Ｇ２０と政策協調 市場安定へ行動が求められる

The Yomiuri Shimbun
G-20 nations must coordinate policies to stabilize global financial markets
Ｇ２０と政策協調　市場安定へ行動が求められる

Can the current turmoil in global financial markets be contained by the latest moves of the Group of 20 countries? The developed and emerging market economies must coordinate their policies effectively to achieve this goal.
　世界的な金融市場の混乱を、これで抑えられるか。先進国と新興国は政策協調を実効あるものとしなくてはならない。

A conference of the G-20 finance ministers and central bank governors ended on Saturday. A joint communique adopted at the conference included the grim perception that “Downside risks and vulnerabilities have risen” for the global economy.
　主要２０か国・地域（Ｇ２０）財務相・中央銀行総裁会議が閉幕した。採択された共同声明は、「世界経済の下方リスクと脆弱ぜいじゃく性が高まっている」とする厳しい認識を示した。

Based on this recognition, the G-20 countries expressed their strong resolve in the communique to “use all policy tools — monetary, fiscal and structural — individually and collectively” to check the global economy from stalling.
　そのうえで、世界経済の失速回避に向けて、金融政策や構造改革、財政出動といった「全ての政策手段を総合的に用いる」との強い決意を表明した。

The world economy has been shrouded in a number of destabilizing factors, such as the slowdown in China’s economic growth, a drop in crude oil prices, and capital flows out of emerging market economies in the wake of the recent U.S. interest rate hike.
　世界経済は、中国の成長鈍化や原油安、米国の利上げに伴う新興国からの資金流出など、多くの不安要因に覆われている。

It is noteworthy that the G-20 countries shared a sense of alarm and came up with a stance of jointly tackling these challenges to realize market stabilization.
　Ｇ２０が危機感を共有し、市場の安定化へ協調して臨む姿勢を打ち出したことは評価できよう。

The G-20 countries agreed on the view that excessive movement in exchange rates can adversely affect the world economy. They also reaffirmed that they will refrain from competitive devaluations of currencies to promote their exports. The communique thus took into consideration the concern in the market over the yen’s excessive rise and China’s devaluation of the yuan.
　各国は、過度な為替の変動が経済に悪影響を及ぼすとの見解で一致した。輸出促進のために自国通貨を切り下げる「通貨安競争」を避けることも確認した。行き過ぎた円高や、人民元切り下げを懸念する市場に配慮した形だ。

The focal point of the conference was whether China, chair of the conference and a country reckoned to be the epicenter of market confusion, can send an effective message to calm the market turmoil.
　会議の焦点は、市場の混乱の震源地とされる議長国・中国が、動揺を鎮めるのに有効なメッセージを発信できるかどうかだった。

Trying to calm fears

People’s Bank of China Gov. Zhou Xiaochuan sought to ease the distrust of the market by saying at a press conference, among other things, that the bank would take additional monetary-easing measures. The press conference was, unusually, held ahead of the opening of the G-20 conference. Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang also made clear the country’s policy of promoting structural reforms.
　中国人民銀行の周小川総裁は、開会前に異例の記者会見を開いて追加の金融緩和策に言及するなど、市場の不信感を和らげるのに懸命だった。李克強首相も構造改革を進める方針を表明した。

However, just emphasizing a reform-promoting stance will not be enough to eliminate deep-rooted concerns about China’s economic prospects. The country will be required to specify the policy course it will take.
　だが、中国経済の先行きへの根深い不安を払拭するには、改革姿勢を強調するだけでは足りない。今後の政策の道筋を市場に明示することが求められよう。

It is reasonable that Finance Minister Taro Aso said, “Chinese authorities need to present a structural reform plan with a concrete schedule.”
　麻生財務相が「具体的なスケジュールを伴った構造改革のプランを示す必要がある」と注文をつけたのは、もっともだ。

In dealing with challenges such as reducing excess production capacity and reorganizing state-owned enterprises, the ability to act to carry through painful reforms is vitally needed.
　過剰設備の解消や国有企業の再編など、痛みを伴う改革をやり抜く行動力が欠かせない。

It is also appropriate that the communique clearly stated, “We will clearly communicate our policy actions to minimize negative spillovers,” apparently taking into account such countries as the United States, which is exploring ways to make an additional interest rate hike.
　声明が、追加利上げを模索する米国などを念頭に、「政策の負の波及効果を最小化するため、明確にコミュニケーションを行う」と明記したのも妥当である。

We hope G-20 countries make policy decisions carefully by also paying attention to the possible ill effects of interest rate hikes, such as an exodus of capital from emerging economies.
　新興国からの資金流出など、利上げの悪影響にも目配りしながら慎重な政策判断をしてほしい。

The vulnerability of Europe’s financial system was also taken up for discussion at the conference. European countries need to throw their energy into accelerating their disposal of nonperforming loans and implementing structural reforms to vitalize their economies.
　会議では欧州の金融システムの脆弱性も議論された。不良債権処理の加速や、経済を活性化する構造改革に力を注ぐ必要がある。

Japan explained to other G-20 countries that it will get the nation out of deflation with its negative interest rate policy. It is imperative to realize an economic recovery led by domestic demand while pushing through growth strategies.
　日本は、マイナス金利政策でデフレ脱却を図る考えを説明した。成長戦略を進め、内需主導の景気回復を実現することが急務だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 28, 2016)

高浜再稼働 後始末をどうするのか

--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 27
EDITORIAL: Dealing with nuclear waste a pressing concern with Takahama reactor restart
（社説）高浜再稼働　後始末をどうするのか

Kansai Electric Power Co. restarted the No. 4 reactor at its Takahama nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture on Feb. 26.
　福井県の関西電力高浜原発４号機が再稼働した。

The 870-megawatt pressurized water reactor became the fourth to resume operations since stricter safety guidelines were introduced after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.
The No. 1 and No. 2 reactors at Kyushu Electric Power Co.’s Sendai nuclear power plant in Kagoshima Prefecture, as well as the No. 3 reactor at the Takahama facility, had already been brought back online.
　東日本大震災後、新しい規制基準のもとでは九州電力川内原発１、２号機（鹿児島県）、高浜３号機に続き４基目だ。

The No. 4 reactor at the Takahama plant, like the No. 3 reactor, uses mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel consisting of plutonium and uranium to generate electricity.
　高浜４号機は３号機と同様、ウランとプルトニウムの混合酸化物（ＭＯＸ）燃料を使うプルサーマル発電が実施される。

What concerns us is whether local residents will be safely and smoothly evacuated in the event of a severe accident at the plant. The decision to resume operations is highly questionable in light of the lessons learned from the calamitous accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
　事故時に住民がスムーズに避難できるかという課題は積み残されたままだ。東京電力福島第一原発事故の教訓を踏まえた再稼働とはとうてい言えない。

