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, Sept. 9
EDITORIAL: Re-elected Abe must move closer to the will of the people
（社説）安倍総裁再選　民意とのねじれを正せ

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was re-elected president of the Liberal Democratic Party on Sept. 8 without ballot. Seiko Noda, the only LDP legislator who sought to challenge Abe, failed to secure the recommendations from 20 Diet members required to run.
　自民党総裁選は、安倍首相の無投票再選で終わった。立候補をめざした野田聖子氏は、必要な２０人の推薦人を集めることができなかった。

Noda was chairwoman of the LDP’s General Council in spring 2014, when she voiced “skepticism” about the procedures Abe chose to allow Japan to exercise its right to collective self-defense. Before the Cabinet convened to endorse Abe's intent to change the government’s traditional interpretation of the Constitution, Noda organized an intraparty debate on this matter.
　野田氏は党総務会長だった昨年春、集団的自衛権の行使を認める閣議決定を前に、政府の憲法解釈変更で進めようとする首相のやり方に「違和感」を訴え、党内議論の場をつくったことがある。

At a Sept. 8 news conference where she announced her decision not to run, Noda said, “I wanted to create a situation where people would say there are diverse opinions within the LDP.”
　きのうの出馬断念の記者会見でも「自民党には多様な意見があるんだと言ってもらえる舞台を作りたかった」と述べた。

There are 400-plus LDP legislators, but not even 20 came forward in support of Noda’s wish to create such a situation. This is pathetic.
　情けないのは、４００人を超す国会議員がいるのに、こうした政策論争の場づくりを後押しする議員がたったの２０人も集まらなかったことである。

Her attempt to secure recommendations from 20 lawmakers was hindered by certain party factions and individuals close to the prime minister who did not want her bid for the presidency to negatively affect the progress of Diet deliberations on the controversial national security bills.
　野田氏の推薦人集めに対し、安全保障関連法案の審議への影響を避けたい首相周辺や派閥からの締めつけがあった。

The LDP is losing its traditional flexibility and readiness to accommodate the diverse wishes of the public from the entire political spectrum and reflect them in intraparty discussions. We are not saying we miss the old days of outright factional politics. But we are deeply apprehensive of the current LDP administration that obviously believes in rejecting any controversy to get things done smoothly.
　右から左まで多様な民意をくみ取り、党内の議論に反映させる。今の自民党はそんな姿勢を失いつつある。かつての派閥全盛時代を懐かしむわけではないが、論争を封じ込め、それでよしとする政権党のあり方には大きな危惧を抱かざるを得ない。

In successfully blocking Noda’s candidacy, the bedrock of the Abe administration appears as solid as it could get. But that is not necessarily the case.
　対立候補を封じた安倍氏の政権基盤は盤石にも見えるが、必ずしもそうではない。

From the time Abe returned to power in December 2012, his administration owed its stability and popularity to the economic upturn that raised his Cabinet’s approval ratings. But when the global economy began to falter, so did its popularity, with non-approval ratings exceeding approval ratings.
　政権復帰時から上向いた経済とそれに裏打ちされた内閣支持率の高さが安倍政権を支えてきた。だが、世界経済の先行きにかげりが見え、歩調を合わせるように支持率が不支持率を下回るようになった。

Most importantly, the Abe administration has failed to win the support of the public on crucial policies.
　なによりも、大きな政策で民意の支持が得られていない。

In an Asahi Shimbun opinion poll conducted in late August, Abe’s statement for the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II was approved by 40 percent of respondents, as opposed to 31 percent who did not approve. But in the same survey, 65 percent saw “no need” to legislate the national security bills during the current Diet session, and 49 percent considered the restart of the Sendai nuclear reactor a “bad decision.”
　８月下旬の朝日新聞社の世論調査では、戦後７０年の首相談話は「評価する」の４０％が「評価しない」の３１％を上回ったが、安保法案を今国会で成立させる「必要はない」が６５％。川内原発の再稼働も４９％が「よくなかった」と答えた。

With the national security legislation in particular, public opposition has grown in leaps and bounds as Diet deliberations continue. If Abe resorts to strength in numbers to steamroll the bills through the Diet, the gap between the administration’s intent and what the public wants will only widen further.
　とりわけ安保法案には、国会審議が進むほど民意の反対のうねりが起きている。これを数の力で抑え付ければ、政権と民意の溝は広がるばかりだ。

Abe pledged on Sept. 8 to continue to focus on economic growth. That in itself is fine, but he ought to understand that his modus operandi of relying on the robust economy to force divisive policies on the nation is nearing the end of its effectiveness.
　安倍氏はきのう、引き続き経済成長に力を尽くす決意を語った。そのことに異論はないが、経済の好調を推進力に、民意が割れる政策を強引に進める手法は限界に近づいている。

