中国防空識別圏 習主席は日米の懸念に応えよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun December 7, 2013
President Xi must pay heed to Japan, U.S. concerns over ADIZ
中国防空識別圏　習主席は日米の懸念に応えよ（12月6日付・読売社説）

China must take seriously the explicit declarations by Japan and the United States of their intentions regarding Beijing’s announcement of its new air defense identification zone.
　日米両国の明確な意思表示を中国は重く受け止めるべきだ。

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday in Beijing, declaring that the United States does not recognize or accept the ADIZ recently established by China over the East China Sea, expressing Washington’s “significant apprehension.”
　米国のバイデン副大統領が、中国の習近平国家主席と北京で会談し、東シナ海に設定された中国の防空識別圏を認めないと述べた上で「深い懸念」を表明した。

In the talks, Biden reportedly called for Beijing to take measures to reduce tensions with countries concerned, prodding the Chinese leadership to exercise self-restraint to prevent a crisis over the zone.
　バイデン氏はさらに、中国に対し、関係国との緊張緩和に向けた措置を取り、この問題で危機を誘発するような行動を自制するよう要請したという。

Both of Biden’s calls were in line with what was confirmed in his talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the previous day.
　いずれも、安倍首相との会談で確認した内容に沿ったものだ。

It was especially significant that Biden conveyed directly to Xi the strong sense of apprehension both Japan and the United States have over the way China declared the ADIZ and the rules of its implementation, which both Tokyo and Washington said deviate from international norms.
　中国の防空識別圏の設定の仕方や運用が国際常識から外れているとの日米両国の強い懸念を、習氏に直接伝えた点に意味がある。

In declaring the ADIZ, which changes the status quo in the East China Sea, China failed to consult with countries concerned beforehand. Rather, it unilaterally implemented the zone and abruptly announced it.
　中国は、現状を変更する識別圏設定に当たり、周辺国との事前調整をせず、一方的に発表した。

The means by which China implemented the new ADIZ strays from implementation protocol for air defense identification zones of other countries.
　その運用方法も、国際社会のやり方とは大きく異なっている。

In the ADIZs of countries other than China, including Japan, only aircraft found to be heading toward the countries’ territorial airspace are subject to alert. China, however, made it mandatory for all aircraft passing through its new ADIZ to report flight plans to Chinese authorities. Also, Beijing has warned it will make planes that fail to comply with its ADIZ rules subject to unspecified “defensive emergency measures.”
　日本などの防空識別圏では、領空に向かう航空機だけが警戒の対象となる。だが、中国は、識別圏内を飛行する全航空機に、飛行計画の提出を義務付けたばかりか、従わないと、「防御的緊急措置」の対象になると警告している。

Dangerous mind-set

Although most of the ADIZ is set above high seas, China’s warning is tantamount to treating the zone as part of its own airspace. We believe this is an illegitimate and dangerous mode of thinking.
　識別圏の大半は公海上空に設定されているのに、自らの領空のように扱っている。不当かつ極めて危険な考え方である。

In reply to calls from Biden, Xi was cited as reiterating China’s “principled stance” that its new ADIZ was established “in accord with international law and practice.” Does China intend to continue treating its air zone in its own fashion?
　バイデン氏に対し、習氏は、中国の「原則的な立場」を繰り返し、識別圏は「国際法や国際慣例に合致している」と述べたという。識別圏を引き続き、自己流で運用し続けるつもりなのだろうか。

As long as China takes such an attitude, it will never win the understanding of countries concerned, including Japan and the United States. First, Beijing should do away with its hard-line stance, which could invite the risk of an accidental military conflict.
　こうした態度では、日米をはじめ関係国の理解は得られまい。中国は、偶発的な軍事衝突を引き起こしかねない強硬な姿勢を、まず改める必要がある。

In his talks with Xi, Biden was also quoted as calling for China to create a crisis management mechanism in cooperation with Japan, with which China has an ongoing sovereignty row over the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, and other countries surrounding the new air zone.
　バイデン氏は習氏に、不測の事態を回避するために、沖縄県・尖閣諸島をめぐり対立する日本や周辺国と危機管理メカニズムを構築するよう促した。

It is crucial to expedite the opening up of communication channels among the countries concerned. The Chinese government has made an overture to the Japanese government to hold consultations with the aim of “securing safe flights” in the airspace where the two countries’ ADIZs overlap.
　関係国間で、意思の疎通を図ることは欠かせない。中国政府も日本に対して、「識別圏が重なっている空域での安全な飛行」のための協議を呼びかけている。

We worry, however, that in the process of such consultations, China will insist that Japan acknowledge China’s ADIZ, including airspace over the Senkakus, as if it were a fait accompli.
　ただ、気がかりなのは、話し合いの過程で、中国が、尖閣諸島上空を含む自らの防空識別圏を既成事実であるかのように主張してくると見られることだ。

Even if such consultations take place, Japan must not give up its stance of refusing to recognize China’s declaration of the air defense identification zone.
協議を行う場合でも、識別圏を認めないとの立場を崩してはならない。

In dealing with the ADIZ, it is important that Japan work closely with the United States in taking strategic measures against China.
　防空識別圏の問題を巡っては、米国との足並みをそろえながら、中国に戦略的に働きかけることが肝要である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 6, 2013)
（2013年12月6日01時26分  読売新聞）