中台の領海侵入 示威行動に動ぜず冷静対処を

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Sep. 27, 2012)
Japan should not be perturbed by recent territorial intrusions
中台の領海侵入　示威行動に動ぜず冷静対処を（9月26日付・読売社説）

China and Taiwan are stepping up pressure on Japan over the Senkaku Islands. The government must remain unshaken by this, and should seek to calm the situation through levelheaded diplomacy as soon as possible.
　尖閣諸島を巡って中国と台湾が対日圧力を高めている。政府は、これに動じることなく、冷静な外交によって事態の沈静化を急ぐべきである。

A week has passed since China sent about 10 surveillance ships at one time to areas around the Senkaku Islands. China has repeatedly intruded into Japan's territorial waters, making such surveillance activities appear to be routine operations.
　中国が尖閣諸島近くに１０隻前後の監視船を送り込んでから１週間が経過した。監視活動を常態化させ、日本の領海への侵入を繰り返している。

On Tuesday, about 40 Taiwan fishing boats and 12 patrol ships entered Japan's territorial waters. The Taiwan vessels departed after Japan Coast Guard patrol ships took measures against the intruders, such as spraying water at fishing boats.
　２５日には、台湾の漁船約４０隻と巡視船１２隻が領海に入った。海上保安庁の巡視船による漁船への放水などで、台湾側は退去した。

Taiwan and China in succession started claiming territorial rights over the Senkaku Islands during the 1970s. If the government allows Taiwan and China to enter Japan's territorial waters with impunity, the nation's effective control of the islands might be shaken.
　尖閣諸島に関しては、台湾、中国が１９７０年代に相次いで領有権を主張し始めた。その中台が領海に侵入するような事態を放置すれば、日本の実効支配体制が揺らぐことになりかねない。

The government must address the issue with precautions and countermeasures. To maintain maritime order, surveillance by JCG patrol ships and other means must be strengthened as much as possible.
　政府は警戒と対策が必要だ。海洋秩序を維持するため、海保の巡視船などによる監視体制を最大限強化しなければならない。

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Enforcement must be firm

With the enforcement of the revised law on navigation of foreign ships, the JCG is now allowed to issue an order for foreign fishing boats operating in Japan's territorial waters to exit without boarding the vessels. It is essential to eliminate illegal actions more quickly and effectively than before and demonstrate the nation's determination to protect its sovereignty.
　改正外国船舶航行法の施行によって、海保は領海内を動き回る外国漁船に対し、立ち入り検査なしに退去を命令できるようになった。より迅速かつ効果的に違法行為を排除し、主権を守る姿勢を示すことが重要である。

Since the government placed the Senkaku Islands under state ownership, China has continued making outrageous responses.
　日本が尖閣諸島を国有化して以降、度を越した中国の反発が続いている。

China has called off exchange events with Japan in economic, cultural and sports fields one after another. A major memorial event to mark the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China, scheduled for Thursday, has been canceled. So has a visit to China by a Japanese business organization. This is an unusual situation.
　日本との経済や文化、スポーツ交流は続々と停止された。２７日に予定されていた国交正常化４０周年記念式典は中止され、日本の経済団体の訪中も取りやめとなった。異常な事態である。

These unilateral actions will undermine the international reputation of China itself. Further deterioration in Japan-China relations will only leave scars that will be hard to erase, and the situation will become much more difficult to heal.
　こうした一方的な措置は、中国自身の国際的評価を貶(おとし)めよう。日中関係のこれ以上の悪化は両国に拭いがたい傷を残し、修復を一層困難とするだけだ。

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Clear understanding needed

The fact that Japan has effectively controlled the Senkaku Islands has not been properly conveyed to the Chinese people due to Beijing's control of the media in that nation. We suspect the Chinese people do not understand what Japan's "nationalization" of the islands means.
　日本が尖閣諸島を実効支配してきた事実は、中国の報道規制で国民にきちんと伝わっていない。中国国民は「国有化」の意味を理解していないのではないか。

China is stepping up its diplomatic offensive as well. It has released a white paper to justify its territorial claim to the Senkaku Islands. In doing so, Beijing apparently aims to make its case in the court of world opinion.
　中国は外交攻勢も強めている。自らの尖閣諸島領有の主張を正当化する「白書」を発表した。世界にアピールするのが狙いだ。

Japan, for its part, needs to make other nations properly understand what has happened with the Senkaku Islands and how calmly Japan has dealt with the issue.
　日本も、尖閣問題の経緯と日本側の冷静な対応を各国にきちんと理解してもらう必要がある。

Vice Foreign Minister Chikao Kawai has held talks with his Chinese counterpart, Zhang Zhijun, at the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing. The Chinese side reportedly said that Japan "must abandon any illusion, face up to its erroneous actions and correct them with credible steps."
　河相周夫外務次官が北京で中国外務省の張志軍筆頭次官と会談した。中国側は日本に対し、「幻想を捨てて深く反省し、行動で誤りを正す」よう求めたという。

This highlighted Beijing's usual high-handed attitude. But the fact that the two nations agreed to continue talks on the matter can be viewed as positive. The government should find a way to break the deadlock by having a series of talks between foreign ministers as well as between the top leaders of the two nations.
　相変わらずの高圧的な態度だ。ただ、両国が協議の継続で一致したことは評価できる。外相や首脳同士の対話も重ね、事態打開の道筋を模索すべきである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 26, 2012)
（2012年9月26日01時22分  読売新聞）