles has been continuously passed on since the late Dr. Hideki Yukawa was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1949, making him the first Japanese to win a Nobel Prize. Kajita’s glory shows that Japan’s tradition in this respect has proved its worth.
　４９年に湯川秀樹博士が物理学賞を初受賞して以来、日本の素粒子研究は綿々と受け継がれてきた。その伝統が生きた。

Fighting diseases

The Nobel Prize given to Omura honors his successful efforts to develop surefire medicines for such diseases as onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, a parasitic disease prevalent in African and South American nations.
　大村さんの授賞理由は、アフリカや南米に多い寄生虫病・オンコセルカ症（河川盲目症）などの特効薬を開発したことだ。

Omura was selected as a recipient along with William Campbell of Drew University in the United States, who cooperated in the development efforts. They were praised for having “revolutionized therapy for patients.”
　開発に協力した米ドリュー大のウィリアム・キャンベル博士との共同受賞で、「革命的治療をもたらした」と称賛された。

Their achievements can be described as a feat signifying what medical science essentially stands for — that is, saving life.
　人の命を救うという医学の原点に立った業績と言える。

“I’m glad to have been useful to people,” Omura said. Many people may have remembered the late Hideyo Noguchi, a bacteriologist who worked hard to cure and investigate tropical diseases.
　大村さんは「人の役に立てたことがうれしい」と述べた。熱帯病の治療や解明に尽力した野口英世を思い浮かべた人も多かろう。

Microbes living underground or elsewhere create such natural compounds as antibiotics. Omura steadily collected a large number of microbes. He discovered a compound from which Avermectin, a surefire remedy cited in the Nobel award, is derived. And then he finally made his discovery into a marketable product through an industry-academia partnership
　地中などにいる微生物は、抗生物質のような天然化合物を作り出す。大村さんは、多数の微生物を地道に収集した。受賞対象の特効薬「イベルメクチン」のもとになる化合物を見つけ、産学連携で製品化にこぎ着けた。

Tu Youyou, a scientist at the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, was also announced as a winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her development of a remedy for malaria.
　マラリアの治療薬を開発した中国中医科学院の屠●●氏も、同時に受賞する。（●は口へんに幼）

The fight against Ebola hemorrhagic fever and other infectious diseases is an important challenge facing the human race. The prizes given to these scientists will provide strong support in the fight against pathogens.
　エボラ出血熱などの感染症対策は、人類の重要課題だ。今回の受賞は、病原体との闘いへの力強い後押しとなろう。

In recent years, Japan’s scientific research has been experiencing a conspicuous decline. This is because of a failure to nurture the next generation of scientists. The number of research papers published by Japanese scientists has been slow to grow.
　近年、日本の科学研究の地盤沈下が目立つ。次の世代が育っていないためだ。研究論文数は伸び悩んでいる。

The awarding of the prizes to the two Japanese researchers is bound to stimulate many scientists in this country. We hope young researchers will pursue even higher goals.
ダブル受賞は多くの研究者の刺激となるに違いない。若い研究者たちには、さらなる高みを目指してもらいたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 7, 2015)

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Boost economic growth in giant TPP free trade zone
ＴＰＰ大筋合意　巨大貿易圏で成長底上げ図れ

　◆日本農業の強化は待ったなしだ

A new trade and investment framework that will drive the global economy will be born in the Asia-Pacific region.
　アジア太平洋地域に、世界経済を牽引けんいんする新たな貿易・投資の枠組みが誕生する。

A broad agreement has been reached during ministerial talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact.
　環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉が閣僚会合で大筋合意した。

The creation of a giant free trade zone, which accounts for about 40 percent of the world’s gross domestic product today, is expected to vitalize the flow of people, goods and funds and propel economic growth.
　世界の国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）の約４割を占める巨大な自由貿易圏の創設で、人やモノ、資金の流れが活性化され、経済成長を底上げする効果が期待できる。

The TPP negotiations, which have continued for 5½ years, experienced rough going until the end, but we welcome that the 12 participating countries — industrialized countries and emerging economies — have overcome many conflicts of interest despite their varying circumstances.
　５年半に及んだ交渉は最後まで難航したが、先進国から新興国まで、様々な事情を抱える参加１２か国が多くの利害対立を乗り越えたことを歓迎したい。

Sense of urgency
　◆危機感共有で漂流回避

The negotiations were finally concluded after extending the schedule by four days. This is because talks over issues such as the data protection period for newly developed drugs remained intractable to the last.
　交渉は予定を４日延長して、ようやく妥結した。新薬開発のデータ保護期間を巡る協議などが、最後までもつれたためである。

