2011/01/29
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 28
EDITORIAL: Egyptian turmoil
エジプトデモ―民主化宣言し流血避けよ
Demonstrations to try to force Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to step down are spreading across Egypt. There have already been several casualties in confrontations between demonstrators and the security police.
エジプトでムバラク大統領の退陣を求める市民のデモが広がった。治安部隊との衝突で死傷者も出ている。
In Cairo, a clash occurred near the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities (Egyptian Museum), which holds the world-famous gold mask of King Tutankhamen.
カイロで衝突があったのは、ツタンカーメンの黄金のマスクで有名なエジプト考古学博物館のそばである。
We are surprised at these uprisings in a place known in Japan as a tourist destination.
日本人にも観光地として人気があるエジプトで、このような騒ぎになっていることは驚きである。
But the country has been under the thumb of Mubarak's authoritarian regime for three decades. Mubarak, a former military officer, has had five consecutive terms.
しかし政治的には、軍人出身のムバラク大統領が５期３０年に及ぶ長期の強権体制をしいている国である。
Throughout that whole period, the country has been in a state of emergency, which was declared immediately after the assassination of President Anwar El Sadat, Mubarak's predecessor, in 1981. Citizens are not free to hold rallies, freedom of speech is controlled, and people who criticize the administration can be detained without an arrest warrant.
１９８１年に前任のサダト大統領の暗殺直後に出された非常事態宣言が今も続く。そのため人々の集会は規制され、言論の自由も制限され、政権を批判すれば逮捕状なしで拘束される。
In parliamentary elections last fall, major opposition groups decided to boycott the elections halfway through the campaign because of blatant interference by the police in the electoral process.
As a result, the parliament is almost completely dominated by the ruling party.
昨秋にあった人民議会選挙では、警察の露骨な選挙干渉によって、主要野党勢力が選挙を途中でボイコットし、与党が議席をほぼ独占している。
Egypt also faces an unemployment rate of nearly 10 percent, growing poverty, prices rising at nearly 20 percent a year and a widening gap between the rich and the poor. There is growing discontent at corruption among the leadership centering on the president.
非民主的な体制に加えて、１０％近い失業率、年率２０％近い物価上昇で貧困や貧富の差が広がる。さらには大統領周辺の腐敗に対する不満も強い。
In Tunisia, demonstrations led to the collapse of an authoritarian regime and sent the president into exile. A similar situation is also developing in Egypt.
市民のデモで大統領が国外に脱出して強権体制が崩れたチュニジアと似たような状況がエジプトにもある。
The people of Egypt are facing an even worse situation than the Tunisians.
エジプトの民衆の窮状はより深刻である。
The per capita national income of Egypt, which has a population of 80 million, is only 60 percent of that of Tunisia, which has 10 million people.
人口８千万を抱えるエジプトの１人あたりの国民所得は、人口１千万のチュニジアの６割しかない。
Mubarak's term expires this fall.
ムバラク大統領は今秋に改選を迎える。
There are rumors that he wants to hand over the presidency to his son.
息子への世襲のうわさもある。
However, there is strong criticism in Egypt of either the prospect of the 82-year-old president, who has had health problems, seeking re-election or of a nepotistic succession.
国民の間では、８２歳の高齢で健康不安を抱える大統領の続投にも、世襲にも批判が強い。
The Mubarak regime is at a critical juncture.
このように見ていくと、ムバラク体制を取り巻く状況は、危機的と言わざるをえない。
Egypt has diplomatic ties with Israel and has a friendly relationship with the United States. It also serves as a go-between for Arab nations and a mediator in the Middle East peace process.
エジプトはイスラエルとも国交がある親米国家で、中東和平やアラブ諸国間の仲介役、調整役でもある。
Political turmoil in this regional power could destabilize the whole Middle East.
そんな地域大国の政治的混乱は、中東の不安定化につながりかねない。
To prevent the situation in Egypt from getting out of control, bloodshed must be avoided at all costs. We must not have a situation in which security forces and police are aiming guns at their own people.
エジプトを最悪の事態にしないためには、治安部隊や軍が市民に銃を向けるような流血の悲劇は何があっても避けなければならない。
The only way forward is for Mubarak to announce that he will retire when his current term expires. He must declare a free and democratic election to choose the next president.
そのためには、ムバラク大統領が任期満了で引退を表明し、次の大統領を選ぶ自由で民主的な選挙の実施を宣言するしかないのではないか。
If the government uses force, Islamic terrorists will win the people's hearts.
政府が暴力を使えば、イスラム過激派のテロが人々の心をつかむ。
If it treads a democratic path, it can win over Muslim moderates who support participation in elections.
民主主義による解決を進めれば、選挙参加を支持するイスラム穏健派を政治に取り込むことができる。
We want Mubarak to go down in history as the leader who introduced democracy to Egypt, not as the dictator who suppressed it.
ムバラク大統領には民主化をつぶした独裁者としてではなく、エジプトに民主化をもたらした指導者として歴史に名を残してもらいたい。
Japan is one of the main providers of aid to Egypt.
日本はエジプトに対する主要援助国の一つである。
The Japanese government should work with Western countries to persuade the Mubarak regime to make the right choice for its country and its people.
欧米諸国とも相談しつつ、国と国民の将来のために賢い選択をするよう働きかけたい。
2011/01/31
2011/01/30
国債の格下げ 財政再建の前進で信認回復を
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 30, 2011)
Bond downgrade a call to reform
国債の格下げ 財政再建の前進で信認回復を（1月29日付・読売社説）
The U.S. rating agency Standard & Poor's on Thursday downgraded long-term Japanese government bonds by one notch, from AA to AA minus.
米国の格付け会社、スタンダード・アンド・プアーズ（Ｓ＆Ｐ）が、日本の長期国債の格付けを「ダブルＡ」から「ダブルＡマイナス」に１段階引き下げた。
Of course, we do not have to react with undue joy or alarm to ups and downs in the rating, as it is merely an evaluation a private company has made based on its own analysis.
格付けは、民間会社が独自の分析に基づいて示した評価に過ぎず、一喜一憂する必要はない。
However, the current value of government bonds might drop and their interest rate might go up after the lowering of the rating, which is considered an indicator of creditworthiness. The government has to keep an eye on market trends.
だが、国債の信用力の目安とされる格付けが下がると、国債価格も下がり、金利上昇を招く恐れがある。市場動向への警戒を続ける必要があろう。
Prime Minister Naoto Kan's government is planning to draft by June a plan to reform both social security and the tax system in an integrated manner. As the first step toward sound public finance, the government must stipulate a hike in the consumption tax rate in the draft plan to secure a stable revenue source.
菅内閣は、社会保障と税の一体改革案を６月までにまとめる方針だ。安定財源を確保するため、そこに消費税率の引き上げを明記し、財政健全化への一歩を踏み出さねばならない。
We believe it is the only way to restore the credibility of the government bonds.
それが国債の信認を回復する唯一の道である。
===
Details of diagnosis
S&P explained that it decided to downgrade the Japanese government bonds because the nation's fiscal debts are the worst among advanced economies and there seems to be no easy way to reduce them. The agency also cited prolonged deflation as another factor making elimination of the budget deficit difficult.
格下げの理由をＳ＆Ｐは、日本の財政赤字が先進国中、最悪のレベルで、今後も削減が容易ではないとみられるため、と説明している。長引くデフレも財政赤字の解消を難しくする要因に挙げた。
Furthermore, it said that the Democratic Party of Japan-led administration lacks a consistent strategy on the debt problem.
さらに「民主党政権には債務問題に対する一貫した戦略が欠けている」とも指摘した。
S&P announced a year ago that it was likely to lower the rating of the government bonds. The company apparently has watched the actions of the government since then and concluded that it was neither sufficiently serious about nor capable of taking measures toward fiscal rehabilitation.
Ｓ＆Ｐは、１年前に格下げを予告している。その後の政権の対応を見る限り、財政再建に向けた本気度や実行力が足りないとの判断に至ったようだ。
In fact, though tax revenues are 41 trillion yen, the issuance of government bonds amounts to 44 trillion yen in the fiscal 2011 budget. This abnormal situation of debt issuance exceeding tax revenues has continued since fiscal 2010.
実際、２０１１年度予算は、４１兆円の税収に対し、国債発行額が４４兆円にのぼる。借金が税収を上回る異常事態は２年連続だ。
Total long-term debts of the central and local governments will reach 892 trillion yen by the end of fiscal 2011. This is more than 1.8 times the gross domestic product, ensuring that Japan will maintain its status among the world's advanced economies as the one in the worst fiscal condition.
国と地方の長期債務は、１１年度末で８９２兆円に及ぶ。国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）の１・８倍を超えており、先進国の中で最悪の状況が続くことになる。
===
Taxes must rise
To defuse the situation, the Kan Cabinet must launch drastic measures to increase tax revenues.
こうした事態を打開するためにも菅内閣は、思い切った増収策を打ち出す必要がある。
The downgrade could be interpreted as a prompt for the administration to carry out such measures swiftly and surely.
格付けの引き下げは、その着実な実行を“催促”したものと受け止めることもできよう。
Japanese government bonds are now rated lower than those of Spain--which faces its own fiscal uncertainty--and at the same level as those of Kuwait and China. However, Japan's situation is different from those of Greece and Ireland, where downgrades have fueled economic confusion.
日本の国債の格付けは、財政不安を抱えるスペインを下回り、中国やクウェートと並んだ。だが、格下げで経済の混乱に拍車がかかったギリシャやアイルランドなどとは事情が違う。
A calm response is required in the case of Japanese government bonds because 95 percent of them are stably absorbed domestically.
日本の国債は、９５％が国内で安定的に消化されている。冷静な対応が求められる。
The prime minister was criticized for saying, "I don't know much about this kind of thing" in reference to the downgrade. He later said he simply meant he had not received detailed briefings on the issue.
菅首相は格下げについて「そういうことに疎い」と発言、批判された。「詳しく聞いていない」との趣旨だったと釈明している。
In any case, however, we have to say that Kan's remarks were indiscreet coming from the prime minister, who should take the lead in fiscal rehabilitation.
財政再建に指導力を発揮すべき首相の言葉としては、不用意だったと言わざるをえまい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 29, 2011)
（2011年1月29日02時04分 読売新聞）
Bond downgrade a call to reform
国債の格下げ 財政再建の前進で信認回復を（1月29日付・読売社説）
The U.S. rating agency Standard & Poor's on Thursday downgraded long-term Japanese government bonds by one notch, from AA to AA minus.
米国の格付け会社、スタンダード・アンド・プアーズ（Ｓ＆Ｐ）が、日本の長期国債の格付けを「ダブルＡ」から「ダブルＡマイナス」に１段階引き下げた。
Of course, we do not have to react with undue joy or alarm to ups and downs in the rating, as it is merely an evaluation a private company has made based on its own analysis.
格付けは、民間会社が独自の分析に基づいて示した評価に過ぎず、一喜一憂する必要はない。
However, the current value of government bonds might drop and their interest rate might go up after the lowering of the rating, which is considered an indicator of creditworthiness. The government has to keep an eye on market trends.
だが、国債の信用力の目安とされる格付けが下がると、国債価格も下がり、金利上昇を招く恐れがある。市場動向への警戒を続ける必要があろう。
Prime Minister Naoto Kan's government is planning to draft by June a plan to reform both social security and the tax system in an integrated manner. As the first step toward sound public finance, the government must stipulate a hike in the consumption tax rate in the draft plan to secure a stable revenue source.
菅内閣は、社会保障と税の一体改革案を６月までにまとめる方針だ。安定財源を確保するため、そこに消費税率の引き上げを明記し、財政健全化への一歩を踏み出さねばならない。
We believe it is the only way to restore the credibility of the government bonds.
それが国債の信認を回復する唯一の道である。
===
Details of diagnosis
S&P explained that it decided to downgrade the Japanese government bonds because the nation's fiscal debts are the worst among advanced economies and there seems to be no easy way to reduce them. The agency also cited prolonged deflation as another factor making elimination of the budget deficit difficult.
格下げの理由をＳ＆Ｐは、日本の財政赤字が先進国中、最悪のレベルで、今後も削減が容易ではないとみられるため、と説明している。長引くデフレも財政赤字の解消を難しくする要因に挙げた。
Furthermore, it said that the Democratic Party of Japan-led administration lacks a consistent strategy on the debt problem.
さらに「民主党政権には債務問題に対する一貫した戦略が欠けている」とも指摘した。
S&P announced a year ago that it was likely to lower the rating of the government bonds. The company apparently has watched the actions of the government since then and concluded that it was neither sufficiently serious about nor capable of taking measures toward fiscal rehabilitation.
Ｓ＆Ｐは、１年前に格下げを予告している。その後の政権の対応を見る限り、財政再建に向けた本気度や実行力が足りないとの判断に至ったようだ。
In fact, though tax revenues are 41 trillion yen, the issuance of government bonds amounts to 44 trillion yen in the fiscal 2011 budget. This abnormal situation of debt issuance exceeding tax revenues has continued since fiscal 2010.
実際、２０１１年度予算は、４１兆円の税収に対し、国債発行額が４４兆円にのぼる。借金が税収を上回る異常事態は２年連続だ。
Total long-term debts of the central and local governments will reach 892 trillion yen by the end of fiscal 2011. This is more than 1.8 times the gross domestic product, ensuring that Japan will maintain its status among the world's advanced economies as the one in the worst fiscal condition.
国と地方の長期債務は、１１年度末で８９２兆円に及ぶ。国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）の１・８倍を超えており、先進国の中で最悪の状況が続くことになる。
===
Taxes must rise
To defuse the situation, the Kan Cabinet must launch drastic measures to increase tax revenues.
こうした事態を打開するためにも菅内閣は、思い切った増収策を打ち出す必要がある。
The downgrade could be interpreted as a prompt for the administration to carry out such measures swiftly and surely.
格付けの引き下げは、その着実な実行を“催促”したものと受け止めることもできよう。
Japanese government bonds are now rated lower than those of Spain--which faces its own fiscal uncertainty--and at the same level as those of Kuwait and China. However, Japan's situation is different from those of Greece and Ireland, where downgrades have fueled economic confusion.
日本の国債の格付けは、財政不安を抱えるスペインを下回り、中国やクウェートと並んだ。だが、格下げで経済の混乱に拍車がかかったギリシャやアイルランドなどとは事情が違う。
A calm response is required in the case of Japanese government bonds because 95 percent of them are stably absorbed domestically.
日本の国債は、９５％が国内で安定的に消化されている。冷静な対応が求められる。
The prime minister was criticized for saying, "I don't know much about this kind of thing" in reference to the downgrade. He later said he simply meant he had not received detailed briefings on the issue.
菅首相は格下げについて「そういうことに疎い」と発言、批判された。「詳しく聞いていない」との趣旨だったと釈明している。
In any case, however, we have to say that Kan's remarks were indiscreet coming from the prime minister, who should take the lead in fiscal rehabilitation.
財政再建に指導力を発揮すべき首相の言葉としては、不用意だったと言わざるをえまい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 29, 2011)
（2011年1月29日02時04分 読売新聞）
2011/01/29
オバマ演説―寛容と品位を求めた
2011/01/28
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 27
EDITORIAL: State of the Union
オバマ演説―寛容と品位を求めた
American coins are inscribed with the motto "E pluribus unum," a Latin phrase meaning "Out of many, one." It derives from the United States' fight for independence from Britain, and the unity of the 13 colonies that founded the nation. Now, however, it has a broader connection to the idea that the United States is made up of people from diverse racial and religious backgrounds.
米国の硬貨には、ラテン語で「エ・プルリブス・ウヌム（多から生まれる一つ）」という標語が刻まれている。１３の植民地が結束して独立を達成したことに由来するが、現在ではもっと広く、多様な人種、宗教からなる米国が統合されていることを指す。
U.S. President Barack Obama seemed to be aiming at a regeneration of that spirit of unity in the State of the Union address Tuesday in the U.S. House of Representatives.
２５日の米連邦議会で一般教書演説をしたオバマ大統領の念頭には、この国家理念の再生があったのではないか。
The Obama administration, which took power two years ago promising to deliver change, has passed the halfway mark of its current term. In last year's midterm election, his Democratic Party suffered a crushing defeat to the Republican Party, which now holds a majority in the House of Representatives.
「チェンジ」の合言葉とともに２年前に誕生したオバマ政権は、折り返し点を迎えた。昨年の中間選挙で与党の民主党は大敗。下院の主導権を共和党に奪われた。
In the State of the Union address, Obama once again called for nonpartisanship, appealing to all parts of the political spectrum to realize that there is no realistic option other than to work together. In the context of the history of the United States, this represents much more than empty political rhetoric.
内政・外交の基本方針を示す一般教書演説で、大統領は改めて超党派路線を呼びかけた。それは、両党の歩み寄り以外に現実に可能な選択肢がないことを意味しているのだが、歴史に照らすと、単なる政治的便宜主義を超えた意味がある。
Since the 1960s, American society has seen strong reactions among conservatives to the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement, feminism, and other waves of change. Those clashes have embroiled the country in a "culture war." The rift between conservatives and liberals has grown, and Congress, where bipartisan compromise had once been a matter of course, has turned into a battleground of fundamentalisms. The grass-roots conservative Tea Party movement has spread across the nation. Radio talk shows and the Internet are amplifying the hatred.
１９６０年代以降の米社会は、公民権運動、反戦運動、女性解放をめぐるフェミニズムの動きなどに、保守層が激しく反発し、文化戦争の様相を呈してきた。保守とリベラルに二極化した社会の亀裂は深まるばかりで、党派を超えた歩み寄りが当たり前だった議会は今や、原理主義の戦場となった。各地で草の根保守の茶会旋風が吹き、ラジオのトークショーやインターネットの言論が憎しみを増長させている。
The president, who was born to a white mother and an African father, tried to position himself as "a bridge" linking different ideas and cultures. However, the health-care reform bill on which he staked his administration's fate has been labeled as "socialist." It barely made it onto the statute book, and then only after a significant revisions. There are no signs of the rift in U.S. politics narrowing. Discord peaked with the shooting of a Democrat congresswoman in Tucson, Arizona, earlier this month. Some liberals have blamed radical speech by the conservatives. Conservatives have hit back at liberals, saying they are using a crime by a mentally disturbed person for political gain.
白人女性とアフリカ人男性の間に生まれた大統領は、単に黒人の立場を主張するのではなく、異なる主義や文化をつなぐ「ブリッジ」を目指して政権に就いた。しかし、政権の命運をかけた医療保険法は「社会主義」のレッテルを貼られ、かろうじて修正成立したものの分極化は止まらない。先のアリゾナ州トゥーソンの民主党議員狙撃事件で、対立は頂点に達した。リベラル派は保守派の過激な言論が背景だと言い、保守派は精神病患者の犯罪を政治利用しているとなじった。
A speech by the president mourning the shooting victims was a breakthrough in this difficult situation. Recounting stories of each victim's life, he called on the nation to transcend partisan differences and to recover civility in public discourse. He called on U.S. society to live up to the ideals of the victims of the shootings. The speech has been described as his best since taking office.
この難しい局面を打開したのが、大統領の追悼演説だった。凶弾に倒れた一人ひとりのかけがえのない人生の物語を紡ぎながら、党派を超えて犠牲者たちの願いにふさわしい品位を社会に取り戻そうと訴えた。就任以来最も優れた演説だと評価されている。
A spirit of compromise has also been apparent in policies such as the lowering of corporate tax rates. An extension of tax breaks for the wealthy, accepted by the president at the end of last year, was also a concession to the Republicans. At the same time, the president also showed his toughness in winning approval for a U.S.-Russian nuclear disarmament treaty.
歩み寄りは、法人税率の引き下げなど政策でも表れた。大統領が昨年末に受け入れた富裕層に対する優遇税制の延長は、共和党への妥協である。その取引の中で、米ロの核軍縮条約の承認を勝ち取るしたたかさも見せた。
The United States is not the only country where political rhetoric has intensified and deteriorated, or where the art of compromise has been lost. Intolerance is a disease common to advanced democracies. It is a self-destructive illness. The United States' struggle over the ideals encapsulated by the motto "E pluribus unum" (out of many, one) is also our own problem.
政治のレトリックが激化、そして劣化し、妥協の技術が失われているのは米国だけではない。不寛容は先進民主主義国共通の病であり、社会を自壊させかねぬ病理である。多様でありながら一つである、という米国の理念をめぐる格闘は我々の課題でもある。
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 27
EDITORIAL: State of the Union
オバマ演説―寛容と品位を求めた
American coins are inscribed with the motto "E pluribus unum," a Latin phrase meaning "Out of many, one." It derives from the United States' fight for independence from Britain, and the unity of the 13 colonies that founded the nation. Now, however, it has a broader connection to the idea that the United States is made up of people from diverse racial and religious backgrounds.
米国の硬貨には、ラテン語で「エ・プルリブス・ウヌム（多から生まれる一つ）」という標語が刻まれている。１３の植民地が結束して独立を達成したことに由来するが、現在ではもっと広く、多様な人種、宗教からなる米国が統合されていることを指す。
U.S. President Barack Obama seemed to be aiming at a regeneration of that spirit of unity in the State of the Union address Tuesday in the U.S. House of Representatives.
２５日の米連邦議会で一般教書演説をしたオバマ大統領の念頭には、この国家理念の再生があったのではないか。
The Obama administration, which took power two years ago promising to deliver change, has passed the halfway mark of its current term. In last year's midterm election, his Democratic Party suffered a crushing defeat to the Republican Party, which now holds a majority in the House of Representatives.
「チェンジ」の合言葉とともに２年前に誕生したオバマ政権は、折り返し点を迎えた。昨年の中間選挙で与党の民主党は大敗。下院の主導権を共和党に奪われた。
In the State of the Union address, Obama once again called for nonpartisanship, appealing to all parts of the political spectrum to realize that there is no realistic option other than to work together. In the context of the history of the United States, this represents much more than empty political rhetoric.
内政・外交の基本方針を示す一般教書演説で、大統領は改めて超党派路線を呼びかけた。それは、両党の歩み寄り以外に現実に可能な選択肢がないことを意味しているのだが、歴史に照らすと、単なる政治的便宜主義を超えた意味がある。
Since the 1960s, American society has seen strong reactions among conservatives to the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement, feminism, and other waves of change. Those clashes have embroiled the country in a "culture war." The rift between conservatives and liberals has grown, and Congress, where bipartisan compromise had once been a matter of course, has turned into a battleground of fundamentalisms. The grass-roots conservative Tea Party movement has spread across the nation. Radio talk shows and the Internet are amplifying the hatred.
１９６０年代以降の米社会は、公民権運動、反戦運動、女性解放をめぐるフェミニズムの動きなどに、保守層が激しく反発し、文化戦争の様相を呈してきた。保守とリベラルに二極化した社会の亀裂は深まるばかりで、党派を超えた歩み寄りが当たり前だった議会は今や、原理主義の戦場となった。各地で草の根保守の茶会旋風が吹き、ラジオのトークショーやインターネットの言論が憎しみを増長させている。
The president, who was born to a white mother and an African father, tried to position himself as "a bridge" linking different ideas and cultures. However, the health-care reform bill on which he staked his administration's fate has been labeled as "socialist." It barely made it onto the statute book, and then only after a significant revisions. There are no signs of the rift in U.S. politics narrowing. Discord peaked with the shooting of a Democrat congresswoman in Tucson, Arizona, earlier this month. Some liberals have blamed radical speech by the conservatives. Conservatives have hit back at liberals, saying they are using a crime by a mentally disturbed person for political gain.
白人女性とアフリカ人男性の間に生まれた大統領は、単に黒人の立場を主張するのではなく、異なる主義や文化をつなぐ「ブリッジ」を目指して政権に就いた。しかし、政権の命運をかけた医療保険法は「社会主義」のレッテルを貼られ、かろうじて修正成立したものの分極化は止まらない。先のアリゾナ州トゥーソンの民主党議員狙撃事件で、対立は頂点に達した。リベラル派は保守派の過激な言論が背景だと言い、保守派は精神病患者の犯罪を政治利用しているとなじった。
A speech by the president mourning the shooting victims was a breakthrough in this difficult situation. Recounting stories of each victim's life, he called on the nation to transcend partisan differences and to recover civility in public discourse. He called on U.S. society to live up to the ideals of the victims of the shootings. The speech has been described as his best since taking office.
この難しい局面を打開したのが、大統領の追悼演説だった。凶弾に倒れた一人ひとりのかけがえのない人生の物語を紡ぎながら、党派を超えて犠牲者たちの願いにふさわしい品位を社会に取り戻そうと訴えた。就任以来最も優れた演説だと評価されている。
A spirit of compromise has also been apparent in policies such as the lowering of corporate tax rates. An extension of tax breaks for the wealthy, accepted by the president at the end of last year, was also a concession to the Republicans. At the same time, the president also showed his toughness in winning approval for a U.S.-Russian nuclear disarmament treaty.
歩み寄りは、法人税率の引き下げなど政策でも表れた。大統領が昨年末に受け入れた富裕層に対する優遇税制の延長は、共和党への妥協である。その取引の中で、米ロの核軍縮条約の承認を勝ち取るしたたかさも見せた。
The United States is not the only country where political rhetoric has intensified and deteriorated, or where the art of compromise has been lost. Intolerance is a disease common to advanced democracies. It is a self-destructive illness. The United States' struggle over the ideals encapsulated by the motto "E pluribus unum" (out of many, one) is also our own problem.
