海上安全保障 中国は協議に前向き対応を

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Oct. 14, 2010)
Continue dialogue with China to ensure security
海上安全保障　中国は協議に前向き対応を（10月13日付・読売社説）

The recent meeting between Japanese and Chinese defense chiefs marked a definite first step toward improving the soured relationship between Tokyo and Beijing, but the road ahead is not likely to be smooth.
　日中関係の改善に向けての新たな一歩ではあるが、今後の道のりは平坦(へいたん)ではなかろう。

Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa and his Chinese counterpart Liang Guanglie agreed to steadily promote a strategic, mutually beneficial relationship between the two nations in Hanoi on Monday. Their conversation was held on the sidelines of a defense minister's meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus eight countries that include Japan and the United States.
　北沢防衛相が訪問先のハノイで中国の梁光烈国防相と会談し、日中の戦略的互恵関係を着実に進展させることなどで一致した。

The meeting was in line with an agreement to "hold high-level talks when appropriate," made when Prime Minister Naoto Kan met Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Brussels on Oct. 4. With Monday's meeting, Japan-China relations seem to be gradually normalizing after being strained following collisions last month between a Chinese trawler and two Japan Coast Guard vessels in waters near the Senkaku Islands.
　会談が実現したのは、今月４日の日中首脳会談で合意した「ハイレベル協議の適宜開催」に沿うものだ。尖閣諸島沖の中国漁船衝突事件で悪化した日中関係は一応、正常化しつつあると言える。

===

China still reluctant to engage

However, the meeting also revealed Beijing is still cautious toward Tokyo. In response to requests from China, the meeting was unofficial, and a scheduled port call to Qingdao, China, from Friday by a fleet of Maritime Self-Defense Force training ships likely will be postponed.
　一方で、中国の慎重姿勢も目立った。中国側の要請で、会談は非公式な形式となった。１５日から予定されていた海上自衛隊練習艦による中国・青島寄港も、中国側の事情で延期される方向だ。

Liang reportedly told Kitazawa the naval exchange would be put off because China must carefully consider its citizens' feelings. But this claim sounds too one-sided and is difficult to understand.
　梁国防相は、延期の理由について「中国国民の気持ちと態度を慎重に考慮する必要がある」と語ったが、あまりに一方的な主張であり、理解しがたい。

However, when Kitazawa requested the quick establishment of a maritime contact mechanism in the East China Sea, Liang reportedly agreed that tangible results needed to be produced soon.
　北沢防衛相は会談で、「海上連絡メカニズム」の早期構築を呼びかけ、梁国防相は「早く成果を上げることが重要だ」と応じた。

The contact mechanism would facilitate emergency communication between defense chiefs and high-ranking officers to prevent minor collisions between Japanese and Chinese naval vessels from developing into serious situations. China established similar military hotlines with the United States and South Korea two years ago.
　海上連絡メカニズムは、日中の防衛首脳や制服組幹部の緊急連絡体制を整備するものだ。艦船同士の些細(ささい)な接触が重大事態に発展するのを防ぐ狙いがある。中国は２年前、同様の軍事ホットラインを米国、韓国と設置している。

Although Japan and China have been planning such a system for more than 10 years, results have yet to materialize. But after the recent collisions off the Senkaku Islands and two incidents in which a Chinese Navy helicopter buzzed a MSDF destroyer this spring, establishment of a hotline is needed as quickly as possible.
　この問題は１０年以上前から日中間の懸案だが、実現していない。今回の漁船衝突事件や、今春の中国海軍ヘリによる海自艦船への異常接近を踏まえれば、日中は早急に協議を進める必要がある。

===

Resolve needed to mend ties

There are still bones of contention between Japan and China, but the strategic, mutually beneficial relationship can only take shape if the two countries continue engaging in dialogue and making tangible achievements.
　日中間には多くの意見の異なる問題が存在するが、対話を重ね、具体的な実績を上げてこそ、戦略的互恵関係は実態を伴う。

China's reluctance to promote bilateral defense exchanges, such as visits by high-ranking officers and port calls, is apparently motivated by a desire to keep its military situation hidden.
　高官や艦船の相互訪問など一連の防衛交流に中国が慎重なのは、軍の実情が明らかになるのを避けたい思惑もあるのだろう。

However, enhanced military transparency by China will help reassure its neighbors, which see Beijing as a threat. We believe this also will benefit China itself.
　しかし、軍事的な透明性の向上は、周辺国の中国警戒論の緩和にもつながる。それは中国自身の利益にも合致するはずだ。

While in Hanoi, Kitazawa met with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday. The two defense chiefs reportedly agreed to continue to cooperate and consult closely to deal with China's intensifying naval activities in the East China Sea and other waters.
　北沢防衛相はゲーツ米国防長官とも会談し、活発化している中国の海洋活動に関して日米が緊密に協議する方針を確認した。

On Tuesday, 10 ASEAN member states and eight other countries, including Japan, the United States and China, held the first meeting of their defense chiefs. The group adopted a joint declaration promoting multinational cooperation in maritime security and disaster rescue operations, among other areas.
　翌１２日には、東南アジア諸国と日米中など計１８か国による初の国防相会議も開かれ、海上安全保障や災害救助などの多国間協力に関する共同宣言が採択された。

To steadily urge China to contribute to Asia's stability, we believe it is vital for Japan to increase cooperation with the United States and other concerned nations.
　アジアの安定に向けて中国の協力を粘り強く促すためにも、日本は米国や関係国との連携を強化することが重要である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 13, 2010)
（2010年10月13日01時50分 読売新聞）