米中戦略対話 「責任ある競争相手」に程遠い

The Yomiuri Shimbun
After high-level talks with U.S., China still far from ‘responsible stakeholder’
米中戦略対話　「責任ある競争相手」に程遠い

The United States found a stage to deliver a stern reminder to China, which is continuing its high-handed behavior in maritime areas and in cyberspace, that it needs to follow the rules and fulfill its responsibilities as a major power.
　海洋やサイバー空間で独善的な行動を続ける中国に、ルールを守り、大国としての責任を果たすよう、米国が厳しくクギを刺す場となった。

The seventh round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue has been held in Washington. Over two days, high-level officials from both nations held discussions on a wide spectrum of issues ranging from national security to economic matters.
　第７回米中戦略・経済対話がワシントンで行われ、双方の閣僚級が２日間、安全保障から経済まで幅広い課題を巡って議論した。

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called on China to halt its land reclamation around reefs and military facility construction in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. “We do have a strong national interest in freedom of navigation and overflight,” Kerry said.
　南シナ海のスプラトリー（南沙）諸島での中国による岩礁埋め立てと軍事施設の建設について、ケリー米国務長官は「米国は航行、飛行の自由に大きな国益をもつ」と述べ、中止するよう要求した。

Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi hit back, saying China has a “firm determination to safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.” China is attempting to unilaterally enclose the South China Sea as “its own sea.” We think this approach, which has no basis under international law, is completely unacceptable.
　中国の楊潔チ国務委員は「海洋問題で領土主権と権益を守る」と反論した。国際法の根拠のないまま、南シナ海を「自国の海」として一方的に囲い込もうとする中国の姿勢は到底容認できない。

In mid-June, the Chinese government announced some of its land reclamation work will be completed soon. This was probably intended to temporarily ease antagonism with Washington ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the United States in September.
　中国政府は今月中旬、埋め立てを「近く完了する」と表明した。習近平国家主席の訪米を９月に控え、米国との対立を一時的に緩和したい思惑があったのだろう。

However, what some observers have termed “a Great Wall of sand” has already been built due to China’s land reclamation. There appears to be no change in China’s plan to push on with preparing military facilities and a 3,000-meter runway. If this situation continues, distrust of China will only grow.
　だが、埋め立てによる「砂の長城」はすでに築かれている。３０００メートル級の滑走路や軍事施設の整備などを続ける方針にも変化は見られない。このままでは、対中不信が高まるばかりだ。

Some progress made

In the economic field, U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew issued a sterner-than-usual criticism of China on cyber issues. “We remain deeply concerned about Chinese government-sponsored cyber-enabled theft of confidential business information and proprietary technology from U.S. companies,” Lew said.
　経済分野では、ルー財務長官が「米企業の機密情報や特許技術を盗み取るサイバー攻撃を中国政府が支援していることを深く懸念する」と批判を一段と強めた。

Yang said Beijing supports the principle of developing an “international code of conduct for cyber information-sharing,” but a bilateral working group on cyber issues remains suspended. It would be a stretch to say China provided a sincere response on this issue.
　楊氏は「各国がサイバー情報を共有するため、国際的な行動規範の構築に取り組むべきだ」と語ったが、サイバー問題に関する米中の作業部会は中断している。真摯しんしな対応とは言えまい。

U.S. President Barack Obama also expressed “ongoing U.S. concerns” about China’s cyber and maritime behavior, and he urged China to take “concrete steps” on these issues. It is hugely significant that the president directly called on China to deal with these matters appropriately.
　オバマ大統領も、海洋進出とサイバー問題で中国側に「懸念」を伝え、「具体的措置」をとるよう促した。大統領が直接、中国に善処を求めた意義は小さくない。

With China seeking to build a “new type of major-power relationship” with the United States, it said both sides should “respect and accommodate each other’s core interests.” U.S. Vice President Joe Biden reportedly urged China to be a “responsible stakeholder” in the international system.
　中国側は「新しいタイプの大国関係」構築に向けて、領土・主権など双方の「核心的利益」を尊重することを改めて訴えた。バイデン副大統領は「責任ある競争相手」になるよう戒めたという。

If China genuinely wants to realize a “major-power relationship,” in which it stands on an equal footing with the United States, it should start by fulfilling the responsibilities commensurate with such a position.
　中国が米国と対等の「大国関係」を実現したいのなら、まず相応の責任を果たすべきだろう。

There was progress made elsewhere, as the United States and China reached agreement on a raft of issues including climate change and people-to-people exchanges. They also agreed to expand technological cooperation as a countermeasure to combat climate change. China is scheduled to announce this month its reduction target for greenhouse gas emissions.
　一方、米中が気候変動や人材交流など様々なテーマで合意できたのは成果だ。気候変動対策では、技術協力拡大でも一致した。中国は今月中に、温室効果ガスの排出削減目標を公表するという。

The United States and China are the world’s two largest emitters of these gases. They must steadily make progress in reducing their emissions. The key question will be whether they can produce actual results, not just stage a show of cooperative ties.
　排出量で世界１、２位の中国と米国は着実に削減を進めねばならない。問われるのは、協調関係の演出ではなく、実績である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 26, 2015)