政治のレトリックが激化、そして劣化し、妥協の技術が失われているのは米国だけではない。不寛容は先進民主主義国共通の病であり、社会を自壊させかねぬ病理である。多様でありながら一つである、という米国の理念をめぐる格闘は我々の課題でもある。
2011/01/28
代表質問 対決だけの政治は機能しない
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 28, 2011)
Politics cannot function on confrontation alone
代表質問 対決だけの政治は機能しない（1月27日付・読売社説）
Politics will continue to malfunction under the current divided Diet, in which the House of Councillors is controlled by the opposition bloc, if the ruling and opposition sides remain at loggerheads unnecessarily.
衆参ねじれ国会の下、与野党がいたずらに対決するばかりでは、政治の機能不全が続くだけだ。
Both need to work in a constructive manner, cooperating on certain points when necessary.
協調すべき点では協調する、という建設的な対応が与野党双方に求められる。
Interpellations began Tuesday in the Diet for party representatives to grill Prime Minister Naoto Kan on the policy speech he delivered Monday, the first day of the current regular Diet session.
菅首相の施政方針演説に対する各党代表質問が始まった。
Sadakazu Tanigaki, president of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party, harshly criticized the Democratic Party of Japan over its pledges for the House of Representatives election in 2009, saying the DPJ had committed "the biggest deliberate violation of a campaign platform in the history of constitutional politics."
自民党の谷垣総裁は、民主党の衆院選の政権公約について「憲政史上最大の確信犯的な公約違反」と厳しく批判した。
Tanigaki made his confrontational attitude toward the Kan administration clear, demanding an early dissolution of the House of Representatives for a snap general election.
"[The government and the ruling party] must admit the mistakes in the election pledges, apologize to voters and seek a voter mandate," Tanigaki said in the Diet.
さらに、「公約の過ちを認め、有権者におわびしたうえで信を問い直すべきだ」として、早期の衆院解散・総選挙を要求し、菅政権との対決姿勢を鮮明にした。
Kan riposted, insisting that many election pledges have been implemented or the process to realize them begun, and rejected early dissolution of the lower house.
菅首相は、「公約の多くは実施・着手されている」と反論し、早期解散を否定した。
However, the prime minister also said he plans to "examine" the election pledges by September and that in the event he revised the pledges, he would carefully explain to the public to obtain their understanding.
ただ、今年９月までに公約を「検証」し、「見直す時は、国民に丁寧に説明し、理解を得たい」とも語った。
===
Election promises kaput
We consider the prime minister's perception to be too rosy. In its election pledges, the DPJ claimed it would be possible to squeeze out 16.8 trillion yen in fiscal resources by reorganizing allocations in the more than 200 trillion yen state budget. However, it is already apparent that the election pledges have fallen apart.
首相の認識は甘い。２００兆円余の総予算を組み替えれば、必要な１６・８兆円の財源を捻出できるとした公約の破綻は既に明白だ。
If the prime minister still obstinately insists that he will "examine" the pledges, he is simply procrastinating.
それでも「検証」と強弁するのは問題の先送りでしかない。
Given that the government will compile plans for comprehensive tax reform, including a consumption tax hike, in June, it would be reasonable for the government to comprehensively review election pledges in parallel with the tax system. We urge the government to make a fresh start, frankly admitting its past mistakes and offering apologies to the public.
６月に消費税を含む税制抜本改革案をまとめるなら、それと並行して公約の全面見直しに取り組むのが筋である。過去の誤りを率直に認め、国民に謝罪することから出直しを図るべきだ。
Tanigaki grilled the prime minister about the appointment of Kaoru Yosano as state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy in a recent Cabinet reshuffle, asking whether there are conflicting opinions within the Cabinet.
谷垣総裁は、与謝野経済財政相の入閣について「閣内不一致はないか」と追及した。
Kan dodged the question. "It won't be possible for the Cabinet to be in disagreement by the time the reform plan is compiled in June," he said.
首相は、６月に成案を得る段階では「内閣の不統一はあり得ない」とかわした。
As Tanigaki pointed out, however, Yosano supports a consumption tax hike and is hardly in step with DPJ members. As Kan is the one who appointed Yosano to the Cabinet, he must expedite efforts to unify opinions within the government as a step toward the goal of incorporating a consumption tax hike in the tax reform plans.
谷垣総裁の指摘通り、消費税率引き上げを持論とする与謝野氏と民主党の足並みがそろっているとは言い難い。首相は、与謝野氏を入閣させた以上、消費税率引き上げを改革案に盛り込む方向で意思統一を急がねばなるまい。
===
LDP must make an effort
Kan renewed his call to Tanigaki to hold cross-party talks to realize unified reform of social security and tax systems. However, Tanigaki effectively rejected the proposal, setting dissolution of the lower house as a precondition.
首相は、社会保障と税の一体改革での与野党協議を改めて呼びかけたが、谷垣総裁は、衆院解散が条件として、事実上拒否した。
Tanigaki apparently concluded that if the LDP agrees to hold negotiations with the ruling bloc and compile reform plans together, it would only benefit the Kan administration. But the LDP will not be able to fulfill its role as a responsible party if it refuses to budge.
協議に応じ、成案をまとめれば、結局は菅政権の得点となってしまう、という判断だろうが、それだけでは責任政党と言えない。
Even if the LDP wins the next lower house election and retakes the reins of government, it will still face difficulties in steering the upper house. Given the current seat composition in the upper house, the LDP will be a minority ruling party there even if it forms a coalition with New Komeito, meaning it will have to deal with the divided Diet.
仮に自民党が衆院選で勝利し、政権を奪還しても、今の参院の議席構成のままでは、たとえ公明党と連立を組んでも、少数与党となり、ねじれ国会に直面しよう。
To avoid such an unproductive development, it will be necessary to establish the practice of ruling and opposition parties cooperating with each other to a certain degree on key policy issues.
そうした不毛な展開を避けるには、重要な政策課題では与野党が一定の協力をする慣例を作る必要がある。
As an initial step to establishing such a framework, it will be essential for the Kan administration to make bold concessions. We advise the LDP, for its part, not to act solely for its own party interests.
それには、まず菅政権が政策面で大胆な譲歩をすることが欠かせない。自民党も、党利党略優先の対応は自制してほしい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 27, 2011)
（2011年1月27日01時49分 読売新聞）
Politics cannot function on confrontation alone
代表質問 対決だけの政治は機能しない（1月27日付・読売社説）
Politics will continue to malfunction under the current divided Diet, in which the House of Councillors is controlled by the opposition bloc, if the ruling and opposition sides remain at loggerheads unnecessarily.
衆参ねじれ国会の下、与野党がいたずらに対決するばかりでは、政治の機能不全が続くだけだ。
Both need to work in a constructive manner, cooperating on certain points when necessary.
協調すべき点では協調する、という建設的な対応が与野党双方に求められる。
Interpellations began Tuesday in the Diet for party representatives to grill Prime Minister Naoto Kan on the policy speech he delivered Monday, the first day of the current regular Diet session.
菅首相の施政方針演説に対する各党代表質問が始まった。
Sadakazu Tanigaki, president of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party, harshly criticized the Democratic Party of Japan over its pledges for the House of Representatives election in 2009, saying the DPJ had committed "the biggest deliberate violation of a campaign platform in the history of constitutional politics."
自民党の谷垣総裁は、民主党の衆院選の政権公約について「憲政史上最大の確信犯的な公約違反」と厳しく批判した。
Tanigaki made his confrontational attitude toward the Kan administration clear, demanding an early dissolution of the House of Representatives for a snap general election.
"[The government and the ruling party] must admit the mistakes in the election pledges, apologize to voters and seek a voter mandate," Tanigaki said in the Diet.
さらに、「公約の過ちを認め、有権者におわびしたうえで信を問い直すべきだ」として、早期の衆院解散・総選挙を要求し、菅政権との対決姿勢を鮮明にした。
Kan riposted, insisting that many election pledges have been implemented or the process to realize them begun, and rejected early dissolution of the lower house.
菅首相は、「公約の多くは実施・着手されている」と反論し、早期解散を否定した。
However, the prime minister also said he plans to "examine" the election pledges by September and that in the event he revised the pledges, he would carefully explain to the public to obtain their understanding.
ただ、今年９月までに公約を「検証」し、「見直す時は、国民に丁寧に説明し、理解を得たい」とも語った。
===
Election promises kaput
We consider the prime minister's perception to be too rosy. In its election pledges, the DPJ claimed it would be possible to squeeze out 16.8 trillion yen in fiscal resources by reorganizing allocations in the more than 200 trillion yen state budget. However, it is already apparent that the election pledges have fallen apart.
首相の認識は甘い。２００兆円余の総予算を組み替えれば、必要な１６・８兆円の財源を捻出できるとした公約の破綻は既に明白だ。
If the prime minister still obstinately insists that he will "examine" the pledges, he is simply procrastinating.
それでも「検証」と強弁するのは問題の先送りでしかない。
Given that the government will compile plans for comprehensive tax reform, including a consumption tax hike, in June, it would be reasonable for the government to comprehensively review election pledges in parallel with the tax system. We urge the government to make a fresh start, frankly admitting its past mistakes and offering apologies to the public.
６月に消費税を含む税制抜本改革案をまとめるなら、それと並行して公約の全面見直しに取り組むのが筋である。過去の誤りを率直に認め、国民に謝罪することから出直しを図るべきだ。
Tanigaki grilled the prime minister about the appointment of Kaoru Yosano as state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy in a recent Cabinet reshuffle, asking whether there are conflicting opinions within the Cabinet.
谷垣総裁は、与謝野経済財政相の入閣について「閣内不一致はないか」と追及した。
Kan dodged the question. "It won't be possible for the Cabinet to be in disagreement by the time the reform plan is compiled in June," he said.
首相は、６月に成案を得る段階では「内閣の不統一はあり得ない」とかわした。
As Tanigaki pointed out, however, Yosano supports a consumption tax hike and is hardly in step with DPJ members. As Kan is the one who appointed Yosano to the Cabinet, he must expedite efforts to unify opinions within the government as a step toward the goal of incorporating a consumption tax hike in the tax reform plans.
谷垣総裁の指摘通り、消費税率引き上げを持論とする与謝野氏と民主党の足並みがそろっているとは言い難い。首相は、与謝野氏を入閣させた以上、消費税率引き上げを改革案に盛り込む方向で意思統一を急がねばなるまい。
===
LDP must make an effort
Kan renewed his call to Tanigaki to hold cross-party talks to realize unified reform of social security and tax systems. However, Tanigaki effectively rejected the proposal, setting dissolution of the lower house as a precondition.
首相は、社会保障と税の一体改革での与野党協議を改めて呼びかけたが、谷垣総裁は、衆院解散が条件として、事実上拒否した。
Tanigaki apparently concluded that if the LDP agrees to hold negotiations with the ruling bloc and compile reform plans together, it would only benefit the Kan administration. But the LDP will not be able to fulfill its role as a responsible party if it refuses to budge.
協議に応じ、成案をまとめれば、結局は菅政権の得点となってしまう、という判断だろうが、それだけでは責任政党と言えない。
Even if the LDP wins the next lower house election and retakes the reins of government, it will still face difficulties in steering the upper house. Given the current seat composition in the upper house, the LDP will be a minority ruling party there even if it forms a coalition with New Komeito, meaning it will have to deal with the divided Diet.
仮に自民党が衆院選で勝利し、政権を奪還しても、今の参院の議席構成のままでは、たとえ公明党と連立を組んでも、少数与党となり、ねじれ国会に直面しよう。
To avoid such an unproductive development, it will be necessary to establish the practice of ruling and opposition parties cooperating with each other to a certain degree on key policy issues.
そうした不毛な展開を避けるには、重要な政策課題では与野党が一定の協力をする慣例を作る必要がある。
As an initial step to establishing such a framework, it will be essential for the Kan administration to make bold concessions. We advise the LDP, for its part, not to act solely for its own party interests.
それには、まず菅政権が政策面で大胆な譲歩をすることが欠かせない。自民党も、党利党略優先の対応は自制してほしい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 27, 2011)
（2011年1月27日01時49分 読売新聞）
2011/01/27
在沖縄米軍基地 負担減を普天間移設の一歩に
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 27, 2011)
Slowly but surely, ease Okinawa's burden
在沖縄米軍基地 負担減を普天間移設の一歩に（1月26日付・読売社説）
Slow but steady efforts must be made to reduce the burden shouldered by residents of Okinawa Prefecture in hosting U.S. military bases there, a task that needs to be fulfilled to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in the prefecture.
米軍基地負担の軽減策を地道に積み重ね、普天間飛行場の移設実現につなげねばなるまい。
On Tuesday, the national and prefectural governments held another round of talks on policy issues related to U.S. bases. At a section meeting on how to alleviate the burden of hosting bases, the central government reported on the recent agreement reached between Tokyo and Washington over a plan to transfer some exercises involving fighter planes from Kadena Air Base in the prefecture to Guam. The accord can be viewed as an effort to ease the suffering endured by residents due to noise pollution from the Kadena facility.
政府と沖縄県による沖縄政策協議会の米軍基地負担軽減部会で、政府は、嘉手納基地の戦闘機訓練の一部をグアムに移転するとの日米合意を報告した。周辺住民の騒音被害の軽減を図るものだ。
Also in Tuesday's meeting, the government told prefectural and other officials it was shifting into high gear in negotiations with the U.S. administration over an earlier bilateral accord on the Gimbaru Training Area. The government emphasized its determination to ensure that the agreement, reached on the return of the training site to Japan in 1996, would be implemented in July.
１９９６年に日米が合意していたギンバル訓練場の全面返還についても、政府は、今年７月の実現を目指し、米側との交渉を本格化させていると説明した。
There is no question that residents of Okinawa Prefecture have long been forced to endure an excessive burden, providing an overwhelming 75 percent of the land occupied by U.S. military bases and other facilities in this country.
在日米軍基地の７５％が集中する沖縄が、過重な負担を強いられていることは論をまたない。
Meanwhile, the significance of the U.S. armed presence in the prefecture is even greater today, given the severity of the recent security environment surrounding Japan and East Asia.
一方で、最近の日本と東アジアの安全保障環境は厳しく、米軍が沖縄に駐留する意義は大きくなっている。
===
Even small steps important
The latest agreement on the transfer of some exercises from the Kadena base, as well as the envisaged return of the Gimbaru site, point to the significance of making even the slightest headway in reducing the burden on the prefecture and obtaining support and cooperation for these actions from local residents. Doing so is indispensable for securing U.S. forces' stable use of military installations in the prefecture.
今回のような訓練移転や施設返還を通じて、沖縄の負担軽減を一歩でも進め、周辺住民の理解を広げることは、米軍基地の安定使用を確保するうえで欠かせない。
The Japanese government must continue to explore various ways of alleviating the burden born by residents in the prefecture and eventually achieve those goals.
政府は引き続き、様々な基地負担軽減策を追求し、実現していくことが求められよう。
Since last month, Prime Minister Naoto Kan and several Cabinet members associated with the base issue have visited Okinawa Prefecture.
先月以降、菅首相や関係閣僚の沖縄訪問が相次いでいる。
This comes after the Kan administration was often inclined to put off dealing with all intractable base-related problems, so we believe his government merits praise for beginning to seriously address the issue of U.S. bases in the prefecture.
菅政権は従来、難題をすべて先送りする姿勢が目立っていたが、沖縄の米軍基地問題に真剣に取り組み始めたこと自体は、前向きな動きと評価していい。
There is no doubt that the relocation of the Futenma installation is the most important task for the government in resolving the base issue.
無論、最も重要なのが普天間飛行場の移設問題である。
It will be no easy task for the Kan administration to make sure the prefectural government retracts its continued demand that the Futenma heliport be relocated outside the prefecture. Still, it is essential for it to make progress in resolving the Futenma dispute, a task that must be accomplished to help reduce the burden shouldered by residents near the heliport and restore trust in the Japan-U.S. alliance.
沖縄県側は、「県外移設」を主張しており、翻意させるのは簡単ではない。だが、普天間飛行場周辺住民の負担軽減と、日米同盟の信頼性回復の両方の観点から、問題を前進させることが大切だ。
With this in mind, the government must earnestly work to ease the burden shouldered by the prefecture as a whole and at the same time promote the development--economic, industrial and otherwise--of the prefecture, thus mending its tattered relations with local leaders and residents. This should be complemented by persistent efforts to persuade them to accept the government plan to relocate the Futenma base within the prefecture.
沖縄県全体の負担軽減や沖縄振興に誠実に取り組み、地元との関係を着実に修復する。そのうえで、普天間飛行場の県内移設について粘り強く説得を重ねる――。
All this is an obligation to be fulfilled by the Democratic Party of Japan-led government, which has created the current difficult situation involving the Futenma controversy.
それが、普天間問題の困難な現状を招いた民主党政権のとるべき道であり、責任だろう。
===
Cabinet needs united voice
It is disturbing to see that Cabinet ministers related to the base issue are far from united in addressing the Futenma dispute.
疑問なのは、関係閣僚の足並みが乱れていることだ。
Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara is hurrying to obtain a final government decision about matters related to the construction of an alternative facility for Futenma. For instance, he has reportedly insisted on dropping one of two alternatives presented in an earlier report compiled by specialists from the Japanese and U.S. governments concerning how to arrange runways at a planned new airfield, and called for adopting the other as the construction method for the project.
The report proposed two possible construction methods--one requiring two runways to be placed in a V-shaped configuration, and the other designed to build an extended runway in what is called the I-shaped format.
Maehara's approach is apparently aimed at laying the groundwork for a successful trip to the United States by the prime minister in the spring.
前原外相は、Ｖ字案とＩ字案がある滑走路配置方式の一本化など、普天間飛行場の代替施設計画の決定を急いでいる。今春の菅首相訪米の環境整備が狙いである。
The foreign minister's stance contrasts with the negative view expressed about his idea by Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa. "I will not adopt a crude approach in which the Japanese and U.S. governments bypass Okinawa in making decisions," Kitazawa has said.
だが、北沢防衛相は、「沖縄の頭越しで日米が物事を決める稚拙な対応はしない」と否定的だ。
It should be remembered that the Futenma issue became utterly confused partly because members of former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's Cabinet repeatedly expressed different positions. Kan needs to ensure that Cabinet members related to the issue of relocating Futenma speak with one voice.
閣僚がバラバラな言動を繰り返したことが、鳩山前政権が普天間問題を迷走させた一因だった。菅首相は、早期に関係閣僚の意思統一を図る必要がある。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 26, 2011)
（2011年1月26日01時17分 読売新聞）
Slowly but surely, ease Okinawa's burden
在沖縄米軍基地 負担減を普天間移設の一歩に（1月26日付・読売社説）
Slow but steady efforts must be made to reduce the burden shouldered by residents of Okinawa Prefecture in hosting U.S. military bases there, a task that needs to be fulfilled to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in the prefecture.
米軍基地負担の軽減策を地道に積み重ね、普天間飛行場の移設実現につなげねばなるまい。
On Tuesday, the national and prefectural governments held another round of talks on policy issues related to U.S. bases. At a section meeting on how to alleviate the burden of hosting bases, the central government reported on the recent agreement reached between Tokyo and Washington over a plan to transfer some exercises involving fighter planes from Kadena Air Base in the prefecture to Guam. The accord can be viewed as an effort to ease the suffering endured by residents due to noise pollution from the Kadena facility.
政府と沖縄県による沖縄政策協議会の米軍基地負担軽減部会で、政府は、嘉手納基地の戦闘機訓練の一部をグアムに移転するとの日米合意を報告した。周辺住民の騒音被害の軽減を図るものだ。
Also in Tuesday's meeting, the government told prefectural and other officials it was shifting into high gear in negotiations with the U.S. administration over an earlier bilateral accord on the Gimbaru Training Area. The government emphasized its determination to ensure that the agreement, reached on the return of the training site to Japan in 1996, would be implemented in July.
１９９６年に日米が合意していたギンバル訓練場の全面返還についても、政府は、今年７月の実現を目指し、米側との交渉を本格化させていると説明した。
There is no question that residents of Okinawa Prefecture have long been forced to endure an excessive burden, providing an overwhelming 75 percent of the land occupied by U.S. military bases and other facilities in this country.
在日米軍基地の７５％が集中する沖縄が、過重な負担を強いられていることは論をまたない。
Meanwhile, the significance of the U.S. armed presence in the prefecture is even greater today, given the severity of the recent security environment surrounding Japan and East Asia.
一方で、最近の日本と東アジアの安全保障環境は厳しく、米軍が沖縄に駐留する意義は大きくなっている。
===
Even small steps important
The latest agreement on the transfer of some exercises from the Kadena base, as well as the envisaged return of the Gimbaru site, point to the significance of making even the slightest headway in reducing the burden on the prefecture and obtaining support and cooperation for these actions from local residents. Doing so is indispensable for securing U.S. forces' stable use of military installations in the prefecture.
今回のような訓練移転や施設返還を通じて、沖縄の負担軽減を一歩でも進め、周辺住民の理解を広げることは、米軍基地の安定使用を確保するうえで欠かせない。
The Japanese government must continue to explore various ways of alleviating the burden born by residents in the prefecture and eventually achieve those goals.
政府は引き続き、様々な基地負担軽減策を追求し、実現していくことが求められよう。
Since last month, Prime Minister Naoto Kan and several Cabinet members associated with the base issue have visited Okinawa Prefecture.
先月以降、菅首相や関係閣僚の沖縄訪問が相次いでいる。
This comes after the Kan administration was often inclined to put off dealing with all intractable base-related problems, so we believe his government merits praise for beginning to seriously address the issue of U.S. bases in the prefecture.
菅政権は従来、難題をすべて先送りする姿勢が目立っていたが、沖縄の米軍基地問題に真剣に取り組み始めたこと自体は、前向きな動きと評価していい。
There is no doubt that the relocation of the Futenma installation is the most important task for the government in resolving the base issue.
無論、最も重要なのが普天間飛行場の移設問題である。
It will be no easy task for the Kan administration to make sure the prefectural government retracts its continued demand that the Futenma heliport be relocated outside the prefecture. Still, it is essential for it to make progress in resolving the Futenma dispute, a task that must be accomplished to help reduce the burden shouldered by residents near the heliport and restore trust in the Japan-U.S. alliance.
沖縄県側は、「県外移設」を主張しており、翻意させるのは簡単ではない。だが、普天間飛行場周辺住民の負担軽減と、日米同盟の信頼性回復の両方の観点から、問題を前進させることが大切だ。
With this in mind, the government must earnestly work to ease the burden shouldered by the prefecture as a whole and at the same time promote the development--economic, industrial and otherwise--of the prefecture, thus mending its tattered relations with local leaders and residents. This should be complemented by persistent efforts to persuade them to accept the government plan to relocate the Futenma base within the prefecture.
沖縄県全体の負担軽減や沖縄振興に誠実に取り組み、地元との関係を着実に修復する。そのうえで、普天間飛行場の県内移設について粘り強く説得を重ねる――。
All this is an obligation to be fulfilled by the Democratic Party of Japan-led government, which has created the current difficult situation involving the Futenma controversy.
それが、普天間問題の困難な現状を招いた民主党政権のとるべき道であり、責任だろう。
===
Cabinet needs united voice
It is disturbing to see that Cabinet ministers related to the base issue are far from united in addressing the Futenma dispute.
疑問なのは、関係閣僚の足並みが乱れていることだ。
Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara is hurrying to obtain a final government decision about matters related to the construction of an alternative facility for Futenma. For instance, he has reportedly insisted on dropping one of two alternatives presented in an earlier report compiled by specialists from the Japanese and U.S. governments concerning how to arrange runways at a planned new airfield, and called for adopting the other as the construction method for the project.
The report proposed two possible construction methods--one requiring two runways to be placed in a V-shaped configuration, and the other designed to build an extended runway in what is called the I-shaped format.
Maehara's approach is apparently aimed at laying the groundwork for a successful trip to the United States by the prime minister in the spring.
前原外相は、Ｖ字案とＩ字案がある滑走路配置方式の一本化など、普天間飛行場の代替施設計画の決定を急いでいる。今春の菅首相訪米の環境整備が狙いである。
The foreign minister's stance contrasts with the negative view expressed about his idea by Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa. "I will not adopt a crude approach in which the Japanese and U.S. governments bypass Okinawa in making decisions," Kitazawa has said.
だが、北沢防衛相は、「沖縄の頭越しで日米が物事を決める稚拙な対応はしない」と否定的だ。
It should be remembered that the Futenma issue became utterly confused partly because members of former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's Cabinet repeatedly expressed different positions. Kan needs to ensure that Cabinet members related to the issue of relocating Futenma speak with one voice.
閣僚がバラバラな言動を繰り返したことが、鳩山前政権が普天間問題を迷走させた一因だった。菅首相は、早期に関係閣僚の意思統一を図る必要がある。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 26, 2011)
（2011年1月26日01時17分 読売新聞）
2011/01/26
施政方針演説 政策実現へ周到な戦略で臨め
国民（市民、民衆）はマスメディアの報道の暗示にかかりやすい。
新聞社はとくにこの点に気をくばるべきだ。
我々一般市民は、やはり自分の目先の利益を追求するかたちが正当じゃないでしょうか。
消費税を引き上げるのはやめて欲しいし、高速道路は無料にしてほしい。
子供手当ても満額回答して欲しい。
これでよいと思います。
マスメディア主導の暗示にかかる必要はさらさらない。
一昨年我々が民主党を選んだときの心意気を忘れてはならない。
子ども手当でいえば、産みやすい環境をつくり、育ちを助けること。
民主党の公約は、高齢者に比べて手薄だった子どもへの投資を増やそうとする点では間違ってはいなかった。
それは、高齢者を支える世代を強めることにもつながる。
（スラチャイ記）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 26, 2011)
Govt must earn opposition's help
施政方針演説 政策実現へ周到な戦略で臨め（1月25日付・読売社説）
Prime Minister Naoto Kan must have a well-prepared strategy, beyond merely hoping for cooperation from opposition parties, to realize important policies.