Earlier this month, a small amount of radioactive water was found to have leaked near purification equipment installed in the auxiliary structure of the No. 4 reactor building during a test to send water down the primary coolant pipe connected to the reactor.
　４号機では、稼働準備中に微量の放射性物質を含む水漏れが起きた。

The cause of the leak was a loose bolt in a valve, according to the utility.
配管の弁のボルトが緩んでいたという。

The triple meltdown at the Fukushima plant five years ago has made Japanese far more aware of safety concerns when it comes to nuclear power generation.
福島原発事故後、安全性への国民の視線は格段に厳しくなった。

Kansai Electric claims it has checked all other valves. Even so, the utility must realize it is assuming a heavy responsibility with regard to the overall safety of the reactor it has restarted.
関電は他の弁の点検もしたというが、動かす以上、重い責任を負うことにいま一度自覚を求めたい。

Operating a reactor inevitably produces additional spent nuclear fuel. What is needed now is a fresh, hard look at the intractable challenge of what to do with nuclear waste.
　原発を動かせば使用済み核燃料が増える。再稼働を機にこの後始末の問題を直視すべきだ。

At Kansai Electric’s Takahama, Mihama and Oi nuclear plants, about 70 percent of the capacity of the spent fuel pools is already in use. If all nine reactors at these plants are brought back on stream, the storage pools will reach their capacity limit in seven to eight years.
　関電の高浜、美浜、大飯原発では使用済み燃料を入れるプールがほぼ７割埋まっている。全９基の原子炉を再稼働すれば７～８年で満杯になる計算だ。

Under the government’s nuclear fuel recycling program, spent fuel is supposed to be reprocessed at a special plant in Rokkasho, Aomori Prefecture, to separate plutonium for fresh use as fuel.
　国の方針の核燃料サイクルに沿えば、使用済み燃料は青森県六ケ所村の工場で再処理され、燃料としてよみがえるはずだった。

But the completion of the reprocessing plant has been delayed repeatedly, with no prospect of actual operation.
だが工場は完成延期が続き、実現のめどは立たない。

In addition, spent MOX fuel produced by a reactor burning a mix of uranium and plutonium in plutonium-thermal (pluthermal) operations cannot be reprocessed at the Rokkasho plant.
　しかも、プルサーマルで生じる使用済みＭＯＸ燃料は六ケ所の工場で再処理できない。

Since the government has made no decision with regard to the disposal of spent fuel, the utility can only store used MOX within the plant, at least for the time being.
国は方針を決めておらず、当面は原発内で保管するしかない。

The consequences of postponing a decision on how to tackle these vital problems are now making themselves felt.
　これらの問題を先送りしてきたツケが、噴き出している。

Consumers, for their part, have long taken for granted that atomic energy will generate much of the electricity they consume. They should not simply foist the responsibility for dealing with the problems on the government or the utilities.
　原発に頼ってきた消費者側も、国や電力会社に責任を押しつけて済む話ではない。

Society as a whole needs to show a sense of responsibility by getting involved in debate on the future of nuclear waste disposal in this country.
自分たちの問題として、社会全体で今後の方向性を議論していく必要がある。

People in the Kansai region served by the utility and Fukui Prefecture, where the reactors are located, may be in a position to take the leadership in initiating the debate.
関西と福井とでその先鞭（せんべん）をつけられないか。

Worried about the expected increase in spent nuclear fuel at the plant, the Fukui prefectural government is calling on Kansai Electric and the central government to build an interim storage facility outside the prefecture.
　使用済み燃料の増加を懸念した福井県は、中間貯蔵施設を県外につくるよう関電と国に要求している。

Last November, the company promised to decide on the location of such a facility around 2020 and start operating it around 2030.
関電は昨年１１月、「２０年ごろに場所を決め、３０年ごろに操業する」と約束した。

The utility has indicated its intention to build the envisioned storage facility in the Kansai region, which consumes the electricity generated at the plant. But no local government in the region has expressed any willingness to accept such a site.
　関電は「消費地の関西に」というが、受け入れに前向きな自治体はない。

This surely is an issue the communities that use the power should tackle.
だが消費地が向き合わなければならない問題だ。

Kansai Electric may as well propose talks over the issue with the Union of Kansai Governments, composed of the governors of the prefectures and the mayors of the ordinance-designated cities in the Kansai region.
関電から関西の知事、政令指定市長が加わる関西広域連合に協議を申し入れてはどうか。

If the Fukui prefectural government is also allowed to sit at the negotiating table, it will be a first step toward mending the relationship between areas where nuclear power plants are located and markets for power generated at the plants. The relationship has been strained by the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
　この場に福井県も加われば、福島事故後に対立が深まった消費地と立地地域との関係を結び直す一歩にもなろう。

We realize the talks would not produce any real solution quickly. But it is no longer possible to avoid addressing the issue.
　むろんすぐに答えは出まい。だが、議論からもはや逃げられない。

中国と南シナ海 軍事拠点化の加速を憂慮する

The Yomiuri Shimbun
U.S. must bolster patrol activity to secure stability in S. China Sea
中国と南シナ海　軍事拠点化の加速を憂慮する

China’s recent maritime activities can be regarded as a self-serving attempt to expand its sphere of influence by force and thereby increase regional tensions.
　力による支配の拡大で地域の緊張を高める独善的な企たくらみと言えよう。

China has been accelerating the militarization of islands and artificial isles in the South China Sea.
　中国が南シナ海で、島とう嶼しょや人工島の軍事拠点化を加速させている。

Satellite images and other findings have shown that China is constructing facilities believed to be radar installations on four reclaimed islands in the Spratly Islands.
　スプラトリー（南沙）諸島の四つの人工島でレーダーとみられる施設を建設していることが、衛星写真などで判明した。

It has already established a radar surveillance system in the northern half of the South China Sea, installing radar equipment in the Paracel Islands and elsewhere. With the latest installation of a radar system, China is apparently seeking to acquire warning and surveillance capabilities over almost the entire South China Sea.
　南シナ海の北半分ではすでに、パラセル（西沙）諸島などに設置したレーダーで監視体制を築いている。今回のレーダー網の整備によって、南シナ海のほぼ全域をカバーできる警戒監視能力を獲得する狙いだろう。

It was also revealed that China had deployed fighter jets and bombers in addition to long-range surface-to-air missiles to Woody Island in the Paracel Islands, which is effectively controlled by China. The island’s area is said to have increased by 40 percent in less than two years through expansion of a runway and other facilities.
　パラセル諸島では、中国が実効支配するウッディ島（永興島）に、長距離地対空ミサイルに続いて、戦闘機や戦闘爆撃機を配備したことも発覚した。滑走路の拡張などで、島の面積は２年足らずで４割も増大したとされる。

