武器輸出３原則 国際協力推進へ一層の緩和を

そもそも武器を造るというのが間違っています。
現状で問題ないでしょう。
防護服は武器ではありません。
ベトナム戦争特需、朝鮮戦争特需こそ反省すべきだと思います。
一体どのくらい多くの人たちが、日本製の武器で殺戮されたのでしょうか。
（スラチャイ）

The Yomiuri Shimbun　November 5, 2013
Ease arms exports principles further to promote international cooperation
武器輸出３原則　国際協力推進へ一層の緩和を（11月4日付・読売社説）

In keeping with the times, it is essential for the government to deepen international cooperation with such countries as the United States in the area of defense equipment by further easing its three principles on arms exports.
　時代の流れを踏まえて米国などとの装備面での国際協力を深めるには、武器輸出３原則の一層の緩和が欠かせない。

The government has included a policy of reviewing the three principles in its draft of a national security strategy to be drawn up next month, the first of its kind.
　政府は、今年１２月に策定する初の国家安全保障戦略の原案に、武器輸出３原則を見直す方針を盛り込んだ。

It is reasonable for the government to review the defense equipment policy so that Japan’s defense technology and the domestic production base, which has been declining for many years, can be maintained at a certain level and support national security.
　長年、右肩下がり傾向にある日本の防衛技術・生産基盤を維持し、安全保障に役立つ方向に防衛装備政策を見直すのは当然だ。

In December 2011, the administration of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda eased the three principles, making it possible for Japan to export arms or send them abroad for peace-building efforts, and to jointly develop and produce them with other countries.
　２０１１年１２月に野田内閣は、３原則を緩和し、武器の平和構築目的の輸出・供与や、国際共同開発・生産を包括的に可能にした。

Relaxation of the principles was historically significant. But various problems emerged as the eased principles were applied.
歴史的な意義を持つものだったが、実際に運用する中で、様々な課題が浮かび上がっている。

The government gave heavy machinery to Haiti for peaceful purposes after Self-Defense Forces personnel sent to the country for U.N. peace-keeping operations completed their mission there. The government has also decided to provide the Philippines with patrol vessels.
　平和目的としては、自衛隊が国連平和維持活動（ＰＫＯ）に赴いたハイチに重機を提供し、フィリピンに巡視船供与を決定した。

Yet the provision of such equipment requires the signing of an intergovernmental agreement under which Japan calls on the recipient country to “strictly manage the equipment” so it cannot be used for other than intended purposes or transferred to a third country.
　ただ、こうした供与には、目的外使用や第三国移転がないよう、相手国に「厳格な管理」を求める政府間取り決めの締結が必要だ。

Furthermore, the equipment cannot be offered to international or nongovernmental organizations.
国際機関や民間活動団体（ＮＧＯ）への提供もできない。

More transfers expected

In the future, there are likely to be situations in which Japan’s international disaster relief teams will leave behind heavy equipment in a disaster-affected country, or Japan will offer chemical hazard suits to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. It is important to review the principles so they can be applied more flexibly.
　国際緊急援助隊が被災地に重機を残す。化学兵器禁止機関（ＯＰＣＷ）に化学防護服を供与する。こうした例も今後は想定される。より機動的で柔軟な制度に見直すことが重要である。

With regards to the joint development and production of weapons with other countries, it is mandatory that the transfer of such arms to a third country be formally approved beforehand by Japan.
　国際共同開発・生産では、第三国移転について日本の事前同意手続きが義務づけられている。

It is reasonable to require prior consent from Japan for the transfer of such things as the new U.S. F-35 stealth fighter jet, as 40 percent of its parts are Japanese-made. But it would be realistic to simplify the prior consent for products that have only a few Japanese-made components.
　新型戦闘機Ｆ３５のように日本が最大４割の部品を生産するなら事前同意は当然だが、ごく一部しか製造しない場合、事前同意は簡略化するのが現実的だろう。

As a matter of fact, the United States has sounded out Japan over the export of surface-to-air missile parts, whose production has been discontinued in the United States. But because of the prior-consent requirements, this has not been realized.
　実際、米国で製造中止となった地対空ミサイル部品の輸出を米側に打診されながら、事前同意が障害となって実現していない。

The export of these parts is the embodiment of international cooperation, and would reinforce the Japan-U.S. alliance in the area of defense equipment. And widely expanding joint development with other countries such as Britain, France and Australia would enhance Japan’s defense technology. Excessive restraints should be removed.
　こうした部品輸出は、まさに国際協力であり、装備面で日米同盟を強化する。英仏豪などとも幅広い共同開発を進めることは、日本の防衛技術を向上させる。過剰な制約は取り払うべきだ。

The repair of aircraft of the U.S. forces by Japanese firms overseas or the export of finished arms products, for instance, could also be considered international cooperation. The government should review the three principles from a broader perspective.
　日本企業が海外で米軍の航空機を修繕したり、武器の完成品を輸出したりすることも、国際協力となり得る。より多角的に、３原則の見直しを検討してはどうか。

On the other hand, the export of general-purpose parts, such as a warship’s engine parts, which can be used either militarily or commercially, comes under an approval system stipulated by the foreign trade control law but is not subject to the three principles.
　一方、艦船のエンジン部品など武器にも民生用にも使える汎用品の輸出は原則、外為法で許可制ではあるが、３原則の対象外だ。

To prevent these general-purpose products from being transferred to China and North Korea via a third country, which could adversely affect Japan’s national security, it is necessary to reinforce screening more than ever.
　こうした汎用品が第三国経由で中国や北朝鮮に移転され、日本の安全保障に悪影響を与えることを防ぐには、従来以上に審査を強化することが求められる。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun,　Nov. 4, 2013)
（2013年11月4日01時49分  読売新聞）