（社説）ミサイル発射 日朝協議でも説得を

July 29, 2014
EDITORIAL: Japan must tell North Korea that its provocations are pointless
（社説）ミサイル発射　日朝協議でも説得を

North Korea has kept up a series of provocative missile launches this year. In its latest test, apparently a political gesture, North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan off its eastern coast on July 26.
　北朝鮮がミサイルやロケット砲の発射実験を繰り返している。先週末も日本海に向けて短距離ミサイルを１発撃った。

North Korea's history of reckless tests of nuclear weapons and missiles caused the U.N. Security Council to tighten international sanctions against the secretive regime.
　北朝鮮は、これまでも核やミサイルの無謀な実験を重ね、国連安全保障理事会から制裁を強められてきた。

Even a short-range missile test is enough to antagonize the international community and deepen Pyongyang's diplomatic isolation. It's time that North Korea came to grips with the absurdity of its actions.
　短距離であってもミサイル発射は国際社会への挑戦であり、自国の孤立を深みに追い込む。その愚かさを悟るべきだ。

Politically, North Korea appears to be trying to exert pressure on the government of South Korean President Park Geun-hye.
　発射の政治的なねらいは、まず韓国の朴槿恵（パククネ）政権を意識したものとみられる。

The Park administration has been beset by a string of serious accidents, crimes and scandals at home, and North Korea seems intent on gaining the upper hand ahead of talks it must have with South Korea sooner or later.
　事件事故や不祥事など国内事情で苦境に立つ朴大統領を圧迫し、いずれ始まる南北協議を有利なかたちで始めたい、とみるのが妥当だろう。

The Park administration has pledged to make efforts to improve the North-South relationship but maintained a hard-line stance toward Pyongyang. This policy has not gone down well in North Korea and blighted prospects for dialogue between the two countries.
　朴政権は対北関係の改善を掲げてはいるが、実際には強硬姿勢を崩していない。そのため、北朝鮮は反発を強めており、対話は軌道に乗っていない。

North Korea has shown that its missiles can reach any part of South Korea. In the meantime, it has announced its intention to send athletes and cheerleaders to the Asian Games in September. The multisport event is slated to be held in South Korea's northwestern city of Incheon.
　北朝鮮は韓国を射程に収めるミサイルを撃ち続ける半面、９月に韓国・仁川で始まるスポーツ行事、アジア大会への選手や応援団の派遣を表明した。

The North has said a “peaceful environment” needs to be created for its participation, implying that it wants scheduled joint military exercises involving the United States and South Korea in August to be called off. The North Korean regime is trying to put pressure on the Park administration by using both a hard and a soft approach.
　だが、そのためには「平和的な環境が整えられるべきだ」とも訴える。来月予定される米韓合同軍事演習の中止を暗に求めるなど、硬軟織り交ぜて朴政権を揺さぶっている。

As it is pursues this diplomatic strategy, North Korea may be seeking to make tactical use of its talks with Japan over Pyongyang’s past abductions of Japanese citizens and other issues.
　そうした対外戦術をめぐらすなかで北朝鮮は、日本人拉致問題などをめぐる日朝協議も利用しようとしている恐れがある。

Pyongyang’s recent missile tests should be considered also as a tactical move to achieve certain diplomatic objectives concerning relations among Tokyo, Washington and Seoul.
　最近のミサイルの発射にも、日米韓をにらんだ思惑がにじんでいるとみるべきだろう。

The Japanese government lodged a protest against the missile tests, but intends to continue holding talks with the North after concluding that they did not pose any immediate threat to Japanese territory or the general population.
But the North’s actions have different security implications for South Korea.
　日本政府は発射に抗議しつつも、日朝協議は続ける意向だ。「ただちに日本の領土や国民に重要な影響をおよぼさない」などとの理由だが、そうした影響評価は韓国とは当然ずれる。

That is why both the United States and South Korea are casting a wary eye on Japan’s plan to continue talks with Pyongyang. At the same time, they have expressed their understanding of Tokyo’s motive.
　日本の協議継続の姿勢に米韓が理解を示しながらも、不安なまなざしを向けるゆえんだ。

The relationship between Japan and South Korea remains deeply strained mainly over differences in their views about history-related issues and a territorial dispute. If the two countries fail to put up a united front in dealing with North Korea, they risk playing right into Pyongyang’s hands.
　ただでさえ歴史認識などで関係が悪い日韓が、北朝鮮政策でも足並みを乱せば、それこそ北朝鮮の思うつぼだろう。

Viewed from another angle, it can be said that Japan is currently the only country that is able to engage in direct, head-on diplomatic talks with the secluded regime in Pyongyang. In the bilateral talks on trying to resolve the abduction issue, Tokyo should keep urging Pyongyang to stop provocative acts like missile launches.
　見方をかえれば、北朝鮮と今、正面から向き合えるパイプを持つのは日本だけだ。拉致問題と並行して、直接対話でミサイルなどの挑発行動をやめるよう求め続けるべきである。

There is speculation that North Korea's foreign minister, Ri Su Yong, will attend a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Myanmar next month. The conference may offer a rare opportunity for Japan to communicate with a high-level official of North Korea.
　来月にミャンマーである東南アジア諸国連合の会合には、北朝鮮の李洙ヨン（リスヨン）外相が出席する可能性が取りざたされる。北朝鮮の高いレベルと意思を交わす機会になるかもしれない。

Japan needs to use its official talks with North Korea wisely in its tenacious efforts to make the regime realize that military provocation is not in its best interest.
　日本は政府間協議の継続をてこに、軍事挑発は北朝鮮のためにならないことをねばり強く説く必要がある。

--The Asahi Shimbun, July 29

（社説）再エネと地域 「主権」育てる好機に

EDITORIAL: Renewable energy promotion a good opportunity to nurture local ‘sovereignty’
（社説）再エネと地域　「主権」育てる好機に

A recent survey jointly conducted by The Asahi Shimbun and Hitotsubashi University has found that 80 percent of municipalities throughout the country that responded to the questionnaire are willing to promote renewable energies for regional development.
　朝日新聞と一橋大学が共同で実施したアンケートで、回答した全国の自治体の８割が再生可能エネルギーの推進に意欲的で、地域振興に役立てようとしていることがわかった。

More than three years have passed since the March 2011 accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. During the period, the local governments have been “deepening” their efforts from moves to review power sources to attempts to reconstruct their areas by themselves.
　福島第一原発の事故から３年以上。発電の方法を見直す動きから、地域を自分たちの手で再構築する試みへと深化しつつある様子がうかがえる。

For example, some municipalities are using the revenue earned from the sale of electricity to electric power companies to operate welfare facilities. Others are increasing local employment by setting up companies to maintain power generation facilities. The number of power plants established by collecting funds from citizens and others in their local areas apparently exceeds 500.
　例えば、電力会社に電気を売って得た収益を福祉施設の運営に回したり、発電設備を維持し保守する会社をつくって雇用創出につなげたり。地域で資金を募って設立する市民共同型の発電所も増え、５００を超える勢いだ。

If electricity sales are liberalized in the future, consumers will be able to choose their electric power company or sources of the electricity when they purchase it. To prepare for such a time, some producers in the agricultural, fishery or forestry industries are considering selling electricity directly to consumers in distant areas along with their products.
　いずれ電力が自由化されれば、電力会社や電源を選んで電気を買えるようになる。そんな将来をにらんで、農業や漁業、林業の生産者が遠隔地の消費者とつながり、直売する地場産品の中に、電気も組み込もうという構想も生まれている。

There are also some moves that go beyond conventional economic activities.
　経済活動の枠組みには収まりきらない動きも現れている。

In Minami-Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, which was affected by the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, an organization is operating not only a solar power plant but also a vegetable farm using electricity from the plant. In addition, it is offering learning opportunities to children in those facilities.
　原発被災地となった福島県南相馬市では、太陽光発電所とそこでできた電力を使った植物工場を運営しながら、子どもたちが体験学習できる場がある。

The organization’s representative director, Eiju Hangai, is a former director of Tokyo Electric Power Co., operator of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant. Minami-Soma is his hometown. Reflecting on the nuclear accident, he started the project. His purpose is to nurture people who think and act for themselves through learning of the mechanism of electricity and how to use it.
　代表理事の半谷栄寿さんは地元出身で東京電力の元役員。事故の反省から事業を起こした。目標とするのは電気の仕組みや活用法の学習を通じて「自分で考え行動する」人材を育てることだという。

So far, the development of electricity sources has tended to separate “people who generate electricity” from “those who use it.” In particular, nuclear power has been generated for urban areas where large amounts of electricity are consumed. Places that can serve as good locations to host nuclear power plants have been limited. Therefore, municipalities that can receive benefits from those plants have also been limited.
　これまでの電源開発は「つくる人」と「使う人」が分かれがちだった。とりわけ原発は、大量に電力を消費する都会向けにつくられてきた。立地条件も限られ、恩恵を受ける「地元」も一部にとどまった。

As for regional development, local governments have so far asked big companies to set up factories in their areas or implemented public works projects with subsidies. One of the typical cases was to ask for construction of nuclear power plants.
　地域振興にしても、これまでは大企業を誘致したり補助金でハコモノをつくったりという他力本願型。その面でも原発誘致は典型だった。

Renewable energies have a technical problem from the standpoint of a stable electricity supply. The feed-in-tariff system, in which electric power companies have to buy electricity from renewable energy producers at fixed prices, also has a defect because consumers have to pay higher electricity rates unless costs to develop electricity sources decline.
　確かに、安定的な電力供給という面では、再生可能エネルギーに技術的な課題は残る。固定価格での買い取り制度も、電源の開発費用が下がらないと料金負担が大きくなる欠点がある。

In spite of that, renewable energies that can be obtained easily in local areas will become catalysts to nurture “sovereignty” in those areas by changing the traditional way of thinking.
　それでも、地域に普通にある資源をいかす再生可能エネルギーは、従来の発想を転換させて、地域に「主権」を育むきっかけになる。

If municipalities promote renewable energy projects, they will face various problems and differences of opinions among residents. How will they overcome those difficulties and obtain understanding from them? It will be testing sites for “small democracies.”
　自分たちで事業を進めれば難題や意見の相違にもぶつかる。どう乗り越え、いかに納得するか。小さな民主主義の実践が積み重なる。

A growing number of people are thinking about energies from the context of their areas and lives. We want to support such a move.
　自分たちの町や生活と関連づけてエネルギーをとらえる機運を歓迎したい。

--The Asahi Shimbun, July 27

ガザ流血拡大 本格停戦への道筋を探りたい

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Concessions needed on both sides to secure durable Gaza ceasefire
ガザ流血拡大　本格停戦への道筋を探りたい

The United States, European countries and the United Nations should act in concert with Middle East nations capable of exercising influence over the warring parties to bring about a long-lasting cessation to ongoing hostilities.
　米国や欧州、国連は、紛争当事者に影響力を持つ中東諸国と連携し、本格的な停戦への道筋をつけてもらいたい。

The shedding of blood has been escalating in the conflict between Hamas, the militant Islamic group that dominates the Gaza Strip, which is part of the Palestine autonomous territories, and Israel. Although both sides temporarily reached a brief ceasefire in the fighting, there are no immediate prospects at all for an end to the conflict.
　パレスチナ自治区ガザを実効支配するイスラム主義組織ハマスとイスラエルの軍事衝突で流血が拡大している。両者は一時的には停戦したが、事態が収拾する見通しは立っていない。

In addition to air strikes, Israeli troops have launched a ground offensive in Gaza. This operation is aimed at finding and destroying Hamas’ large number of underground tunnels crisscrossing the Gaza border. This is because the tunnel network has been exploited for firing rockets and across-the-border assaults by Hamas militants against Israel.
　イスラエル軍は、空爆に加えてガザへの地上侵攻に踏み切った。ガザに張り巡らされた多数の地下トンネルの全面的な破壊を目標としている。トンネル網が、イスラエルへのロケット弾の発射や越境攻撃に利用されているためだ。

As many tunnels have been constructed beneath residential and other civilian facilities, a large number of civilians have been killed. This is a matter of grave concern. The number of people who have been killed on both sides since Israel began its offensive on July 8 has reportedly passed 1,000.
　トンネルは、住宅や民間施設の地下にもあるため、多くの民間人の犠牲者を生んでいる。ゆゆしき事態である。双方の死者は計１０００人を超えたという。

The United Nations has strongly condemned the Israeli offensive in which hospitals, schools and evacuation facilities have been attacked, as well as the despicable means Hamas has of employing civilians as human shields in the conflict, as both possibly “amounting to war crimes.”
　国連は、病院や学校、退避施設も対象とするイスラエル軍の攻撃と、民間人を「人間の盾」に使うハマスの卑劣な手段を「戦争犯罪となり得る」と強く非難した。

Israel, which has a firepower overwhelmingly superior to that of Hamas, justifies its offensive as “exercising our right of self-defense.” This is hardly reasonable. At the very least, Israel must avoid attacking civilian facilities. Hamas, for its part, must promptly stop responses that treat human life lightly.
　火力で圧倒的に勝るイスラエルが自国の攻撃を「自衛権の行使」などと正当化する説明には、無理がある。少なくとも、民間施設に対する攻撃は回避すべきだ。ハマスも、人命を軽んじる対応を早急にやめる必要がある。