The United States insisted the data protection period should be 12 years, while Australia and other countries advocated a period of five years. Japan’s proposal to set it at effectively eight years was reportedly adopted.
　保護期間は、米国が１２年、オーストラリアなどが５年を唱えたが、実質８年とする日本の提案が採用されたという。

It is significant that Japan played a role as a go-between to a certain extent.
　仲介役として、日本が一定の役割を果たしたのは意義がある。

Differences were also resolved in opinions over the “rule of origin,” or the percentage of the parts of a car made within the TPP region that should be used for the vehicles to be eligible for favorable treatment such as a tariff cut.
　ＴＰＰ域内で生産された部品を何割使えば、自動車の関税引き下げなどの優遇を受けられるかという「原産地規則」に関する意見の相違も解消した。

Japan insisted on 40 percent, while countries including Mexico called for more than 60 percent, but a compromise was reportedly reached at around 50 percent.
　日本が４割、メキシコなどは６割超を主張したが、５割前後で妥協が成立したとされる。

Agreement was also reached on an issue in which New Zealand pressed the United States, Japan and other countries to increase their imports of dairy products.
　ニュージーランドが、日米などに乳製品の輸入拡大を迫っていた問題でも折り合いがついた。

It is commendable that countries fiercely at odds with each other reached compromises from a broader perspective.
　激しく対立してきた各国が、大局的見地から歩み寄ったことは評価できる。

The participating countries turned to concessions on many outstanding issues probably because they were able to share a sense of urgency that the negotiations could drift if the talks broke down again this time.
　数々の懸案で各国が譲歩に転じたのは、今回も物別れに終われば、交渉が漂流しかねない、という危機感を共有できたからだろう。

In the United States, it has been pointed out that momentum toward an agreement on the TPP talks could fade away as the Democrats and Republicans may become increasingly confrontational as their focus shifts toward the presidential election in autumn next year.
　米国では今後、来年秋の大統領選をにらんで民主、共和両党の対決姿勢が強まり、合意への機運が薄れる恐れが指摘されていた。

U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, who chaired the TPP talks, stressed the achievements of the negotiations, saying at a press conference that it is an “ambitious” and “high standard” agreement.
　議長のフロマン米通商代表は記者会見で、「野心的な高いレベルの合意だ」と成果を強調した。

The TPP free trade pact promises, among other things, to abolish tariffs or carry out regulatory reforms in 31 areas. If it becomes effective, tariffs on many agricultural and industrial products will be lowered, and fair, highly transparent and comprehensive rules on trade and investment will be created.
　ＴＰＰは３１分野にわたり、関税撤廃や規制改革などを約束している。発効すれば、多くの農産品や工業製品の関税が下げられ、公平で透明性の高い包括的な貿易・投資ルールが整備される。

This will raise the degree of freedom in economic activities and TPP member countries will likely receive various benefits, including expansion of production and job creation.
　経済活動の自由度が高まり、生産拡大や雇用創出など、様々な恩恵を享受できよう。

It is important for each participating country to win its legislature’s approval of a final agreement promptly, leading to effectuation of the accord.
　各国は今後、速やかに合意案の議会承認を得て、協定発効へ着実につなげることが大切だ。

The government needs to explain to the public in detail the possible benefits to be gained and the pains to bear through the participation in the TPP.
　ＴＰＰ参加で得られる利益と甘受すべき痛みを、国民に丁寧に説明することが求められる。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s administration considers Japan’s participation in the TPP scheme as one of the central pillars of its growth strategy.
　安倍政権は、ＴＰＰを成長戦略の柱と位置づけている。

The TPP is a framework deemed vital for the Japanese economy to take in a growing market of Asia as its domestic market is expected to shrink due to a population decline.
ＴＰＰは、人口減で国内市場の縮小が見込まれる日本が、アジアの成長を取り込むのに不可欠な枠組みだ。

Checking China
　◆中国を牽制する役割も

With the member countries abiding by the rules set within the TPP accord, risks such as unexpected changes to trade rules will be lowered, facilitating the expansion of companies into the markets of other countries.
　ＴＰＰのルールを各国が順守することで、規制が突然変更されるといったリスクが低下し、企業は安心して域内国に進出できる。

Participation will also provide a nice tailwind for Japan to promote exports of infrastructure development such as roads and railways. Should a large number of import duties, including those on beef and pork, be reduced, the benefits for Japanese consumers will be substantial.
　道路や鉄道などのインフラ（社会資本）輸出を促進する追い風にもなろう。牛・豚肉など多くの輸入関税が下がれば、日本の消費者が受けるメリットも大きい。