Having secured another term as party president unchallenged, Abe is poised to get the national security legislation passed by the Diet as early as next week.
　総裁選が無投票で終わったことで、安倍政権は来週にも安保法案を成立させる構えだ。

But before anything, he must do everything he can to bridge the divide between his stance and the will of the people. No matter how successful he may be in solidifying his intra-party base, ignoring the will of the people has its limits in politics.
　その前に、まずは民意とのねじれを正すことに、首相は心を砕くべきだ。どんなに党内を固めても、民意を顧みない政治はやがて行き詰まる。

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Refugee crisis tests EU solidarity and human rights principles
難民大量流入　欧州の結束と人権が問われる

There has been a sharp rise in the number of refugees and illegal migrants flowing into Europe from the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere, magnifying the turmoil.
　中東やアフリカなどから欧州に流入する難民や不法移民が急増し、混乱が拡大している。

Can the European Union, which emphasizes principles of human rights, organize a mechanism for member states to share the burdens of accepting refugees smoothly? Their solidarity will be put to the test.
　人権重視の理念を掲げる欧州連合（ＥＵ）が加盟国間で重荷を分担し、円滑な受け入れ体制を整えることができるのか。結束が問われよう。

The rapid rise in refugees stems from the ever volatile situation in the Middle East and North African countries as a civil war grinds on in Syria and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) extremist group gains power.
　難民急増の原因は、中東・北アフリカ情勢が不安定になったことだ。シリア内戦の泥沼化や過激派組織「イスラム国」の台頭などが引き起こした。

The total number of refugees and illegal migrants arriving in EU countries by crossing the Mediterranean this year topped the 300,000 mark by the end of last month, already surpassing by far the about 220,000 refugees who reached there in the whole of last year.
　地中海を渡って欧州に到着した難民や不法移民の総数は、今年８月までに３０万人を超えた。昨年の約２２万人を既に大きく上回る。

In many cases, they headed for Europe aboard small vessels arranged by smugglers, with tragic incidents occurring one after another. Large numbers of migrants have lost their lives when their vessels capsized.
　密航業者の仲介により小型船などで欧州に向かうケースが多く、転覆による大量死など惨事が相次いでいる。

The photographs of a dead Syrian toddler washed ashore on a Turkish beach have shocked the world.
トルコの海岸に遺体で漂着したシリア難民の幼児の写真は、世界に衝撃を与えた。

The EU has to cooperate with the relevant countries and quickly take such measures as cracking down on migrant smuggling vessels to prevent such incidents from recurring.
　ＥＵは関係国と協力し、密航船の取り締まりなど再発防止策を早急に講じねばならない。

Most of the refugees and migrants are seeking to be resettled in wealthy countries such as Germany and the Nordic nations. In Budapest, a large number of refugees gathered at a station in an attempt to board trains for Germany, temporarily paralyzing the functions of the station.
　難民らの多くが、経済的に豊かなドイツや北欧を目指している。ブダペストでは、ドイツ行きの列車に乗ろうと、難民が多数集まり、駅の機能が一時マヒした。

Central role for Germany

Holding the key to the EU’s refugee policy is Germany, a country that has accepted the largest number of refugees. This year the number of refugees seeking asylum in Germany from around the world is expected to quadruple from last year to 800,000.
　ＥＵの難民政策のカギを握るのは、最大の受け入れ国であるドイツだ。今年、世界各地からの難民申請の総数は昨年の４倍の８０万人に上ると予測される。

Germany, due to reflection on its persecution of Jews during the Nazi era, has adopted a liberal asylum policy. Its warm treatment, including the provision of living expenses to asylum seekers, has drawn a flood of refugees.
　ドイツは、ナチス時代のユダヤ人迫害への反省から、寛大な難民受け入れ政策をとってきた。申請者への生活費支給など手厚い保護が難民の殺到を招いている。

As a result, friction has surfaced there, with far-right extremist groups attacking refugee shelters.
　その結果、国内では、極右集団が収容所を襲撃するといったあつれきが表面化している。

German Chancellor Angela Merkel showed her strong sense of alarm, saying that for the EU, the refugee issue will have greater importance than the Greek fiscal crisis.
　メルケル首相は「難民問題は、欧州にとってギリシャの財政問題よりも重要になる」と語り、強い危機感を示した。

Merkel asserted that it is necessary to make “fair distribution” of refugees among the EU member countries and intends to realize this with cooperation of France and others.
　首相は、ＥＵ加盟国で難民受け入れの「公平な割り当て」が必要だと主張し、フランスなどの協力を得て実現を図る考えだ。

From September to October, the issue of refugee quotas will be taken up for discussion at an emergency meeting of EU justice and interior ministers and at an EU summit.
今月から来月にかけて、ＥＵ法相・内相理事会と首脳会議で話し合う。

