首相「領土」会見 国際社会へ反転攻勢の一歩に

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 26, 2012)
Govt must stress sovereignty over isles to intl community
首相「領土」会見　国際社会へ反転攻勢の一歩に（8月25日付・読売社説）

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda held a press conference Friday on the dispute involving the Takeshima islands and other territorial issues. This occasion should pave the way for Japan to take the offensive in seeking understanding of the issues both at home and abroad.
　竹島などの領土問題で日本が国内外の理解を求めて反転攻勢に出る一歩とすべきだ。

Noda said at the press conference, "We'll deal with the issues calmly but uncompromisingly with unwavering determination."
　野田首相が領土に関し記者会見し、「毅然(きぜん)とした態度で、冷静沈着に不退転の覚悟で臨む」と述べた。

"They're Japanese territory both historically and under international law," he said, referring to the Takeshima islands. "In keeping with international law and justice, the proper path is to hold debates and settle the matter at the International Court of Justice."
　竹島については、「歴史的にも国際法上も日本の領土だ」と明言した。さらに、「国際社会の法と正義に照らして、国際司法裁判所の法廷で議論を戦わせ、決着をつけるのが王道だ」と強調した。

We consider it highly significant that the prime minister stated explicitly that his government will protect the nation's sovereignty over the islets.
　首相が、国の主権を守ると正面から訴えたのは画期的である。

South Korea has reinforced its illegal occupation of the Takeshima islands through such actions as building a structure there. Japan protested the actions, but it is hard to say that Tokyo has taken effective countermeasures.
　韓国が竹島に建造物を勝手に建設するなど、不法占拠を着々と強化してきたのに対し、日本は抗議はするものの、有効な対抗策を講じてきたとは言えない。

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Take advantage of legal action

It is vital for Japan to make the legitimacy of its territorial claim and the reasoning behind it widely known to the international community by taking the dispute to the international court. The government also needs to make efforts to help as many people as possible properly understand the Takeshima issue by explaining it thoroughly.
　今回の提訴を機に、日本の領有権の正当性や根拠を国際社会に幅広くアピールすることが大切だ。国内でも、竹島問題に関する過去の経緯を詳しく説明し、より多くの国民が正しい認識を共有するよう努める必要がある。

Noda also spoke about the recent illegal landing on the Senkaku Islands by Hong Kong activists. "The government will make every effort to strengthen the nation's information-gathering ability and take all possible measures to improve its policing and surveillance capabilities in the surrounding waters" to prevent such incidents in the future, he said.
　首相は、香港活動家が不法上陸した尖閣諸島について、再発防止へ、「政府の総力を挙げて情報収集を強化し、周辺海域の監視・警戒に万全を期す」と語った。

To maintain and stably manage the Senkaku Islands, which are under Japan's effective control, the government faces the urgent task of nationalizing the islets. To that end, it is important to closely cooperate with the Tokyo metropolitan government, which plans to purchase the islands.
　日本が実効支配する尖閣諸島に関しては、より安定した維持・管理ができるよう国有化の実現が急務だ。島を購入する予定の東京都との緊密な連携が重要である。

The government must not fail to strengthen the abilities of the Japan Coast Guard and the Maritime Self-Defense Force to swiftly respond to illegal landings on the islands and intrusions into Japan's territorial waters by foreign countries.
　他国による不法上陸や領海侵犯などに迅速に対処するため、海上保安庁や海上自衛隊の体制を強化することも怠ってはならない。

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Noda letter not re-sent

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry has decided not to resend the personal letter from Noda to South Korean President Lee Myung Bak that South Korea rejected and returned to the ministry by mail.
　外務省は、韓国側から返送された首相の李明博大統領宛て親書を受理し、再送はしなかった。

Returning a personal letter from a national leader is unusual and considered disrespectful. However, we can understand the decision by Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba and other government officials to accept the returned letter, considering "the dignity" of Japanese diplomacy. The decision was based on the logic that Noda's message, which calls Lee's visit to Takeshima regrettable, has been conveyed to Seoul.
　首脳の親書の返送は異例かつ非礼だが、大統領の竹島訪問を遺憾とする首相のメッセージが伝わった以上、「外交の品位」を考えて受理するという玄葉外相らの大局的な判断は理解できる。

The House of Representatives on Friday adopted a resolution condemning Lee's visit to Takeshima and his remarks seeking the Emperor's apology to Koreans who died while fighting for Korea's independence. The resolution demands that South Korea halt its illegal occupation of the islands and Lee withdraw the remarks about the Emperor. The remarks have sparked criticism not only in Japan but also in South Korea. Seeking the withdrawal is reasonable.
　衆院は、大統領の竹島訪問と天皇陛下「謝罪要求」発言に抗議する決議を採択した。韓国による竹島の不法占拠の停止や、発言の撤回を求めている。大統領発言には、日本だけでなく、韓国国内でも批判があり、撤回要求は当然だ。

We view the resolution as well-balanced because, among other things, it calls South Korea a vital neighboring country of Japan. However, it is disappointing that the resolution was not approved unanimously as the Japanese Communist Party, the Social Democratic Party and others opposed it.
　決議は、韓国を「重要な隣国」と位置づけるなど、バランスのとれた内容だ。共産、社民両党などが賛成せず、全会一致とならなかったのは残念である。

Japan and South Korea share common security interests on such issues as North Korea's nuclear program. We urge Seoul to handle the territorial issue with a cool head without losing sight of the broader significance of the two countries' relations.
　日韓両国は、北朝鮮の核問題など安全保障分野でも利害を共有している。韓国には、日韓関係の大局を見失わず、「大人の対応」をするよう求めたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 25, 2012)
（2012年8月25日01時29分 読売新聞）