社説：辺野古環境委 公正に監視できるのか

October 21, 2015 (Mainichi Japan)
Editorial: Company donations put fairness of Okinawa environmental watchdog in doubt
社説：辺野古環境委　公正に監視できるのか

Three members of an expert panel tasked with monitoring the environmental impact of construction work off the Henoko district of Nago for the planned relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma received donations from contractors involved in the project.
　沖縄県の米軍普天間飛行場の辺野古移設計画をめぐり、工事が環境に与える影響を監視するため設けられた専門家委員会の委員が、受注業者から寄付金を受け取っていた。
      
Of the 13 members on the panel, Yokohama National University graduate school professor and panel chair Yoshiyuki Nakamura, along with two others, were found to have accepted donations between 500,000 yen and 8 million yen each following their appointments to the body.
　受領が判明したのは、委員１３人のうち、委員長の中村由行（よしゆき）・横浜国立大大学院教授ら３人。委員就任の決定後にそれぞれ５０万円から８００万円が渡っていた。

The donations were given by contractors for the relocation project and an environmental consulting firm, the latter of which now runs the day-to-day office functions of the panel.
　寄付金を出したのは、移設事業を受注した建設会社や環境コンサルタント会社だ。委員会の運営業務もコンサル会社が請け負っていた。

The previous Okinawa governor, Hirokazu Nakaima, requested the formation of the expert panel in December 2013 as a condition for approving landfill work off Henoko. The Defense Ministry then established the environmental oversight committee in April the following year. The panel is tasked with providing scientific and technical advice to the Defense Ministry on environmental protection, and is responsible for environmental reviews of a drilling survey at the Henoko site -- a preliminary step to the land reclamation work -- all the way through a post-construction survey.
　委員会は、沖縄県の仲井真弘多（ひろかず）前知事が２０１３年１２月に辺野古埋め立てを承認した際に条件として求め、防衛省が１４年４月に環境監視委員会として設置した。環境保全について、同省に科学的・専門的助言をするのが目的だ。現在の準備段階から、本体工事が完了した後の事後調査まで担当する。

When the Okinawa Prefectural Government pointed to the possibility that large concrete blocks that the Defense Ministry sank into the waters off the Henoko coast for a seabed survey had destroyed coral reefs, and demanded a halt to the work this past spring, the expert panel stated that the impact of the seabed survey on the reefs was "minimal." The committee played an important role as a source of expert opinion.
　今春、防衛省が移設作業のため辺野古の海底に沈めた大型ブロックがサンゴ礁を損傷した可能性が高いと沖縄県が指摘し、作業停止を求めた際は、委員会が「サンゴ礁全体への影響は軽微」との見解を示すなど、重要な役割を果たした。

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga has said that the government sees no problem in the three panel members receiving donations from companies involved in the base relocation work, insisting, "The panel is being managed in a fair and just manner." The panel members also claim that the donations have not affected the body's discussions and judgment.
　３委員の寄付金受領について、菅義偉官房長官は「公平公正に委員会は行われている」として、委員会の運営に問題はなかったとの考えを示す。委員らも、委員会での議論や判断に影響はなかったとしている。

Even if the truth is as Suga and the committee members have claimed, however, the situation has unfolded in the midst of the controversial U.S. base relocation plan, which has developed into a very public clash between the central and Okinawa governments. Members of the expert panel should not have accepted money that could have been seen as suspicious in any way. As an old Chinese proverb says, "If you don't want to be mistaken as stealing a plum, you should not adjust your crown under a plum tree," i.e. don't leave any room for scandal or doubt.
　菅氏や委員が言う通りだったとしても、政府と県の主張が鋭く対立する辺野古移設問題が舞台である。委員は疑いを持たれるようなカネを受け取るべきではない。「李下（りか）に冠を正さず」だ。

University of the Ryukyus professor emeritus Seiji Azuma, vice chairman of the expert committee, told the Mainichi Shimbun that most of the panel members from mainland Japan have no experience in environmental research in Okinawa.
　副委員長の東（あずま）清二・琉球大名誉教授は毎日新聞の取材に「本土から来た委員は、沖縄の環境調査を一度もしたことがない人ばかり。

"I'm dubious of their ability to conduct environmental monitoring in Okinawa. The central government is probably looking to go ahead and build the new base with a green light from the panel," Azuma added, casting doubt on the purpose of the committee itself.
どうやって沖縄の環境を監視できるのか疑問だ。委員会のお墨付きを得て基地を造るのが本音だろう」と委員会そのものへの疑問を語る。

Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga revoked his predecessor's approval for the land reclamation work off Henoko last week. However, the central government is trying high-handedly to push ahead with the landfill work, and the conflict between the two sides has heightened. If the committee remains a group tailor-made to endorse the central government's plans, it will fail to fulfill its stated role as an environmental watchdog.
　翁長雄志（おながたけし）知事は先週、辺野古の埋め立て承認を取り消した。政府は工事を強引に進めようとしており、県と全面対決している。「お手盛り委員会」の疑いをかけられたままでは、環境を監視する役割は果たせないだろう。

The Defense Ministry should disclose all minutes from the panel meetings.
　防衛省は委員会の議事録をすべて公開すべきだ。

Not accepting money or goods from interested parties is the least that can be expected, morally speaking, from members of an expert panel like the environmental monitoring committee in question. The Nuclear Regulation Authority, for example, checks whether outside experts have received remuneration of 500,000 yen a year or more from nuclear business-related organizations in the previous three years when asking their opinions.
　審議会などの委員は、利害関係者から金品を受け取らないのが最低限のモラルだろう。原子力規制委員会は、外部有識者から意見を聞くにあたって、直近３年間に関連業者から年５０万円以上の報酬を受け取っていないかなどを審査している。

The Defense Ministry should consider introducing such a system for the environmental monitoring committee in Okinawa.
　防衛省も環境監視委員会にこうした仕組みの導入を検討すべきだ。

毎日新聞　2015年10月21日　東京朝刊

アフガン情勢 米軍駐留延長で治安取り戻せ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Afghanistan’s security must be regained with extension of U.S. troop presence
アフガン情勢　米軍駐留延長で治安取り戻せ

The international community has sacrificed a lot and spent a vast amount of money and time to bring stability to Afghanistan. We must not let the country slide back into a hotbed of terrorism.
　アフガニスタンの安定へ、国際社会は多くの犠牲を払い、膨大な費用と時間を費やしてきた。この国をテロの温床に逆戻りさせてはなるまい。

U.S. President Barack Obama has dropped the goal of completing the withdrawal of about 9,800 U.S. troops from Afghanistan by the end of next year. Instead, he will keep about 5,500 American troops in that country in 2017 and later. This is an appropriate decision.
　オバマ米大統領が、約９８００人のアフガン駐留米軍の撤収を２０１６年末に完了させる目標を撤回した。１７年以降も約５５００人を残留させる。妥当な判断だ。

Following the simultaneous terrorist attacks on the United States in September 2001, the U.S. forces toppled the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, and established its presence in the country. At its peak, as many as 100,000 U.S. troops were sent to the country, mainly engaged in maintaining security, in cooperation with forces from other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
　米軍は、０１年９月の同時テロ後に、タリバン政権を倒し、駐留を開始した。ピーク時には約１０万人を派遣し、北大西洋条約機構（ＮＡＴＯ）軍などと治安維持任務に従事した。

In recent years, however, U.S. troops have mainly focused on training Afghanistan’s security forces.
近年はアフガン治安部隊の訓練に重点を置いている。

U.S. troops have fought in Afghanistan for 14 years — it is the United States’ longest war — because the importance Washington places on its antiterrorism strategy remains.
　米国にとって最長の１４年間も戦いを続けているのは、対テロ戦略の重要性が変わらないためだ。

Since the U.S. presidential election in 2008, Obama has consistently advocated, in campaign pledges, that he would end the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan and withdraw troops from both countries. The war-weariness of Americans was seen behind these pledges.
　オバマ氏は、０８年の大統領選以来、イラクとアフガンでの戦争終結と米軍撤収を一貫して公約に掲げてきた。国内の厭戦えんせんムードが背景にあった。

Since the U.S. and other troops ended combat missions in 2014, however, Afghanistan’s security situation has deteriorated.
だが、米軍などが戦闘任務を終えた１４年以降、アフガンの治安は再び悪化した。

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had strongly called for an extended presence of U.S. troops, while U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said, “The narrative that we’re leaving Afghanistan is self-defeating.”
　ガニ大統領が米軍の駐留延長を強く求め、カーター米国防長官も「完全撤収は自滅的だ」と認めた。

Obama was forced to go back on his official pledges, apparently because his reading of the Afghan situation was too optimistic.
オバマ氏が公約撤回に追い込まれたのは、アフガン情勢に関する見通しが甘かったためだろう。

Some lawmakers in the U.S. Republican Party say the presence of 5,500 U.S. troops is insufficient.
　米共和党には、５５００人規模の残留では不十分との声もある。

Avoid same mistakes

Following the withdrawal of U.S. troops in Iraq, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant extremist group gained power. To avoid making the same mistake, the United States has to expedite efforts to rebuild its strategy.
イラクでは、米軍撤収後に過激派組織「イスラム国」が台頭した。イラクの轍てつを踏まないよう、戦略の再構築を急ぐべきだ。

For the first time in Afghanistan’s history, power was transferred in September last year through an election with the support of the international community. In July, the first official peace talks were held between the Ghani administration and the Taliban leadership.
　アフガンでは昨年９月、国際社会の支援によって、初めての選挙を通じた政権交代が実現した。今年７月には、ガニ政権とタリバンが初の和平協議も行った。

However, the Taliban’s leadership later fell into disarray following the government’s disclosure that Mullah Omar, the supreme leader of the Taliban movement, had died, leaving no prospect for peace talks to resume anytime soon.
　しかし、タリバンは最高指導者オマル師の死亡発覚で混乱し、協議の再開は見通せない。

Also worrisome is Taliban’s recent increase in its attacks. Late last month, Taliban rebels briefly captured most of the northern town of Kunduz. Terrorist attacks by the ISIL, which is hostile to the Taliban, are becoming more serious.
　心配なのは、タリバンによる攻勢の激化だ。先月末には、北部クンドゥズの大半を一時制圧した。タリバンと敵対する「イスラム国」によるテロも深刻化している。

Self-help efforts by Afghanistan are essential. The present state of affairs, where governing functions are declining due to rivalry between Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, should not be left to fester. The solidarity of the country’s leadership will serve as the first step toward stability.
　アフガンの自助努力が欠かせない。大統領と行政長官が力を競い合い、統治機能が低下している現状は放置できない。指導部の結束が安定への第一歩となろう。

Reinforcement of security forces is an urgent task. It is important that U.S. and other NATO forces, in cooperation with the Afghan government, secure sufficient military strength and equipment, and at the same time continue to train Afghan forces systematically.
　治安部隊の強化も、喫緊の課題だ。米軍やＮＡＴＯ軍はアフガン政府と連携し、必要な兵力と装備を確保するとともに、組織的な訓練を継続することが重要だ。

Since 2001, Japan has extended assistance worth about ¥700 billion in such areas as disarmament, infrastructure development, police training, education and medicine. Japan should continue doing all it can to make nonmilitary contributions to the country in the days ahead.
　日本は０１年以来、武装解除や社会資本整備、警官育成、教育、医療などに約７０００億円もの支援を実施してきた。今後も、非軍事分野の貢献に力を入れたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 20, 2015)

マレー機撃墜 ロシアは事件捜査に協力せよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Russia must cooperate in investigating downing of Malaysian jet over Ukraine
マレー機撃墜　ロシアは事件捜査に協力せよ

Even though more than one year has passed since the tragic event that killed nearly 300 people, there has been no prospect of prosecuting the perpetrators of the crime. This is an extremely grave situation.
　３００近い人命を奪った悲劇から１年以上が経過しても、実行犯訴追の展望が開けていない。極めて重大な問題だ。

The safety board of the Netherlands has released its final report on the shooting down of the Malaysia Airlines Flight over eastern Ukraine in July last year. The largest number of victims were Dutch.
　昨年７月、ウクライナ東部上空で起きたマレーシア航空機撃墜事件について、最も多くの犠牲者を出したオランダの安全委員会が最終報告書を公表した。

After a detailed analysis of the downing of the plane as fighting continued between Ukrainian government forces and the pro-Russian armed separatists group, the report concluded that the plane was shot down by a Buk surface-to-air missile.
　報告書は、ウクライナ政府軍と親ロシア派武装集団の戦闘中に発生した撃墜の経緯を詳細に分析した結果、地対空ミサイル「ブク」によるものと断じた。

The report said the missile was probably launched somewhere in an area covering about 320 square kilometers in eastern Ukraine. This suggests the involvement of the armed rebels that controlled most of the area.
　ミサイルが発射された可能性のある場所として、ウクライナ東部の約３２０平方キロ・メートルの範囲を特定した。一帯を支配していた武装集団の関与を示唆したものだ。

The United States, European countries and the Ukrainian government say that, after analyzing records of communications and radar reports, the armed separatist group fired a missile on the Malaysian aircraft, mistakenly believing it was a Ukrainian Air Force plane.
　米欧諸国やウクライナ政府は、通信傍受やレーダーの記録などから、武装集団がマレー機をウクライナ空軍機と誤認し、ミサイルを発射したと指摘してきた。

Yet the final report did not go so far as to identify the perpetrator. Although the safety board does not have the authority to apportion blame, we can understand the growing anger among bereaved families of the victims.
　しかし、報告書は、実行犯の特定にまでは踏み込まなかった。安全委に捜査権限がないとはいえ、遺族らが憤りを募らせているのは理解できる。