More efforts essential

Such figures as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon have continued to mediate the situation. On top of their efforts, cooperation not only from the two Arab countries with diplomatic relations with Israel—Egypt and Jordan—but also from countries with influence over Hamas, such as Qatar and Turkey, is indispensable for resolving the crisis.
　ケリー米国務長官や国連の潘基文事務総長が、仲介外交を続けている。イスラエルと国交のあるエジプトやヨルダンに加え、ハマスに影響力を持つカタールやトルコなどの協力が欠かせない。

With many regions in the Middle East being thrown into turmoil because of the civil wars in Syria and Iraq, countries in the environs of Israel and the Gaza Strip have been unable to unite in halting the Gaza conflict. The influence of Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah-Sissi, who has regarded Hamas with hostility for years, is considered limited.
　シリアやイラクの内戦などで中東各地が混乱する中、周辺の関係国が結束できずにいる。ハマスを長年敵視してきたエジプトのシシ大統領の影響力も限定的だ。

Prior to the latest 12-hour humanitarian truce, Kerry came out with a proposal for a seven-day lull in fighting so consultations could be held to realize a full-fledged accord on a prolonged ceasefire.
　ケリー長官は、戦闘を１週間停止し、その間に本格停戦に向けた協議を行うとの案を提示した。

Both Israel and Hamas turned down the proposal, but the United States and other countries concerned should persevere. They should tenaciously consider ways to work out a plan acceptable to both Israel and Hamas.
　イスラエルとハマスは提案を拒否したが、米欧や関係国はあきらめず、双方が受け入れ可能な案を粘り強く探ってほしい。

To put a full-scale truce in place, concessions on both sides are essential, with a guarantee of Israel’s security on one hand and steps to help rebuild Gaza, a chronically impoverished region because of a seven-year-long economic blockade by Israel, on the other. The impasse can never be resolved by military power alone.
　本格停戦には、イスラエルに対する安全の保証や、７年に及ぶ経済封鎖で慢性的な困窮状態に置かれたガザの再建に向けた、双方の歩み寄りが欠かせない。軍事力だけでは問題は解決しない。

The fact that Israel and Hamas reached an accord on the truce from a humanitarian viewpoint is praiseworthy, even though it is only for 12 hours. The pause in fighting makes it possible for Gaza residents, including those who have been wounded, to evacuate to safer areas and stock up on such supplies as food and medicine.
　イスラエルとハマスが、１２時間の時限的措置とはいえ、人道的観点から戦闘を中断したことは評価できる。これにより、負傷者を含むガザ住民の避難や、食料や医薬品などの搬入が可能になった。

Although there is little room for optimism over what lies ahead, the mutual concessions Israel and Hamas demonstrated this time should be made the first step toward a breakthrough for resolving the Gaza crisis.
　停戦工作の前途は楽観できないが、今回の歩み寄りを問題解決への一歩としなければならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 27, 2014)

朴・舛添会談 国民の心を遠ざけたのは誰か

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Who caused alienation in hearts of Japanese, South Korean people?
朴・舛添会談　国民の心を遠ざけたのは誰か

It was regrettable to see South Korean President Park Geun-hye continue her anti-Japan position of unilaterally criticizing this nation when she met Tokyo Gov.
　歴史問題で一方的に日本を非難する反日姿勢に変化がなかったことは、残念である。

Yoichi Masuzoe for talks in Seoul on Friday.
　韓国の朴槿恵大統領がソウルで、東京都の舛添要一知事と会談した。

Park stressed that the deterioration in Japan-South Korean relations stemmed from the “words and acts of some politicians,” and added that it was necessary for the two nations to share a correct perception of history if they want their relationship to develop. These comments are a repetition of her pet opinion critical of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s historical perception.
　朴氏は、日韓関係の悪化について「一部政治家の言動」が原因だと強調した。関係発展には「正しい歴史認識」の共有が必要だとも語った。安倍首相の歴史観を批判する持論を繰り返したものだ。

Park also indicated that she would put top priority on solving the issue of so-called comfort women, which she said was “a matter related to universal human rights.”
　朴氏は、いわゆる従軍慰安婦問題について「普遍的な人権に関する問題だ」と述べ、その解決を最優先する考えも示した。

Ahead of Masuzoe’s talks with Park, Abe asked him to convey a message to the president. The message said, “The door for dialogue is always open,” indicating his desire to hold a bilateral summit meeting. Park’s comments, however, can be taken to show her continued determination to make the settlement of the comfort women issue and other issues a precondition for meeting with Abe.
　今回の会談に先立ち、安倍首相は「対話のドアは常に開いている」と日韓首脳会談を望むメッセージを舛添氏に託していた。だが、朴氏の発言は、慰安婦問題の解決などを首脳会談の前提条件とし続けたものと受け止められよう。

Park did hail an exchange project under consideration between Tokyo and Seoul and supported a plan for parties concerned to cooperate in hosting the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
　朴氏は、東京・ソウルの自治体交流構想を評価し、東京と平昌の日韓双方の五輪開催に向けて関係者が協力することも支持した。

But such exchanges will inevitably be limited under this abnormal situation, in which Park has been refusing to meet Abe ever since she was inaugurated nearly 1½ years ago.
　しかし、朴氏が就任後、１年半近くも首脳会談を拒否している異常な状況下では、こうした交流にも限界があるだろう。

Park part of the problem

“It’s regrettable that a difficult political situation seems to be alienating [Japanese and South Korean] people’s hearts from each other,” Park said during her talk with Masuzoe. We found it odd for her to speak as if she were not a party to this problem.
　朴氏が会談で、「政治的に困難な状況になり、（日韓の）国民の心まで遠くなっていくようで残念に思う」と人ごとのように語ったことには違和感を覚える。

Her backbiting diplomacy of criticizing Japan in front of foreign dignitaries has provoked ire in Japan. What does she think about her own responsibility for this?
　他国要人の前で日本を批判する朴氏の「告げ口外交」は、日本で強い反発を招いている。自らの責任をどう考えているのか。

After the March summit meeting among Japan, the United States and South Korea, which was mediated by U.S. President Barack Obama, Tokyo and Seoul started talks by foreign affairs officials at the director general level.
　オバマ米大統領の仲介による３月の日米韓首脳会談を受けて、日韓の局長級協議が始まった。

The South Korean officials are seeking concessions from their Japanese counterparts over the comfort women issue, while the Japanese side took up the issue of lawsuits filed by South Koreans conscripted to work in factories in Japan during World War II. No progress has been made in their talks.
　韓国側は、慰安婦問題で日本の譲歩を求め、日本側は、韓国人元徴用工の訴訟問題などを取り上げたが、議論は進んでいない。

Early this month, a Seoul hotel abruptly refused to provide a venue for an event commemorating the inauguration of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, in response to a flood of protests it received after an influential South Korean newspaper blasted the event.
　今月上旬には、ソウルのホテルが突然、自衛隊創設記念行事の開催を拒否する事態が起きた。韓国有力紙が行事を批判したのがきっかけで、ホテルに抗議が殺到したためだという。

This was a result of Park spreading anti-Japanese sentiment throughout South Korean society.
　朴氏が韓国社会に反日ムードを蔓延まんえんさせた結果だろう。

What should not be overlooked is her stance of joining forces with China’s leadership over historical issues. During her talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Park and Xi jointly expressed alarm over recent progress in Japan-North Korean talks.
　看過できないのは、朴氏が歴史問題などで、中国との共闘姿勢を見せていることだ。習近平国家主席との会談では、最近の日本と北朝鮮の協議進展を警戒する点でも、足並みをそろえた。

In addition to North Korean issues, there are many issues that require cooperation between Japan and South Korea, including the conclusion of a bilateral economic partnership agreement and the implementation of measures to deal with air pollution from China. We wonder if Park believes no efforts are necessary to break the impasse over bilateral relations.
　日韓が連携すべき課題は、対北朝鮮政策のほか、日韓自由貿易協定、中国からの大気汚染対策など、数多い。朴氏はこのまま、日韓関係停滞の打開策を探らなくてもいいと考えているのだろうか。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 26, 2014)

中国期限切れ肉 外資企業にも及んだ背信行為

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Expired meat scandal in China a betrayal of Japan’s safety efforts
中国期限切れ肉　外資企業にも及んだ背信行為

Yet again, a problem that greatly damages the trustworthiness of Chinese-made food products has been exposed. This is a matter of enormous concern.
　中国製食品の信頼性を著しく損なう事件が、またも起こった。ゆゆしき事態である。

Shanghai Husi Food Co., a Shanghai-based subsidiary of a major U.S. food processing company, was revealed to have shipped meat products that had passed their expiration dates.
　中国・上海にある米食品加工大手の子会社「上海福喜食品」が、品質保持期限を過ぎた肉製品を出荷していたことが発覚した。

As a result, McDonald’s Co. (Japan) and leading convenience store chain FamilyMart Co., both of which had imported chicken meat from Husi Food, have been forced to suspend sales of some of their products.
　この会社から鶏肉製品を輸入していた日本マクドナルドとファミリーマートが、一部商品の販売中止に追い込まれた。

Chinese police authorities have concluded that the selling of meat past its sell-by date was the result of illegal production led by Husi Food’s management. They detained five people, including the factory’s quality manager. The full scope of the situation must be elucidated promptly.
　中国当局は、上海福喜食品による組織的な違法生産と断定し、工場責任者ら５人を拘束した。実態解明を急いでもらいたい。

According to the Chinese TV reports that revealed the meat shipping irregularities, the Husi Food factory repackaged meat products that had been returned unsold by turning them into ground meat. The chicken meat, which investigators said required frozen storage, was handled in a warehouse at room temperature.
　問題を暴露した中国のテレビ報道によると、工場では、返品された商品をミンチにして再利用していた。冷凍保存が必要な鶏肉は、常温の倉庫に置かれていた。

Regarding the mixing of out-of-date meat into ordinary ground meat, one factory employee was quoted as making the remarkable assertion, “People won’t die from consuming expired foods.” That sentiment is emblematic of the many words and deeds pointing to the total moral failure at food-processing facilities, where the safety of consumers should have been the absolute top priority.
　従業員は、期限切れの肉を混ぜることについて、「食べても死なない」と言い放った。消費者の安全を最優先すべき食品製造現場のモラル崩壊を象徴する言動だ。

In a 2008 incident in China, baby formula was tainted with a toxic chemical, affecting the health of about 300,000 babies and toddlers. There has been a seemingly uninterrupted stream of food-related problems in China, including the revelation last year of the distribution of rice contaminated with cadmium.
　中国では２００８年、粉ミルクに有害物質が混入し、乳幼児約３０万人に健康被害が出た。昨年にはカドミウム汚染米の流通が発覚するなど、問題が後を絶たない。

The tendency to disregard consumers’ health and put profits ahead of all else is likely behind this succession of problems.
　金儲もうけを優先し、消費者の健康を軽視する風潮が背景にあるのは間違いあるまい。

Dependence on China foods

The Chinese public is extremely dissatisfied with this state of affairs, in which the need for safe food receives little scrutiny. The leadership of the Chinese Communist Party administration, eager to ensure the stability of society, may have found it necessary to hurriedly launch law enforcement investigations into the latest food scandal, aiming to demonstrate the government’s intent to clamp down rigorously on such wrongdoing.
　食の安全がおろそかにされている現状に対し、中国国民の不満は強い。社会の安定に腐心する共産党政権は、不正に厳しく対処する姿勢を示すため、素早く強制捜査に乗り出したのだろう。

What cannot be ignored in the Husi Food case is that the illegal production occurred at the factory of a foreign-capitalized company—one generally believed to operate in a relatively safe manner compared to Chinese-run firms.
　看過できないのは、比較的安全とされた外資企業で違法生産が行われていたことである。

A deliberate poisoning incident in 2008, in which an employee at a Chinese food firm laced frozen gyoza dumplings with pesticide, spurred food processing companies affiliated with Japanese food firms and trading houses to redouble their efforts to enforce strong quality control and ensure the maintenance of a high standard of food safety. In recent years, food imports to Japan from China have been steadily growing.
　従業員が殺虫剤を混入させた０８年の中国製冷凍ギョーザ中毒事件を契機に、日系のメーカーや商社は品質管理に一層努め、安全水準を維持してきた。中国からの食品輸入額も回復しつつある。

This incident at Husi Food is an unmistakable betrayal of the work of many on the Japanese side and throws cold water on their food quality crusade.
　今回の事件は、日本側のこうした取り組みに冷や水を浴びせる背信行為と言わざるを得ない。

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has ordered the suspension of food imports from Shanghai Husi Food. Over the past year, Japan’s chicken meat imports from the company totaled 6,000 tons. Thorough probes must be conducted to determine whether the firm had previously shipped expired meat, to help alleviate customers’ anxiety.
　厚生労働省は、上海福喜食品からの輸入を差し止めた。過去１年間に輸入された鶏肉製品は６０００トンに上る。消費者の不安を軽減するため、期限切れのものがなかったか、徹底調査が必要だ。

The continued existence of Japan’s food industries relies on low-priced ingredients produced in China.
　日本の食産業は今や、中国産の安価な食材なしには成り立たない状況にある。

Companies importing Chinese goods must strengthen their inspection and supervision systems, working from the assumption that people should be deemed dishonest by nature when it comes to food processing in China. These companies may have to take such measures as arranging regular factory visits by officials from Japan for safety checks and installing security cameras in factories.
　輸入企業に求められるのは、中国側の生産工程では不正が起こり得るという性悪説に立った監督・検査体制の強化だ。防犯カメラの設置や、現地に出向いての定期的なチェックは欠かせまい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 25, 2014)

