南シナ海緊張 中国の強硬姿勢に深まる憂慮

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 27, 2012)
China's hard-line stance cause for grave concern
南シナ海緊張　中国の強硬姿勢に深まる憂慮（7月26日付・読売社説）

We urge China to restrain itself from taking unilateral action and to work to alleviate tension through dialogue with Vietnam and other neighboring countries.
　中国は一方的な行動を自制し、ベトナムなどと対話を通じて緊張緩和に努めてもらいたい。

China has created the city of "Sansha" to administer the Spratly Islands, the Paracel Islands and Macclesfield Bank in the South China Sea. Vietnam and the Philippines, which are vying for sovereignty over those island chains with China, immediately voiced strong opposition.
　中国が、南シナ海の南沙、西沙、中沙の３諸島を管轄する「三沙市」を設置した。これらの諸島を巡って中国と領有権を争っているベトナムやフィリピンは直ちに強く反発した。

The three island chains were previously administered by a liaison office of Hainan Province in southern China, which is located on Woody Island in the Paracel Islands. China apparently aims to strengthen its effective control over the island chains by upgrading them to a city.
　３諸島はこれまで、中国南部の海南省が西沙諸島の永興島に置く連絡事務所が管轄していた。市への格上げは、実効支配を強化する狙いがあろう。

China set up administrative organizations in Sansha, including a People's Congress, or city council, in which the mayor was elected. China said it plans to promote tourism, the fisheries industry and natural resource development in the South China Sea with Sansha as a foothold.
　市の人民代表大会（市議会）を設置して市長も選出し、行政組織の体裁を整えた。三沙市を拠点に、南シナ海の観光・水産業、資源開発を推進する方針という。

===

Responsibility lies with China

China's establishment of Sansha is a countermeasure against Vietnam's enactment of the Maritime Law, which stipulates its sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and the Paracel Islands. However, the initial cause of the trouble was that China unilaterally claimed sovereignty over the three island chains and other islets under the Law on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone 20 years ago.
　中国の三沙市設置は、ベトナムが南沙、西沙両諸島の領有を明記する海洋法を制定したことへの対抗措置だ。だが、そもそも、中国が２０年前に領海法で３諸島などの領有を勝手に定めたことにトラブルの原因があった。

Even more serious is that China decided to establish in Sansha a "security area" in which the Chinese military will be in charge of defending key strongpoints. Small units are already stationed to protect runways and other facilities, but the establishment of the security area is considered preparation for full-scale military action in the South China Sea.
　さらに深刻なのは、中国軍が重要拠点の防衛に当たる「警備区」を、この三沙にも置くと決めたことだ。滑走路などを守る小規模な部隊は既に駐留しているが、南シナ海での本格的な軍事行動に備える態勢作りと言える。

China's attempt to use its military strength, which is far superior to that of Vietnam and other neighbors, to make the South China Sea "China's Sea" could trigger armed conflict. The situation is grave.
　中国がベトナムなどに比べて圧倒的な軍事力を背景に、南シナ海を「中国の海」にしようとすることは、軍事的な衝突を引き起こしかねない。憂慮すべき事態だ。

China also unilaterally announced a plan to invite bids for natural resource development in waters that Vietnam claims are inside its exclusive economic zone. Beijing sent 30 fishing boats accompanied by fishery patrol ships to waters around the Spratly Islands and other islets. These actions could cause tension in the South China Sea.
　中国は、ベトナムが排他的経済水域（ＥＥＺ）と主張する海域でも、一方的に資源開発の入札計画を発表した。南沙諸島などの周辺海域に漁船３０隻を漁業監視船とともに送り込んだ。いずれも、南シナ海に緊張をもたらす行為だ。

===

Stability crucial

The stability of the South China Sea is crucial for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It is also conducive to Japan's national interests from the viewpoint of securing the safety of its sea lanes.
　南シナ海の安定は、東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）にとって欠かせない。海上交通路（シーレーン）の安全確保の観点から、日本の国益にも資する。

In concert with Vietnam and the Philippines, which are threatened by China, Japan needs to strengthen cooperation such as fostering human resources in the field of maritime security and offering patrol vessels to those countries.
　日本は、中国の脅威にさらされているベトナムやフィリピンと連携して、海上安全保障分野での人材育成や巡視船供与などの協力を強める必要がある。

In the East China Sea, meanwhile, the situation surrounding the Senkaku Islands has been increasingly harsh.
　東シナ海では、尖閣諸島をめぐる情勢が厳しさを増す一方だ。

Recently, Chinese fishery patrol ships intruded into Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands on two consecutive days. As in the South China Sea, China has been blatantly escalating moves to expand its maritime interests.
　最近、中国の漁業監視船は２日連続で尖閣諸島近くの領海を侵犯した。南シナ海同様に、海洋権益を拡大しようとする中国の動きは露骨にエスカレートしている。

China is conducting activities to make its presence felt with many fishing boats in the South China Sea. The possibility that Beijing may do the same thing in the East China Sea cannot be ruled out. Japan must heighten its vigilance against China over the Senkaku Islands.
　中国が南シナ海で展開している多数の漁船による示威活動を東シナ海で行う可能性も排除できない。日本は、尖閣諸島の警戒体制を強めねばならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 26, 2012)
（2012年7月26日01時47分 読売新聞）