中国ロケット軍 米への挑戦示した核部隊強化

The Yomiuri Shimbun
China’s conspicuous nuclear unit build-up poses challenge to U.S.
中国ロケット軍　米への挑戦示した核部隊強化

The hard-line stance of China, which is trying to drive the United States out of the Asian order and establish its own hegemony, is becoming increasingly conspicuous.
　アジア秩序から米国を排除し、自らの覇権を確立しようとする中国の強硬姿勢が、一段と鮮明になってきた。

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s government announced that an airfield has been completed on one of its artificial islands in the South China Sea and that a “civilian plane” test-landed there.
　習近平政権は、南シナ海の人工島の一つに飛行場が完成し、「民間機」による試験飛行を実施したと発表した。

China is apparently trying to make its effective control of the South China Sea a fait accompli while covering up its true intention of turning the artificial islands into military strongholds.
　軍事拠点化の意図を糊塗ことしながら、南シナ海の実効支配を既成事実化する目論見があるのだろう。

After the first test, Beijing ignored criticism from the international community and repeated test operations of the airstrip. This defiant attitude could increase tensions in the region and cannot be tolerated.
その後も、国際社会の批判を顧みず、滑走路の運用テストを重ねている。地域の緊張を高める挑戦であり、容認できない。

It is essential to restrict China’s actions constantly through continued navigation by U.S. naval vessels around the artificial islands in the South China Sea and other means. Japan and the United States must enhance their partnerships with relevant countries, including India, Australia and Southeast Asian nations, to deal with the situation.
　米国が南シナ海の人工島周辺で艦艇航行を続けるなど、中国の行動への牽制けんせいを欠かさないことが肝要である。日米は、インドや豪州、東南アジアなどの関係国と連携を深め、対処せねばならない。

Efforts by Xi’s government to make China a “maritime power” and acceleration of its “strong army policy” are sources of concern.
　深刻なのは、「海洋強国」の実現を目指す習政権が「強軍路線」を加速させていることだ。

China recently disclosed that it is building its second aircraft carrier — the first to be built entirely with domestic technology. Beijing already possesses one aircraft carrier but its hull was built in Ukraine and the ship was refitted in China.
　最近は２隻目の空母を建造していると明らかにした。現在、ウクライナで建造中だった船体を購入し、改修した空母を保有しているが、国産空母は初めてだ。

China’s alleged aim of forming three carrier fighting groups by 2020 is becoming more and more likely.
　２０２０年までの３個空母戦闘群の編成が目標だとされる。それが現実味を帯びてきた。

Military modernization

The organizational reform of Chinese forces, to develop the capability to react quickly for modern warfare, is also becoming concrete.
　現代戦への即応態勢を整える軍の機構改革も具体化し始めた。

China upgraded its Second Artillery Corps to a “Rocket Force,” apparently aiming to enhance the nation’s nuclear capability and its joint operations with ground, sea and air forces.
　第２砲兵（戦略ミサイル部隊）の「ロケット軍」への格上げは、核戦力を増強し、陸海空軍との統合運用を強化する目的だろう。

Moreover, a “strategic support force” believed to be in charge of cyber-attacks and military use of space has also been created. This makes clear Beijing’s intention to vie with the United States.
　サイバー攻撃や宇宙空間の軍事利用を担うとみられる「戦略支援部隊」も新設した。米国に対抗する思惑を明確に示したものだ。

Xi’s administration is proceeding in a full-fledged manner with the “One Belt, One Road” initiative, which aims to build a huge economic bloc. It reportedly plans to connect Asia and Europe with land-based and oceanic “Silk Roads” and develop infrastructure such as roads and ports in countries located along them.
　習政権は巨大経済圏構想「一帯一路」を本格的に推進する。アジアと欧州を陸と海のシルクロードで結び、沿線国の道路や港湾などのインフラを整備するという。

The initiative apparently not only aims to expand Beijing’s economic influence in connection with the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. It also must be noted that the initiative is the other side of a military strategy akin to a “string of pearls” that aims to build a network of strongholds for the Chinese Navy when it operates across open oceans.
　その狙いは、中国主導のアジアインフラ投資銀行（ＡＩＩＢ）と連動した経済的影響力の拡大だけではあるまい。中国海軍の外洋展開の拠点網「真珠の首飾り」の構築など、軍事面と表裏一体の関係にあることに警戒が必要だ。

It is also increasingly of concern that the dogmatic stance of Xi’s government might cause tense relations with Taiwan.
　習政権の独善的な姿勢が台湾との関係でも緊張を招かないか、との懸念も強まっている。

In Taiwan, a survey regarding its presidential election scheduled for Jan. 16 shows that a candidate from the Democratic Progressive Party, the independence-oriented largest opposition party, has a wide lead over her rival of the ruling Kuomintang (KMT), which has been taking a conciliatory approach toward Beijing. A change of government is likely to happen there for the first time in eight years.
　今月１６日の台湾総統選では、「独立」志向の最大野党・民進党の候補が、対中融和を進めてきた与党・国民党の候補に、世論調査で大差をつけている。８年ぶりの政権交代の可能性が大きい。

If the DPP takes office, China should seek dialogue with the new government instead of heading for a collision. This is the responsibility of a major power that has a strong influence on the stability of the Taiwan Strait.
　民進党政権が誕生しても、対立に舵かじを切るのではなく、対話を模索することが、台湾海峡の安定に関わる大国の責任ではないか。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 9, 2016)