Abe welcomed the broad agreement as “a farsighted state policy to build a free and fair economic zone among countries that share the same values.”
　安倍首相は、大筋合意について「価値観を共有する国による自由で公正な経済圏を作っていく国家百年の計だ」と語った。

We should not allow to pass unnoted the possible effect of both Japan and the United States, which lead the TPP talks, banding together and deepening the alliance. Such an effect will restrain China, a country that has been escalating its hegemonic activities lately.
　ＴＰＰを主導する日米が結束し、同盟関係を深化させる効果も見逃せない。覇権主義的動きを強める中国への牽制けんせいとなろう。

The principles of TPP, the world’s largest economic accord, will become “international standards.” It is desirable to urge China to reform itself, to abide by fair and transparent rules and to have the world’s second largest economic power contribute to the prosperity of the global community.
　世界最大の経済協定であるＴＰＰの原則は「国際標準」となる。公正、透明なルールに従うよう中国に改革を迫り、世界２位の経済力を世界の繁栄に生かしたい。

Measures to tackle possible side effects of the TPP deal are also essential. There are many who are worried that domestic farmers, in particular, will be hit hard as they will face fierce competition from foreign products on which import duties will be lowered. There may be no time to waste in strengthening the mold for the country’s farming sector.
　ＴＰＰの副作用への対応も欠かせない。特に、関税の引き下げで、外国産品との厳しい競争に直面する国内農業への打撃を心配する向きは多い。農業の体質強化は待ったなしだろう。

End handout policy
　◆予算のバラマキを排せ

It could be a good idea for Japan to seize the TPP deal as a chance for it to build an agriculture sector of the future, rather than considering the pact as bringing only negative effects.
　ＴＰＰを単にマイナス材料とみなさず、むしろ未来の農業を形成する好機と捉えてはどうか。

The government should focus on projects such as enhancing productivity by adopting information technology and by promoting large-scale farming, and raising the earning power of the farming sector by promoting exports strategically.
　ＩＴ（情報技術）導入や農地の大規模化で生産性を上げたり、戦略的な輸出で農業の稼ぐ力を高めたりする事業に注力すべきだ。

Following the Uruguay Round agreement reached in 1993, under which Japan partially opened its market to rice imports, the government injected funding worth ¥6 trillion over eight years to assist farmers. But this ended up being mostly spent on public works such as land improvement, and were said to have little effect on enhancing international competitiveness. The same mistake should not be made.
　コメ市場が部分開放された１９９３年のウルグアイ・ラウンド合意では、８年間で計６兆円規模の対策費が投じられた。土地改良など公共事業が中心で、競争力を高める効果は乏しかったとされる。同じ轍てつを踏んではなるまい。

With the House of Councillors election, scheduled for next summer, in mind, there are some within the Liberal Democratic Party calling for a large increase in agriculture-related budgets, under the pretext of measures to deal with the TPP accord.
　来年夏の参院選を意識し、自民党内からは、ＴＰＰ対策を名目に農業予算の大幅増を求める声が出ている。

The government will be tested on whether it can allocate budgets by prioritizing those projects that will help reinvigorate the nation’s farming sector, while eliminating the policy of handouts for farmers.
バラマキを排し、農業再生に資する事業に予算を重点配分できるかどうかが問われよう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 6, 2015)

香山リカ先生はアベノミクスや安倍首相のやり方に不信感を抱いているのだと思います。
マスメディアの提供する情報のほうが正しいと思います。
デフレ脱却しても、インフレ率２％を達成しても、それが多くの国民を不幸に陥れるのならば、本末転倒の政策です。
国民の幸せよりも大企業の幸せを優先するのが安倍自民党のやり方です。
昔から何ら変わりません。

October 04, 2015 (Mainichi Japan)
Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Don't be bewildered by contradictory information
香山リカのココロの万華鏡：矛盾した情報に惑うな　／東京

At a news conference on Sept. 24, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stressed the benefits of his administration's economic policy mix dubbed "Abenomics," stating, "We're at the point of saying we're no longer in deflation. A breakaway from deflation is right in front of us." The very next day, however, newspapers reported that the consumer price index for August had fallen. "The path to achieve the target of 2 percent inflation will be a rocky one," one paper wrote. The reports were virtually the opposite of what Abe was saying.
　９月２４日の記者会見で安倍首相は「もはやデフレではないという状態まで来た。デフレ脱却はもう目の前だ」と政権の経済政策「アベノミクス」の実績を強調した。ところが翌日の新聞各紙には、８月の消費者物価指数がマイナスに転じ、「物価上昇率２％の目標達成の道のりは険しい」などと書かれた記事が載った。ほとんど正反対の見解だ。

