米の武器台湾へ 地域の安定へ関与が不可欠だ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
U.S. weapons sale to Taiwan crucial contribution to regional security
米の武器台湾へ　地域の安定へ関与が不可欠だ

Active U.S. engagement is essential for preserving peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and by extension the whole of East Asia.
　台湾海峡、ひいては東アジアの平和と安定の維持には、米国の積極的な関与が欠かせない。

The administration of U.S. President Barack Obama has decided to sell weapons worth $1.83 billion (about ¥220 billion) to Taiwan. Two decommissioned frigates, amphibious assault vehicles and small surface-to-air missiles are among the weapons the United States will provide to Taiwan.
　オバマ政権が台湾に対し、総額１８億３０００万ドル（約２２００億円）の武器売却を決めた。退役フリゲート艦２隻や水陸両用車、小型の地対空ミサイルなどを供与する。

A domestic U.S. law stipulates that the United States can provide weapons intended to enable Taiwan to maintain sufficient self-defense capabilities. This stipulation was made with China in mind.
　米国は国内法で、中国を念頭に、台湾の自衛力維持を目的とする武器の提供を定めている。

This latest arms sale is not only a political message in defense of Taiwan. It also appears aimed at keeping Beijing in check as it pushes ahead with the creation of artificial islands in the South China Sea and the establishment of military strongholds on those islands.
　今回の売却決定には、「台湾防衛」の政治的メッセージだけでなく、南シナ海で人工島を造成し、軍事拠点化を進める中国をけん制する狙いもあるのだろう。

A candidate of Taiwan’s largest opposition party, which strongly favors Taiwan independence, will likely win January’s presidential election and usher in a new administration. This may lead to deterioration in the ties between Beijing and Taipei. It seems the United States announced the weapons sale this month due to concern that doing so after the election could cause regional tensions to soar.
　来年１月の台湾総統選では、「台湾独立」志向の強い最大野党の候補が勝利し、政権交代する可能性が大きい。中台関係の悪化も予想される。その局面で決定すれば、地域の緊張が高まると懸念し、今回、決めたのではないか。

The United States and China earlier this month confirmed they would cooperate with regard to the Paris agreement, a framework that spells out steps to counter global warming from 2020. Both sides also want to avoid any decisive confrontations.
　米中両国は、２０２０年以降の地球温暖化対策の枠組み「パリ協定」合意を巡って協調を確認したばかりだ。双方とも決定的な対立は避けたい思惑で一致する。

When the U.S. government announced weapons sales worth about $12 billion in total to Taiwan in 2010 and 2011, China responded angrily and temporarily suspended military exchanges with the United States. Compared with such instances, the latest sale does not include any cutting-edge weapons and could be described as “restrained.”
　米国が１０年と１１年に計約１２０億ドルの武器売却を決めた際には、中国がいずれも猛反発し、米中軍事交流を一時停止した。それに比べると、今回の売却には最新兵器も含まれず、抑制的と言える。

China has upper hand

China has deployed a huge number of missiles along its coast facing the Taiwan Strait, and is mass-producing sophisticated fighter aircraft and frigates. The military balance is overwhelmingly tilted in China’s favor.
　中国は台湾海峡を挟んだ沿岸部に大量のミサイルを配備し、新型戦闘機とフリゲート艦などを量産している。軍事バランスは圧倒的に中国優位に傾いている。

Strengthening Taiwan’s air defense readiness and its ability to repel a landing force will be essential to the island’s defense. Taiwan had urged the United States to provide new-model fighter jets and submarines, as well as Aegis-equipped destroyers, but this did not eventuate. The Obama administration apparently did not authorize the sale of such weapons because they were deemed not to be necessary.
　台湾防衛には、防空態勢や上陸阻止能力の強化が不可欠だが、台湾の求める新型戦闘機や潜水艦、イージス駆逐艦の売却は実現しなかった。オバマ政権は「必要ない」として認めなかったという。

China’s Foreign Ministry has demanded that the United States scrap the weapons deal, and announced sanctions would be imposed on U.S. companies involved in the arms sale. However, Beijing did not go as far as halting military exchanges or taking other steps, so this protest was at a lower level than in previous cases. It appears China has judged that this arms package will not be a substantial threat to its security.
　中国外務省は米国に武器売却の撤回を求め、売却に関与する米企業に制裁を科すと表明した。軍事交流停止などには踏み込まず、控えめの抗議だ。実質的に、中国の脅威になる売却ではないと判断しているのだろう。

The administration of Chinese President Xi Jinping is mistaken if it thinks it can continue military exchanges with the United States and avoid a cooling of bilateral relations even without halting its self-righteous maritime advances.
　習近平政権が、独善的な海洋進出をやめなくても、米国との軍事交流を継続し、関係冷却化を回避できると計算しているのなら、筋違いである。

It is also important that Washington continues its strategy of sending U.S. military vessels through waters within 12 nautical miles of the artificial islands China has built in the South China Sea. Such an operation was conducted in late October, and we think the United States needs to stick to its plan to conduct these patrols about twice every three months.
　米国が、南シナ海の人工島の１２カイリ内に米艦艇を航行させる作戦を継続することも重要だ。１０月下旬に実施したが、３か月に２回程度の頻度で巡視を行う方針を維持する必要がある。

The United States must continue to take concrete steps to urge China to exercise self-control and show that it will not tolerate Beijing’s provocations.
　挑発を容認していると受け取られないよう、具体的な行動で自制を促し続けねばならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 24, 2015)