北極海開発 日本の発言権をどう確保する

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 28, 2012)
Japan needs to gain voice in Arctic Ocean development
北極海開発　日本の発言権をどう確保する（8月27日付・読売社説）

Countries such as Russia and Canada are maneuvering more actively to stake out advantageous positions in using the Arctic Ocean for shipping routes and in developing natural resources there. Japan also should become actively engaged in drafting rules on developing the Arctic Ocean.
　北極海の航路利用や資源開発を巡って、ロシアやカナダなどの駆け引きが活発化している。日本も、北極海のルール作りに積極的に関与していくことが必要だ。

Though long covered with thick ice, the Arctic Ocean recently has attracted attention as its ice is rapidly melting due to global warming.
　厚い氷に閉ざされていた北極海は、地球温暖化に伴う海氷の融解で注目を集めるようになった。

The ocean's shipping routes, possible only in summer, have elicited interest as they are the shortest way to link Asian countries--the world's growth center--and Europe. Not only oil and natural gas but also gold, copper, nickel and other minerals are believed to be in abundance below the Arctic seabed.
　夏場に利用が可能となる北極海航路は、世界の成長センターのアジアと欧州をつなぐ最短輸送路として期待される。さらに北極海の海底には、石油・天然ガスのほか、金や銅、ニッケルなどの鉱物も豊富に眠っているとされる。

The Antarctic Treaty has frozen territorial claims in the Antarctic continent and surrounding seas and prohibits military use of the area, but there is no such treaty for the Arctic Ocean.
　北極海には各国の領有権主張の凍結と軍事利用禁止を定めた南極条約のような取り決めがない。

Due to the lack of an international treaty, eight countries--the United States, Russia and other coastal nations--and indigenous minorities make up the Arctic Council, a forum to discuss rules on use of the Arctic Ocean.
　このため、米露など沿岸諸国を中心とする８か国と少数先住民団体で構成する協議機関「北極評議会」が、北極海の利用に関するルールを話し合う場になる。

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Blatant moves by China

Meanwhile, China's moves are a cause of concern. Like Japan, China does not border the Arctic Ocean. Nonetheless, China considers shipping routes and natural resources there among its maritime interests and is trying to increase its influence over the ocean as a national strategy.
　目が離せないのは、中国の動きだ。日本と同様に非沿岸国でありながら、北極海の航路や資源などの利用を自国の「海洋権益」と位置づけ、国家戦略として影響力拡大を図っているからだ。

China's large icebreaker Xuelong has been on a research voyage in the ocean since early July. It took a shipping route north of Russia and in mid-August became the first Chinese ship to traverse the Arctic Ocean.
　今年は７月初めから、大型の砕氷船「雪竜号」で調査航海に出航し、８月中旬には、中国として初めて、ロシア北側の北極海航路の横断に成功した。

Beijing is also actively undertaking summit diplomacy with member nations of the council. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited Sweden, which currently chairs the council, and Iceland in April, while President Hu Jintao visited Denmark in June. They were able to reach agreements with leaders of those countries to enhance bilateral relations.
　評議会加盟国に対する首脳外交も活発だ。温家宝首相が４月に、現議長国スウェーデンとアイスランドを歴訪した。胡錦濤国家主席も６月にデンマークを訪れ、それぞれ関係強化で一致した。

However, the efforts by China, which has a massive military force, to promote its maritime interests in the ocean are so blatant that other countries have become vigilant.
　強大な軍事力をもつ中国の露骨な権益獲得の動きは、関係国に警戒感を抱かせるのに十分だ。

Utilization of the Arctic Ocean also is essential for the growth of the Japanese economy. Nonetheless, it is apparent Japan has started out late in the game.
　北極海の利用は日本経済の発展にとっても欠かせない。にもかかわらず、日本の出遅れが目立っているのはどういうことか。

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Join Arctic Council

Three years ago, the Japanese government applied to the Arctic Council to obtain observer status. China and South Korea completed such applications ahead of this country.
　日本政府は３年前、北極評議会にオブザーバー参加することを申請した。中国や韓国は日本に先駆けて申請済みだ。

How much a country contributes to the council's activities is said to determine approval as an observer. We think the government first should join the council as an observer and then enhance its information gathering activities to secure a voice there. The nation must accelerate its preparations to deal with issues concerning the Arctic Ocean.
　評議会の活動への貢献度がオブザーバー承認のカギを握っているとされる。政府はまず、オブザーバー加盟を果たして情報収集を強化し、発言権の確保に力を入れるべきだ。北極海に取り組む態勢整備を急がねばならない。

The government also must promote summit diplomacy to strengthen Japan's relations with Russia and northern European countries. Japan also needs to undertake full-fledged research activities in the ocean.
　首脳外交の推進によるロシアや北欧諸国との関係強化も重要だ。北極海の調査活動に本格的に乗り出す必要がある。

It is unavoidable that the Chinese and Russian navies will become more active in seas north of Japan. The government will need to discuss with the United States how to build up Japan's defenses against them.
　日本の北方で中露海軍の活動が活発化するのは必至だ。防衛態勢をどう構築するか、米国との調整も今後の検討課題となろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 27, 2012)
（2012年8月27日01時27分 読売新聞）