丹羽大使発言 「尖閣」で対中配慮は無用だ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jun. 13, 2012)
No need to pander to China over Senkaku Islands
丹羽大使発言　「尖閣」で対中配慮は無用だ（6月12日付・読売社説）

Japan has many pressing political issues with China. Was it wise to appoint a former executive of a trading house, which has business interests in China, as ambassador to that country? Such concerns have turned out to be well-founded.
　政治的案件を多く抱える中国の大使に、ビジネスで利害関係がある商社出身者を起用して大丈夫なのか。そうした不安が的中したと言える。

At Monday's hearing at the House of Representatives Audit and Oversight of Administration Committee, the Tokyo metropolitan government's plan to purchase some of the Senkaku Islands was on the agenda.
　衆院決算行政監視委員会で、東京都による尖閣諸島の購入問題が取り上げられた。

Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara attended the meeting as an unsworn witness. He argued that Ambassador Uichiro Niwa, who opposed the purchase plan, should be dismissed because his statements contravene the government's intentions.
　参考人として出席した東京都の石原慎太郎知事は、丹羽宇一郎中国大使が購入に異議を唱えたことについて、「政府の意向と違う発言をする大使を更迭すべきだ」と主張した。

Irrespective of whether Niwa should be fired or not, his remarks have certainly opened up a can of worms.
　更迭する、しないは別として、丹羽氏の発言には問題がある。

In an interview published in Thursday's issue of the British paper Financial Times, Niwa said, "It will result in an extremely grave crisis in relations between Japan and China" if the Tokyo government purchases some of the Senkaku Islands.
　７日の英紙「フィナンシャル・タイムズ」によると、丹羽氏は都が尖閣諸島を購入すれば「日中関係は極めて重大な危機に陥る」と語った。

The proposal puts at risk the progress achieved since the countries normalized relations in 1972, he added.
「１９７２年の国交正常化以降達成してきた進展を危険にさらしかねない」とも述べた。

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Envoy must be careful

As the Senkaku purchase initiative is being spearheaded by Ishihara, a hawk on China, Niwa apparently feared Beijing would only become more agitated by the plan.
　中国に批判的な石原氏が主導していることから、中国のさらなる反発を恐れたのだろう。

However, his remarks raise doubts about his insights as an ambassador. A nation's territories are essential elements of that country. Giving such self-centered consideration to China is unpardonable.
　だが、大使としての見識が疑われる発言だ。領土という国の根幹に関わる問題で身勝手な配慮は許されない。

It was only natural that Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura denied Niwa's comments represented the government's position. "It is his personal view and was absolutely not an announcement of the government's standpoint," Fujimura said.
藤村官房長官が「個人的見解であり、政府の立場を表明したものでは全くない」と否定したのは当然である。

The purchase of the islands is a domestic business transaction. It is fundamentally wrong to regard it as a diplomatic issue between Japan and China. Turning the Senkaku Islands, which are owned by private citizens, into public property would ensure foreign countries cannot purchase them and increase the stability of their legal status as a national territory.
　尖閣諸島の売買は国内の商取引であり、日中間の外交問題と見なすこと自体、間違っている。民間所有の尖閣諸島が公有地となれば、外国による買収を防ぐことができ、法的安定性は高まろう。

Niwa, after being rebuked by the Foreign Ministry over his remarks, said he would not make such comments again and apologized. Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said Niwa would retain his post. However, if an ambassador who embraces a view different from the government's on an important policy matter is going to stay on, the government must explain clearly to the public its reasons for keeping him in this position.
　外務省から注意を受けた丹羽氏は「もう一切、このようなコメントはしない」と回答し、謝罪した。玄葉外相は続投させるという。重要政策で政府と違う見解を持つ大使を続投させるなら、理由を明確に国民に説明する必要がある。

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Govt needs to do more

Ishihara also used the hearing to take a swipe at the national government's lax handling of Senkaku issues, and warned, "Japan's national interests could be lost." We can understand his sentiment.
　一方、石原氏が委員会で、政府の尖閣問題への対処が甘いとし、「国益を失うことになる」と批判したのは理解できる。

Ishihara also emphasized that the purchase of the islands should, essentially, be made by the state.
都の尖閣諸島購入に関し、「本来は国がやるべきだ」とも主張した。

We hope the government will cooperate with the Tokyo government and come up with measures to stably maintain and administer the Senkakus. It is worth studying the possibility of nationalizing the islands in the future.
　政府は、都と連携し、尖閣諸島を安定的に維持、管理する方策を打ち出してもらいたい。将来の国有化も検討に値しよう。

China has frequently made provocations such as sending patrol boats to waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands and even intruding into Japan's territorial waters. These actions appear to be intended to change the status quo.
　中国は巡視船を尖閣周辺に派遣し、領海侵入などの挑発を繰り返すなど、現状変更を意図するかのような行動をしている。

All things considered, Japan must galvanize its effective control of the islands. It needs to consider steadily reinforcing the equipment and manpower of the Japan Coast Guard.
　そうである以上、日本は実効支配をより確かなものにすべきだ。海上保安庁の装備や人員の着実な拡充を検討する必要がある。

A bill to revise the Japan Coast Guard Law to enable JCG officers to control illegal activities on remote islands also needs to urgently be passed by the Diet.
　海上保安官が離島での違法行為を検挙できるようにする海上保安庁法改正案の成立も急務だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 12, 2012)
（2012年6月12日01時16分 読売新聞）