撃墜非難決議 国際調査にはまだ障害がある

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Despite UNSC resolution, investigation of MH17 downing still faces obstacles
撃墜非難決議　国際調査にはまだ障害がある

To ensure that the truth behind this tragic incident can be quickly determined, all parties involved in the conflict and other nations that have a stake in the matter, including Russia, should positively cooperate with an international investigation team.
　悲惨な事件の真相を早期に究明するため、ロシアなど関係国と紛争当事者は国際調査団に積極的に協力すべきだ。

The U.N. Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the shooting down of a Malaysian Airlines passenger plane over eastern Ukraine last week.
　ウクライナ東部で発生したマレーシア航空旅客機の撃墜事件について、国連安全保障理事会が、強く非難する決議を全会一致で採択した。

The resolution called on all states to cooperate fully with efforts to ensure that those responsible for this incident will be held to account. It demanded that pro-Russian militant groups that control the area where the plane came down immediately provide international investigators “safe, secure, full and unrestricted access to the site” and “refrain from any actions that may compromise the integrity of the crash site.”
　決議は、事件の責任者を追及するよう国際社会に呼びかけた。現場を支配する親ロシア派武装集団に対しては、「調査団の安全、完全かつ無制限の立ち入り」と「現場の保存」を要求している。

In the days after the airliner was shot down, armed rebels brazenly interfered with investigators’ efforts to examine the crash site and removed bodies of the victims. Some of their actions appeared to constitute tampering with evidence, such as their quick retrieval of the black boxes that contain flight data and records of communications between the flight crew and others.
　武装集団は事件後、調査団の立ち入りや犠牲者の遺体の搬出を公然と妨害した。飛行データや通信内容を記録した「ブラックボックス」をいち早く現場から回収するなど、証拠隠滅と見られる動きもしてきた。

The Security Council’s adoption of a legally binding resolution demanding the correction of these actions is significant.
　国連安保理が、法的拘束力を持つ決議によって、その行動の是正を求めた意味は小さくない。

The militants accepted the resolution and have handed two black boxes to Malaysian authorities. They have also relented on their initial refusal to hand over the victims’ bodies. Although this has come far too late, they are steps in the right direction.
　武装集団は決議を受け、２個のブラックボックスをマレーシア当局に引き渡した。犠牲者の遺体搬出にも応じた。遅きに失した対応だが、一歩前進ではある。

Ukraine and the United States have criticized the Russian military’s involvement in this incident, including its provision of surface-to-air missiles to the pro-Russian militants. Their accusations are backed by evidence, including satellite images of the missile launch and intercepted conversations and communications between the militants after the plane was shot down.
　ウクライナや米国は、親露派に対する地対空ミサイル供与など、ロシア軍の事件への関与を非難してきた。ミサイル発射の衛星画像や、撃墜後の武装集団の会話傍受記録などを根拠としたものだ。

Onus on Moscow

As the main supporter of the rebels, Russia has an important role to play in the investigation.
　武装集団の後ろ盾であるロシアが果たすべき役割は大きい。

Moscow supported the resolution in an apparent bid to avoid becoming internationally isolated at a time when Britain, France and Germany are considering tightening sanctions on Russia as anti-Russia sentiment grows in Europe, where most of the passengers on Flight MH17 came from.
　ロシアが決議に賛成したのは、多くの犠牲者を出した欧州で反露感情が高まり、英独仏が対露制裁強化を検討する中で、国際的な孤立を回避する狙いからだろう。

However, there is no guarantee efforts to unravel the truth will progress smoothly. Russia continues to say one thing while it does another.
　しかし、真相究明が円滑に進む保証はない。ロシアが言行不一致を続けているためだ。

Although Moscow has indicated its willingness to cooperate with the investigation, it still denies involvement in the incident. It has lambasted Ukraine for permitting civilian aircraft to fly through airspace over a conflict zone as “criminal,” and also has been trying to shift the blame for the downing of the Malaysia Airlines plane.
　ロシアは、調査に協力する姿勢を示しながら、事件への関与を否定している。ウクライナが戦闘地域上空での民間機航行を認めていたことを「犯罪的だ」などと批判し、責任転嫁も図っている。

We think Russian President Vladimir Putin has a responsibility to exercise the influence he wields over the armed groups and supply whatever information he possesses to ensure the international investigation team can get to the bottom of what really happened.
　プーチン露大統領には、国際調査団による真相究明が前進するよう、自らが保有する情報を提供するとともに、武装集団への影響力を行使する責任がある。

The investigation will clarify whether the claims made by Washington and Moscow have reason on their side. The International Civil Aviation Organization and nations caught up in this incident must ensure that a fair, transparent investigation can be conducted.
　米露どちらの主張に理があるかは、調査が明らかにするだろう。関係国や国際民間航空機関（ＩＣＡＯ）は、公平かつ透明な形で調査を進めなければならない。

The Security Council resolution also demanded that all military activities immediately cease in the area surrounding the crash site. Using this opportunity, the Ukrainian military and the pro-Russian armed groups should refrain from hostilities and work toward an immediate ceasefire.
　安保理決議は、現場周辺での軍事活動の停止も訴えた。これを機に、ウクライナ軍と親露派武装集団は戦闘行動を自制し、早期停戦に動くことが求められる。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 23, 2014)

ＢＲＩＣＳ開銀 欧米主導への対抗軸となるか

note:
Q:
What are the Bretton Woods Institutions?
A:
The Bretton Woods Institutions are the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). They were set up at a meeting of 43 countries in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA in July 1944.
(srachai)

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Can BRICS bank be counterweight to current intl financial order?
ＢＲＩＣＳ開銀　欧米主導への対抗軸となるか

A recent announcement by the BRICS countries, which have grown in economic stature, can be considered a demonstration of a stance that rivals the international financial order led by the United States and European countries.
　経済力を増した新興国が、欧米主導の国際金融秩序に対抗姿勢を示したと言えよう。

The BRICS emerging economies—Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa—decided at a recent group summit to create a new development bank.
　ブラジル、ロシア、インド、中国、南アフリカの新興５か国（ＢＲＩＣＳ）首脳会議は、「新開発銀行」を創設することを決定した。

The new bank is intended to fund infrastructure projects in emerging economies and developing countries, with each of the five countries contributing $10 billion. The bank will be headquartered in Shanghai, and its first president will be from India.
　新興国や途上国による社会基盤（インフラ）整備などを支援するのが目的で、５か国が１００億ドルずつ出資する。中国の上海に本部を置き、初代総裁はインドの出身者が務めることになった。

In addition to the planned development bank, the BRICS countries have also agreed to create a joint foreign reserve fund of $100 billion. The fund will assist these countries, by providing a well of foreign currency at the time of a future financial crisis.
　新開銀とは別に、金融危機の際に外貨融通などの支援を行えるようにするため、１０００億ドルを共同で積み立てる外貨準備基金を設けることでも合意した。

With their growing presence, the attempt by these economies to take on important roles in assisting developing countries and maintaining the international financial order warrants recognition.
　存在感を増す新興国が、途上国支援や国際金融秩序の維持に一定の役割を果たそうとしていることは評価できる。

Behind the creation of the new development bank lies a strong sense of discontent among emerging and developing countries over the current U.S.- and Europe-led international financial order.
　新開銀設立の背景には、欧米の主導する現在の国際金融秩序に、新興・途上国が強い不満を持っているという事情がある。

The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have long contributed to the world’s economic system, such as by assisting developing countries and working to check financial crises.
　国際通貨基金（ＩＭＦ）や世界銀行は長年、途上国の支援や危機回避に貢献してきた。

Yet in crucial times, such as Asia’s currency crisis in the 1990s, the two institutions imposed fiscal austerity and other strict conditions on developing countries, which led these countries to feel strongly dissatisfied over the institutions’ lack of consideration for their particular circumstances.
　しかし、１９９０年代のアジア通貨危機などの際に緊縮財政など厳しい条件を課したことから、途上国では各国の事情への配慮が足りないとする批判が根強い。

Lack of weight

The BRICS powers have grown to account for about 20 percent of the global economy, and for around 40 percent of the world’s population. Yet their combined contributions to the IMF, which reflect the force of their voices in the institution, constitute only 11 percent of the IMF’s total funding. The BRICS have also expressed opposition to the lack of weight they carry in the IMF.
　ＢＲＩＣＳは経済規模で世界の約２割、人口で約４割を占めるまでに成長したが、ＩＭＦでの発言力を示す出資比率は、ＢＲＩＣＳ全体で１１％にとどまる。これにも新興国は反発している。

The IMF has compiled a reform plan to raise the contribution ratio of the BRICS to 14 percent, but, due to opposition from the United States and other countries, this plan has yet to be realized.
　ＩＭＦは比率を１４％に引き上げる改革案をまとめたが、米国などの反対で実現していない。

It is necessary to promote IMF reform from the viewpoint of allowing the emerging economies to assume responsibility proportional to their economic might.
　新興国に応分の責任を果たしてもらうためにも、ＩＭＦ改革を進展させる必要がある。

It remains to be seen whether these two new multilateral institutions can function as the Bretton Woods institutions have been doing.
　ただ、新開銀などがＩＭＦ体制のような機能を発揮できるかどうかは未知数だ。

The BRICS countries have not specified when these institutions will be established, and uncertainty remains over the concrete frameworks through which they will extend financial assistance.
　設立時期さえ明示されず、金融支援などの具体的な枠組みも、あいまいである。

It would be troublesome if the new development bank were to attach importance solely to expanding the natural resource interests or corporate profits of contributing countries, and to extend financial assistance without careful consideration.
　新開銀が出資国の資源権益や企業利益の拡大ばかり重視し、安易に支援するようでは困る。

There is also a likelihood that lax screening on loans and investments by the bank could lead to a massive increase of irrecoverable loans and investments, which would upset the international financial system.
甘い審査が原因で巨額の投融資が焦げ付き、国際金融システムを混乱させることにもなりかねない。

No assistance should be extended to countries beset with records of suppressing human rights and overdevelopment of natural resources. Highly transparent management is a must for the new bank.
　人権弾圧や乱開発など問題の多い国への援助も避けるべきだ。透明性の高い運営が求められる。

The BRICS countries are by no means a monolithic group.
The territory dispute between China and India is just one example of their differences.
　中国とインドが領土問題を抱えるなど、ＢＲＩＣＳ諸国は一枚岩ではない。

It is also questionable whether the members can deal with financial crises and other problems through close cooperation.
金融危機などの緊急事態に、緊密に連携して対処できるかどうかも疑問である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 22, 2014)

大陸棚延長 戦略的に海洋資源を開発せよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Tap Japan’s extended continental shelf for strategic development of resources
大陸棚延長　戦略的に海洋資源を開発せよ

A move has been taken that is highly important for further consolidating Japan’s status as a maritime nation.
　海洋立国としての立場を一段と強固にするうえで、重要な前進だ。

The government has decided to lay down an ordinance to designate two sea areas, including the area north of the island of Okinotorishima, which constitutes the southern extremity of the country, as part of the nation’s continental shelf. The ordinance will cover further two areas, such as that in the vicinity of the Ogasawara Islands, after consulting with the United States on the matter.
　政府は、日本最南端・沖ノ鳥島の北方など２か所の海域を、日本の大陸棚として政令で定めることを決めた。小笠原諸島周辺など２か所も米国と調整したうえで、政令に規定する予定だ。

The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea stipulates that each coastal state has sovereign rights over an area 200 nautical miles from the coastline as its continental shelf for exploring and developing resources, such as those on the seabed, and for other purposes. It is possible for a state under the convention to expand the limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles if and when it can prove that the extended continental shelf can be construed as having formed naturally.
　国連海洋法条約は、沿岸から２００カイリまでを大陸棚とし、海底の資源開発などに関する沿岸国の主権的な権利を認めている。自然な地続きであると証明できれば、２００カイリを超えて延長できる。

The government’s plans for designating the continental shelf this time are in the wake of the acknowledgement in April 2012 by the U.N. Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) that the expansion of the limits of the nation’s continental shelf should be recognized as valid.
　政府が今回制定する大陸棚は、一昨年４月に国連の大陸棚限界委員会から延長を認められた。

The total area to be covered by the expansion of the nation’s continental shelf will stand at an estimated 310,000 square kilometers, equivalent to about 80 percent of the nation’s entire land area. It is said precious resources exist on the continental shelf including methane hydrate, which contains natural gas. The expansion of the oceanic interests of Japan, a country poor in natural resources, is definitely of high significance.
　総面積は計３１万平方キロ・メートルに及び、日本の国土の約８割にも相当する。大陸棚には、天然ガスを含有するメタンハイドレートなどの貴重な資源が存在するとされる。資源の乏しい日本が、海洋権益を広げる意義は大きい。

Commenting on the continental shelf expansion, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has stressed, “It is possible that the resources from the expanded sea areas will have a great impact on the future of Japan.” It is also important from the viewpoint of ensuring this country’s energy security.
　安倍首相は「広い海からもたらされる資源は、日本の未来を切り開く可能性を秘めている」と強調している。エネルギー安全保障の観点でも重要である。