A criminal investigation, aimed at identifying the perpetrators, will be put into the hands of a joint team comprising officials from such countries as the Netherlands, Malaysia, Ukraine, the United States and Russia.
　実行犯特定を含む刑事責任の追及は今後、オランダ、マレーシア、ウクライナ、米露などで構成する共同捜査団に委ねられる。

A number of suspected perpetrators have apparently already emerged. Making full use of the findings of the safety board, the joint team has to apportion blame for the barbaric action.
　すでに複数の実行犯が浮かんでいるという。共同捜査団は、安全委の調査結果を十分に生かし、蛮行の責任の所在を明確にしなければならない。

Obstacle to probe

An obstacle to the criminal investigation is that both Russia and the armed separatist group have consistently denied involvement. Both have asserted that there is a possibility the Ukrainian forces, which possess Buk missiles, shot down the plane. We think neither of them is cooperative with the investigation.
　障害となるのは、ロシアと武装集団が、自らの関与を一貫して否定していることだ。「ブク」を保有するウクライナ軍による撃墜の可能性を主張してきた。捜査にも非協力的と言うほかない。

Shortly after the crash, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s administration tacitly agreed that the pro-Russian separatists should block access of an international investigation team to the crash site.
　プーチン政権は事件直後、国際的な調査チームの現場入りを武装集団が妨害するのを黙認した。

In July, Russia vetoed a U.N. Security Council draft resolution that would have set up an international tribunal to prosecute those suspected of downing the airliner, leading to the draft resolution being rejected.
　今年７月には、実行犯の責任を問う国際犯罪法廷設置を巡る国連安全保障理事会決議案に拒否権を発動し、否決に追い込んだ。

The actions taken by Russia will only increase distrust toward that country.
　一連の行動は、ロシアへの不信を強めるだけではないか。

To identify the site where the missile was launched from and to prosecute those suspected of downing the airliner, the provision of relevant information from Russia is essential. It is important for the international community to support the joint investigation team and press Russia to cooperate.
　ミサイル発射地点の解明と、全実行犯の訴追には、ロシアによる情報提供が欠かせない。国際社会は共同捜査団を支援し、ロシアに協力を促すことが肝要だ。

In determining what happened, it is urgently needed to stabilize the local situation in eastern Ukraine.
　真相解明には、ウクライナ東部情勢の安定化が急務である。

Although the fighting has been in a lull since last month, the withdrawal of heavy weapons of both the Ukrainian government forces and the separatists has made little progress, delaying the implementation of a ceasefire accord.
　９月以降、戦闘は小康状態にあるが、ウクライナ政府軍と武装集団の重火器撤去が進まないなど、停戦合意の履行は遅れている。

To avoid the conflict from continuing for a protracted period, the United States, European countries and Japan should cooperate with each other and continue urging the parties involved to abide by the ceasefire accord.
　紛争の長期化を避けるために、米欧や日本は連携し、当事者に停戦の順守を迫り続けるべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 19, 2015)

米韓首脳会談 対中傾斜で同盟を揺るがすな

The Yomiuri Shimbun
South Korea should not shake alliance with U.S. by favoring China too much
米韓首脳会談　対中傾斜で同盟を揺るがすな

It is vital that the United States and South Korea maintain their solid alliance, for the deterrence of North Korea’s military provocations and the regional stability of Asia. South Korea should not weaken these ties by getting too close to China.
　米国と韓国が強固な同盟を維持することは、北朝鮮の軍事挑発に対する抑止とアジア地域の安定に不可欠である。韓国は過度に中国に接近し、同盟を弱体化させてはなるまい。

U.S. President Barack Obama held talks with his South Korean counterpart Park Geun-hye in Washington and they adopted a joint statement focusing on their cooperation to get Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear and missile programs.
　オバマ米大統領がワシントンで朴槿恵韓国大統領と会談し、北朝鮮の核放棄に向けた協力などを柱とする共同声明を発表した。

The statement warns that additional sanctions will be imposed on Pyongyang should the country push through with launching a ballistic missile or conducting a nuclear test in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
　北朝鮮が国連安全保障理事会決議を破って弾道ミサイル発射や核実験を強行した場合は、追加制裁に踏み切ると警告している。

Since this summer, North Korea has heightened military tensions between South and North Korea, while also hinting at the possibility of its conducting nuclear tests.
　北朝鮮は今夏以降、南北間の軍事的緊張を高め、核実験実施なども示唆した。

It is significant that Obama confirmed the need to strengthen the U.S.-South Korea alliance during a joint press conference, saying, “The commitment of the United States to the defense and security of the Republic of Korea will never waver.”
オバマ氏が共同記者会見で、「韓国防衛への米国の責任は揺るぎない」と述べ、同盟強化を確認した意義は大きい。

Yet it cannot be denied that the “close alliance” between the United States and South Korea has been in large part choreographed, because the heightened distrust within the United States regarding South Korea’s inclination toward China needed to be denied.
　ただ、米韓の「緊密な同盟」は多分に、演出されたものであることは否めない。米国内で強まっていた韓国の対中傾斜への不信感を打ち消す必要があったからだ。

Park decided on South Korea’s participation in the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and attended the military parade China held to mark the anniversary of its “victory over Japan” in World War II.
　朴氏は、中国主導のアジアインフラ投資銀行（ＡＩＩＢ）への参加を決め、中国の「抗日戦勝」記念軍事パレードにも出席した。

‘Natural partner’

“I believe that we [South Korea and the United States] make natural partners,” Park said at the press conference regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade negotiations, in which member countries such as Japan and the United States recently reached a broad agreement. This statement indicated Seoul’s intention to join the TPP, and was probably aimed at mitigating U.S. concern.
　記者会見で朴氏は、日米などが大筋合意した環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）について、「米韓は自然なパートナーになれる」と語り、参加の意欲を示した。米側の懸念を緩和する狙いだろう。

Obama said at the press conference that if China fails to abide by international rules, “We expect the Republic of Korea to speak out on that,” driving home the point.
　オバマ氏は記者会見で、中国が国際ルールを守らない場合には、「韓国も声を上げてほしい」と朴氏にクギを刺した。

Obama’s remark was apparently made in consideration of China’s self-serving maritime advances in the East and South China seas. But Park made no reference to this.
中国による東・南シナ海での独善的な海洋進出を念頭に置いたものだ。だが、朴氏はこの点に言及しなかった。

It remains unclear whether South Korea will modify its diplomatic stance toward China.
　韓国が今後、対中姿勢を修正するかどうかは不透明だ。

The amount of bilateral trade between China and South Korea exceeds the sum of its trade with the United States and Japan. We can understand Seoul attaching importance to China in the economic field, but shifting its priorities from Washington to Beijing in the realm of security could destabilize the region.
　中韓の貿易額は米韓、日韓の合計を上回る。韓国が経済面で中国を重視するのは理解できるが、安全保障面で米国から中国に軸足を移すことは、地域を不安定化させる危険をはらんでいる。

During a speech made earlier in Washington, Park said she intends to hold her first full-fledged talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the occasion of the trilateral summit among Japan, China and South Korea in early November.
　朴氏はワシントンで行った講演で、１１月初めの日中韓首脳会談の際、安倍首相と初めて本格的に会談する意向も表明した。

Since she took office, Park made it a condition that she would hold summit talks with Japan if progress was made on the issue of so-called comfort women.
　就任以来、慰安婦問題の進展を日韓首脳会談を行う条件としてきた。

Park appears to have agreed at last to Washington’s repeated urging to improve the bilateral relations between Japan and South Korea.
日韓関係の改善を求める米国の再三の働きかけに、ようやく応じた格好である。

However, Park emphasized, “The summit can have substantial meaning if we see some progress on the issue of comfort women.”
　一方で、朴氏は、「慰安婦問題で進展があれば、意味ある首脳会談になる」とも強調した。

Unless Park changes her diplomatic posture of giving too much weight to issues related to historical perception, it will be difficult for Japan and South Korea to effectively deal with the mountain of pending issues. It will be impossible to realize the close trilateral cooperation among Japan, the United States and South Korea that Washington hopes to see.
　朴氏が歴史問題に偏った外交姿勢を改めなければ、日韓が山積する懸案に効果的に対処することは難しい。米国が望む日米韓の緊密な連携も実現できないだろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 18, 2015)

非常任理事国 国際平和協力に弾みつけたい

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan should boost contribution to peace as UNSC nonpermanent member
非常任理事国　国際平和協力に弾みつけたい

Becoming a member of the U.N. Security Council is a significant step forward to enhance Japan’s engagement in the peace and stability of the international community and secure its national interests. The government should take full advantage of this opportunity.
　国際社会の平和と安定への関与を強め、日本の国益を確保するうえで、重要な前進である。政府は、この機会を最大限に活用すべきだ。

Japan was elected a nonpermanent member of the Security Council, gaining a seat for the 11th time, the most among the 193 member countries of the United Nations. Its term will last for two years beginning next January.
　日本が国連安全保障理事会の非常任理事国に選出された。１９３加盟国で最多の１１回目だ。任期は来年１月から２年間となる。

U.N. diplomacy is a major pillar of Japan’s foreign policy, along with the Japan-U.S. alliance. Coordination with the United Nations is also essential to embody the “proactive contribution to peace” advocated by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s administration. It is the right time for Japan to return to the Security Council after its last service as a nonpermanent member, which ended in 2010.
　国連外交は、日米同盟とともに日本外交の主要な柱だ。安倍政権が掲げる「積極的平和主義」の具体化にも、国連との協調が欠かせない。２０１０年以来の安保理への復帰は、時宜を得たものだ。

How can the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria be resolved? How should the threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant militant group be dealt with? Security Council members can adopt resolutions that bind all the U.N. member nations, and take other actions after holding unofficial talks among them.
　ウクライナ、シリアの紛争をいかに収拾するか。過激派組織「イスラム国」の脅威にどう対処するか。安保理メンバー国は非公式に協議を重ね、全加盟国を拘束できる決議などを採択する。

The five permanent members of the Security Council with veto power are strong, but so are the power of information and the voices held by the 10 nonpermanent members. Nonpermanent members can quickly ascertain changing international situations and exercise influence over discussions on resolutions.
　拒否権を持つ５常任理事国の権限は強いが、１０非常任理事国の情報力や発言権も大きい。変動する国際情勢を迅速に把握し、決議案審議で影響力を行使できる。

For instance, when Pyongyang carried out a nuclear-weapon test in 2009, Japan led the adoption of resolutions, including sanctions, against North Korea in cooperation with the United States and other countries. Japan was a nonpermament member of the Security Council at that time.
　０９年に北朝鮮が核実験を強行した際は、非常任理事国の日本が米国などと連携し、制裁を含む決議の採択を主導した。

To protect own safety

Japan should proactively engage in discussions and the decision-making process at the Security Council to protect its own safety.
　日本の安全を守るためにも、安保理の議論と意思決定に主体的に関わることが大切だ。

It must also actively tackle human rights issues, in a bid to resolve the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents.
　北朝鮮による日本人拉致問題の解決に向けて、人権問題にも積極的に取り組む必要がある。

Since the end of World War II, Japan has helped developing countries overcome various problems such as poverty and disease. It has consistently participated in U.N. peacekeeping operations. We expect the nation to propose its own ideas and solutions for peace building, and broaden understanding of these ideas among concerned countries.
　日本は戦後、途上国の貧困や疾病の克服などの支援を続けている。国連平和維持活動（ＰＫＯ）にも継続的に参加してきた。安保理メンバーとして、平和構築に関する自らの理念と処方箋を発信し、関係国の理解を広げたい。

Discussions on the Security Council reform have shifted into high gear this year, which marks the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII.
　戦後７０年の今年は、安保理改革の議論が本格化している。

The Group of Four countries — Japan, Germany, India and Brazil — aim to implement a reform plan to increase the permanent members of the Security Council to 11, and the nonpermanent members to 14 or 15.
　日本とドイツ、インド、ブラジルの「Ｇ４」は、常任理事国を１１に、非常任理事国を１４～１５に拡大する案の実現を図る方針だ。

A nonpermanent member of the Security Council cannot be reelected consecutively, and a country has to win support from more than two-thirds of all U.N. member countries each time it is elected.
　非常任理事国は再選できず、当選には加盟国の３分の２以上の支持をその都度得る必要がある。

Japan pays the largest contributions to the world body following the United States, equivalent to over 10 percent of the U.N. budget. To secure influence matching that amount, Japan should keep trying to become a permanent member of the Security Council.
　米国に次ぐ、国連予算の１０％強の分担金に見合う影響力を確保するためにも、日本は常任理事国入りに粘り強く挑戦したい。

The G-4 submitted a Security Council reform plan to the United Nations in 2005, but it was not adopted due to opposition from both the United States and China, and unsuccessful coordination with African countries.
　Ｇ４は０５年にも、改革案を国連に提出したが、米中両国の反対や、アフリカ諸国との連携の不調で、採決できずに頓挫した。

U.N. reform is difficult, because it represents an historic attempt to change the international order based on the outcome of WWII.
　国連改革は、第２次大戦の結果を踏まえた国際秩序を変更する歴史的試みだけに、困難を伴う。

Learning from the failed attempt in 2005, the G-4 must consolidate forces that are positive about Security Council reform while rebuilding its cooperative relations with the United States and African countries.
　０５年の失敗を教訓に、米国やアフリカとの協調関係を再構築しつつ、安保理改革に前向きな勢力を結集することが大切である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 17, 2015)

多国籍企業 課税逃れ防止ルールの徹底を

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Rules on tax-dodging multinationals must be thoroughly implemented
多国籍企業　課税逃れ防止ルールの徹底を

International cooperation must be bolstered to close tax loopholes that can be exploited by multinational business corporations.
　企業課税の抜け道を塞ぐため、税制面での国際協調を強めるべきだ。

