野田外交の責務 日本の存在高める戦略を持て

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 11, 2012)
Noda must pursue diplomacy that will enhance nation's presence
野田外交の責務　日本の存在高める戦略を持て（1月10日付・読売社説）

It has been pointed out for years that Japan's diplomatic standing is deteriorating, a condition likened to "ground subsidence."
　日本外交の地盤沈下が指摘されて久しい。

With the prime minister being changed annually for six years in a row, international awareness of this country's existence has further declined.
６年連続で首相が交代し、国際社会での日本の存在感は一層薄まっている。

Last year, we received heartwarming help from all over the world after the country suffered the disastrous Great East Japan Earthquake.
　昨年は、東日本大震災に対し世界中から温かい支援を受けた。

This international bond made us recognize afresh the importance of diplomacy.
国際的な連帯は外交の重要性を再認識させた。

This year, Japan must drop its inward-looking stance and advance an active diplomacy to improve the nation's presence in the world.
　日本は今年、内向き姿勢を排し、自らの存在を高める能動的な外交を展開することが肝要だ。

To this end, the top priority should be the deepening of the Japan-U.S. alliance, which Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has described as the "cornerstone of Japanese diplomacy."
　優先して取り組むべきは、野田首相が「日本外交の基軸」と強調する日米同盟の深化である。

　◆首相訪米で同盟深化を◆

Both the Japanese and U.S. governments are now planning an official visit by Noda to the United States this year.
　日米両政府は今年、野田首相の公式訪米を検討している。

Originally, the governments planned a U.S. visit in 2010 by the then prime minister and an announcement of a joint document aimed at deepening the bilateral alliance to mark the 50th anniversary of the revision of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty.
However, the plan has been continuously postponed due to political upheaval in Japan and other reasons.
　本来は、日米安全保障条約改定５０周年の２０１０年に首相訪米と同盟深化の共同文書の発表を計画していたが、日本の政局の混乱などで先送りされ続けてきた。

The plan should be realized this year.
今年こそ、実現せねばなるまい。

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Speed up Futenma relocation

To realize the plan, it is important for the government to advance the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.
　米軍普天間飛行場の移設問題を前進させることが大切だ。

In late December, the government submitted to the Okinawa prefectural government an environmental impact assessment for an alternative facility to be constructed in the Henoko district of Nago in the same prefecture.
　政府は昨年末、名護市辺野古に建設する代替施設の環境影響評価書を沖縄県に提出した。

The most difficult hurdle for realizing the relocation plan is to obtain permission to reclaim land in offshore waters from Okinawa Gov.
Hirokazu Nakaima, who stressed "relocation of the air station functions outside the prefecture" as one of his election campaign pledges.
最大の関門は、「県外移設」を公約した仲井真弘多知事から公有水面埋め立ての許可を得ることだ。

Noda must seek a comprehensive agreement with the Okinawa prefectural government on the Futenma issue, the relocation of marine corps personnel stationed in the prefecture to Guam and the prefecture's economic development programs, among other issues.
　野田首相は、普天間問題や在沖縄海兵隊のグアム移転、沖縄振興などに関する沖縄県との包括的な合意を目指さねばならない。

It will also be important for him to repeatedly have strategic dialogues with the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama, which has made clear its diplomatic position of focusing on Asia.
These joint discussions are necessary to cope with China, which has been expanding its military and economic presence.
　「アジア重視」路線を鮮明にしたオバマ政権と、膨張する中国に共同で対処するための戦略対話を重ねることも重要となる。

To guide China toward the observation of international rules for settling economic problems and maritime territorial issues, Japan and the United States should closely cooperate in the use of frameworks for multilateral discussions, including the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Regional Forum, as well as Japan-U.S.-South Korea, Japan-U.S.-India and Japan-U.S.-Australia trilateral frameworks.
　経済や海洋問題で国際ルールを順守する方向に中国を誘導するには、日米が緊密に連携し、東アジア首脳会議やＡＳＥＡＮ地域フォーラム（ＡＲＦ）などの多国間会議や、日米韓、日米印、日米豪の枠組みを活用する必要がある。

　◆「拉致」前進へ連携強化◆

The situation on the Korean Peninsula has become increasingly opaque due to the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
　北朝鮮の金正日総書記の死去で朝鮮半島情勢は不透明になった。

To prepare for unforeseen contingencies, it is indispensable for our nation not only to cooperate with the United States, but also to closely share information and coordinate policies with both China and South Korea.
不測の事態に備えるため、日米だけでなく、中韓両国との緊密な情報共有と政策調整が不可欠だ。

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Expand trilateral ties

We also need to expand trilateral defense cooperation with the United States and South Korea by formulating operational plans to deal with contingencies and participating in joint exercises and other activities.
　有事を想定した作戦計画の策定や共同演習の実施など、日米韓の防衛協力も拡充したい。

In December, South Korea brought up the issue of the so-called comfort women, but Japan should not budge on its stance that all compensation issues have been settled.
　韓国は昨年１２月、いわゆる従軍慰安婦問題を提起してきたが、日本は、請求権問題は解決済みとの立場を一切変更すべきではない。

At the same time, our nation should develop future-oriented relations with Seoul.
同時に、日韓関係を未来志向で発展させることも求められよう。

