中国の軍事開発 地域の安定脅かす「砂の長城」

The Yomiuri Shimbun
China jeopardizes regional stability by building ‘Great Wall of sand’
中国の軍事開発　地域の安定脅かす「砂の長城」

China is accelerating its land reclamation in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, a move that is jeopardizing the stability of the region.
　中国が南シナ海・スプラトリー（南沙）諸島で、岩礁埋め立てを加速させている。地域の安定を脅かす行為だ。

The U.S. Defense Department’s recently released annual report on China’s military strength mentioned for the first time that country’s reclamation of land in the South China Sea, which has been described as the building of “a Great Wall of sand.” The report expressed concern that the reclaimed land around rocks and reefs in the waters would create “persistent civil-military bases of operation.”
　中国の軍事力に関する米国防総省の年次報告書が、「砂の長城」建設と呼ばれる埋め立て作業に初めて言及した。岩礁が「永続的な軍民活動拠点になる」とも指摘している。

As of late last year, China had already begun constructing harbors, communication facilities and an airfield at four of the five reclaimed outposts in the Spratly Islands.
　昨年末の時点で、５か所の埋め立て地のうち４か所で港や通信施設、飛行場などの建設に入っていた。

A Pentagon official said the total acreage of the reclaimed area had grown to about eight square kilometers, quadrupling in size over about four months.
米当局者は、その後の４か月で埋め立て地の面積が４倍の約８平方キロに拡大した、と述べた。

China is reclaiming land at an extraordinarily fast pace. It is clearly trying to create a fait accompli by unilaterally expanding its control over territories disputed with such neighboring countries as the Philippines.
　異様に速いペースだ。フィリピンなどとの係争地で自国の支配を一方的に拡張し、既成事実化を図る中国の狙いは明白である。

It is quite reasonable that the report criticizes China’s “willingness to tolerate a higher level of regional tension” to advance its interests.
　報告書が中国を「地域の緊張を高めるのをいとわない」と批判するのは、もっともだ。

China defends its move to reclaim land in the disputed waters as intended to safeguard its territorial sovereignty, but this claim is excessively self-serving. It is commonly recognized among countries concerned that China’s territorial claims — which assert that its sovereignty covers almost all the area in the South China Sea — have no basis under international law.
　中国は、埋め立てを「領土や主権を守る行動」と正当化するが、独善的にすぎる。南シナ海のほぼ全体に自国の主権が及ぶとする中国の主張に国際法上の根拠がないのは、関係国の共通認識だ。

The prevailing view is that China’s reclamation in the area is part of its preparations for establishing an air-defense identification zone over the South China Sea and securing air supremacy.
　埋め立ては、南シナ海での防空識別圏の設定や制空権確保の準備作業との見方が強い。

Cyberwar capabilities

The report also said it is likely that China’s nuclear submarine, carrying ballistic missiles, will begin its first patrols for nuclear deterrent purposes this year.
核搭載の原子力潜水艦が年内に初の哨戒活動を行う可能性もあるとされる。

It is noteworthy that the report expressed strong alarm over the rapid modernization of China’s military forces, saying “it could potentially reduce the U.S. forces’ core technological advantage.”
　注目すべきは、報告書が中国軍の近代化に対し、「米軍の技術的優位を減じる潜在力がある」として強い危機感を示したことだ。

In the field of space, in particular, the report said China possesses “the most rapidly maturing space program in the world” and that the country continues to develop capabilities designed to limit or prevent the use of space-based assets by its adversaries.
　特に、宇宙分野について、中国が「世界で最も急速に発達した宇宙計画」を持ち、敵の宇宙利用を制限・妨害する能力の開発を続けている、と明記した。

Regarding cyberspace, the report expresses a sense of danger over China’s strengthening of its capabilities to destroy computer networks, as part of its “anti-access and area denial (A2/AD)” strategy to prevent the intervention of U.S. forces in the event of a contingency.
　サイバー分野でも、米軍の有事介入を阻む中国の「接近阻止・領域拒否（Ａ２ＡＤ）」戦略の一環として、ネットワーク破壊能力の増強への警戒感を示している。

Close attention must be paid to any progress in China’s military technologies in these newly emerging domains.
　こうした新たな分野における中国の軍事技術の進展について、十分に注視していく必要がある。

Worrisome for Japan is the buildup of equipment for the People’s Liberation Army Navy and Air Force.
　日本にとって懸念されるのは、中国海空軍の装備増強だ。

The report said it was likely that in the next 15 years, China will build multiple domestically produced aircraft carriers and procure Russian-made Sukhoi Su-35s, one of the most advanced fighters in the world. It also said China will likely make progress in the development of stealth strike aircraft in that period.
　報告書は、今後１５年で複数の国産空母が建造されるとともに、ロシア製の最新鋭戦闘機スホイ３５の調達やステルス戦闘機の開発が進む可能性を指摘している。

Japan and the United States must boost the joint response capabilities of the Self-Defense Forces and U.S. forces, based on recently agreed-upon guidelines on bilateral defense cooperation, and enhance their deterrent against China.
　日米両国は、先に合意した新しい日米防衛協力の指針（ガイドライン）に基づき、自衛隊と米軍の共同対処能力を強化し、中国に対する抑止力を高めるべきだ。

It is also important to cooperate with countries concerned to heighten vigilance and surveillance activities in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and urge China to refrain from taking any provocative military action.
　関係国とも協調し、東・南シナ海での警戒・監視活動を強めるとともに、中国に軍事的な挑発を自制するよう促すことが大切だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 14, 2015)