災害の国際協力 アジア太平洋諸国と連携密に

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 27, 2011)
Strengthen cooperation with Asia-Pacific nations
災害の国際協力　アジア太平洋諸国と連携密に（3月26日付・読売社説）

Japan, China and South Korea have decided to enhance their cooperation regarding disaster response and nuclear safety, drawing on the lessons of the March 11 Tohoku Pacific Offshore Earthquake and the subsequent accidents at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co.
　東日本巨大地震と東京電力福島第一原子力発電所の事故を踏まえ、日本と中国、韓国の３か国が防災や原子力安全の分野で協力関係を強化することになった。

The three countries agreed on greater cooperation at a meeting of their foreign ministers held March 19 in Kyoto. Details are expected to be decided at working-level talks, and we want discussions to be held as soon as possible.
　京都で１９日に行われた日中韓外相会談で合意した。具体的な協力内容は、事務レベルで詰めるという。検討を加速してほしい。

The day after the massive earthquake and tsunami, South Korea dispatched a rescue dog team to disaster-hit areas, and a short time later sent more than 100 rescue workers.
　韓国は、震災発生翌日に救助犬チームを、その後まもなく１００人超のレスキュー隊を被災地に派遣した。

A 15-member Chinese rescue team arrived two days after the quake.
中国の救助隊１５人も震災３日目に現地入りした。

Such immediate rescue activities, which take advantage of the three nations' proximity as neighboring countries, will be central to the cooperation among Japan, China and South Korea.
　隣国同士という地の利を生かした災害発生直後の救援活動は、３か国の協力の柱となろう。

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Large donations of fuel

South Korea also provided Japan with 500,000 tons of liquefied natural gas that could be used as fuel to run a thermal power station, while China supplied 20,000 tons of gasoline and other fuels.
　物資面では、韓国から火力発電所の燃料となる液化天然ガス５０万トン、中国からガソリンなど燃油２万トンの融通を受けた。

We hope this assistance from Beijing and Seoul will develop into a mutual assistance framework under which Japan would in turn move quickly with rescue and assistance operations if a large-scale disaster hit China or South Korea.
　中国や韓国で大規模災害が起きた時は、日本が速やかに救助や支援活動に動く。そうした「共助」の仕組みに、今回の中韓両国の支援をつなげたい。

South Korea also offered boric acid, which can suppress nuclear fission, to help deal with the Fukushima nuclear power station. Seoul has stockpiles of boric acid for use during inspections and repairs at its nuclear power stations, illustrating the usefulness of a three-country system to help each other procure emergency goods at the time of a nuclear accident.
　韓国は、原発事故に関連して、核分裂を抑える効果があるホウ酸も提供した。原発の点検・補修用に備蓄していたものだが、事故発生時に緊急物資の調達で協力する仕組みがあれば有益だろう。

In the case of an accident at a nuclear power station in one country, it is most important to disclose and share information quickly at home and abroad.
　原発事故の際には、迅速に事故情報を国内外に提供し、共有することが最も大切である。

A groundless rumor spread in China and South Korea immediately after the start of the crisis that radiation from the Fukushima plant would contaminate the air and seawater.
　中韓両国でも、今回の事故直後に、大気や海水が放射能で汚染されるとの「風評」が広がった。

A country where a nuclear accident has occurred has a responsibility to provide accurate information. The Foreign Ministry has carried information on the quake and tsunami disaster in English, Chinese and Korean on its Web site, but it may need to provide information in many more languages.
　正確な情報の提供は、事故の当事国に課せられた責務だ。外務省はホームページで英語のほか中国語と韓国語で震災情報を掲載するようにしたが、より多くの言語で情報を提供する必要があろう。

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Dealing with tsunami critical

Tsunami following the March 11 earthquake caused damage on the U.S. west coast, Indonesia and other locations. How to deal with large tsunami is a common issue for countries facing the Pacific Ocean.
　今回の津波では、米国の西海岸やインドネシアなどでも被害が生じた。太平洋に面する各国にとって、大規模な津波への対応は共通の課題である。

Disaster relief training exercises were held last week in Indonesia with the participation of more than 25 countries, including Australia, India, Southeast Asian countries and the United States.
　インドネシアでは先週、米国や豪州、インド、東南アジア諸国など２５か国以上が参加する災害救援の実動演習が実施された。

Organized jointly by the Japanese and Indonesian governments, the field exercise was conducted on the premise that tsunami had caused huge damage, and included drills on evacuation, helicopter transportation and searching for victims trapped under wreckage.
　日本、インドネシア両政府の共催で、津波被害を想定して避難やヘリ輸送、瓦礫(がれき)下の捜索活動などの演習が行われた。

Technical know-how regarding such relief activities will unquestionably be useful in emergencies. These exercises should be made a regular occurrence.
いざという時に必ず役立つノウハウだ。これを機に定例化してはどうか。

Offers of help have reached Japan from 130 countries around the world, including nations in Europe, Central and South America, the Middle East and Africa, as well as the United States and other Asian countries. We are very grateful, and Japan will always offer a helping hand to those countries when they are in difficulty.
　日本への支援の申し出は、米国やアジア諸国以外にも、欧州、中南米、中東、アフリカの各地から寄せられ、その数は約１３０か国にのぼる。感謝したい。この国々が困っている時は、日本も必ず支援の手を差し伸べたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 26, 2011)
（2011年3月26日01時10分 読売新聞）