The Group of 20 major economies and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development have worked out new international taxation rules to clamp down on the excessive tax avoidance tactics by multinational firms.
　主要２０か国・地域（Ｇ２０）と経済協力開発機構（ＯＥＣＤ）が、多国籍企業による行き過ぎた節税に歯止めをかけることを目指し、新たな国際課税ルールを策定した。

The pillar of the new rules is to make it mandatory for multinationals with annual sales of €750 million (about ¥100 billion) or more to report to the tax authorities of their home countries the value of taxes they pay and their lines of business in foreign countries where they operate. The information thus collected is shared by member nations.
　売上高が７億５０００万ユーロ（約１０００億円）以上の企業に対し、国外の進出先での納税額や事業内容について、本国の税務当局への報告を義務づけたのが柱だ。収集した情報は各国で共有する。

A tax penalty will be levied on multinationals if they are found to be involved in the practice of reducing their tax burdens considerably by curbing their profits, through such tactics as exploiting transactions with their subsidiaries operating in other countries.
　他国にある子会社との取引などを利用して利益を圧縮し、税負担を著しく軽減している事実が判明すれば、追徴課税を行う。

Tax revenues lost worldwide due to such tax dodges amount to as much as ¥30 trillion a year, according to an OECD estimate.
　ＯＥＣＤは、課税逃れで失われる世界の税収が、年間で最大３０兆円に上ると推計している。

There has been a series of cases of tax avoidance in recent years committed by multinationals of Europe and the United States that exploited the differences in taxation systems among the countries where they conduct business. Although their practices are not illegal in terms of tax law, a situation cannot be overlooked in which firms posting a huge amount of profits are allowed to pay less than an appropriate amount of taxes.
　欧米の多国籍企業で近年、国ごとの税制の違いを突いた課税逃れが相次いで発覚した。税法上は明確な違法でなくても、莫大ばくだいな利益を上げる企業が、少ない税金しか納めないことは見過ごせない。

In the case of U.S. firms Google Inc. and Starbucks Corp., they are said to have employed such tactics as having their subsidiaries in low-tax countries hold patents and trademarks, with their parent companies paying high royalties to them.
　米国のスターバックスやグーグルは、低税率国の子会社に特許や商標を持たせ、親会社が割高な使用料を払うなどしたという。

Regarding other tactics, they are said to have inflated expenses by paying excessive interest and material procurement costs to related companies in other countries where their subsidiaries operate.
　他国の関連企業に対する過大な利払いや材料費支出で、経費を膨らませた例もあったとされる。

Fairness and justice

Tax avoidance through deals that are considerably removed from authentic corporate activity should not be left unchecked. Such practices shake the fundamental principle of fairness and justice in the taxation system and increase discontent among businesses that pay due taxes.
　企業活動の実態からかけ離れた取引による課税逃れは、放置すべきではない。公平・公正という税制の基本理念が揺らぎ、適切に納税する企業の不満が高まろう。

It is reasonable for the tax authorities of countries concerned to try to comprehend the actual financial conditions of multinationals and aim to prevent them from resorting to excessive tax avoidance tactics.
　各国の税務当局が多国籍企業の経営実態を正確に把握し、過度な節税を抑止する狙いは妥当だ。

Many tax dodging cases involve three or more countries, making it difficult to deal with them under conventional bilateral treaties. New rules are likely to be introduced by more than 40 countries, including Japan, the United States, European nations and China.
　税逃れは３か国以上で行われる例が多く、従来の２国間条約では対処が難しかった。新ルールは、日米欧や中国など４０か国超で導入される見通しである。

It is of no small significance that many industrialized countries and emerging economies, whose tax systems are greatly different from each other, have cooperated to devise the common rules.
　税制が大きく異なる多数の先進国と新興国が連携し、共通のルールを定めた意味は小さくない。

But the new rules are nothing but an agreement by the G-20, and have no binding force. The challenge is how to enhance their practical effectiveness.
　ただ、新ルールはＧ２０の合意事項に過ぎず、強制力がない。いかに実効性を高めるかが課題だ。

Revision of relevant domestic laws and establishment of a multinational agreement in line with the rules must be done promptly.
　ルールに則した国内法の改正と多国間の協定作りを急ぎたい。

If the level of legal compliance differs from country to country, there is concern that it will be exploited by multinationals with the intention of tax avoidance. It is important to establish a system aimed at monitoring each other, to observe such things as how strictly each member nation asks multinationals to submit their business information.
　ルールの順守状況に濃淡があれば、税逃れを意図する企業につけ込まれかねない。各国がどれだけ厳しく企業に経営情報を提供させているか、などを相互に監視する仕組み作りが重要である。

Efforts are also necessary to increase the number of countries introducing the new international taxation rules.
　ルールの導入国をさらに広げる取り組みも欠かせない。

As a check on multinationals that try to devise new ways of tax avoidance, it is essential for the countries concerned to cooperate more closely by exchanging information and revising the rules expeditiously if needed.
　新手の税逃れの手段を次々と考える企業を牽制けんせいするには、各国がより緊密に情報交換し、ルールを機動的に見直すことが大切だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 16, 2015)

（社説）外務省ＨＰ 外交が内向きすぎる

--The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 5
EDITORIAL: Abe government's 'inward-looking' diplomacy serves no purpose
（社説）外務省ＨＰ　外交が内向きすぎる

The Foreign Ministry on Sept. 18 updated the “History Issues Q&A” section on its Japanese website. The timing suggests that the ministry intentionally held off the update to coincide with the passage of new national security legislation that allows Japan to exercise its right to collective self-defense.
　集団的自衛権の行使を可能にする安全保障関連法の成立を待っていたかのように、外務省のホームページ（ＨＰ）にある「歴史問題Ｑ＆Ａ」の内容が更新された。

Gone from the updated Q&A is any mention of Japan’s “colonial rule and aggression” against its Asian neighbors. And the streamlined content only provides URL links to the (Tomiichi) Murayama statement and the (Junichiro) Koizumi statement that acknowledged Japan’s colonialism and aggression.
　以前は掲載されていたアジア諸国への「植民地支配と侵略」という言及がなくなり、それらを認めた「村山談話」や「小泉談話」などのリンク先を紹介するだけに簡ログイン前の続き略化された。

On Aug. 14, the day Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issued his statement for the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, the Q&A section was abruptly deleted from the ministry’s website. After questions were raised in the Diet about the deletion, the website ran a notice to the effect that the content was being revised to reflect the Abe statement.
　それに先立ち、「Ｑ＆Ａ」は、戦後７０年の「安倍談話」が出された８月１４日に突然、削除されていた。国会で質問されると、「（安倍）談話を踏まえ、現在改訂中です」と表示した。

But why did the revision take more than a month? It is only natural to assume that the ministry decided to delay the revision to avoid any negative impact on Diet deliberations on the contentious security legislation.
　削除から１カ月以上たってからの改訂は、安保関連法の審議に悪影響を与えまいとの配慮が働いたためではないか。そう見られても仕方あるまい。

“Japan has repeatedly expressed the feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology for its actions during the war,” Abe’s 70th anniversary statement said, even though Abe never made it clear if he himself felt such remorse. And he went on, “Such a position articulated by the previous Cabinets will remain unshakable into the future.”
　安倍首相は談話で、自分がそう考えているとは明言しなかったものの、「わが国は先の大戦における行いについて、繰り返し、痛切な反省と心からのお詫（わ）びの気持ちを表明してきた」とし、「歴代内閣の立場は今後も揺るぎない」と訴えた。

But the fact that the Foreign Ministry immediately deleted the symbolic expression “colonial rule and aggression” from its website would only suggest that the Abe administration’s perception of history is not what it was made to appear in the prime minister’s 70th anniversary statement.
　にもかかわらず、談話が出されるや即座に外務省ＨＰから「植民地支配と侵略」という象徴的な記述がなくなったとなれば、安倍政権の歴史認識に揺らぎを感じざるをえない。

Something similar occurred on the Foreign Ministry website last year.
　外務省ＨＰでは昨年も似たような問題があった。

At that time, the ministry abruptly deleted a document calling for contributions to the Asian Women’s Fund that was set up to represent Japan’s national effort to compensate Asia’s wartime “comfort women.”
　日本が慰安婦問題で国民的な償いを試みた「女性のためのアジア平和国民基金（アジア女性基金）」への参加を呼びかけた文書が急に削除されたのだ。

The Japanese government always used to bring up the Asian Women’s Fund as proof of its sincerity in dealing with the comfort women issue. By deleting the document, the Foreign Ministry effectively undermined the government’s position, instead of playing it up.
　基金は、これまで慰安婦問題で日本も努力してきたと主張する根拠となっている。だが、それを強調するどころか自らの手で見えにくくしてしまった。

The national security legislation, which Abe insists is “necessary for protecting Japanese peoples’ lives and the peaceful life of Japanese citizens,” was promulgated on Sept. 30. But the fears of this law’s opponents have not gone away at all. They are deeply apprehensive, not only of the law itself, but also of the likelihood of a substantive change in Japan’s postwar pacifism because the prime minister did not use the “I” in expressing the nation’s deep remorse for and heartfelt apology for its past history of aggression.
　首相が「国民の命と平和な暮らしを守り抜くために必要」と訴えた安保法は先週公布された。だが、その法制に反対する国民は不安を抱いたままだ。法の中身だけでなく、過去の侵略や、おわびの意思を自分の主体的な見解として明言しない首相によって、日本の戦後平和主義は変質してしまうのではないかとの危惧もあるのではないか。

Defensive capabilities alone cannot protect the nation’s security. Constant diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in the international community, of which Japan is a member, are indispensable. So long as Japanese diplomacy remains thoroughly inward-looking, it will serve no purpose.
　国の安全を守るのは防衛力だけではない。不断の外交努力によって日本を取り巻く国際社会の緊張をやわらげることが不可欠だ。そのための外交が内向きに終始しては話にならない。

Before Abe, the Japanese government always reassured the Japanese people and neighboring nations by trying to face the past squarely and admitting mistakes made in the past.
　日本はこれまで、過去と向き合い、過ちを認めることで国民と近隣国に安心感を与えてきた。

Humility about history is what is obviously lacking in the Abe administration that overstresses recent changes in Japan’s security environment.
最近の安保環境の変化を強調する政権に今、足りないのは歴史への謙虚さではないか。

社説：辺野古取り消し やむを得ない知事判断

October 14, 2015 (Mainichi Japan)
Editorial: Okinawa Gov. Onaga compelled to revoke landfill work approval
社説：辺野古取り消し　やむを得ない知事判断

Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga has revoked the approval of land reclamation work off the Henoko district of Nago for the planned relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. With the move, the conflict between the national government and the Okinawa Prefectural Government has heightened, and it's likely that the matter will ultimately be brought to a court of law. It's unfortunate to see how the issue has developed into such an abnormal state of affairs.
　沖縄県の米軍普天間飛行場（宜野湾市）の移設計画をめぐり、翁長雄志（おながたけし）知事が移設先の名護市辺野古の埋め立て承認を取り消した。国と県の対立は決定的となり、最終的に法廷闘争に持ち込まれる可能性が高まった。異常な事態であり、残念だ。

Okinawa claims that the approval for landfill work given by former Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima has "flaws," while the central government argues no such errors exist. While the two parties strongly disagree with one another, it is difficult to judge which one makes a viable legal point.
　県は、前知事による埋め立て承認に「瑕疵（かし）があった」と主張し、国は「瑕疵はない」という。言い分は真っ向から食い違い、法的にどちらに理があるかは、まだ判断し難い。

However, isn't the latest development the result of the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's move to force the relocation of the U.S. air station within the island prefecture without hearing the voices of Okinawa? We believe that the situation required Okinawa to cancel the landfill work approval.
　だが、今回のことは、安倍政権が県の主張に耳を傾けず、移設を強行しようとした結果ではないか。県の取り消し判断はやむを得ないものと考える。

Looking back at the month-long "intensive consultation" with the national government this past summer, Gov. Onaga expressed dissatisfaction with the central government during an Oct. 13 news conference, saying, "The (Abe) Cabinet has little interest in solving problems while caring about the people of Okinawa."
　翁長氏は、記者会見で、今夏の１カ月間の政府と県の集中協議などを振り返って「内閣の姿勢として、沖縄県民に寄り添って問題を解決していきたいというものが薄い」と政府への不満を語った。

Meanwhile, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga criticized Onaga's decision, telling an Oct. 13 morning news conference that the Okinawa governor's move ignores a series of efforts taken by parties involved with Okinawa and the central government since Japan and the U.S. reached an agreement toward removing the risk of hosting the Futenma base. Suga's comment underscored the wide gap between the national government and Okinawa.
　菅義偉官房長官は、県の取り消し決定について「日米合意以来、沖縄や政府の関係者が重ねてきた普天間の危険性除去に向けた努力を無視するものだ」と批判した。溝の深さを改めて見せつけられるようだった。

The Okinawa government's decision to revoke the landfill work approval has deprived the central government of the legal ground for the work and drilling survey, a preliminary step toward the land reclamation project.
　今回の取り消しにより、政府は埋め立て工事と前段のボーリング調査について、法律上の根拠を失う。

As a countermeasure against Okinawa's move, the national government has filed an appeal to the land, infrastructure, transport and tourism minister for an administrative review based on the Administrative Appeal Act and also requested for a stay of execution against the Okinawa governor's revocation. Once the request is granted, the central government will restart the drilling survey off Henoko and embark on full-fledged construction as early as next month.
　政府は対抗措置として、行政不服審査法に基づき国土交通相に対し不服審査請求をする予定だ。あわせて取り消し処分の一時執行停止も申し立てる。執行停止が認められれば、政府はボーリング調査を再開し、来月にも本格工事に着手する構えだ。

