オバマ外交 アジア重視へ日米韓の連携を

The Yomiuri Shimbun February 20, 2014
Ties between Japan, U.S., ROK essential for Obama’s diplomacy
オバマ外交　アジア重視へ日米韓の連携を（2月20日付・読売社説）

To maintain peace and stability in Asia, the United States and its allies, including Japan and South Korea, must deepen their cooperative relations.
　アジアの平和と安定を維持するためには、米国と、同盟国である日本や韓国などが協力関係を深化させねばならない。

U.S. President Barack Obama has started to reshape his administration’s “pivot to Asia” diplomacy in an effort to restructure the currently shaken cooperative relationship among Japan, the United States and South Korea.
　オバマ米大統領が「アジア重視」の外交政策立て直しに乗り出した。揺らいでいる日米韓の連携再構築が重要な課題だ。

Earlier this month, after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington, he visited South Korea, China and Indonesia. In late April, Obama is scheduled to make a tour of Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines.
　ケリー米国務長官は今月、ワシントンで岸田外相と会談した後、韓国と中国、インドネシアを訪問した。４月下旬には、オバマ氏の日本、韓国、マレーシア、フィリピン歴訪が予定されている。

Within Asia, China has made such conspicuous moves toward expansionism as the declaration of an air defense identification zone. The ongoing instability in North Korea has only heightened the nuclear threat. We believe Obama must have concluded that he ought to place greater emphasis on U.S. engagement with Asia.
　アジアでは、防空識別圏の設定など中国の拡張主義的な行動が顕著になった。北朝鮮では不安定な情勢が続き、核の脅威は増大している。オバマ氏は関与に本腰を入れるべきだと考えたのだろう。

In a meeting with Kerry, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated his desire to shape a “new type of major country relationship” with the United States. While the United States would like to discourage China from going too far militarily, the two countries’ relationship of mutual economic dependence has served to further increase China’s importance.
　習近平国家主席はケリー氏に、「新しいタイプの大国関係」の構築を再び求めた。米国は中国を軍事的に牽制(けんせい)したい一方で、経済面では中国との相互依存関係が一段と高まっている。

With complicated interests at stake, how can the two countries shape a “major country relationship”? It is indeed a difficult issue.
　複雑な思惑が交錯する両国がどのような「大国関係」を築くのか。難しい課題となろう。

In light of such circumstances, it is all the more indispensable for the United States to beef up cooperative ties with its allies.
　それだけに、米国にとっては同盟国との協力強化が不可欠だ。

Crisis felt by U.S.

Kerry has strongly urged the Japanese and South Korean foreign ministers to improve their nations’ relationship. The U.S. administration must have felt a heightened sense of crisis over the deterioration of unity among Japan, South Korea and the United States, a cornerstone of its Asia strategy, due to Japan-South Korea confrontations over historical and other issues.
　ケリー氏は、日韓両外相に両国関係の改善を強く要請した。アジア戦略の要となる日米韓の結束が歴史問題などを巡る日韓対立によって損なわれていることに、危機感を募らせたからに違いない。

At a joint press conference with South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung Se, Kerry said, “We urge both of them [Japan and South Korea] to work with us together” to find a solution. His statement is regarded as an announcement that the United States will serve as a mediator between Japan and South Korea.
　韓国外相との共同記者会見では「日韓が米国と共に取り組むことを求める」と述べた。日韓の仲裁に乗り出す方針の表明である。

However, remedying the situation will not be easy. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wishes to hold a summit meeting with South Korean President Park Geun-hye with no preconditions. However, Park has put forth various conditions, including that Japan yield to South Korea over the so-called wartime comfort women issue.
　だが、事態打開は容易でない。日韓首脳会談について、安倍首相は無条件で開催する意向だが、韓国の朴槿恵大統領は、いわゆる従軍慰安婦問題での譲歩など日本に様々な条件を付けている。

We are also concerned that the Japan-U.S. relationship has been on the rocks since the United States announced its “disappointment” over Abe’s visit to Yasukuni Shrine in late December.
　昨年末の安倍首相の靖国神社参拝に米国が「失望」を表明して以来、日米関係がぎくしゃくしているのも気がかりだ。

On the Yasukuni issue, Kerry said at the press conference, “I don’t think we need to dwell on it now.” However, the tone of some U.S. media outlets suggests distrust toward Japan.
　靖国問題について、ケリー氏は会見で「これ以上こだわる必要はない」と強調したが、米国内には対日不信を示す論調もある。

The Japanese side has also expressed dissatisfaction. On a video sharing site, Seiichi Eto, a special adviser to the prime minister, made a public statement criticizing the United States, saying, “It was we who were disappointed that the United States said it was disappointed.” Although he later deleted the upload, his actions caused controversy.
　日本側にも不満が残る。衛藤晟一首相補佐官は、その後取り消したものの、ネット上で「我々の方が失望した」と米国を批判する発言を公開して、物議を醸した。

Japanese Ambassador to the United States Kenichiro Sasae made a local plea for the U.S. government to clarify its stance. “We also want to see the United States make clear” who its friends and allies are, and who the troublemakers are, he said.
　佐々江賢一郎駐米大使も米国で「米国は誰が友人で、誰をトラブルメーカーと考えているのかはっきりさせてほしい」と訴えた。

We ask Obama, who is strengthening his administration’s commitment to Asia, to adopt an attitude that recognizes afresh the importance of the Japan-U.S. relationship.
　日米関係の重要性を再認識する姿勢が、アジアへの関与を強めるオバマ氏に問われよう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 20, 2014)
（2014年2月20日01時37分  読売新聞）