（社説）中国ガス田 不信の連鎖に陥るな

--The Asahi Shimbun, July 24
EDITORIAL: Tokyo, Beijing must avert cycle of mutual distrust in East China Sea
（社説）中国ガス田　不信の連鎖に陥るな

China is developing gas fields in wide areas on the Chinese side of the median line between its shoreline and that of Japan in the East China Sea.
　中国が、東シナ海の日本と中国の中間線近くの中国側海域でガス田開発を進めている。

The Japanese government has released aerial photos of 16 offshore gas drilling platforms, including 12 structures that have been detected since June 2013.
日本政府は１３年６月以降に１２基の施設を確認したとして、それを含む計１６基の写真を公開した。

In June 2008, the governments of Japan and China agreed to pursue joint development of gas fields in areas around disputed waters. Although bilateral negotiations for joint gas development have been suspended because of a flare-up over the Senkaku Islands, the agreement has not been abrogated.
　日中両政府は０８年６月、ガス田の共同開発をめざすことで合意している。交渉は尖閣問題などで中断しているが、合意が破棄されたわけではない。

China’s unilateral moves to change the status quo are totally unacceptable. The Japanese government needs to demand that Beijing call off the development of gas fields and return to the negotiation table for joint gas development.
　中国の一方的な現状変更は、断じて容認できない。日本政府は中国に対し、開発の中止と共同開発に向けた交渉再開を求めていく必要がある。

Japan and China have been locked in a bitter diplomatic row over the extent of their respective exclusive economic zones in the East China Sea.
　東シナ海は、排他的経済水域の境界をめぐり日中間に争いがある。

The two countries were supposed to have agreed to develop gas fields together while avoiding provocative actions until a border demarcation accord is reached.
線引きが画定するまで互いに配慮しながら、ガス田の共同開発を進めるはずだった。

But China’s activities in the region indicate that it is trying to accumulate fait accomplis for its naval expansion as it is doing in the South China Sea, where it has been reclaiming disputed reefs.
　しかし現状は、中国が岩礁の埋め立てを進めてきた南シナ海と同様、既成事実を積み重ね、海洋進出をはかる動きにも見える。

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani pointed out the possibility that the platforms China has built in the East China Sea could be used to install military facilities like radars and heliports. China may use them “for security purposes,” he said.
中谷防衛相は東シナ海の施設について「（中国が）安全保障の観点から利用する可能性がある」と述べ、レーダーやヘリポートなど軍事目的で使用される可能性を指摘している。

There may be a political motive behind the Japanese government’s decision to publish information about Beijing’s gas development activities in the region at this time. The move may be aimed at winning greater public support for the security legislation it is seeking to enact by stressing the security threat posed by China.
　日本政府がこの時期に公表したのは、中国の脅威を強調し、安全保障関連法案への理解を求める意図もありそうだ。

But Japan should avoid taking actions that could heighten military tension in the East China Sea. The only way to solve the situation is through diplomatic efforts.
　だが、東シナ海の軍事的な緊張を高めることは避けなければならない。外交的に解決する以外に道はない。

It is difficult to understand why the Japanese government has not disclosed the information about the Chinese gas operations until now. Since China has clearly violated the bilateral agreement on gas development, Tokyo should have published the facts to broad audiences at home and abroad as soon as it became aware of them to obtain international understanding of Japan’s concerns.
　一方で、日本政府がこれまで中国側の動きを公表してこなかったのは理解に苦しむ。日中合意違反であり、把握した段階で広く内外に公表し、国際社会に理解を求めるべきだった。

What the two countries need to do most urgently is to make effective efforts to regain a certain degree of mutual trust.
　何よりも急務なのは、両国が一定の信頼を取り戻すことだ。

It is vital for their leaders to discuss the issue from a broad perspective and set basic principles for how the two nations should deal with the situation.
首脳同士が大局を見据えて話し合い、大きな方向性を打ち出すことが重要である。

In a bilateral summit held in 2008, the leaders of Japan and China at that time, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and President Hu Jintao, signed a joint statement pledging to make the East China Sea “a sea of peace, cooperation and friendship.”
　０８年の日中首脳会談では当時の福田首相と胡錦濤（フーチンタオ）国家主席が「東シナ海を平和・協力・友好の海とする」ことを盛り込んだ日中共同声明に署名した。

Tokyo and Beijing are now considering a summit between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping when the Japanese leader visits China in early September.
　日中両政府は、安倍首相が９月初旬に中国を訪問し、習近平（シーチンピン）国家主席と会談することを検討している。

The two governments should make that summit happen to create a diplomatic environment in which it is possible for their leaders to confirm basic principles.
これを実現させ、両首脳が継続的に話し合える環境を整えるべきだ。

In its statement about Japan’s move to publish photos showing China’s gas development activities, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said it has not changed its policy of putting importance on taking actions in line with “shared recognitions concerning the East China Sea problem.” This passage could be interpreted as a signal that Beijing doesn’t want to close the door on cooperation with Japan.
　今回の日本の公表後、中国外務省は談話の中で「東シナ海問題での共通認識の履行を重視する立場は変わらない」とした。日本との協力に応じる余地を残したとも取れる。

Allowing the problem to trigger a cycle of mutual distrust would be detrimental to the interests of both countries.
　不信の連鎖に陥ることは日中双方の利益にならない。

Instead of doing what could cause the bilateral security confrontation to intensify, the two countries should use the situation as an opportunity to start moving toward expanded bilateral cooperation in the future.
安全保障上の対立をあおるより、今後の協力関係を発展させる糸口としなければならない。