However, the Administrative Appeal Act is originally intended to protect the rights of the people from administrative operations. It's strange when a central government appeals to itself and the same government makes a judgment on the matter.
　だが行政不服審査法は、行政に対して国民の権利を守るのが本来の趣旨だ。国が国に訴え、それを同じ国が判断することには違和感がある。

It's expected to take several months to see the result of the administrative review, after which either the national government or the prefectural government will likely take legal action against the land ministry's decision. Even if the central government built an alternative facility for the Air Station Futenma in Henoko after going through such a complicated procedure, the stable operation of the new base is unlikely.
　不服審査の結果が出るまでには数カ月かかるとされ、最終的には国か県のいずれかが結果を不服として提訴すると見られる。そこまでして辺野古に代替基地を造ったとしても、安定的に運用できないだろう。

In the 10 months since Onaga assumed office, the Abe administration lacked the willingness to acknowledge Okinawa's claim in terms of the U.S. base relocation plan. Top government officials at one point refused to meet with Onaga.
　翁長氏が知事に就任して１０カ月。この間、安倍政権は辺野古移設計画を進めるにあたり、県の意向をくみ取ろうとする姿勢に乏しかった。一時期は、翁長氏と会おうともしなかった。

Along with a notice of withdrawal of the approval, the Okinawa Prefectural Government submitted a 15-page report as to why Okinawa has decided to revoke the authorization for landfill work. In the long list of questions regarding the plan to relocate the U.S. base to the Henoko district, Okinawa argues that Japan will not lose its defense deterrence factor to a level that is intolerable even if the air station in Ginowan moves out of Okinawa to another prefecture.
　今回、県は、取り消しの通知書とともに、１５ページにわたって理由を記した文書を政府側に提出した。そこには「普天間が他の都道府県に移転しても、沖縄には依然として米軍や自衛隊の基地があり、抑止力が許容できない程度にまで低下することはない」など、辺野古移設への疑問が列挙されている。

The central government should not force the base relocation to Henoko, but rather halt the drilling survey and other work related to the relocation plan and face Okinawa sincerely to provide answers to these questions.
　政府が今すべきは、強引に辺野古移設を進めることではなく、移設作業を中止し、これらの疑問にきちんと答えることではないだろうか。

毎日新聞　2015年10月14日　東京朝刊

マイナンバー 国民の理解と信頼が不可欠だ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
People’s understanding, confidence indispensable to My Number system
マイナンバー　国民の理解と信頼が不可欠だ

The My Number system, under which 12-digit identification numbers are assigned to everyone in the nation, has started. Everyone should be notified of his or her identification number through November. The numbers will be used to handle administrative and other procedures beginning next January.
　全国民に１２桁の番号を割り当てる共通番号（マイナンバー）制度が始まった。来月にかけて番号が通知され、来年１月以降、行政手続きなどで番号が利用される。

The system is key to realizing fair and efficient systems for taxation and social security. The people’s understanding and confidence are indispensable to the implementation of the system because it is closely linked with their lives. The government must provide meticulous explanations and make sufficient arrangements.
　公正で効率的な税や社会保障の実現に向けた重要な基盤だ。生活に密接に関わるだけに、定着させるには国民の理解と信頼が欠かせない。政府には丁寧な説明と十分な体制整備が求められる。

Under the My Number system, personal information that has until now been managed separately to handle such things as income, taxation and pensions will be integrated under one number. My Number identification cards will be distributed to those who request them.
　マイナンバーは、所得や納税、年金など、別々に管理されてきた個人情報を一つの番号で結びつける仕組みだ。希望者には身分証になる番号カードが交付される。

Administrative organizations will collate the personal information on these matters and use them to impose proper taxation and provide welfare benefits. This can contribute greatly to enhancing the efficiency of clerical work. Application procedures can be made easier by merely producing identification numbers in such situations as applying for child allowances.
　行政機関は、これらの情報を照らし合わせて、適正な課税や社会保障給付に役立てる。大幅な事務の効率化も期待できる。国民は児童手当の申請時などに番号を提示すれば、手続きが簡単になる。

The use of the integrated identification numbers will be limited for the time being to taxation, social security and relief at the time of disaster. It is reasonable to start the operation of the My Number system discreetly while attaching importance to protection of personal information.
　マイナンバーの利用範囲は、当面、税と社会保障、災害時の支援の分野に限定される。個人情報の保護を重視し、慎重に運用を始めるのは妥当だろう。

To make the system function effectively, however, it is necessary to widen the scope of its use in phases.
　ただし、制度を有効に機能させるには、段階的に利用範囲を広げていく必要がある。

Beginning in 2018, the identification numbers will be linked to the savings accounts if the account holders approve. This is aimed at determining personal assets accurately, thereby preventing such things as tax evasion and illegal receipt of livelihood protection. The government is looking into the possibility of making it mandatory to integrate the savings accounts under the My Number system in 2021.
　２０１８年以降は、本人の同意を条件に預貯金口座にマイナンバーを連結できるようになる。個人資産を正確に把握し、脱税や生活保護の不正受給などを防ぐ狙いだ。政府は２１年を目途めどに義務化することも検討している。

Firm info management vital

Amid ballooning social security costs, it is imperative to call on the elderly to share the burden according to their economic capabilities and to switch over to a system under which benefits are provided for those in need. To this end, correctly grasping personal information on income and assets is indeed important.
　社会保障費が膨張する中、高齢者にも経済力に応じた負担を求め、本当に援助すべき人に絞って給付する方式への転換が必要だ。そのために、収入や資産の正確な把握が重要なのは確かだろう。

Utilization of the My Number system in the medical field is also a task to be tackled. Integration of information on medical care and checkups into the system would help prevent duplication of examinations and medication, thereby enhancing the efficiency of medical treatment and reining in medical costs.
　医療分野での活用も課題だ。診療や検診の情報が連結されれば、検査や投薬の重複防止など医療の効率化と費用の抑制に役立つ。

Given the personal data breach of the Japan Pension Service, the people have deep concerns about the divulging and abuse of personal information. The government must expedite efforts to strengthen information management systems with the involvement of municipalities and businesses that handle identification numbers.
　日本年金機構の個人情報流出問題を受け、国民には情報漏洩ろうえいや悪用への不安が強い。政府は、番号を扱う自治体や企業も含め、情報管理体制の強化を急ぐべきだ。

In connection with the new system, the Finance Ministry abruptly proposed a plan to use My Number cards ostensibly to lessen the burden on consumers when the consumption tax is raised from the current 8 percent to 10 percent. Under the plan, price data for food and drinks would be collected after My Number identification cards are swiped in terminal devices at store counters, and money equivalent to the tax payments of two percentage points would be paid back for qualified purchases.
Caution must also be taken against fraud and other crimes whose perpetrators may try to exploit the introduction of the My Number system.
　制度導入に便乗した詐欺などの犯罪も警戒せねばならない。
　疑問なのは、消費税率１０％時の負担緩和策として、財務省が唐突に番号カードを利用する案を示したことだ。カードを店頭の情報端末にかざすと飲食料品の購入額データが蓄積され、申請すれば２％分が給付されるという。

The proposed system would force consumers to follow complicated procedures and increase the dangers of card losses and thefts. This may increase the people’s anxiety about the consequences of implementing the My Number system. The ministry must withdraw the plan immediately.
　消費者に煩雑な手続きを強いる上、カードの紛失や盗難の危険も増す。マイナンバー制度導入への国民の不安感を高めかねない。即刻撤回されるべきである。

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

香山リカのココロの万華鏡：おとなを拒否する少女 ／東京

October 11, 2015 (Mainichi Japan)
Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Girls who reject the prospect of life as adults
香山リカのココロの万華鏡：おとなを拒否する少女　／東京

Yet another sad crime occurred in Japan recently, as a third-year female high school student in Mie Prefecture was fatally stabbed in the chest by a male student attending the same school. The student who stabbed the girl was quoted as telling investigators that she had asked him to kill her, and her friends had said that she was suicidal.
　また悲しい事件が起きた。三重県で高校３年の女子生徒が同じ学校の男子生徒に刃物で胸を刺されて殺害されたのだ。取り調べで少年は「頼まれて殺した」と述べ、友人らは女子生徒に「自殺願望があった」と語っている。

Many details of this crime remain unclear, so from here on I would like to comment from a general perspective.
　事件の詳細はまだ明らかでない部分も多いのでここからは一般的な話をしたい。

It's not uncommon for teenage girls to say that they don't want to become adult women. Girls undergo major physical developments on their path to adulthood, and it's not uncommon for them to be repulsed by the changes. Young girls with anorexia commonly say that thin bodies, like those of boys, are "clean," while the curvy figures of women are "dirty." Such girls sometimes project that "dirtiness" onto their mothers. There are accordingly many girls who rebel, saying that they don't want to grow up to be like their mothers.
１０代の少女は、しばしば「おとなの女性になりたくない」と口にする。女の子の場合、おとなへと成長する中でからだの変化も激しく、それを嫌悪することもめずらしくない。食事を極端に減らす拒食症の少女は、よく「ほっそりした少年のようなからだは清潔、豊満な女性のからだはきたない」と語る。その「きたない」というイメージが母親に投影され、「お母さんのようなおとなの女になりたくない」と反発する少女もいる。

Sometimes, these girls think, "If I'm going to become an adult woman in mind and body, then it would be better for me to die as an unsullied young girl." But it's quite often the case that death for these girls is an event from the world of stories and illusions; they don't have a real grasp of its actual meaning.
　その中に、まれではあるが「心もからだもおとなの女性になるくらいなら、その前にきれいな少女のまま死んだほうがよい」と考えるケースもある。しかし、この少女たちにとって「死」は空想や物語の世界の出来事で、実際に何を意味しているのかの実感はあまりない場合が多い。

One girl I encountered remarked, "I wonder how much my parents would suffer if I disappeared. I'd like to see that." I replied, "But if you died, you couldn't see it," to which she expressed shock. She had apparently read a novel portraying people as being able to see the world after dying, and had swallowed the whole story.
「私がいなくなったら親はどれくらい苦しむかな。それを見たい」などと話す少女に「でも、死んだらその様子を見ることもできないよ」と伝えてハッとした顔をされたこともある。どうも彼女は「死後も現実の世界を見続けることができる」といった内容の小説を読み、それをうのみにしていたようだった。

Young girls who think that adult women are "dirty," and reject maturity often talk about "things that only cool adults can do." Well, people forge their own paths in life, so these girls can choose to live as women they themselves would respect. I've often had conversations that go something like this:
　「おとなの女性はきたない」と思い込み、成熟を拒否する少女たちとは、よく「カッコいいおとなにしかできないこと」といった話をする。自分の人生は自分で切り開けるのだから、すてきな女性として生きる生き方を選べばよいのだ。

"Surely you don't hate all adults?"
「おとなはみな嫌い、というわけじゃないでしょう」

"No, I saw a woman on TV working as a doctor in Africa or somewhere like that and I was impressed."
「うん。アフリカとかで医者をやっている女性をテレビで見て感動した」

"Well then let's aim for that."
「じゃ、それを目指そうよ」といった会話も何度かした。

Once I became an adult, I realized that my heart wasn't that much different from when I was a teenager; in fact, I've had more opportunities to venture out and do whatever I want.
　実際におとなになってみると、心の中は１０代の頃とそれほど変わるわけではなく、むしろ好きなことを思い切りやることだってできる。

As an adult I might have gained a few pounds and acquired a few extra wrinkles, but have realized that it's wrong to think that adults are "dirty."
体重やシワが増えたりすることはあるけれど、「きたない」と思うほうが間違っているとも気づいた。

Paths of life that can be considered clean or pure aren't determined by age or looks.
「きれい、清潔」と思える生き方かどうかは、年齢や見た目が決めるのではない。

I hope that girls who don't want to become adults now go on to do so without fear, allowing their unique selves to blossom freely.
「おとなになりたくない」少女たちには、恐れずにおとなの女性になって自分らしさを十分に花開かせてほしいと願っている。

（精神科医）
(By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist)
毎日新聞　2015年10月06日　地方版

世界記憶遺産 容認できない南京事件の登録

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Unacceptable for UNESCO to add Nanjing Incident to memory list
世界記憶遺産　容認できない南京事件の登録

Could the latest UNESCO registration be misunderstood as a stamp of approval given by an international organization to China’s one-sided claim concerning historical perception? This is a serious situation.
　歴史問題を巡る中国の一方的な主張に、国際機関が「お墨付き」を与えたと誤解されないか。憂慮すべき事態である。

“Documents of Nanjing Massacre,” which China recommended to UNESCO, were added to its Memory of the World list.
　国連教育・科学・文化機関（ユネスコ）の世界記憶遺産に、中国が申請した「南京大虐殺の文書」が登録された。

After the selection by UNESCO’s International Advisory Committee, the U.N. organization’s director general, Irina Bokova, made the final decision. Another item recommended by China — materials related to so-called comfort women — was not registered in the list.
　ユネスコの国際諮問委員会の選考作業を踏まえ、イリナ・ボコバ事務局長が最終決定した。中国が同時に申請した「慰安婦に関する資料」は登録されなかった。

The Memory of the World list was originally meant to preserve or utilize historically important documents and other materials.
　世界記憶遺産は本来、歴史的に重要な文書などの保存や活用を目的にしたものだ。

We cannot accept China’s stance of using a system for protecting cultural assets for political purposes in a campaign against Japan and trying to fix its self-righteous historical perception in the international community.
　文化財保護の制度を「反日宣伝」に政治利用し、独善的な歴史認識を国際社会に定着させようとする中国の姿勢は容認できない。