The EU member countries in Central and Eastern Europe, including Hungary, are opposed to quotas for refugee relocation among EU countries. In these countries, with less vibrant economies, there is strong anxiety among the people that their jobs will be taken away by refugees.
　ハンガリーなど中東欧諸国は割り当てに反対だ。経済水準が低いため、国民の間で難民に職が奪われることへの不安が強い。

Germany and France need to expedite their efforts to win these countries’ agreement to the quota. It will be necessary to differentiate between refugees seeking protection from persecution and illegal migrants seeking jobs in EU countries.
　独仏は中東欧諸国の説得を急ぐ必要がある。迫害から保護すべき難民と、就労目的の不法移民を選別することが求められる。

For the fundamental solution to the refugee problem, it is vital to improve the situations in the Middle East and Africa. It is important for the international community, including Japan, to reinforce diplomatic efforts and support to achieve regional stability.
　難民問題の根本的な解決には、中東・アフリカ情勢の改善が欠かせない。日本を含む国際社会は、地域安定に向けた外交努力や支援を強化することが重要だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 8, 2015)

いつもは一方的に政府の方針を支持する傾向のある読売新聞も、さすがに声を上げました。
読売新聞は、ずっと以前から、新聞は軽減税率対象品目に指定すべきだという主張でしたから、それは理解できます。
麻生財務相の本当の狙いは、軽減税率にすると、それで未来永劫、税収がコンスタントに減るからなんです。
巷では、あほう太郎と蔑視されている麻生財務相ですが、実は、なかなかのしたたかものなんです。


The Yomiuri Shimbun
Giving up on realizing reduced tax rates for being ‘bothersome’ too irresponsible
軽減税率代替策　「面倒くさい」で済まされるか

A policy that takes the easy way out by depending on handout measures would not protect people’s livelihoods from the increasing burden of a future increase in the consumption tax rate.
　安易な給付金のばらまきでは、今後の消費税率引き上げに伴う負担増から、国民生活を守ることはできまい。

The Finance Ministry has drafted measures to alleviate taxpayers’ burdens when the consumption tax rate is raised to 10 percent.
　財務省が、消費税率を１０％に引き上げる際の負担緩和策の原案をまとめた。

The ministry says a 10 percent tax should be levied on all purchased goods and consumers would later receive “benefit payments” equivalent to two percentage points of the consumption tax on food and beverages.
　全品目に１０％の税率を課した上で、飲食料品の購入で消費者が払った税率２％分の相当額を、後から給付するという。

Although the ministry says the idea is an alternative to a system of reduced tax rates, the proposal is fraught with flaws, and can hardly be called a convincing alternative.
　財務省は軽減税率の代案と位置づけるが、欠陥だらけで、代替策とはなり得ない。

Explaining the ministry’s idea, Finance Minister Taro Aso had the gall to say, “Introducing plural tax rates [reduced tax rates] would be bothersome, so we used our ingenuity to make the matter less of a problem.” This is extremely irresponsible.
　麻生財務相は、「複数税率（軽減税率）を入れることは面倒くさい。それを面倒くさくないようにするところが手口だ」と説明した。あまりに無責任ではないか。

The Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito included a consumption tax rate-related agreement in their platforms in the 2014 election of the House of Representatives. In December 2013, the two ruling coalition parties had agreed to introduce lower tax rates on daily necessities.
　自民、公明両党は２０１３年１２月に、生活必需品の税率を低く抑える軽減税率導入で合意し、１４年の衆院選公約にも掲げている。

Although the task of determining what items should be eligible for reduced tax rates would undoubtedly be difficult, discarding the result of discussions by the ruling coalition parties merely because the decision is “bothersome” is unforgivable.
　軽減税率の対象品目の線引きが難しいのは事実だが、与党が積み重ねてきた議論を、「面倒くさい」といった理由で投げ出すことは、到底許されない。

The ruling coalition parties should fulfill their political responsibility by ensuring that reduced tax rates are introduced on such daily necessities as food, newspapers and others.
　与党は１０％時に食料品や新聞などの必需品に軽減税率を導入し、政治の責任を果たすべきだ。

Far from being realistic

Under the draft, consumers would have to pay for all goods that include the full 10 percent consumption tax rate, so they would hardly feel any effects of the tax burden alleviation system. There is a possibility that the benefits received later will be put into their savings. Under the circumstances, it is strongly feared that personal consumption will cool off.
　原案では、税率１０％で代金を支払うため、消費者は負担軽減の実感が乏しい。後で受け取った給付金が貯金に回る可能性もある。消費を冷え込ませる恐れが強い。

