船舶差し押さえ 日中共同声明の精神が揺らぐ

The Yomiuri Shimbun 7:03 pm, April 22, 2014
Chinese seizure of Japanese vessel undermines spirit of 1972 statement
船舶差し押さえ　日中共同声明の精神が揺らぐ

The seizure of a Japanese ship is an unprecedented exercise of Chinese public authority against a private Japanese firm. The action will lead to a further deterioration in Japan-China relations, while the Xi administration has been stepping up pressure on Japan over history issues.
　日本企業に対する前例のない公権力行使だ。歴史問題で対日圧力を強める習近平政権の下、日中関係がさらに悪化しかねない事態である。

The Shanghai Maritime Court announced Saturday it had impounded a large vessel owned by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, which was berthed at a Zhejiang Province port, in connection with a lawsuit over a ship leasing contract dating back to 1936.
　中国の裁判所、上海海事法院は１９日、１９３６年の船舶賃貸借を巡る訴訟に絡み、商船三井所有の大型船舶を浙江省の港で差し押さえたと発表した。

The Chinese judiciary is under the control of the Communist Party, so it is possible that the seizure reflects the will of the Chinese President Xi Jinping’s administration.
　中国の司法は、共産党の指導下にあり、習政権の意思を反映したものと言えよう。

The lawsuit was filed in 1988 by two grandchildren of the founder of a Chinese shipping company, and calls for the payment of fees for two freighters leased to a predecessor of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and additional compensation for the ships, which eventually sank.
　訴訟は、中国海運会社の関係者が８０年代に起こした。商船三井の前身となる企業に貨物船２隻を貸した際の賃貸料や、沈没した船の賠償金の支払いを求めてきた。

A ruling on the case became final in December 2010, when an appellate court upheld a 2007 decision, ordering Mitsui to pay more than ¥2.9 billion.
　２０１０年末、商船三井に２９億円余の賠償金支払いを命じる判決が確定した。

The Chinese court impounded the ship, leased by Mitsui to a Chinese steelmaking company, arguing that Mitsui failed to comply with the order to settle unpaid bills and pay compensation.
　商船三井が賠償に応じないとして、裁判所は、中国の鉄鋼会社に貸し出されていた船舶の差し押さえという措置を取った。

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the seizure had no connection with the issue of war reparations.
　中国外務省は「戦争賠償問題とは無関係」と説明している。

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga denounced the Chinese action as “extremely regrettable” and said the seizure “would undermine the spirit at the heart of the 1972 Japan-China joint statement that established the normalization of bilateral relations.”
　これに対し、菅官房長官は「極めて遺憾だ。１９７２年の日中共同声明に示された国交正常化の精神を根底から揺るがしかねない」と述べた。賛同できる見解だ。

We are inclined to agree.

Claims renounced

In the 1972 joint statement, China agreed to renounce demands for war reparations from Japan. The Chinese side essentially put a lid on demands by Chinese citizens for war reparations.
　共同声明で中国政府は、戦争賠償請求の放棄を表明している。中国側は、基本的には民間からの賠償請求を封じ込めてきた。

Over the years, Japan has provided more than ¥3 trillion in loans to promote and sustain Chinese economic development, and Japan continues provision of grant assistance to poorer regions of China today. Japanese companies have made substantial contributions to the country through investment in and technological cooperation with China as well.
　日本政府は、総額３兆円余の円借款を供与し、中国の経済発展を支えた。貧困地域などへの無償資金協力はなお続いている。企業も現在に至るまで投資や技術協力で多大な貢献をしている。

The Chinese government has not made sufficient efforts to spread awareness of these Japanese contributions in the country.
　こうした経緯を中国政府は、国内に十分説明していない。

The Xi administration has been ratcheting up its anti-Japan propaganda campaign over historical perceptions since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe paid a visit to Yasukuni Shrine in December.
　習政権は、安倍首相の靖国神社参拝を機に、歴史認識問題での反日宣伝を一段と強めている。

What prompted Chinese authorities to seize a Japanese ship more than three years after the court’s decision was finalized? Given its timing, it is possible to see the move as a ploy by Beijing to pressure Japan ahead of U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to Tokyo.
　判決確定から３年以上たって、なぜ、差し押さえという手段をとったのか。オバマ米大統領の訪日直前というタイミングをとらえた対日圧力と見ることもできる。

Suga expressed concern over the Chinese action, saying that it “could intimidate Japanese firms” planning to expand business in China.
　菅長官は、中国でのビジネス展開を考える日本企業にとって「萎縮効果」を生みかねないと指摘し、憂慮の意を示した。

Amid declining Japanese investments in China, any increase in the perceived risk of Chinese investment will likely come as a blow not only to Japan, but also to China, whose economic growth has been slowing.
　日本の対中投資が落ち込む中、中国リスクの増大は日本だけでなく、経済成長が減速している中国自身にとっても痛手のはずだ。

A succession of lawsuits filed by Chinese who claimed they or members of their families were forced to work at Japanese factories during the war have called for Japanese firms to pay compensation. In light of this most recent move, many fear further seizures of the assets of Japanese firms.
　戦時中に強制連行されたとする中国人元労働者らが、日本企業に損害賠償を求める動きが相次いでいる。今後、日本企業の資産差し押さえが拡大する恐れもある。

The Xi administration must reaffirm mutual benefit as the heart of Japan-China relations.
　習政権は、互恵という日中関係の原点を再確認すべきである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 22, 2014)