“Documents of Nanjing Massacre” include written rulings on Japanese war criminals at the Nanjing Incident tribunal after the end of World War II. The written rulings put the number of victims in the incident at “more than 300,000.”
　「南京大虐殺の文書」には、南京軍事法廷が戦後、日本人の戦犯を裁いた判決書などが含まれる。判決書は、南京事件の犠牲者を「３０万人以上」としている。

However, in Japan, the dominant view is that, based on demographic statistics for Nanjing at that time and other factors, a death toll of “more than 300,000” is far removed from reality. In a report released by a joint research team of Japanese and Chinese historians, Japanese scholars pointed out that “there are varying estimates on the number of victims in the incident, ranging from 20,000 to 40,000 to up to 200,000.”
　だが、日本では、当時の人口動態などから、実態とかけ離れているとの見方が支配的だ。日中歴史共同研究でも、日本は「２０万人を上限に、４万人、２万人など様々な推計がある」と指摘した。

Concerning the registration on the list, the Japanese Foreign Ministry questioned the “integrity and authenticity” of the documents and said their registration was problematic for “an international body that should be neutral and fair.” The ministry’s stance is quite natural.
　登録について、外務省が文書の「完全性や真正性」に疑問を呈し、「中立・公平であるべき国際機関として問題」とユネスコを批判したのは、当然である。

Selection process opaque

This time, other items recommended by Japan, such as “Return to Maizuru Port” records including diaries and letters of Japanese detainees in Siberia, were added to the list. They reflect historical facts, and there were no objections to the registration from Russia.
　今回、日本からはシベリア抑留者の日記や手紙で構成する「舞鶴への生還」などが登録された。史実を反映したもので、ロシアからも異論は出ていない。

This contrasts with the “Nanjing” case in which Japan repeatedly conveyed its concern about the registration to the UNESCO secretariat.
　日本がユネスコ事務局に登録への懸念を度々伝えていた「南京」のケースとは事情が異なる。

UNESCO’s International Advisory Committee comprises 14 experts — mainly researchers of library science and those involved in archives. The selection process, which is not open to the public, is too opaque.
　ユネスコの諮問委員会は１４人の専門家で構成されている。図書館学の研究者や公文書館関係者が中心で、選考過程は公開されていない。余りにも不透明だ。

Japan’s annual financial contribution to UNESCO is ¥3.7 billion, about 10 percent of its yearly budget, and Japan substantially supports the activities of the world body. It is indispensable to urge UNESCO to improve the registration system for the Memory of the World list.
　日本はユネスコ予算の約１割にあたる年間３７億円の分担金を支払い、その活動を実質的に支えている。記憶遺産の登録制度の改善を働きかけることが欠かせない。

There is a possibility that China could again recommend materials related to “comfort women.” South Korea also is preparing for a registration of testimonies by comfort women in two years.
　「慰安婦」の資料については、中国が再申請する可能性がある。韓国も慰安婦証言の２年後の登録を目指し、準備を進めている。

When Japan’s Meiji era (1868-1912) industrial revolution sites were added to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list in July this year, South Korea opposed the registration, claiming that Korean workers were requisitioned during the war. After negotiations with South Korea over the issue, Japan finally was able to realize registration. However, Japan was swayed by Seoul’s political maneuvering.
　今年７月に「明治日本の産業革命遺産」が世界文化遺産に登録される際には、韓国は、大戦中に朝鮮人労働者の徴用があったとして、反対した。日本は韓国との交渉の末、登録にこぎつけたが、韓国の政治工作に翻弄された。

Japan needs to quickly reconsider its strategy for UNESCO.
　日本は早急に、対ユネスコ戦略を練り直さねばならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 11, 2015)

ＴＰＰ総合対策 農業以外への目配りも大切だ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
TPP task force should not limit itself to agricultural protection
ＴＰＰ総合対策　農業以外への目配りも大切だ

We hope the government’s newly established TPP task force will not disappoint by coming up with measures focusing only on agricultural protection. It is essential that it consider how to utilize the vast, envisioned free-trade area to develop our economy.
　単なる農業保護策では困る。巨大な自由貿易圏を活用し、経済を成長させる視点が大切だ。

The government recently established the task force, which includes all Cabinet ministers, following a broad agreement on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal. It plans to compile a policy outline by year-end that includes measures to reinforce agriculture.
　環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉の大筋合意を踏まえ、政府は、全閣僚で構成するＴＰＰ総合対策本部を設置した。年内にも、農業強化などの政策大綱を策定する。

When the TPP takes effect, more than 400 tariffs on agricultural, forestry and fishery products will gradually be abolished or reduced. On the one hand, consumers will benefit from increased imports of cheaper foreign products; but on the other, it is unavoidable that domestic farmers will be dealt a blow.
　ＴＰＰが発効すると、４００を超える農林水産物の関税が順次、引き下げ・撤廃される。安い外国産品の輸入が増え、消費者は恩恵を受ける一方、国内農家に打撃が及ぶのは避けられない。

Thus, it is understandable for the government to take certain measures to support agriculture and mitigate any negative impacts on farmers.
　影響を緩和するため、一定の農業支援を行うのは理解できる。

However, the key to agricultural protection does not lie in a surging agricultural budget. What is important is to enhance the productivity of farmers and create an environment that helps them survive international competition.
　肝心なのは、農業予算を大幅に増やすことではない。農家の生産性を高め、国際競争を勝ち抜く環境を創り出すことだ。

In this sense, a recent remark by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was appropriate. “We’ll make the TPP deal a chance for [Japan’s] agriculture to shift to the offensive,” he said.
　安倍首相が「ＴＰＰを『攻めの農業』に切り替えるチャンスにする」と述べたのは適切である。

The government has spent ¥6 trillion to cope with the partial opening of its rice market following the 1993 Uruguay Round trade agreement. However, experts believe the measure had little effect because most of the money was used for measures such as agriculture public works.
　１９９３年のウルグアイ・ラウンド合意では、コメ市場の部分開放に備えて６兆円を投じたが、大半は農業土木事業などに流れ、効果は乏しかったとされる。

Some members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party insist the government spend more than ¥6 trillion on measures to support agriculture. Such demands for the government to raise its expenditure are expected to increase because next summer’s House of Councillors election is looming. We must remain vigilant.
　自民党内では、６兆円を上回る対策を求める声が出ている。来年夏の参院選向けに、歳出圧力が高まることに警戒が怠れない。

Avoid excessive support

A point of concern is the government’s move to overly support farmers.
　気がかりなのは、政府がコメ農家への支援策を必要以上に手厚くしようとしていることだ。

Japan will establish tariff-free import quotas for rice from the United States and Australia totaling nearly 80,000 tons. This is not a big amount — it is equivalent to about 1 percent of the rice produced in Japan — but the government said it will increase the volume of domestic rice it buys up as emergency stock, citing the possibility of those quotas causing the price of the nation’s rice to drop.
　日本は、米国と豪州向けに計８万トン弱のコメの無関税輸入枠を新設する。国内生産量の約１％分に過ぎないのに、政府は、米価下落を招きかねないとして、備蓄米の買い上げ量を積み増すという。

We want to remind the government that bullish measures aimed at maintaining the price of domestic rice will not only increase its financial burden but also diminish the consumer benefits of the free trade agreement.
　強引な米価維持策は、財政負担を膨らませるうえ、消費者のメリットを小さくしてしまおう。

After the deal takes effect, the United States will expand its tariff-free import quotas for Japanese beef. There are measures that could help promote domestic beef, such as utilizing information technology to improve the quality of the meat, as well as enlarging foreign markets.
　ＴＰＰ発効後、米国は日本産牛肉の無関税輸入枠を広げる。和牛を売り込むため、情報技術（ＩＴ）活用による肉質の向上や、海外の販路拡大の対策を講じたい。

It is also essential to pay attention to areas other than agriculture.
　農業以外の分野にも目配りが欠かせない。

The task force has set a policy of using the TPP as a catalyst for promoting technological innovation and creating new industries. We urge the government to increase its efforts for product development based on the needs of importing countries, and also utilize advanced technologies to enhance the competitiveness of Japanese products.
　対策本部は、ＴＰＰをテコに、技術革新の促進や新産業の創出に取り組む方針を掲げた。輸出先のニーズを踏まえた製品開発や、先端技術を応用した競争力の強化に力を入れることが重要だ。

The TPP agreement encompasses deals such as the removal of tariffs on most industrial goods and deregulation of trade and investment, as well as establishing rules for settling disputes. We hope this helps reduce the risks for small and medium-sized companies advancing into emerging nations.
　協定には、工業製品の関税撤廃や、貿易・投資の規制緩和、紛争処理ルールが含まれる。中小企業が新興国に進出するリスクを減らす効果が期待される。

The government should back up ambitious small and medium-sized companies by helping them establish regional supply chains and providing information on foreign markets.
　域内サプライチェーン（供給網）の構築支援や、外国市場に関する情報提供などを通じ、意欲的な中小企業を後押しすべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 10, 2015)

露のシリア空爆 「イスラム国」掃討は名目か

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Are Russian airstrikes in Syria targeting ISIL in name only?
露のシリア空爆　「イスラム国」掃討は名目か

Russia’s full-scale use of military force in Syria has heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington, and the standoff is becoming increasingly entrenched.
　ロシアのシリアでの本格的な武力行使が、ロシアと米国の緊張を高め、固定化させつつある。

Russia has started expanding its military operations against armed antigovernment forces opposed to the administration of Syrian President Bashar Assad. The Russian attacks were conducted based on a request from Assad’s government.
　ロシアが、シリアのアサド政権と敵対する反体制派武装勢力への軍事行動を拡大し始めた。攻撃はアサド政権の要請に基づくものだ。

Since the end of September, in addition to conducting airstrikes for more than one week, Moscow also has fired cruise missiles from vessels stationed about 1,500 kilometers away in the Caspian Sea.
　９月末以来、１週間以上の空爆に加え、約１５００キロ・メートル離れたカスピ海に展開する艦艇から巡航ミサイル攻撃も行った。

More than 90 percent of the Russian targets have reportedly been moderate, pro-U.S. and Europe rebel groups. These attacks have apparently killed and injured many civilians, including children.
　ロシアの標的の９割以上が、親米欧の穏健な反体制派だとされる。子供を含む民間人死傷者が多数出たという。

Russia has concentrated its airstrikes in western Syria near Tartus, home to Russia’s only naval port in the Middle East and a stronghold of the Assad government.
　アサド政権の地盤で、ロシアが中東唯一の軍港を持つタルトゥスに近い西部に空爆は集中する。

Russia claims the objective of its attacks is to wipe out the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant(ISIL) extremist group. However, it is obvious that this offensive aims to support the weakened Assad government and protect Russia’s own national interests. It is a self-serving action.
　ロシアは過激派組織「イスラム国」の掃討が目的だとしている。だが、弱体化したアサド政権を支え、自国の権益を守る狙いが明白で、利己的な行動と言えよう。

There have also been reports that Russia will send “volunteer soldiers” to Syria. Russia appears poised to fight against Syrian antigovernment forces by working closely with units from Iran — a sworn friend of Syria and Shiite groups from Iraq and other nations.
　ロシアが「義勇兵」を派遣するとの情報もある。シリアの盟友イランの部隊やイラクなどのシーア派勢力と連携し、シリア反体制派と戦う構想だろう。

This Shiite-oriented strategy will do nothing but whip up a backlash from Sunni groups and their backers, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and inflame the sectarian conflict. The risk that this civil war could develop into a proxy war between Russia and Syria’s neighboring nations cannot be overlooked.
　シーア派を偏重した作戦は、スンニ派勢力と、後ろ盾のサウジアラビアやトルコの反発を買い、宗派対立を煽あおるだけだ。内戦が、近隣国とロシアとの代理戦争に発展する危険も軽視できない。

Friction with U.S.