Other problems involve the ministry-envisioned scheme of figuring out the amounts of benefits by projecting the total amount of consumption according to such criteria as income brackets and family composition. The shoddy way the system has been designed in deciding on benefit payments without considering the reality of what happens when people shop cannot help but give rise to doubts regarding the adequacy and impartiality of the ministry’s plan.
　所得や家族構成などに応じて消費額を推計し、給付額を割り出す仕組みにも問題がある。買い物の実態と関係なく金額を決める粗雑な制度設計には、適正さや公平性への疑念が拭えない。

The Finance Ministry’s draft covers almost all items of food and beverages. Fiscal expenditures for funding the planned benefits, if provided to all households, would run up to a massive ¥1.3 trillion. Should restrictions on the benefit payments be imposed on the basis of income brackets, a sense of unfairness would arise again over where to draw a line in imposing income-based restrictions.
　財務省原案は、ほぼ全ての飲食料品を対象にしている。全世帯に給付すると、財政負担は約１・３兆円と巨額になる。圧縮のために所得制限をかければ、線引きを巡る新たな不公平感を生じよう。

The ministry’s plan has incorporated utilization in the future of the My Number system, but the proposed use of the system for the benefit payments is nothing more than the ministry’s desperation attempt to avert criticism against the benefit system for being a handout measure, so it should be deemed unrealistic.
　共通番号（マイナンバー）の将来的な活用も盛り込まれたが、ばらまき批判をかわすための苦し紛れのアイデアで、非現実的だ。

The draft claims that if information of individuals’ purchases at retailers is read using their My Number card to accumulate their purchase history, the amounts of benefit payments will be calculated accurately.
　原案は、マイナンバーカードの情報を店頭で読み取り、買い物の履歴を蓄積すれば、給付金額を正確に算出できるとしている。

Would it really be possible to build a data management system to have all of the nation’s retailers, including small stores, equipped with scanners and related devices necessary to read purchasing records?
　小さな商店まで、くまなく読み取り機を設置し、データ管理のシステムを構築する。そんなことが可能なのだろうか。

Considering the government’s stringent finances, it will most likely be inevitable for the government to raise the consumption tax rate to a level above 10 percent sometime in the future. For the purpose of building a framework geared to securing steady revenue sources for financing social security outlays while minimizing the adverse impact the social security system would have on personal consumption, introduction of a reduced tax rate system is indispensable.
　厳しい財政事情を踏まえれば、消費税率はいずれ、１０％を上回る水準への引き上げが避けがたい。個人消費への悪影響を抑えながら社会保障財源を着実に確保していく枠組みを築くためにも、軽減税率の導入は不可欠である。

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

Objection！
アメリカが日本の防衛費を増やせといっているわけではないでしょう。
もしそうならば、日米安保条約などやめてしまえばよい。
日本は敗戦国だがアメリカの奴隷ではない。
防衛費はむしろ削減して社会保障費にまわすべき。
増え続ける国の負債を削減するためにも、防衛費を減額する意味は大きい。
中国は人口が日本の10倍以上もいるのだから、横並びで金額を比較すること自体がナンセンス。
GDPは中国が一番で当たり前だが、アメリカの金融と経済のシステムにやられているだけ。


The Yomiuri Shimbun
Ensure equipment procurement to support new security legislation
防衛費概算要求　安保法制を支える装備調達に

To make the government-envisioned new security legislation truly effective, it is vitally important to steadily fortify the nation’s defense capabilities.
　安全保障法制を実効性あるものとするため、防衛力を着実に整備することが大切である。

The Defense Ministry, in its budget demand estimates for fiscal 2016, has requested ¥5.09 trillion, up 2.2 percent from fiscal 2015’s initial defense budgetary appropriations. This represents the fourth consecutive year-on-year budget increase sought by the ministry.
　防衛省は２０１６年度予算の概算要求で、１５年度当初予算比で２・２％増の５兆９１１億円を計上した。４年連続の増額要求である。

China’s defense spending has been expanding more than 10 percent every year, now amounting to more than three times that of Japan’s. North Korea’s nuclear and missile development and its military provocations also continue unabated. The Defense Ministry’s budget increase requests take into account the markedly severe security environment.
　中国の国防予算は毎年１０％以上伸び、日本の３倍以上に達した。北朝鮮の核・ミサイル開発や軍事的挑発も続く。厳しい安保環境を踏まえた要求増と言える。

The ministry’s budget estimates emphasize beefing up defense of the Nansei Islands to cope with the intensifying activities of Chinese forces in the East China Sea. The ministry for the first time is seeking such defense equipment purchases as 36 maneuver combat vehicles (MCVs) and a new type of aerial refueling aircraft.
　東シナ海での中国軍の活動活発化に対応し、南西諸島防衛の強化に力点を置いている。機動戦闘車３６両、新型空中給油機１機の購入費などを新規に計上した。

MCVs, while having firepower on par with that of tanks, are considerably lighter than tanks and capable of traveling at a maximum speed of about 100 kph. They can be transported by aircraft for such purposes as defending remote islands.
　機動戦闘車は戦車並みの火力を有しながら、軽量で、最高時速が約１００キロと速い。航空機などで輸送し、離島防衛にも使える。