Objections from China, ROK

Resource developmental projects on the seabed, however, are extremely expensive and many technological challenges exist. Long-term plans should be formulated at the initiative of the government.
　ただ、海底での資源開発は、巨額の費用を要し、技術的な課題も多い。政府主導による長期的な取り組みが必要である。

The CLCS, meanwhile, has been postponing judgment of Japan’s application seeking the U.N. body’s acknowledgement of the nation’s expansion of the continental shelf of the Southern Kyushu-Palau Ridge Region located to the south of Okinotorishima. This is because China and South Korea have opposed Japan’s submission of the application, claiming that Okinotorishima should not be deemed an island but “rocks,” meaning that it should not be considered a base point for determining the limits of Japan’s continental shelf.
　一方、大陸棚限界委員会は、沖ノ鳥島の南方にある「九州パラオ海嶺南部海域」の大陸棚延長申請について結論を先送りしている。中国と韓国が「沖ノ鳥島は『島』でなく『岩』で、大陸棚の基点にならない」と反対したためだ。

Under the circumstances, the government should appeal to the international community to support the legitimacy of Japan’s assertion about the continental shelf expansion.
　政府は国際社会に、日本の主張の正当性を訴えていくべきだ。

Around Okinotorishima is a vast exclusive economic zone, providing Japan with a wealth of marine products and seabed resources. The government should forge ahead with the task of preserving the island by pushing ahead with such projects as port and harbor construction.
　沖ノ鳥島の周囲には、広大な排他的経済水域（ＥＥＺ）が広がり、水産・海底資源を日本にもたらしている。政府は、港湾施設の整備などを進め、島を確実に保全することが肝要である。

China’s heavy-handed maritime advances are not limited to the East China and South China seas, but have been spreading to the western Pacific region. It has been pointed out that there is a possibility Beijing, on the strength of extending support for construction projects of ports and harbors to island states in the region, might build naval bases there in the future. Through these moves, China most likely has taken into account the U.S. military base on Guam.
　中国の強引な海洋進出は、東・南シナ海にとどまらず、西太平洋に及ぶ。島嶼（とうしょ）国の港湾整備を支援し、将来、中国海軍の拠点とする可能性も指摘される。グアムの米軍基地をにらんだ動きである。

Beefing up Japan’s efforts to ensure adequate oceanic administration in the seas in the environs of Okinotorishima, as well as such islands as Minami-Torishima and the Ogasawara Islands, will certainly have strategic significance on holding China’s moves in check.
　日本が沖ノ鳥島や南鳥島、小笠原諸島の周辺海域で適切な海洋管理に努めることが、中国に対する戦略的なけん制効果を持とう。

In April last year, the government laid down the Basic Plan on Ocean Policy that is intended to serve as the basis of maritime measures for a period of five years. The plan sets key policy goals, including development of maritime resources, preservation and administration of remote islands, and technological development projects for oceanic, renewable energy sources.
　政府は昨年４月、５年間の海洋政策の基本方針となる「海洋基本計画」を定めた。海洋資源開発や離島の保全・管理、海洋での再生可能エネルギーの技術開発などを重点的に推進する内容だ。

By working closely with the private sector, the government should address these objectives from a broad range of perspectives.
　民間とも緊密に連携し、多角的に取り組むべきである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 21, 2014)

南シナ海情勢 掘削を中止させた対中包囲網

The Yomiuri Shimbun
International pressure forced China to stop oil drilling in South China Sea
南シナ海情勢　掘削を中止させた対中包囲網

In the face of fierce criticism from the international community, China perhaps had no choice but to suspend its attempt to “change the status quo by force” when it ended its operations to drill for oil near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea.
　強い国際的な批判を受けて、「力による現状変更」を中断せざるを得なかったのだろう。
　中国が、南シナ海・パラセル（西沙）諸島付近での石油掘削作業を終了した。

The operations were originally scheduled to continue through mid-August but ended earlier because “work proceeded smoothly,” according to China’s explanation. Undoubtedly, however, China bowed to the international pressures and curtailed the operations.
　作業は当初、８月中旬までとされていた。中国は「作業が順調に終わった」と説明するが、実際は、対中包囲網が作業短縮の要因だったのは間違いあるまい。

In early May, China unilaterally started drilling for oil in a sea zone also claimed by Vietnam, which strongly urged it to halt its operations. Chinese and Vietnamese vessels rammed into one another repeatedly, sinking a Vietnamese boat in one instance and escalating the tension to a dangerous level.
　中国がベトナムとの係争海域で一方的に掘削を始めたのは５月初旬だ。ベトナムは強く中止を求めた。中越双方の船が衝突を繰り返し、ベトナム船が沈没するなど、一時は危険な状態に陥った。

Large-scale anti-China demonstrations erupted in Vietnam one after another, while its government waged an international campaign denouncing China for its unjustness. Perhaps China had not expected that Vietnam—increasingly becoming economically dependent on China—would put up such fierce resistance.
　ベトナムは、中国の不当性を国際社会に訴え、大規模な反中デモも続発した。中国は、経済面で対中依存を強めるベトナムの抵抗が、これほど激しいとは予測していなかったのではないか。

Exposing a greater miscalculation by China was the fact that Japan, the United States and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations swiftly rallied behind Vietnam to strengthen their cooperation to counter China.
　更に大きな誤算は、日米両国や、東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）などによる対中連携が一気に強まったことだろう。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe criticized China for its self-righteousness at international conferences and on other occasions by repeatedly underscoring the importance of the rule of law in light of China’s territorial claims, which have no grounds in international law. His assertions were widely accepted in the international community.
　安倍首相は国際会議などで、中国の独善的な行動を批判した。領有権を巡る中国の主張に国際法上の根拠がないことを念頭に、「法の支配」の重要性を繰り返し強調し、幅広い賛同を得た。

Stronger Japan-U.S. ties backed

Strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance through the approval of the exercise of the right of collective self-defense has won the support of many countries concerned.
　集団的自衛権の行使容認を通じた日米同盟の強化も、関係国の支持を集めている。

With its policy of focusing on Asia, the United States made it clear it is willing to actively engage in South China Sea issues. At a time when Beijing is trying to exclude the United States from building an Asian security order, it is significant that the United States is squarely challenging such Chinese endeavors.
　「アジア重視」政策を掲げる米国も、南シナ海問題に積極的に関与する姿勢を明確にした。中国がアジアの安保秩序から米国の排除をうかがう中、その意図を正面から否定する意義は大きい。

At their foreign ministerial talks in May, ASEAN members—whose stances toward China usually differ—took the concerted action of expressing “serious concerns” about the dangerous situation in the South China Sea.
　普段は対中姿勢がばらつくＡＳＥＡＮ各国も外相会議で、南シナ海の危険な状況に「深刻な懸念」を表明し、共同歩調を取った。

China’s isolation could not have been any clearer.
　中国の孤立は明らかだった。

A series of international meetings awaits China. The ASEAN Regional Forum, which will be joined by Japan, the United States and China, will be held early next month, while China will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit meeting in Beijing in November.
　来月上旬には、日米中も参加するＡＳＥＡＮ地域フォーラム（ＡＲＦ）が開かれる。１１月には、中国が北京でアジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）首脳会議を主宰する予定だ。

China apparently wants to avoid being the target of criticism in these forums. Some observers predict that the country will exercise self-restraint for the time being.
　中国には、こうした場で対中批判が集中する事態を避けたい思惑があろう。当面は、抑制的な行動を取るとの見方も出ている。

Even so, China will surely not change its strategy of expanding its territories and maritime interests in the South and East China seas.
　しかし、南・東シナ海で自らの領土や海洋権益の拡大を図る中国の海洋進出戦略は変わるまい。

Japan and the United States must brace themselves for a prolonged, hegemonic campaign by China.
　日米両国は、中国の覇権的な行動は長期化すると覚悟すべきだ。

It is notable, however, that accumulated efforts by the international community have borne some fruit this time around. Factoring this experience in, the nations concerned should try to persuade China to constructively participate in an initiative to build a new Asian order.
今回、国際的な連携の積み重ねが一定の成果を上げた。この経験を踏まえつつ、新たなアジア秩序作りに、中国を建設的な形で参加させていくことが求められよう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 20, 2014)

ウクライナ撃墜 真相究明の国際調査が急務だ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
International investigation critical to discovering truth in MH17 tragedy
ウクライナ撃墜　真相究明の国際調査が急務だ

Innocent civilians have been caught up in a terrible tragedy in conflict-torn Ukraine.
　紛争の続くウクライナで、無辜むこの民間人を巻き込む大惨事が起きた。

The international community must stand united and quickly get to the bottom of what happened.
　国際社会が連携し、真相の究明を急がなければならない。

In eastern Ukraine, an area effectively controlled by pro-Russian militants, a Malaysian Airlines jet that was flying at an altitude of 10,000 meters crashed on Thursday. All 298 passengers and crew aboard the plane died.
　親ロシア派の武装集団が実効支配するウクライナ東部で、１万メートルの上空を飛んでいたマレーシア航空機が墜落し、乗客・乗員２９８人全員が死亡した。

Ukrainian authorities have determined that the pro-Russian insurgents launched a Soviet surface-to-air missile, and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has condemned the incident as “an act of terrorism.” There are reportedly records of communications between the separatists and a Russian officer, which has fueled suspicions of Russian military involvement.
　ウクライナ当局は、親露派武装集団が旧ソ連製の地対空ミサイルを発射したと断定し、ポロシェンコ大統領は「テロリストが撃墜した」と糾弾した。武装集団が露将校に連絡した形跡もあり、ロシア軍の関与が疑われるという。

The insurgents and the Ukrainian military have frequently clashed in the region where the civilian airliner crashed. A Ukrainian military transport plane and a fighter jet also were shot down in the area recently. Observers have suggested that the militants possibly launched the missile after mistaking Flight MH17 for a Ukrainian military aircraft.
　この地域では、武装集団とウクライナ軍が日常的に衝突を繰り返している。最近はウクライナ軍の輸送機や戦闘機などが相次いで撃墜されていた。武装集団が旅客機をウクライナ軍機と見誤って攻撃した可能性も指摘される。

The rebels have claimed that Kiev’s armed forces shot down the airliner. However, the United States found the missile was fired from an area under rebel control. The United States detected the missile tracking toward the plane based on its satellite data and other information, and analyzed where it was launched from.
　武装集団は「ウクライナ軍による撃墜だ」と主張している。だが、米国が人工衛星の情報などで、旅客機を追尾するミサイルをとらえ、発射地点を解析したところ、武装集団の支配地域から放たれたミサイルだったという。

Poroshenko has decided to set up a commission to investigate the incident. Experts from Malaysia and the International Civil Aviation Organization will participate in the commission, and the United States has indicated it plans to cooperate.
　ポロシェンコ大統領は、調査委員会の設置を決めた。国際民間航空機関（ＩＣＡＯ）やマレーシアの専門家も参加し、米国も協力する方針を示している。

Probe needs full support

Collection and analysis of fragments of the missile and the black boxes that recorded flight data of the airliner will provide major clues for determining the truth behind the attack.
　ミサイルの破片や、旅客機の飛行データを記録した「ブラックボックス」の回収・分析が、解明の大きな手がかりとなる。

U.S. President Barack Obama has urged Poroshenko to safeguard all the evidence at the crash site. This is an appropriate response, given the need to prevent interference with the investigation and destruction of the evidence.
　オバマ米大統領は、ポロシェンコ大統領に、現場での証拠をすべて保全するよう促した。証拠隠滅や調査妨害を防ぐうえで適切な対応と言えよう。

It is essential that the investigation team and its experts are given access to the crash site area and are allowed to conduct their examination properly. The militants should heed calls for a ceasefire and guarantee the safety of the investigators.
　専門家を含む調査団が、墜落現場周辺に立ち入って、十分な活動を行えるようにすることが欠かせない。武装集団は停戦に応じ、調査団の安全を保証するべきだ。

The U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting and issued a statement calling for an “international investigation.” It is important that this investigation be transparent and independent. Nations affected by this incident, not least Russia, also will need to provide full cooperation to the investigation.
　国連安全保障理事会は緊急会合を開き、国際機関による調査を求める声明を発表した。独立性と透明性を確保することが重要だ。ロシアをはじめ関係国も、調査への全面的な協力が求められる。

Political maneuvering is intensifying among nations affected by the crash. The United States and the European Union had only just tightened sanctions on Russia over its violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
　関係国の駆け引きも激化している。米国と欧州連合（ＥＵ）は、ロシアがウクライナの主権を侵害しているとして、対露制裁を強化したばかりだ。

Shortly before the airliner crashed, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida met with Poroshenko and other officials, and pledged to continue Japan’s assistance to Ukraine. We hope Japan will cooperate to ensure the stability of Ukraine and help establish conditions that will ensure there is no repeat of the Flight MH17 tragedy.
　岸田外相は墜落の直前、ポロシェンコ大統領らと会談し、ウクライナ支援の継続を表明した。日本もウクライナの安定化に協力し、こうした悲劇を繰り返さないための環境作りに関与したい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 19, 2014)

沖縄「密約」判決 文書管理と原則公開の徹底を

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Top court ruling must not impede information disclosure requests
沖縄「密約」判決　文書管理と原則公開の徹底を

Documents on a secret agreement may have existed, but that does not mean they were kept by the Foreign Ministry—this was the opinion expressed by the Supreme Court in a recent ruling regarding the disclosure of documents on a secret Japan-U.S. accord.
　「密約」文書が作成されたとしても、外務省が保有していたとは認められない――。最高裁はそう指摘した。

