露首相択捉訪問 領土交渉に背向ける軽挙妄動

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Through rash actions, Russia turning its back on territorial talks with Japan
露首相択捉訪問　領土交渉に背向ける軽挙妄動

It is an action that will greatly set back the momentum toward improving bilateral ties between Japan and Russia and settling territorial disputes. By no means can we tolerate this.
　日露関係の改善と領土問題の解決の機運を大幅に後退させる動きだ。断じて容認できない。

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev visited Etorofu Island in the northern territories on Saturday.
　ロシアのメドベージェフ首相が北方領土の択捉島を訪問した。

After inspecting the status of the development of harbor and airport facilities on the island, he announced, at a political forum for local youths, a policy of designating the islands of Etorofu and Kunashiri as “advanced development territories.”
港湾施設や空港などの整備状況を視察した後、若者向けの政治集会で、択捉島と国後島を「優先発展地域」に指定する方針を表明した。

The visit is apparently aimed at demonstrating that Russia’s effective control of the northern territories is entrenched, as this month marks the 70th year since the then Soviet Union occupied the islands.
　ソ連の占領開始から今月で７０年となるのに合わせ、実効支配の固定化を印象づける狙いだろう。

By ignoring Japan’s request to cancel the visit, Medvedev’s arrival on the island constitutes a serious infringement of sovereignty.
　訪問は日本の中止要請を無視したもので、重大な主権侵害である。

It was reasonable that Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told Russian Ambassador to Japan Evgeny Afanasiev on Saturday, “The visit hurt the feelings of the Japanese people and was extremely regrettable.”
岸田外相が駐日露大使に、「日本国民の感情を傷つける。極めて遺憾だ」と抗議したのは当然だ。

Lately, Russia’s hard-line stance on Japan has been intolerable. At the end of June, Russia decided to impose a ban, starting next year, on drift-net fishing for salmon and trout within Russia’s exclusive economic zone, where Japanese fishing vessels also operate. There are fears the Japanese fishing industry will be affected.
　ロシアは最近、対日強硬姿勢が目に余る。６月末、排他的経済水域（ＥＥＺ）内で、日本漁船も従事するサケ・マス流し網漁の来年からの禁止を決めた。日本漁業への打撃が心配される。

Since July, the Russian health minister and the deputy prime minister have successively visited the northern territories. Russia has also announced a “development program,” injecting about ¥120 billion over 10 years for the development of social infrastructure for the whole of the Kuril Islands.
　７月以降、保健相と副首相が相次いで北方領土を訪れた。千島列島全体の社会基盤整備などに、１０年間で約１２００億円を投じる「発展計画」も発表した。

Moscow makes threats

We can discern Russia’s intention of shaking the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and causing disarray in Japan’s cooperation with the United States and European countries, which are imposing sanctions on Russia over the Ukrainian crisis.
　安倍政権を揺さぶり、ウクライナ問題で対露制裁を発動中の米欧との連携を乱す意図が見える。

Japan has attached importance to dialogue with Russia to hold in check China’s military rise and to prevent China from forming a united front with Russia against Japan.
　日本は、中国の軍事的台頭を牽制けんせいし、ロシアとの「反日」共闘の構築を避けるため、日露間の対話を重視してきた。

By using the personal relationship between Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Japan is seeking a possible visit to Japan by Putin sometime this year to advance bilateral negotiations over territorial issues. We can understand Abe’s strategic course of action.
　安倍首相とプーチン大統領の個人的な関係をテコに領土交渉を進展させようと、プーチン氏の年内来日も探っている。首相の戦略の方向性は理解できる。

But Russia’s recent moves vividly demonstrate that the Putin administration has no intention of earnestly dealing with the territorial issues with Japan.
　だが、最近のロシアの動きは、プーチン政権が領土問題を本気で前進させる意向がないことを如実に示しているのではないか。

Even if Putin’s visit to Japan is realized, it is hard to expect any substantial dialogue between Abe and Putin, nor any tangible results.
　仮に来日が実現しても、中身のある対話や目に見える成果は期待できまい。

Kishida said he would freeze for the time being the coordination for his planned visit to Russia, in preparation for Putin’s visit to Japan. Japan’s strategy is coming to an impasse.
岸田氏は当面、訪露の調整を凍結するという。日本側の戦略は行き詰まりつつある。

Behind Russia’s recent moves is the reality that Putin is utilizing as a unifying force for his administration his adoption of hostile views, particularly toward the United States, and inflaming patriotism in the Russian people.
　プーチン氏が米国を特に敵視し、露国民の愛国心を煽あおって政権の求心力としている現実が背景にある。

Putin has also referred to the possibility of using nuclear weapons, having repeatedly made threatening remarks to the United States and European countries.
プーチン氏は核兵器使用の可能性にも言及し、米欧に対する威嚇発言を繰り返してきた。

By undergoing a rapid military buildup, Russia also continues its military provocations toward the United States and European nations. Russia’s changing of the status quo by force, such as its annexation of the Crimean Peninsula, can never be permitted.
　軍備を急速に増強し、米欧への軍事的挑発も続けている。クリミア半島編入という力による現状変更は、到底許されない。

A Russia that abides by international rules and assumes a constructive role would benefit Russia. Japan, in cooperation with the United States, has to continue urging Putin to understand this point, on such occasions as the U.N. General Assembly and the summit talks of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, both scheduled for this autumn.
　国際ルールを守り、建設的な役割を担うことこそがロシアの利益になる――。日本は米国と連携し、今秋の国連総会やアジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）首脳会議などを通じて、この点をプーチン氏に説き続ける必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 23, 2015)