重要な政策での協議をただ野党に求めるだけでなく、実現への戦略を持って臨むべきだ。
Kan made his first administrative policy speech on the opening day of the ordinary Diet session Monday. He called on the opposition camp to take part in consultations to resolve such pending issues as integrated reform of the social security and tax systems and whether to join negotiations over the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement.
通常国会が開幕し、菅首相が、初めての施政方針演説を行った。社会保障と税の一体改革や環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）参加問題など懸案を解決するため、野党に協議に応じるよう呼びかけた。
Given a divided Diet in which the ruling coalition parties have less than a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives while the House of Councillors is controlled by opposition parties, cooperation with the opposition camp is indispensable to passing budget-related and other important bills through the Diet.
衆参ねじれ国会の下、予算関連法案や重要法案を成立させるにも野党の協力は欠かせない。
We do not dispute the need for the prime minister's seemingly desperate call for cooperation.
切羽詰まった感のある首相の主張に、異論はない。
Will Kan make thorough preparations and exhibit determination to work out a consensus within his Democratic Party of Japan to obtain agreement from the opposition parties that have been cranking up their confrontational stance toward the DPJ-led government?
問題は、民主党内をまとめ、対決色を強める野党からも合意を得るだけの周到な準備と強い意志が首相にあるかどうかである。
Kan has announced a plan for the government and ruling parties to determine the direction of social security reform in April and put together a reform plan also involving the tax system in June.
首相は既に、政府・与党として４月に社会保障改革の方向性を出し、６月に税を含む改革案をまとめる考えを明らかにしている。
===
Present concrete measures
Unless the government and ruling parties present concrete measures, the opposition camp cannot be expected to join policy consultations.
政府・与党が、具体的な方針を示さなければ、協議を求めても、野党側は受け入れまい。
To expedite talks with the opposition, it is necessary for the ruling coalition parties to hold sufficient discussions on additional burdens to be borne by the people from as early as April--when they decide on the direction of social security reform--to seek the people's understanding on reforms they are going to promote.
野党との協議を急ぐためにも、４月の段階から国民の負担増に関して十分議論し、国民にも正面から理解を求める必要がある。
In his policy speech, Kan said the ruling and opposition parties "share the awareness of issues and many points of contention." His perception is reasonable. The opposition camp, for its part, has no reason to refuse to enter into talks with the ruling parties.
首相は演説の中で、与党と自民、公明など野党との間に「問題意識と論点の多くは共有されている」と述べた。妥当な認識である。野党側も協議を拒否する理由はないのではないか。
Concerning another major political issue, Japan's potential involvement in the TPP negotiations, Kan said his government would draw a conclusion on the matter in June. The government needs to expedite efforts to build a consensus in favor of taking part in the multilateral TPP negotiations, which have been accelerating under the leadership of the United States.
もう一つの大きな政治課題であるＴＰＰへの参加問題について、首相は６月をめどに結論を出すと言明した。しかし、米国の主導で関係国のＴＰＰ交渉は加速している。交渉参加への合意形成を急ぐ必要があるだろう。
Definitely lacking in the prime minister's speech was a sense of crisis over state finances, which have been deteriorating with combined debts of national and local governments ballooning to a staggering 868 trillion yen at the end of the current fiscal year.
首相の演説で、決定的に欠けていたのは、国・地方の借金残高が今年度末で８６８兆円にものぼる国家財政への危機感だ。
===
Review policy goals
In its 2009 general election campaign platform, the DPJ pledged to make highway tolls free and to provide public handouts, such as child-rearing allowances. But it is now clear the government cannot afford such measures. The DPJ should drastically review its platform, which said it would be possible to secure fiscal resources for such policies if wasteful spending was slashed under a DPJ-led government.
高速道路の無料化や子ども手当などバラマキ政策を続ける余裕はない。無駄を見直せば財源を生み出せるとしてきた政権公約を抜本的に改めるべきだ。
In regard to the DPJ's slogan of "lawmaker-led politics," the party has just reflected on and revised its stance of eliminating bureaucrats from the process of policymaking and coordination, which it admitted went overboard.
民主党の看板である「政治主導」については、政策立案・調整から官僚を排除してきたことが行き過ぎだったと自ら反省し、見直したばかりではないか。
If the DPJ demonstrates its willingness to carry out a sweeping review of its campaign platform, it will help the government secure smooth functioning in the split Diet.
政権公約を大胆に修正する意思を明確にすることが、ねじれ国会を乗り切る手だてにもなる。
Kan concluded his speech by saying the public expects the Diet to hold a constructive debate and draw conclusions promptly. He called on all Diet members to make this Diet session a "forum of in-depth deliberations."
首相は、演説の最後で、国民が国会に期待するのは建設的な議論と、先送りせず結論を出すことだと述べ、今度こそ「熟議の国会」にしようと全議員に訴えた。
He is quite right. We do not want to see a repetition of the unproductive extraordinary Diet session that ended early last month.
その通りである。臨時国会の二の舞いは見たくない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 25, 2011)
（2011年1月25日01時30分 読売新聞）
新聞社はとくにこの点に気をくばるべきだ。
我々一般市民は、やはり自分の目先の利益を追求するかたちが正当じゃないでしょうか。
消費税を引き上げるのはやめて欲しいし、高速道路は無料にしてほしい。
子供手当ても満額回答して欲しい。
これでよいと思います。
マスメディア主導の暗示にかかる必要はさらさらない。
一昨年我々が民主党を選んだときの心意気を忘れてはならない。
子ども手当でいえば、産みやすい環境をつくり、育ちを助けること。
民主党の公約は、高齢者に比べて手薄だった子どもへの投資を増やそうとする点では間違ってはいなかった。
それは、高齢者を支える世代を強めることにもつながる。
（スラチャイ記）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 26, 2011)
Govt must earn opposition's help
施政方針演説 政策実現へ周到な戦略で臨め（1月25日付・読売社説）
Prime Minister Naoto Kan must have a well-prepared strategy, beyond merely hoping for cooperation from opposition parties, to realize important policies.
重要な政策での協議をただ野党に求めるだけでなく、実現への戦略を持って臨むべきだ。
Kan made his first administrative policy speech on the opening day of the ordinary Diet session Monday. He called on the opposition camp to take part in consultations to resolve such pending issues as integrated reform of the social security and tax systems and whether to join negotiations over the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement.
通常国会が開幕し、菅首相が、初めての施政方針演説を行った。社会保障と税の一体改革や環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）参加問題など懸案を解決するため、野党に協議に応じるよう呼びかけた。
Given a divided Diet in which the ruling coalition parties have less than a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives while the House of Councillors is controlled by opposition parties, cooperation with the opposition camp is indispensable to passing budget-related and other important bills through the Diet.
衆参ねじれ国会の下、予算関連法案や重要法案を成立させるにも野党の協力は欠かせない。
We do not dispute the need for the prime minister's seemingly desperate call for cooperation.
切羽詰まった感のある首相の主張に、異論はない。
Will Kan make thorough preparations and exhibit determination to work out a consensus within his Democratic Party of Japan to obtain agreement from the opposition parties that have been cranking up their confrontational stance toward the DPJ-led government?
問題は、民主党内をまとめ、対決色を強める野党からも合意を得るだけの周到な準備と強い意志が首相にあるかどうかである。
Kan has announced a plan for the government and ruling parties to determine the direction of social security reform in April and put together a reform plan also involving the tax system in June.
首相は既に、政府・与党として４月に社会保障改革の方向性を出し、６月に税を含む改革案をまとめる考えを明らかにしている。
===
Present concrete measures
Unless the government and ruling parties present concrete measures, the opposition camp cannot be expected to join policy consultations.
政府・与党が、具体的な方針を示さなければ、協議を求めても、野党側は受け入れまい。
To expedite talks with the opposition, it is necessary for the ruling coalition parties to hold sufficient discussions on additional burdens to be borne by the people from as early as April--when they decide on the direction of social security reform--to seek the people's understanding on reforms they are going to promote.
野党との協議を急ぐためにも、４月の段階から国民の負担増に関して十分議論し、国民にも正面から理解を求める必要がある。
In his policy speech, Kan said the ruling and opposition parties "share the awareness of issues and many points of contention." His perception is reasonable. The opposition camp, for its part, has no reason to refuse to enter into talks with the ruling parties.
首相は演説の中で、与党と自民、公明など野党との間に「問題意識と論点の多くは共有されている」と述べた。妥当な認識である。野党側も協議を拒否する理由はないのではないか。
Concerning another major political issue, Japan's potential involvement in the TPP negotiations, Kan said his government would draw a conclusion on the matter in June. The government needs to expedite efforts to build a consensus in favor of taking part in the multilateral TPP negotiations, which have been accelerating under the leadership of the United States.
もう一つの大きな政治課題であるＴＰＰへの参加問題について、首相は６月をめどに結論を出すと言明した。しかし、米国の主導で関係国のＴＰＰ交渉は加速している。交渉参加への合意形成を急ぐ必要があるだろう。
Definitely lacking in the prime minister's speech was a sense of crisis over state finances, which have been deteriorating with combined debts of national and local governments ballooning to a staggering 868 trillion yen at the end of the current fiscal year.
首相の演説で、決定的に欠けていたのは、国・地方の借金残高が今年度末で８６８兆円にものぼる国家財政への危機感だ。
===
Review policy goals
In its 2009 general election campaign platform, the DPJ pledged to make highway tolls free and to provide public handouts, such as child-rearing allowances. But it is now clear the government cannot afford such measures. The DPJ should drastically review its platform, which said it would be possible to secure fiscal resources for such policies if wasteful spending was slashed under a DPJ-led government.
高速道路の無料化や子ども手当などバラマキ政策を続ける余裕はない。無駄を見直せば財源を生み出せるとしてきた政権公約を抜本的に改めるべきだ。
In regard to the DPJ's slogan of "lawmaker-led politics," the party has just reflected on and revised its stance of eliminating bureaucrats from the process of policymaking and coordination, which it admitted went overboard.
民主党の看板である「政治主導」については、政策立案・調整から官僚を排除してきたことが行き過ぎだったと自ら反省し、見直したばかりではないか。
If the DPJ demonstrates its willingness to carry out a sweeping review of its campaign platform, it will help the government secure smooth functioning in the split Diet.
政権公約を大胆に修正する意思を明確にすることが、ねじれ国会を乗り切る手だてにもなる。
Kan concluded his speech by saying the public expects the Diet to hold a constructive debate and draw conclusions promptly. He called on all Diet members to make this Diet session a "forum of in-depth deliberations."
首相は、演説の最後で、国民が国会に期待するのは建設的な議論と、先送りせず結論を出すことだと述べ、今度こそ「熟議の国会」にしようと全議員に訴えた。
He is quite right. We do not want to see a repetition of the unproductive extraordinary Diet session that ended early last month.
その通りである。臨時国会の二の舞いは見たくない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 25, 2011)
（2011年1月25日01時30分 読売新聞）
2011/01/25
How to get profit with affiliate
３年に及ぶアフィリエイト活動に対する卒業試験です＾＾。
スラチャイ今月の成果 (as of 2011/01/23) （バナ記者）
How to get profit with affiliate.
アフィリエイトで収益を得るための手順（マニュアル）
１） アフィリエイト掲載用ブログを用意する
現在日本で運営されているブログサイトの一部です↓
ASPに契約申請をする時点で、すでに一カ月間ほどのブログ記載（入力）が完了しているのが望ましいです。
２） ASP (affiliate service provider) （電子商取引仲介者）と契約する
現在日本で運営されているASPの一部です↓
３） バナ記者になる （A8.net記者になる）
ASPはたくさんありますが、紹介記事で収入を得ることのできるものが望ましい。
A8.netとバナーブリッジ（バナ記者）がお勧めです。
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自民党大会 政策で責任政党の役割果たせ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 25, 2011)
Opposition LDP must take responsible policy role
自民党大会 政策で責任政党の役割果たせ（1月24日付・読売社説）
As long as it aims to retake the reins of government, the Liberal Democratic Party must responsibly involve itself in tackling impending issues such as whether to raise the consumption tax rate and join negotiations over the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade agreement.
政権奪還を目指す以上は、責任政党として、喫緊の課題である消費税率引き上げや環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）参加の問題などにも積極的にかかわっていくべきだ。
In its annual convention Sunday, the LDP adopted an action plan to retake power as quickly as possible by pushing the Democratic Party of Japan-led government into dissolving the House of Representatives for a snap general election.
自民党が定期党大会を開いた。民主党政権を衆院解散・総選挙に追い込み、早期に政権復帰を果たすとする運動方針を採択した。
LDP President Sadakazu Tanigaki took a confrontational stance toward the government led by Prime Minister Naoto Kan, saying: "We'll grill the DPJ-led government over its policy failures. It's our responsibility as a fighting opposition party."
谷垣総裁は「民主党の失政を徹底的に追及する。戦う野党としての責務だ」と述べ、菅政権への対決姿勢を強く打ち出した。
But it can hardly be said the party has fully recovered its strength, as its action plan mentions it is too early to conclude that its stunning victory in last summer's House of Councillors election meant the voters want the LDP to return to power.
しかし、運動方針が、昨夏の参院選勝利は「政権に戻ってこい」との有権者の意思表示と見るのは早計、と書いている通り、党勢が回復したとは言いがたい。
In recent opinion polls, more people have picked the LDP over the DPJ as the party they would vote for in the lower house proportional representation bloc election. But it is reasonable to attribute this preference to the DPJ's failures. The LDP needs to play a role to check the DPJ-led government as well as to make steady efforts to regain public trust.
最近の世論調査で、衆院比例選の投票先として民主党を上回っているのも“敵失”が要因と見るべきだろう。自民党は、民主党政権を厳しくチェックするとともに、国民の信頼を取り戻す地道な努力を重ねることが必要である。
===
Rigid stance doesn't help
It is indispensable for the LDP to show a constructive stance on policy matters that could determine the nation's fate because it would have to tackle these issues if it regained power.
特に、国の命運を左右するような政策課題では、建設的な姿勢を示すことが大切だ。政権に復帰すれば、直ちに取り組まねばならない課題ではないか。
Tanigaki said at the party convention the DPJ must give up on the policies outlined in its campaign platform for the 2009 lower house election as a prerequisite for suprapartisan talks on reforming the tax and social security systems.
谷垣総裁は大会の中で、税制・社会保障改革を巡る超党派協議について、民主党による衆院選政権公約の「撤回」が協議に入るための「前提」との考えを示した。
He also complained that Kaoru Yosano, a former LDP lawmaker and currently state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy, has assumed the post in charge of these issues.
自民党出身の与謝野経済財政相がこの問題に関する司令塔になったことにも反発した。
It is true that many of the government's policies, such as cash handouts for child-rearing and other allowances, must be reexamined. But if the LDP clings to the position of not consulting with the government unless the DPJ gives up on the policies in its campaign platform, there will be no progress in discussions about key issues.
子ども手当などのバラマキ施策をはじめ、多くの点で見直しが必要なのは確かだ。しかし、撤回しない限り協議に応じない、というのでは議論が先に進まない。
The LDP must enter into talks with the ruling coalition without setting any conditions if the latter compiles and offers concrete measures on tax and social security system reforms. The LDP also should put aside its grudge against Yosano.
政府・与党が税制・社会保障改革に対する具体的な見解をまとめて提示してくるなら、前提をつけずに協議の席につくべきではないか。与謝野氏へのわだかまりも脇に置くべきだ。
===
Why no reference to TPP?
It is beyond our understanding that the LDP's action plan does not refer to participation in the TPP. Its secretary general, Nobuteru Ishihara, said before that the party would clarify its position on the matter in March.
運動方針にＴＰＰ参加問題への言及がないのも解せない。石原幹事長は以前、３月中に賛否をはっきりさせると言明したはずだ。
Many LDP lawmakers fear the party will lose votes if it pushes TPP participation, a policy strongly opposed by agricultural organizations.
党内には、ＴＰＰ参加を打ち出した場合、これに断固反対を訴える農業団体が離反して票を失うと懸念する議員が多い。
If the LDP hesitates to clarify its position on the TPP issue for that reason, it is not qualified to criticize the ruling coalition parties. The LDP, for its part, must promptly work out an intraparty consensus in favor of TPP participation.
それが理由で態度を曖昧にするなら、与党を批判できまい。自民党もＴＰＰ参加の方向で早急に党内の意見をまとめるべきだ。
The issue over the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture has been left pending since the LDP was in power.
外交面でも、米軍普天間飛行場の移設問題は、自民党が積み残した課題である。
The LDP cannot avoid criticism for being irresponsible if it sticks only to criticizing the DPJ.
民主党をただ批判するだけでは無責任のそしりを免れない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 24, 2011)
（2011年1月24日01時11分 読売新聞）
Opposition LDP must take responsible policy role
自民党大会 政策で責任政党の役割果たせ（1月24日付・読売社説）
As long as it aims to retake the reins of government, the Liberal Democratic Party must responsibly involve itself in tackling impending issues such as whether to raise the consumption tax rate and join negotiations over the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade agreement.
政権奪還を目指す以上は、責任政党として、喫緊の課題である消費税率引き上げや環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）参加の問題などにも積極的にかかわっていくべきだ。
In its annual convention Sunday, the LDP adopted an action plan to retake power as quickly as possible by pushing the Democratic Party of Japan-led government into dissolving the House of Representatives for a snap general election.
自民党が定期党大会を開いた。民主党政権を衆院解散・総選挙に追い込み、早期に政権復帰を果たすとする運動方針を採択した。
LDP President Sadakazu Tanigaki took a confrontational stance toward the government led by Prime Minister Naoto Kan, saying: "We'll grill the DPJ-led government over its policy failures. It's our responsibility as a fighting opposition party."
谷垣総裁は「民主党の失政を徹底的に追及する。戦う野党としての責務だ」と述べ、菅政権への対決姿勢を強く打ち出した。
But it can hardly be said the party has fully recovered its strength, as its action plan mentions it is too early to conclude that its stunning victory in last summer's House of Councillors election meant the voters want the LDP to return to power.
しかし、運動方針が、昨夏の参院選勝利は「政権に戻ってこい」との有権者の意思表示と見るのは早計、と書いている通り、党勢が回復したとは言いがたい。
In recent opinion polls, more people have picked the LDP over the DPJ as the party they would vote for in the lower house proportional representation bloc election. But it is reasonable to attribute this preference to the DPJ's failures. The LDP needs to play a role to check the DPJ-led government as well as to make steady efforts to regain public trust.
最近の世論調査で、衆院比例選の投票先として民主党を上回っているのも“敵失”が要因と見るべきだろう。自民党は、民主党政権を厳しくチェックするとともに、国民の信頼を取り戻す地道な努力を重ねることが必要である。
===
Rigid stance doesn't help
It is indispensable for the LDP to show a constructive stance on policy matters that could determine the nation's fate because it would have to tackle these issues if it regained power.
特に、国の命運を左右するような政策課題では、建設的な姿勢を示すことが大切だ。政権に復帰すれば、直ちに取り組まねばならない課題ではないか。
Tanigaki said at the party convention the DPJ must give up on the policies outlined in its campaign platform for the 2009 lower house election as a prerequisite for suprapartisan talks on reforming the tax and social security systems.
谷垣総裁は大会の中で、税制・社会保障改革を巡る超党派協議について、民主党による衆院選政権公約の「撤回」が協議に入るための「前提」との考えを示した。
He also complained that Kaoru Yosano, a former LDP lawmaker and currently state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy, has assumed the post in charge of these issues.
自民党出身の与謝野経済財政相がこの問題に関する司令塔になったことにも反発した。
It is true that many of the government's policies, such as cash handouts for child-rearing and other allowances, must be reexamined. But if the LDP clings to the position of not consulting with the government unless the DPJ gives up on the policies in its campaign platform, there will be no progress in discussions about key issues.
子ども手当などのバラマキ施策をはじめ、多くの点で見直しが必要なのは確かだ。しかし、撤回しない限り協議に応じない、というのでは議論が先に進まない。
The LDP must enter into talks with the ruling coalition without setting any conditions if the latter compiles and offers concrete measures on tax and social security system reforms. The LDP also should put aside its grudge against Yosano.
政府・与党が税制・社会保障改革に対する具体的な見解をまとめて提示してくるなら、前提をつけずに協議の席につくべきではないか。与謝野氏へのわだかまりも脇に置くべきだ。
===
Why no reference to TPP?
It is beyond our understanding that the LDP's action plan does not refer to participation in the TPP. Its secretary general, Nobuteru Ishihara, said before that the party would clarify its position on the matter in March.
運動方針にＴＰＰ参加問題への言及がないのも解せない。石原幹事長は以前、３月中に賛否をはっきりさせると言明したはずだ。
Many LDP lawmakers fear the party will lose votes if it pushes TPP participation, a policy strongly opposed by agricultural organizations.
党内には、ＴＰＰ参加を打ち出した場合、これに断固反対を訴える農業団体が離反して票を失うと懸念する議員が多い。
If the LDP hesitates to clarify its position on the TPP issue for that reason, it is not qualified to criticize the ruling coalition parties. The LDP, for its part, must promptly work out an intraparty consensus in favor of TPP participation.
それが理由で態度を曖昧にするなら、与党を批判できまい。自民党もＴＰＰ参加の方向で早急に党内の意見をまとめるべきだ。
The issue over the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture has been left pending since the LDP was in power.
外交面でも、米軍普天間飛行場の移設問題は、自民党が積み残した課題である。
The LDP cannot avoid criticism for being irresponsible if it sticks only to criticizing the DPJ.
民主党をただ批判するだけでは無責任のそしりを免れない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 24, 2011)
（2011年1月24日01時11分 読売新聞）
2011/01/24
膨張中国 経済力に見合った責任を果たせ
China must fulfill intl responsibilities
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 24, 2011)
膨張中国 経済力に見合った責任を果たせ（1月23日付・読売社説）
China, which is on the way to superpower status with its economic wealth and military strength, has become increasingly assertive.
豊かな経済力と強大な軍事力を後ろ盾に、超大国への道を歩む中国が自己主張を強めている。
Moves by this rising nation have the potential to bring structural changes to the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region.
興隆著しい中国の動きは、アジア太平洋地域における勢力分布に構造的変化をもたらしかねない。
◆南シナ海に権益拡大
While calling on Beijing for self-restraint, Japan must join hands with neighboring countries and show a resolute stance against China if it takes any actions aimed at achieving hegemony.
日本は中国に自制を求めつつ、覇権的な行動があれば、近隣諸国と連携し、毅然(きぜん)とした対応を取ることが肝要である。
In early January, the Chinese government announced a policy of quickly enacting maritime laws to strengthen the policing of its waters.
中国は今月上旬、海洋法規の立法化を加速させ、海上取り締まりを強化する方針を公表した。
Meanwhile, Beijing last spring expanded its claimed area of "core interests," which had been limited to Taiwan and Tibet, to the South China Sea.
昨年春には、台湾とチベットに限っていた「核心的利益」の適用範囲を南シナ海にも拡大した。
===
Freedom of seas paramount
Concerning this development, U.S. President Barack Obama stressed in front of Chinese President Hu Jintao at a joint press conference, held Wednesday after U.S.-China summit talks, that the United States has a fundamental interest in "maintaining freedom of navigation" in East Asia.
これに関し、オバマ米大統領は先の米中首脳会談後の記者会見で、中国の胡錦濤国家主席を前に、「東アジアでの自由航行権の確保」は米国にとって重要な利益だ、と強く訴えた。
The South China Sea is an important area where the interests of Japan, Southeast Asian countries and the United States coincide. Beijing's stance of treating the area as if it were China's own territory cannot be tolerated.
南シナ海は東南アジアや米国、日本など各国の利害が錯綜(さくそう)する重要な海域だ。これを自国領のように扱う中国の姿勢は、断じて受け入れられるものではない。
China's defense spending has seen double-digit increases every year for 21 years through 2009. Its navy and air force now have greatly enhanced hardware at their command.
中国国防費は、一昨年までの２１年間、２ケタ増を記録し、海、空軍の装備も大幅に強化された。
China is said to be pursuing a long-term maritime strategy. Its initial aim is to gain command of the seas and airspace inside the so-called "first island chain," a strategic defense line that runs from the Japanese archipelago to the South China Sea via Okinawa Prefecture and Taiwan.
中国は長期的な海洋戦略を立てている。日本列島―沖縄―台湾―南シナ海を結ぶ「第１列島線」の内側で、制海権や制空権を確保するのが当面の目標だ。
To achieve this goal, Beijing has developed an antiship ballistic missile dubbed an "aircraft carrier killer" and is building a few aircraft carriers of its own. It also has carried out trial flights of a next-generation stealth fighter.
そのため“空母キラー”と言われる対艦弾道ミサイルを開発し、複数の航空母艦を建造中だ。次世代ステルス戦闘機の試験飛行も始めている。
The country also wants to expand its military control to the "second island chain" that runs from the Ogasawara Islands down to Guam, beyond the East China Sea. This is to keep U.S. forces at bay in the western Pacific, with the eventual absorption of Taiwan in mind.
