防衛白書 中国軍の活動に警戒を怠るな

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 2, 2012)
Defense paper rightly highlights need for caution over China
防衛白書　中国軍の活動に警戒を怠るな（8月1日付・読売社説）

In response to the Chinese military's rapid modernization and increased activities, it is imperative that the Self-Defense Forces steadily strengthen their surveillance and patrol activities.
　中国軍の急速な近代化と活動の活発化に対し、自衛隊は警戒・監視活動を着実に強化することが肝要である。

The government's 2012 white paper on defense stated, as last year's report did, that China's military movements are "a matter of concern" for the Asia region and the international community, and "should require prudent analysis." It is natural for the government to point this out.
　２０１２年版防衛白書は中国の軍事動向について、昨年に続き、アジア地域と国際社会の「懸念事項」と明記し、「慎重に分析していく必要がある」と指摘した。当然の認識である。

China's defense spending has jumped to more than double the level it was five years ago and 30 times that of 24 years ago. Its official defense budget is now more than 1.6 times that of Japan's. The gap will almost certainly continue to widen. Some observers have suggested China could match the United States as a military power by about 2050.
　中国の国防費は過去５年間で２倍以上、２４年間で３０倍に急増した。日本の１・６倍超に達し、今後、この差は拡大することが確実だ。５０年頃には「米国の対等なライバルになる」との見方もある。

Besides China's sea trials of an aircraft carrier and development of next-generation fighter jets possessing stealth capabilities, Japan must not underestimate the implications of China's advance into the Pacific Ocean, where its naval vessels are operating increasingly frequently, and test-flights of reconnaissance drones.
　空母の試験航行、ステルス性を持つ次世代戦闘機の開発に加え、海軍艦船による太平洋進出の常態化や偵察用無人機の飛行訓練なども軽視できない。

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Beef up SDF capabilities

Given such factors as senior Chinese military officials making remarks on security issues more often than before, the white paper said relations between the Chinese Communist Party leadership and the People's Liberation Army have "been getting complex." The paper said it is a "risk management issue," and expressed caution over the growing influence of China's military.
　白書は、安全保障問題に関する軍幹部の発言の増加などを踏まえ「共産党指導部との関係が複雑化している」と分析し、「危機管理上の課題」として、中国軍の影響力増大に警戒感を示した。

The lack of transparency in China's military capabilities and decision-making process has long been a source of unease. It is crucial that close attention is paid to this issue.
　中国の軍事力や意思決定プロセスについては、かねて透明性の欠如が指摘されている。引き続き注視することが欠かせない。

The Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces in recent years have been placing greater emphasis on the defense of the Nansei Islands. But due to growing activities by Chinese forces, the SDF are being stretched when dispatching patrol aircraft and other vessels as needed.
　海上・航空自衛隊は近年、南西諸島防衛を重視しているが、中国軍の動きが激しいため、哨戒機などのやり繰りが厳しいという。

We believe it is urgent for the nation to strengthen the "dynamic defense cooperation" with the U.S. military, which is renewing its focus on the Asia region. Improving the deployment formation and equipment of the SDF's maritime and air wings is also a pressing matter. The government should end its paring of defense spending, which has continued for 10 consecutive years.
　「アジア重視」を鮮明にした米軍との「動的防衛協力」を強化するとともに、海空自の部隊配置や装備を充実させることが急務だ。防衛費の１０年連続の減少にも、歯止めをかけるべきである。

On the other hand, it is important to step up confidence-building efforts between Japan and China through such measures as reactivating bilateral defense exchanges, which have stalled in the past few years, and establishing an emergency contact system between forces of both nations to deal with a maritime accident.
　一方で、ここ数年停滞している日中防衛交流を再活性化し、海上事故発生時の部隊間の緊急連絡体制を構築するなど、双方の信頼醸成を図ることが重要だ。

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N. Korea text needs update

With regard to North Korea, the white paper said following the failed test of a ballistic missile in April, Pyongyang "is likely to attempt similar launches" in the future.
　北朝鮮について、白書は、４月の弾道ミサイル発射の失敗を受けて「今後も同様の発射を行う可能性が高い」と指摘した。

Japan must enhance its deterrent capability by expanding the scope of military information sharing with the United States and South Korea and conducting joint exercises with them. The government should quickly conclude a general security of military information agreement with Seoul, the signing of which has been delayed due to domestic issues in South Korea.
　日本は、米韓両国との軍事情報の共有を拡大し、共同演習を通じて抑止力を高めねばならない。韓国の国内事情で延期されている軍事情報包括保護協定（ＧＳＯＭＩＡ）の締結を急ぐ必要がある。

We find it baffling that since 1994 the white paper has not changed the language it uses to assess North Korea's military movements, saying only that it "constitutes a serious destabilizing factor for security in the entire East Asia region."
　疑問なのは、白書が１９９４年以来、北朝鮮の軍事動向に関する評価を「東アジア全域の安全保障にとって重大な不安定要因」とし、一切変更していないことだ。

Over this period, Pyongyang has conducted two nuclear tests and test-fired long-distance ballistic missiles and carried out other military provocations that have significantly endangered Japan's security environment. We think the white paper should use expressions that more accurately reflect the changes in North Korea's posture.
　この間、２回の核実験や長距離弾道ミサイル発射などが行われ、日本の安全保障環境は格段に厳しくなっている。北朝鮮情勢の変化を適切に反映した評価の表現を工夫しなければなるまい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 1, 2012)
（2012年8月1日01時13分 読売新聞）