石原氏尖閣発言 領土保全に国も関与すべきだ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 20, 2012)
Govt should be involved in guarding territorial integrity
石原氏尖閣発言　領土保全に国も関与すべきだ（4月19日付・読売社説）

Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara has announced in a speech during his visit to the United States that the Tokyo metropolitan government plans to purchase some of the Senkaku Islands in Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture.
　沖縄県石垣市にある尖閣諸島を東京都が買い上げる。そんな計画を、石原慎太郎知事が訪米中に講演で明らかにした。

In response to Ishihara's announcement, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda referred to the possibility that the central government might move to possess the islets in place of the metropolitan government, saying it "will confirm the true intention of the owner [of the islets] and discuss the matter from every angle."
　これを受けて、野田首相は国会で「所有者の真意を確認し、あらゆる検討をする」と述べ、都に代わって国が保有する可能性に言及した。

Ishihara, who has said, "Tokyo will protect the Senkaku Islands," raised an important question as to how the country's territorial integrity should be maintained. His intention is probably to encourage the Democratic Party of Japan-led government, which has little interest in territorial issues, to change its attitude on the matter.
　「東京が尖閣諸島を守る」という石原氏が、国の領土保全のあり方に重要な一石を投じたと言える。石原氏には、領土問題への関心が薄い民主党政権に意識改革を促す意図もあるのだろう。

The Senkaku Islands were incorporated into Japanese territory during the Meiji era (1868-1912). The government sold most of the islands to an individual 80 years ago.
　尖閣諸島は明治時代、日本の領土に編入された。政府はその大半を８０年前に個人に払い下げた。

The owner of the islets has changed due to inheritance and transfers. Owners have been approached by many people who want to buy the islands.
相続や譲渡によって所有者が交代したり、複数の購入話が地権者側に持ち込まれたりしたという。

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Private ownership unstable

If the metropolitan government purchases the islands, they will no longer be under individual ownership, which tends to be unstable.
　都が購入すれば不安定になりがちな個人所有から抜け出せる。

According to Ishihara, the metropolitan government plans to purchase three of the Senkaku Islands, including Uotsurijima island. The metropolitan government and the owner have already reached a broad agreement on the sale, and negotiations have entered the final stage.
　石原氏によると、購入の対象は尖閣諸島の魚釣島など３島で、都と地権者は既に大筋合意し、詰めの交渉を進めている。

Soliciting donations is one possibility to collect the money to buy the islets, but much of the cost is expected to be covered by taxes paid by Tokyo residents. However, there are high hurdles to clear before Ishihara's plan can be realized, including obtaining approval from the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly.
　購入資金は、寄付を募る案もあるが、多くは都民の税金で賄うと見られる。購入の前提となる都議会の承認など、石原氏の構想実現には高いハードルもある。

One important point is to develop a system to stably maintain and conserve the Senkaku Islands over the long term.
　肝心なのは、尖閣諸島を長期間、安定的に維持、保全できる体制を整えることである。

The government leased the Senkaku Islands from the owners in 2002, in a bid to make it easier for the government to regulate Japanese people's landing on the islands without permission and illegal landings by foreigners.
　政府は２００２年、尖閣諸島を地権者から借り上げた。日本人の無許可上陸や外国人の不法上陸を規制しやすくするためだ。

Even if the metropolitan government buys the islands, it is the central government that has the diplomatic and defense authority necessary to maintain Japanese territory. As long as there is expected to be friction between China and the metropolitan government over the sale of the islands, the central government should get involved in the matter.
　都が購入するとしても、領土保全に必要な外交・防衛の権限を持っているのは政府だ。中国などとのトラブルが想定される以上、やはり政府が関与すべきだろう。

The central and metropolitan governments must closely discuss the matter and conduct the necessary coordination. One idea could be to have discussions between the central and metropolitan governments and the owner of the three islets.
　政府と都は今後、緊密に協議、連携しなければならない。地権者側を交えた３者で話し合いを進めるのも一案ではないか。

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China's claims unreasonable

The Chinese government has objected to Ishihara's announcements, saying, "All unilateral measures by Japan are illegal and invalid." However, China's claim of sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands is unreasonable in terms of the history of the Senkakus and international law.
　中国政府は石原氏の発言に「日本のいかなる一方的措置も違法、無効である」と反発している。だが、中国の領有権の主張には歴史的にも国際法上も無理がある。

A Chinese patrol vessel entered Japanese territorial waters near the islands last month. China's repeated provocations are a problem.
　尖閣諸島を巡っては、中国の巡視船が先月、日本の領海に侵入した。中国側の挑発的な行為が続いているのは問題だ。

The Japanese government needs to improve the Japan Coast Guard's monitoring system, such as by deploying large patrol vessels in waters off the Senkaku Islands.
　日本政府は、大型の巡視船を尖閣周辺海域に配備するなど、海上保安庁の監視体制の拡充を図る必要がある。

A bill to revise the Japan Coast Guard Law that would allow JCG officers to clamp down on crimes, including illegal landings by foreigners, on remote islands such as the Senkaku Islands has already been submitted to the Diet. The ruling and opposition parties should enact the bill at an early date.
　尖閣諸島のような離島で、海上保安官が、外国人の不法上陸などの犯罪を取り締まることを認める海上保安庁法改正案は、すでに国会に提出されている。与野党は早期に成立させるべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 19, 2012)
（2012年4月19日01時12分 読売新聞）