グアム予算凍結 事態打開へ「普天間」の進展を

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 15, 2011)
Govt must advance Futenma issue to lessen Okinawa's base burdens
グアム予算凍結　事態打開へ「普天間」の進展を（12月14日付・読売社説）

It has become even more difficult to implement visible steps that would lessen Okinawa Prefecture's burdens as the host of many U.S. military bases.
　目に見える沖縄の米軍基地負担軽減策の実現が危うくなってきた。

The government must recognize that this situation is extremely serious.
極めて深刻な事態と受け止める必要があろう。

The armed services committees of the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives have agreed on revisions to a bill for the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2012, which includes a freeze on the entire 156 million dollars budget for shifting U.S. marines stationed in Okinawa Prefecture to Guam.
　米上下両院の軍事委員会が、在沖縄海兵隊のグアム移転関連予算１億５６００万ドル（約１２０億円）の全額凍結を含む２０１２会計年度の国防権限法案の修正で合意した。

The revised bill is scheduled to be approved at plenary sessions of both chambers shortly.
修正案は近く両院本会議で可決される。

The Guam relocation budget was earmarked for constructing the headquarters building and family residences, as well as for the relocation of 8,000 marines and their about 9,000 family members from Okinawa Prefecture.
　グアム関連予算は、海兵隊員８０００人と家族９０００人の移転に伴い、司令部庁舎や家族住宅などを整備するためのものだ。

The budget has been cut in the past, but this was the first time the entire budget was frozen.
従来、減額されたことはあったが、全額凍結は初めてだ。

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Guam relocation to face scrapping

The U.S. Congress has been trying to cut massive defense spending. It has been toughening its stance of not approving the Guam relocation budget unless progress is made on the relocation plan of Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture, which is considered a "set" with the marines' relocation.
　米議会は、巨額の国防費削減に向け、海兵隊移転と「一体の計画」である普天間飛行場の移設が進まない以上、グアム関連予算は認めないとの姿勢を強めていた。

If there is no budget for the program in fiscal 2013, the Guam relocation plan itself likely would face being scrapped.
　仮に１３年度も予算がつかなければ、移転計画全体が白紙になりかねない。

If that should happen, the scheduled return of six U.S. military facilities in southern Okinawa Prefecture to Japan's rule--a key element in the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan--would also face a setback.
その場合、在日米軍再編の目玉である沖縄県南部の米軍６施設の返還も頓挫する。

Many people in Okinawa Prefecture want the issue of moving the marines to Guam to be separate from the Futenma station's relocation within the prefecture.
　沖縄県には、普天間飛行場の県内移設と切り離して、海兵隊移転だけを実現したいとの声が少なくない。

However, they should recognize such a plan is unrealistic.
だが、それは、もはや非現実的だと認識すべきだろう。

The U.S. government tried to persuade Congress not to freeze the funds because it believed a degree of "tangible progress" would be made if the Japanese government submits an environment impact assessment statement to the prefecture within the year as planned. However, the efforts at persuasion failed.
　米政府は、日本政府が年内に普天間飛行場移設の環境影響評価書を沖縄県に提出することを「一定の進展」とみなし、米議会の説得を試みたが、失敗した。

A "far more substantial development" in the Futenma issue will be necessary to convince Congress to revive the Guam relocation budget in fiscal 2013.
　１３年度にグアム予算を復活計上させるには、米議会が納得するだけの普天間問題の「より実質的な進展」が必須となる。

There are only two options left for Tokyo and Washington, as well as the Okinawa prefectural government.
　日米両政府と沖縄県に残された選択肢は今、二つしかない。

One is to move ahead with the relocation of the Futenma base to the Henoko district in Nago, also in the prefecture, and realize the U.S. marines' relocation to Guam.
　一つは、普天間飛行場の名護市辺野古移設を進め、海兵隊のグアム移転を実現する道だ。

When the six U.S. military facilities are returned to Japan's rule, the availability of these vast sites will give momentum to a new revitalization plan for the island prefecture from next fiscal year.
米軍６施設が返還されれば、広大な跡地利用により、来年度からの新たな沖縄振興計画にも弾みがつこう。

The other is to give up both the Futenma relocation to Henoko and the transfer of the marines to Guam.
　もう一つは、普天間の辺野古移設も、海兵隊移転も断念する道だ。

In this case, those involved will have to accept that the dangerous situation of the Futenma base, located in the middle of a city, will remain for a long time.
その場合、普天間飛行場の危険な現状が長期間、固定化されることも覚悟せざるを得ない。
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Govt, Okinawa must see reality

The central and Okinawa prefectural governments must recognize the reality that only two options are left. It is essential that they discuss straightforwardly and seriously how to ensure Japan's security while lessening Okinawa Prefecture's burdens.
　政府と沖縄県は、この現実を直視し、日本の安全保障と沖縄の負担軽減をいかに両立させるかについて、率直かつ真剣に話し合うことが重要となる。

Of course, the responsibility for the current situation rests with former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and other officials.
After all, they proposed relocating the Futenma base somewhere outside the prefecture or even outside the country, a suggestion that built up unreasonable expectations among many Okinawa residents--and then eventually betrayed these hopes.
　無論、普天間飛行場の「県外・国外移設」を唱え、沖縄に過剰な期待を持たせた末に裏切った経緯を踏まえれば、現在の事態を招いた責任は鳩山元首相らにある。

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has not visited Okinawa Prefecture since he assumed the post.
　野田首相は就任後、まだ沖縄を訪問していない。

It is about time he stood up to break the deadlock.
そろそろ自ら事態打開に動く時である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 14, 2011)
（2011年12月14日01時46分 読売新聞）