ＯＤＡ大綱改定 平和構築へ戦略性を高めよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Peace-building efforts should be strategic priority of ODA
ＯＤＡ大綱改定　平和構築へ戦略性を高めよ

Japan should make active use of its official development assistance programs to help crystallize the goal of the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in transforming the country into a “proactive contributor to peace.”
　安倍政権の掲げる「積極的平和主義」を具体化するため、政府開発援助（ＯＤＡ）も積極的に活用すべきだろう。

On Thursday, a Foreign Ministry panel of experts presented a report to Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida after wrapping up discussions on a review of Japan’s ODA Charter, a set of principles governing the country’s overseas development aid. The government is set to give Cabinet approval to a new ODA Charter by the end of the year, completing the first major review in 11 years.
　ＯＤＡ大綱の見直しを検討してきた外務省の有識者会議が、岸田外相に報告書を提出した。１１年ぶりの見直しで、政府は年末までに、新しい大綱を閣議決定する予定だ。

The report cites the “pursuit of international peace through nonmilitary activities” as one of the guiding principles of ODA funding.
　報告書は、ＯＤＡの基本方針の一つとして「非軍事的手段による平和の希求」を掲げた。

Conventionally, the government has banned assisting foreign military forces with Japan’s ODA. The report by the panel, however, recommends that aid to foreign militaries be permitted on a case-by-case basis, asserting that support for armed forces activities concerning nonmilitary objectives such as stabilizing citizens’ livelihoods and disaster relief “should not be excluded uniformly” simply because they are military-related.
　従来は、軍隊に対する支援は認めていなかったが、民生目的や災害救助などの非軍事目的の支援については、「一律に排除すべきではない」として、ケースによっては認めるよう提言した。

A number of potential projects would be included in the envisioned uses of ODA funding, including improvement of ports, harbors and airports for joint military and civilian use and inviting military personnel from abroad for disaster relief training and other nonmilitary operations.
　軍民共用の港湾や空港を整備したり、軍人を日本に研修に招いたりすることなどが想定される。

Many countries have been utilizing military forces in peace-building, the enhancement of people’s living standards and other objectives. ODA disbursements are an important diplomatic policy resource for Japan, and utilizing those funds for such purposes is commendable and in keeping with the philosophy of “proactive contribution to peace.”
　多くの国が軍隊を平和構築や民生目的に活用している。日本が重要な外交カードであるＯＤＡをこうした分野に使うのは、「積極的平和主義」の理念とも合致すると評価できる。

Coordination with U.N.

Regarding ODA funding for the purpose of peace-building, the government has decided to provide the Philippines with 10 patrol boats using yen loans. A provision of patrol boats to Vietnam is also being considered.
　平和構築目的のＯＤＡでは、政府は、円借款により、フィリピンに巡視船１０隻を供与することを決めた。ベトナムにも巡視船を供与する方向で検討している。

China has been maneuvering to make maritime advances by force in the South China Sea. Helping the Philippines and Vietnam beef up their maritime security capabilities will help to ensure the safety of key sea lanes vital to maritime transport of trade and energy for Japan. Such strategic use of ODA must be expanded.
　南シナ海では中国が力ずくの海洋進出を展開しており、両国の海上保安能力の向上を支援することは、日本の海上交通路（シーレーン）の安全確保にも資する。こうした戦略的なＯＤＡのさらなる拡大が欠かせない。

The report also proposes advocating strengthened coordination between Japan’s ODA and U.N. peacekeeping activities. This suggestion is based on the National Security Strategy approved by the Cabinet last December, which calls for a similar roadmap.
　報告書は、ＯＤＡと国連平和維持活動（ＰＫＯ）の連携強化も提言した。政府が昨年末に決定した国家安全保障戦略が同様の方針を示したことを踏まえたものだ。

Under the strategy, Self-Defense Forces members participating in U.N. peacekeeping activities will engage in projects such as building roads and facilities, while the Japan International Cooperation Agency helps ODA-recipient countries expedite their nation-building endeavors. Every possible effort must be made to ensure optimal synergy between SDF activities and JICA operations.
　ＰＫＯに参加する自衛隊が道路や施設を整備する一方、国際協力機構（ＪＩＣＡ）がＯＤＡで国づくりを支援する。双方の取り組みが相乗効果を上げるよう、大いに知恵を絞りたい。

Japan’s ODA missions are marking their 60th anniversary this year. The government’s budgetary appropriations for ODA projects peaked in fiscal 1997 at about ¥1.17 trillion, and have been on the decline, standing at about ¥550 billion for the current fiscal year, less than half the peak level. Now is the time to put the brakes on the downward trend in ODA outlays.
　日本のＯＤＡは今年で６０周年を迎えた。政府のＯＤＡ予算は、１９９７年度の約１兆１７００億円をピークに減少傾向をたどり、今年度は約５５００億円とほぼ半減した。そろそろ、ＯＤＡの減少に歯止めをかけるべきだ。

The report also stresses the significance of increasing the roles played by private-sector funds in developmental cooperation fields.
　報告書は、開発協力分野での民間資金の活用も求めている。

It is estimated that private-sector funds flowing from industrially advanced countries into developing countries total around 2.5 times as much capital as the aggregate of all global ODA.
　先進国から途上国に流れている民間資金は、ＯＤＡの２・５倍に上るとされる。

Improving infrastructure in developing nations though an organic linking of government ODA with the business activities of Japanese companies should run parallel to Japan’s growth strategy.
政府のＯＤＡと日本企業の経済活動を有機的に組み合わせて途上国の社会資本整備を支援することは、日本の成長戦略にも沿うはずだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 27, 2014)