米・ミャンマー 関係強化は中国へのけん制だ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Nov. 22, 2012)
Japan, U.S. must join hands to aid Myanmar's reform drive
米・ミャンマー　関係強化は中国へのけん制だ（11月21日付・読売社説）

Recently reelected Barack Obama on Monday became the first serving U.S. president to visit Myanmar, a historic move in line with the U.S. strategy of attaching greater importance to Asia.
　再選を果たしたオバマ米大統領が、現職大統領として初めてミャンマーを訪れた。

After meeting Myanmar President Thein Sein, Obama stressed the United States would support reform in the Southeast Asian nation, saying, "A process of democratic and economic reform here in Myanmar that has been begun by the president is one that can lead to incredible development opportunities."
　米国の「アジア重視」戦略に沿った歴史的な訪問である。
　オバマ大統領はテイン・セイン大統領との会談後、「民主化と経済改革は驚くべき発展をもたらすだろう」と述べ、改革支援の立場を強調した。

Obama also met with Aung San Suu Kyi, president of Myanmar's largest opposition party, and applauded her efforts in leading the pro-democracy movement.
最大野党党首のアウン・サン・スー・チー氏とも会い、民主化努力をねぎらった。

Myanmar was subject to tough economic sanctions imposed by Europe and the United States for many years while it suppressed human rights under the junta's rule.
　ミャンマーは軍政時代の人権弾圧などを理由に、欧米から長年にわたり経済制裁を受けてきた。

But since the change to democratic rule in spring last year, the Myanmar government led by President Thein Sein has made steady efforts to promote democracy. Given this, the Obama administration has relaxed sanctions in phases since the start of this year. As a result, relations between the two countries have improved rapidly.
　しかし、昨春の民政移管以来、テイン・セイン政権が民主化を着実に進めたことから、オバマ政権は今年に入り、制裁を段階的に緩和した。ミャンマーとの関係改善は急速に進んでいる。

===

A bulwark against China

The United States went ahead with Obama's trip to take ties to a new level. The visit can also be regarded as a check against China, which has been expanding its military and economic presence. China cozied up to junta-ruled Myanmar, thereby boosting its influence over that country.
　米国が大統領の訪問で新生ミャンマーとの関係強化へ一段と踏み込んだのは、中国をけん制する狙いもあろう。軍事、経済両面で膨張する中国は、軍政時代のミャンマーと関係を強め、その影響力を増大させてきた。

That Obama chose Myanmar, Cambodia and Thailand as the first countries to visit after his reelection is significant.
　オバマ大統領が再選後初の歴訪先として、ミャンマーをはじめカンボジア、タイを選んだ意義は小さくない。

By doing so, Obama sent a strong message that he will seek, in his second term too, to deepen cooperative relations with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in both economic and security fields.
　政権２期目も、経済、安保ともに東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）各国との連携を深めていくという強力なメッセージだ。

China will certainly be stewing over the U.S. move. It seems inevitable that Washington and Beijing will intensify their tug-of-war over Myanmar.
　米国の動きに中国も内心穏やかではないはずだ。ミャンマーを巡る米中両国の綱引きが激化するのは避けられないだろう。

The United States plans to provide Myanmar with about 13.7 billion yen over the next two years to assist its education and democratization programs. We hope the Thein Sein administration will use this U.S. support as a springboard to further promote reforms in various fields.
　米国はミャンマーの教育や民主化の支援に、今後２年間で約１３７億円を提供する方針だという。これを弾みに、テイン・セイン政権には、多方面で改革を一層進めてもらいたい。

===

Crucial moment ahead

Myanmar will chair ASEAN in 2014. The country will face a crucial moment in its economic reconstruction as it seeks to shake off its status as the poorest nation in ASEAN. The road to further democratization likely will be bumpy. It will not be easy to reconcile with minority ethnic groups that still are at odds with the government.
　ミャンマーは２０１４年にＡＳＥＡＮ議長国を務める。域内最貧国脱却への経済再建はこれからが正念場だ。一層の民主化には曲折も予想される。対立が続く少数民族との和解も容易ではない。

Tokyo and Washington must work together to support democratization and economic reform in Myanmar. In October, Japan hosted a conference of industrialized nations and the World Bank in Tokyo, where arrangements for assistance to Myanmar were set.
　日本や米国は協調してミャンマーの民主化や経済改革を支えていく必要がある。１０月には日本が主導して、先進国と世界銀行などによる支援国会合が東京で開かれ、国際社会の支援体制も整った。

In his meeting with Thein Sein in Phnom Penh, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda announced his government plans to offer yen credits to the tune of 50 billion yen next year.
　今回、野田首相はプノンペンでテイン・セイン大統領と会談し、５００億円規模の円借款を来年実施する方針を伝えた。

Myanmar can become a new production base for Japanese firms. The Japanese government, for its part, must expedite its assistance to expand that country's economic infrastructure.
　ミャンマーは、日系企業の新たな生産拠点となり得る。日本政府としても、経済基盤の整備への支援を急ぐべきである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 21, 2012)
（2012年11月21日01時50分  読売新聞）