The budget estimates also include expenditures for 12 Osprey tilt-rotor transport aircraft and 11 AAV7 amphibious assault vehicles. Aiming to ramp up warning and surveillance activities, the ministry is set to introduce three Global Hawk drones.
　輸送機オスプレイ１２機、水陸両用車ＡＡＶ７１１両などの購入費も盛り込んだ。警戒・監視活動を強化するため、無人偵察機グローバルホーク３機を導入する。

In addition, the ministry plans to earmark outlays for building an Aegis-equipped vessel for ballistic missile defense and a submarine of the latest model.
　弾道ミサイル防衛対応型のイージス艦１隻と、最新鋭潜水艦１隻の建造費も計上している。

The security-related bills are designed to make it possible for this country to exercise the collective self-defense right to a limited extent, to operate in defense of U.S. military vessels. For the purpose of protecting U.S. vessels and others in peacetime, stipulations concerning “defense of weapons and related equipment” in the Self-Defense Forces Law are to be revised.
　安全保障関連法案は、集団的自衛権を限定行使し、米艦を防護することを可能にした。平時に米艦などを守るため、自衛隊法の「武器等防護」規定も改定する。

Deploy troops broadly

To make it possible to respond rapidly to such “gray-zone contingencies” as the seizure of a remote island by forces from abroad in the guise of fishermen, part of the procedures for mobilizing SDF troops has been simplified through a Cabinet decision.
　偽装漁民による離島占拠などのグレーゾーン事態に迅速に対処できるよう、自衛隊の一部の出動手続きも閣議決定で簡素化した。

To reliably implement a series of such operations, procurement of equipment and garrisoning of troops commensurate with the tasks are indispensable.
　一連の任務を確実に遂行するには、それに見合う装備調達と部隊編成が不可欠である。

Ensuring legal arrangements to empower the SDF to protect U.S. forces in an emergency and equipping the SDF to carry out such missions would beef up the relationship of mutual trust between Japan and the United States, which would in turn make the bilateral alliance even more unshakable.
　緊急時には自衛隊が米軍を守ることができる法制を整備し、その能力を有することが、両者の相互信頼関係を強化し、日米同盟をより揺るぎないものにしよう。

Regarding the garrisoning of troops, the ministry’s budget estimates this time call for expenditures for developing premises and acquiring plots of land for a Ground Self-Defense Force base on Miyakojima island, Okinawa Prefecture, and another somewhere on Amami Oshima island, Kagoshima Prefecture, by the end of fiscal 2018.
　部隊編成では、１８年度までに沖縄県・宮古島と鹿児島県・奄美大島に陸上自衛隊を配備するため、両駐屯地の造成工事費や用地取得費が計上された。

No GSDF troops are currently deployed in the Nansei Islands region except for the Okinawa main island. Around the Okinawa main island, SDF fighter jets were scrambled against an intrusion by Chinese aircraft for two days in a row near the end of July.
　南西諸島では、沖縄本島以外に陸自部隊が駐留していない。沖縄周辺では７月末にも、２日連続で中国機に対する自衛隊の緊急発進（スクランブル）があった。

If the deployment of SDF units with land-to-air and surface-to-sea missiles is materialized, this country’s deterrence in that region will certainly be bolstered significantly.
　地対空、地対艦ミサイルを持つ部隊配備が実現すれば、この地域での抑止力は格段に高まる。

Gaining the consent of local community residents concerned is essential for the envisaged deployment of GSDF troops. The city assembly of Miyakojima island adopted a petition in July calling for early GSDF deployment, while the city mayor expressed his intention to support deployment. The Defense Ministry is also planning to deploy troops on Ishigakijima island. Arrangements to obtain local residents’ agreement should be advanced without delay.
　陸自の配備には、地元の合意形成が欠かせない。宮古島市議会は７月、早期配備を求める陳情を採択し、市長が受け入れを表明した。防衛省は、石垣島への部隊配備も計画している。地元との調整を遅滞なく進めたい。

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

>　安全の確認できた原発を着実に再稼働させ、
まだこんなことをいっているのか！
原発が自然災害に勝てないのは福島で実証されている。
民間活力をそぐような愚策には違和感を覚える。
石炭発電の排出二酸化炭素量を減らす技術開発にお金をかけるほうが、まだまし。


The Yomiuri Shimbun
Coal-powered plants part of balance between stable supply, environment
石炭火力発電　安定供給と環境対策の両立を

How to strike a balance between stable power supply and measures against global warming? The government needs to present a path to this goal.
　電力の安定供給と地球温暖化対策をどう両立させていくか。政府が道筋を示す必要がある。