Former Mainichi Shimbun reporter Takichi Nishiyama and other plaintiffs have demanded the court order the government to disclose documents confirming the existence of a secret accord tied to the 1972 reversion of Okinawa Prefecture to Japan from U.S. control.
　沖縄返還に伴う日米間の密約を示す文書の開示を、元毎日新聞記者の西山太吉氏らが求めた訴訟の判決だ。

On Monday, the top court upheld a high court ruling which concluded that it was legitimate for the government to turn down an information disclosure request for the documents on the grounds that such documents “do not exist.”
最高裁は、「文書の不存在」を理由に開示しなかった国の決定を適法とした２審判決を支持した。

Despite the ruling, the high court acknowledged that the secret agreement did exist between Tokyo and Washington, and referred to the possibility that the documents were secretly destroyed by the Foreign Ministry or other parties.
　２審判決は、文書の存在を認めた上で、外務省などが秘密裏に文書を廃棄した可能性に言及した。

But Monday’s ruling did not go that far, and we believe the top court was duly careful to avoid making assumptions.
最高裁判決はそこまでは踏み込まなかった。推測を交えず、慎重に判断したと言えよう。

The papers in question include one showing that Japan, during the negotiation process with the United States for the 1972 reversion, has agreed to pay $4 million for the restoration of land occupied by the U.S. military.
　問題となったのは、１９７２年の沖縄返還に至る日米交渉の過程で、米軍用地の原状回復費４００万ドルを日本側が肩代わりすることなどを申し合わせた文書だ。

Nishiyama obtained a copy of the relevant documents from a Foreign Ministry official. Based on the copy, an opposition party lawmaker questioned the government in the Diet.
　西山氏が関連文書の写しを外務省職員から入手し、野党議員がそれを基に国会で追及した。

Nishiyama was later convicted for violating the National Civil Service Law.
西山氏は国家公務員法違反で有罪となった。

These series of events are now known as the “Nishiyama incident.”
「西山事件」である。

The government denied the existence of the secret accord when suspicions were raised.
　日本政府は当時、密約を否定した。

The decision was apparently not easy—we assume that the government decided to deny the suspicion so the reversion of Okinawa would smoothly proceed.
沖縄返還を円滑に実現するため、苦渋の選択をしたという一面もあったろう。

There are always secrets in diplomatic negotiations, which have a huge impact on national interests.
国益をかけた外交交渉に秘密はつきものだ。

Govt’s irresponsible attitude

In 2000, an official document indicating the existence of the secret accord was discovered in the United States. 　２０００年になって、米国で密約の存在を示す公文書が発見された。

Later, a former director of the Foreign Ministry’s American Bureau who was in charge of negotiations with the United States for the handover admitted Japan’s payment for land restoration during a media interview.
沖縄返還協定の対米交渉責任者だった元外務省局長は、報道機関のインタビューで、日本側の肩代わりを認めた。

However, the government continued to deny the existence of the secret accord.
　日本政府はその後も、密約自体を否定し続けた。

There is no way to avoid criticisms that the government had dodged its responsibility to explain the incident.
国民に対する説明責任に背を向けたと批判されても仕方ない。

Examination of the case took place under the Democratic Party of Japan-led administrations from 2009 to 2010, and a Foreign Ministry advisory panel admitted that Tokyo and Washington exchanged “a secret pact in a broad sense.” 　民主党政権下の２００９～１０年に検証作業が行われ、外務省の有識者委員会は、日米間に「広義の密約」があったと認定した。

The ministry also conducted an in-house investigation but failed to find documents of the secret accord itself.
一方、外務省の内部調査で、密約文書そのものは発見されなかった。

Considering the circumstances, the top court likely decided to cautiously approach the issue.
　こうした経緯から、最高裁は、慎重な姿勢に徹したのだろう。

There is one concern over the ruling, however: The top court ruled that those requesting information disclosures bear the burden of proving the existence of the documents in question.
　疑問が残るのは、最高裁が、文書の存在を立証する責任を開示請求者側に負わせた点だ。

But it is extremely difficult for an ordinary citizen to know how administrative bodies handle the documents they are seeking.
一般国民が、行政機関の文書管理の状況を把握するのは極めて難しい。

We are afraid that Monday’s ruling may raise the bar for people wishing to access government documents through the freedom-of-information system.
　今回の判決で、情報公開のハードルが、これまでよりも高くならないだろうか。

The system is able to exist on the condition that administrative organs preserve their documents appropriately.
　情報公開制度は、行政機関が文書を適切に保存していることを前提に成り立っている。

It is impermissible for such organs to arbitrarily destroy their documents to avoid them being disclosed to the public.
仮にも、行政機関が恣意しい的に文書を廃棄し、情報公開を免れるようなことはあってはならない。

The principle must be reasserted once again that diplomatic documents should be disclosed to the public after a certain period of time to let posterity examine them.
　外交文書は原則、一定期間後に公開して、後世の検証を受けられるようにする必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 16, 2014)

集団的自衛権 国会の論議をさらに深めたい

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Diet debate must be deepened on collective self-defense right
集団的自衛権　国会の論議をさらに深めたい

Diet debate must be intensified further on what can or cannot be done under the government’s new interpretation of the Constitution that would enable a limited exercise of the right of collective self-defense.
　集団的自衛権の行使を限定的に容認する新たな政府見解により、何ができ、何ができないのか。国会での議論をさらに深めることが重要だ。

The first Diet discussions on the matter since the Cabinet approval of the new interpretation were held at the House of Representatives Budget Committee on Monday. Banri Kaieda, president of major opposition party the Democratic Party of Japan, expressed strong opposition to the Cabinet’s decision on the new interpretation, arguing: “The government has made an about-face in constitutional interpretation without holding Diet discussions. Is it all right to make a decision without listening to the people’s opinions?”
　新見解の閣議決定後初の国会論戦が、衆院予算委員会で行われた。民主党の海江田代表は、閣議決定について「国会の議論をせず、憲法解釈を百八十度変える。国民の声を無視して決めて良いのか」と反対する考えを強調した。

Countering that 70 lawmakers had been involved in question-and-answer sessions, including intensive deliberations, in addition to discussions by an expert panel and consultative talks between the ruling parties, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe brushed aside the criticism that the Cabinet decision was made “with more haste than caution.”
　安倍首相は、有識者会議の議論や与党協議に加え、国会の集中審議などで議員７０人の質疑があったとし、「閣議決定が拙速だとの指摘は当たらない」と反論した。

Abe’s contention is reasonable because the government and ruling parties went through adequate procedures before making the Cabinet decision.
　政府・与党は十分に手順を踏んでおり、首相の主張は妥当だ。

Diet deliberations will be conducted on bills related to a limited exercise of the right of collective self-defense. We hope to see that the planned sessions will serve as forums to hold intensive discussions about specific cases in which the right will be exercised, so as to win over a greater number of the people on the new constitutional interpretation.
　今後、関連法案の国会審議も行われる。より多くの国民が新見解を理解するよう、具体的事例に即して集中的に議論する機会としたい。

It is also indispensable to hold discussions on the security environment around Japan, which has been growing more severe due to such factors as North Korea’s recent series of ballistic missile launches.
最近の北朝鮮の相次ぐ弾道ミサイル発射など、厳しさを増す国際情勢の論議も欠かせない。

Referring to the three conditions newly set for exercise of the right of collective self-defense, including “there is a clear danger that the people’s rights will be fundamentally undermined,” Abe presented criteria for judgment on whether to approve an exercise of the right.
　「国民の権利を根本から覆す明白な危険」などの集団的自衛権行使の新３要件について首相は、行使の可否の判断基準を示した。

Abe said the government will make judgments by “comprehensively considering” such factors as “the intention and capability of a country threatening to attack, and the location, scale and situation of a contingency,” and in light of “the seriousness and graveness of damage anticipated to be suffered by the people.”
　「攻撃国の意思、能力、事態の発生場所、規模、態様」などを政府が「総合的に勘案」し、「国民が被る犠牲の深刻性、重大性」などから判断する、と語った。

Too many constraints harmful

The DPJ’s Katsuya Okada, a former deputy prime minister, criticized the government, saying, “The criteria for judgment are ambiguous, and this leaves much room for [the government’s] discretion.”
　民主党の岡田克也前副総理は「基準があいまいで（政府の）裁量の余地が大きい」と批判した。

Limiting the exercise of the right of collective self-defense is unavoidable to maintain the legal consistency of constitutional interpretation. However, if too much emphasis is placed on restraints for their own sake, it would lead to excessively restricting the scope of Self-Defense Forces activities and the effectiveness of their operations would be lost.
　集団的自衛権の行使を限定的にするのは、憲法解釈の法的整合性を保つためにやむを得ない。だが、限定のための「歯止め」ばかりを重視すれば、自衛隊の活動を過度に制約し、実効性が失われる。

Giving the government a certain level of discretionary power is a realistic option to make it possible to deal with various situations effectively.
　様々な事態に効果的に対処できるよう、政府に一定の裁量権を認めることが現実的である。

While stressing that the SDF will not take part in international military operations such as those during the Persian Gulf and Iraq wars, Abe showed an interest in the SDF’s participation in minesweeping operations, saying that they are “passive and limited and different in nature [in terms of the use of force].”
　首相は、イラク・湾岸戦争のような海外での武力行使には参加しないと強調する一方で、機雷除去には意欲を示した。掃海活動は「受動的、限定的で、（武力行使の）性格が違う」と語った。

The idea of differentiating between attacks on other countries and minesweeping operations is understandable. We hope to see the government provide more detailed and comprehensible explanations on the matter.
　他国への攻撃と掃海を区別する考え方は理解できる。より丁寧で分かりやすい説明を求めたい。

The DPJ is opposed to the government resorting to changing the constitutional interpretation to approve the exercise of the right of collective self-defense, but has yet to reach a conclusion of its own on whether to approve a limited use of the right. This is because the party has avoided internal discussions of national security due to intraparty differences of opinion. The party should present a unified view of national security as soon as possible.
　民主党は、憲法解釈の変更という手法には反対しているが、集団的自衛権の限定容認の可否については結論を出せていない。党内に賛否両論を抱え、安全保障論議を避けてきたツケである。早く党の統一見解を示すべきだ。

Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) and Your Party have already decided to endorse the limited exercise of the right of collective self-defense. The government and ruling parties must make steady efforts to compile relevant bills that would enable the limited use of the right.
　日本維新の会やみんなの党は既に、限定容認への支持を決めている。政府・与党は、関連法の整備を着実に進めてもらいたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 15, 2014)

滋賀県知事選 与党の緊張感欠如も響いた

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Shiga election results highlight complacency in ruling parties
滋賀県知事選　与党の緊張感欠如も響いた

A government and a Liberal Democratic Party that had grown overconfident were apparently handed a rebuke when a former Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker defeated a candidate supported by the two ruling parties in Sunday’s Shiga gubernatorial election.
　政府・自民党の慢心を戒める結果だった、と言えるのではないか。

Taizo Mikazuki, an independent candidate and a former member of the House of Representatives with the DPJ, was elected to his first term in a poll contested by two other independents, including Takashi Koyari, who had the backing of the LDP and New Komeito.
　滋賀県知事選は、無所属で前民主党衆院議員の三日月大造氏が、自民、公明両党が推薦する無所属の小鑓隆史氏らを破り、初当選した。

Mikazuki’s victory owes much to his election tactic of positioning himself clearly as the successor to Gov. Yukiko Kada, who served two terms, and criticizing the political stances of the government and the LDP.
　三日月氏は、２期務めた嘉田由紀子知事の後継者との立場を明確にするとともに、政府・自民党の政治姿勢を攻撃する選挙戦術をとったことが奏功した。

Mikazuki was also supported by a timely tailwind, especially after criticism mounted against Environment Minister Nobuteru Ishihara for his comments last month that “money will be what matters most after all” in negotiations between the central and local governments over selecting locations for the construction of temporary storage facilities for contaminated soil in Fukushima Prefecture.
Much criticism has also been directed toward LDP members of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly and the lower house Committee on Internal Affairs and Communications who made sexist jeers.
　特に、福島県での中間貯蔵施設建設を巡る石原環境相の「金目」発言や、東京都議会や衆院総務委員会での自民党議員のセクハラヤジに対する批判が高まったことが三日月氏への追い風となった。

Voters apparently felt that these words and deeds, which lacked respect for women, and residents seriously affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, demonstrated the arrogance and complacency of the ruling parties.
　東日本大震災の被災者や女性への配慮を欠いた言動は、与党の傲おごりや緊張感の欠如の表れ、と受け止められたのだろう。

The LDP is the sole powerful party in the Diet, occupying an overwhelming majority of seats, and the Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe still enjoys a high approval rating. Nonetheless, the government and the LDP should be more humble and take every necessary step to carry out policies.
　国会は自民党が圧倒的多数を占める「１強」体制で、安倍内閣の支持率もなお高いが、政府・自民党は、より謙虚な姿勢で手順を尽くし、政策を遂行すべきだ。

Taking national politics local

A gubernatorial election is generally expected to hinge on the capabilities of the candidates, and their stances on important issues facing the prefecture. LDP Secretary General Shigeru Ishiba said, “[The election] was influenced by some factors other than those directly connected to the candidates and prefectural administration.” It is regrettable that the race unfolded the way he described.
　知事選は本来、候補者の資質や県政の問題を問うものだ。自民党の石破幹事長が「候補者、県政に直接、影響があること以外で影響が出ている」と指摘したような展開になったのは残念である。

