尖閣国有化３年 領土守り抜く体制を構築せよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Warning and surveillance system must be firmly secured to protect territory
尖閣国有化３年　領土守り抜く体制を構築せよ

China’s infringements of Japanese sovereignty have been continuing. The government must build a thorough warning and surveillance system, taking into consideration that it will be a long-term struggle.
　日本の主権に対する中国の侵害が続いている。政府は長期戦も視野に、万全の警戒・監視体制を構築せねばならない。

Friday marked the third anniversary of the nationalization of the Senkaku Islands in Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture.
　沖縄県石垣市の尖閣諸島を国有化してから、１１日で３年を迎えた。

China, which claims sovereignty over the Senkakus, has six to nine of its government vessels intrude into Japanese territorial waters around the islands every month. The number of intruding ships has declined, but their intrusions have become routine. China, building a 10,000-ton-class large patrol boat, clearly intends to continue its saber-rattling activities.
　尖閣諸島の領有権を主張する中国は、今も毎月６～９隻の公船を周辺の領海に侵入させている。当初より隻数は減ったが、常態化した。１万トン級の大型巡視船も建造し、示威活動を続ける構えだ。

Japan Coast Guard boats have been conducting patrols around the Senkakus and ordering Chinese vessels to exit from Japanese waters whenever they intrude.
　侵入の度に海上保安庁の巡視船が監視し、退去を求めている。

It is also necessary to keep an eye on the moves of the Chinese military. China declared in November 2013 the establishment of an air defense identification zone in airspace including that over the Senkakus. Chinese air and maritime forces have bolstered and modernized their military equipment and aim to establish naval and air supremacy in the East and South China seas.
　中国軍の動向も注視が必要だ。２０１３年１１月、尖閣諸島上空を含む空域に防空識別圏の設定を表明した。海空軍の装備を増強、近代化し、東・南シナ海の制海・制空権の確保を狙っている。

It is right for Ishigaki Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama to say, “Realistic threats have been mounting.”
　中山義隆石垣市長の「現実的な脅威が高まっている」との指摘はもっともだ。

The central government and local governments concerned need to share a sense of urgency and work together strategically toward securing territorial integrity.
政府と関係自治体が危機感を共有し、領土保全に戦略的に取り組む必要がある。

The JCG has so far managed to deal with Chinese government vessels by mobilizing patrol boats from around the country, but within the current fiscal year it will also establish a system under which it will be able to operate 12 large patrol boats on a full-time basis. It is necessary to establish as soon as possible a constant aerial monitoring system with the use of three jet planes.
　海保は従来、全国からの巡視船の応援派遣をやり繰りし、中国公船に対応してきたが、今年度中に大型巡視船１２隻の専従体制を整える。ジェット機３機による空からの常時監視体制も、できるだけ早期に整備したい。

It is essential for the JCG and the Self-Defense Forces to cooperate closely in preparing a system capable of ensuring defense seamlessly in anticipation of various scenarios.
　様々なシナリオを想定し、海保と自衛隊が緊密に連携して、切れ目のない対処を可能にしておくことが欠かせない。

Japan-U.S. alliance vital

U.S. President Barack Obama confirmed in spring last year that the Senkakus fall within the scope of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. A firm Japan-U.S. alliance can serve as the greatest deterrence against China.
　オバマ米大統領は昨春、尖閣諸島が日米安全保障条約の適用対象だと確認した。強固な日米同盟が中国への最大の抑止力となる。

If security-related bills pass through the Diet, it would expand greatly the cooperation of the SDF and the U.S. military. They must augment joint drills and surveillance activity.
　安全保障関連法案が成立すれば自衛隊と米軍の協力は大幅に拡大する。共同の訓練や警戒活動を一段と充実させることが大切だ。

The maritime liaison mechanism must be put into operation as early as possible to prevent accidental clashes between the SDF and Chinese forces.
　自衛隊と中国軍の偶発的な衝突を防ぐため、「海上連絡メカニズム」の運用開始も急ぐべきだ。

It is important for the fact that the Senkakus are inherent territories of Japan historically and by international law to be made more widely known and understood overseas.
　尖閣諸島が歴史的にも国際法的にも日本固有の領土であることを国際社会に積極的に発信し、理解を広げることが重要である。

China conducted an anti-Japan propaganda campaign on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II this year by linking the event to issues of historical perception. Such moves have caused a drop in Japanese firms’ investment in China and the number of Japanese tourists visiting the country.
　戦後７０年の今年、中国は、歴史認識に絡めた反日宣伝活動を展開している。こうした動きは、日本企業の対中投資や日本人観光客の減少などを招いた。

Japan and China have become increasingly interdependent in economic terms. Even if there are conflicts on territorial claims and over issues of historical perception, we want the two countries to encourage practical cooperation and personnel exchange.
　日中両国は、経済面で相互依存関係を強めている。領土や歴史認識を巡る対立があっても、実務的な協力や人的交流は進めたい。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is exploring the possibility of holding talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping by taking advantage of such occasions as when he attends a U.N. General Assembly later this month and a Japan-China-South Korea summit likely to be scheduled for late October.
　安倍首相は、今月下旬の国連総会や１０月末にも開かれる日中韓首脳会談などの機会を利用し、中国首脳との会談を模索している。

Abe and Xi must exchange opinions candidly from a comprehensive viewpoint of a mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests.
　戦略的互恵関係の大局に立ち、率直な意見交換を行うべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 12, 2015)