（社説）被爆地と首相 逆行あり得ぬ非核への道

August 11, 2014
EDITORIAL: Japan must pursue a path to a nuclear-free world
（社説）被爆地と首相　逆行あり得ぬ非核への道

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki this month, both of which marked the 69th anniversaries of the atomic bombings. In the ceremonies in both cities, he emphasized determination to realize a world without nuclear weapons.
　原爆投下から６９年の広島、長崎を安倍晋三首相が訪れた。式典では「核兵器のない世界を実現する」との決意を強調した。

However, it seems that the gap between Abe and the cities that were struck by atomic bombs has increased since last year.
　だが、被爆地との溝は昨年より深まったように見える。

In a meeting with Abe in Hiroshima, 85-year-old hibakusha Yukio Yoshioka said, “(The Cabinet’s approval of the exercise of the right to collective self-defense) will make Japan a country that repeats its (past) mistake and can wage a war.”
　「過ちを繰り返し、戦争のできる国にするものだ」。広島で首相と懇談した被爆者の吉岡幸雄さん（８５）は言った。

Miyako Jodai, 75, who served as the representative of atomic bomb survivors in the ceremony in Nagasaki, said, “I want the government not to forget or deny the sufferings of atomic bomb survivors.”
長崎の式典で被爆者代表を務めた城臺美彌子（じょうだいみやこ）さん（７５）は「被爆者の苦しみを忘れ、なかったことにしないで」と力を込めた。

They apparently demanded that Abe withdraw the Cabinet’s approval of the exercise of the right to collective self-defense.
　ともに、集団的自衛権の行使を認めた閣議決定の撤回を首相に求めるものだった。

DIFFERENT FROM DESIRES
　■重ならない願い

There are also other causes of concern.
　懸念材料はほかにもある。

One is the exports of nuclear power generation infrastructure to emerging countries. Another is negotiations to conclude a nuclear power agreement with India, which has conducted nuclear tests without joining the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). Both could lead to nuclear proliferation.
　新興国への原発輸出、核不拡散条約（ＮＰＴ）に加盟せずに核実験したインドとの原子力協定交渉……。どちらも核拡散につながる恐れがぬぐえない。

The Abe administration also plans to maintain the policy of removing plutonium from spent nuclear fuels and reusing it in nuclear power plants.
　安倍政権は、プルトニウムを使用済み核燃料から新たに取り出して原発で利用する政策も続ける方針だ。

After the March 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima Prefecture, the future of nuclear power generation remains unclear. In addition, Japan already holds stocks of more than 40 tons of plutonium whose use has yet to be decided. Anti-nuclear groups in Japan and abroad suspect that Japan has the intention of arming itself with nuclear weapons.
　福島での大事故のあと、原発の未来が不透明なままだ。しかも日本は、利用計画を定めきれない４０トン以上のプルトニウムの在庫を抱えている。内外の反核団体などは、「核武装の意図があるのでは」といぶかる。

Why are the moves of the government of A-bombed Japan so different from the desires for anti-nuclear policies?
　被爆国である日本の政府の動きがなぜ、これほどまでに反核の願いと重ならないのか。

In cities that were devastated by the atomic bombs, Abe asked the people to understand the Cabinet’s approval of the exercise of the right to collective self-defense by repeatedly saying, “It is to protect the lives and livelihoods of the people.”
　安倍首相は被爆地で「国民の命と暮らしを守るためだ」と繰り返し、集団的自衛権の行使容認に理解を求めた。

The government’s basic stance is as follows: China’s military power is conspicuously increasing. North Korea is not halting its nuclear and missile development. The security environment surrounding Japan is becoming harsher. Therefore, the series of policies is preparation for a variety of threats.
　中国の軍事的台頭が目立ち、北朝鮮は核・ミサイル開発をやめない。日本の安全保障環境は厳しくなっており、一連の政策は多様な脅威への備えだというのが、政権の基本姿勢だ。

CONTRADICTIONS OF POLICIES
　■政策の矛盾深く

It is said that in Northeast Asia, nuclear deterrence is effective because some countries continued to possess nuclear
weapons even after the end of the Cold War. Therefore, the government’s policy of depending on the U.S. nuclear umbrella is unshakable.
　冷戦後も核を持つ国がひしめき、核抑止力がものを言うとされるのが北東アジアだ。
このため、米国の「核の傘」に頼るという方針も揺るがない。

If concerned countries only rely on nuclear weapons, however, the era of risking catastrophe by nuclear war will continue. China, Russia and North Korea will heighten their alarm against the strengthening of the Japan-U.S. alliance based on nuclear weapons. As a result, “the lives and the livelihoods of the people” will be endangered.
　ただ、関係国が核兵器に依存するばかりでは、核戦争による破滅リスクを背負ったままの時代が続く。核を主軸に据えた日米同盟の強化に、中国やロシア、北朝鮮が警戒感を高め、「国民の命と暮らし」が逆に危うくなりかねない。

However, the Abe administration is taking no action to drastically minimize the role of nuclear weapons and positively reduce the risk of the nuclear age.
　ところが安倍政権には、「核の役割」を大きく低下させ、核時代のリスクを積極的に消していくような発信も行動もない。