Russia’s predecessor, the Soviet Union, intervened in the nearby nation of Afghanistan. About nine years of fighting there battered Russia’s economy and was a factor in the Soviet Union’s collapse.
　ロシアの前身であるソ連は隣国のアフガニスタンに介入した。約９年の戦いで経済が疲弊し、体制崩壊の一因ともなった。

The United States and Europe have imposed sanctions on Russia in response to the problem concerning Ukraine, and Russia’s economy is on the decline. Russia’s strategy in the Middle East is certain to further sap its strength. We think this is a foolish move that disregards the lessons of its operations in Afghanistan.
　ウクライナ問題を巡りロシアは現在、米欧の制裁下にあり、経済は下降線をたどる。中東での作戦が、ロシアの体力を一層奪うのは確実だ。アフガンでの教訓を顧みない愚行ではないか。

U.S. President Barack Obama warned Russia that its offensive in Syria will suck Moscow into a “quagmire.”
　オバマ米大統領は、ロシアは「泥沼にはまる」と警告した。

The United States has stepped up its airstrikes against ISIL positions and is supplying weapons to moderate rebel forces as it seeks to retain leadership over the situation in Syria. However, the impact of these steps is unknown.
　米国は、シリア情勢での主導権を握るため、穏健反体制派への武器供与と「イスラム国」の拠点への空爆を強化するというが、効果は未知数だ。

The United States has been reluctant to get more involved in Syria and is flatly refusing to cooperate with Russia on this issue.
　シリアへの関与を逡巡しゅんじゅんしてきた米国は、ロシアとの協力を断固として拒否している。

Nevertheless, their interests coincide on the point of seeking to deplete the strength of ISIL. It would be significant if the United States and Russia could coordinate their strategies to prevent accidental clashes and narrow down the targets of their attacks.
　ただ、「イスラム国」の弱体化を目指す点では、利害は一致する。米露の偶発的衝突を避け、攻撃の標的を絞り込むためなら、作戦を調整する意義はあろう。

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stance of easily resorting to military means is becoming an element of instability in the international community.
　安易に軍事手段に訴えるプーチン大統領の姿勢は、国際社会の不安定要因になっている。

Hostility between Washington and Moscow is escalating and the world is sliding toward a situation that could be called a new kind of Cold War. This will unavoidably have implications for Japan’s diplomacy.
　米露の対立が深刻化し、世界は新型の「冷戦」とも呼ぶべき局面を迎えつつある。日本外交への影響も避けられまい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 9, 2015)

高速鉄道戦略 中国との受注競争に備えよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan must prepare strategically to beat China for overseas orders
高速鉄道戦略　中国との受注競争に備えよ

Japan must strategically prepare to compete for overseas orders with China, a country that mounts an export offensive even by offering virtually bargain prices.
　投げ売りに近い輸出攻勢をかける中国との受注競争に、日本は戦略的に備えねばならない。

In a fiercely contested race between Japan and China to build a high-speed railway in Indonesia, Japan lost. The project in question is to build a railway system connecting Jakarta and Bandung, a distance of 140 kilometers, with trains running at speeds over 300 kph.
　日中が争ってきたインドネシアの高速鉄道計画で、日本が敗れた。首都ジャカルタ―バンドン間の１４０キロを時速３００キロ以上で結ぶ構想だ。

The project proposed by Japan would have financed most of the estimated total project cost of about ¥540 billion with the use of yen loans, requiring a loan guarantee from the Indonesian government.
　日本案は総事業費約５４００億円の大半を円借款で賄うもので、インドネシアの政府保証が必要だった。

Japan had initially led China in bidding for the project by, for instance, conducting a feasibility study starting as early as around 2008.
日本は、２００８年頃から事業性を確認する調査を行うなど、中国よりも先行していた。

The actions taken by the Indonesian government were problematic. In early September, Jakarta announced it would review its railway project, and would not adopt either the Japanese or Chinese proposals.
　問題なのは、インドネシア政府の対応だ。９月初め、日中両案を採用せず、計画を見直すと公表した。

Yet, less than a month later, the government reversed its policy and adopted the Chinese proposal.
だが、１か月足らずで、その方針を覆し、中国案に決めた。

The Indonesian government chose the Chinese proposal as Beijing accepted Jakarta’s conditions that the government be free from any fiscal spending or loan guarantee for the project.
　政府支出も債務保証もしないというインドネシアの条件を、中国が受け入れたことが理由だ。

It was understandable for Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga to strongly express the Japanese government’s dissatisfaction, saying, “It’s important for a large-scale infrastructure project to be implemented in a transparent and fair manner.” It is vital to examine the decision-making process taken by the Indonesian government.
　菅官房長官が「大型インフラ計画は透明かつ公正に実施されることが重要だ」と強い不満を表明したのは、もっともである。決定プロセスの検証が欠かせない。

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson engaged in self-praise by saying China enjoys great superiority over Japan in regard to loan conditions and work periods.
　中国外務省は「中国には、融資条件や工期などの面で比較的大きな優位性がある」と自賛した。

China may have hinted at extending financial assistance to the project through the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Silk Road Fund, a state-owned investment fund of the Chinese government.
中国主導のアジアインフラ投資銀行（ＡＩＩＢ）や自前の「シルクロード基金」を通じた資金援助をちらつかせたのではないか。

Fierce export drive

Many people are skeptical about the feasibility of the Chinese proposal, which promises to complete the construction of the railway system in three years. It is a matter of concern that the Indonesian government’s lax judgment over its adoption of the Chinese proposal may come into question again.
　３年での完工などを約束した中国案には、実現性を危ぶむ見方も多い。インドネシア政府の判断の甘さが改めて問われることにならないか、懸念されよう。

Behind China’s fierce export drive is the excessive production capacity of its high-speed railway industry. The country has built a 16,000-kilometer high-speed railway network in a matter of 10 years, more than six times longer than Japan’s Shinkansen bullet train network. A surplus of rolling stock, railway facilities and workers is likely to continue for some time.
　中国の輸出攻勢の背景には、高速鉄道産業の生産能力のだぶつきがある。国内の高速鉄道網はわずか１０年ほどで１万６０００キロに拡大し、日本の新幹線網の６倍を超えた。車両や設備、労働者などの過剰は続くだろう。

Japan should keep an eye on China in the days ahead, as it is a country that has to enter overseas markets regardless of whether it profits or not.
　採算を度外視してでも、国外市場に打って出ざるを得ない中国を今後も日本は警戒すべきだ。

The administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe considers the export of infrastructure development as one of the central pillars of its growth strategy and has focused on marketing such projects through cooperation between the public and private sector.
　安倍政権はインフラ輸出を成長戦略の柱と位置づけ、官民で連携して売り込みに注力してきた。

In particular, railway projects are considered promising in this respect, with demand expected to grow worldwide. Japan hopes to win orders from such countries as Malaysia and the United States in the days ahead. On the basis of its defeat in its bidding for the Indonesian project, Japan will need to rebuild its export strategy urgently.
　中でも鉄道事業は、世界的に需要増が見込まれる有望分野で、これからもマレーシアや米国などで受注を目指す考えだ。今回の敗北を踏まえ、輸出戦略の早急な立て直しが求められよう。

Japan has conventionally promoted the safety and the technological prowess of its high-speed railway system, Japan’s strongpoints in this sector. In addition, it will also become important for Japan to understand, more precisely than before, what its trading partner needs.
　日本は従来、強みである安全性や技術力をアピールしてきた。加えて、相手国のニーズをより的確に把握することも重要になる。

If Japan wants to win orders, it will be necessary to put more effort into presenting proposals as a package that includes traffic control systems and maintenance and checkups, rather than merely undertaking the design and construction of projects. Extending cooperation in the fostering of technical personnel will also prove effective.
　設計や建設工事を請け負うだけでなく、運行管理や保守・点検などを一括して受託する提案に力を入れる必要がある。技術者育成に協力することも有効だろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 7, 2015)

ノーベル科学賞 地道な探究心が実を結んだ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Steady scientific exploration has earned 2 Japanese Nobel prizes
ノーベル科学賞　地道な探究心が実を結んだ

For a second consecutive day, an outstanding feat was achieved.
　２日続きの快挙だ。

Takaaki Kajita, director of the University of Tokyo’s Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, was announced as a corecipient of this year’s Nobel Prize in Physics.
　東京大宇宙線研究所の梶田隆章所長が、今年のノーベル物理学賞を受賞することになった。

The announcement came a day after Satoshi Omura, a distinguished professor emeritus of Kitasato University, was selected as a cowinner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. We would like to heartily hail a string of honors awarded to these Japanese researchers as Nobel Prize-winners.
　前日には、北里大の大村智・特別栄誉教授に生理学・医学賞が贈られることが決まった。日本人研究者の相次ぐ受賞決定を心からたたえたい。

The award honors Kajita for his success in discovering that neutrinos have mass. Many mysteries remain about the neutrino as an elementary particle, an ultimate constituent of matter.
　梶田さんは、物質の究極の姿である素粒子の中でも、多くの謎が残る「ニュートリノ」に質量があることを突き止めた。

With a group of researchers he headed, Kajita measured neutrinos flying around by using observation equipment set up at the now unused Kamioka Mine in Hida, Gifu Prefecture. Findings from his group’s research provided epoch-making data that made it essential to reconsider basic theories regarding the universe, including the origin of the universe and matter.
　研究グループを率い、岐阜県飛騨市の旧神岡鉱山内に設置した観測装置で、飛来するニュートリノを測定した。宇宙や物質の成り立ちなど、万物の理論に見直しを迫る画期的なデータとなった。

His corecipient, Arthur McDonald, a professor emeritus at Queen’s University, Canada, observed a similar phenomenon by using observation equipment built on the opposite side of the Earth. The awarding of the prize to the two scientists shows that their efforts have come to fruition.
　共同受賞するカナダ・クイーンズ大のアーサー・マクドナルド名誉教授は、地球の反対側にある観測装置で、同様の現象を観測した。両者の協力が結実した。

The theme of their studies has been explored since the 1960s. “It was good that I have properly continued [to carry out observations],” Kajita said with joy.
　このテーマは１９６０年代から探究されてきた。梶田さんは「しっかり（観測を）続けてきたことが良かった」と喜びを語った。

In Japan, the study of elementary particles has been continuously passed on since the late Dr. Hideki Yukawa was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1949, making him the first Japanese to win a Nobel Prize. Kajita’s glory shows that Japan’s tradition in this respect has proved its worth.
　４９年に湯川秀樹博士が物理学賞を初受賞して以来、日本の素粒子研究は綿々と受け継がれてきた。その伝統が生きた。

Fighting diseases

The Nobel Prize given to Omura honors his successful efforts to develop surefire medicines for such diseases as onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, a parasitic disease prevalent in African and South American nations.
　大村さんの授賞理由は、アフリカや南米に多い寄生虫病・オンコセルカ症（河川盲目症）などの特効薬を開発したことだ。

Omura was selected as a recipient along with William Campbell of Drew University in the United States, who cooperated in the development efforts. They were praised for having “revolutionized therapy for patients.”
　開発に協力した米ドリュー大のウィリアム・キャンベル博士との共同受賞で、「革命的治療をもたらした」と称賛された。

Their achievements can be described as a feat signifying what medical science essentially stands for — that is, saving life.
　人の命を救うという医学の原点に立った業績と言える。

“I’m glad to have been useful to people,” Omura said. Many people may have remembered the late Hideyo Noguchi, a bacteriologist who worked hard to cure and investigate tropical diseases.
　大村さんは「人の役に立てたことがうれしい」と述べた。熱帯病の治療や解明に尽力した野口英世を思い浮かべた人も多かろう。

Microbes living underground or elsewhere create such natural compounds as antibiotics. Omura steadily collected a large number of microbes. He discovered a compound from which Avermectin, a surefire remedy cited in the Nobel award, is derived. And then he finally made his discovery into a marketable product through an industry-academia partnership
　地中などにいる微生物は、抗生物質のような天然化合物を作り出す。大村さんは、多数の微生物を地道に収集した。受賞対象の特効薬「イベルメクチン」のもとになる化合物を見つけ、産学連携で製品化にこぎ着けた。

Tu Youyou, a scientist at the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, was also announced as a winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her development of a remedy for malaria.
　マラリアの治療薬を開発した中国中医科学院の屠●●氏も、同時に受賞する。（●は口へんに幼）

The fight against Ebola hemorrhagic fever and other infectious diseases is an important challenge facing the human race. The prizes given to these scientists will provide strong support in the fight against pathogens.
　エボラ出血熱などの感染症対策は、人類の重要課題だ。今回の受賞は、病原体との闘いへの力強い後押しとなろう。

In recent years, Japan’s scientific research has been experiencing a conspicuous decline. This is because of a failure to nurture the next generation of scientists. The number of research papers published by Japanese scientists has been slow to grow.
　近年、日本の科学研究の地盤沈下が目立つ。次の世代が育っていないためだ。研究論文数は伸び悩んでいる。

The awarding of the prizes to the two Japanese researchers is bound to stimulate many scientists in this country. We hope young researchers will pursue even higher goals.
ダブル受賞は多くの研究者の刺激となるに違いない。若い研究者たちには、さらなる高みを目指してもらいたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 7, 2015)

ＴＰＰ大筋合意 巨大貿易圏で成長底上げ図れ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Boost economic growth in giant TPP free trade zone
ＴＰＰ大筋合意　巨大貿易圏で成長底上げ図れ

　◆日本農業の強化は待ったなしだ

A new trade and investment framework that will drive the global economy will be born in the Asia-Pacific region.
　アジア太平洋地域に、世界経済を牽引けんいんする新たな貿易・投資の枠組みが誕生する。

A broad agreement has been reached during ministerial talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact.
　環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉が閣僚会合で大筋合意した。

The creation of a giant free trade zone, which accounts for about 40 percent of the world’s gross domestic product today, is expected to vitalize the flow of people, goods and funds and propel economic growth.
　世界の国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）の約４割を占める巨大な自由貿易圏の創設で、人やモノ、資金の流れが活性化され、経済成長を底上げする効果が期待できる。

The TPP negotiations, which have continued for 5½ years, experienced rough going until the end, but we welcome that the 12 participating countries — industrialized countries and emerging economies — have overcome many conflicts of interest despite their varying circumstances.
　５年半に及んだ交渉は最後まで難航したが、先進国から新興国まで、様々な事情を抱える参加１２か国が多くの利害対立を乗り越えたことを歓迎したい。

Sense of urgency
　◆危機感共有で漂流回避

The negotiations were finally concluded after extending the schedule by four days. This is because talks over issues such as the data protection period for newly developed drugs remained intractable to the last.
　交渉は予定を４日延長して、ようやく妥結した。新薬開発のデータ保護期間を巡る協議などが、最後までもつれたためである。

The United States insisted the data protection period should be 12 years, while Australia and other countries advocated a period of five years. Japan’s proposal to set it at effectively eight years was reportedly adopted.
　保護期間は、米国が１２年、オーストラリアなどが５年を唱えたが、実質８年とする日本の提案が採用されたという。

It is significant that Japan played a role as a go-between to a certain extent.
　仲介役として、日本が一定の役割を果たしたのは意義がある。

Differences were also resolved in opinions over the “rule of origin,” or the percentage of the parts of a car made within the TPP region that should be used for the vehicles to be eligible for favorable treatment such as a tariff cut.
　ＴＰＰ域内で生産された部品を何割使えば、自動車の関税引き下げなどの優遇を受けられるかという「原産地規則」に関する意見の相違も解消した。

Japan insisted on 40 percent, while countries including Mexico called for more than 60 percent, but a compromise was reportedly reached at around 50 percent.
　日本が４割、メキシコなどは６割超を主張したが、５割前後で妥協が成立したとされる。

