日豪首脳会談 経済と安保で「特別な関係」に

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan, Australia must build ‘special relationship’ on economy, security
日豪首脳会談　経済と安保で「特別な関係」に

Japan and Australia have an important role in promoting peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. We should build a comprehensive relationship of cooperation.
　日本と豪州は、アジア太平洋地域の平和と繁栄を牽引けんいんする重要な役割を担う。包括的な協力関係を構築すべきだ。

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who took office in September, made his first visit to Japan and held talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The two leaders issued a joint statement that said Japan and Australia would cooperate in the economic and security fields and deepen the “special relationship” of the two countries that share strategic interests.
　９月に就任したターンブル豪首相が初来日し、安倍首相と会談した。経済や安全保障分野で連携し、戦略的利益を共有する日豪の「特別な関係」を深化させるとの共同声明を発表した。

Abe emphasized that both leaders affirmed the “unshakable strategic relationship” between the two countries. “Both countries share the same values,” Turnbull said.
　安倍首相は「揺るぎない戦略的関係を確認した」と強調した。ターンブル首相は「両国は共通の価値観を持っている」と語った。

Turnbull, who is known to be acceptive of China, chose Japan for his first visit to East Asia as prime minister. We welcome Turnbull’s posture of attaching weight to bilateral ties with Japan, continuing the policy pursued by his predecessor, Tony Abbott — like Turnbull a member of the Liberal Party — who was close to Abe.
　中国通で知られるターンブル首相は、東アジアでの最初の訪問国に日本を選んだ。安倍首相と親密だった同じ自由党のアボット前首相の路線を継承し、対日重視の姿勢を示したことを歓迎したい。

Both leaders agreed on expanding bilateral trade and investment, on the basis of the bilateral Economic Partnership Agreement, which entered into force in January.
　両首脳は、今年１月に発効した経済連携協定（ＥＰＡ）に基づき、貿易・投資を拡大させることで一致した。

Abe and Turnbull also confirmed the importance of technological innovation and agreed on bilateral cooperation in such fields as regenerative medicine.
技術革新の重要性を確認し、再生医療などの分野で協力することでも合意した。

Japan and Australia have a mutually complementary relationship, with Japan importing mainly natural resources and foods from Australia, and exporting automobiles and other products to the country. It is important to promote economic cooperation between the two countries, using the EPA as a tailwind.
　日本は、豪州から主に天然資源や食料を輸入し、自動車などを輸出しており、相互補完の関係にある。ＥＰＡを追い風に、日豪の経済協力を進めることが大切だ。

The Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, with 12 countries including Japan and Australia participating, reached a broad agreement in October. Japan and Australia should further cooperate in putting the accord into force at an early stage.
　日豪など１２か国が参加する環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉も１０月に大筋合意した。早期発効に向けて連携を強めたい。

Freedom of navigation

With regard to the South China Sea, the joint statement called on “all claimants to halt large-scale land reclamation or construction, and to refrain from using any land features for military purposes.” Needless to say, both have China in mind, as it is building artificial islands and promoting the establishment of military bases there.
　共同声明は、南シナ海情勢に関し、「大規模な埋め立てや建設の停止」と「軍事目的での使用の自制」を明記した。無論、南シナ海で人工島造成と軍事拠点化を進める中国が念頭にある。

The U.S. Navy carried out patrols within 12 nautical miles of the artificial islands in October, while an Australian military surveillance plane recently flew near the artificial islands. It is important to take all possible steps to ensure freedom of navigation and flight under international law.
　米海軍は１０月、人工島の１２カイリ内で巡視活動を行った。豪州軍の哨戒機も最近、人工島付近で監視活動を行ったという。国際法に基づく「航行と飛行の自由」の確保へ、手段を尽くすことが重要だ。

Ensuring the safety of sea lanes will serve as a basis for free economic activities. By cooperating closely with other countries, including the United States, Japan and Australia must urge China to abide by international rules.
　海上交通路（シーレーン）の安全確保は、自由な経済活動の基盤となる。日豪は米国などと緊密に協調し、中国に国際ルールの順守を働きかけねばならない。

During their talks, Abe and Turnbull agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in defense on the basis of the security-related legislation. Japan and Australia intend to expedite concluding a “visiting forces agreement,” which would facilitate joint exercises between the Self-Defense Forces and Australian forces.
　首脳会談では、安全保障関連法に基づき、防衛協力を強めることで合意した。自衛隊と豪州軍の共同訓練を円滑にする「訪問部隊地位協定」の締結も急ぐ方針だ。

Japan and Australia should pursue multitiered cooperation, with the United States — an ally of both Japan and Australia — joining in.
日豪両国と同盟関係にある米国を交え、重層的協力を追求したい。

Turnbull expressed Australia’s “deep disappointment” with Japan’s resumption of its research whaling in the Antarctic Ocean. Abe explained the necessity of conducting whaling for research purposes on scientific grounds.
　ターンブル首相は、日本が南極海で調査捕鯨を再開したことについて「深い失望」を表明した。安倍首相は、科学的根拠に基づく調査の必要性などを説明した。

The assertions of the two leaders remain far apart on this issue. But it is necessary for this issue not to damage the overall bilateral relationship.
　双方の主張の開きは大きいが、この問題が日豪関係全体を損なわないようにする必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 21, 2015)