米中首脳会談 「独善」で大国関係は築けない

The Yomiuri Shimbun
China’s self-justified stance won’t help build major-power relations
米中首脳会談　「独善」で大国関係は築けない

It will be impossible for China to build what it calls a “new type of great power relations” with the United States as long as it continues to challenge international order through self-justified conduct.
　中国が独善的行動で国際秩序に挑戦し続ける限り、自らが望む米国との「新しいタイプの大国関係」は構築できまい。

Chinese President Xi Jinping is making an official visit to the United States and held talks with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington.
　中国の習近平国家主席が米国を公式訪問し、ワシントンでオバマ大統領と会談した。

Obama expressed “very serious concerns” about Chinese cyber-attacks on U.S. corporations and citizens, and demanded Xi ensure a halt to such activities.
　オバマ氏は、米企業や国民への中国発のサイバー攻撃に対して、「非常に深刻な懸念」を表明し、習氏に停止を要求した。

With a presidential election scheduled for next year, U.S. public opinion is increasingly harsh on China. It seems that Obama had to adopt an even more critical stance on China.
　大統領選挙を来年に控えた米国では、対中世論が硬化している。オバマ氏も一層厳しい姿勢を示さざるを得なかったのだろう。

The two leaders agreed that their countries would not conduct or support cyberattacks to steal trade secrets and other confidential information. They also agreed to initiate a ministerial-level dialogue.
　両首脳は、企業秘密などを盗み出すサイバー攻撃を実行、支援しないことでは一致した。閣僚級対話の創設でも合意した。

The question is whether this agreement will be followed by action. The international community must pay close attention to whether the mutual agreement will be truly honored by China, which has denied involvement in cyber-attacks.
　問われるのは実際の行動だ。攻撃への関与を否定する中国が合意を本当に順守するのか、国際社会は注視しなければならない。

The two leaders’ talks led to no agreement on the issue regarding China’s reef reclamation activities in the South China Sea.
　中国が南シナ海で岩礁を埋め立てている問題を巡って、両首脳の議論は平行線に終わった。

At a joint press conference following the talks, Obama warned the Chinese leader on the issue. “The United States will continue to sail, fly and operate anywhere that international law allows,” he said. Xi, however, stood his ground firmly, insisting, “We have the right to uphold our own territorial sovereignty and lawful and legitimate maritime rights and interests.”
　オバマ氏は会談後の共同記者会見で、「米国は国際法が許す場所ではどこでも、航行や飛行、軍事行動を継続する」とクギを刺した。習氏は「領土主権と、合法的で正当な海洋権益を守る権利がある」と強弁し、譲らなかった。

Arbitrary policy management

It has recently been found that China is building 3,000-meter runways on three of the reclaimed islands. If these facilities are completed, a vast expanse of waters in the South China Sea could, in effect, come under Chinese control, according to some experts.
　最近、中国が埋め立てた岩礁の３か所で３０００メートル級の滑走路を建設していることが判明した。完成すれば、南シナ海の広大な海域が中国の事実上の支配下に入る可能性も指摘されている。

China’s bid to change the status quo by force cannot be overlooked. The United States needs to join hands with Japan and other pertinent countries in urging China to exercise self-restraint in this respect. If China wants an equal relationship with the United States and a position as a major power in the international community, it should fulfill its share of responsibility for securing regional stability.
　中国の力による現状変更は看過できない。米国は、日本など関係国と連携して、中国に自制を促す必要がある。中国が米国との対等な関係や国際社会での大国としての地位を望むなら、地域の安定に相応の責任を果たすべきだ。

In making an official visit to the United States, Xi signed a contract for a huge purchase of 300 passenger airplanes with Boeing Co. It was evident that he tried to use the deal as leverage for wooing and winning over the U.S. business community.
　習氏の訪米に合わせて、中国は米ボーイング社から旅客機３００機を購入する大型契約を結んだ。経済カードで米財界を懐柔し、取り込む狙いが明白である。

However, the United States has a deepening distrust of China’s arbitrary policy management, which can be illustrated by its market intervention aimed at maintaining stock prices and the devaluation of the yuan.
　だが、株価維持の市場介入や人民元切り下げなどに見られる中国の恣意しい的な政策運営に、米国は不信感を強めている。

At the press conference, Xi emphasized that China would attach importance to market principles. “There is no basis for the renminbi to be devalued for a long period,” he said. We hope the Chinese president will be as good as his word to carry out highly transparent reforms in accordance with international rules.
　習氏は記者会見で、「長期的には人民元を切り下げる根拠はない」と述べ、市場原理を重視する考えを強調した。その言葉通り、国際ルールに則のっとった透明性の高い改革を推進してもらいたい。

The two leaders reconfirmed their nations would increase cooperation in addressing climate change-related problems. Climate change may be one of the few areas in which the two countries can facilitate a cooperative relationship. China and the United States — the world’s largest and second-largest greenhouse gas emitters — should make steady progress in reducing their emissions.
　気候変動問題に関して、両首脳は協力強化を改めて確認した。協調を打ち出せる数少ない分野の一つではないか。温室効果ガス排出量の世界１、２位の中国と米国は着実に削減を進めるべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 27, 2015)