首相沖縄訪問 政府一丸で基地負担を減らせ

The Yomiuri Shimbun June 25, 2013
Govt needs to make unified efforts to reduce burden on Okinawa
首相沖縄訪問　政府一丸で基地負担を減らせ（6月24日付・読売社説）

To reduce the excessive burden on Okinawa Prefecture of hosting U.S. military bases, the government must make unified efforts.
　沖縄の過重な米軍基地負担を軽減するため、政府は一丸となって努力する必要がある。

On Sunday, the 68th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa during World War II, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the prefecture and attended a memorial ceremony held to console the souls of those who died in the battle.
　太平洋戦争の沖縄戦で組織的戦闘が終結したとされる「慰霊の日」の２３日、安倍首相が沖縄県を訪問し、沖縄全戦没者追悼式に出席した。

Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera and Ichita Yamamoto, state minister for Okinawa affairs, also attended the ceremony. It marked the first participation by foreign and defense ministers since such ceremonies were first held in 1962.
　式典には、岸田外相、小野寺防衛相、山本沖縄相も同席した。外相、防衛相の出席は初めてだ。

To tackle the Okinawa issues, it is essential that the ministries concerned closely cooperate with each other and coordinate views with local governments in a multitiered manner.
沖縄問題に取り組むには、関係府省の緊密な連携と、地元との重層的な調整が欠かせない。

‘Visible’ reduction

Following the ceremony, Abe said his government would implement measures to reduce the burden of Okinawa “visibly.” With regard to the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station, Abe said the Futenma base should not be permanently used. “We’d like to make efforts to realize the relocation of the base as soon as possible,” he said.
　首相は式典後、基地負担軽減について「目に見える形で実施したい」と語った。米軍普天間飛行場に関しては、「固定化はあってはならない。一日も早い移設に努力を重ねたい」と強調した。

The governments of Japan and the United States announced in early April that the tracts of land, more than 1,000 hectares when combined, that are now used for the six U.S. military facilities in the southern part of the prefecture will be returned to Japan over the next 10 to 16 years.
　日米両政府は４月上旬、県南部の米軍６施設について１０～１６年間程度で計１０００ヘクタール以上の広大な土地を返還する計画を発表した。

The quickest way to reduce Okinawa’s burden of hosting the U.S. bases is to steadily implement this plan. It is particularly important to realize the relocation of Futenma Air Station in Ginowan to the Henoko area of Nago.
この計画の着実な実行こそが沖縄の負担を減らす最大の近道だ。
　特に普天間飛行場の辺野古移設を実現することが重要である。

Both governments agreed on June 13 that the return of the residential area of western Futenma used by Camp Zukeran in Ginowan, originally scheduled for next fiscal year, would be carried out within this year.
　日米両政府は今月１３日、来年度に予定していたキャンプ瑞慶覧の西普天間住宅地区の返還を年内にも前倒しすることで合意した。

This can be highly evaluated as part of the government’s efforts to improve the environment for Okinawa Gov. Yoshikazu Nakaima to approve the reclamation of land from public waters, planned in line with the relocation of the air station to the Henoko coastal area.
　普天間飛行場の辺野古移設に伴う公有水面埋め立てを、仲井真弘多知事が承認しやすくするための環境整備の一環と評価できる。

It is important for the central and local governments to hold talks over those areas that are to be vacated with the return of the U.S. military facilities and discuss ways to use them more efficiently. Such efforts should be made in tandem with the implementation of various measures designed to promote the local economies of Okinawa. They would certainly enhance the significance of the return of the U.S. bases to Japan.
　大切なのは、基地返還後の跡地について、政府と地元自治体などが協議し、より効率的な利用策を検討することだ。様々な沖縄振興策とも連動させたい。それが基地返還の価値を高めよう。

Promotion of economy

After the ceremony, Abe and Nakaima exchanged views over how to promote the Okinawa economy. While fostering their relationship of trust, Abe should win a broader understanding of Nakaima over the Futenma relocation to the Henoko district.
　首相は式典後、沖縄振興策について知事と意見交換した。信頼関係を醸成しつつ、辺野古移設への知事の理解を広げるべきだ。

On the other hand, the reduction of Okinawa’s burden of hosting U.S. bases should be made, in principle, while maintaining the deterrence of the U.S. forces stationed in Okinawa Prefecture.
　一方で、基地負担の軽減はあくまで、在沖縄米軍の抑止力の維持と両立させなければならない。

This is essential because the ability to respond rapidly and maintain mobility of the Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. forces stationed in Japan has become more important in the light of the nuclear and missile development by North Korea and the rapid military buildup and aggressive actions of China.
　北朝鮮の核・ミサイル開発や、中国の急速な軍備増強と示威活動の拡大を踏まえれば、自衛隊と米軍の即応・機動力の重要性が今、一段と増しているからだ。

The town assembly of Yonaguni, Okinawa Prefecture, approved on Thursday the lease of land to the central government needed for the deployment of a Ground Self-Defense Force unit on the Yonaguni Island to monitor coastal areas.
　沖縄県与那国町議会は２０日、与那国島への陸上自衛隊沿岸監視部隊の配備に伴う町有地の国への賃貸を承認した。

The Defense Ministry and the town were once at odds over the payment of cooperation expenses to the town concerning the deployment of the GSDF unit. But they are expected to conclude the lease contract later this week.
防衛省と町は一時、陸自配備に関する町への協力費支払いをめぐって対立したが、週内にも賃貸契約を結ぶ運びだ。

For both the SDF and the U.S. forces in Japan to operate effectively, it is essential for both to build stable and amicable relations with local officials concerned. The Defense Ministry needs to continuously deepen its ties with Okinawa by making use of various opportunities in the days ahead.
　自衛隊や米軍が効果的な活動を行うには、地元関係者と安定的で良好な関係を築くことが前提となる。防衛省は引き続き、様々な機会をとらえ、沖縄との関係を深めることが求められる。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 24, 2013)
（2013年6月24日01時40分  読売新聞）