Mikazuki’s move to call for a phaseout of nuclear power, as Kada did, is questionable, because nuclear policies should be left to the government to decide from a broader perspective. Governors have no legal authority over decisions to resume operations at nuclear power plants.
　疑問なのは、三日月氏が、嘉田知事と同様、段階的に原子力発電から脱却する「卒原発」を唱えたことだ。原発政策は、政府が大局的観点から判断すべきものだ。原発の再稼働などには、知事の法的権限は及ばない。

There are no nuclear power plants currently operating in Japan, which has led to higher fuel costs for thermal power plants and higher electricity charges.
　現状は、原発が稼働せず、火力発電の燃料費がかさみ、電気料金は上昇し続けている。

The government must expedite efforts to restart nuclear reactors by persuading relevant municipal governments to give their consent.
政府は、関係自治体の理解を得て、原発の再稼働を急がねばならない。

Koyari, a former official of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, pledged to revitalize the Shiga prefectural economy, while stressing the achievements of the Abe administration’s economic policies, known collectively as Abenomics.
　経済産業省出身の小鑓氏は、安倍政権の経済政策「アベノミクス」の成果を強調し、「滋賀県の経済を再生する」と訴えた。

He failed to garner wide support, however, as the effects of Abenomics remain limited in communities away from the country’s major urban centers—a reminder of the government’s need to revitalize local communities in earnest.
　ただ、アベノミクスの効果が地方では限定的なこともあり、支持は広がらなかった。政府は、地域活性化にも力を入れるべきだ。

The Shiga race came on the heels of the Cabinet’s approval of the government’s new constitutional interpretation allowing for limited exercise of the right of collective self-defense.
　知事選は、集団的自衛権を限定的に容認する新たな政府見解を閣議決定した直後に行われた。

Given the recent deterioration in Japan’s security environment, strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance and international cooperation by making it possible for the nation to exercise this right is a significant development.
　日本の安全保障環境の悪化を踏まえれば、集団的自衛権の行使を可能にし、日米同盟や国際連携を強化する意義は大きい。

The Mikazuki election camp criticized the new interpretation as part of its attacks on the Abe administration, dragging the campaign fight “outside the ring.”
　だが、三日月陣営は、政権批判の一環で新見解に反対し、「場外戦」に持ち込んだと言える。

The government and ruling parties should not dwell on the outcome of this election, but instead try to win wider acceptance among the public for the right of collective self-defense by sparing no efforts to explain why it is necessary to permit its exercise.
　政府・与党は、知事選の結果にとらわれず、行使容認の必要性を丁寧かつ積極的に説明し、国民の理解を広げる必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 14, 2014)

日豪首脳会談 「特別な関係」築く安保協力を

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan-Australia partnership crucial to improve defense of Asia-Pacific
日豪首脳会談　「特別な関係」築く安保協力を

Japan and Australia are strategic partners that share the responsibility of fostering peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. We urge the two countries to deepen their mutual relationship on the occasion of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to Australia.
　日本と豪州は、アジア太平洋の平和と安定への責任を共有する戦略的パートナーだ。安倍首相の訪豪を機に、協力関係を一層深化させたい。

In his talks with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Tuesday, Abe explained Japan’s reinterpretation of the Constitution to allow limited exercise of the right of collective self-defense.
　安倍首相はアボット豪首相に、集団的自衛権行使を限定的に容認する新たな政府見解を説明した。

Abe stressed that the aim of the reinterpretation was to “protect the lives and peaceful livelihood of the people and let Japan play a more proactive role in the international community.”
「国民の命と平和な暮らしを守り抜くとともに、国際社会でより積極的な役割を果たすことを可能とするものだ」と強調した。

Abbott welcomed Japan’s move and credited Japan as being a peace-loving country, saying that “Japan has been...an exemplary international citizen in the postwar era.”
　アボット首相は日本の取り組みを歓迎した。共同記者会見では「日本は戦後、ずっと模範的な国際市民だった」と述べ、平和国家としての歩みを評価した。

The reinterpretation enables Japan to exercise its collective self-defense right and order the Self-Defense Forces to protect Australian vessels when an emergency occurs on the Korean Peninsula or elsewhere.
　新見解により、朝鮮半島有事などの際、自衛隊が集団的自衛権を行使し、豪軍艦船などを防護できるようになる。

During a speech to the Australian Parliament, Abe said, “Australia and Japan have now freed ourselves from one old layer and are now moving towards a new ‘special relationship.’” We concur with Abe’s view.
安倍首相が豪議会での演説で「日豪は新たな『特別な関係』へ、歴史的脱皮を遂げた」と指摘したのも、うなずける。

Abe and Abbott signed an accord on the joint development of defense equipment. Australia is interested in Japan’s submarine technology, and the two countries are scheduled to conduct a joint study on the fluid mechanics of ships. We urge the two nations to steadily continue cooperation in this respect.
　両首脳は、防衛装備品の共同開発に関する協定に署名した。豪州は、日本の潜水艦技術に関心を示しており、当面、船舶の流体力学分野を共同研究する。こうした装備協力を着実に進めるべきだ。

Trilateral cooperation

It also is essential to expand joint exercises between the SDF and the armed forces of Australia and the United States, an ally of both Japan and Australia.
　自衛隊、豪軍と、両国の同盟国である米軍による３か国の共同訓練の拡充も欠かせない。

China has been trying to change the status quo in the East and South China seas by force. Australia has strong economic ties with China, but like Japan and the United States it places emphasis on the rule of law. It is important for the three nations to join hands and tenaciously press China to exercise restraint.
　中国は東・南シナ海で、力による現状変更を試みている。豪州は、中国との経済関係は強いが、「法の支配」を重視する立場では、日米と足並みをそろえている。日米豪の協力により、中国に粘り強く自制を促すことが重要である。

Abe and Abbott also signed an economic partnership agreement. Japan will reduce tariffs on Australian beef, while Australia’s tariffs on Japan’s medium-sized cars will be removed. The two nations will work for early enforcement of the agreement.
　日豪首脳は、経済連携協定（ＥＰＡ）にも調印した。日本は豪州産牛肉の関税を引き下げる。日本製中型車などの関税は撤廃される。早期の発効を目指す。

The two leaders also agreed to cooperate to bring about the early conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership multilateral trade negotiations.
　環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉の早期妥結へ、日豪が協力することでも合意した。

Prior to his visit to Australia, Abe held talks in New Zealand with Prime Minister John Key. Abe and Key confirmed that they will work proactively for a conclusion of the TPP talks.
　豪州に先立ち、首相はニュージーランドを訪問し、キー首相との会談の中でも、ＴＰＰ交渉の妥結に向けて精力的に取り組む方針を確認した。

Promotion of free trade is one of the main pillars of the Abe administration’s growth strategy. It is imperative that the administration work hard on opening up its market on farm produce and other products and play an active role in concluding the TPP talks as early as possible.
　自由貿易の推進は、安倍政権の成長戦略の重要な柱だ。農産物の市場開放などに努め、早期妥結へ役割を果たさねばならない。

Abe will next head for Papua New Guinea. It will be the first time in 29 years for a Japanese prime minister to visit the island nation. In talks with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, the two leaders are expected to reach an agreement to cooperate on natural gas development.
　首相は今回、島嶼とうしょ国のパプアニューギニアも訪れる。日本の首相の訪問は２９年ぶりだ。オニール首相と会談し、天然ガス開発の協力などで一致する見通しだ。

In the western Pacific, China is increasing its influence over the Pacific Islands by supporting the building and renovation of harbors and ports. It therefore is important for Japan to build trust in the region through cooperation in such fields as disaster prevention and human resources development.
　西太平洋では、中国が島嶼国の港湾整備などを支援し、影響力を強めている。日本は、防災や人材育成などの分野で協力し、各国と信頼関係を築くことが大切だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 9, 2014)

香山リカのココロの万華鏡:使用一瞬、依存一生 ／東京

July 06, 2014(Mainichi Japan)
Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Addiction recovery can take a lifetime
香山リカのココロの万華鏡:使用一瞬、依存一生　／東京

A man recently drove his SUV onto a sidewalk in Tokyo's Ikebukuro area, leaving a woman dead and seven others injured. The man has admitted to purchasing and smoking a so-called "legal loophole herb," and it is believed that he was under its influence when he caused the crash. What he did is unforgivable.
　東京・池袋で車が暴走し、８人が死傷する事件が起きた。運転していた男性は「脱法ハーブ」を購入して使用していたことを認めており、暴走はその影響と考えられている。許されない話だ。

Although the substance is called an herb, it is no simple plant concoction. These drugs, which are not technically illegal, are made of leaves processed with chemicals, resulting in a product with effects similar to those of stimulants and marijuana. Most of these chemicals were first developed for medical uses including as pain killers for people with cancer or other diseases.
　「ハーブ」という名前はついているが決して植物性のものではなく、覚醒剤や大麻と似た作用のある化学物質を植物のかけらにまぶしたりした加工製品である。それら化学物質の多くはがんの鎮痛など当初は医療用に開発されたものが不法な経路で流出し、加工されて売られているのだ。

Some people try them out thinking they are made of natural ingredients and that they are simply relaxing, but the chemicals with which these leaves are laced are strong. Examples of these drugs' symptoms include hyperactivity, hallucinations, tremors, nausea and disorientation. Repeated use may cause chronic psychological illnesses, and those who become addicted to the substances oftentimes end up destroying their lives. The strength of these loophole drugs and the horror they can cause are incompatible with the deceptively innocuous term "herb."
　あたかもリラックス効果のある安心な天然素材というイメージで手を出す人もいるようだが、含まれる成分は非常に強力だ。摂取してすぐの急性症状としては興奮、幻覚、けいれんや嘔吐（おうと）、意識障害などが起き、頻回の使用で慢性の精神病状態に陥ったり、心身の依存が形成されて手を切れなくなったりして人生が崩壊してしまうケースも少なくない。その強烈さと恐ろしさは一般の「ハーブ」のイメージとはほど遠い。

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has designated over 1,300 chemicals as harmful drugs and bans the use and possession of such substances like marijuana and stimulants. However, the ministry is having a hard time keeping up with new chemicals that evade existing regulations and controlling the circulation of new substances.
　厚生労働省はこれまで１３００種以上の化学物質を有害な「指定薬物」として覚醒剤や大麻と同様に所持や使用を禁止しているが、それをすり抜けるかのように新しい化学物質が出回り、取り締まりが困難となっている。

There used to be a road safety ad that went, "It only takes a moment to pay attention, but it takes a whole lifetime to recover from a car accident." When I see patients suffering from the aftereffects of addiction to these "herbs," I'm reminded of that ad and always think, "It only takes a moment to take a drug, but it takes whole lifetime to recover from addiction."
　かつて交通事故撲滅を呼びかけるコピーで「注意一瞬、事故一生」というのがあった。脱法ハーブの後遺症で苦しむ人を見ると、私はいつも「使用一瞬、依存一生」だと思う。

They might have used the hallucinatory herb for only a short time in their lives, but addiction patients must use a lot of energy trying to beat their dependence on the drug. They must pay the price for abusing these loophole drugs, including but not limited to quitting their job due to the substance's aftereffects. In other words, by the time a user regrets taking the drug, it's already too late.
使ったのは人生の中のほんの一時期であったとしても、その人はその後、薬をやめるために多大なエネルギーを使ったり、ぶり返す精神病のような後遺症で仕事もできなくなったり、あまりにも大きな“ツケ”を払わなければならなくなる。「あのとき、誘いに応じて気軽に手を出したばっかりに」と悔やんでもどうにもならない。

You may come across pills and drinks that are labeled as "herbs," "aromatherapy goods" or "supplements." Some people take these substances without thinking very much about it, especially when they come from friends or significant others, possibly worrying that to refuse would endanger these relationships.
　「ハーブ」「アロマ」「サプリ」といった名で「飲んでみない？」と差し出される錠剤や液体。とくに相手が恋人や友人の場合、断ったら人間関係にヒビが入るのでは、と「一度だけなら」と義理で応じてしまう人もいる。

That one sip or one pill may be the beginning of the end of the person's life. I want readers to refuse to take these substances. Make excuses if you have to. Say you have an allergy. If the person offering the pill takes offense, that person does not care about you in the first place. We have to do whatever it takes to prevent "loophole" drugs from spreading throughout our society.
しかし、その最初の一錠が不幸の扉を開けるかもしれないのだ。よくわからないものは「私、アレルギーがあるから」とでも言ってとにかく口に入れないでほしい。それで「なんだ、もう友だちじゃないよ」などと言う相手は、はじめからあなたのことなど大切にしていないのだ。脱法ハーブのまん延は何としても防がなければならない。

（精神科医）
(By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist)
毎日新聞　2014年07月01日　地方版

中韓首脳会談 地域の安定損なう「反日共闘」

The Yomiuri Shimbun
China-ROK anti-Japanese campaign threatens to bring regional instability
中韓首脳会談　地域の安定損なう「反日共闘」

China’s intention to drive a wedge into cooperative ties among Japan, the United States and South Korea by wooing Seoul to its side has become more clear than ever.
　韓国を取り込み、日米韓の連携にくさびを打ち込む。そんな中国の狙いが浮き彫りになった。