さらに台湾統一を念頭に、西太平洋への米軍の接近を阻止すべく「第２列島線」まで軍事的支配を拡大させることを狙っている。
Japan's Senkaku Islands are located in an area within the "first island chain" where China is developing oil fields beneath the seabed.
尖閣諸島は「第１列島線」の内側に位置し、中国が海底油田の開発を進めている海域でもある。
===
Strong response appropriate
◆経済力背景に強硬姿勢
Since a Chinese fishing boat rammed two Japan Coast Guard patrol ships in waters off the Senkaku Islands in September, China has frequently dispatched fisheries patrol boats to the area, apparently based on its maritime strategy.
昨年９月の中国漁船衝突事件の発生以降、中国が尖閣近海に漁業監視船を頻繁に送り込んでいるのも、こうした海洋戦略に沿ったものだろう。
It was appropriate that the government decided to enhance the defense of the Nansei Islands and the other islands in the new National Defense Program Outline adopted at the end of last year.
政府が昨年末、新たな「防衛計画の大綱」を決定し、南西諸島など島嶼(とうしょ)防衛の強化を打ち出したのは適切な判断だった。
It is also reasonable that the Japan Coast Guard is seeking revisions, including enhancement of maritime police authority, to relevant laws to strengthen its patrol and warning systems in response to the incident off the Senkaku Islands.
また、海上保安庁が尖閣での事件を受け、海上警察権の強化など関係法令を改正し、監視や警戒態勢を強めることも当然である。
Through diplomatic channels, the government must also demand that China honor Article 1 of the Japan-China Peace and Friendship Treaty, which says that each country shall respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the other.
互いの主権と領土保全の尊重を決めた日中平和友好条約１条の履行を中国側に求める日本の外交努力も欠かせない。
Meanwhile, for the sake of regional security including the safety of sea lanes, Tokyo must further deepen its partnerships with Australia, India, South Korea, the United States and other countries that share its concerns over China's military buildup.
米国や韓国、豪州、インドなど中国の軍備増強に懸念を共有する国々と、海上交通路の安全確保など域内の安全保障分野で一層、連携を深めなければならない。
China recently has started taking a harder stance because it has changed its diplomatic policy.
最近、中国が特に強硬な姿勢を示すようになったのは、外交方針を変更したためだ。
Beijing has recently emerged from 20 years of following a policy, advocated by late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, of keeping a low profile without showing its true colors.
これまでの過去２０年余りの方針は、最高権力者だったトウ小平氏が唱えた、実力を隠して低姿勢を保つという「韜光養晦(とうこうようかい)」だった。
The policy aimed to avoid friction with other countries and concentrate the nation's resources on domestic development as socialism ebbed away with the collapse of the Soviet Union.
ソ連崩壊で社会主義が退潮したため、対外的摩擦を避け、国内建設に集中する狙いがあった。
However, the Hu administration changed this policy in the summer of 2009 to a diplomatic stance of voicing its national interests more loudly.
しかし、胡錦濤政権は一昨年夏、自国の国益を積極的に主張する外交姿勢へと切り替えた。
The biggest reason for this change was China's accumulation of economic power, with a gross domestic product that was set to overtake that of Japan for the rank of second-largest in the world.
国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）が日本を抜いて世界２位になった、と確実視されるほど経済力を蓄えたことが一番の理由だろう。
With its wealth of foreign currency reserves, China has become the largest purchaser of U.S. Treasury bonds. Also, the country has recently been purchasing government bonds of some European countries in fiscal crisis.
豊富な外貨準備を使って、米国国債の最大の購入国となっているのに加えて、最近は財政危機にあえぐ欧州諸国の国債まで買い付ける勢いだ。
===
China faces domestic unease
◆総合的な対中戦略を
Members of China's current leadership under Hu, chief of the Chinese Communist Party as well as president of the country, are likely to retire at the party congress to be held in autumn 2012. Xi Jinping, vice president of the country, is likely to succeed to the post of general secretary.
胡党総書記（国家主席）が率いる現指導部は、来年秋の共産党大会で引退し、習近平国家副主席に総書記を引き継ぐと見られる。
In China, a small number of businesspeople, along with government and party bureaucrats, monopolize wealth and power, while some of the public continues to suffer from dire poverty.
中国では、少数の実業家と党・政府官僚が富と権力を独占する一方で、国民の一部は貧困にあえいでいる。
Frustration within Chinese society over widespread corruption, oppression of ethnic minorities such as Tibetans and Uighurs, and other issues is said to be approaching its limit.
汚職の蔓延(まんえん)や、チベット族やウイグル族への少数民族弾圧などで、社会の不満は限界に近づいているとされる。
If China neglects political reform, puts priority only on economic development and continues a high-handed approach to its international relationships, it could become a destabilizing factor for East Asia.
経済開発を優先して政治改革を怠り、高圧的な対外姿勢を続けるようでは、東アジアの不安定要因になりかねない。
The international community must patiently keep urging China to respect universal values such as democracy and human rights and to fulfill responsibilities commensurate with its national power.
国際社会は、中国が民主主義・人権といった普遍的な価値観を尊重し、その国力に見合った責任を果たすよう、粘り強く働きかけて行かなければならない。
Japan needs to construct a new strategy against China based on a comprehensive vision including diplomatic, security and economic considerations.
日本は、外交・安保、経済を含む総合的な観点に立った対中国戦略を構築する必要がある。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 23, 2011)
（2011年1月23日01時13分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 24, 2011)
膨張中国 経済力に見合った責任を果たせ（1月23日付・読売社説）
China, which is on the way to superpower status with its economic wealth and military strength, has become increasingly assertive.
豊かな経済力と強大な軍事力を後ろ盾に、超大国への道を歩む中国が自己主張を強めている。
Moves by this rising nation have the potential to bring structural changes to the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region.
興隆著しい中国の動きは、アジア太平洋地域における勢力分布に構造的変化をもたらしかねない。
◆南シナ海に権益拡大
While calling on Beijing for self-restraint, Japan must join hands with neighboring countries and show a resolute stance against China if it takes any actions aimed at achieving hegemony.
日本は中国に自制を求めつつ、覇権的な行動があれば、近隣諸国と連携し、毅然(きぜん)とした対応を取ることが肝要である。
In early January, the Chinese government announced a policy of quickly enacting maritime laws to strengthen the policing of its waters.
中国は今月上旬、海洋法規の立法化を加速させ、海上取り締まりを強化する方針を公表した。
Meanwhile, Beijing last spring expanded its claimed area of "core interests," which had been limited to Taiwan and Tibet, to the South China Sea.
昨年春には、台湾とチベットに限っていた「核心的利益」の適用範囲を南シナ海にも拡大した。
===
Freedom of seas paramount
Concerning this development, U.S. President Barack Obama stressed in front of Chinese President Hu Jintao at a joint press conference, held Wednesday after U.S.-China summit talks, that the United States has a fundamental interest in "maintaining freedom of navigation" in East Asia.
これに関し、オバマ米大統領は先の米中首脳会談後の記者会見で、中国の胡錦濤国家主席を前に、「東アジアでの自由航行権の確保」は米国にとって重要な利益だ、と強く訴えた。
The South China Sea is an important area where the interests of Japan, Southeast Asian countries and the United States coincide. Beijing's stance of treating the area as if it were China's own territory cannot be tolerated.
南シナ海は東南アジアや米国、日本など各国の利害が錯綜(さくそう)する重要な海域だ。これを自国領のように扱う中国の姿勢は、断じて受け入れられるものではない。
China's defense spending has seen double-digit increases every year for 21 years through 2009. Its navy and air force now have greatly enhanced hardware at their command.
中国国防費は、一昨年までの２１年間、２ケタ増を記録し、海、空軍の装備も大幅に強化された。
China is said to be pursuing a long-term maritime strategy. Its initial aim is to gain command of the seas and airspace inside the so-called "first island chain," a strategic defense line that runs from the Japanese archipelago to the South China Sea via Okinawa Prefecture and Taiwan.
中国は長期的な海洋戦略を立てている。日本列島―沖縄―台湾―南シナ海を結ぶ「第１列島線」の内側で、制海権や制空権を確保するのが当面の目標だ。
To achieve this goal, Beijing has developed an antiship ballistic missile dubbed an "aircraft carrier killer" and is building a few aircraft carriers of its own. It also has carried out trial flights of a next-generation stealth fighter.
そのため“空母キラー”と言われる対艦弾道ミサイルを開発し、複数の航空母艦を建造中だ。次世代ステルス戦闘機の試験飛行も始めている。
The country also wants to expand its military control to the "second island chain" that runs from the Ogasawara Islands down to Guam, beyond the East China Sea. This is to keep U.S. forces at bay in the western Pacific, with the eventual absorption of Taiwan in mind.
さらに台湾統一を念頭に、西太平洋への米軍の接近を阻止すべく「第２列島線」まで軍事的支配を拡大させることを狙っている。
Japan's Senkaku Islands are located in an area within the "first island chain" where China is developing oil fields beneath the seabed.
尖閣諸島は「第１列島線」の内側に位置し、中国が海底油田の開発を進めている海域でもある。
===
Strong response appropriate
◆経済力背景に強硬姿勢
Since a Chinese fishing boat rammed two Japan Coast Guard patrol ships in waters off the Senkaku Islands in September, China has frequently dispatched fisheries patrol boats to the area, apparently based on its maritime strategy.
昨年９月の中国漁船衝突事件の発生以降、中国が尖閣近海に漁業監視船を頻繁に送り込んでいるのも、こうした海洋戦略に沿ったものだろう。
It was appropriate that the government decided to enhance the defense of the Nansei Islands and the other islands in the new National Defense Program Outline adopted at the end of last year.
政府が昨年末、新たな「防衛計画の大綱」を決定し、南西諸島など島嶼(とうしょ)防衛の強化を打ち出したのは適切な判断だった。
It is also reasonable that the Japan Coast Guard is seeking revisions, including enhancement of maritime police authority, to relevant laws to strengthen its patrol and warning systems in response to the incident off the Senkaku Islands.
また、海上保安庁が尖閣での事件を受け、海上警察権の強化など関係法令を改正し、監視や警戒態勢を強めることも当然である。
Through diplomatic channels, the government must also demand that China honor Article 1 of the Japan-China Peace and Friendship Treaty, which says that each country shall respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the other.
互いの主権と領土保全の尊重を決めた日中平和友好条約１条の履行を中国側に求める日本の外交努力も欠かせない。
Meanwhile, for the sake of regional security including the safety of sea lanes, Tokyo must further deepen its partnerships with Australia, India, South Korea, the United States and other countries that share its concerns over China's military buildup.
米国や韓国、豪州、インドなど中国の軍備増強に懸念を共有する国々と、海上交通路の安全確保など域内の安全保障分野で一層、連携を深めなければならない。
China recently has started taking a harder stance because it has changed its diplomatic policy.
最近、中国が特に強硬な姿勢を示すようになったのは、外交方針を変更したためだ。
Beijing has recently emerged from 20 years of following a policy, advocated by late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, of keeping a low profile without showing its true colors.
これまでの過去２０年余りの方針は、最高権力者だったトウ小平氏が唱えた、実力を隠して低姿勢を保つという「韜光養晦(とうこうようかい)」だった。
The policy aimed to avoid friction with other countries and concentrate the nation's resources on domestic development as socialism ebbed away with the collapse of the Soviet Union.
ソ連崩壊で社会主義が退潮したため、対外的摩擦を避け、国内建設に集中する狙いがあった。
However, the Hu administration changed this policy in the summer of 2009 to a diplomatic stance of voicing its national interests more loudly.
しかし、胡錦濤政権は一昨年夏、自国の国益を積極的に主張する外交姿勢へと切り替えた。
The biggest reason for this change was China's accumulation of economic power, with a gross domestic product that was set to overtake that of Japan for the rank of second-largest in the world.
国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）が日本を抜いて世界２位になった、と確実視されるほど経済力を蓄えたことが一番の理由だろう。
With its wealth of foreign currency reserves, China has become the largest purchaser of U.S. Treasury bonds. Also, the country has recently been purchasing government bonds of some European countries in fiscal crisis.
豊富な外貨準備を使って、米国国債の最大の購入国となっているのに加えて、最近は財政危機にあえぐ欧州諸国の国債まで買い付ける勢いだ。
===
China faces domestic unease
◆総合的な対中戦略を
Members of China's current leadership under Hu, chief of the Chinese Communist Party as well as president of the country, are likely to retire at the party congress to be held in autumn 2012. Xi Jinping, vice president of the country, is likely to succeed to the post of general secretary.
胡党総書記（国家主席）が率いる現指導部は、来年秋の共産党大会で引退し、習近平国家副主席に総書記を引き継ぐと見られる。
In China, a small number of businesspeople, along with government and party bureaucrats, monopolize wealth and power, while some of the public continues to suffer from dire poverty.
中国では、少数の実業家と党・政府官僚が富と権力を独占する一方で、国民の一部は貧困にあえいでいる。
Frustration within Chinese society over widespread corruption, oppression of ethnic minorities such as Tibetans and Uighurs, and other issues is said to be approaching its limit.
汚職の蔓延(まんえん)や、チベット族やウイグル族への少数民族弾圧などで、社会の不満は限界に近づいているとされる。
If China neglects political reform, puts priority only on economic development and continues a high-handed approach to its international relationships, it could become a destabilizing factor for East Asia.
経済開発を優先して政治改革を怠り、高圧的な対外姿勢を続けるようでは、東アジアの不安定要因になりかねない。
The international community must patiently keep urging China to respect universal values such as democracy and human rights and to fulfill responsibilities commensurate with its national power.
国際社会は、中国が民主主義・人権といった普遍的な価値観を尊重し、その国力に見合った責任を果たすよう、粘り強く働きかけて行かなければならない。
Japan needs to construct a new strategy against China based on a comprehensive vision including diplomatic, security and economic considerations.
日本は、外交・安保、経済を含む総合的な観点に立った対中国戦略を構築する必要がある。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 23, 2011)
（2011年1月23日01時13分 読売新聞）
2011/01/23
尖閣沖漁船衝突 事件を総括し危機対応見直せ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 23, 2011)
Learn Senkaku lessons: Beef up crisis control
尖閣沖漁船衝突 事件を総括し危機対応見直せ（1月22日付・読売社説）
Prosecutors in Tokyo and Naha brought two related incidents to their final legal conclusions Friday as they decided to indict neither the captain of a Chinese fishing boat that crashed into two Japan Coast Guard patrol ships off the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture last year nor the former JCG officer who leaked video footage of that incident onto the Internet.
尖閣諸島沖の中国漁船衝突事件と、元海上保安官によるビデオ映像流出事件の捜査は、元保安官と中国人船長がともに不起訴（起訴猶予）となることで終結した。
There were multiple problems with the entire process of the government's handling of the two cases--from the arrest and release of the Chinese captain to the splash the leaked video made on the Internet.
中国人船長の逮捕から釈放、さらにビデオ流出に至る過程で、政府の対応には極めて問題が多かった。
The government must now take this opportunity to improve its crisis management and information control policies by fully and closely examining the development of the two cases.
これを機に、政府は事件全体を総括し、危機対応や情報管理の見直しを進めねばならない。
Prosecution authorities decided not to indict the former JCG officer, whose papers had been sent to the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office on suspicion of violating his duty to preserve secrets under the National Civil Service Law. They did so in consideration of several points, including the fact that every employee at the JCG could view the footage in question due to sloppy handling by the JCG.
検察当局が、国家公務員法の守秘義務違反の疑いで書類送検されていた元保安官を不起訴にしたのは、問題の映像が海上保安庁のずさんな管理により、海保職員なら誰でも見られる状態にあった点などを考慮したためだ。
The former officer already resigned after he was given a 12-month suspension from duty. This probably also affected the decision.
元保安官が停職１２か月の懲戒処分を受け、既に辞職したことも影響したのだろう。
===
No official revelation
There was no doubt of the illegality of the actions of the Chinese fishing boat that rammed the JCG patrol vessels in Japanese territorial waters.
日本の領海内で海保の巡視船に体当たりした中国漁船の違法行為は、疑う余地がなかった。
Despite that, the government did not make the video footage recorded by the JCG public immediately after the incident and thus missed the chance to use it to convince the world of the legitimacy of Japan's arrest of the captain.
にもかかわらず政府は、事件直後に映像を公開せず、日本側の正当性をアピールする機会を逃した。
The government continued to refuse to reveal the footage to the general public. Such inaction virtually invited the video leak to occur.
その後もビデオの一般公開を拒み続け、結果として元保安官によるビデオ流出を招いた。
It is crystal clear that the government made bad judgments.
政府の判断ミスは明白だ。
Opposition parties passed censure motions against former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku and former Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Sumio Mabuchi in the House of Councillors.
仙谷由人前官房長官と馬淵澄夫前国土交通相は参院で問責決議を可決された。
In the eyes of the public, some politicians would have to take responsibility for the cases. Thus, it is safe to say that this current of public opinion supported the opposition parties' demands that the two ministers be removed from office.
両者の更迭を求める野党の姿勢を、政治のけじめなしでは済まされない、という世論が支えたと言える。
Clearly, the government must immediately tackle the task of improving its information control system. As the video leak case shows, information can spread across the Internet in the blink of an eye. The government must provide a thorough education in ethics to public servants concerning the handling of information.
情報管理態勢の整備を急ぐことは言うまでもない。ビデオ映像流出が示す通り、ネット上で情報が瞬時に拡散する時代である。情報の取り扱いに関する公務員の倫理教育も徹底すべきだ。
===
Political settlement surely made
Meanwhile, Naha prosecutors said Friday they decided not to indict the Chinese captain for reasons including the fact that there were no injuries in the incident.
一方、中国人船長については、検察は衝突で負傷者が出なかったことなどを不起訴理由に挙げた。
However, we believe that prosecutors had already decided not to pursue criminal punishment of the captain when he was released and sent back to China, even though the case against him had not officially been dropped at that point.
だが、処分保留のまま釈放し中国に送還した時点で、刑事罰は問わないとの結論を事実上出していたというのが実情だろう。
It is still not known exactly what happened in the process leading up to the captain's release. The government has called it an independent decision by the prosecutors. But we believe a political settlement must have been made on the matter due to pressure from China--including the detention of Japanese company employees in that country.
釈放の経緯は不透明なままだ。政府は検察独自の判断だったと説明しているが、日本人社員の拘束など中国側の圧力で政治決着が図られたことは間違いあるまい。
We would like the government to seriously consider the fact that it has caused the Japanese people to doubt the independence of the justice system.
司法の独立に対する不信感を国民に与えたことを、政府は深刻に受け止めてもらいたい。
Another necessary step is the strengthening of the JCG's activities in guarding the nation's territorial waters.
無論、海保による領海警備も強化する必要がある。
The Senkaku collision case has raised various issues that the government has to consider in the fields of diplomacy and national security.
漁船衝突事件は、外交・安全保障の面で、様々な課題を突きつけた。
How should Japan build relationships hereafter with China, which is making increasing territorial claims and expanding its military presence on the sea? We again urge the government to study this question from a political viewpoint, learning valuable lessons from the two incidents.
外洋進出を強める中国との関係を今後どう築いていくのか、政治的な観点からも事件を教訓にした検討が改めて求められよう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 22, 2011)
（2011年1月22日01時20分 読売新聞）
Learn Senkaku lessons: Beef up crisis control
尖閣沖漁船衝突 事件を総括し危機対応見直せ（1月22日付・読売社説）
Prosecutors in Tokyo and Naha brought two related incidents to their final legal conclusions Friday as they decided to indict neither the captain of a Chinese fishing boat that crashed into two Japan Coast Guard patrol ships off the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture last year nor the former JCG officer who leaked video footage of that incident onto the Internet.
尖閣諸島沖の中国漁船衝突事件と、元海上保安官によるビデオ映像流出事件の捜査は、元保安官と中国人船長がともに不起訴（起訴猶予）となることで終結した。
There were multiple problems with the entire process of the government's handling of the two cases--from the arrest and release of the Chinese captain to the splash the leaked video made on the Internet.
中国人船長の逮捕から釈放、さらにビデオ流出に至る過程で、政府の対応には極めて問題が多かった。
The government must now take this opportunity to improve its crisis management and information control policies by fully and closely examining the development of the two cases.
これを機に、政府は事件全体を総括し、危機対応や情報管理の見直しを進めねばならない。
Prosecution authorities decided not to indict the former JCG officer, whose papers had been sent to the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office on suspicion of violating his duty to preserve secrets under the National Civil Service Law. They did so in consideration of several points, including the fact that every employee at the JCG could view the footage in question due to sloppy handling by the JCG.
検察当局が、国家公務員法の守秘義務違反の疑いで書類送検されていた元保安官を不起訴にしたのは、問題の映像が海上保安庁のずさんな管理により、海保職員なら誰でも見られる状態にあった点などを考慮したためだ。
The former officer already resigned after he was given a 12-month suspension from duty. This probably also affected the decision.
元保安官が停職１２か月の懲戒処分を受け、既に辞職したことも影響したのだろう。
===
No official revelation
There was no doubt of the illegality of the actions of the Chinese fishing boat that rammed the JCG patrol vessels in Japanese territorial waters.
日本の領海内で海保の巡視船に体当たりした中国漁船の違法行為は、疑う余地がなかった。
Despite that, the government did not make the video footage recorded by the JCG public immediately after the incident and thus missed the chance to use it to convince the world of the legitimacy of Japan's arrest of the captain.
にもかかわらず政府は、事件直後に映像を公開せず、日本側の正当性をアピールする機会を逃した。
The government continued to refuse to reveal the footage to the general public. Such inaction virtually invited the video leak to occur.
その後もビデオの一般公開を拒み続け、結果として元保安官によるビデオ流出を招いた。
It is crystal clear that the government made bad judgments.
政府の判断ミスは明白だ。
Opposition parties passed censure motions against former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku and former Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Sumio Mabuchi in the House of Councillors.
仙谷由人前官房長官と馬淵澄夫前国土交通相は参院で問責決議を可決された。
In the eyes of the public, some politicians would have to take responsibility for the cases. Thus, it is safe to say that this current of public opinion supported the opposition parties' demands that the two ministers be removed from office.
両者の更迭を求める野党の姿勢を、政治のけじめなしでは済まされない、という世論が支えたと言える。
Clearly, the government must immediately tackle the task of improving its information control system. As the video leak case shows, information can spread across the Internet in the blink of an eye. The government must provide a thorough education in ethics to public servants concerning the handling of information.
情報管理態勢の整備を急ぐことは言うまでもない。ビデオ映像流出が示す通り、ネット上で情報が瞬時に拡散する時代である。情報の取り扱いに関する公務員の倫理教育も徹底すべきだ。
===
Political settlement surely made
Meanwhile, Naha prosecutors said Friday they decided not to indict the Chinese captain for reasons including the fact that there were no injuries in the incident.
一方、中国人船長については、検察は衝突で負傷者が出なかったことなどを不起訴理由に挙げた。
However, we believe that prosecutors had already decided not to pursue criminal punishment of the captain when he was released and sent back to China, even though the case against him had not officially been dropped at that point.
だが、処分保留のまま釈放し中国に送還した時点で、刑事罰は問わないとの結論を事実上出していたというのが実情だろう。
It is still not known exactly what happened in the process leading up to the captain's release. The government has called it an independent decision by the prosecutors. But we believe a political settlement must have been made on the matter due to pressure from China--including the detention of Japanese company employees in that country.
釈放の経緯は不透明なままだ。政府は検察独自の判断だったと説明しているが、日本人社員の拘束など中国側の圧力で政治決着が図られたことは間違いあるまい。
We would like the government to seriously consider the fact that it has caused the Japanese people to doubt the independence of the justice system.
司法の独立に対する不信感を国民に与えたことを、政府は深刻に受け止めてもらいたい。
Another necessary step is the strengthening of the JCG's activities in guarding the nation's territorial waters.
無論、海保による領海警備も強化する必要がある。
The Senkaku collision case has raised various issues that the government has to consider in the fields of diplomacy and national security.
漁船衝突事件は、外交・安全保障の面で、様々な課題を突きつけた。
How should Japan build relationships hereafter with China, which is making increasing territorial claims and expanding its military presence on the sea? We again urge the government to study this question from a political viewpoint, learning valuable lessons from the two incidents.
外洋進出を強める中国との関係を今後どう築いていくのか、政治的な観点からも事件を教訓にした検討が改めて求められよう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 22, 2011)
（2011年1月22日01時20分 読売新聞）
2011/01/22
ＧＤＰ世界２位 「昇竜中国」にも課題は多い
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 22, 2011)
Rising dragon, China faces many challenges
ＧＤＰ世界２位 「昇竜中国」にも課題は多い（1月21日付・読売社説）
It is now certain that China will overtake Japan as the world's second-largest economy, as evidenced by China's gross domestic product in 2010.
中国が２０１０年の国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）の規模で日本を抜き、世界２位の経済大国になることが確実になった。
China's economy grew 10.3 percent in real terms last year, with its GDP totaling 39.8 trillion yuan (about 5.88 trillion dollars) on a nominal basis, according to a preliminary report announced Thursday by the Chinese government.