Environment Minister Yoshio Mochizuki has put holds on private-sector coal-fired power plant construction projects one after another.
　民間の石炭火力発電所の建設計画に、望月環境相が相次いで待ったをかけた。

Regarding projects in Aichi and Chiba prefectures, Mochizuki submitted written opinions to Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoichi Miyazawa on Aug. 14 and 28, respectively, saying that they “cannot be approved” based on the Environmental Impact Assessment Law. Regarding a project in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Mochizuki presented a similar written opinion in June.
　愛知、千葉両県内の建設計画について、８月１４日と２８日に、それぞれ環境影響評価法に基づき、「是認できない」とする意見書を宮沢経済産業相に提出した。山口県での計画に対しても、６月に同様の意見書を出している。

With its low fuel cost, coal-fired thermal power is an effective source of electricity. But it produces twice as much greenhouse gas as power generation using liquefied natural gas.
　石炭火力は燃料費の安い有用な電源だが、液化天然ガスの２倍近い温室効果ガスを排出する。

If new construction projects are approved easily, it will make it difficult to achieve the government’s target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent from the figure for fiscal 2013 by fiscal 2030. It is no wonder that the environment minister has a heightened sense of crisis as coal-fired thermal power plants are planned in turn.
　安易に新設を認めれば、温室効果ガスの排出量を２０３０年度までに２６％削減する政府目標の達成は困難だ。全国で石炭火力が次々に計画される中、環境相が危機感を強めるのも無理はない。

The government has put forth a policy of lowering the percentage of coal-fired power generation within the nation’s total electricity sources from the current 30 percent to 26 percent in 2030. However, major utility firms and new entrants have shown moves to build additional coal-fired thermal plants.
　政府は３０年の電源構成として、石炭火力の比率を、現在の３０％から２６％に引き下げる方針を示している。だが、大手電力や新規事業者は、コストが安く競争力の高い石炭火力の増設に動いている。

Coal-fired thermal power is a stable baseload electricity source as it can be generated day and night. Since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, it has sustained the power supply in the face of a crisis caused by the suspension of all domestic nuclear power plants. It is natural for all utilities to rely on coal-fired power generation under such circumstances.
　石炭火力は、昼夜を問わず発電できる安定したベースロード電源だ。東日本大震災以降、原発不在の危機的な電力供給を支えた。電力各社が石炭火力を頼りにするのは、当然と言えよう。

While newly building up-to-the-minute coal-fired thermal power plants that discharge less greenhouse gas, it is essential to abolish superannuated facilities with poor power generation efficiency one after another.
　温室効果ガス排出量の少ない最新の石炭火力を新設する一方、発電効率の悪い老朽設備を順次、廃棄することが肝心である。

No clear control tower

It is problematic, however, that there is no clear control tower that makes adjustments on new construction and abolition projects to realize the optimal composition of electricity sources.
　問題なのは、新設と廃棄の具体的な計画を調整し、最適な電源構成を実現させるための司令塔が不明確なことだ。

It strikes us as strange that the environment minister puts the brakes on construction of individual coal-fired thermal projects in the name of environmental impact assessments. The industry and environment ministries must coordinate views with major utilities and new entrants in the private sector and present concrete and desirable ways to expand the system to secure electricity sources.
　環境相が、環境影響評価の名目で、個別の建設計画にブレーキをかける手法には違和感がある。経産省と環境省が民間の大手電力や新規事業者と調整し、具体的な電源整備の在り方を示すべきだ。

Also important is the role played by the Organization for Cross-regional Coordination of Transmission Operators, which has been established to coordinate power supply and demand on a nationwide basis.
　全国的な電力需給調整を担うために新設された電力広域的運営推進機関の役割も重要である。

It cannot be overlooked that construction plans on coal-fired power plants with a capacity of less than 112,500 kilowatts, which are not subject to the mandatory environmental impact assessment, have emerged at random. But this cannot be helped even if this is regarded as evasion of regulations.
　環境影響評価の対象外である１１・２５万キロ・ワット未満の石炭火力の建設計画が乱立していることは、看過できない。規制逃れとみられても仕方がない。

To prevent the abuse of legal loopholes, the Environment Ministry reportedly plans to expand environmental impact assessments to cover small-scale coal-fired power plants. The industry ministry, for its part, is considering tightening controls with a view to promoting the introduction of highly efficient facilities. Highly practical measures are called for to prevent additional coal-fired power plants from being built too easily.
　環境省は抜け穴を防ぐため、評価対象を小規模施設に拡大する方針という。経産省も高効率な設備の導入を促進するための規制強化を検討している。安易な石炭火力の増設を食い止めるため、実効性の高い対策が求められる。

One way to prevent excessive reliance on coal as an energy source would be for nuclear reactors to be restarted steadily after their safety is confirmed and for the government to present a policy of building new nuclear power stations.
　安全の確認できた原発を着実に再稼働させ、政府が原発新増設の方針を明示することが、過度な石炭依存を防ぐことになる。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 5, 2015)