Chinese President Xi Jinping has visited Seoul for talks with South Korean President Park Geun-hye, and the two leaders confirmed their nations’ “firm opposition” to the development of nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula in connection with their policies toward North Korea.
　中国の習近平国家主席がソウルを訪問し、韓国の朴槿恵大統領と会談した。北朝鮮政策で、朝鮮半島での核開発に断固反対する方針で一致した。

It was the first time that a top Chinese leader has visited South Korea ahead of North Korea, a traditional friend of the communist state. Xi played up the impression that China was placing importance on South Korea and that the two nations were forging a cooperative relationship.
　中国の最高指導者が、伝統的友好国の北朝鮮より先に韓国を訪れるのは初めてだ。「韓国重視」と「中韓協調」を演出した。

In an article he contributed to South Korean newspapers just before his visit, Xi said it was essential for the two nations to take joint steps for the security of Asia. The proposal is based on his “Asian security concept,” in which “Asian security must be protected by Asian people.” It is a clear indication that China is trying to exclude the United States from the security framework of Asia.
　習氏は訪韓直前に韓国紙に寄稿し、アジアの安全保障で中韓の共同対処の重要性を強調している。「アジアの安全はアジアの人々が守る」という自らの「アジア安全観」に基づく提案で、米国を排除しようとする意図が明らかだ。

Japan, the United States and Southeast Asian nations are sharply criticizing China for its unilateral attempts to change the status quo in Asia, which have increasingly isolated the nation. Given the situation, Bejing apparently wants to gain Seoul’s cooperation in creating a China-led Asian order through strengthened relations with South Korea, whose economy increasingly depends on that of China.
　アジアでは、一方的な現状変更を試みる中国に対し、日米や東南アジア諸国が批判を強めている。孤立傾向にある中国は、経済面で対中依存を深める韓国との関係を強化し、中国主導の秩序作りへの協力を得たいのだろう。

Limited results

But a joint statement merely said the two nations will regularly hold high-level strategic dialogue on security and diplomatic issues. As South Korea naturally sought to avoid causing cracks in its relations with its ally, the United States, Xi’s diplomatic strategy was not fruitful.
　しかし、中韓共同声明は、「外交・安保上級戦略対話の定例化」と記述するにとどまった。韓国が同盟国・米国との亀裂を避けるのは当然であり、習氏の外交戦略が奏功したとは言えまい。

As for the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank that Xi is proposing, the joint statement only said the two nations will continue talks on the matter. China will not easily realize its ambitions to lead efforts to build a financial order in Asia to counter the Asian Development Bank, which is led by Japan and the United States.
　習氏が提唱する「アジアインフラ投資銀行」についても「継続協議」とされた。日米が主導するアジア開発銀行に対抗し、中国主導の金融秩序を築くという目論見もくろみも簡単には実現しないだろう。

Above all, Japan should be alarmed by the fact that China and South Korea agreed to conduct joint research on materials related to so-called comfort women as spelled out in a supplementary note to their joint statement.
　日本が警戒すべきは、共同声明の付属文書に、いわゆる従軍慰安婦問題に関する資料の共同研究の実施が盛り込まれたことだ。

China has already submitted an application to register materials related to comfort women with UNESCO’s Memory of the World. South Korea is also preparing to make a similar application.
　中国は既に、慰安婦の関連資料について、国連教育・科学・文化機関（ユネスコ）の世界記憶遺産に登録申請している。韓国も、同様の申請を準備中だ。

Of serious concern is the fact that China and South Korea are expanding their joint anti-Japanese campaigns by using historical issues—which they have interpreted for their own convenience—in their efforts to sway international opinion to their sides.
　両国が、自ら都合良く解釈した歴史カードに基づく「反日共闘」を拡大し、国際社会での世論戦を展開することは、日本にとって憂慮すべき事態である。

During his speech at Seoul University, Xi called on the South Korean people to join anti-Japanese campaigns by saying, “Japanese militarists carried out barbarous wars of aggression against China and Korea.”
　習氏はソウル大学での講演で、「日本の軍国主義者は、中韓に対する野蛮な侵略戦争を仕掛けた」などと主張し、韓国国民にも共闘を呼びかけた。

Park was cautious about China’s maneuver to scuttle ties among Japan, the United States and South Korea in the areas of security and finance, but actively responded to China’s calls to bash Japan over historical issues.
　朴氏は、中国による日米韓の分断工作に対し、安全保障、金融両面では慎重姿勢を見せたが、歴史分野では積極的に呼応した。

Park apparently intends to use her anti-Japanese stance to buoy her approval rating, which has dropped due mainly to her administration’s poor handling of the sinking of a ferry in April. Park’s irresponsible move in becoming closer to China has been met with unveiled expressions of concern from the United States.
　旅客船沈没事故などで低下した支持率の回復を図る思惑もあるのだろうが、そうした安易な対中接近には米国も懸念を隠さない。

This is a good time for Park to rethink how important coopera-tive ties are among Japan, the United States and South Korea.
　朴氏は、日米韓の連携の重要性を改めて考える時ではないか。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 5, 2014)

集団的自衛権 抑止力向上へ意義深い「容認」

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Constitutional reinterpretation enhances Japan’s deterrent power
集団的自衛権　抑止力向上へ意義深い「容認」

The government has made a historic decision that will reinforce our coordination with the United States and other members of the international community. It is also likely that the decision will contribute to solidifying Japan’s peace and security.
　日米防衛指針に適切に反映せよ
　米国など国際社会との連携を強化し、日本の平和と安全をより確かなものにするうえで、歴史的な意義があろう。

On Tuesday, the Cabinet approved the government’s reinterpretation of the Constitution to allow limited exercise of the right of collective self-defense.
　政府が、集団的自衛権の行使を限定的に容認する新たな政府見解を閣議決定した。

At a press conference that day, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his resolve to “consolidate Japan’s path as a peace-seeking nation.” He also pledged to establish “a seamless legal framework on national security to protect the lives and daily livelihood of the people.”
　安倍首相は記者会見で、「平和国家としての歩みを、さらに力強いものにする。国民の命と暮らしを守るため、切れ目のない安全保障法制を整備する」と語った。

There have been gaps between the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito over the issue. While the LDP has supported permitting Japan to exercise its right of collective self-defense, Komeito held onto a cautious approach. We would like to praise both parties’ efforts to find middle ground and reach an agreement.
　行使容認に前向きな自民党と、慎重な公明党の立場は当初、隔たっていたが、両党が歩み寄り、合意に達したことを歓迎したい。

Baseless accusations
　◆「解釈改憲」は的外れだ◆

It is safe to say that Abe’s fiery devotion to the cause, as well as his persistent and unyielding position on the reinterpretation of the Constitution, has made it possible for the ruling parties to overcome difficulties and reach an agreement.
　安倍首相が憲法解釈の変更に強い意欲を示し、最後まで揺るぎない姿勢を貫いたことが、困難な合意形成を実現させたと言える。

Komeito had to take time in building a consensus, including holding talks with its regional organizations, but in the end it was able to reach a responsible decision. We believe Komeito’s experience as a member of the ruling coalition has greatly helped the party reach such untiy.
　公明党は、地方組織を含む党内調整に時間を要したが、責任ある結論を出せたのは連立政権の一翼を担った経験の賜物たまものだろう。

Under the government’s reinterpretation of the Constitution, Japan will be permitted to use the minimum necessary force when an armed attack takes place against a foreign country with which Japan has close relations, and there is a clear danger that the basic rights of the people of Japan will be fundamentally undermined.
　政府見解は、密接な関係にある国が攻撃され、日本国民の権利が根底から覆される明白な危険がある場合、必要最小限度の実力行使が許容されると記した。

The interpretation that Japan “possesses, but cannot exercise” the right of collective self-defense has long stood. Allowing Japan to exercise the right is a major sea change, as it means Japan has overcome a national security problem that has long loomed over the nation.
　集団的自衛権は「保有するが、行使できない」とされてきた。その行使容認に転じたことは、長年の安全保障上の課題を克服したという意味で画期的である。

The reinterpretation does not touch on specific issues, but it will likely enable Japan to deal with all eight example scenarios cited by the government as cases in which the nation should be able to exercise its collective self-defense right. Those scenarios include protecting U.S. vessels under armed attack, minesweeping operations and missile defense.
　今回の政府見解には明記されていないが、米艦防護、機雷除去、ミサイル防衛など、政府が集団的自衛権を適用すべきとした８事例すべてに対応できるとされる。

The reinterpretation has also left rooms for Japan to participate in minesweeping operations authorized by a U.N. resolution under a collective security framework. If the government goes too far in narrowing the scope of the nation’s permissible exercise of the collective self-defense right, it would restrain the activities of the Self-Defense Forces and hollow out the significance of changing the interpretation of the Constitution.
　国連決議による集団安全保障に基づく掃海などを可能にする余地を残したことも評価できる。行使の範囲を狭めすぎれば、自衛隊の活動が制約され、憲法解釈変更の意義が損なわれてしまう。

The reinterpretation follows the core principle of the 1972 government view on the right of collective self-defense and is logically consistent with previous interpretations. It is clear that this reinterpretation was made within a reasonable range.
　新解釈は、１９７２年の政府見解の根幹を踏襲し、過去の解釈との論理的整合性を維持しており、合理的な範囲内の変更である。

This is not a case of using constitutional reinterpretation where actual amendments to the Constitution are required, and it differs fundamentally from such cases. This case is more a matter of the government making necessary adjustments to previous interpretations that were overly self-restrictive due to conditions in the Diet.
　本来は憲法改正すべき内容なのに、解釈変更で対応する「解釈改憲」とは本質的に異なる。むしろ、国会対策上などの理由で過度に抑制的だった従来の憲法解釈を、より適正化したと言えよう。

The reinterpretation is made based on the Cabinet’s right to an official interpretation of the Constitution. The Diet will play a role in this issue through deliberation of bills related to the reinterpretation, and when the government asks the Diet for approval of plans to exercise the right of collective self-defense. The judiciary also has a voice in the issue through the power of judicial review.
　今回の解釈変更は、内閣が持つ公権的解釈権に基づく。国会は今後、関連法案審議や、自衛権発動時の承認という形で関与する。司法も違憲立法審査権を有する。

Thus the issue will be handled consistently with the Constitution’s principle of separation of powers among the administrative, legislative and judicial branches. It is difficult to understand criticisms asserting that the reinterpretation is “counter to constitutionalism.”
　いずれも憲法の三権分立に沿った対応であり、「立憲主義に反する」との批判は理解し難い。

It is similarly off base to argue that the latest Cabinet decision would pave the way for war, a line of argument propagated by left-leaning and liberal voices. Exercising our nation’s right of collective self-defense does not mean using force to protect any other nation in a situation unrelated to our own defense. The government’s new stance on the right has categorically ruled out our nation’s involvement in military situations such as the Iraq War.
　「戦争への道を開く」といった左翼・リベラル勢力による情緒的な扇動も見当違いだ。自国の防衛と無関係に、他の国を守るわけではない。イラク戦争のような例は完全に排除されている。

Permanent dispatch law needed
　◆自衛隊恒久法の検討を◆

The government’s revised view on the right has also expanded the range of cooperative international peace activities the SDF will be able to conduct.
　政府見解では、自衛隊の国際平和協力活動も拡充した。

For instance, the revised interpretation has narrowed the scope of a constitutional ban on SDF actions inseparable from the use of force by another country. The Cabinet decision has limited the ban to “activities in combat zones.”
　憲法の禁じる「武力行使との一体化」の対象を「戦闘現場における活動」などに限定した。

The decision has also made it possible for the SDF to conduct armed rescue operations during their involvement in U.N. peacekeeping missions and other overseas missions.