中国政府が２０日に発表した速報で、昨年の実質成長率が１０・３％を記録し、名目ＧＤＰが３９兆７９８３億元（約５兆８７９０億ドル）に達した。
Japan's nominal GDP in 2010 will be announced in February, but it is expected to total about 5.45 trillion dollars and is certain to fall below China's.
日本の昨年の名目ＧＤＰは２月に公表されるが、５兆４５００億ドル程度にとどまる見通しで、中国を下回ることが確定的だ。
Japan has been the world's second-largest economy after the United States since 1968. As a result of the prolonged economic stagnation that followed the collapse of the bubble economy in the early 1990s, however, it will relinquish that status to China. This is indeed a historic switch in the two countries' rankings.
日本は１９６８年以来、米国に次ぐ２位を４２年間守ってきた。しかし、バブル経済崩壊後の長期低迷が響き、ついにその座を明け渡すことになった。歴史的な日中逆転である。
===
Significant income gaps
Despite its robust growth, however, China's economy faces a mountain of challenges. China's per capita GDP stands at about 4,000 dollars, or just one-tenth of Japan's, and there are large income gaps between people in urban and rural areas, and between people in coastal and inland areas.
しかし、中国経済には問題が山積している。１人当たりＧＤＰは約４０００ドルと日本の１０分の１にとどまり、都市部と農村部、沿岸部と内陸部で所得格差も大きい。
The challenge lies in whether the country can rectify these disparities and achieve balanced growth.
格差を是正し、均衡ある発展を実現できるかどうかが課題だ。
The Chinese economy has grown fast, primarily because Beijing has used its ample supply of cheap labor to bring in foreign capital.
中国経済が急成長した要因は、安価で豊富な労働力を武器に、外資を積極的に受け入れたことだろう。
With China seen as "the world's factory," meaning a leading manufacturer and exporter of consumer goods, foreign capital has flooded into the country, bringing about rapid economic growth driven by exports.
「世界の工場」として投資が急増し、輸出主導による経済成長に成功した。
Beijing quickly overcame the financial crisis in 2008 and the subsequent global recession, thanks to its sizable economic stimulus measures. Events of great national significance, such as the Summer Olympics in Beijing in 2008 and the World Expo in Shanghai in 2010, appear to have provided a good tailwind for economic growth.
０８年の金融危機とその後の世界不況も、大型の景気対策でいち早く克服した。北京五輪や上海万博などの国家的イベントも、経済成長の追い風になったようだ。
===
Food, other prices climb
As a result of the overheated economy, the prices of food and other commodities have soared in recent years. The biggest cause of concern is the economic bubble that has developed in the real estate sector.
ところが、最近では、景気の過熱に伴い、食料品などの物価が高騰し、不動産バブルが生じていることが最大の懸念材料だ。
Late last year Chinese authorities changed the country's monetary policy and tightened credit, raising interest rates twice. Although these were quite reasonable measures, they will only have a limited effect on holding down inflation.
中国当局が昨年末、金融政策の方針を転換し、利上げを２回実施するなど、金融引き締めに動いている。これは当然の対応だが、インフレ抑制の効果は限定的だ。
There also are signs the economic bubble is expanding.
バブルが加速する気配もある。
How will Beijing cool down its overheated economy, while averting a downturn as a result of rapid credit tightening? Guiding the Chinese economy is very difficult, but its stability will influence the prospects for a full-fledged recovery in the world economy.
急激な引き締めによる景気失速を避けつつ、景気過熱をどう沈静化するか。舵(かじ)取りは極めて難しい。中国経済の安定が、世界経済の本格回復の行方を左右しよう。
China's yuan currency also is still undergoing reform. Chinese authorities are limiting the yuan's appreciation by intervening in the exchange markets, which means surplus money is in circulation, bringing about price increases.
人民元改革もまだ途上だ。為替介入で元高を抑制しているため、過剰マネーが市中にあふれ、物価上昇を招いている。
As a result of the currency market interventions, China's foreign reserves reached the unusually high figure of about 2.8 trillion dollars (about 236 trillion yen) at the end of last year. The yuan needs to be revaluated steadily, commensurate to the country's economic strength.
為替介入の結果、昨年末の外貨準備高が約２・８兆ドル（約２３６兆円）に達したのも異常である。経済力に応じた元の切り上げを着実に実現すべきだ。
It is very important for China to bring about a structural shift to an economy that does not overly depend on exports but is fueled by domestic demand.
中国にとって重要なのは、過度に輸出に頼らない、内需主導型経済への構造転換である。
The country has a large role to assume in such global issues as fighting global warming. China's international responsibilities as an economic powerhouse will continue to grow.
地球温暖化対策など、グローバルな課題で果たすべき役割も大きい。経済大国の責任はますます重くなる。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 21, 2011)
（2011年1月21日01時14分 読売新聞）
Rising dragon, China faces many challenges
ＧＤＰ世界２位 「昇竜中国」にも課題は多い（1月21日付・読売社説）
It is now certain that China will overtake Japan as the world's second-largest economy, as evidenced by China's gross domestic product in 2010.
中国が２０１０年の国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）の規模で日本を抜き、世界２位の経済大国になることが確実になった。
China's economy grew 10.3 percent in real terms last year, with its GDP totaling 39.8 trillion yuan (about 5.88 trillion dollars) on a nominal basis, according to a preliminary report announced Thursday by the Chinese government.
中国政府が２０日に発表した速報で、昨年の実質成長率が１０・３％を記録し、名目ＧＤＰが３９兆７９８３億元（約５兆８７９０億ドル）に達した。
Japan's nominal GDP in 2010 will be announced in February, but it is expected to total about 5.45 trillion dollars and is certain to fall below China's.
日本の昨年の名目ＧＤＰは２月に公表されるが、５兆４５００億ドル程度にとどまる見通しで、中国を下回ることが確定的だ。
Japan has been the world's second-largest economy after the United States since 1968. As a result of the prolonged economic stagnation that followed the collapse of the bubble economy in the early 1990s, however, it will relinquish that status to China. This is indeed a historic switch in the two countries' rankings.
日本は１９６８年以来、米国に次ぐ２位を４２年間守ってきた。しかし、バブル経済崩壊後の長期低迷が響き、ついにその座を明け渡すことになった。歴史的な日中逆転である。
===
Significant income gaps
Despite its robust growth, however, China's economy faces a mountain of challenges. China's per capita GDP stands at about 4,000 dollars, or just one-tenth of Japan's, and there are large income gaps between people in urban and rural areas, and between people in coastal and inland areas.
しかし、中国経済には問題が山積している。１人当たりＧＤＰは約４０００ドルと日本の１０分の１にとどまり、都市部と農村部、沿岸部と内陸部で所得格差も大きい。
The challenge lies in whether the country can rectify these disparities and achieve balanced growth.
格差を是正し、均衡ある発展を実現できるかどうかが課題だ。
The Chinese economy has grown fast, primarily because Beijing has used its ample supply of cheap labor to bring in foreign capital.
中国経済が急成長した要因は、安価で豊富な労働力を武器に、外資を積極的に受け入れたことだろう。
With China seen as "the world's factory," meaning a leading manufacturer and exporter of consumer goods, foreign capital has flooded into the country, bringing about rapid economic growth driven by exports.
「世界の工場」として投資が急増し、輸出主導による経済成長に成功した。
Beijing quickly overcame the financial crisis in 2008 and the subsequent global recession, thanks to its sizable economic stimulus measures. Events of great national significance, such as the Summer Olympics in Beijing in 2008 and the World Expo in Shanghai in 2010, appear to have provided a good tailwind for economic growth.
０８年の金融危機とその後の世界不況も、大型の景気対策でいち早く克服した。北京五輪や上海万博などの国家的イベントも、経済成長の追い風になったようだ。
===
Food, other prices climb
As a result of the overheated economy, the prices of food and other commodities have soared in recent years. The biggest cause of concern is the economic bubble that has developed in the real estate sector.
ところが、最近では、景気の過熱に伴い、食料品などの物価が高騰し、不動産バブルが生じていることが最大の懸念材料だ。
Late last year Chinese authorities changed the country's monetary policy and tightened credit, raising interest rates twice. Although these were quite reasonable measures, they will only have a limited effect on holding down inflation.
中国当局が昨年末、金融政策の方針を転換し、利上げを２回実施するなど、金融引き締めに動いている。これは当然の対応だが、インフレ抑制の効果は限定的だ。
There also are signs the economic bubble is expanding.
バブルが加速する気配もある。
How will Beijing cool down its overheated economy, while averting a downturn as a result of rapid credit tightening? Guiding the Chinese economy is very difficult, but its stability will influence the prospects for a full-fledged recovery in the world economy.
急激な引き締めによる景気失速を避けつつ、景気過熱をどう沈静化するか。舵(かじ)取りは極めて難しい。中国経済の安定が、世界経済の本格回復の行方を左右しよう。
China's yuan currency also is still undergoing reform. Chinese authorities are limiting the yuan's appreciation by intervening in the exchange markets, which means surplus money is in circulation, bringing about price increases.
人民元改革もまだ途上だ。為替介入で元高を抑制しているため、過剰マネーが市中にあふれ、物価上昇を招いている。
As a result of the currency market interventions, China's foreign reserves reached the unusually high figure of about 2.8 trillion dollars (about 236 trillion yen) at the end of last year. The yuan needs to be revaluated steadily, commensurate to the country's economic strength.
為替介入の結果、昨年末の外貨準備高が約２・８兆ドル（約２３６兆円）に達したのも異常である。経済力に応じた元の切り上げを着実に実現すべきだ。
It is very important for China to bring about a structural shift to an economy that does not overly depend on exports but is fueled by domestic demand.
中国にとって重要なのは、過度に輸出に頼らない、内需主導型経済への構造転換である。
The country has a large role to assume in such global issues as fighting global warming. China's international responsibilities as an economic powerhouse will continue to grow.
地球温暖化対策など、グローバルな課題で果たすべき役割も大きい。経済大国の責任はますます重くなる。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 21, 2011)
（2011年1月21日01時14分 読売新聞）
2011/01/21
年金改革―民主案は税方式なのか
英文はきわめて平易ですが、内容が難しい。
日本語で何度も読み返しましたが、意味がわからない部分が多い。
皆さん、この社会保障制度改革の内容がわかりましたか？
私には理解不能でした＾＾。
はやい話、国民はもっと費用を負担しなさいということでしょう。
税でまかなうといったって、税金は国民が支払っているものです。
まったく同じことではないでしょうか。
（スラチャイ記）
2011/01/21
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 20
EDITORIAL: Pension system reform
年金改革―民主案は税方式なのか
The government and the ruling Democratic Party of Japan say they want to hold talks with the opposition parties to push integrated tax and social security reform.
「税と社会保障の一体改革」をめざす政府・与党は、野党とも協議を進めたいという。
But such talks are unlikely to take place as long as the DPJ's blueprint for pension reform remains ambiguous.
だが、肝心の民主党の年金改革案があやふやでは、話が始まらないのではないか。
The ruling party has failed to offer a clear-cut reform plan and given half-baked explanations about its vision for the future of the pension system.
原因は民主党がきちんとした案を示さず、中途半端な説明をしてきたことにある。
First of all, the DPJ needs to build solid consensus within the party through debate and make clear its reform plan to the public.
まずは党内の議論を整理して、国民に民主党案とは何なのかを明らかにすることが先決だろう。
The DPJ proposed a new tax-financed system to provide guaranteed minimum monthly pension benefits of 70,000 yen ($840).
これまでに民主党は月額７万円の最低保障年金をつくるとし、その財源は税で賄う「税方式」としてきた。
But Kaoru Yosano, the newly appointed minister of economic and fiscal policy, is advocating a pension program based on the social insurance formula--financed by premiums paid by the people.
Critics have been quick to point out the difference between Yosano's idea and the party's proposal.
これに対し、経済財政相に就任した与謝野馨氏は「社会保険方式」を主張していることから、食い違いが指摘されている。
Prime Minister Naoto Kan and the DPJ should swiftly solve this problem.
菅直人首相と民主党は早急に、この問題を解決すべきである。
Unlike the social insurance formula, in which benefits paid to individual pensioners are affected by their premium payment records, the tax-financed system has the advantage of being free from the problem of people who fail to pay into the system.
税方式には、保険料の納付実績が問われる社会保険方式と違って未納問題が起きないという利点がある。
In 2004, when the coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito ran the government, the Cabinet was hit by a series of revelations about past nonpayment of premiums for the national pension program by ministers.
Kan, who questioned the government over the issue, was forced to resign as DPJ chief after it was revealed that he had also failed to pay premiums for a certain period.
自公政権時代の２００４年、閣僚の未納が相次ぎ発覚し、これを追及した菅氏自身にも未納が見つかり党代表を辞任した。
After that, Kan and DPJ Secretary-General Katsuya Okada started making remarks that indicated the party was seeking to introduce a tax-financed pension program. They said the pension system envisioned by the party would eliminate the problem of nonpayment and ensure that all people would receive benefits.
その後、菅氏や岡田克也・現幹事長は「未納者はいなくなる」「全員がもらえる」と、税方式を前提にした説明をしてきた。
The DPJ's manifesto for the general election in 2009, when the party was led by Yukio Hatoyama, promised to create a pension program to provide guaranteed minimum monthly benefits of 70,000 yen for all people funded by revenue from the consumption tax.
鳩山由紀夫代表のもとで戦った一昨年の総選挙でも、政権公約に「消費税を財源とした最低保障年金を創設し、全ての人が７万円以上の年金を受け取れるようにする」と書いた。
Many voters interpreted this as a proposal of a tax-financed pension system.
これを税方式と理解した人も多いはずだ。
In the "basic principles for the new pension system" announced in June last year, however, the DPJ stressed its intention to maintain the insurance formula. The party said with the principle of "zero cases" of nonpayment or nonparticipation, the system is intended to ensure the collection of premiums so that no people will be left without a pension.
ところが、民主党が昨年６月に示した「新年金制度の基本原則」では「未納・未加入ゼロの原則 保険料の確実な徴収により無年金者をなくす」と、保険方式を強調した。
Then in December, the party's policy research council for fundamental tax and social security reform, headed by DPJ heavyweight Hirohisa Fujii, now deputy chief Cabinet secretary, confirmed the policy shift.
The panel's interim report said the future pension system should be an income-linked social insurance program supplemented by tax-financed guaranteed minimum benefits.
さらに１２月、藤井裕久・現官房副長官が会長をつとめた税と社会保障の抜本改革調査会は「社会保険方式である所得比例年金を基本に、税を財源とする最低保障年金を補足給付する」と「中間整理」に明記した。
This proposal is not fundamentally inconsistent from Yosano's argument that adopting the social insurance method would be the rational approach to pension reform.
これなら「社会保険方式で改革するのが合理的」という与謝野氏と根本的な違いはない。
Under the current system, half of the basic pension benefits paid to all beneficiaries are covered by tax revenue.
The only difference in the DPJ's proposal is that tax-financed guaranteed minimum benefits would be reduced or removed for people entitled to a certain amount or more of benefits.
現行制度は受給者全員について基礎年金の半分を税で賄うが、民主案では、年金が一定額以上の人には税で賄う最低保障部分を減らしたり、払わなかったりするだけだ。
The DPJ's policy shift to the insurance formula after it came to power could be described as pragmatic.
民主党が政権獲得後、保険方式に傾斜したのは現実的な動きともいえる。
That's because tax financing would sharply increase the amount of taxpayer money needed and is likely to require large increases in the consumption and other taxes.
税方式にこだわると必要な財源が膨らみ、消費税などの増税幅が大きくなる可能性が高いからだ。
The change of the proposal should also make it easier for the DPJ to strike a deal with the LDP and New Komeito, which are espousing the insurance approach.
保険方式を是としている自民党や公明党などと協議する上でも有効だ。
The biggest problem with the current system is that a large number of people fail to pay into the system and will eventually find themselves with significantly reduced or no pension after retirement.
現行制度の最大の問題は、未納者が多く発生し、いずれ低年金・無年金になってしまうことだ。
The challenge is how to prevent this by using the limited tax revenue available.
貴重な税財源をどう使ってそれを防ぐのか。
The government and the ruling party must show an outline of its plan to overhaul the pension system as soon as possible to find common ground with the opposition camp and push through the reform.
与野党で一致できる点を見つけ出して改革を進めるには、政府・与党案の骨格を早く示すことが欠かせない。
日本語で何度も読み返しましたが、意味がわからない部分が多い。
皆さん、この社会保障制度改革の内容がわかりましたか？
私には理解不能でした＾＾。
はやい話、国民はもっと費用を負担しなさいということでしょう。
税でまかなうといったって、税金は国民が支払っているものです。
まったく同じことではないでしょうか。
（スラチャイ記）
2011/01/21
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 20
EDITORIAL: Pension system reform
年金改革―民主案は税方式なのか
The government and the ruling Democratic Party of Japan say they want to hold talks with the opposition parties to push integrated tax and social security reform.
「税と社会保障の一体改革」をめざす政府・与党は、野党とも協議を進めたいという。
But such talks are unlikely to take place as long as the DPJ's blueprint for pension reform remains ambiguous.
だが、肝心の民主党の年金改革案があやふやでは、話が始まらないのではないか。
The ruling party has failed to offer a clear-cut reform plan and given half-baked explanations about its vision for the future of the pension system.
原因は民主党がきちんとした案を示さず、中途半端な説明をしてきたことにある。
First of all, the DPJ needs to build solid consensus within the party through debate and make clear its reform plan to the public.
まずは党内の議論を整理して、国民に民主党案とは何なのかを明らかにすることが先決だろう。
The DPJ proposed a new tax-financed system to provide guaranteed minimum monthly pension benefits of 70,000 yen ($840).
これまでに民主党は月額７万円の最低保障年金をつくるとし、その財源は税で賄う「税方式」としてきた。
But Kaoru Yosano, the newly appointed minister of economic and fiscal policy, is advocating a pension program based on the social insurance formula--financed by premiums paid by the people.
Critics have been quick to point out the difference between Yosano's idea and the party's proposal.
これに対し、経済財政相に就任した与謝野馨氏は「社会保険方式」を主張していることから、食い違いが指摘されている。
Prime Minister Naoto Kan and the DPJ should swiftly solve this problem.
菅直人首相と民主党は早急に、この問題を解決すべきである。
Unlike the social insurance formula, in which benefits paid to individual pensioners are affected by their premium payment records, the tax-financed system has the advantage of being free from the problem of people who fail to pay into the system.
税方式には、保険料の納付実績が問われる社会保険方式と違って未納問題が起きないという利点がある。
In 2004, when the coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito ran the government, the Cabinet was hit by a series of revelations about past nonpayment of premiums for the national pension program by ministers.
Kan, who questioned the government over the issue, was forced to resign as DPJ chief after it was revealed that he had also failed to pay premiums for a certain period.
自公政権時代の２００４年、閣僚の未納が相次ぎ発覚し、これを追及した菅氏自身にも未納が見つかり党代表を辞任した。
After that, Kan and DPJ Secretary-General Katsuya Okada started making remarks that indicated the party was seeking to introduce a tax-financed pension program. They said the pension system envisioned by the party would eliminate the problem of nonpayment and ensure that all people would receive benefits.
その後、菅氏や岡田克也・現幹事長は「未納者はいなくなる」「全員がもらえる」と、税方式を前提にした説明をしてきた。
The DPJ's manifesto for the general election in 2009, when the party was led by Yukio Hatoyama, promised to create a pension program to provide guaranteed minimum monthly benefits of 70,000 yen for all people funded by revenue from the consumption tax.
鳩山由紀夫代表のもとで戦った一昨年の総選挙でも、政権公約に「消費税を財源とした最低保障年金を創設し、全ての人が７万円以上の年金を受け取れるようにする」と書いた。
Many voters interpreted this as a proposal of a tax-financed pension system.
これを税方式と理解した人も多いはずだ。
In the "basic principles for the new pension system" announced in June last year, however, the DPJ stressed its intention to maintain the insurance formula. The party said with the principle of "zero cases" of nonpayment or nonparticipation, the system is intended to ensure the collection of premiums so that no people will be left without a pension.
ところが、民主党が昨年６月に示した「新年金制度の基本原則」では「未納・未加入ゼロの原則 保険料の確実な徴収により無年金者をなくす」と、保険方式を強調した。
Then in December, the party's policy research council for fundamental tax and social security reform, headed by DPJ heavyweight Hirohisa Fujii, now deputy chief Cabinet secretary, confirmed the policy shift.
The panel's interim report said the future pension system should be an income-linked social insurance program supplemented by tax-financed guaranteed minimum benefits.
さらに１２月、藤井裕久・現官房副長官が会長をつとめた税と社会保障の抜本改革調査会は「社会保険方式である所得比例年金を基本に、税を財源とする最低保障年金を補足給付する」と「中間整理」に明記した。
This proposal is not fundamentally inconsistent from Yosano's argument that adopting the social insurance method would be the rational approach to pension reform.
これなら「社会保険方式で改革するのが合理的」という与謝野氏と根本的な違いはない。
Under the current system, half of the basic pension benefits paid to all beneficiaries are covered by tax revenue.
The only difference in the DPJ's proposal is that tax-financed guaranteed minimum benefits would be reduced or removed for people entitled to a certain amount or more of benefits.
現行制度は受給者全員について基礎年金の半分を税で賄うが、民主案では、年金が一定額以上の人には税で賄う最低保障部分を減らしたり、払わなかったりするだけだ。
The DPJ's policy shift to the insurance formula after it came to power could be described as pragmatic.
民主党が政権獲得後、保険方式に傾斜したのは現実的な動きともいえる。
That's because tax financing would sharply increase the amount of taxpayer money needed and is likely to require large increases in the consumption and other taxes.
税方式にこだわると必要な財源が膨らみ、消費税などの増税幅が大きくなる可能性が高いからだ。
The change of the proposal should also make it easier for the DPJ to strike a deal with the LDP and New Komeito, which are espousing the insurance approach.
保険方式を是としている自民党や公明党などと協議する上でも有効だ。
The biggest problem with the current system is that a large number of people fail to pay into the system and will eventually find themselves with significantly reduced or no pension after retirement.
現行制度の最大の問題は、未納者が多く発生し、いずれ低年金・無年金になってしまうことだ。
The challenge is how to prevent this by using the limited tax revenue available.
貴重な税財源をどう使ってそれを防ぐのか。
The government and the ruling party must show an outline of its plan to overhaul the pension system as soon as possible to find common ground with the opposition camp and push through the reform.
与野党で一致できる点を見つけ出して改革を進めるには、政府・与党案の骨格を早く示すことが欠かせない。
社会保障改革 与謝野氏軸に政府案を急げ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 21, 2011)
Govt must compile pension plan quickly
社会保障改革 与謝野氏軸に政府案を急げ（1月20日付・読売社説）
The nation's social security system has become highly distorted, due to the aging population and low birthrate. 社会保障制度は少子高齢化で、随所に歪(ゆが)みが生じている。
We must not waste any time reforming the system.
改革に一刻の猶予も許されない。
The government has decided to compile a plan with the ruling parties by June for integrated reform of the social security and tax systems, and it hopes to have discussions between the ruling and opposition parties over pension reform on track by then.
政府が社会保障と税の一体改革について、６月に政府・与党案をまとめる方針を決定した。それまでに与野党協議をレールに乗せたいという。
A system for promoting discussion appears to be in place--Kaoru Yosano, state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy, will be responsible for compiling the plan, and Koichiro Gemba, state minister in charge of national policy, will serve as the go-between for negotiations with the ruling and opposition parties.
政府・与党案とりまとめは与謝野経済財政相、与野党との窓口には玄葉国家戦略相があたるなど役割分担も決まった。まずは推進体制を整えたということだろう。
===
Yosano opposed by many
Fierce opposition has arisen to Yosano's appointment as a Cabinet minister within both the ruling and opposition parties, as Yosano has strongly criticized the Democratic Party of Japan's stance on reform of the social security system in the past.
民主党の姿勢を厳しく批判してきた与謝野氏の入閣に対して、与野党双方から反発が出ている。
The only way for him to deal with such opposition is to swiftly and steadily achieve tangible results.
与謝野氏は、迅速かつ着実に成果をあげることで応えるしかない。
Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who recruited Yosano, must be prepared for the worst and create an environment in which Yosano can take bold steps.
起用した菅首相もここは腹をくくって、与謝野氏が思い切った仕事のできる環境を作るべきだ。
The central points of discussion on social security system reform are the public pension system and the consumption tax.
社会保障改革の議論の中心は、年金制度と消費税である。
The first step will be the government and the ruling parties' attempt to reach a consensus regarding the plan to reform the pension system.
政府・与党が年金改革案について意思統一を図ることが、その第一歩となる。
Regarding the source of funds for pension reform, there is a strong opinion within the DPJ that as the party has been advocating a basic pension to be financed entirely by tax revenues, the DPJ's stance is utterly incompatible with that of Yosano, who wants to maintain the current method that uses contributions to social insurance.
民主党内には、年金改革の財源について「党としては従来、“全額税方式”を唱えてきたのだから現行の社会保険方式維持を主張する与謝野氏とは全く相いれない」とする声が根強く存在する。
Yet the DPJ has been subtly modifying its explanation of its pension reform plan from the one it drew up for its manifesto for the House of Representatives election in 2009, in which it came to power.
だが、民主党は政権交代を果たした衆院選の政権公約（マニフェスト）から、年金改革案の説明を微妙に修正している。
The party has modified its stance by saying that while the government should create a minimum guaranteed pension financed entirely by tax revenues, it should be a supplement to another new creation: a common national pension financed by social insurance contributions.