As for North Korea, the leadership change there should be exploited to break the stalemate on the issue of Japanese nationals abducted to that country.
　北朝鮮の指導者交代を、膠着(こうちゃく)状態にある日本人拉致問題を前進させる契機とする発想が必要だ。

Late last month, the government decided to reinforce the abduction issue countermeasures headquarters.
　政府は先月末、拉致問題対策本部の体制を強化する方針を決定した。

In close cooperation with the United States, China, South Korea and Russia, the government must devise a strategy to try to resolve the North Korean nuclear and abduction issues at the same time.
米中韓露各国との連携を密にし、核問題と拉致問題を同時に動かす戦略を練らねばならない。

In Russia, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will almost certainly return to the Kremlin after winning a presidential election in March.
　ロシアでは、３月の大統領選を経てプーチン首相が大統領に復帰することが確実視されている。

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev takes the stand of not recognizing the 1956 Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration that pledged to return two islands off Hokkaido to Japan after conclusion of a peace treaty.
　メドベージェフ大統領は、北方領土の２島返還を明記した１９５６年の日ソ共同宣言さえ認めない立場で、国後島訪問を強行し、日露関係は冷却化した。

He visited Kunashiri Island in November 2010 despite Japan's opposition, thereby cooling bilateral relations. Russia's expected presidential change must be used to improve the relations.
大統領交代を関係改善の機会としたい。

Russia will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum's summit meeting in Vladivostok in September.
　ロシアは今年９月、ウラジオストクでアジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）を主催する予定で、

The country seeks our nation's cooperation in energy development.
日本にエネルギー協力を求めている。

Japan needs strategic diplomacy that will respond flexibly depending on Moscow's behavior.
ロシアの出方に応じた柔軟かつ戦略的な外交が求められる。

Many international conferences will be held in Japan this year.
　日本では今年、多くの国際会議が開かれる。

They include the 6th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting set for May in Okinawa Prefecture, a ministerial conference on large-scale disasters in summer, a general meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in October and a ministerial conference on nuclear safety in December.
５月には沖縄で太平洋・島サミットを開く。夏に大規模災害の閣僚級会議、１０月に国際通貨基金（ＩＭＦ）・世界銀行総会、年末に原子力安全に関する閣僚級会議が予定されている。

Based on the lessons learned from the March 11 disaster and subsequent reconstruction efforts, Japan must focus on the new roles it can play in disaster countermeasures, the world economy and nuclear power generation. 　大震災からの日本の復興と、震災の教訓を踏まえた防災、世界経済、原子力の各分野における日本の新たな役割をアピールすべきだ。

This would serve to repay the assistance offered by foreign countries in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake.
それが各国からの震災支援に対する恩返しともなろう。

===

ODA skid must be halted
　◆ＯＤＡ削減に歯止めを◆

For Japan to secure a voice on the world stage, the continual cuts in budgetary outlays for official development assistance must be halted.
　日本が国際的な発言力を確保するには、外交の「武器」である政府開発援助（ＯＤＡ）予算の削減に歯止めをかけねばならない。

ODA spending has fallen year on year for 13 consecutive years and now stands at about half its peak level. 　ＯＤＡは１３年連続で減少し、今はピーク時の約半分にすぎない。

Japan's ranking has dropped to fifth on the world's list of ODA donors.
支出額は世界５位に後退した。

Through the effective use of ODA, the government must build strategic relationships with countries in Southeastern, Southwestern and Central Asia as a check against China's rising presence in these areas.
　ＯＤＡの効果的な活用で、中国の台頭をにらんだ東南・南西・中央アジア諸国との戦略的関係を構築すべきだ。

We also hope that ODA to resource-rich African countries will be expanded.
資源が豊富なアフリカ各国への援助も拡充したい。

It is also important for Japan to take part more in international cooperation activities such as U.N. peacekeeping operations.
　国連平和維持活動（ＰＫＯ）などの国際協力に、より積極的に参加することも大切である。

The government will soon send an advance team of the Ground Self-Defense Force that will take part in U.N. peacekeeping operations in the Republic of South Sudan, which became independent from Sudan last year.
　政府は、昨年独立した南スーダンでのＰＫＯに近く陸上自衛隊の先遣隊を派遣する。

About 240 GSDF personnel in charge of construction of facilities will be sent by late March.
３月下旬までに施設部隊約２４０人を送り、

They plan to engage in construction and maintenance of roads and bridges in the suburbs of the capital city of Juba.
首都ジュバ近郊で道路や橋の整備を行う予定だ。

It is very significant for Japan to contribute to the nation-building of the newly independent African nation.
南スーダンの国造りに貢献する意義は大きい。

Local security is stable at present.
　現地の治安は現在、安定しているが、

But the possibility remains that the situation will change.
情勢が変化する可能性もある。

To ensure the safety of GSDF personnel, it is necessary to expand the rules of engagement for the use of arms to international standards, allowing GSDF personnel to use arms for the purpose of carrying out their missions.
自衛隊員の安全確保には、武器使用基準を国際標準並みに拡大し、任務遂行目的の使用を可能にする必要がある。

The issue has been left pending for a long time, but now is the time to resolve it politically.
　この長年の懸案を、そろそろ政治の責任で解決すべき時だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 10, 2012)
（2012年1月10日01時15分 読売新聞）