Seeing the prime minister full of confidence at the news conference, some people were no doubt put at ease, thinking, "This has got to be true. The Japanese economy is all right." But after reading in the newspaper that "The Bank of Japan appears to be going back to square one on monetary easing," they would become anxious again.
　記者会見での首相の自信にあふれた表情を見て、「こちらが本当なのだろう。日本経済は大丈夫なのだ」と、安心した人もいるだろう。とはいえ、新聞で「日銀の『金融緩和』も振り出しに戻った格好」などと読むと、また「デフレ脱却と信用していいのか」とまたまた不安になる。

In psychiatry, the term "double bind" refers to a predicament in which someone receives verbal and nonverbal messages (also called "metamessages") that contradict each other. For example, a mother could say to a child, "You can play as much as you want," while flashing an angry face and holding a school study guide in one hand.
　精神医学では、ある人の言葉によるメッセージと、言葉以外のメッセージ（メタ・メッセージとも言われる）とに矛盾がある状況を「ダブルバインド」と呼ぶ。たとえば母親が、言葉では「いくらでも遊んでいいのよ」と言いながら、怖い表情で手には参考書を持っている。これが「ダブルバインド」だ。

That's a double bind. We hear that nothing confuses a person so much or makes them so anxious as a double bind.
　そして、この矛盾した２種のメッセージが作り出す「ダブルバインド」ほど、受け取る人を混乱させ、不安に陥れるものはない、とも言われる。

Come to think of it, the security legislation put forward this summer falls into the same category. The government described the legislation as "peace bills to prevent war," while the opposition parties used the term "war bills." On the one hand, the government said, "This will make the lives of members of the public ever safer," while on the other hand, opponents said, "It will bring us closer to war and conscription."
　考えてみれば、この夏の安全保障関連法の議論にしてもそうだ。政府は「戦争を防ぐ平和の法案」と言い、野党は「戦争法案」と言った。あるいは政府は「これで国民の命がますます安全になる」と言い、反対する人は「戦争や徴兵制に近づく」と言った。

This is just the type of situation that produces a double bind. In the midst of it, I think we were probably confused, thinking, "What should we do?" and were left wavering.
　まさに「ダブルバインド」そのものの状況が生み出され、その中で私たちは、「これをどうとらえればよいのだろう」と迷い、心が揺れ動いたのではないだろうか。

Of course, I don't think it's good to have a situation in which the message is unified, leaving no opposition or contradictory views. But surely it is problematic for the prime minister and the administration that forms the nerve center of the country to stress one thing while the numbers and data reported in the media, and the opinions of scholars say the complete opposite.
　もちろん、メッセージがひとつに統一され、反対する意見、矛盾する意見がまったく出なくなる状況がよいとは思わない。しかし、国の中枢である政権や首相が主張していることと、マスコミで報じられる数字やデータ、学者の意見などが、まったく正反対というのは、問題なのではないだろうか。

The biggest concern, however, is that we stop looking at information to protect ourselves from this double bind. Contradictory information confuses us, but still we can adopt a stance of taking a hard look at the situation, thinking for ourselves, and making our own decisions. And that's a stance we should stick to.
　しかし、いちばん懸念されるのはこの「ダブルバインド」から身を守るため、私たちが「いっさいの情報を見なくなること」だ。矛盾した情報は気持ちを混乱させるが、しっかり見据え、受け取り、自分で考えて自分で決める。その姿勢だけは手放さないようにしたいものだ。

（精神科医）
(By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist)

毎日新聞　2015年09月29日　地方版

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Implement procurement, export of defense equipment strategically
防衛装備庁発足　調達と輸出を戦略的に進めよ

A framework has been put into place for Japan to efficiently procure defense equipment and expand its technological cooperation with countries with which it has friendly ties. The nation should advance its equipment policy strategically.
　防衛装備品の調達を効率化し、友好国との技術協力を拡大する体制が整った。装備政策を戦略的に展開すべきだ。

The Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency of the Defense Ministry was recently created as an external bureau of the ministry. It is in charge of defense equipment-related tasks ranging from research and development to procurement and export. It has a staff of 1,800 and will manage a yearly budget of about ¥2 trillion.
　装備品の研究開発から調達、輸出までを所管する防衛装備庁が、防衛省の外局として１８００人体制で発足した。年間２兆円近い予算を扱う。

Previously, the ministry’s Technical Research and Development Institute handled research and development involving defense equipment, while the ministry’s internal bureaus and the ground, maritime and air wings of the Self-Defense Forces separately carried out procurement.
　従来、研究開発は技術研究本部、調達は内部部局や陸海空３自衛隊が別々に行っていた。