There are many cases that run counter to nuclear disarmament. One is the missile defense (MD) system, which is being jointly developed by Japan and the United States at present.
　核軍縮に逆行するような事例は、いくつもある。たとえば、日米共同で開発を進めるミサイル防衛（ＭＤ）システムだ。

The United States puts expectations on Japan’s exercise of the right to collective self-defense on the grounds that the exercise will lead to the strengthening of the MD system. That is because the Abe administration says that it plans to make it possible for Japan to shoot down ballistic missiles targeting the U.S. mainland or warships under the interpretation of the Constitution.
　米国は集団的自衛権の行使が、ＭＤの強化につながると期待感を示す。米本土や艦船を狙う弾道ミサイルを日本が撃ち落とすことも、憲法解釈上は認められるようにする、と安倍政権が語っているためだ。

Irrespective of whether it is technologically possible to shoot down the missiles, China and Russia are opposed to the strengthening of the MD system, saying that their nuclear deterrence will be weakened. China could also use the strengthening of the MD system as an excuse to increase its nuclear capabilities in order to break the defense network of Japan and the United States.
　技術的に可能かどうかはともかく、中国やロシアは「核抑止力が損なわれる」とＭＤ強化に反発する。中国が防衛網を突破しようと、核戦力増強の口実に使う恐れもある。

Abe also supports the possibility of the Self-Defense Forces sweeping for mines in the Strait of Hormuz. But the potential to do so could irritate Iran and adversely affect multinational talks to halt the country’s nuclear development. As a result, Japan could lose its influence on Iran.
　安倍首相は、ホルムズ海峡で自衛隊が機雷除去にあたることも可能になるとの考えを示している。これがイランを刺激して核開発を防ぐ多国間協議に悪影響を及ぼし、イランへの日本の発言力もそぎかねない。

It is important to take the threats seriously. But it is impossible to continue the vicious cycle of “power against power” forever. What policies will the Abe administration take to prevent the acceleration of nuclear power expansion and nuclear proliferation and stabilize the international society and Northeast Asia? The policies are unclear. Therefore, people in cities that were victimized by the atomic bombs are feeling anxiety.
　脅威を見据えるのは大切だが、「力には力」での悪循環をずっと続けるわけにはいかない。安倍政権は、核軍拡や核拡散の加速をどう防いで国際社会や北東アジアの安定をはかるのか。そこが見えないことが、被爆地の不安の根っこにある。

It is Japan’s role to show a vision of steadily promoting arms control of the entire Northeast Asian region and stabilizing it.
　周辺地域全体の軍備管理を着実に進め、安定を図る。そうしたビジョンを示すことは、日本に求められる役割である。

TRUST AND DIALOGUE
　■信頼と対話が出発点

In the Hiroshima Peace Declaration, Mayor Kazumi Matsui called for the establishment of “a new security system based on trust and dialogue.”
　「信頼と対話による安全保障の仕組みづくりを」。松井一実広島市長は平和宣言で訴えた。

In the world, the Obama administration is losing its centripetal force, and its relations with Russia have cooled due to the Ukrainian situation. China’s maritime advances have intensified friction with neighboring countries. The road to the “new security system based on trust and dialogue” is steep. But is it just a dream?
　世界を見れば、米国のオバマ政権は求心力が低下し、ウクライナ問題でロシアとの関係が冷え込んだ。中国の海洋進出は、近隣との摩擦を強めている。「信頼と対話による安全保障」への道は険しい。だが、夢物語だろうか。

The Nagasaki Peace Declaration this year again advocated an idea of establishing “nuclear-weapon-free zones.” In the proposal, Japan and the Korean Peninsula are denuclearized, and nuclear powers promise not to attack the areas with nuclear weapons.
　長崎の平和宣言は今年も、北東アジアに非核兵器地帯をつくる構想を掲げた。日本と朝鮮半島を非核化し、核保有国はそこを核攻撃しないと約束する。

The Japanese government is negative to the idea on the grounds that relations of trust, which serve as a prerequisite, do not exist in the areas partly because North Korea has repeatedly conducted nuclear tests. North Korea counters the view, saying that what is a threat is the U.S. nuclear umbrella.
　北朝鮮が核実験を繰り返すなど、前提となる信頼関係がない、と日本政府は消極的だ。北朝鮮は、米国の核の傘こそが脅威だと反論する。

Relations of trust will be established through dialogue. To realize the nuclear-weapon-free zones, Japan should first show its intentions to set up the zones and leave the U.S. nuclear umbrella. Then, it should urge the United States to accept the zones. After that, showing a joint goal, Japan should strongly urge North Korea to take part in the negotiations.
　信頼関係は、対話を通じて構築していくものだろう。日本がまず非核地帯設置と、核の傘脱却に向けた意思を示し、同盟国である米国に働きかける。共通の目標を掲げ、北朝鮮に強く交渉参加を迫ってはどうか。

The improvement of relations with China is also indispensable. A council of experts from five countries in the Asia and Pacific region, including former Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans, asked Japan and China to hold a summit meeting in its proposal compiled in Hiroshima.
　中国との関係改善も不可欠だ。エバンズ元豪外相ら、アジア太平洋５カ国の有識者会議は広島でまとめた提言で、日中両国に首脳会談を呼びかけた。

It is not easy to untangle a thread. Unless there is a dialogue, however, nothing will start.
　もつれた糸を解きほぐすのは容易ではない。だが、対話がなければ、なにも始まらない。

--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 10