The series of Chinese maritime activities can be considered the foundation for establishing an air defense identification zone over the South China Sea in addition to the one already set up over the East China Sea.
　一連の措置は、東シナ海に加え、南シナ海にも防空識別圏を設定するための布石ではないか。

Clearly, the administration led by President Xi Jinping has an ambition to enclose the South China Sea — without grounds under international law — and treat it like a Chinese “lake” in an attempt to eliminate U.S. influence in the area. China is believed to be considering effectively implementing an anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategy to ensure naval and air supremacy, thereby deterring the intervention of the U.S. military in times of emergency.
　国際法の根拠のないまま、南シナ海を自らの「湖」のように囲い込み、米国の影響力の排除を図る習近平政権の野心は明白だ。
　制海権と制空権を確保し、米軍の有事介入を阻む「接近阻止・領域拒否（Ａ２ＡＤ）」戦略を効果的に進める思惑もあろう。

Chinese sophistry

Adm. Harry Harris, commander of the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Command, has expressed a strong sense of caution against China’s militarization of the islands, telling a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, “I believe China seeks hegemony in East Asia.”
　米太平洋軍のハリー・ハリス司令官は上院軍事委員会の公聴会で、「中国は東アジアで覇権を追求している」と述べ、軍事拠点化に強い警戒感を示した。

Of serious concern is that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Li has dismissed U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s concern about China’s maritime activities.
　深刻なのは、訪米した中国の王毅外相がケリー米国務長官の懸念表明をはねつけたことである。

During a news conference after meeting with Wang, Kerry said, “I stressed that any enforcement by any party of maritime claims by deploying their own aircraft over disputed areas are not compatible with the freedoms of navigation and of skies of access to flight operations.” But unless Washington applies stronger pressure on Beijing, it will be impossible to stop China’s unilateral actions and speech.
　ケリー氏は記者会見で、「係争海域への航空機配備は、航行や上空飛行の自由と両立しない」と強調した。だが、米国がもっと厳しくクギを刺さなければ、中国の一方的な言動は止められまい。

Wang countered by saying more attention must be given to the fact that “strategic bombers and missile destroyers are appearing every day in the South China Sea.” China’s assertion that U.S. military patrol operations, which embody freedom of navigation, are “militarization” is nothing but sophistry.
　王氏は「戦略爆撃機やミサイル駆逐艦が南シナ海に毎日現れていることを重視すべきだ」と反論した。「航行の自由」を体現する米軍の巡視活動を「軍事化」だとするのは、詭弁きべんに過ぎない。

During his visit to the United States last September, Xi stated that his country “has no intention of pushing militarization.” China argued persistently that the country would perform its international responsibilities, including providing rescue operations and ensuring the safety of navigation.
　習国家主席は昨年９月の訪米時に、「軍事化を進める意図はない」と明言していた。中国は、救難活動や航行の安全などで国際的責務を果たすとも強弁している。

We cannot accept a situation in which a great power that should play a pivotal role in stabilizing the South China Sea does not honor an international pledge and instead moves to destabilize the security conditions.
　南シナ海の安定に重要な役割を発揮すべき大国が国際公約を守らず、率先して情勢を不安定化させるような状況は容認できない。

It is essential for the United States to maintain and bolster patrol operations. Tokyo and Washington must cooperate closely with other countries concerned as they apply continued pressure on Beijing.
　米国が巡視活動を継続・強化することが肝要である。日米は関係国と緊密に連携し、対中圧力を維持せねばならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 26, 2016)

原発の延命 電力会社次第なのか

--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 25
EDITORIAL: Extending life of nuclear reactors should not be left solely up to utilities
（社説）原発の延命　電力会社次第なのか

Japan’s nuclear regulator has endorsed the safety of two reactors that have been in service for more than four decades.
The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) announced on Feb. 24 that the No. 1 and No. 2 reactors of Kansai Electric Power Co.’s Takahama nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture meet the new safety standards introduced after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.
　運転開始から４０年を超えた関西電力高浜原発１、２号機（福井県）について、原子力規制委員会は、安全対策が新規制基準に適合するとの判断を示した。

The NRA’s verdict has opened the door to an extension of the operating lives of the aging reactors to up to 60 years, one of Kansai Electric’s key goals for its nuclear power generation.
関電がめざす通算６０年までの運転延長に道を開くものだ。

A revision to a law following the catastrophic accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant has set the legal life of nuclear reactors at 40 years. But one extension by up to 20 years is allowed with NRA approval.
　東京電力福島第一原発の事故を受けた法改正で、原発の運転期間は４０年と定められた。ただし、規制委が認めれば、１回だけ最長２０年間延長できる制度となった。

To extend the operational lives of the two reactors, the operator must receive several approvals from the NRA. If the NRA decides that the reactors have fulfilled all the related criteria, this will become the first case of an extension of the legal life of reactors under the new system.
　延長が認められるには、さらに規制委での許認可を得る必要がある。すべて通ればこの制度で初の運転延長となる。

The 40-year limit was introduced by the government led by the Democratic Party of Japan, which was in power when the nuclear disaster occurred, to demonstrate its commitment to weaning Japan from its dependence on atomic energy. It was aimed at ensuring a steady phasing out of nuclear power generation through the decommissioning of aging reactors.
　４０年とするルールは、当時の民主党政権が脱原発への姿勢を示し、古い原発から順次退場させるために導入した。

The provision for an extension of the life span was added in response to concerns about possible power shortages due to insufficient capacity.
運転延長の規定は、需給が逼迫（ひっぱく）して停電に陥る恐れなどから盛り込まれた。

But no specific rules have been set with regard to what kind of circumstances should justify permitting extended operations.
しかし、その後、どんな状況で延長を認めるのか、特段の規定はないままとなっている。

What is vital for electric utilities is the economic viability of their nuclear power plants. Five small reactors that are not sufficiently cost-effective under the 40-year limit on operations have been set for retirement.
Of the remaining 43 reactors, 18 units have been in service for more than 30 years. Utilities will apply for permission to run aging reactors beyond the 40-year legal life span if it makes economic sense. Some applications for a longer license have already been filed with the NRA.
　電力会社にとって大切なのは採算だ。４０年ルールの下、小型で採算の悪い５基は廃炉としたが、残る４３基でも運転３０年超が１８基を占める。長く使うことが採算に合えば延長を求めるし、すでに申請もしている。

If an extension of the legal life of reactors is approved one after another, the 40-year limit could become meaningless.
　このまま次々と手続きが進めば、４０年ルールが形骸化しかねない。

With such decisions, we are concerned that the government’s nuclear energy policy and the energy future of this nation are being defined under the initiative of electric utilities focused on generating profits.
原発政策も、将来のエネルギー社会も、電力会社の都合で決まって良いのか。

