社説：民主党代表選 どうする外交 瀬戸際の自覚が乏しい

(Mainichi Japan) August 26, 2011
DPJ leadership hopefuls must tackle foreign diplomacy, long-neglected after disasters
社説：民主党代表選　どうする外交　瀬戸際の自覚が乏しい

Since the triple disasters of March 11, Japan has paid little attention to foreign diplomacy.
　東日本大震災以降の日本はずっと外交不在の状態が続いてきた。

As the administration of Prime Minister Naoto Kan struggled to begin rebuilding the devastated Tohoku region, a political battle was waged by ruling and opposition blocs over whether or not Kan should resign.
復興対応で手いっぱいの政権、首相退陣を巡り政争を繰り返す与野党－－。

Bringing an end to the stagnation that such political warfare has created and normalizing the course of Japan's foreign policy is one of the most important challenges that awaits the next prime minister.
そうした閉塞（へいそく）感に終止符を打ち、外交を正常な軌道に戻すことは、次期首相の重要な課題である。

In spite of this, however, little has been said about diplomacy and security by politicians expressing an interest in running for the head of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) -- and hence, the next prime minister.
　にもかかわらず、民主党代表選に出馬意欲を示す政治家の口から、外交や安全保障に関する発言がほとんど聞かれないのはどうしたことか。

We must not allow the upcoming election to become an inward-looking election, one solely concerned with political maneuvering for the right number of votes and the nature of the candidates' ties to former DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa.
数合わせや小沢一郎元代表との距離感だけに焦点があたる、内向きの代表選であってはならない。

Meanwhile, other countries are making active and astute steps in their diplomatic affairs.
　周辺では、関係主要国が活発で巧妙な外交を展開している。

Take, for example, the United States and China. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden recently visited both China and Japan, staying six days in China -- during which he poured his energies into establishing strong relations with Xi Jinping, said to be China's next president.
　例えば米中だ。バイデン米副大統領が中国や日本を歴訪して帰国したが、中国には６日間滞在し、次のリーダーである習近平国家副主席との親密な関係づくりに精力を注いだ。

This was in stark contrast to Biden's visit to Japan, which lasted just two days and included a meeting with outgoing Prime Minister Kan as a mere formality.
退陣直前の菅直人首相と儀礼的に会談し、正味２日間の滞在だった日本とは対照的だ。

In addition, China appears to be testing the DPJ's stance toward China, as demonstrated in two Chinese patrol boats' entry into Japanese waters near the disputed Senkaku Islands.
その中国は２４日、尖閣諸島周辺で漁業監視船が日本領海に侵入するなど、民主党の対中姿勢を改めて試すかのような行動をみせている。

Furthermore, there have been rising tensions between China and Russia, both battling for political and economic influence in the Far East region.
一方では、極東地域の政治的経済的影響力を競う中露の確執もここにきて目立ってきた。

The year 2012 will be a turning point not only in China, where the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party will change hands, but also in Russia, the U.S., and South Korea, where presidential elections are set to take place.
　来年は中国の共産党指導部交代をはじめロシア、米国、韓国で大統領選が行われる節目の年だ。

While others have been formulating diplomatic strategies with next year in mind, Japan, due to its internal political skirmishes, has trailed behind both in influencing the establishment of a new regional order and its pursuit of national interests.
各国が２０１２年を念頭に置く外交戦略を練る中で、政治の停滞が続く日本は、地域の新たな秩序構築や国益競争で大きく後れをとっている。

As such, the diplomatic challenges that the next prime minister must deal with are all urgent.
　次期首相の外交課題はいずれも待ったなしのものばかりだ。

There is the breakdown in talks over the Japan-U.S. joint declaration on bilateral security that needs to be addressed, and a much-needed breakthrough in the issue of relocating U.S. Marine Corps' Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture.
　仕切り直しとなった日米安保共同宣言の後始末や、宙に浮く米軍普天間飛行場移設問題の打開。

There's also a visit to China by Japan's new prime minister, and a visit to Japan by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, which must take place before the end of the year.
年内の宿題である新首相の訪中と、李明博（イミョンバク）韓国大統領の訪日。

Whoever takes the helm of government will be scrutinized for his ability -- or lack thereof -- to command a presence before other leaders at the East Asia Summit and APEC Summit, both set to take place this fall.
秋の東アジアサミット（ＥＡＳ）やアジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）首脳会議で顔を合わせる各国首脳たちの前で、いかに発言力と存在感を示すかも厳しく問われよう。

Have the DPJ leadership election candidates-to-be taken these responsibilities into consideration?
それらを考え抜いたうえで、首相になる決意を固めているのかどうか。

They are obligated to show how prepared they are for such duties.
候補者は自らの覚悟を語るべきである。

In the two years since the DPJ government came to power, it has downplayed the importance of continuity and botched diplomatic dealings by putting precarious ideals ahead of everything else.
　継続性を軽視し、地に足のつかない理念先行の外交で失敗したのが、民主党政権の２年間だった。

The administration's strategy-building capabilities failed to improve, and diplomats' information and networks were not put to effective use.
官邸の戦略機能強化は実現せず、外交当局の情報とネットワークも活用できなかった。

Japanese foreign policy has veered far off course because the DPJ put a lid on intra-party conflict in order to take over government, and failed to reach a consensus on basic policies such as the Japan-U.S. alliance and a vision for an East Asian community, the "third opening" of Japan, and its stance toward China.
政権をとるため党内対立を封印し、「日米同盟と東アジア共同体」「第３の開国」「対中戦略」といった根幹の政策でコンセンサスづくりを怠ったことが、外交迷走の原因だ。

We hope that those running in the DPJ presidential race will take the mistakes that have been made to heart, realize the crossroads at which Japan is now standing, and carry out a heated debate on diplomatic policy.
　その反省を踏まえ、日本が瀬戸際にあるとの自覚を持って、真剣な外交論戦を聞かせてほしい。

毎日新聞　2011年8月26日　2時31分