These two systems would comprise the basic pension.
全額税による最低保障年金を創設はするが、それは同時に新設する社会保険方式の国民共通年金を補完するもの、という位置づけに変えた。
Overall, the party is leaning toward using social insurance contributions.
全体としてはむしろ、社会保険方式に傾いている。
Meanwhile, Yosano's pet idea is to fix the defects of the current system, financed by social insurance contributions, and then use tax revenues to implement supportive measures for people with small pensions.
一方、与謝野氏の持論は、社会保険方式の現行制度の不備を改善した上で、年金額が低い人には税金を用いた支援措置を講じる、というものだ。
It is a matter of balancing the use of social insurance contributions and tax revenues, and the two ideas overlap each other in many respects. A compromise is quite possible.
保険料と税のバランスの問題であり、大枠は重なっている。十分に妥協点は見いだしうる。
The government should win DPJ members' consent by discussing the issue, focusing on the realistic method of using social insurance contributions.
政府は、現実的な社会保険方式を基本に議論することで、民主党内の合意を得るべきだ。
===
Ideas largely similar
The pension reform plans being considered by opposition parties such as the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito do not differ significantly from Yosano's ideas.
自民、公明など野党側の考える年金改革案も与謝野氏の考え方と大きな違いはない。
The only way to realize a sustainable pension system is to secure a stable source of financing by raising the consumption tax rate.
持続可能な制度を実現するためには、消費税率を引き上げることでしか安定財源を確保する手だてはない。
Both sides should be able to agree on these points during discussions.
議論の過程でこうした認識も再確認できるはずである。
Unless the public pension system is stable even several decades from now, public concern over the system will remain.
年金制度は何十年先まで安定したものでなければ、国民の不安は解消しない。
The ruling and opposition parties must work out a reform plan quickly, lest the system change every time there is a change of government.
政権交代のたびに制度が変わることのないよう、与野党で早急に改革案を練り上げなければならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 20, 2011)
（2011年1月20日01時19分 読売新聞）
Govt must compile pension plan quickly
社会保障改革 与謝野氏軸に政府案を急げ（1月20日付・読売社説）
The nation's social security system has become highly distorted, due to the aging population and low birthrate. 社会保障制度は少子高齢化で、随所に歪(ゆが)みが生じている。
We must not waste any time reforming the system.
改革に一刻の猶予も許されない。
The government has decided to compile a plan with the ruling parties by June for integrated reform of the social security and tax systems, and it hopes to have discussions between the ruling and opposition parties over pension reform on track by then.
政府が社会保障と税の一体改革について、６月に政府・与党案をまとめる方針を決定した。それまでに与野党協議をレールに乗せたいという。
A system for promoting discussion appears to be in place--Kaoru Yosano, state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy, will be responsible for compiling the plan, and Koichiro Gemba, state minister in charge of national policy, will serve as the go-between for negotiations with the ruling and opposition parties.
政府・与党案とりまとめは与謝野経済財政相、与野党との窓口には玄葉国家戦略相があたるなど役割分担も決まった。まずは推進体制を整えたということだろう。
===
Yosano opposed by many
Fierce opposition has arisen to Yosano's appointment as a Cabinet minister within both the ruling and opposition parties, as Yosano has strongly criticized the Democratic Party of Japan's stance on reform of the social security system in the past.
民主党の姿勢を厳しく批判してきた与謝野氏の入閣に対して、与野党双方から反発が出ている。
The only way for him to deal with such opposition is to swiftly and steadily achieve tangible results.
与謝野氏は、迅速かつ着実に成果をあげることで応えるしかない。
Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who recruited Yosano, must be prepared for the worst and create an environment in which Yosano can take bold steps.
起用した菅首相もここは腹をくくって、与謝野氏が思い切った仕事のできる環境を作るべきだ。
The central points of discussion on social security system reform are the public pension system and the consumption tax.
社会保障改革の議論の中心は、年金制度と消費税である。
The first step will be the government and the ruling parties' attempt to reach a consensus regarding the plan to reform the pension system.
政府・与党が年金改革案について意思統一を図ることが、その第一歩となる。
Regarding the source of funds for pension reform, there is a strong opinion within the DPJ that as the party has been advocating a basic pension to be financed entirely by tax revenues, the DPJ's stance is utterly incompatible with that of Yosano, who wants to maintain the current method that uses contributions to social insurance.
民主党内には、年金改革の財源について「党としては従来、“全額税方式”を唱えてきたのだから現行の社会保険方式維持を主張する与謝野氏とは全く相いれない」とする声が根強く存在する。
Yet the DPJ has been subtly modifying its explanation of its pension reform plan from the one it drew up for its manifesto for the House of Representatives election in 2009, in which it came to power.
だが、民主党は政権交代を果たした衆院選の政権公約（マニフェスト）から、年金改革案の説明を微妙に修正している。
The party has modified its stance by saying that while the government should create a minimum guaranteed pension financed entirely by tax revenues, it should be a supplement to another new creation: a common national pension financed by social insurance contributions.
These two systems would comprise the basic pension.
全額税による最低保障年金を創設はするが、それは同時に新設する社会保険方式の国民共通年金を補完するもの、という位置づけに変えた。
Overall, the party is leaning toward using social insurance contributions.
全体としてはむしろ、社会保険方式に傾いている。
Meanwhile, Yosano's pet idea is to fix the defects of the current system, financed by social insurance contributions, and then use tax revenues to implement supportive measures for people with small pensions.
一方、与謝野氏の持論は、社会保険方式の現行制度の不備を改善した上で、年金額が低い人には税金を用いた支援措置を講じる、というものだ。
It is a matter of balancing the use of social insurance contributions and tax revenues, and the two ideas overlap each other in many respects. A compromise is quite possible.
保険料と税のバランスの問題であり、大枠は重なっている。十分に妥協点は見いだしうる。
The government should win DPJ members' consent by discussing the issue, focusing on the realistic method of using social insurance contributions.
政府は、現実的な社会保険方式を基本に議論することで、民主党内の合意を得るべきだ。
===
Ideas largely similar
The pension reform plans being considered by opposition parties such as the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito do not differ significantly from Yosano's ideas.
自民、公明など野党側の考える年金改革案も与謝野氏の考え方と大きな違いはない。
The only way to realize a sustainable pension system is to secure a stable source of financing by raising the consumption tax rate.
持続可能な制度を実現するためには、消費税率を引き上げることでしか安定財源を確保する手だてはない。
Both sides should be able to agree on these points during discussions.
議論の過程でこうした認識も再確認できるはずである。
Unless the public pension system is stable even several decades from now, public concern over the system will remain.
年金制度は何十年先まで安定したものでなければ、国民の不安は解消しない。
The ruling and opposition parties must work out a reform plan quickly, lest the system change every time there is a change of government.
政権交代のたびに制度が変わることのないよう、与野党で早急に改革案を練り上げなければならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 20, 2011)
（2011年1月20日01時19分 読売新聞）
2011/01/20
和文英訳
msn bing translator で和文英訳をしてみました。
機械はスラチャイよりはるかに素早く翻訳できますが、意味不明の部分が多いですね。
意味がわかるように訂正しておきました＾＾。
原文（和文）：
私の父は、私が高校生の頃にがんで亡くなりました。告知はしなかったのですが、何か感じるものがあったのでしょう。入院先で急に「書斎が欲しい。
庭を埋めて増築したい」と言い出しました。そして、母も知らなかった通帳を差し出し、「これで建ててくれ」と言ったのです。
母は相当びっくりしたでしょう。今後の生活のことも考えたでしょう。
でもここが母のすごいところ。「分かりました」と言うとすぐに準備にかかり、１か月ほどで書斎を建ててしまったのです。
完成した書斎は、ほぼ本棚。壁３面が天井から床まで埋め込み式の本棚になっていて、本好きな父の大量の蔵書がすっぽり収まっていました。
父は、その“理想の書斎”にたった一度しか足を踏み入れることはありませんでしたが、多分満足し、そして母に感謝したと思います。
翻訳文（英文）： (msn bing tranlator翻訳＋文章校正 by srachai)
My father died of cancer when I was a high school student.
Although we did not notify of his cancer but he felt something bad at that time.
All of a sudden, he told us that he wants to have his study.
The garden of our house should be filled with soil and his study should be made on the place.
And then he gave us a passbook of his bank, asking us to build his study.
My mother might be quite astonished at that time.
She might think about our future life, which is coming soon.
Surprisingly enough, my mother made preparation for constructing his study, and indeed, she did it in a month to make his husband’s dream come true.
His study was mainly composed of bookshelves.
Three sides of the wall of his study are covered with bookshelves from floor to ceiling, being spacious enough to keep his tremendous amount of books.
Although my father could manage to get into his study only once before his passing away, we understood that he was very happy, feeling gratitude for his wife.
機械はスラチャイよりはるかに素早く翻訳できますが、意味不明の部分が多いですね。
意味がわかるように訂正しておきました＾＾。
原文（和文）：
私の父は、私が高校生の頃にがんで亡くなりました。告知はしなかったのですが、何か感じるものがあったのでしょう。入院先で急に「書斎が欲しい。
庭を埋めて増築したい」と言い出しました。そして、母も知らなかった通帳を差し出し、「これで建ててくれ」と言ったのです。
母は相当びっくりしたでしょう。今後の生活のことも考えたでしょう。
でもここが母のすごいところ。「分かりました」と言うとすぐに準備にかかり、１か月ほどで書斎を建ててしまったのです。
完成した書斎は、ほぼ本棚。壁３面が天井から床まで埋め込み式の本棚になっていて、本好きな父の大量の蔵書がすっぽり収まっていました。
父は、その“理想の書斎”にたった一度しか足を踏み入れることはありませんでしたが、多分満足し、そして母に感謝したと思います。
翻訳文（英文）： (msn bing tranlator翻訳＋文章校正 by srachai)
My father died of cancer when I was a high school student.
Although we did not notify of his cancer but he felt something bad at that time.
All of a sudden, he told us that he wants to have his study.
The garden of our house should be filled with soil and his study should be made on the place.
And then he gave us a passbook of his bank, asking us to build his study.
My mother might be quite astonished at that time.
She might think about our future life, which is coming soon.
Surprisingly enough, my mother made preparation for constructing his study, and indeed, she did it in a month to make his husband’s dream come true.
His study was mainly composed of bookshelves.
Three sides of the wall of his study are covered with bookshelves from floor to ceiling, being spacious enough to keep his tremendous amount of books.
Although my father could manage to get into his study only once before his passing away, we understood that he was very happy, feeling gratitude for his wife.
ＪＡＬ破綻１年 再建はこれからが正念場だ
JALがなくなっても世の中は動く！
これも時代の流れ、競争力のない航空会社は縮小、消滅させられる。
TGやSQのほうが良い＾＾。
（スラチャイ記）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 20, 2011)
Real battle for JAL starts now, one year on
ＪＡＬ破綻１年 再建はこれからが正念場だ（1月19日付・読売社説）
Wednesday marks the passage of one year since Japan Airlines filed for court-administered bankruptcy protection under the Corporate Rehabilitation Law.
日本航空が会社更生法の適用を申請し、経営破綻してから、１９日で１年を迎える。
During that time, JAL has striven to streamline its operations through various measures, including reducing the number of its flight routes and employees. The airline is facing a crucial juncture as it seeks to become a listed corporation again at the end of 2012.
この間、路線や人員の削減などリストラを進めてきたが、２０１２年末の株式再上場を目指す再建策は、これからが正念場だ。
Given the massive amount of taxpayers' money used to implement its bailout plan, JAL will no longer be allowed to operate in a laid-back manner, as it did in the past.
巨額の公的資金が投じられており、甘い経営体質の温存は、もはや許されない。
The airline must grow out of its old tendency to rely on the government and politicians whenever it faces a crisis. This is its last chance, one JAL should not miss as it seeks to transform itself into a corporation that can best serve customers' interests.
危機のたびに行政や政治に頼る「親方日の丸」意識を捨て、今度こそ顧客本位の会社に生まれ変わる必要がある。
JAL's rehabilitation plan went into full swing in late November, when the Tokyo District Court gave the go-ahead to the scheme.
昨年１１月末、東京地裁が更生計画を認め、再建が本格化した。
The airline was given a 350 billion yen injection of public funds from the Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corporation of Japan (ETIC). It also received a 520 billion yen debt waiver from its major creditor banks.
企業再生支援機構から公的資金３５００億円の出資を受け、取引銀行には５２００億円の借金を棒引きしてもらった。
These measures must be viewed as exceptionally generous assistance that would be unthinkable for ordinary failed corporations. If the bailout plan does not come off, it means the public will have to shoulder a new financial burden. JAL's executives and employees must take this to heart.
通常の破綻企業では考えられない破格の支援であり、再建が頓挫すれば、国民負担も生じる。経営陣や社員は、何よりもまずそのことを肝に銘じるべきである。
Bringing costs down to earth
A certain measure of progress is being made in rectifying the high-cost structure of JAL's operations, a primary task to be tackled in the company's rehabilitation.
最大の課題だった高コスト体質は改善の方向にある。
The airline has taken such steps as withdrawing from 45 domestic and international routes and cutting personnel by about 16,000. All this has brought JAL's operations down to two-thirds of their previous scale.
国内外４５路線からの撤退や１万６０００人の人員削減などで規模は３分の２に縮小した。
The airline's streamlining efforts helped secure 130 billion yen in operating profits during the April-October period, far exceeding JAL's estimate.
合理化で、昨年４～１０月の営業利益は予想を大きく上回る１３００億円を確保した。
It is too early to celebrate, however. The improvement in JAL's profits must be attributed to such temporary factors as declining fuel costs and a surge in the value of the yen. The recovery cannot be regarded as an indication that the airline's business will remain profitable from here on out.
だが、喜ぶのは早い。燃料費の下落や円高などによる一時的要因が大きく、黒字体質が定着したとは言えまい。
More worryingly, it is not clear what kind of distinctive services and operations JAL wants to offer to survive and prosper.
それ以上に気になるのは、日航が今後、どんな特徴を持つ航空会社として生き残るつもりなのか、展望が見えてこないことだ。
Competition is expected to become even more intense among airlines this year, due to deregulation of the airline industry and a considerable increase in the number of low-cost carriers.
今年は、航空自由化が進展、格安航空会社の参入も本格化し、競争は一段と厳しくなる。
Airlines around the world are desperately attempting to differentiate themselves from rivals, with some trying to provide upscale in-flight services targeting businesspeople and others boasting of low fares made possible by curtailing operational costs.
世界の航空各社は、ビジネス客優先の高級サービス、コストを切り詰めた低料金など、差別化に懸命だ。
We feel JAL has yet to break with its old ideas about the quality of in-flight services and airfares, despite the reduction in its business scale.
これに対し、日航はスリム化はしても、サービスの提供や運賃の決定について、旧来の発想から抜け出せていないのではないか。
Getting a new crew on board
In December, JAL invited officials from several institutions--including the ETIC and Kyocera Corp., from which JAL Chairman Kazuo Inamori hails--to join its management.
昨年末、稲盛和夫会長の出身母体の京セラなどから役員を迎えた。
We hope JAL will create a daring business strategy unfettered by the accepted wisdom of the airline industry.
業界の常識にとらわれない大胆な戦略を打ち出してほしい。
Another task facing JAL is eliminating the antagonism between its labor and management.
労使対立の解消も課題だ。
A group of about 140 pilots, flight attendants and other personnel is set to file a suit against the airline, insisting they were unduly dismissed as part of the company's restructuring efforts.
パイロットや客室乗務員ら１４０人が整理解雇を不当として、集団提訴に踏み切る。
Efforts must be made to bridge the divide between JAL's labor and management. Doing so will be essential to avert turmoil within the airline, prevent customers from going elsewhere and ensure safety comes first in flight operations.
社内の混乱や顧客離れを避け、安全第一の運航を続けるには、労使の溝を埋める努力が欠かせまい。
In another issue to be addressed in connection with JAL's revival program, the government should hasten to fundamentally reconsider its civil aviation policy.
日航再生を機に、政府も航空行政の抜本見直しを急ぐべきだ。
Measures must be taken to increase the international competitiveness of domestic airlines.
To this end, the government needs, first and foremost, to help reduce landing fees at domestic airports that are higher than those charged overseas. It also must scrap the aircraft fuel tax, which has no counterpart abroad.
航空会社の競争力強化に向け、割高な着陸料の値下げ、世界に例を見ない航空機燃料税の廃止などに優先的に取り組む必要があろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 19, 2011)
（2011年1月19日01時21分 読売新聞）
これも時代の流れ、競争力のない航空会社は縮小、消滅させられる。
TGやSQのほうが良い＾＾。
（スラチャイ記）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 20, 2011)
Real battle for JAL starts now, one year on
ＪＡＬ破綻１年 再建はこれからが正念場だ（1月19日付・読売社説）
Wednesday marks the passage of one year since Japan Airlines filed for court-administered bankruptcy protection under the Corporate Rehabilitation Law.
日本航空が会社更生法の適用を申請し、経営破綻してから、１９日で１年を迎える。
During that time, JAL has striven to streamline its operations through various measures, including reducing the number of its flight routes and employees. The airline is facing a crucial juncture as it seeks to become a listed corporation again at the end of 2012.
この間、路線や人員の削減などリストラを進めてきたが、２０１２年末の株式再上場を目指す再建策は、これからが正念場だ。
Given the massive amount of taxpayers' money used to implement its bailout plan, JAL will no longer be allowed to operate in a laid-back manner, as it did in the past.
巨額の公的資金が投じられており、甘い経営体質の温存は、もはや許されない。
The airline must grow out of its old tendency to rely on the government and politicians whenever it faces a crisis. This is its last chance, one JAL should not miss as it seeks to transform itself into a corporation that can best serve customers' interests.
危機のたびに行政や政治に頼る「親方日の丸」意識を捨て、今度こそ顧客本位の会社に生まれ変わる必要がある。
JAL's rehabilitation plan went into full swing in late November, when the Tokyo District Court gave the go-ahead to the scheme.
昨年１１月末、東京地裁が更生計画を認め、再建が本格化した。
The airline was given a 350 billion yen injection of public funds from the Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corporation of Japan (ETIC). It also received a 520 billion yen debt waiver from its major creditor banks.
企業再生支援機構から公的資金３５００億円の出資を受け、取引銀行には５２００億円の借金を棒引きしてもらった。
These measures must be viewed as exceptionally generous assistance that would be unthinkable for ordinary failed corporations. If the bailout plan does not come off, it means the public will have to shoulder a new financial burden. JAL's executives and employees must take this to heart.
通常の破綻企業では考えられない破格の支援であり、再建が頓挫すれば、国民負担も生じる。経営陣や社員は、何よりもまずそのことを肝に銘じるべきである。
Bringing costs down to earth
A certain measure of progress is being made in rectifying the high-cost structure of JAL's operations, a primary task to be tackled in the company's rehabilitation.
最大の課題だった高コスト体質は改善の方向にある。
The airline has taken such steps as withdrawing from 45 domestic and international routes and cutting personnel by about 16,000. All this has brought JAL's operations down to two-thirds of their previous scale.
国内外４５路線からの撤退や１万６０００人の人員削減などで規模は３分の２に縮小した。
The airline's streamlining efforts helped secure 130 billion yen in operating profits during the April-October period, far exceeding JAL's estimate.
合理化で、昨年４～１０月の営業利益は予想を大きく上回る１３００億円を確保した。
It is too early to celebrate, however. The improvement in JAL's profits must be attributed to such temporary factors as declining fuel costs and a surge in the value of the yen. The recovery cannot be regarded as an indication that the airline's business will remain profitable from here on out.
だが、喜ぶのは早い。燃料費の下落や円高などによる一時的要因が大きく、黒字体質が定着したとは言えまい。
More worryingly, it is not clear what kind of distinctive services and operations JAL wants to offer to survive and prosper.
それ以上に気になるのは、日航が今後、どんな特徴を持つ航空会社として生き残るつもりなのか、展望が見えてこないことだ。
Competition is expected to become even more intense among airlines this year, due to deregulation of the airline industry and a considerable increase in the number of low-cost carriers.
今年は、航空自由化が進展、格安航空会社の参入も本格化し、競争は一段と厳しくなる。
Airlines around the world are desperately attempting to differentiate themselves from rivals, with some trying to provide upscale in-flight services targeting businesspeople and others boasting of low fares made possible by curtailing operational costs.
世界の航空各社は、ビジネス客優先の高級サービス、コストを切り詰めた低料金など、差別化に懸命だ。
We feel JAL has yet to break with its old ideas about the quality of in-flight services and airfares, despite the reduction in its business scale.
これに対し、日航はスリム化はしても、サービスの提供や運賃の決定について、旧来の発想から抜け出せていないのではないか。
Getting a new crew on board
In December, JAL invited officials from several institutions--including the ETIC and Kyocera Corp., from which JAL Chairman Kazuo Inamori hails--to join its management.
昨年末、稲盛和夫会長の出身母体の京セラなどから役員を迎えた。
We hope JAL will create a daring business strategy unfettered by the accepted wisdom of the airline industry.
業界の常識にとらわれない大胆な戦略を打ち出してほしい。
Another task facing JAL is eliminating the antagonism between its labor and management.
労使対立の解消も課題だ。
A group of about 140 pilots, flight attendants and other personnel is set to file a suit against the airline, insisting they were unduly dismissed as part of the company's restructuring efforts.
パイロットや客室乗務員ら１４０人が整理解雇を不当として、集団提訴に踏み切る。
Efforts must be made to bridge the divide between JAL's labor and management. Doing so will be essential to avert turmoil within the airline, prevent customers from going elsewhere and ensure safety comes first in flight operations.
社内の混乱や顧客離れを避け、安全第一の運航を続けるには、労使の溝を埋める努力が欠かせまい。
In another issue to be addressed in connection with JAL's revival program, the government should hasten to fundamentally reconsider its civil aviation policy.
日航再生を機に、政府も航空行政の抜本見直しを急ぐべきだ。
Measures must be taken to increase the international competitiveness of domestic airlines.
To this end, the government needs, first and foremost, to help reduce landing fees at domestic airports that are higher than those charged overseas. It also must scrap the aircraft fuel tax, which has no counterpart abroad.
航空会社の競争力強化に向け、割高な着陸料の値下げ、世界に例を見ない航空機燃料税の廃止などに優先的に取り組む必要があろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 19, 2011)
（2011年1月19日01時21分 読売新聞）
2011/01/19
統一地方選へ―失政のツケ払うのは住民
2011/01/19
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 18
EDITORIAL: Unified local elections
統一地方選へ―失政のツケ払うのは住民
This spring, voters head to the polls for unified local elections.
この春、統一地方選がある。
On April 10, 13 gubernatorial elections, including the one to choose the chief of the Tokyo metropolitan government, will be held along with polls to elect the assemblies for 44 prefectures, including Osaka. On April 24, mayoral and municipal assembly elections will take place around the nation.
東京都をはじめ１３知事選と、大阪府を含む４４道府県議選などが４月１０日に投開票される。２４日には各地の市区町村長、議員選がある。
Due mainly to changes of election days caused by mergers among cities, towns and villages, the ratio of elections to be held this spring to all local polls will be a record low, falling to the 28-percent range.
Still, more than 1,000 local elections will be conducted nationwide, meaning that most voters will have at least one opportunity to cast ballots.
市町村合併などで選挙日がずれ、統一率は過去最低の２８％台だが、全国で１千を超す選挙がある。
ほとんどの有権者に投票の機会がめぐってくる。
Local politics today are quite different from what they used to be.
いまの地方政治には、かつてない特徴がある。
A growing number of local government chiefs are locking horns with assemblies.
首長と議会が激突する構図が広がっていることだ。
On Monday, it was announced that a referendum on whether to dissolve the Nagoya city council will take place Feb. 6.
折しも、きのう名古屋市議会の解散の是非を問う住民投票が告示された。
Mayor Takashi Kawamura is leading the recall campaign to dissolve the assembly, which rejected his proposal for permanent local tax cuts. He has collected signatures from more than 360,000 voters in the city.
市長が旗を振って３６万人を超す署名を集め、自分の公約の恒久減税を拒んだ議会を解散させようとしている。
On Sunday, a mayoral election was held in the city of Akune, Kagoshima Prefecture. Its citizens, through an earlier referendum, had sacked Mayor Shinichi Takehara, who had long been at loggerheads with the municipal assembly.
一昨日には、議会との対立が長引いて、住民投票で解職させられた鹿児島県阿久根市長の出直し選挙もあった。
Takehara, who was criticized for ignoring the assembly, was defeated in Sunday's vote. Citizens will deliver their verdict on the city assembly next month when a referendum is held on whether to dissolve it.
議会を無視した前市長は敗れたが、来月には議会解散をめぐる住民投票があり、住民は改めて議会と向き合う。
The developments in Nagoya and Akune represent two extreme examples of a clash between a local government chief and the assembly.
ふたつの事例は「首長ＶＳ．議会」の過激な展開を見せつけている。
In both cases, the mayor acted in a high-handed way and treated the assembly as a nuisance, while the assembly lost the trust of citizens as it sat snug in the comfort of its privileges and apparently stopped acting on behalf of the public.
どちらも底流には、議会を邪魔もの扱いする市長の強引さと、特権にあぐらをかき、民意を代弁しているように見えない議会に対する住民の不信感がある。
Similar criticism of local assemblies has emerged in various parts of the country, and there are signs that many of the candidates for gubernatorial and mayoral elections this spring will promise to cut the numbers of local assembly members and their salaries.