If civilians or foreign troops face an armed attack in areas distant from but accessible to SDF members engaged in such overseas tasks, these personnel will be able to go to their rescue. In such cases, they would be permitted to use weapons in their execution of such duties, under the latest Cabinet decision.
「駆けつけ警護」や任務遂行目的の武器使用も可能にしている。

We believe these changes will enable the SDF to better accomplish international missions such as supply, transport and medical support activities along with U.N. peacekeeping operations.
　自衛隊による他国部隊への補給・輸送・医療支援や、国連平和維持活動（ＰＫＯ）で、より実効性ある活動が期待できよう。

The Cabinet decision also addresses some issues regarding SDF actions to be taken in what have been described as gray-zone situations, including a potential scenario in which foreign armed groups take control of remote Japanese islands. It expedites procedures for invoking SDF maritime patrol operations and other activities aimed at addressing such situations.
　武装集団による離島占拠などグレーゾーン事態の対処では、自衛隊の海上警備行動などの手続きを迅速化することになった。

We suggest the government consider expanding the list of SDF duties to include territorial patrols, thereby enabling our country to carry out “seamless activities” in the event that the nation’s peaceful situation is subverted by a military contingency.
　さらに、平時から有事へ「切れ目のない活動」を行うため、自衛隊に領域警備任務などを付与することも検討してはどうか。

The government and the ruling parties are set to begin implementing legislative measures to complement the Cabinet decision during this autumn’s extraordinary Diet session. Among those measures are amendments to the Self-Defense Forces Law and the Armed Attack Situations Response Law. It is important to create and refine laws to respond flexibly to a variety of situations.
　政府・与党は秋の臨時国会から自衛隊法、武力攻撃事態法の改正など、関連法の整備を開始する。様々な事態に柔軟に対応できる仕組みにすることが大切だ。

It is also worthwhile to consider establishing a permanent law on SDF dispatch for overseas missions—not only for U.N. peacekeeping missions, as sanctioned under the current legislation.
　ＰＫＯに限定せず、自衛隊の海外派遣全体に関する恒久法を制定することも検討に値しよう。

At the end of the year, Tokyo and Washington are scheduled to revise the Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation. The Japanese and U.S. governments must ensure the planned changes to the defense cooperation guidelines properly incorporate changes made to our nation’s defense policies as a result of the latest Cabinet decision. These changes include the newly granted approval for exercise of the right of collective self-defense and the reconsideration of the ban on SDF actions that are inseparable from the use of force by other nations.
　日米両政府は年末に、日米防衛協力の指針（ガイドライン）を改定する予定だ。集団的自衛権の行使容認や「武力行使との一体化」の見直しを、指針にきちんと反映させなければならない。

Public support essential
　◆国民の理解を広げたい◆

We hope Japan and the United States will work together to deepen their defense cooperation. Japan should increase SDF support for U.S. forces, and U.S. forces should be more significantly involved in the defense of remote islands and other parts of our country.
　自衛隊の対米支援を拡大する一方、離島など日本防衛への米軍の関与を強め、双方向で防衛協力を深化させたい。

Drafting plans for military emergencies and repeating joint military exercises under the new defense cooperation guidelines will also function to shore up the Japan-U.S. alliance and increase the two nations’ combined deterrent potential.
新たな指針に基づく有事の計画策定や共同訓練を重ねることが、日米同盟を強化し、抑止力を高めていく。

Abe’s efforts to lift the self-imposed ban on our nation exercising its collective self-defense right has garnered support not only from the ruling parties, but from opposition lawmakers as well. The idea is endorsed by such opposition members as Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party), Your Party and some members of the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan. However, the DPJ’s top cadre remains noncommittal about whether to approve the exercise of the right, and has criticized Abe’s initiative in reinterpreting the nation’s fundamental law.
　集団的自衛権の行使容認は、与党のほか、日本維新の会、みんなの党や、さらに民主党の一部も賛成している。民主党執行部は、解釈変更を批判しながら、行使容認の是非は決め切れていない。

With the Cabinet’s decision completed, Abe should take every opportunity—ad-hoc parliamentary sessions that can be convened even during the the Diet’s recess, for example—to explain the significance of ending the ban on the collective self-defense right. It is crucial for the prime minister to make every effort to ensure that the public better understands the true meaning of revising the government’s official stance on the right.
　安倍首相は今後、国会の閉会中審査などの機会を利用し、行使容認の意義を説明して、国民の理解を広げる努力を尽くすべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 2, 2014)

社会福祉法人 地域貢献で存在意義を示せ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Social welfare service corporations must step up role as local entities
社会福祉法人　地域貢献で存在意義を示せ

Criticism has surged recently against social welfare service corporations for failing to sufficiently fulfill their roles, despite having an easier time engaging in almost the same services as ordinary private-sector companies as a result of such measures as preferential tax treatment.
　税制上の優遇措置などを受けながら、民間企業と同じ事業に安住している。社会福祉法人が、十分に役割を果たしていないとの批判が多い。

To reform social welfare service corporations that run such facilities as nursing homes for the elderly and child care centers, an expert panel of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has worked out a draft report containing a set of recommendations. The proposed report should be seen as a good opportunity to enhance the quality of their services.
　介護施設や保育所を運営する社会福祉法人の改革に向けて、厚生労働省の有識者検討会が報告書案をまとめた。事業を充実させる契機としたい。

Social welfare service corporations are nonprofit private-sector organizations based on the Social Welfare Law. They number about 20,000 nationwide. While being subject to strict regulations and supervision by administrative authorities, the corporations are entitled to receive preferential treatment in various areas, such as exemption from corporate tax and other public dues, and eligibility for subsidies to improve their facilities.
　社会福祉法人は、社会福祉法に基づく非営利の民間組織で、約２万の法人が存在する。行政による規制や指導監督が厳しい反面、法人税などの免除や施設整備の補助金を受けている。

Bodies authorized as social welfare service corporations have played pivotal roles in the nation’s social welfare programs since the 1950s, but recently an increasing number of businesses and nonprofit bodies from various fields have been entering the field of social welfare services. The environment surrounding social welfare service corporations has been changing drastically.
　１９５０年代から福祉サービスの中核となってきたが、近年は、同分野への企業やＮＰＯなどの参入が進む。社会福祉法人を取り巻く環境は大きく変化している。

Because of such phenomena as the rapidly aging society and the instability of employment, tasks that cannot be fully handled through the existing government-run social welfare programs have been brought to the fore, such as the need to provide care for elderly citizens living alone and supporting hikikomori youths who have withdrawn from society.
　高齢化の進展や雇用の不安定化により、単身高齢者の見守りや引きこもりの若者の支援など、公的制度では対応しきれない課題も顕在化している。

As things stand, however, few social welfare service corporations have actually been meeting these new challenges in local communities.
　だが、こうした新たな地域ニーズに対応する社会福祉法人は、一部に限られているのが実情だ。

Reexamine mission

The draft report by the health ministry panel has rightly pointed out the need to make it obligatory for social welfare service corporations to engage in activities for the benefit of local communities. It is undoubtedly one of the principal duties of such corporations to address tasks in their fields that cannot be undertaken by profit-pursuing businesses.
　報告書案が、地域貢献活動の義務化を求めたのは、もっともである。利益を追求する企業にはできない分野に取り組むことが、社会福祉法人の本分だろう。

The draft has also deemed it problematic that tokuyo homes, which are operated by social welfare service corporations for elderly people who require around-the-clock nursing care, have amassed as much as ¥300 million on average in profits.
　社会福祉法人が運営する特別養護老人ホームで、平均３億円もの利益を蓄えていることも問題視されている。

It was quite reasonable for the draft report to stress as it did that the raison d’etre of the corporations would be called into question if they fail to make good use of such funds to provide their localities with better welfare services.
　こうした資金を活用して福祉サービスを地域に提供しなければ、存在意義が問われるという報告書案の指摘は、うなずける。

To make their activities more effective for the good of local communities, it is necessary to take such steps as expanding the scale of the corporations and facilitating joint operations by a larger number of corporations.
　地域貢献活動の効率的な実施には、法人の規模拡大や複数法人による共同事業の促進が必要だ。

Worthy of note in this respect are social welfare service corporations in Osaka Prefecture, which have been cooperating with each other by pooling funds to jointly offer counseling support services for people in need. They have also provided people in straitened circumstances with livelihood expenses and food. Their activities can serve as a positive model for other social welfare service corporations.
　大阪府では、複数の社会福祉法人が協力して資金を出し合い、生活困窮者に対する相談支援事業を展開している。生活資金や食料品などの援助も行う。他の地域の参考となろう。

Effective from fiscal 2015, the administration of some publicly run nursing care insurance services will be transferred to city, town and village entities. The law for helping disadvantaged people become self-reliant will also be put into force at the beginning of the next fiscal year, with city, town and village governments taking charge of providing the low-income residents with livelihood counseling and helping them find employment.
　２０１５年度から、介護保険サービスの一部が市町村の事業に移管される。生活困窮者自立支援法も施行され、市町村が相談や就労支援などを行う。

Social welfare service corporations are expected to be major bodies to be entrusted with such operations. This means that corporations must play even larger roles.
　社会福祉法人は、これらの事業の主要な委託先になると期待されている。果たすべき役割は、ますます大きくなる。

Some chief executives’ practice of treating social welfare service corporations like their exclusive property has become an issue. To ensure public trust, it is essential to enhance the transparency of their operations.
　一部の法人では、理事長による運営の「私物化」が問題となっている。信頼性の確保には、運営の透明性の向上が不可欠だ。

Only half of such corporations have disclosed their financial statements. As stated in the draft report, it is imperative to make it obligatory for the corporations to make them public.
財務諸表を公開している法人は半数にとどまる。報告書案が指摘したように、公開の義務化が急がれる。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 30, 2014)

イラク流動化 無秩序の拡大を食い止めたい

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Further chaos must be stemmed in face of deepening Iraq crisis
イラク流動化　無秩序の拡大を食い止めたい

The chaos in Iraq has been fast spreading across its border. To avoid this situation leading to destabilization of the Middle East as a whole, countries concerned such as Iraq and the United States must join hands in pressing ahead with addressing this challenge.
　イラクの混乱が、国境を越えて急速に広がっている。中東全体の不安定化を避けるため、イラクと米国など関係国は、協力して事態の収拾を図らなければならない。

The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, a Sunni militant extremist group that claims to uphold the founding of a new state based on Islamic law, has taken control of towns and oil fields in the central and western regions of Iraq, and expelled Iraqi government forces from the Iraqi-Syrian border area.
　イスラム法に基づく新国家建設を標榜するスンニ派過激派組織「イラク・シリアのイスラム国（ＩＳＩＳ）」がイラク中・西部で都市や油田を制圧し、国境地帯からイラク軍部隊を排除した。

In the region near the border with Syria, the Al-Nustra Front, a terrorist organization affiliated with Al-Qaida that is fighting the administration of Syrian President Bashar Assad, has launched a joint struggle with ISIS. Members of the two extremist groups have reportedly moved freely between the two countries as if no border exists, thus aggravating the chaotic situation.
　シリア国境付近では、シリアのアサド政権と対立するアル・カーイダ系テロ組織「ヌスラ戦線」が、ＩＳＩＳと共闘を始めた。二つの過激派が、国境が存在しないかのように両国を自由に行き来し、無秩序状態を作り出している。

As a result, the Syrian military has carried out air strikes on the border region, which has been welcomed by the Iraqi government. The new development is indicative of a blending of the civil wars in the two countries stemming from conflicts between Shiite and Sunni militants, exposing how complex the confrontation really is.
　危機感を抱いたシリア軍が、イラク国境地帯を空爆し、イラクがこれを歓迎した。シーア派とスンニ派の対立に根ざす両国の内戦の一体化と、複雑な対立の構図を印象づけるものだ。

As if taking advantage of this turmoil, Kurdish forces, a minority group based in northern Iraq, have embarked on running one of Iraq’s main refineries and oil exports on their own, a highly alarming move that could end up splitting Iraq.
　こうした混乱に乗じるように、イラク北部の少数派クルド人が独自に油田管理や原油輸出を始めた。イラクの分裂につながりかねない、憂慮すべき動きだ。

Iraqi existence at stake

Also problematic in this connection are reports that huge amounts of cash have been flowing to Sunni extremists from Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, a major Sunni power. Saudi Arabia’s decision to sever the flow of funds would be a key step toward resolving the imbroglio.
　ＩＳＩＳに、スンニ派の大国サウジアラビアなど湾岸諸国内から巨額の活動資金が流れているとされる点も問題だ。サウジがこの資金の流れを断つことが、混乱収拾への重要な一歩となろう。

It is only natural that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, on a tour of Middle East and European countries earlier this month, warned that the ongoing crisis could be fatal to “Iraq’s existence as a state, and it is also a threat to the wider region [of the Middle East as a whole].” As it has ruled out the option of deploying ground troops in Iraq, the United States should accelerate its diplomatic efforts.
　ケリー米国務長官が中東・欧州訪問で、「イラクが国家存亡の危機に直面し、中東全体が脅威にさらされている」と警告したのは、当然である。地上部隊を投入する選択肢を排除した米国は、外交努力を加速させるべきだ。

Washington, for that matter, has decided to extend financial assistance to Syria’s moderate rebels against the Assad regime. The decision appears to be aimed at blunting the capability of ISIS by helping the moderates hold the Al-Nusra Front in check.
　米国は、穏健なシリア反体制派に対する資金援助を決めた。穏健派によるヌスラ戦線への牽制を通じて、ＩＳＩＳの力を殺ぐ狙いがあるのだろう。

In the meantime, a 180-strong team of U.S. military advisers has begun operating in Iraq. Washington says the advisers will help rebuild the Iraqi forces, while collecting information about how ISIS is organized and its probable future moves, in an effort to eventually specify targets by armed drones, which are one of the options the United States may employ in the future.
　同時に、米国の軍事顧問団の約１８０人がイラクでの任務を開始した。イラク軍の立て直しを図りつつ、ＩＳＩＳの組織や動向に関する情報を集め、将来の選択肢である「無人機による空爆」の目標も特定するという。

To prevent the collapse of Iraq’s foundation as a state, the United States aims to rally states and other forces that have an influence over Iraq, but has still fallen short of completing the task of drawing up any feasible scenario.
　イラクの国家基盤が崩れる事態を防ぐため、米国は、イラクに影響力を持つ国や勢力の結集を目指しているが、実現可能なシナリオを描き切れていない。

Kerry has been persistently urging Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to form a government of national unity, including Sunni and Kurdish forces. The Iraqi prime minister must waste no time in realizing national reconciliation.
　ケリー長官はマリキ首相に、スンニ派やクルド人を含む挙国一致の内閣作りを改めて求めた。首相は国民融和を急ぐ必要がある。

The Japanese government, for its part, has decided to provide about ¥600 million in assistance to Iraqi refugees. This country should continue its cooperation to help stabilize the Iraqi situation.
　日本政府はイラク避難民支援に約６億円の緊急援助を決めた。イラク安定に日本も協力したい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 29, 2014)