海兵隊移転合意 米軍基地返還を着実に進めよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 29, 2012)
Ensure steady progress on return of Okinawa bases
海兵隊移転合意　米軍基地返還を着実に進めよ（4月28日付・読売社説）

An agreement has been reached between Japan and the United States that has made it possible to balance the maintenance of deterrence capabilities with lessening Okinawa Prefecture's burden in hosting U.S. forces, while also mitigating Japan's share of the costs involved.
　米軍の抑止力維持と沖縄の負担軽減が両立できて、費用負担も軽減される。

This is definitely a satisfactory accord for Japan.
　日本にとって、満足できる合意である。

It is highly important to ensure steady progress on the transfer overseas of U.S. Marine Corps forces from the prefecture and the return of land occupied by U.S. military installations there on the basis of the latest agreement.
　これに基づき、海兵隊の移転と米軍施設の返還を着実に進めることが肝要だ。

The Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee, comprising the foreign and defense ministers of the two countries, on Friday announced a joint statement on a review of the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.
　外務、防衛担当閣僚による日米安全保障協議委員会（２プラス２）が、在日米軍再編見直しに関する共同文書を発表した。

Under the agreement reached in the committee, also known as the "two-plus-two" meeting, about 9,000 marines will be moved from Okinawa Prefecture to locations outside Japan. About 4,000 will be transferred to Guam, and the rest to Hawaii, Australia and the U.S. mainland. As a result, the number of marines remaining in the prefecture will be reduced to approximately 10,000.
　在沖縄海兵隊９０００人が海外移転し、うち４０００人はグアム、残りはハワイ、豪州、米本土に移る。沖縄に残るのは１万人だ。

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Effective drop in costs

Dispersing marine forces over a broad area of the Western Pacific region with the aim of developing Guam as a strategic hub: This is the primary aim of U.S. forces' new strategy to cope effectively with China's growing military power. It will be conducive to boosting peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region as a whole.
　海兵隊を沖縄から西太平洋全体に分散移転し、グアムに新たな拠点を設ける。これが、中国の軍事的台頭に対抗するための米軍の新戦略だ。アジア太平洋全体の平和と安全に資すると言える。

Such marine forces as the Third Marine Expeditionary Headquarters and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, the Marine Corps' main fighting force, will remain in Okinawa. That the deterrence capabilities of U.S. forces in Japan will be maintained in this fashion is valuable from the viewpoint of beefing up Japan's defense of the Nansei Islands.
　第３海兵遠征軍司令部や主力戦闘部隊の第３１海兵遠征部隊は、沖縄に残る。米軍の抑止力が維持されることは、日本の「南西防衛」強化の観点からも評価できる。

The accord reached in the consultative meeting to develop training areas in Guam and parts of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, such as Tinian, as shared facilities for U.S. forces and the Self-Defense Forces is highly significant for deepening defense cooperation between the two countries.
　北マリアナ諸島のテニアンなどに自衛隊と米軍の共同訓練場を整備する合意は、防衛協力を深化するうえで重要な意味を持つ。

In a review of the costs Japan and the United States will share in implementing the realignment, Japan's fiscal disbursement has been set at 3.1 billion dollars (about 251 billion yen), equivalent to a figure established in a 2006 agreement on the matter, adjusted for inflation.
On the other hand, Japan's monetary contribution and loans in connection with the relocation of U.S. forces, which was initially planned to be about 3.3 billion dollars, has been reduced to zero. This means Japan's fiscal burden linked to the relocation has in effect been reduced.
　日米の費用負担見直しでは、日本の財政支出は２００６年の合意金額に物価上昇分を含めた３１億ドル（約２５１０億円）とする一方で、出資・融資の約３３億ドルはゼロとした。実質的な負担減である。

It is truly a welcome development that the issue of sharing expenses related to having U.S. forces stationed in Japan and related matters have been settled in a way satisfactory to both countries. It was always a subject of fierce discussions in past Japan-U.S. negotiations.
　在日米軍駐留経費など資金負担を巡っては、常に激しい日米交渉となるが、今回、双方が納得できる形で決着したのは良かった。

The accord divides five U.S. facilities in the southern part of Okinawa Prefecture, including Camp Zukeran, into 13 areas. They are either "eligible for immediate return upon completion of necessary procedures"; "eligible for return once the replacement facilities in Okinawa are provided"; or "eligible for return as U.S. Marine Corps forces relocate from Okinawa to locations outside of Japan."
　沖縄県南部のキャンプ瑞慶覧など米軍５施設は、１３地区に分割し、「速やかに」「代替施設が提供され次第」「海兵隊の国外移転後」の３段階で返還される。

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Henoko the only viable solution

The agreement to have U.S. facilities returned to Japan step by step, according to their degree of eligibility for return, can lead to tangible results in alleviating the burden on local areas where the facilities are located. We place a high value on this.
　返還できる土地から順次、極力早く返還するとの合意は、目に見える形での地元負担の軽減につながる。高く評価できよう。

It is important to work out steps to effectively utilize the land after the return of the facilities to promote the economy of Okinawa Prefecture. Local entities concerned should actively devise plans to use the facilities' sites, and the central government should throw its support behind their initiatives.
　米軍施設跡地を有効利用し、沖縄振興につなげることが重要だ。地元が積極的に案を出し、政府が側面支援するのが望ましい。

What must not be forgotten in this connection is the issue of relocating the functions of the Futenma Air Station within the prefecture.
　忘れてならないのは、普天間飛行場の移設だ。

To avoid indefinite use of the Futenma facility by the marines, there can be no alternative to relocation to the Henoko district of Nago in the prefecture, which the joint statement has reconfirmed "remains the only viable solution that has been identified to date." The central government and the government of Okinawa Prefecture must consult more seriously about the issue of relocating Futenma to Henoko.
普天間の固定化を避ける近道はやはり、日米が「唯一の有効な解決策」と再確認した辺野古移設である。政府と沖縄県は、辺野古移設についてより真剣に協議しなければならない。

Regrettably, because of the U.S. government's insufficient groundwork, the U.S. Senate's Armed Services Committee made an objection, causing the announcement of the joint statement to be delayed two days. Both Japan and the United States have had problems on security matters.
　今回、米政府の根回し不足で米上院軍事委員会が異論を唱え、共同文書発表が２日遅れたのは、残念だ。日米双方がそれぞれの国内問題を抱えている。

Endeavors on both sides to overcome these problems one by one will fortify the bilateral alliance.
その一つ一つを克服していくことで、同盟関係はより強固になるだろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 28, 2012)
（2012年4月28日01時02分 読売新聞）