Where is the political will that transcends the profit equations of power suppliers?
電力会社の算段を超える政治の意思はないのか。

If aging reactors are allowed to exceed the 40-year life span in rapid succession, the disturbing safety risk posed by a thick cluster of reactors in Fukui Prefecture will not be reduced.
古い原発の運転延長が次々に決まれば集中立地する福井県のリスクが低下しないことにもなる。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has repeatedly pledged to reduce Japan’s dependence on nuclear energy as much as possible. The government should make it clear that an extension can be made as an exception.
安倍首相が「原発依存度を可能な限り低減する」と何度も公言してきたのだから、政府は延長を明確に例外と位置づけるべきだ。

Before the harrowing nuclear accident, there was no legal life for nuclear reactors. Initially, electric power companies said the operational life of their reactors was around 30 to 40 years.
　事故前は運転期間の定めはなく、電力各社も当初は「寿命は３０～４０年」と説明していた。

Later, the former nuclear regulator, which has been replaced by the NRA, introduced a system that allowed utilities to operate reactors for up to 60 years if they submit maintenance plans every 10 years after the 30th year of service. The regulator cited progress in analysis technology as the reason for extending operational licenses for reactors.
その後、旧規制当局は解析技術の向上を理由に３０年以降１０年ごとに保全計画を出せば、最長６０年の運転を認めることにした。

The previous government’s decision to replace this system with the new 40-year rule reflected its will to phase out nuclear power generation in this nation.
　これを４０年ルールに切り替えたのは、脱原発への意思である。

Immediately after assuming the post, NRA Chairman Shunichi Tanaka was skeptical about extending the life of reactors, saying it was “considerably difficult.”
規制委の田中俊一委員長も就任当時は運転延長については「相当困難」と述べてもいた。

In assessing the safety measures Kansai Electric has taken for the reactors at the Takahama plant, however, the NRA has given the green light to the utility’s plan to cover electric cables with a fire-resistant sheet where it is difficult to replace them with flame-retardant cables.
　しかし、高浜原発で規制委は電気ケーブルの防火対策について、難燃性ケーブルへの交換が難しい部分は防火シートで覆うとする関電の方針を認めた。

The NRA’s move has greatly encouraged utilities seeking to gain permission to run reactors past the 40-year limit because this has been a major technical obstacle to meeting the safety standards.
この問題にめどが立ったことで電力各社は勢いづいている。

In his policy speech at the beginning of the current Diet session in January, Abe made no reference to nuclear power generation. Does this indicate that the government will not do anything to stop the growing trend toward longer-term reactor operations?
　安倍首相は今年の施政方針演説で原発に言及しなかった。政府はこのままやり過ごすのか。

If so, the government will act against both the past words of the prime minister concerning the issue and the wishes of many Japanese to see their nation free from nuclear energy.
　それでは、首相の過去の発言にも、多くの国民が求める脱原発にも背くことになる。

英国民投票へ ＥＵ離脱なら不安定化を招く

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Europe to be unsettled if Britain opts to exit the EU in coming referendum
英国民投票へ　ＥＵ離脱なら不安定化を招く

A referendum has been set for June 23 in Britain regarding whether the country should stay in or exit from the European Union.
　欧州連合（ＥＵ）に英国が残留するか、離脱するかを問う国民投票が、６月２３日に実施されることになった。

Should the referendum comes out in favor of departure, there will be no turning back for the country. Britain is the second-largest economy in the EU and a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council. If Britain leaves the bloc, it will inevitably have great impact on Europe’s politics and economy. The EU stands at a crossroads.
　国民投票で離脱となれば、もう後戻りはできない。英国は域内第２の経済規模を持ち、国連安全保障理事会常任理事国でもある。欧州の政治・経済に大きな影響を及ぼすのは避けられまい。ＥＵは岐路に立っている。

Calling to stay in the EU, British Prime Minister David Cameron has emphasized, “Britain will be safer, stronger and better off by remaining in a reformed European Union.” It takes into account a recent agreement reached at a meeting of EU leaders to adopt a package of reform measures aimed at keeping Britain in the bloc.
　残留を訴えるキャメロン英首相は、「改革した欧州にとどまる方が、英国は、より強く安全で豊かになれる」と強調した。ＥＵ首脳会議が残留を後押しする改革で合意したことを踏まえたものだ。

The deal promises to guarantee Britain “special status” as a concession to that country by the other EU members.
　合意では、ＥＵ側が譲歩して、英国に特別な地位を保証した。

It acknowledges that Britain would not commit itself to further political integration. The agreement would enable Britain to restrict social security benefits given to immigrants and would also guarantee not to place a financial burden on Britain or other non-eurozone member states if an economic crisis erupts in the eurozone.
　政治統合の深化には、英国が関与しないことを容認した。移民に対する社会保障を英国が制限することを可能にし、ユーロ圏の経済危機で英国など非ユーロ圏に負担をかけないよう保証した。

Cameron’s leadership will be tested over whether he will be able to persuade the British public to accept his calls for remaining a part of the EU.
　ＥＵ加盟継続に向けて国民を説得できるのか、キャメロン氏の指導力が試されよう。

Divisions over immigration

Since last year, the EU has been confronted with the serious challenge of dealing with a sharp increase in immigrants from the Middle East. Each EU country resorted to its own measures aimed at restricting the inflow of immigrants to its respective territory, which has added impetus to the anti-EU movement. If the current situation goes on, European integration could fall into a crisis.
　ＥＵは昨年以降、中東からの難民急増という深刻な課題に直面している。各国がバラバラに流入制限策に走り、反ＥＵの動きを勢いづかせた。このままでは、欧州統合が危機に陥りかねない。

In Britain, anti-immigration party has gained strength in recent years, against the backdrop of an increase in the number of immigrants from Eastern European countries that have joined the EU. Euroskepticism, the name given to skeptical views of the EU, has grown increasingly strong within the ruling Conservative Party, too. Pledging to settle the immigration issue through a referendum, Cameron scored a victory in a general election last year.
　英国でも近年、ＥＵに加盟した東欧諸国からの移民増加を背景に「反移民」政党が伸長し、与党・保守党内でもＥＵ懐疑論が強まっていた。キャメロン氏は、この問題を決着させる国民投票を公約し、昨年の総選挙で勝利した。

Half of Britain’s export destinations are other EU countries. If Britain exits the EU, it will be necessary for the nation to conclude new trade and other agreements with the union. It is certain that the British economy will face greater uncertainties.
　英国の輸出先の半分はＥＵだ。離脱の場合は、ＥＵとの間で貿易などの取り決めを締結し直す必要がある。英国経済の不透明さが増すのは確実だ。