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Xi shows Chinese military might at home, abroad / Distortion of history by China, ROK unacceptable
抗日戦勝７０年　習氏が内外に誇示する軍事力

China’s display of military might is symbolic of its arms expansion policy and threatens regional stability. The administration of Chinese President Xi Jinping must exercise self-restraint in challenging the international order.
中韓の「歴史歪曲」は容認できぬ
　強大な軍事力の誇示は中国の軍拡路線を象徴するもので、地域の安定を脅かす。習近平政権は戦後の国際秩序に挑戦する行動を自制すべきだ。

A 70th anniversary ceremony and military parade marking China’s “victory in the War of Resistance against Japan” were held in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on Thursday. “This great triumph crushed the plot of Japanese militarists,” Xi said in his speech.
　「抗日戦争勝利７０年」の記念行事と軍事パレードが３日、北京の天安門広場周辺で行われた。習国家主席は「この偉大な勝利で、日本の軍国主義のたくらみを徹底的に粉砕した」などと演説した。

China said the anniversary events were “not targeted at Japan as it is today.” However, it is crystal clear that they were intended as part of anti-Japan propaganda activities.
　中国は、記念行事は「今日の日本を標的にしていない」と説明してきたが、対外的な「反日宣伝」活動の一環であるのは明白だ。

Abe’s absence right
首相の不参加は適切だ

Excessively highlighting the past and eliminating future-oriented elements would hinder the improvement of Japan-China relations.
　過去に過度に焦点を当て、和解や未来志向の要素を排することは日中関係の改善に逆行する。

It was proper for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to decline a request to attend the anniversary events.
　安倍首相が行事への出席要請を断ったのは、妥当である。

China held a celebration on Sept. 3, 1945, the day after Japan signed its instrument of surrender. Last year, the Xi administration officially designated that date as “the day to celebrate the victory of the war of resistance against Japan.” Thursday’s parade was China’s first since October 2009, when it celebrated the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and the first of its kind to mark the country’s “victory against Japan.”
　中国は、日本が降伏文書に署名した１９４５年９月２日の翌３日に祝賀行事を開いた。習政権は昨年、法律でもこの日を「抗日戦勝記念日」と定めた。軍事パレードは建国６０年の２００９年１０月以来で、抗日行事では初めてだ。

Xi probably wants to stir up patriotism by emphasizing both China’s status as “a victorious nation” and its “military power,” and thereby strive to maintain the political leadership of his administration.
　習氏は、「戦勝国」や「強軍」をアピールすることを通じて国民の愛国心を煽あおり、政権の求心力を維持したいのだろう。

About 12,000 officers and soldiers participated in Thursday’s parade, which is said to have been China’s biggest ever. About 200 aircraft, including the latest types of early-warning planes and fighter jets, and domestically produced weapons such as cruise and ballistic missiles, were on display.
　パレードには、将兵約１万２０００人が参加した。最新の早期警戒機や戦闘機など航空機約２００機、巡航ミサイルや弾道ミサイルなど国産兵器も続々と登場した。過去最大規模とされる。

Worthy of note was China’s first public showing of its new intercontinental ballistic missiles, which are capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. Coupled with the fact that Xi made no reference in his commemorative speech to the role played by the United States during World War II, this suggests China intends to eliminate Washington from the Asian order.
　注目すべきは、米本土を射程に収める新型の大陸間弾道ミサイル（ＩＣＢＭ）を初公開したことだ。演説で、第２次大戦で米国が果たした役割を無視したのと合わせ、アジア秩序から米国を排除しようという意図もうかがえる。

During a meeting with Lien Chan, a former leader of Taiwan’s ruling Nationalist Party (Kuomintang), Xi mentioned that both the Chinese Communist Party and the Nationalist Party “contributed significantly to the victory in the war of resistance against Japan,” thereby acknowledging the Nationalist Party’s role in the war.
　習氏はまた、台湾与党・国民党の連戦・元主席との会談で、共産党と国民党が「ともに抗日勝利に重要な貢献をした」と述べ、国民党の役割を認めた。

At the time it was engaged in war with Japan, China was largely under the rule of the Nationalist Party. Concluding the victory as one gained by the whole of China is likely intended to emphasize the legitimacy of the communist administration. Isn’t this a distortion of history?
　日中戦争当時の中国は、主として国民党の統治下にあった。中華民族全体の勝利と位置付けることにより、共産党政権の正統性を強調するつもりなのだろう。この論理は歴史の歪曲わいきょくではないか。

