日米外相会談 強固な同盟をアジアに示そう

The Yomiuri Shimbun February 10, 2014
Japan, U.S. should show strength of their alliance to rest of Asia
日米外相会談　強固な同盟をアジアに示そう（2月9日付・読売社説）

Strained relations between Japan and the United States will only benefit China and North Korea. Tokyo and Washington must show the strength of their alliance to the whole Asian region.
　日米関係がぎくしゃくすることは、中国や北朝鮮を利するだけだ。強固な同盟関係をアジア全体に示すことが肝要だ。

Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida visited the United States and held separate talks with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. They agreed that Japan and the United States will deal jointly with China without accepting the Chinese-claimed air defense identification zone over the East China Sea.
　岸田外相が訪米し、ケリー国務長官、ヘーゲル国防長官らと個別に会談した。中国による東シナ海上空の防空識別圏の設定は受け入れず、日米が連携して対応することで合意した。

“We will deal calmly but resolutely with China’s attempts to change the status quo with force,” said Kishida. Kerry reiterated the U.S. position that the East China Sea, including the Senkaku Islands, is covered by the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty that stipulates the U.S. obligation to defend Japan.
　岸田外相は、「中国の力による現状変更の試みには、冷静かつ毅然(きぜん)として対応する」と語った。ケリー長官は、尖閣諸島を含む東シナ海が、日米安保条約に基づく米国の対日防衛義務の対象になるとの見解を改めて強調した。

Washington expressed its disappointment over Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to Yasukuni Shrine late last year, revealing its position to be different from Tokyo’s. At the first foreign ministerial meeting since then, however, it is significant that Kishida and Kerry clearly confirmed enhancement of the Japan-U.S. alliance and coordination of their policies vis-a-vis China.
　昨年末の安倍首相の靖国神社参拝に米政府が「失望」を表明し、双方の立場の違いを露呈して以来初の日米外相会談で、同盟関係の強化や、対中外交での連携をきちんと確認した意義は大きい。

Building strong and stable relations between Japan and U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration with its emphasis on Asia will greatly contribute to peace and prosperity in the whole Asian region. Japan should make Obama’s visit to Japan, scheduled for April, an opportunity to demonstrate the strength of the Japan-U.S. alliance to the rest of the international community.
　「アジア重視」戦略を掲げるオバマ政権と日本が強固で安定した関係を構築することは、アジア全体の平和と繁栄に寄与する。４月に予定されるオバマ大統領の来日を、日米同盟の力強さを国際社会にアピールする機会としたい。

Kishida and Kerry agreed that the cooperation among Japan, the United States and South Korea is important to deal with North Korea’s nuclear ambition and other issues. Kishida indicated his intention to improve Japan-South Korea ties by accumulating successes in working-level, tangible cooperation between the two countries.
　両外相は、北朝鮮の核問題などに対応するため、日米韓３か国の連携が重要との認識で一致した。岸田外相は、「実務に基づく具体的な協力」を積み重ね、日韓関係の改善に努める考えを示した。

Fix Japan-S. Korea ties

It is not clear what North Korea will do next. Pyongyang has shown its emphasis on a willingness to participate in dialogue by agreeing with South Korea to allow reunions of families separated by the Korean War, while strongly opposing the U.S.-South Korea military exercises scheduled late this month.
　北朝鮮の今後の出方は、不透明だ。韓国と朝鮮戦争の離散家族の再会で合意し、対話重視の姿勢を示す一方で、今月下旬の米韓軍事演習には強く反発している。

To urge Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear ambitions, Japan, the United States and South Korea should not march to different drummers. Mutual efforts by both Japan and South Korea are indispensable to repair their bilateral relations, which have become ice-cold due to disputes over the Takeshima islands and the issue of the so-called comfort women.
　北朝鮮に核放棄を迫るには日米韓の足並みを乱さないことが重要だ。竹島やいわゆる従軍慰安婦の問題で冷え切った日韓関係の修復へ、双方の努力が欠かせない。

The Japanese and U.S. foreign ministers also agreed to proceed steadily with the transfer of functions of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station to the Henoko district in Okinawa Prefecture, and to start negotiations on a new bilateral treaty to allow environmental field studies at U.S. bases in Japan that are scheduled to be returned to the Japanese government.
　外相会談では、米軍普天間飛行場の辺野古移設の着実な進展や、返還予定の在日米軍基地内の環境調査などを可能にする新しい日米協定の交渉の開始で一致した。

The envisaged new treaty is expected to smooth the way for the planned return of U.S. bases in Japan. We hope both governments will reach a conclusion as soon as possible to make stationing of U.S. forces in Japan, a foundation of their deterrence in the Asia-Pacific region, sustainable.
　新協定は、基地返還をより円滑に進める効果が期待される。米軍の抑止力の根幹である日本駐留を持続可能なものにするため、早期の合意を目指したい。

Kishida and Kerry also agreed to accelerate bilateral talks in an effort to conclude the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact as soon as possible. The negotiations on the trade agreement are now deadlocked.
　膠着(こうちゃく)状態にある環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）について両外相は、早期妥結に向けて日米協議を加速させることを確認した。

Tokyo and Washington have differing opinions over whether to abolish tariffs on five Japanese farm products. It may be time for the United States to review its commitment to a hard-line policy and demonstrate some flexibility from a common strategic viewpoint shared by Japan and the United States to create a new free trade system in the Asia-Pacific region.
　日本の農産品５項目の関税撤廃をめぐる日米対立が続いている。アジア太平洋地域に新たな自由貿易体制を作るという日米共通の戦略的観点から、米国もそろそろ強硬一辺倒の姿勢を見直し、一定の柔軟性を示してもらいたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 9, 2014)
（2014年2月9日00時23分  読売新聞）