The pro-exit camp has criticized the expansion of authorities given to EU and insists to restore sovereignty of Britain. London Mayor Boris Johnson — a prominent figure tipped as a candidate to succeed Cameron at the helm of the Conservative Party, with the hope of becoming the next prime minster — has said he supports Britain’s departure from the bloc. This will likely deal a blow to Cameron.
　離脱派は、ＥＵの権限拡大を批判し、英国の主権を取り戻すべきだと主張する。保守党の首相後継候補と目される有力者、ジョンソン・ロンドン市長が「離脱」支持を表明したのは、キャメロン氏にとっては痛手となろう。

Johnson and others may expect that Britain will be able to achieve long-term economic development by having the City in London, an international financial center, freed from EU regulations.
　ジョンソン氏らには、国際金融センターであるロンドンのシティーをＥＵの規制から解放することで、長期的な経済発展が望めるという期待もあるのではないか。

Britain’s exit from the EU would lead to a decline in the EU’s presence as a huge single market. It would also weaken the EU’s voice in dealing with such diplomatic issues as the sanctions imposed on Russia and the fight against terrorism.
　英国の離脱は、巨大な単一市場としてのＥＵの存在感低下につながる。対ロシア制裁やテロ対策など外交分野での取り組みでも、ＥＵの発言権を弱めよう。

A number of Japanese corporations have bases in Britain for their business operations in Europe. They could be forced to reconsider their business strategy, depending on the result of the British referendum.
　日本企業の多くが、欧州展開の拠点を英国に置く。国民投票の結果次第では、戦略の見直しを迫られることにもなる。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 24, 2016)

衆院選制度改革 アダムズ方式を先送りするな

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Prompt introduction of Adams’ method crucial for lower house electoral reform
衆院選制度改革　アダムズ方式を先送りするな

The rectification of vote-value disparities between single-seat constituencies must be given priority in carrying out reform of the electoral system for the House of Representatives. Legislative steps must be taken for that purpose during the current Diet session after quickly consolidating the opinions of political parties.
　衆院の選挙制度改革では、小選挙区の「１票の格差」の是正を優先すべきだ。各党の意見集約を急ぎ、今国会で立法措置を講じねばならない。

The ruling and opposition parties have presented their views on electoral system reforms to lower house Speaker Tadamori Oshima.
　与野党が、選挙制度改革に関する見解を大島衆院議長にそれぞれ表明した。

The Democratic Party of Japan, Komeito and the Japan Innovation Party have basically accepted the reform proposals recommended by an expert research panel. The Liberal Democratic Party, on the other hand, has agreed to cuts in the number of total seats but wants to postpone the reallocation of seats to prefectures.
　民主、公明、維新の各党などは有識者調査会の答申を基本的に受け入れた。自民党は、定数削減には応じるが、都道府県定数の再配分は先送りする考えを示した。

The LDP’s reform plan calls for reducing the number of seats in single-seat constituencies by six and reviewing the demarcation of these constituencies, both based on a simplified census conducted in 2015, to reduce vote-value disparities to less than 2 to 1. The number of seats in proportional representation blocs would be cut by four. The party has compiled these proposals by revising the party’s draft plan at the instruction of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has called for seat cuts to be carried out more rapidly.
　自民党案は、１票の格差を２倍未満に抑えるため、２０１５年の簡易国勢調査に基づき、小選挙区定数を６減らし、区割りを見直す。比例選は４削減する。安倍首相の指示で、原案を修正し、定数削減を前倒ししたものだ。

The LDP is studying a plan to cut one seat each in six prefectures, including Kagoshima and Iwate, without increasing seats in other prefectures. The plan also calls for a reallocation of seats to prefectures based on the census to be taken in 2020, leaving the impression that this is a stopgap measure.
　鹿児島、岩手など６県で各１減らす「０増６減」を検討している。都道府県ごとの定数再配分は２０年の国勢調査後に行うとしており、弥縫びほう策との印象は否めない。

The panel called for reallocating lower house seats based on the Adams’ method, under which seven seats would be added and 13 eliminated. This will reduce the maximum vote-value gap between prefectures to 1.621 to 1 and likely hold the disparities between constituencies to less than 2 to 1.
　調査会は、「アダムズ方式」による「７増１３減」の再配分を求めていた。都道府県間格差は最大１・６２１倍となる。選挙区間格差も２倍未満に収まる見通しだ。

LDP’s concession vital

The LDP has put off the plan on the reallocation of seats to prefectures because of strong internal opposition to and cautious views against the panel’s reform proposals, which would affect incumbent lawmakers of the prefectures subject to the 13 cuts.
　自民党が再配分を先送りしたのは、「１３減」の対象県の現職議員を中心に反対・慎重論が根強いという党内事情によるものだ。

The LDP must not make light of the fact that the ruling and opposition parties promised to respect the panel’s recommendations after entrusting it to study the situation following their failure to reach an agreement on reform plans. The LDP will have no alternative but to reconsider the reform plans, as the Adams’ method has been approved by other major parties.
　だが、与野党が改革案で合意できず、有識者に検討を委ね、答申を尊重すると約束した経緯を軽視すべきではあるまい。他の主要政党がアダムズ方式への賛成で足並みをそろえる中、自民党は再考せざるを得ないのではないか。

It is desirable to revise the electoral system, the foundation of democracy, with the approval of as many parties as possible. Abe has suggested he will aim to pass related bills through the current Diet session. As an overwhelmingly dominant force in the Diet, the LDP has the responsibility to lead consensus-building efforts on the reform.
　民主主義の基盤である選挙制度は、より多くの党の賛同で見直すことが望ましい。安倍首相は今国会で関連法案を成立させる考えを示した。「１強」の自民党には合意形成を主導する責任がある。

It is disappointing, however, that major parties still hold on to the idea of cutting the total seat number.
　残念なのは、主要政党が定数削減になお固執していることだ。

The panel proposed cutting 10 seats only in consideration of parties’ pledges to the people that the number of seats would be cut, as it said that “it is difficult to find appropriate reasons or logical basis” for cutting the total seat number.
　調査会が「１０減」を提案したのは、各党の「国民との約束」に配慮しただけで、定数削減に「積極的な理由や理論的根拠は見いだし難い」と指摘している。

If the seat number is reduced, diverse public opinions may not be reflected in elections. The legislature’s monitoring of the administrative branch through deliberations on government-proposed bills could be weakened. The number of Japanese lawmakers in relation to the national population is no greater than in some European countries and elsewhere.
　定数を減らせば、選挙で多様な民意を反映しにくくなる。法案審議などを通じた立法府の行政監視機能も低下しかねない。日本の国会議員は人口比でみれば、欧州諸国などより多くない。

It must be taken into consideration that if the number of total seats is reduced, it will become more difficult and troublesome to correct vote disparities.
　定数が少ないほど、格差是正が難しくなり、その手間が増えることも考慮すべきだろう。