Heads of state and leaders from more than 20 nations, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and South Korean President Park Geun-hye, attended the ceremony and the parade. Leaders from Japan, the United States and major European nations skipped the events.
　行事とパレードには、ロシアのプーチン大統領や韓国の朴槿恵大統領ら２０か国余の元首・首脳が出席した。日本のほか、欧米主要国首脳は参加を見送った。

Attendance at the parade could be interpreted as giving approval to China’s military buildup. Part of the reason many nations did not send a leader is that the parade was held in Tiananmen Square, the site of a crackdown on pro-democracy protests.
　パレード出席は、中国の軍備増強を容認したと解されかねない。会場が民主化運動を弾圧した天安門事件の現場である点も、不参加の背景にあろう。

Putin was the only leader from the other permanent members of the U.N. Security Council to attend the parade. If anything, this highlighted how China and Russia stand apart from other nations. Both have strengthened their dictatorial systems, and they will not elicit much sympathy even as they profess “victory in the anti-fascist war.”
　国連安保理常任理事国の首脳ではプーチン氏しか参加せず、かえって中露の異質さが際立った。独裁体制を一段と強めている国が「反ファシズム戦争勝利」を標榜ひょうぼうしても、共感は得られまい。

Ban lacking neutrality
中立性欠く潘国連総長

We felt the attendance of U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon at the ceremony was problematic. Ban, who also attended a Russian ceremony commemorating “the 70th anniversary of the victory over Germany,” justified his participation by saying he has taken part in various events marking the end of World War II.
　問題なのは、潘基文・国連事務総長が出席したことである。ロシアの「対ドイツ戦勝７０年記念式典」にも参加した潘氏は「終戦７０年を記念する様々な行事に出席している」などと正当化している。

We wonder if this sends a message of approval for the actions of China and Russia as they seek to unilaterally change the status quo in the East China and South China seas, and in Ukraine. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga was quite right to show concern and say that the United Nations “should keep a neutral position.”
　これでは、東・南シナ海とウクライナで一方的な現状変更を図る中露の行動を容認するメッセージにならないか。菅官房長官が「国連は中立であるべきだ」と懸念を示したのは、当然だろう。

China is South Korea’s largest trading partner. Park’s attendance at the parade indicates that she has to give greater weight to ties with Beijing as South Korea’s economic dependence on it grows.
　朴氏のパレード出席には、韓国の最大の貿易相手で、経済依存を強める中国を重視せざるを得ない事情があろう。

During talks with Xi held before the parade, Park said, “[Our] two countries together underwent a time of great adversity during the past century.” This was affirmation of Xi’s comment that the peoples of both nations had fought against Japanese aggression.
　朴氏はパレードに先立って習氏と会談し、「前世紀、両国は困難な歴史を共にした」と語った。両国民が日本の侵略と闘ったという習氏の発言を肯定するものだ。

This once again gave the impression that South Korea is tending to side with China on issues of history.
　歴史問題を巡る韓国の中国傾斜が改めて印象づけられた。

Park will travel to Shanghai, where she will attend a commemorative event for the office building of “the provisional government of the Republic of Korea,” a site regarded as a stronghold of the independence movement.
　朴氏は上海で、独立運動の拠点とされる「大韓民国臨時政府」庁舎の記念行事にも出席する。

Closer ties on security
朴氏の接近は安保でも

Does Park want to close her eyes to the fact that Japan and South Korea did not fight against each other, and emphasize the self-flattering historical perception that the independence movement achieved liberation from Japanese colonial rule?
　韓国は日本と戦っていないという事実に目をつぶり、独立運動で植民地支配からの解放を勝ち取ったという独善的な歴史認識を強調したいのだろうか。

South Korea’s leader attended these events even though Seoul is an ally of Washington. Their alliance has its origins in the United States fighting alongside South Korea in the Korean War, in which China stood on the North Korean side.
　韓国は米国の同盟国でありながら出席した。同盟の原点は、中国が北朝鮮側に立った朝鮮戦争で米国が韓国と共闘したことだ。

It appears China’s extension of assistance to ease recent tensions between the Koreas has shaken South Korea’s position and, in the national security field, Seoul is straying from its previous path.
最近の南北の緊張緩和に力を貸した中国に揺さぶられ、安全保障分野でも迷走しているのではないか。

Japan and the United States must increase their vigilance against attempts to drive a wedge between cooperation among Tokyo, Washington and Seoul.
　日米韓の連携にくさびを打とうとする動きに、日米は改めて警戒を強めねばならない。

Xi and Park have agreed to hold talks with Abe as early as late October in South Korea. It is highly possible that Abe and Park will hold their first talks at this gathering. It is vital that Japan pursues strategic and productive summit diplomacy.
　習、朴の両氏は、１０月末にも韓国で日中韓首脳会談を開くことで一致した。その際には、安倍首相と朴氏の初の会談も行われる可能性が大きい。日本は、戦略的かつ生産的な首脳外交を展開することが大切である。

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