こうした議会批判はあちこちで起きており、統一地方選では議員の定数や報酬の削減を公約する首長候補者が続出しそうな気配すら漂う。
Osaka Governor Toru Hashimoto is also deeply unhappy with the prefectural assembly.
大阪府の橋下徹知事も議会への不満が根強い。
Hashimoto has been campaigning to secure a majority for his own local political party in the prefectural assembly and the city assemblies of Osaka and Sakai.
His truculent stance toward the old-style assembly can be described as a form of "quarrel democracy."
みずからが代表の地域政党で府議会や大阪、堺両市議会の過半数をめざす手法は、旧来の議会に向かって、かかってこいよと言わんばかりの「ケンカ民主主義」といえる。
One question voters will face in the spring elections is how to assess such an approach to politics.
議論で妥協点を探れないなら、選挙で一気に決着をつけるしか道はない。
Politicians in this camp tend to seek voters' decisions in an election when they fail to work out a political compromise through talks.
こんな政治手法をどう評価するのか。それも統一地方選の焦点になる。
What kind of relationship should there be between a local government head and the assembly, which are both elected as representatives of the public?
それぞれ選挙で選ばれる二元代表制のもとで、首長と議会はどんな関係にあるべきなのか。
The political battles in Osaka, Nagoya and Akune offer good case studies that help voters tackle this question.
大阪や名古屋、阿久根での衝突は、「首長ＶＳ．議会」のあり方を考えるための好材料になる。
The role of citizens is a crucial issue in any debate on this topic.
その際に、欠かせない視点が住民の役割だ。
In the past, many local assemblies used to rubber-stamp the local government chief's proposals because residents paid little attention to what their assemblies were doing.
首長の追認機関のような議会が当たり前のようにあったのは、住民の議会に対する関心があまりに低かったからにほかならない。
One big difference between local politics and national politics is that residents have the power to directly fire a local government chief or dissolve a local assembly through a referendum.
地方政治と国政の大きな違いは、自治の現場では住民が直接、首長の解職や議会の解散までも住民投票で決められることだ。
Local governments should operate with tense relationships existing among the local chief, the assembly and the citizens, who can be directly involved in politics.
自治体は本来、首長と議会、住民の直接参加という三つの緊張関係で動かすものなのだ。
Therefore, residents must shoulder the burden if the local government goes bankrupt, as did the city of Yubari, Hokkaido.
だから、北海道夕張市のように財政が破綻（はたん）すれば、負担は住民にのしかかる。
Under the principle of popular sovereignty, residents, who have the right to elect the local government chief and the assembly, must pay the price if those they elect mismanage their local politics.
主権者である住民は投票権を持つとともに、失政のツケを払う責任も背負わされているのだ。
Voters should keep this in mind as they cast their ballots this spring.
この現実を胸に刻んで、首長や議員を選びに行こう。
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 18
EDITORIAL: Unified local elections
統一地方選へ―失政のツケ払うのは住民
This spring, voters head to the polls for unified local elections.
この春、統一地方選がある。
On April 10, 13 gubernatorial elections, including the one to choose the chief of the Tokyo metropolitan government, will be held along with polls to elect the assemblies for 44 prefectures, including Osaka. On April 24, mayoral and municipal assembly elections will take place around the nation.
東京都をはじめ１３知事選と、大阪府を含む４４道府県議選などが４月１０日に投開票される。２４日には各地の市区町村長、議員選がある。
Due mainly to changes of election days caused by mergers among cities, towns and villages, the ratio of elections to be held this spring to all local polls will be a record low, falling to the 28-percent range.
Still, more than 1,000 local elections will be conducted nationwide, meaning that most voters will have at least one opportunity to cast ballots.
市町村合併などで選挙日がずれ、統一率は過去最低の２８％台だが、全国で１千を超す選挙がある。
ほとんどの有権者に投票の機会がめぐってくる。
Local politics today are quite different from what they used to be.
いまの地方政治には、かつてない特徴がある。
A growing number of local government chiefs are locking horns with assemblies.
首長と議会が激突する構図が広がっていることだ。
On Monday, it was announced that a referendum on whether to dissolve the Nagoya city council will take place Feb. 6.
折しも、きのう名古屋市議会の解散の是非を問う住民投票が告示された。
Mayor Takashi Kawamura is leading the recall campaign to dissolve the assembly, which rejected his proposal for permanent local tax cuts. He has collected signatures from more than 360,000 voters in the city.
市長が旗を振って３６万人を超す署名を集め、自分の公約の恒久減税を拒んだ議会を解散させようとしている。
On Sunday, a mayoral election was held in the city of Akune, Kagoshima Prefecture. Its citizens, through an earlier referendum, had sacked Mayor Shinichi Takehara, who had long been at loggerheads with the municipal assembly.
一昨日には、議会との対立が長引いて、住民投票で解職させられた鹿児島県阿久根市長の出直し選挙もあった。
Takehara, who was criticized for ignoring the assembly, was defeated in Sunday's vote. Citizens will deliver their verdict on the city assembly next month when a referendum is held on whether to dissolve it.
議会を無視した前市長は敗れたが、来月には議会解散をめぐる住民投票があり、住民は改めて議会と向き合う。
The developments in Nagoya and Akune represent two extreme examples of a clash between a local government chief and the assembly.
ふたつの事例は「首長ＶＳ．議会」の過激な展開を見せつけている。
In both cases, the mayor acted in a high-handed way and treated the assembly as a nuisance, while the assembly lost the trust of citizens as it sat snug in the comfort of its privileges and apparently stopped acting on behalf of the public.
どちらも底流には、議会を邪魔もの扱いする市長の強引さと、特権にあぐらをかき、民意を代弁しているように見えない議会に対する住民の不信感がある。
Similar criticism of local assemblies has emerged in various parts of the country, and there are signs that many of the candidates for gubernatorial and mayoral elections this spring will promise to cut the numbers of local assembly members and their salaries.
こうした議会批判はあちこちで起きており、統一地方選では議員の定数や報酬の削減を公約する首長候補者が続出しそうな気配すら漂う。
Osaka Governor Toru Hashimoto is also deeply unhappy with the prefectural assembly.
大阪府の橋下徹知事も議会への不満が根強い。
Hashimoto has been campaigning to secure a majority for his own local political party in the prefectural assembly and the city assemblies of Osaka and Sakai.
His truculent stance toward the old-style assembly can be described as a form of "quarrel democracy."
みずからが代表の地域政党で府議会や大阪、堺両市議会の過半数をめざす手法は、旧来の議会に向かって、かかってこいよと言わんばかりの「ケンカ民主主義」といえる。
One question voters will face in the spring elections is how to assess such an approach to politics.
議論で妥協点を探れないなら、選挙で一気に決着をつけるしか道はない。
Politicians in this camp tend to seek voters' decisions in an election when they fail to work out a political compromise through talks.
こんな政治手法をどう評価するのか。それも統一地方選の焦点になる。
What kind of relationship should there be between a local government head and the assembly, which are both elected as representatives of the public?
それぞれ選挙で選ばれる二元代表制のもとで、首長と議会はどんな関係にあるべきなのか。
The political battles in Osaka, Nagoya and Akune offer good case studies that help voters tackle this question.
大阪や名古屋、阿久根での衝突は、「首長ＶＳ．議会」のあり方を考えるための好材料になる。
The role of citizens is a crucial issue in any debate on this topic.
その際に、欠かせない視点が住民の役割だ。
In the past, many local assemblies used to rubber-stamp the local government chief's proposals because residents paid little attention to what their assemblies were doing.
首長の追認機関のような議会が当たり前のようにあったのは、住民の議会に対する関心があまりに低かったからにほかならない。
One big difference between local politics and national politics is that residents have the power to directly fire a local government chief or dissolve a local assembly through a referendum.
地方政治と国政の大きな違いは、自治の現場では住民が直接、首長の解職や議会の解散までも住民投票で決められることだ。
Local governments should operate with tense relationships existing among the local chief, the assembly and the citizens, who can be directly involved in politics.
自治体は本来、首長と議会、住民の直接参加という三つの緊張関係で動かすものなのだ。
Therefore, residents must shoulder the burden if the local government goes bankrupt, as did the city of Yubari, Hokkaido.
だから、北海道夕張市のように財政が破綻（はたん）すれば、負担は住民にのしかかる。
Under the principle of popular sovereignty, residents, who have the right to elect the local government chief and the assembly, must pay the price if those they elect mismanage their local politics.
主権者である住民は投票権を持つとともに、失政のツケを払う責任も背負わされているのだ。
Voters should keep this in mind as they cast their ballots this spring.
この現実を胸に刻んで、首長や議員を選びに行こう。
阿久根市長選 教訓踏まえ行政改革を進めよ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 19, 2011)
Learn from Akune; promote reform early
阿久根市長選 教訓踏まえ行政改革を進めよ（1月18日付・読売社説）
The self-righteous and high-handed administrative style of the former mayor of Akune, Kagoshima Prefecture, has been rejected once again.
前市長の独善的で強権的な政治手法が、改めて否定された。
In Sunday's mayoral election--held after former Mayor Shinichi Takehara was recalled in a referendum--Yoshimasa Nishihira, the leader of a civic group opposing Takehara, defeated the ousted mayor.
鹿児島県阿久根市の出直し市長選は、解職請求（リコール）が成立・失職した竹原信一前市長が、新人の西平良将氏に敗北した。
Takehara came into conflict with the city assembly over a series of decisions he made without consulting the body when it was not in session. He sparked controversy by halving bonuses for municipal staff and introducing a system to pay assembly members on a per diem basis.
竹原前市長は議会閉会中に、職員賞与半減や議員報酬の日当制導入などの専決処分を乱発し、市議会と強く対立してきた。
During the campaign, the former mayor criticized the lavish benefits enjoyed by city officials, claiming that more than half of them receive 7 million yen per year.
選挙では「半数以上が年収７００万円」などと市職員の厚遇を批判した。
Nishihira, on the other hand, called for promoting dialogue instead of confrontation.
西平氏は、「対立でなく対話をしていく」と訴えた。
He said that reading a blog posting by Takehara that seemed to deny that handicapped children should have the right to be born drove him to lead the recall campaign. Nishihira's own son is disabled.
自ら障害児の長男を持っていることから、障害児の出生を否定するような前市長のブログに反発し、解職請求運動の中核を担ったという。
The former mayor might have had the right goal of pushing for administrative reform, but the unusual methods he employed must not be tolerated--which also seems to be the conclusion reached by the citizens of Akune by using common sense.
行革という目的が正しくても、前市長の常軌を逸した手法は容認できない。それが市民の常識的な判断だったのだろう。
Nevertheless, Sunday's election turned out to be a close race, reflecting local residents' deep-rooted frustration with the city assembly and other local officials.
一方で、市長選が接戦となったのは、市議会や職員に対する市民の根強い不満が原因だ。
===
Respect spirit of reform
We urge Nishihira to respect the number of votes the former mayor received and to fulfill his election pledges, such as cutting city officials' salaries by 15 percent and investigating a possible cut in the number of assembly members.
西平氏は、前市長の集めた票の重さを尊重し、市職員給与の１５％削減や市議定数の削減検討などの公約を実現する必要がある。
The assembly also must actively cooperate with these efforts.
市議会も積極的に協力すべきだ。
Another referendum will be held in the city on Feb. 20 on whether the assembly should be dissolved, based on a request from a local group that supports Takehara. However, Nishihira's election should gradually resolve the long-standing tension between the mayor and the assembly.
２月２０日には市議会解散の是非を問う住民投票が行われる。西平氏の当選で、市長と議会の対立は収束に向かうことが期待される。
If both parties continue unproductive confrontations and leave undone the administrative work of the city, such as promoting industrial development, local residents will not benefit at all.
両者が不毛な政争を続け、産業振興など本来の行政が後回しになるのは、市民のためにならない。
Confusion in the city has exposed a number of issues that need to be resolved by local governments.
阿久根市政の混乱は、様々な地方自治の教訓を残した。
Administrative reform and disparities between the public and private sectors are problems shared by worn-out local governments around the country.
阿久根市が抱える官民格差や行革の問題は、疲弊した地方都市の多くが共有している。
Learning from Akune, local governments must reexamine whether the number and salary of assembly members and government officials are appropriate.
阿久根市を他山の石として、地方議員や自治体職員の定数・給与が適正かどうか、再点検せねばなるまい。
===
Be a solution, not a problem
Local assemblies are expected to play a key role in resolving these problems.
重要なのは議会の役割だ。
In Nagoya, a referendum on dissolving the city assembly has also been announced. People are taking an increasingly critical look at local assemblies, and the legislative bodies are expected to play a more active role in monitoring and checking the local administrations.
名古屋市議会の解散の是非を問う住民投票が告示されるなど、地方議会に対する住民の視線は厳しい。行政を監視・抑制する役割を担う議会の活性化が求められている。
Takehara's outrageous behavior also exposed legal loopholes that allowed him to take such actions.
竹原前市長の暴走を許した法律面の不備も明らかになった。
The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry plans to submit a bill to revise the Local Government Law in the next ordinary Diet session.
総務省は通常国会に地方自治法改正案を提出する。
The planned revisions would make it impossible for local government heads to appoint deputy governors and mayors without consulting their assemblies. Local government heads would also be required to make corrections if assemblies do not approve administrative decisions made without consulting them.
副知事や副市町村長の選任を専決処分の対象外とするほか、専決処分を議会が不承認とした場合、首長に是正措置を義務づける内容だ。
We find these revisions quite reasonable, and hope the Diet will pass the bill into law as soon as possible.
妥当であり、早期に成立させてもらいたい。
The current system also allows a head of a local government who has lost his or her job in a referendum to run for the post again in the recall election, a system we find problematic.
住民投票で失職した首長が出直し選に出馬できる現行制度にも問題がある。
If Takehara had been elected in Sunday's election, administrative confusion in the city could have continued.
仮に竹原前市長が当選していれば、市政の混乱が長期化する恐れがあった。
The government should regulate who can run in elections following the recall of a local government head.
出直し選への出馬制限を検討してはどうか。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 18, 2011)
（2011年1月18日01時22分 読売新聞）
Learn from Akune; promote reform early
阿久根市長選 教訓踏まえ行政改革を進めよ（1月18日付・読売社説）
The self-righteous and high-handed administrative style of the former mayor of Akune, Kagoshima Prefecture, has been rejected once again.
前市長の独善的で強権的な政治手法が、改めて否定された。
In Sunday's mayoral election--held after former Mayor Shinichi Takehara was recalled in a referendum--Yoshimasa Nishihira, the leader of a civic group opposing Takehara, defeated the ousted mayor.
鹿児島県阿久根市の出直し市長選は、解職請求（リコール）が成立・失職した竹原信一前市長が、新人の西平良将氏に敗北した。
Takehara came into conflict with the city assembly over a series of decisions he made without consulting the body when it was not in session. He sparked controversy by halving bonuses for municipal staff and introducing a system to pay assembly members on a per diem basis.
竹原前市長は議会閉会中に、職員賞与半減や議員報酬の日当制導入などの専決処分を乱発し、市議会と強く対立してきた。
During the campaign, the former mayor criticized the lavish benefits enjoyed by city officials, claiming that more than half of them receive 7 million yen per year.
選挙では「半数以上が年収７００万円」などと市職員の厚遇を批判した。
Nishihira, on the other hand, called for promoting dialogue instead of confrontation.
西平氏は、「対立でなく対話をしていく」と訴えた。
He said that reading a blog posting by Takehara that seemed to deny that handicapped children should have the right to be born drove him to lead the recall campaign. Nishihira's own son is disabled.
自ら障害児の長男を持っていることから、障害児の出生を否定するような前市長のブログに反発し、解職請求運動の中核を担ったという。
The former mayor might have had the right goal of pushing for administrative reform, but the unusual methods he employed must not be tolerated--which also seems to be the conclusion reached by the citizens of Akune by using common sense.
行革という目的が正しくても、前市長の常軌を逸した手法は容認できない。それが市民の常識的な判断だったのだろう。
Nevertheless, Sunday's election turned out to be a close race, reflecting local residents' deep-rooted frustration with the city assembly and other local officials.
一方で、市長選が接戦となったのは、市議会や職員に対する市民の根強い不満が原因だ。
===
Respect spirit of reform
We urge Nishihira to respect the number of votes the former mayor received and to fulfill his election pledges, such as cutting city officials' salaries by 15 percent and investigating a possible cut in the number of assembly members.
西平氏は、前市長の集めた票の重さを尊重し、市職員給与の１５％削減や市議定数の削減検討などの公約を実現する必要がある。
The assembly also must actively cooperate with these efforts.
市議会も積極的に協力すべきだ。
Another referendum will be held in the city on Feb. 20 on whether the assembly should be dissolved, based on a request from a local group that supports Takehara. However, Nishihira's election should gradually resolve the long-standing tension between the mayor and the assembly.
２月２０日には市議会解散の是非を問う住民投票が行われる。西平氏の当選で、市長と議会の対立は収束に向かうことが期待される。
If both parties continue unproductive confrontations and leave undone the administrative work of the city, such as promoting industrial development, local residents will not benefit at all.
両者が不毛な政争を続け、産業振興など本来の行政が後回しになるのは、市民のためにならない。
Confusion in the city has exposed a number of issues that need to be resolved by local governments.
阿久根市政の混乱は、様々な地方自治の教訓を残した。
Administrative reform and disparities between the public and private sectors are problems shared by worn-out local governments around the country.
阿久根市が抱える官民格差や行革の問題は、疲弊した地方都市の多くが共有している。
Learning from Akune, local governments must reexamine whether the number and salary of assembly members and government officials are appropriate.
阿久根市を他山の石として、地方議員や自治体職員の定数・給与が適正かどうか、再点検せねばなるまい。
===
Be a solution, not a problem
Local assemblies are expected to play a key role in resolving these problems.
重要なのは議会の役割だ。
In Nagoya, a referendum on dissolving the city assembly has also been announced. People are taking an increasingly critical look at local assemblies, and the legislative bodies are expected to play a more active role in monitoring and checking the local administrations.
名古屋市議会の解散の是非を問う住民投票が告示されるなど、地方議会に対する住民の視線は厳しい。行政を監視・抑制する役割を担う議会の活性化が求められている。
Takehara's outrageous behavior also exposed legal loopholes that allowed him to take such actions.
竹原前市長の暴走を許した法律面の不備も明らかになった。
The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry plans to submit a bill to revise the Local Government Law in the next ordinary Diet session.
総務省は通常国会に地方自治法改正案を提出する。
The planned revisions would make it impossible for local government heads to appoint deputy governors and mayors without consulting their assemblies. Local government heads would also be required to make corrections if assemblies do not approve administrative decisions made without consulting them.
副知事や副市町村長の選任を専決処分の対象外とするほか、専決処分を議会が不承認とした場合、首長に是正措置を義務づける内容だ。
We find these revisions quite reasonable, and hope the Diet will pass the bill into law as soon as possible.
妥当であり、早期に成立させてもらいたい。
The current system also allows a head of a local government who has lost his or her job in a referendum to run for the post again in the recall election, a system we find problematic.
住民投票で失職した首長が出直し選に出馬できる現行制度にも問題がある。
If Takehara had been elected in Sunday's election, administrative confusion in the city could have continued.
仮に竹原前市長が当選していれば、市政の混乱が長期化する恐れがあった。
The government should regulate who can run in elections following the recall of a local government head.
出直し選への出馬制限を検討してはどうか。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 18, 2011)
（2011年1月18日01時22分 読売新聞）
2011/01/18
ルノー情報流出 日本の電気自動車技術を守れ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 18, 2011)
Japan's EV expertise must be protected
ルノー情報流出 日本の電気自動車技術を守れ（1月17日付・読売社説）
It has recently been revealed that leading French carmaker Renault has suffered a leak of sensitive information about its electric vehicle technology.
仏自動車大手のルノーで、電気自動車（ＥＶ）の技術情報が流出したとの疑惑が発覚した。
Carmakers around the world are scrambling to develop zero-emission electric vehicles that are expected to be front and center among next-generation eco-cars. If the allegations about the Renault leak are proven true, it would be a shocking case of industrial espionage.
ＥＶは走行中に二酸化炭素（ＣＯ２）を出さないため、次世代エコカー（環境対応車）の主役と期待され、世界各社が開発を競っている。疑惑が事実とすれば、衝撃的な産業スパイ事件と言えよう。
Renault has filed a criminal complaint on the case with French legal authorities. We hope French authorities conduct a thorough investigation to get to the bottom of this case.
ルノーは、この問題を仏司法当局に告訴した。今後の捜査で、徹底した真相解明を求めたい。
Renault is the largest shareholder of Nissan Motor Co., and the two carmakers have jointly developed electric vehicles. In December, Nissan started selling its Leaf electric vehicle in Japan and the United States. Renault plans to roll out an EV this year.
ルノーは日産自動車の筆頭株主で、両社はＥＶを共同開発してきた。日産は昨年末にＥＶのリーフを日米で発売し、ルノーも今年、ＥＶを売り出す計画だ。
Three Renault executives are suspected of leaking information including data about the vehicle's body structure and prices. Renault says information on the vehicle's core technologies such as lithium ion batteries were not leaked. But what actually happened?
疑われているのはルノー幹部３人だ。ＥＶの車体構造や価格などの情報を漏らしたとされるが、リチウムイオン電池などの核心技術は流出していないとルノーは説明している。真相はどうなのか。
French media have reported that the three executives are suspected of receiving generous rewards in return for leaking the data to Chinese firms.
仏メディアは、３人が中国企業に情報を漏えいし、巨額の報酬を受け取っていた可能性があるとも報じている。
Lessons to be learned
There could be grave consequences if it is proven that Japan's cutting-edge technology has been leaked to China via a foreign company that is a business partner of a Japanese firm.
日本の最先端技術が提携先の海外企業から中国に漏えいしたとすれば、憂慮すべき事態である。
Leaks of secret data also have been reported at a French auto parts maker, among others. While each French maker should naturally strengthen its protection and administration of secret information, we also urge the French authorities to bolster their investigations into infringements of intellectual assets.
フランスでは、自動車部品メーカーなどでも極秘情報が流出する事件が起きた。各社が機密の管理対策を強めるのは当然だが、知的財産の侵害に対する仏当局の摘発体制の強化も求められよう。
The Japanese government and companies must learn lessons from the Renault case.
一方、日本政府と日本企業もルノー事件を教訓とすべきだ。
Mitsubishi Motors Corp. became the first major automaker to market an electric vehicle when it released its i-MiEV in the summer of 2009. Nissan followed suit last year, and Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. plan to launch electric vehicles next year. Japanese carmakers are leading the global EV market.
ＥＶ開発を巡っては、一昨年夏に三菱自動車が大手メーカーで初めて、アイ・ミーブを販売し、日産も追随した。トヨタ自動車とホンダも来年発売する計画で、日本が世界をリードしている。
Their rivals in the United States, Europe and China have been cranking up their efforts to develop EVs, joining in the battle for eco-car supremacy. Depending on who emerges victorious in this competition, the power balance among carmakers could change dramatically.
しかし、エコカーの覇権を狙い、欧米や中国のメーカーが日本を追ってＥＶ開発を加速させている。競争の結果次第で、勢力図が激変する可能性もある。
Stay alert against espionage
With the stakes being so high, it is essential that Japanese firms protect their state-of-the-art technologies to maintain their competitive edge. They also need to stay on guard against industrial espionage and ensure they have structures in place to protect Japan's high-tech information not only on electric vehicles but also on other technologies, such as electronics.
それだけに、日本企業の最先端技術を保護し、競争力を維持することが肝要だ。ＥＶに限らず、エレクトロニクスなど日本のハイテク情報全体が狙われることを警戒し、対策を立てる必要がある。
To prevent leaks, companies must block all outside access to key technologies and maintain airtight data control.
漏えい防止には、管理の徹底ばかりでなく、重要技術を外部から遮断する「ブラックボックス化」の工夫が大事だろう。
To make it easier to crack down on infringement of corporate secrets, the government bolstered the Unfair Competition Prevention Law last summer by adopting tougher punitive measures.
企業秘密などに対する侵害行為を容易に摘発できるよう、政府が昨夏、不正競争防止法を強化し罰則を重くしたことは妥当だ。
Concerted efforts by the private and public sectors will be required to defend the technological information that sustains Japan's manufacturing industry.
日本のモノ作りを支える技術情報を防衛するには、官民の一層の連携が必要である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 17, 2011)
（2011年1月17日00時58分 読売新聞）
Japan's EV expertise must be protected
ルノー情報流出 日本の電気自動車技術を守れ（1月17日付・読売社説）
It has recently been revealed that leading French carmaker Renault has suffered a leak of sensitive information about its electric vehicle technology.
仏自動車大手のルノーで、電気自動車（ＥＶ）の技術情報が流出したとの疑惑が発覚した。
Carmakers around the world are scrambling to develop zero-emission electric vehicles that are expected to be front and center among next-generation eco-cars. If the allegations about the Renault leak are proven true, it would be a shocking case of industrial espionage.
ＥＶは走行中に二酸化炭素（ＣＯ２）を出さないため、次世代エコカー（環境対応車）の主役と期待され、世界各社が開発を競っている。疑惑が事実とすれば、衝撃的な産業スパイ事件と言えよう。
Renault has filed a criminal complaint on the case with French legal authorities. We hope French authorities conduct a thorough investigation to get to the bottom of this case.
