反日過激デモ 中国政府はなぜ容認するのか

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Sep. 18, 2012)
Why does Beijing permit anti-Japan protests?
反日過激デモ　中国政府はなぜ容認するのか（9月17日付・読売社説）

Anti-Japan protests have been expanding and escalating in China.
　中国の反日デモが拡大し、過激化している。

This is a serious situation.
　憂慮すべき事態だ。

Protesters railing against the recent nationalization of three islets of the Senkaku Islands in Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture, by the central government have taken to the streets of about 100 cities in China.
　日本政府が沖縄県の尖閣諸島を国有化したことに抗議するデモは、中国の約１００都市に広がった。

In Beijing, protesters hurled rocks at the Japanese Embassy, while in other cities they attacked Japanese-affiliated business establishments. Some Japanese citizens have been assaulted in places where there have been no street demonstrations.
　北京では日本大使館が投石され、地方都市では日系企業が襲撃された。デモの現場ではないが、日本人が暴行された例もあった。

It is quite reasonable for Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda to have lodged a protest with the Chinese government. The Japanese government must continuously press China to ensure the safety of Japanese citizens and businesses and the protection of their property.
　野田首相が抗議したのは当然である。日本政府は引き続き、中国政府に対し、邦人と日系企業の安全、財産の保護を徹底するよう求めなければならない。

The Chinese government should strictly punish those involved in behavior that results in property destruction in accordance with the law.
　中国政府は、破壊行為に関わった容疑者を法に基づいて厳正に処分すべきである。

In parallel with these protests, there have been aggressive acts by the Chinese government itself, which is apparently trying to undermine Japan's control of the Senkaku Islands.
　デモと並行して、尖閣諸島の実効支配を崩そうとする中国政府の示威行動も目立つ。

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Unprecedented intrusion

In an unprecedented action, six Chinese government maritime surveillance ships intruded into Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands on Friday at the same time.
尖閣諸島周辺の日本の領海内に１４日、中国の海洋監視船６隻が侵入した。中国公船が同時に６隻も侵入してきたのは過去に例がない。

This is the first time that China has raised tensions with Japan to such a stage since bilateral diplomatic relations were normalized in 1972.
　１９７２年の日中国交正常化以来、これほど中国が日本との間で緊張を高めたのは初めてだ。

China has probably acted out of a heightened sense of crisis that it may lose face if the administration under the Chinese Communist Party is perceived by the people to have conceded to Japan over the Senkaku islets.
尖閣諸島を巡って日本に譲歩した、と国内で受け止められれば、共産党政権の威信が揺らぐと危機感を強めているのだろう。

In China, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Japan's "wrongful act" (nationalization of the three islets) has been provoking strong righteous indignation in China, showing Beijing's sympathy for the anti-Japan protests. A senior Commerce Ministry official has also implied a boycott of Japanese products would be a natural consequence.
　中国は、外務省報道官が「日本の誤った行為が強い義憤を引き起こしている」と反日デモへの理解を示し、商務省幹部も日本製品の不買運動を容認するかのような発言をしている。

Such developments have fueled the anger of a younger generation that has been immersed in patriotic education, causing an escalation of their actions.
　これが愛国教育世代の若者を煽(あお)り、行動の過激化を招いた。

The Chinese government has apparently decided to politically exploit the people's anger against the Japanese government's nationalization of the Senkaku Islands to exert diplomatic pressure on Japan.
　中国政府には、尖閣諸島国有化に反発する国民の怒りを対日圧力に利用する政治的思惑がある。

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Maintain the rule of law

But for the Chinese government to sanction illegal behavior under a slogan that a patriotic act should not be considered a crime would be to deny the rule of law. And boycotting products of a specific country violates the spirit of free trade, which also runs counter to China's interests.
　だが、愛国的行為は罪に問われないとする「愛国無罪」のスローガンの下、破壊行為を正当化するのは法治の否定だ。特定国の製品の不買は自由貿易に反する。中国のためにもならない。

Appeals are being made for people to demonstrate against Japan again on Tuesday, which marks the 81st anniversary of the Liutiaohu Incident that triggered the Manchurian Incident. It is feared the daily activities of Japanese people and businesses in China may be badly affected again.
　満州事変の発端となった柳条湖事件から８１年に当たる１８日、各地では再びデモが呼びかけられている。邦人の生活や日系企業の営業活動への影響が懸念される。

It is highly likely that a fleet of Chinese fishing boats, escorted by fishing monitoring vessels of the Chinese agriculture ministry, will soon leave ports for the Senkaku Islands shortly and try to intrude into Japanese territorial waters.
　間もなく尖閣諸島沖に向け、中国漁船が大挙出港し、農業省の漁業監視船の護衛で、日本領海への侵入を図る可能性が高い。

The Japanese government, for its part, must make absolutely sure that the Japan Coast Guard protects the territorial waters.
　日本政府は海上保安庁による領海警備に万全を期すべきだ。

The government must assert to the international community that the Senkaku Islands are Japanese territory and that the recent acquisition of the islands is intended to place them under stable government management.
　政府は、尖閣諸島は日本の領土であり、安定的に管理するための国有化であることを、国際社会に主張していかねばならない。

The national leaders of Japan and China should bring the current situation under control so as not to aggravate the conflict of their people's sentiments.
　国民感情の対立を深めぬよう、日中両国は首脳レベルで、事態の沈静化に努める必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 17, 2012)
（2012年9月17日01時20分  読売新聞）