It is quite significant that an organization capable of implementing equipment administration in an integrated manner has been created by doing away with administrative functions that was to be used vertically divided.
縦割りを廃し、装備行政を一元的に担う組織が誕生した意義は大きい。

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, in instructions to the agency’s staff, said the ministry will attach importance to this country’s ability to maintain technological capabilities that will be one step ahead of others, indicating his intention to expand R&D and technical cooperation with other countries.
　中谷防衛相は訓示で「一歩先んじた技術力の保持を重視する」と述べ、研究開発や他国との技術協力を拡充する考えを示した。

With the three principles on the transfer of defense equipment and technology that were approved and adopted by the Cabinet in April last year, export restrictions on defense equipment have been greatly eased, creating an environment for this country to expand equipment cooperation with other countries.
　昨年４月に閣議決定された「防衛装備移転３原則」で輸出制限が大幅に緩和され、他国との装備協力を拡大する環境が整った。

Based on the principles, Japan has started joint research on missile technology with Britain. It is also studying the possibility of implementing the joint development of submarines with Australia, and discussing with India Japan’s export of amphibious search-and-rescue planes to that country.
　英国とはミサイル技術の共同研究に着手した。豪州との潜水艦の共同開発や、インドへの救難飛行艇輸出も検討している。

Enhanced deterrence

Japan’s security cooperation with other countries is part of its strategy touted as “proactive contribution to peace,” and will lead to enhancement of the nation’s deterrent power. It will also contribute to the maintenance and fostering of defense technology and the nation’s production base.
　他国との安全保障分野での協力は、「積極的平和主義」の一環であり、日本の抑止力の向上につながる。防衛技術・生産基盤の維持や育成にも役立とう。

With the passage of security-related legislation, the SDF’s international activities will be expanded. It is important to pursue equipment procurement that accords with defense policy. Budget allocations among the three SDF arms should also be reviewed.
　安全保障関連法の成立で、自衛隊の国際活動が拡充される。防衛政策に合致した装備調達が大切である。陸海空３自衛隊の予算配分の見直しにも取り組みたい。

The new agency is also tasked with an important role of making weapons procurement more efficient.
　防衛装備庁は、武器調達の合理化でも重要な役割を担う。

Procurement of equipment separately by the three SDF arms had been an obstacle to the joint operation of the SDF. They were even unable to share ammunition.
　３自衛隊が従来、独自に装備品を調達していたことは統合運用の障害になっていた。弾薬などを融通し合うこともできなかった。

In the days ahead, the designs of Maritime Self-Defense Force’s transport vessels will be changed so that the vessels, which were capable of hosting only MSDF helicopters, will be able to carry Osprey transport aircraft, which the GSDF plans to adopt.
　今後は、海自ヘリしか搭載できなかった海自輸送艦に、陸自が導入する輸送機オスプレイなどを搭載できるよう、輸送艦の設計を変更する。

Equipment such as interceptor missiles and surface-to-air guided missiles will also be standardized among the three SDF branches.
ミサイル、地対空誘導弾なども３自衛隊で共通化する。

Under the severe fiscal circumstances, the ministry, in its Mid-Term Defense Program (fiscal 2014-fiscal 2018), has set a target of securing ¥700 billion by making equipment procurement more efficient.
　厳しい財政状況の中、２０１４～１８年度の中期防衛力整備計画では、調達効率化で７０００億円の財源を確保する目標を定めた。

In April this year, special legislation was enacted to save procurement costs through lump-sum purchases of equipment under long-term contracts.
　今年４月には、装備品の一括購入の長期契約で調達費を節約する特別措置法が成立した。

From fiscal 2016 onward, the ministry plans to use this policy to reduce procurement costs by ¥153 billion in the purchase of Ospreys and other equipment. By also cooperating with defense-related industries, the ministry should also make use of this method in the introduction of large equipment in the days ahead.
１６年度以降はオスプレイ購入などで１５３０億円の縮減を図る。防衛産業とも連携し、今後の大型装備導入でもこの手法を活用すべきだ。

High-tech equipment such as fighter planes tends to become exorbitantly expensive. Thorough cost-reducing efforts are vital.
　戦闘機などのハイテク装備は高額化の傾向にある。徹底的なコスト節減が欠かせない。

Defense equipment procurement has seen spates of corruption and bid-rigging scandals for many years. To prevent the ministry from forming cozy ties with the defense industry that may lead to corruption, comprehensive monitoring of equipment procurement must not be neglected.
　装備調達を巡っては長年、汚職や談合が繰り返された。防衛産業との癒着や不正行為を許さないように、様々な角度から厳しいチェックを怠ってはならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 4, 2015)