When lawmakers are asked to accept reforms that are painful to themselves, they should do it by agreeing to cuts in subsidies to political parties rather than by decreasing seat numbers.
　議員が「身を切る」姿勢を示す必要があるなら、定数を減らすのでなく、政党交付金の削減などで対応するのが筋である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 23, 2016)

年金運用改革 ガバナンス強化を優先したい

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Prioritize reinforcing governance of public pension fund management
年金運用改革　ガバナンス強化を優先したい

To manage a massive amount of funds safely and efficiently, it is vital to build an effective organization and system suited to carrying out the task.
　巨額の資金を安全かつ効率的に運用するには、それにふさわしい実効性ある組織や体制を構築することが肝要である。

A council of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has proposed that the current ban on direct stock investment by the Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) remain in place, at least for the time being.
　年金積立金管理運用独立行政法人（ＧＰＩＦ）による株式の直接運用の可否について、厚生労働省の審議会が、当面は認めず、現状を維持することが望ましいとする報告書をまとめた。

The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito has supported the proposal. The government has decided not to include direct stock investment by the GPIF in a bill related to pension reforms, which it plans to submit to the current Diet.
　自民、公明両党も、この内容を了承した。政府は、今国会に提出する予定の年金改革関連法案に直接運用を盛り込まない方針だ。

This was a reasonable conclusion, as it is not only doubtful if the GPIF, under the current structure and human resources, would be able to make appropriate stock investment decisions but also difficult to ensure impartiality and transparency in such investments.
　妥当な結論である。現在のＧＰＩＦの体制や人材で的確な投資判断ができるか、疑問が拭えないうえ、株式運用の公平・透明性を確保することも困難だからだ。

The GPIF, which manages the reserve funds of corporate employees’ pension programs and the national pension program — worth a combined total of about ¥140 trillion — is one of the world’s largest institutional investors.
　約１４０兆円に上る厚生年金、国民年金の積立金を運用するＧＰＩＦは、世界最大級の機関投資家である。

In principle, the GPIF manages funds through trust banks and other financial institutions, and is prohibited from making direct equity investments.
信託銀行などを通じた資金運用が原則で、株式への直接投資は認められていない。

The GPIF had called for lifting the ban on direct stock investment on the grounds that by flexibly responding to capital market movements, it will be able to earn more profits, while reducing the commissions it pays to the trust banks.
　ＧＰＩＦは、直接運用の解禁を求めていた。市場の動きに機動的に対応できれば、運用益が向上し、信託銀行へ払う運用委託手数料も節約できるという理屈だ。

But the decision-making power of the GPIF has been concentrated on its president, and few of its staff members specialize in fund management.
　しかし、ＧＰＩＦは現在、権限が理事長に集中しており、資金運用の専門人材も少ない。

Expert panel appropriate

The council’s proposal calls for reinforcing the GPIF’s governance structure to increase public trust in it.
　報告書は、国民の信頼を高めるため、ＧＰＩＦのガバナンス（統治）体制の強化を求めた。

The main point of the proposal is to establish an executive committee, comprising financial experts and other people, with a collegial decision-making system to consider such important matters as the component ratio of management assets. This is an appropriate recommendation.
金融専門家らを集めた経営委員会を新設し、運用資産の構成比率などの重要案件を合議制で決めることが柱だ。適切な提案である。

To carry out asset management stably over the long term, it will be important to develop its own specialists in fund management and enhance risk-management capabilities.
　長期的に安定した資産運用を行うためには、専門人材を自前で育成し、リスク管理能力を高めることも大切となろう。

The fund’s organizational reforms, led by welfare minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki, ran into difficulties last year due to differences of opinion with the Pension Bureau. We hope efforts to develop a new structure will be expedited.
　塩崎厚労相が主導した組織改革は昨年、年金局との意見の不一致で暗礁に乗り上げた。新たな体制整備を急いでもらいたい。

The ministry says it plans to study the issue of direct stock investment again three years from now.
　厚労省は、直接運用を３年後に再び検討するとしている。

Needless to say, there is risk involved in investing in stocks that fluctuate widely. Safety is an essential consideration to manage pension funds over the long term.
　だが、言うまでもなく、値動きが大きい株式投資にはリスクが伴う。長期の年金資金の運用には、安全性への配慮は不可欠だ。

There is also the problem that if the GPIF takes a more active role in investing in stocks with massive amounts of pension funds, it will likely have greater influence on stock markets. This is because stock prices likely would be affected by which stock the GPIF buys and how much.
　巨額の年金資金を使って株式投資を積極化すれば、ＧＰＩＦの市場に対する影響力は一段と大きくなるという問題もある。ＧＰＩＦがどの会社の株式をどれだけ買うかによって、株価を左右する恐れが高まるからだ。

The GPIF’s fund management reforms are seen as part of the government’s measures to prop up stock prices. Should pension funds be used with short-term price increases in mind, it will distort stock prices. Sufficient consideration should also be given in this respect.
　市場では、ＧＰＩＦの運用改革が株価対策と受け取られている面もある。年金資金を短期的な株価下支えに使えば、株価形成を歪ゆがめる。こうした点にも十分に目配りせねばならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 22, 2016)

丸山議員の失言 国政を担う自覚はあるのか

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Gaffe-prone lawmakers need greater awareness of their responsibilities
丸山議員の失言　国政を担う自覚はあるのか

There has recently been a succession of inappropriate remarks made by Diet members from both the ruling and opposition parties and by Cabinet members. This could heighten distrust in politics. They should be aware that they are in a position of heavy responsibility, and also feel a sense of alertness.
　与野党の国会議員や閣僚の不適切な発言が相次いでいる。政治不信を助長する恐れがある。重い職責を担う自覚と緊張感を持つべきだ。

The remarks in question include one made by Kazuya Maruyama, a House of Councillors member from the Liberal Democratic Party. At a session of the upper house Commission on the Constitution, he said: “In the United States, a black man is president [of the country] now. He is in a bloodline of black people who were slaves.” The remark could be taken as an expression of racial discrimination. Besides, the father of President Barack Obama was a Kenyan and not a descendant of slaves.
　参院憲法審査会で自民党の丸山和也氏が「今、米国は黒人が大統領になっている。黒人の血を引く。これは奴隷ですよ」と語った。人種差別と受けとられかねない。オバマ大統領の父はケニア人で、奴隷の子孫でもない。

The day after making that remark, Maruyama attempted to justify himself by saying, “I said that with the intention of praising the fact that the current United States came into being through self-transformation.” However, this cannot possibly be understood.
　翌日、「自己変革があって、今の米国が生まれたことをたたえるつもりで話した」と釈明したが、到底、理解されまい。