ルノーは、この問題を仏司法当局に告訴した。今後の捜査で、徹底した真相解明を求めたい。
Renault is the largest shareholder of Nissan Motor Co., and the two carmakers have jointly developed electric vehicles. In December, Nissan started selling its Leaf electric vehicle in Japan and the United States. Renault plans to roll out an EV this year.
ルノーは日産自動車の筆頭株主で、両社はＥＶを共同開発してきた。日産は昨年末にＥＶのリーフを日米で発売し、ルノーも今年、ＥＶを売り出す計画だ。
Three Renault executives are suspected of leaking information including data about the vehicle's body structure and prices. Renault says information on the vehicle's core technologies such as lithium ion batteries were not leaked. But what actually happened?
疑われているのはルノー幹部３人だ。ＥＶの車体構造や価格などの情報を漏らしたとされるが、リチウムイオン電池などの核心技術は流出していないとルノーは説明している。真相はどうなのか。
French media have reported that the three executives are suspected of receiving generous rewards in return for leaking the data to Chinese firms.
仏メディアは、３人が中国企業に情報を漏えいし、巨額の報酬を受け取っていた可能性があるとも報じている。
Lessons to be learned
There could be grave consequences if it is proven that Japan's cutting-edge technology has been leaked to China via a foreign company that is a business partner of a Japanese firm.
日本の最先端技術が提携先の海外企業から中国に漏えいしたとすれば、憂慮すべき事態である。
Leaks of secret data also have been reported at a French auto parts maker, among others. While each French maker should naturally strengthen its protection and administration of secret information, we also urge the French authorities to bolster their investigations into infringements of intellectual assets.
フランスでは、自動車部品メーカーなどでも極秘情報が流出する事件が起きた。各社が機密の管理対策を強めるのは当然だが、知的財産の侵害に対する仏当局の摘発体制の強化も求められよう。
The Japanese government and companies must learn lessons from the Renault case.
一方、日本政府と日本企業もルノー事件を教訓とすべきだ。
Mitsubishi Motors Corp. became the first major automaker to market an electric vehicle when it released its i-MiEV in the summer of 2009. Nissan followed suit last year, and Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. plan to launch electric vehicles next year. Japanese carmakers are leading the global EV market.
ＥＶ開発を巡っては、一昨年夏に三菱自動車が大手メーカーで初めて、アイ・ミーブを販売し、日産も追随した。トヨタ自動車とホンダも来年発売する計画で、日本が世界をリードしている。
Their rivals in the United States, Europe and China have been cranking up their efforts to develop EVs, joining in the battle for eco-car supremacy. Depending on who emerges victorious in this competition, the power balance among carmakers could change dramatically.
しかし、エコカーの覇権を狙い、欧米や中国のメーカーが日本を追ってＥＶ開発を加速させている。競争の結果次第で、勢力図が激変する可能性もある。
Stay alert against espionage
With the stakes being so high, it is essential that Japanese firms protect their state-of-the-art technologies to maintain their competitive edge. They also need to stay on guard against industrial espionage and ensure they have structures in place to protect Japan's high-tech information not only on electric vehicles but also on other technologies, such as electronics.
それだけに、日本企業の最先端技術を保護し、競争力を維持することが肝要だ。ＥＶに限らず、エレクトロニクスなど日本のハイテク情報全体が狙われることを警戒し、対策を立てる必要がある。
To prevent leaks, companies must block all outside access to key technologies and maintain airtight data control.
漏えい防止には、管理の徹底ばかりでなく、重要技術を外部から遮断する「ブラックボックス化」の工夫が大事だろう。
To make it easier to crack down on infringement of corporate secrets, the government bolstered the Unfair Competition Prevention Law last summer by adopting tougher punitive measures.
企業秘密などに対する侵害行為を容易に摘発できるよう、政府が昨夏、不正競争防止法を強化し罰則を重くしたことは妥当だ。
Concerted efforts by the private and public sectors will be required to defend the technological information that sustains Japan's manufacturing industry.
日本のモノ作りを支える技術情報を防衛するには、官民の一層の連携が必要である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 17, 2011)
（2011年1月17日00時58分 読売新聞）
2011/01/17
支持率持ち直し 菅内閣は政策実現に全力を
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 17, 2011)
Kan must meet goals to build public trust
支持率持ち直し 菅内閣は政策実現に全力を（1月16日付・読売社説）
The approval rating for Prime Minister Naoto Kan's Cabinet has risen to 34 percent, according to a survey The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted in rapid response to Friday's reshuffle. The reshuffle, Kan's second, appeared to give a slight boost to the approval rating, which had dropped as low as 25 percent last month.
内閣再改造直後に実施した読売新聞の緊急世論調査で菅内閣の支持率が３４％になった。先月、内閣支持率は２５％にまで落ち込んだが、再改造でやや持ち直した。
The improved figure apparently reflects the public's desire for the new administration to carry out significant policy measures.
政策実現のための新たな布陣にひとまず期待するということだろう。
The rise in the approval rating may be attributed to public hopes for the new lineup of ministers, whom the prime minister has dubbed "the strongest team," though the reshuffle was relatively minor.
小幅ながらも、閣僚の顔ぶれが変わり、首相の言う「最強の態勢」に期するところが、内閣支持率を押し上げたと言える。
Support for tax hike, TPP
The survey also found that about 60 percent of respondents gave positive answers when asked about their opinion of a possible hike in the consumption tax rate to sustain the social security system. The same number supported the idea of the nation's participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade agreement among Asia-Pacific countries.
世論調査では、社会保障制度維持のための消費税率引き上げ、アジア太平洋諸国と貿易を自由化する環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）への参加について前向きに答えた人がいずれも約６割を占めた。
Taking into consideration what many of the public hope, the prime minister should take an assertive approach to resolving outstanding issues.
多くの国民が望んでいることを踏まえ、首相は、懸案解決に断固とした姿勢で臨むべきだ。
The same thing can be said regarding former Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa's alleged involvement in a money-and-politics scandal. Eighty-one percent of respondents said Ozawa should explain about it at the Diet.
小沢一郎・元民主党代表の「政治とカネ」の問題についても同様である。８１％が、小沢氏は国会で説明すべきだと考えている。
Kan has already expressed his intention to urge Ozawa to resign as a lawmaker and leave the DPJ when a mandatory indictment is made against him. The survey found that Kan's position is supported by 72 percent of the public. If the prime minister can solve issues related to Ozawa, the public evaluation of the Kan Cabinet is bound to improve.
小沢氏が強制起訴された場合、菅首相は議員辞職や離党を促す意向を示したが、こうした首相の方針を７２％の人が支持した。小沢氏の問題の解決が、菅内閣の評価を高めることにつながろう。
Meanwhile, nearly half of respondents did not back the move that attracted the most attention in the reshuffle, namely the appointment of former Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano as state minster in charge of economic and fiscal policy.
一方、今回の改造で最も注目された、与謝野馨・元官房長官の経済財政相起用については「評価しない」が、ほぼ半数を占めた。
When he belonged to the Liberal Democratic Party and then to the Sunrise Party of Japan, Yosano was highly critical of the DPJ-led government. This fact has made the public unable to understand his appointment as a Cabinet member, and opposition to it is getting stronger not only within the DPJ but also in the LDP and the other opposition parties.
与謝野氏は自民党、たちあがれ日本で、激しく民主党政権を批判してきた。それだけに国民の間には、「入閣は理解できない」という思いが広がっているのだろう。民主党だけでなく、自民党など野党側にも反発が強まっている。
Yosano must deal with such doubts and criticism by showing good results. Whether he does so will surely have an impact on the fate of the Kan Cabinet.
こうした疑問や批判に対して、与謝野氏は、実績を示すことで応えなければならない。それが、菅内閣の行方を左右することになるに違いない。
The second reshuffle seems to have temporarily lifted the Kan Cabinet out of the public-opinion danger zone. However, the people's feelings toward it remain cold, especially when compared to how the Cabinet's approval rating jumped to 66 percent in a poll conducted immediately after the first reshuffle in September.
菅内閣は、再改造によってとりあえず“危険水域”を脱した格好だ。ただ、昨年９月の内閣改造直後の世論調査では支持率が６６％に跳ね上がったことと比べると、国民の見方は依然冷ややかだ。
Will Kan be able to do it?
It is symbolic that 70 percent of respondents replied "no" to a question on whether the Cabinet will be able to achieve satisfactory results with its policy measures.
象徴的なのが、政策面で実績を上げられると思うかという問いに対し、７０％が「そうは思わない」と答えていることである。
Kan has used flashy slogans, such as "walk the talk" and "employment first, employment second and employment third." But he lacked the ability to make his slogans come true. The prime minister got cold feet after more and more members of the DPJ expressed opposition to a consumption tax rate hike and participation in the TPP trade pact.
菅首相は「有言実行」、「一に雇用、二に雇用、三に雇用」などスローガンは掲げるが、実行力が伴わなかった。消費税率引き上げやＴＰＰについても、党内で反対論が強まると及び腰になった。
If he shows signs of backpedaling again, the public will lose all confidence in Kan for good. With this in mind, the prime minister should proactively tackle state affairs.
首相が再び逃げを打つような態度に出れば国民に見放される。そのことを胸に刻み、国政のかじ取りに当たってもらいたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 16, 2011)
（2011年1月16日01時12分 読売新聞）
Kan must meet goals to build public trust
支持率持ち直し 菅内閣は政策実現に全力を（1月16日付・読売社説）
The approval rating for Prime Minister Naoto Kan's Cabinet has risen to 34 percent, according to a survey The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted in rapid response to Friday's reshuffle. The reshuffle, Kan's second, appeared to give a slight boost to the approval rating, which had dropped as low as 25 percent last month.
内閣再改造直後に実施した読売新聞の緊急世論調査で菅内閣の支持率が３４％になった。先月、内閣支持率は２５％にまで落ち込んだが、再改造でやや持ち直した。
The improved figure apparently reflects the public's desire for the new administration to carry out significant policy measures.
政策実現のための新たな布陣にひとまず期待するということだろう。
The rise in the approval rating may be attributed to public hopes for the new lineup of ministers, whom the prime minister has dubbed "the strongest team," though the reshuffle was relatively minor.
小幅ながらも、閣僚の顔ぶれが変わり、首相の言う「最強の態勢」に期するところが、内閣支持率を押し上げたと言える。
Support for tax hike, TPP
The survey also found that about 60 percent of respondents gave positive answers when asked about their opinion of a possible hike in the consumption tax rate to sustain the social security system. The same number supported the idea of the nation's participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade agreement among Asia-Pacific countries.
世論調査では、社会保障制度維持のための消費税率引き上げ、アジア太平洋諸国と貿易を自由化する環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）への参加について前向きに答えた人がいずれも約６割を占めた。
Taking into consideration what many of the public hope, the prime minister should take an assertive approach to resolving outstanding issues.
多くの国民が望んでいることを踏まえ、首相は、懸案解決に断固とした姿勢で臨むべきだ。
The same thing can be said regarding former Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa's alleged involvement in a money-and-politics scandal. Eighty-one percent of respondents said Ozawa should explain about it at the Diet.
小沢一郎・元民主党代表の「政治とカネ」の問題についても同様である。８１％が、小沢氏は国会で説明すべきだと考えている。
Kan has already expressed his intention to urge Ozawa to resign as a lawmaker and leave the DPJ when a mandatory indictment is made against him. The survey found that Kan's position is supported by 72 percent of the public. If the prime minister can solve issues related to Ozawa, the public evaluation of the Kan Cabinet is bound to improve.
小沢氏が強制起訴された場合、菅首相は議員辞職や離党を促す意向を示したが、こうした首相の方針を７２％の人が支持した。小沢氏の問題の解決が、菅内閣の評価を高めることにつながろう。
Meanwhile, nearly half of respondents did not back the move that attracted the most attention in the reshuffle, namely the appointment of former Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano as state minster in charge of economic and fiscal policy.
一方、今回の改造で最も注目された、与謝野馨・元官房長官の経済財政相起用については「評価しない」が、ほぼ半数を占めた。
When he belonged to the Liberal Democratic Party and then to the Sunrise Party of Japan, Yosano was highly critical of the DPJ-led government. This fact has made the public unable to understand his appointment as a Cabinet member, and opposition to it is getting stronger not only within the DPJ but also in the LDP and the other opposition parties.
与謝野氏は自民党、たちあがれ日本で、激しく民主党政権を批判してきた。それだけに国民の間には、「入閣は理解できない」という思いが広がっているのだろう。民主党だけでなく、自民党など野党側にも反発が強まっている。
Yosano must deal with such doubts and criticism by showing good results. Whether he does so will surely have an impact on the fate of the Kan Cabinet.
こうした疑問や批判に対して、与謝野氏は、実績を示すことで応えなければならない。それが、菅内閣の行方を左右することになるに違いない。
The second reshuffle seems to have temporarily lifted the Kan Cabinet out of the public-opinion danger zone. However, the people's feelings toward it remain cold, especially when compared to how the Cabinet's approval rating jumped to 66 percent in a poll conducted immediately after the first reshuffle in September.
菅内閣は、再改造によってとりあえず“危険水域”を脱した格好だ。ただ、昨年９月の内閣改造直後の世論調査では支持率が６６％に跳ね上がったことと比べると、国民の見方は依然冷ややかだ。
Will Kan be able to do it?
It is symbolic that 70 percent of respondents replied "no" to a question on whether the Cabinet will be able to achieve satisfactory results with its policy measures.
象徴的なのが、政策面で実績を上げられると思うかという問いに対し、７０％が「そうは思わない」と答えていることである。
Kan has used flashy slogans, such as "walk the talk" and "employment first, employment second and employment third." But he lacked the ability to make his slogans come true. The prime minister got cold feet after more and more members of the DPJ expressed opposition to a consumption tax rate hike and participation in the TPP trade pact.
菅首相は「有言実行」、「一に雇用、二に雇用、三に雇用」などスローガンは掲げるが、実行力が伴わなかった。消費税率引き上げやＴＰＰについても、党内で反対論が強まると及び腰になった。
If he shows signs of backpedaling again, the public will lose all confidence in Kan for good. With this in mind, the prime minister should proactively tackle state affairs.
首相が再び逃げを打つような態度に出れば国民に見放される。そのことを胸に刻み、国政のかじ取りに当たってもらいたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 16, 2011)
（2011年1月16日01時12分 読売新聞）
2011/01/16
政権公約見直し―予算案修正と一体で臨め
2011/01/15
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 14
EDITORIAL: DPJ's manifesto review
政権公約見直し―予算案修正と一体で臨め
The ruling Democratic Party of Japan decided in a party convention Thursday to revise by summer its manifesto for the 2009 Lower House election.
民主党がきのうの党大会で、夏までに２００９年衆院選のマニフェスト（政権公約）を見直す方針を決めた。
As for the draft budget for next fiscal year, which is based on the manifesto, DPJ Secretary-General Katsuya Okada recently indicated the spending plan should also be subject to change.
この政権公約を土台に編成している新年度予算案についても、同党の岡田克也幹事長が先日、「修正に否定的ではない。
"We are not opposed to a revision (to the draft budget)," Okada said. "The plan drawn up by the government is not final. There should be the possibility for the plan to be changed through debate."
政府が出したものが最終ではなく、議論で変えることはあっていい」と述べている。
We welcome the fact that the government and the DPJ have shown a willingness to change problematic elements in the party's campaign platform and the government's spending blueprint.
問題のある政権公約や予算案について、政府・与党が修正に柔軟な姿勢を示したことを評価したい。
But summer may be too late for the proposed revision to the manifesto.
ただし公約の見直しが夏というのは遅すぎないか。
It is, of course, necessary for the party to hold sufficient debate on the matter. But it doesn't make sense that the draft budget for the new fiscal year, to be deliberated by the Diet during the upcoming regular session, will not reflect any of the changes in the party's manifesto that might be made through the review.
十分な党内論議を積み重ねることはもちろん必要だ。とはいえ、これから開く国会で審議する新年度予算案に、見直しの成果がまったく反映されないのではつじつまが合わなくなる。
If the outlooks of specific programs and projects remain murky, the opposition parties could create problems for the ruling party in enacting the budget.
政策の行方が今後どうなるかわからないという状況のなかで、予算案を通してくれと言われても、野党が理解を示すとは思えない。
A major change to a budget bill during a Diet session is extremely rare. There have been a few cases of minor revisions in the past, but no large-scale amendment to a budget bill, such as changing the budget framework, has ever happened.
国会開会中の本格的な予算案修正は極めて異例である。過去には小規模な修正例が数件あるだけで、枠組みを変えるような大がかりな修正例はない。
However, the ruling camp now needs to demonstrate its commitment to adjusting its policy agenda to the realities by showing a willingness to make such a radical change to its spending plan.
だが今こそ、それも辞さない覚悟を、政府・与党に求めたい。
Amending the budget bill is necessary, but not as a gambit to ensure its passage in the Diet. It is necessary because it is clear that the DPJ's election manifesto, which has served as a basis for budget formulation since the previous administration of former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, needs to be reformed considerably.
予算案修正が必要なのは、単に成立を図るための国会対策の方便としてではない。鳩山政権以来、予算の土台となってきた政権公約は、財源の確保や制度づくりの難しさに照らして、かなり修正が必要なことがはっきりしているからである。
For example, the abolition of expressway tolls, one of the key DPJ election promises, is no longer a reasonable policy goal given the troubles raised by the initiative, such as the negative effects on public transportation services, traffic congestion on expressways and the financing problem.
例えば政権公約の目玉の一つである高速料金の原則無料化は、他の公共交通機関への影響、渋滞や財源の問題があって、もはや最終ゴールにはなりえない。
There is no convincing case for providing funding for a continuation of the "experimental" scrapping of tolls for some expressways under the budget for the fiscal year starting in April.
にもかかわらず新年度予算案に社会実験の継続が盛り込まれるのは、説得力を欠く。
The newly introduced program to prop up the income of farmers with direct cash payments has hampered consolidation of fragmented farmland because all farmers, including small-scale ones, selling rice and other staples are eligible. It has become clear that the program represents an impediment to efforts to improve efficiency in Japanese agriculture. Does the ruling camp intend to keep the program alive without tackling this problem?
農業の戸別所得補償は、零細農家を含めすべての販売農家を対象としたことで農地集約の障害となり、効率化が進まないという欠陥が露呈した。それを放置したまま制度を続けるのか。
Regarding the child allowance program, the government has decided to keep providing 13,000 yen ($157) a month per child--half of the amount the DPJ promised--to households with young children. Does the administration plan to eventually increase the allowance to the promised amount?
子ども手当は、政権公約にうたった額の半分、月１万３千円の給付を続けるが、いずれ満額まで上積みする前提なのか。
Other issues related to the child-allowance initiative need to be addressed, such as whether support should be provided in the form of goods and whether an income cap on eligibility should be introduced.
現物給付に重点を移す道や所得制限導入の是非も論点として残る。
If the futures of these policy measures remain uncertain, the people cannot develop their life plans.
もろもろの政策の行き着く先が見えぬままでは、国民は制度継続を前提に生活設計はできない。
The government should steer its policy agenda in an appropriate direction as soon as possible to prevent any disruption in the people's lives and economic activities.
適切な方向に早くかじを切り直し、国民生活や経済活動が停滞しないようにすべきだ。
That requires the ruling bloc to reconsider its main policy promises ahead of schedule and amend the draft budget flexibly through Diet debate.
それには主要施策の政権公約だけでも前倒しで見直し、国会論戦を通じて予算案を柔軟に修正すべきである。
Prime Minister Naoto Kan should give the public a detailed explanation about the reasons for the changes and the new directions of the policies.
もちろんその際、菅直人首相は修正理由と新たな政策の方向について、国民に丁寧に説明しなければならない。
The opposition parties, for their part, should not refuse debate on such changes without good reason and make their judgments from the viewpoint of public interest.
野党もいたずらに審議を拒むことなく、国民本位で判断してもらいたい。
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 14
EDITORIAL: DPJ's manifesto review
政権公約見直し―予算案修正と一体で臨め
The ruling Democratic Party of Japan decided in a party convention Thursday to revise by summer its manifesto for the 2009 Lower House election.
民主党がきのうの党大会で、夏までに２００９年衆院選のマニフェスト（政権公約）を見直す方針を決めた。
As for the draft budget for next fiscal year, which is based on the manifesto, DPJ Secretary-General Katsuya Okada recently indicated the spending plan should also be subject to change.
この政権公約を土台に編成している新年度予算案についても、同党の岡田克也幹事長が先日、「修正に否定的ではない。
"We are not opposed to a revision (to the draft budget)," Okada said. "The plan drawn up by the government is not final. There should be the possibility for the plan to be changed through debate."
政府が出したものが最終ではなく、議論で変えることはあっていい」と述べている。
We welcome the fact that the government and the DPJ have shown a willingness to change problematic elements in the party's campaign platform and the government's spending blueprint.
問題のある政権公約や予算案について、政府・与党が修正に柔軟な姿勢を示したことを評価したい。
But summer may be too late for the proposed revision to the manifesto.
ただし公約の見直しが夏というのは遅すぎないか。
It is, of course, necessary for the party to hold sufficient debate on the matter. But it doesn't make sense that the draft budget for the new fiscal year, to be deliberated by the Diet during the upcoming regular session, will not reflect any of the changes in the party's manifesto that might be made through the review.
十分な党内論議を積み重ねることはもちろん必要だ。とはいえ、これから開く国会で審議する新年度予算案に、見直しの成果がまったく反映されないのではつじつまが合わなくなる。
If the outlooks of specific programs and projects remain murky, the opposition parties could create problems for the ruling party in enacting the budget.
政策の行方が今後どうなるかわからないという状況のなかで、予算案を通してくれと言われても、野党が理解を示すとは思えない。
A major change to a budget bill during a Diet session is extremely rare. There have been a few cases of minor revisions in the past, but no large-scale amendment to a budget bill, such as changing the budget framework, has ever happened.
国会開会中の本格的な予算案修正は極めて異例である。過去には小規模な修正例が数件あるだけで、枠組みを変えるような大がかりな修正例はない。
However, the ruling camp now needs to demonstrate its commitment to adjusting its policy agenda to the realities by showing a willingness to make such a radical change to its spending plan.
だが今こそ、それも辞さない覚悟を、政府・与党に求めたい。
Amending the budget bill is necessary, but not as a gambit to ensure its passage in the Diet. It is necessary because it is clear that the DPJ's election manifesto, which has served as a basis for budget formulation since the previous administration of former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, needs to be reformed considerably.
予算案修正が必要なのは、単に成立を図るための国会対策の方便としてではない。鳩山政権以来、予算の土台となってきた政権公約は、財源の確保や制度づくりの難しさに照らして、かなり修正が必要なことがはっきりしているからである。
For example, the abolition of expressway tolls, one of the key DPJ election promises, is no longer a reasonable policy goal given the troubles raised by the initiative, such as the negative effects on public transportation services, traffic congestion on expressways and the financing problem.
例えば政権公約の目玉の一つである高速料金の原則無料化は、他の公共交通機関への影響、渋滞や財源の問題があって、もはや最終ゴールにはなりえない。
There is no convincing case for providing funding for a continuation of the "experimental" scrapping of tolls for some expressways under the budget for the fiscal year starting in April.
にもかかわらず新年度予算案に社会実験の継続が盛り込まれるのは、説得力を欠く。
The newly introduced program to prop up the income of farmers with direct cash payments has hampered consolidation of fragmented farmland because all farmers, including small-scale ones, selling rice and other staples are eligible. It has become clear that the program represents an impediment to efforts to improve efficiency in Japanese agriculture. Does the ruling camp intend to keep the program alive without tackling this problem?
農業の戸別所得補償は、零細農家を含めすべての販売農家を対象としたことで農地集約の障害となり、効率化が進まないという欠陥が露呈した。それを放置したまま制度を続けるのか。
Regarding the child allowance program, the government has decided to keep providing 13,000 yen ($157) a month per child--half of the amount the DPJ promised--to households with young children. Does the administration plan to eventually increase the allowance to the promised amount?
子ども手当は、政権公約にうたった額の半分、月１万３千円の給付を続けるが、いずれ満額まで上積みする前提なのか。
Other issues related to the child-allowance initiative need to be addressed, such as whether support should be provided in the form of goods and whether an income cap on eligibility should be introduced.
現物給付に重点を移す道や所得制限導入の是非も論点として残る。
If the futures of these policy measures remain uncertain, the people cannot develop their life plans.
もろもろの政策の行き着く先が見えぬままでは、国民は制度継続を前提に生活設計はできない。
The government should steer its policy agenda in an appropriate direction as soon as possible to prevent any disruption in the people's lives and economic activities.
適切な方向に早くかじを切り直し、国民生活や経済活動が停滞しないようにすべきだ。
That requires the ruling bloc to reconsider its main policy promises ahead of schedule and amend the draft budget flexibly through Diet debate.
それには主要施策の政権公約だけでも前倒しで見直し、国会論戦を通じて予算案を柔軟に修正すべきである。
Prime Minister Naoto Kan should give the public a detailed explanation about the reasons for the changes and the new directions of the policies.
もちろんその際、菅直人首相は修正理由と新たな政策の方向について、国民に丁寧に説明しなければならない。
The opposition parties, for their part, should not refuse debate on such changes without good reason and make their judgments from the viewpoint of public interest.
野党もいたずらに審議を拒むことなく、国民本位で判断してもらいたい。
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