Agreement was also reached on an issue in which New Zealand pressed the United States, Japan and other countries to increase their imports of dairy products.
　ニュージーランドが、日米などに乳製品の輸入拡大を迫っていた問題でも折り合いがついた。

It is commendable that countries fiercely at odds with each other reached compromises from a broader perspective.
　激しく対立してきた各国が、大局的見地から歩み寄ったことは評価できる。

The participating countries turned to concessions on many outstanding issues probably because they were able to share a sense of urgency that the negotiations could drift if the talks broke down again this time.
　数々の懸案で各国が譲歩に転じたのは、今回も物別れに終われば、交渉が漂流しかねない、という危機感を共有できたからだろう。

In the United States, it has been pointed out that momentum toward an agreement on the TPP talks could fade away as the Democrats and Republicans may become increasingly confrontational as their focus shifts toward the presidential election in autumn next year.
　米国では今後、来年秋の大統領選をにらんで民主、共和両党の対決姿勢が強まり、合意への機運が薄れる恐れが指摘されていた。

U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, who chaired the TPP talks, stressed the achievements of the negotiations, saying at a press conference that it is an “ambitious” and “high standard” agreement.
　議長のフロマン米通商代表は記者会見で、「野心的な高いレベルの合意だ」と成果を強調した。

The TPP free trade pact promises, among other things, to abolish tariffs or carry out regulatory reforms in 31 areas. If it becomes effective, tariffs on many agricultural and industrial products will be lowered, and fair, highly transparent and comprehensive rules on trade and investment will be created.
　ＴＰＰは３１分野にわたり、関税撤廃や規制改革などを約束している。発効すれば、多くの農産品や工業製品の関税が下げられ、公平で透明性の高い包括的な貿易・投資ルールが整備される。

This will raise the degree of freedom in economic activities and TPP member countries will likely receive various benefits, including expansion of production and job creation.
　経済活動の自由度が高まり、生産拡大や雇用創出など、様々な恩恵を享受できよう。

It is important for each participating country to win its legislature’s approval of a final agreement promptly, leading to effectuation of the accord.
　各国は今後、速やかに合意案の議会承認を得て、協定発効へ着実につなげることが大切だ。

The government needs to explain to the public in detail the possible benefits to be gained and the pains to bear through the participation in the TPP.
　ＴＰＰ参加で得られる利益と甘受すべき痛みを、国民に丁寧に説明することが求められる。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s administration considers Japan’s participation in the TPP scheme as one of the central pillars of its growth strategy.
　安倍政権は、ＴＰＰを成長戦略の柱と位置づけている。

The TPP is a framework deemed vital for the Japanese economy to take in a growing market of Asia as its domestic market is expected to shrink due to a population decline.
ＴＰＰは、人口減で国内市場の縮小が見込まれる日本が、アジアの成長を取り込むのに不可欠な枠組みだ。

Checking China
　◆中国を牽制する役割も

With the member countries abiding by the rules set within the TPP accord, risks such as unexpected changes to trade rules will be lowered, facilitating the expansion of companies into the markets of other countries.
　ＴＰＰのルールを各国が順守することで、規制が突然変更されるといったリスクが低下し、企業は安心して域内国に進出できる。

Participation will also provide a nice tailwind for Japan to promote exports of infrastructure development such as roads and railways. Should a large number of import duties, including those on beef and pork, be reduced, the benefits for Japanese consumers will be substantial.
　道路や鉄道などのインフラ（社会資本）輸出を促進する追い風にもなろう。牛・豚肉など多くの輸入関税が下がれば、日本の消費者が受けるメリットも大きい。

Abe welcomed the broad agreement as “a farsighted state policy to build a free and fair economic zone among countries that share the same values.”
　安倍首相は、大筋合意について「価値観を共有する国による自由で公正な経済圏を作っていく国家百年の計だ」と語った。

We should not allow to pass unnoted the possible effect of both Japan and the United States, which lead the TPP talks, banding together and deepening the alliance. Such an effect will restrain China, a country that has been escalating its hegemonic activities lately.
　ＴＰＰを主導する日米が結束し、同盟関係を深化させる効果も見逃せない。覇権主義的動きを強める中国への牽制けんせいとなろう。

The principles of TPP, the world’s largest economic accord, will become “international standards.” It is desirable to urge China to reform itself, to abide by fair and transparent rules and to have the world’s second largest economic power contribute to the prosperity of the global community.
　世界最大の経済協定であるＴＰＰの原則は「国際標準」となる。公正、透明なルールに従うよう中国に改革を迫り、世界２位の経済力を世界の繁栄に生かしたい。

Measures to tackle possible side effects of the TPP deal are also essential. There are many who are worried that domestic farmers, in particular, will be hit hard as they will face fierce competition from foreign products on which import duties will be lowered. There may be no time to waste in strengthening the mold for the country’s farming sector.
　ＴＰＰの副作用への対応も欠かせない。特に、関税の引き下げで、外国産品との厳しい競争に直面する国内農業への打撃を心配する向きは多い。農業の体質強化は待ったなしだろう。

End handout policy
　◆予算のバラマキを排せ

It could be a good idea for Japan to seize the TPP deal as a chance for it to build an agriculture sector of the future, rather than considering the pact as bringing only negative effects.
　ＴＰＰを単にマイナス材料とみなさず、むしろ未来の農業を形成する好機と捉えてはどうか。

The government should focus on projects such as enhancing productivity by adopting information technology and by promoting large-scale farming, and raising the earning power of the farming sector by promoting exports strategically.
　ＩＴ（情報技術）導入や農地の大規模化で生産性を上げたり、戦略的な輸出で農業の稼ぐ力を高めたりする事業に注力すべきだ。

Following the Uruguay Round agreement reached in 1993, under which Japan partially opened its market to rice imports, the government injected funding worth ¥6 trillion over eight years to assist farmers. But this ended up being mostly spent on public works such as land improvement, and were said to have little effect on enhancing international competitiveness. The same mistake should not be made.
　コメ市場が部分開放された１９９３年のウルグアイ・ラウンド合意では、８年間で計６兆円規模の対策費が投じられた。土地改良など公共事業が中心で、競争力を高める効果は乏しかったとされる。同じ轍てつを踏んではなるまい。

With the House of Councillors election, scheduled for next summer, in mind, there are some within the Liberal Democratic Party calling for a large increase in agriculture-related budgets, under the pretext of measures to deal with the TPP accord.
　来年夏の参院選を意識し、自民党内からは、ＴＰＰ対策を名目に農業予算の大幅増を求める声が出ている。

The government will be tested on whether it can allocate budgets by prioritizing those projects that will help reinvigorate the nation’s farming sector, while eliminating the policy of handouts for farmers.
バラマキを排し、農業再生に資する事業に予算を重点配分できるかどうかが問われよう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 6, 2015)

香山リカのココロの万華鏡：矛盾した情報に惑うな ／東京

香山リカ先生はアベノミクスや安倍首相のやり方に不信感を抱いているのだと思います。
マスメディアの提供する情報のほうが正しいと思います。
デフレ脱却しても、インフレ率２％を達成しても、それが多くの国民を不幸に陥れるのならば、本末転倒の政策です。
国民の幸せよりも大企業の幸せを優先するのが安倍自民党のやり方です。
昔から何ら変わりません。

October 04, 2015 (Mainichi Japan)
Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Don't be bewildered by contradictory information
香山リカのココロの万華鏡：矛盾した情報に惑うな　／東京

At a news conference on Sept. 24, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stressed the benefits of his administration's economic policy mix dubbed "Abenomics," stating, "We're at the point of saying we're no longer in deflation. A breakaway from deflation is right in front of us." The very next day, however, newspapers reported that the consumer price index for August had fallen. "The path to achieve the target of 2 percent inflation will be a rocky one," one paper wrote. The reports were virtually the opposite of what Abe was saying.
　９月２４日の記者会見で安倍首相は「もはやデフレではないという状態まで来た。デフレ脱却はもう目の前だ」と政権の経済政策「アベノミクス」の実績を強調した。ところが翌日の新聞各紙には、８月の消費者物価指数がマイナスに転じ、「物価上昇率２％の目標達成の道のりは険しい」などと書かれた記事が載った。ほとんど正反対の見解だ。

Seeing the prime minister full of confidence at the news conference, some people were no doubt put at ease, thinking, "This has got to be true. The Japanese economy is all right." But after reading in the newspaper that "The Bank of Japan appears to be going back to square one on monetary easing," they would become anxious again.
　記者会見での首相の自信にあふれた表情を見て、「こちらが本当なのだろう。日本経済は大丈夫なのだ」と、安心した人もいるだろう。とはいえ、新聞で「日銀の『金融緩和』も振り出しに戻った格好」などと読むと、また「デフレ脱却と信用していいのか」とまたまた不安になる。

In psychiatry, the term "double bind" refers to a predicament in which someone receives verbal and nonverbal messages (also called "metamessages") that contradict each other. For example, a mother could say to a child, "You can play as much as you want," while flashing an angry face and holding a school study guide in one hand.
　精神医学では、ある人の言葉によるメッセージと、言葉以外のメッセージ（メタ・メッセージとも言われる）とに矛盾がある状況を「ダブルバインド」と呼ぶ。たとえば母親が、言葉では「いくらでも遊んでいいのよ」と言いながら、怖い表情で手には参考書を持っている。これが「ダブルバインド」だ。

That's a double bind. We hear that nothing confuses a person so much or makes them so anxious as a double bind.
　そして、この矛盾した２種のメッセージが作り出す「ダブルバインド」ほど、受け取る人を混乱させ、不安に陥れるものはない、とも言われる。

Come to think of it, the security legislation put forward this summer falls into the same category. The government described the legislation as "peace bills to prevent war," while the opposition parties used the term "war bills." On the one hand, the government said, "This will make the lives of members of the public ever safer," while on the other hand, opponents said, "It will bring us closer to war and conscription."
　考えてみれば、この夏の安全保障関連法の議論にしてもそうだ。政府は「戦争を防ぐ平和の法案」と言い、野党は「戦争法案」と言った。あるいは政府は「これで国民の命がますます安全になる」と言い、反対する人は「戦争や徴兵制に近づく」と言った。

This is just the type of situation that produces a double bind. In the midst of it, I think we were probably confused, thinking, "What should we do?" and were left wavering.
　まさに「ダブルバインド」そのものの状況が生み出され、その中で私たちは、「これをどうとらえればよいのだろう」と迷い、心が揺れ動いたのではないだろうか。

Of course, I don't think it's good to have a situation in which the message is unified, leaving no opposition or contradictory views. But surely it is problematic for the prime minister and the administration that forms the nerve center of the country to stress one thing while the numbers and data reported in the media, and the opinions of scholars say the complete opposite.
　もちろん、メッセージがひとつに統一され、反対する意見、矛盾する意見がまったく出なくなる状況がよいとは思わない。しかし、国の中枢である政権や首相が主張していることと、マスコミで報じられる数字やデータ、学者の意見などが、まったく正反対というのは、問題なのではないだろうか。

The biggest concern, however, is that we stop looking at information to protect ourselves from this double bind. Contradictory information confuses us, but still we can adopt a stance of taking a hard look at the situation, thinking for ourselves, and making our own decisions. And that's a stance we should stick to.
　しかし、いちばん懸念されるのはこの「ダブルバインド」から身を守るため、私たちが「いっさいの情報を見なくなること」だ。矛盾した情報は気持ちを混乱させるが、しっかり見据え、受け取り、自分で考えて自分で決める。その姿勢だけは手放さないようにしたいものだ。

（精神科医）
(By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist)

毎日新聞　2015年09月29日　地方版

防衛装備庁発足 調達と輸出を戦略的に進めよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Implement procurement, export of defense equipment strategically
防衛装備庁発足　調達と輸出を戦略的に進めよ

A framework has been put into place for Japan to efficiently procure defense equipment and expand its technological cooperation with countries with which it has friendly ties. The nation should advance its equipment policy strategically.
　防衛装備品の調達を効率化し、友好国との技術協力を拡大する体制が整った。装備政策を戦略的に展開すべきだ。

The Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency of the Defense Ministry was recently created as an external bureau of the ministry. It is in charge of defense equipment-related tasks ranging from research and development to procurement and export. It has a staff of 1,800 and will manage a yearly budget of about ¥2 trillion.
　装備品の研究開発から調達、輸出までを所管する防衛装備庁が、防衛省の外局として１８００人体制で発足した。年間２兆円近い予算を扱う。

Previously, the ministry’s Technical Research and Development Institute handled research and development involving defense equipment, while the ministry’s internal bureaus and the ground, maritime and air wings of the Self-Defense Forces separately carried out procurement.
　従来、研究開発は技術研究本部、調達は内部部局や陸海空３自衛隊が別々に行っていた。

It is quite significant that an organization capable of implementing equipment administration in an integrated manner has been created by doing away with administrative functions that was to be used vertically divided.
縦割りを廃し、装備行政を一元的に担う組織が誕生した意義は大きい。

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, in instructions to the agency’s staff, said the ministry will attach importance to this country’s ability to maintain technological capabilities that will be one step ahead of others, indicating his intention to expand R&D and technical cooperation with other countries.
　中谷防衛相は訓示で「一歩先んじた技術力の保持を重視する」と述べ、研究開発や他国との技術協力を拡充する考えを示した。

With the three principles on the transfer of defense equipment and technology that were approved and adopted by the Cabinet in April last year, export restrictions on defense equipment have been greatly eased, creating an environment for this country to expand equipment cooperation with other countries.
　昨年４月に閣議決定された「防衛装備移転３原則」で輸出制限が大幅に緩和され、他国との装備協力を拡大する環境が整った。