Maruyama also said, “If Japan becomes the 51st state of the United States, no controversy could erupt over its right of collective self-defense, and the abduction problem would not have arisen, either.” This is just preposterous and a remark that raises questions about his qualifications as a legislator.
　丸山氏は「日本が米国の５１番目の州になれば、集団的自衛権は問題にならないし、拉致問題も起こらなかった」とも述べた。荒唐無稽であり、国会議員としての資質を疑われても仕方ない発言だ。

The opposition Democratic Party of Japan cannot treat the recent inappropriate remarks as having nothing to do with itself.
　民主党も人ごとではない。

Masaharu Nakagawa, a House of Representatives member from the DPJ, said at a meeting of party lower house members, “Let’s fight to ensure Prime Minister [Shinzo] Abe develops a sleep disorder.”
　中川正春衆院議員は代議士会で「安倍首相の睡眠障害を勝ち取ろう」と訴えた。

Nakagawa made the remark when he referred to Akira Amari, former minister in charge of economic revitalization, who has been diagnosed with a sleep disorder. Nakagawa’s remark lacked consideration for people who suffer from such a condition.
睡眠障害と診断された甘利明・前経済再生相を引き合いにした発言だが、同じ病気に悩む人への配慮が欠けている。

The prime minister has expressed a sense of displeasure with the remark, saying it is “a question of human rights.”
　安倍首相は「人権問題だ」などと不快感を示した。

Focus on serious issues

There are a number of themes to be discussed in the Diet now, including the revitalization of the Japanese economy and the situation in northeast Asia. We hope each lawmaker will come to tackle Diet deliberations more seriously and deepen constructive discussions.
　日本経済の再生、北東アジア情勢など、国会で論じるべきテーマは多い。各議員は、審議にもっと真剣に取り組み、建設的な議論を深めてもらいたい。

Needless to say, Cabinet members must speak and act with even greater caution.
　無論、閣僚には、より慎重な言動が求められる。

During a lecture in which she referred to the nuclear accident that occurred at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, Environment Minister Tamayo Marukawa said the government’s decontamination goal of reducing radiation levels to an annual dose of one millisievert or less had “no scientific grounds.”
　丸川環境相は講演で、福島第一原発事故に関し、放射線量を「年間１ミリ・シーベルト以下」にする国の除染目標について「何の科学的根拠もない」と発言した。

Later, she offered an apology, saying, “I said that [with the aim of] stating that a full explanation has not been given about why [the target] was set at one millisievert.” In the end, Marukawa retracted her original remark.
　その後、「なぜ１ミリに決めたのか、十分に説明し切れていないと（いう趣旨で）言った」と陳謝して、最終的に発言を撤回した。

In response to requests from communities affected by the accident to thoroughly decontaminate their areas, the administration led by the then ruling DPJ announced it would pursue the goal of curtailing radiation levels to one millisievert or less. By international standards, evacuees from a nuclear accident-affected area can return to their community if radiation levels stand at 20 millisieverts or lower.
　民主党政権は、徹底除染を求める地元の要望を受け、１ミリ・シーベルトの目標を掲げた。国際的には、２０ミリ・シーベルト以下なら帰還可能とされる。

It has been pointed out that the high decontamination goal is hindering efforts to ensure that evacuees from communities struck by the disaster can return home, and to rehabilitate the affected areas.
高い目標が住民帰還や復興の障害になっているとの指摘がある。

Although Marukawa’s remark seems to make sense in some respects, there is no denying her statement was unguarded and worded immaturely.
　丸川氏の発言には、もっともな面もあるが、舌足らずで、不用意だったことは否めない。

Kensei Mizote, chairman of the LDP caucus of upper house members, referred to former lower house member Kensuke Miyazaki, who was discovered to have been seeing another woman just before his wife gave birth. “Some people may feel envious [of Miyazaki],” Mizote said. Though Mizote may have said this as a joke, his remark was thoughtless.
　自民党の溝手顕正参院議員会長は、妻の出産直前に別の女性と交際していた宮崎謙介前衆院議員について、「うらやましい人もいるんじゃないの」と語った。軽口にしても不見識である。

The LDP is being viewed sternly, for reasons such as the scandal involving Miyazaki, who had proposed establishing a system by which Diet members would be allowed to take childcare leave.
　国会議員の育児休業の制度化を唱えていた宮崎氏の不祥事などで、自民党への視線は厳しい。

Does all this demonstrate that the LDP may be filled with conceit at a time when the party is the sole dominant force in political circles? Now is the time for the LDP to pull itself together.
「１強」状況の中、慢心が生じていないか。タガを締め直すべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 21, 2016)

原発自主避難 被害に応じた賠償を

--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 20
EDITORIAL: Extent of suffering key to compensating Fukushima evacuees
（社説）原発自主避難　被害に応じた賠償を

An estimated 100,000 or so people are still living as evacuees as a consequence of the catastrophic accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in March 2011.
　東京電力福島第一原発事故で故郷を離れて避難している人はいまも約１０万人にのぼる。

This figure comprises about 18,000 evacuees who acted on their own initiative and fled from the 23 municipalities in Fukushima Prefecture that are outside government-designated evacuation zones. They include people who lived in areas that are not covered by the government-supported compensation program.
　このうち、国が避難指示などを出した区域の外側にある福島県内の２３市町村から別の場所に自主的に避難した人は、賠償対象区域の外側の人も含め、推計で約１万８千人いる。

The circumstances of their decisions to leave their hometowns are more or less similar to those of the people who fled from areas covered by the evacuation orders. Many of them were concerned about the health of their children or found it difficult to continue their businesses in the affected areas.
　「子どもの健康が不安だから」「商売ができなくなった」
　逃げざるを得なかった事情は避難指示区域内の住民と総じて大きくは変わらない。

But compensation paid to these “voluntary evacuees” by Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), the operator of the crippled nuclear plant, ranging from 120,000 yen to 720,000 yen ($1,000 to $6,400) per person, was far smaller than the amounts received by residents of the evacuation areas.
だが、東電からの慰謝料は１人あたり１２万～７２万円と、区域内の住民と比べて大きな隔たりがある。

On Feb. 18, a local court handed down a ruling that may open the door to greater relief for these evacuees.
　一昨日、自主避難者の救済に道を開く司法判断が示された。

The Kyoto District Court ordered TEPCO to pay about 30 million yen to a man and his wife for mental illnesses the husband suffered following their “voluntary evacuation” from the calamitous accident. The man, who is in his 40s, together with his wife and three children, filed a lawsuit against the utility seeking 180 million yen in damages, claiming he became unable to work because of mental and physical problems caused by the effects of the nuclear disaster.
　福島県から京都市に自主避難した４０代男性が、原発事故の影響で心身に不調をきたし、働けなくなったとして妻子４人とともに東電に損害賠償を求めた訴訟で、京都地裁は約３千万円を支払うよう東電に命じた。