Based on the principles, Japan has started joint research on missile technology with Britain. It is also studying the possibility of implementing the joint development of submarines with Australia, and discussing with India Japan’s export of amphibious search-and-rescue planes to that country.
　英国とはミサイル技術の共同研究に着手した。豪州との潜水艦の共同開発や、インドへの救難飛行艇輸出も検討している。

Enhanced deterrence

Japan’s security cooperation with other countries is part of its strategy touted as “proactive contribution to peace,” and will lead to enhancement of the nation’s deterrent power. It will also contribute to the maintenance and fostering of defense technology and the nation’s production base.
　他国との安全保障分野での協力は、「積極的平和主義」の一環であり、日本の抑止力の向上につながる。防衛技術・生産基盤の維持や育成にも役立とう。

With the passage of security-related legislation, the SDF’s international activities will be expanded. It is important to pursue equipment procurement that accords with defense policy. Budget allocations among the three SDF arms should also be reviewed.
　安全保障関連法の成立で、自衛隊の国際活動が拡充される。防衛政策に合致した装備調達が大切である。陸海空３自衛隊の予算配分の見直しにも取り組みたい。

The new agency is also tasked with an important role of making weapons procurement more efficient.
　防衛装備庁は、武器調達の合理化でも重要な役割を担う。

Procurement of equipment separately by the three SDF arms had been an obstacle to the joint operation of the SDF. They were even unable to share ammunition.
　３自衛隊が従来、独自に装備品を調達していたことは統合運用の障害になっていた。弾薬などを融通し合うこともできなかった。

In the days ahead, the designs of Maritime Self-Defense Force’s transport vessels will be changed so that the vessels, which were capable of hosting only MSDF helicopters, will be able to carry Osprey transport aircraft, which the GSDF plans to adopt.
　今後は、海自ヘリしか搭載できなかった海自輸送艦に、陸自が導入する輸送機オスプレイなどを搭載できるよう、輸送艦の設計を変更する。

Equipment such as interceptor missiles and surface-to-air guided missiles will also be standardized among the three SDF branches.
ミサイル、地対空誘導弾なども３自衛隊で共通化する。

Under the severe fiscal circumstances, the ministry, in its Mid-Term Defense Program (fiscal 2014-fiscal 2018), has set a target of securing ¥700 billion by making equipment procurement more efficient.
　厳しい財政状況の中、２０１４～１８年度の中期防衛力整備計画では、調達効率化で７０００億円の財源を確保する目標を定めた。

In April this year, special legislation was enacted to save procurement costs through lump-sum purchases of equipment under long-term contracts.
　今年４月には、装備品の一括購入の長期契約で調達費を節約する特別措置法が成立した。

From fiscal 2016 onward, the ministry plans to use this policy to reduce procurement costs by ¥153 billion in the purchase of Ospreys and other equipment. By also cooperating with defense-related industries, the ministry should also make use of this method in the introduction of large equipment in the days ahead.
１６年度以降はオスプレイ購入などで１５３０億円の縮減を図る。防衛産業とも連携し、今後の大型装備導入でもこの手法を活用すべきだ。

High-tech equipment such as fighter planes tends to become exorbitantly expensive. Thorough cost-reducing efforts are vital.
　戦闘機などのハイテク装備は高額化の傾向にある。徹底的なコスト節減が欠かせない。

Defense equipment procurement has seen spates of corruption and bid-rigging scandals for many years. To prevent the ministry from forming cozy ties with the defense industry that may lead to corruption, comprehensive monitoring of equipment procurement must not be neglected.
　装備調達を巡っては長年、汚職や談合が繰り返された。防衛産業との癒着や不正行為を許さないように、様々な角度から厳しいチェックを怠ってはならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 4, 2015)

中国２邦人拘束 「法治」による統制が目に余る

The Yomiuri Shimbun
By arresting Japanese citizens, Xi displays high-handed rule by ‘law’
中国２邦人拘束　「法治」による統制が目に余る

The recent arrests of two Japanese nationals apparently symbolize efforts by Chinese President Xi Jinping’s government to defend its one-party dictatorship at all costs by bolstering its domestic control even further.
　中国の習近平政権が共産党の一党独裁を死守するため、国内統制を一層強めていることを象徴する動きと言えよう。

The Japanese government announced that Chinese authorities detained one Japanese in Liaoning Province and another in Zhejian Province in May this year. The two are male civilians who traveled to China from Japan.
　日本政府は、邦人２人が今年５月、中国遼寧省と浙江省で、それぞれ中国当局に拘束されたと発表した。２人は日本から渡航した民間人男性だ。

China’s Foreign Ministry said the two were arrested on suspicion of spying, and stressed they will be tried and punished under the law. However, the ministry has not disclosed any details of its suspicions.
　中国外務省は、拘束理由として「スパイ活動」を挙げ、「法に基づいて審理し、処罰を進める」と強調した。だが、容疑の詳細は公表していない。

China probably detained the two under its counterespionage law enforced in November. The law can be applied to the theft of national secrets, inciting public officials to sedition or bribing them, and activities deemed harmful to the safety of the country. It can also be applied to “any other spying activity.”
　中国は昨年１１月施行の「反スパイ法」を適用し、拘束したのではないか。この法律は国家機密の窃取や公務員の扇動・買収、国家安全への危害のほか、「その他のスパイ活動」も摘発対象だ。

At a press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said, “Our country has done no such thing.” He urged Beijing to release the two as soon as possible.
　菅官房長官は「我が国は、そうしたことは絶対していない」と反論し、早期解放を求めた。

It is a matter of concern that Chinese authorities may arbitrarily interpret and apply ambiguous stipulations in the law. Japan, the United States and Europe must exercise caution against any attempt by China to use the “rule of law” as a tool for single-party control.
　懸念されるのは、当局があいまいな規定を恣意しい的に運用する事態だ。中国が「法治」を一党支配の手段として利用することに、日本や欧米は警戒する必要がある。

The man arrested in Liaoning Province is said to have visited Dandong, a major city at China’s border with North Korea. Meanwhile, Zhejian Province is a significant area hosting facilities of the Chinese navy. Japan cannot remain completely aloof of an espionage war by China or North Korea.
　遼寧省で拘束された男性は、北朝鮮との国境の拠点都市、丹東を訪れたとされる。浙江省は中国海軍の施設などがある要所だ。日本も、中国や北朝鮮の諜報ちょうほう戦と全く無関係ではいられない。

Law for one-party regime

It is feared that the detention period for the two, already four months long, will be extended further. Pre-indictment procedures in China take more time than those in the United States and Europe. In addition, opacity is expected to increase in a case related to national security.
　４か月に及ぶ２人の拘束期間がさらに長期化する恐れもある。中国では、欧米諸国に比べて、起訴前の手続きに時間がかかる。国家安全絡みの事件では、不透明さが一段と高まるとみられる。

In March, an American woman who visited China on a business tour reportedly was detained and investigated on suspicion of harming national security.
　今年３月には、ビジネスツアーで訪中した米国人女性が「国家安全に危害を加えた疑い」で拘束され、調査を受けているという。

When Chinese authorities arrested four Japanese employees of midsize general contractor Fujita Corp. in 2010, some observers saw their arrests as revenge by Beijing for Japan’s actions after a Chinese fishing boat rammed a Japan Coast Guard vessel in seas off the Senkaku Islands.
　２０１０年、中堅ゼネコン「フジタ」の日本人社員４人が中国当局に拘束された際、尖閣諸島沖での中国漁船衝突事件を巡る中国の「報復」との見方が出ていた。

Beijing may have intended to rattle Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government by using the arrests of the two Japanese citizens this time as a tool to put diplomatic pressure on Japan.
　中国は今回、拘束した２人についても、対日圧力の外交カードとして、安倍政権を揺さぶる思惑がないとは言い切れまい。

In addition to the anti-spying law, the Xi government put a new national security law into effect in July to enhance domestic security measures. Beijing must be seriously concerned about the stability of Chinese society amid its slowing economy.
　習政権は、反スパイ法に加え、今年７月、治安対策強化を狙った新法の国家安全法も施行した。経済が減速する中、社会の安定に危機感を募らせているのだろう。

The Chinese government also submitted a bill to put foreign nongovernmental organizations working in the country under government surveillance, fearing that values such as democracy and human rights from the United States and Europe would infiltrate into China.
　欧米から中国に民主主義や人権などの価値観が流入、浸透するのを警戒し、外国の民間活動団体（ＮＧＯ）の監視などを目的とする法案も提出している。

If the Xi government turns its back to international criticism and continues its coercive rule of the country, it will only further show that China is an “aberrant superpower.”
　習政権が国際社会の批判に背を向け、強権統治を続けるのなら、「異質の大国」の姿がますます際立つだけである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 3, 2015)

新日鉄技術流出 巨額和解金が戒めた不正行為

The Yomiuri Shimbun
POSCO ends up paying high price over alleged theft of technology info
新日鉄技術流出　巨額和解金が戒めた不正行為

How to prevent leaks of trade secrets, including proprietary technology information, to maintain international competitiveness is a major challenge for businesses.
　国際競争力を維持するため、独自の技術情報など、営業秘密の漏洩ろうえいをどう防ぐのか。企業にとって大きな課題である。

A settlement has been reached over the damages lawsuits that Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp. filed in Japan and overseas against major South Korean steelmaker POSCO and its subsidiaries over the alleged illicit acquisition of steel sheet production technology. The settlement called for POSCO to pay ¥30 billion.
　新日鉄住金が、韓国の鉄鋼最大手ポスコに鋼板技術を盗用されたとして、損害賠償を求めていた訴訟で、和解が成立した。ポスコが新日鉄住金に３００億円の和解金を支払う。

According to the leading Japanese steelmaker, POSCO approached a former employee of Nippon Steel Corp., one of the two predecessors of Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal, and got him to leak the technology information illicitly in return for an enormous amount of money.
　新日鉄住金によると、ポスコは、旧新日鉄の元社員に働きかけ、多額の報酬を払う見返りに、技術情報を不正に流出させた。

The theft allegedly targeted cutting-edge technology for producing electrical steel sheets. Steel sheets of this kind are used for manufacturing parts of such familiar products as transformers and mobile phones.
　狙われたのは、電磁鋼板と呼ばれる最先端の鉄鋼製品だ。変圧器や携帯電話の部品など、身近な製品にも使われている。

POSCO had insisted that it manufactured the products with its own technology, but finally agreed to pay a huge settlement, exceeding half its annual profits. This can be regarded as a de facto victory for Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal.
　ポスコは、独自の技術で製造したと主張していたが、最終的に、年間利益の５０％を超える巨額の和解金の支払いに応じた。新日鉄住金の事実上の勝訴と言えよう。

It is highly significant that the practice of illegally acquiring and exploiting the secret information of rival companies to earn profits has created the feeling both at home and abroad that those who do so end up paying a high price eventually.
　ライバル企業の秘密情報を不正に入手して盗用し、利益を稼ぐ。こうした違法行為が、結局は大きな代償を伴うことを内外に印象付けた意義は大きい。

The alleged theft came to light following the testimony of a former POSCO researcher arrested by South Korean investigative authorities on suspicion of leaking information to a Chinese steelmaker. The former researcher also revealed the information leak from Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal.
　今回の問題は、中国の製鉄会社への情報漏洩容疑で韓国の捜査当局に逮捕されたポスコの元研究員が、新日鉄住金からの元社員による漏洩も証言したことで、たまたま明るみに出た。

Behind-the-scenes industrial espionage targeted at Japanese firms has been increasing. According to the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, there were 540 cases of corporate information leaks in fiscal 2013, five times the figure for fiscal 2009.
　水面下では、日本企業を狙った産業スパイ事件が増えている。経済産業省によると、２０１３年度の企業の情報漏洩件数は、０９年度の５倍の５４０件に上る。

Concern about brain drain

In a conspicuous trend, businesses of emerging economies are said to offer favorable terms of employment for Japanese engineers who have retired due to corporate restructuring or a mandatory age limit, and talk them into leaking information. Given the continued suspension of all nuclear power plants in Japan, concern has been increasing about a brain drain of nuclear-related engineers to China, South Korea and other countries.
　新興国の企業が、リストラや定年で退職した日本人技術者に好待遇を提示し、取り込む動きが目立つという。日本が原子力発電所の稼働ゼロを続けていたことで、関連技術者が中国や韓国などに流出する懸念も強まっている。

Many Japanese companies are passive about taking legal action, as they view the leakage of trade secrets as their own shame. The revised Unfair Competition Prevention Law, which was enacted in July, makes it mandatory for accused companies to prove that the technology information in question was not acquired illicitly for production, a legal step to lessen the burden on plaintiff companies.
　営業秘密の漏洩を身内の恥などと判断し、提訴に消極的な企業が多い。７月に成立した改正不正競争防止法は、訴える企業の負担軽減のため、被告の企業に、情報を不正に入手して生産した事実がないことの立証責任を負わせた。

The maximum possible fine against businesses or individuals for illicit utilization of trade secrets has been raised to ¥1 billion.
　営業秘密を不正に利用した企業や個人に対する罰金も、最大１０億円にまで引き上げた。

To prevent leaks, it is essential to make the revised law function effectively. Businesses must also pay more attention to managing information.
　漏洩防止のため、改正法を有効に機能させることが大切だ。
　加えて、情報管理に対する企業の意識向上も欠かせまい。

Companies must conclude non-disclosure agreements with their employees and retirees requiring them not to leak trade secrets to rival firms. The number of employees with access to secret information must be limited as much as possible.
　営業秘密をライバル企業に漏らさないよう従業員や退職者に約束させる秘密保持契約の締結を徹底する。機密情報にアクセスできる社員を可能な限り限定する。

We hope information leakage will be prevented through such measures.
　そうした取り組みにより、被害を未然に防止したい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 2, 2015)