Concerned about the possibility of his children’s exposure to radiation, the man decided to leave his home with his family. After they fled, the family stayed at hotels and lived in rented accommodation outside the prefecture.
　男性は子どもの被曝（ひばく）を恐れて避難を決意し、県外のホテルや賃貸住宅を転々とした。

As he had to live in unfamiliar surroundings, the man developed insomnia and depression. The district court acknowledged that the nuclear accident was the cause of these health problems.
慣れない生活から不眠症やうつ病を発症した。地裁はこれらを原発事故が原因だと認めた。

Compensation payments to such voluntary evacuees are based on guidelines set by a central government panel addressing disputes over compensation for nuclear accidents. The guidelines say compensation payments should be based on three factors: increases in living expenses due to evacuation, mental damages and expenses incurred in fleeing and returning home.
　自主避難者への賠償は、国の原子力損害賠償紛争審査会（原陪審）が決めた指針に沿って支払われている。指針は、（１）生活費の増加分（２）精神的損害（３）避難や帰宅に要した費用――を基本に算定するというものだ。

TEPCO had paid a total of 2.92 million yen to the family based on the guidelines, but the family claimed the compensation was insufficient.
　男性側にも指針に基づき東電から２９２万円が支払われたが、不十分だと訴えていた。

In its ruling, the district court argued that the guidelines only show “items and scope of damages that can be classified according to type.”
　判決で京都地裁は指針について「類型化が可能な損害項目や範囲を示したものに過ぎない」と指摘、

The ruling showed the view that damages with a causal link to the accident should be compensated for according to the circumstances involved. The basic principle for compensation espoused by the ruling is that the amounts of damages to be paid should be determined according to the circumstances of individual cases instead of being uniform and fixed.
事故と因果関係のある被害は事情に応じて賠償すべきだとの考え方を示した。賠償金額は個別事情に則して決定すべきで、一律な線引きは許されない、という賠償のあり方そのものを問うたといえる。

Compensation payments to victims of the nuclear disaster, such as evacuees and affected businesses, come out of a 9 trillion yen treasure chest provided by the government to TEPCO.
　福島の被災者への賠償は、国が東電に９兆円を援助し、東電がこの中から避難住民や企業に賠償金を払う仕組みだ。

With its management priority placed on its own early recovery from the consequences of the accident, however, the electric utility has been trying to terminate the payments as soon as possible and keep the amounts within the framework set by the guidelines. The company’s compensation policy has been criticized for failing to make the benefit of residents a primary consideration.
　だが経営再建をめざす東電は、賠償の早めの打ち切りや枠内で極力抑えようとし、救済が住民本位になっていないという批判がある。

About 10,000 evacuees are involved as plaintiffs in damages suits filed with 21 district courts and branches around the country. This points to the high level of discontent with the compensation payments that have been paid out.
　避難者らが起こした集団訴訟は、全国２１地裁・支部で続いている。原告の総数は約１万人にのぼり、相当数の人が正当な賠償を受けていないという不満を抱えている。

TEPCO should respond with appropriate sincerity to the demands of victims entitled to compensation and review its compensation policy and procedures.
　東電は賠償対象者に誠実に向き合い、賠償対応のあり方を見直すべきだ。

The courts that are hearing these cases should hand down rulings that give sufficient consideration to the plight of the victims.
集団訴訟を扱う裁判所も、被害者の窮状を十分にくんだ判断をしてもらいたい。

政府慰安婦説明 誤解払拭へ国際発信を強めよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
More outward approach needed to fix ‘comfort women’ misperception
政府慰安婦説明　誤解払拭へ国際発信を強めよ

Japan must ramp up outbound dissemination of information in an effort to eliminate misperceptions about the so-called comfort women issue.
　慰安婦問題に関する誤解を払拭するため、国際的な情報発信を一段と強化せねばならない。

During a recent session of the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women in Geneva, the government gave comprehensive explanations about facts related to the issue for the first time, saying among other things that no documents confirming forcible recruitment of comfort women have been found.
　政府は、ジュネーブでの国連女子差別撤廃委員会で、慰安婦の強制連行を裏付ける資料は発見されていないことなど、事実関係について初めて包括的に説明した。

Referring to testimony by the late Seiji Yoshida that he “hunted women” for recruitment of comfort women on Jeju Island in what is now South Korea, Deputy Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama denounced his testimony as a total fabrication and said The Asahi Shimbun, which had reported his testimony, had since admitted it was an erroneous report and apologized over it.
　杉山晋輔外務審議官が、韓国で「女性狩り」をしたとする吉田清治氏の証言は捏造ねつぞうで、吉田証言を報道した朝日新聞が誤報を認め、謝罪したことにも言及した。

Though the government’s rebuttal came belatedly, it is absolutely necessary to accurately correct the international community’s misunderstanding of the facts and actively rebut assertions that could damage the reputation of Japan.
　遅きに失した感はあるが、国際社会では、事実誤認は的確に正し、日本を貶おとしめる主張には積極的に反論することが欠かせない。

Touching on Japan’s support for former comfort women based on the Asian Women’s Fund and the Japan-South Korea agreement last December, Sugiyama said, “Criticisms that the Japanese government denies history and has taken no action on the matter run counter to facts.”
　杉山氏は、アジア女性基金や昨年１２月の日韓合意に基づく元慰安婦支援に触れ、「日本政府が歴史の否定をしているとか、何の措置もとっていないという批判は事実に反する」と強調した。

With this as a starting point, Japan must step up diplomatic efforts to disseminate all facts related to the comfort women issue across the world.
　これを機に、慰安婦問題に関して、正確な事実関係を世界に広げる外交努力を加速させたい。

Of concern is the global spread of the misperception that “200,000 women were forced by the Japanese military to become sex slaves.”
　懸念されるのは、「日本軍が２０万人の女性を性奴隷にした」といった誤った言説が、世界各国でひとり歩きしていることだ。

Contrary to facts

The spread of that misperception was triggered by a report by Radhika Coomaraswamy, submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Commission in 1996.
　誤解を広げた発端は、１９９６年に国連人権委員会に提出されたクマラスワミ報告である。

Using the Yoshida testimony as part of its grounds for concluding that the comfort women were “sex slaves,” the report mentioned that the number of comfort women hailing from the Korean Peninsula alone totaled 200,000. Such a mistaken expression was inscribed as part of the epitaphs of comfort women statues installed in the United States.
　吉田証言を論拠の一つとして慰安婦を「性奴隷」と断じた。慰安婦の数は、朝鮮半島出身者だけでも２０万人と記載した。こうした誤まった表現は、米国に設置された慰安婦像の碑文にも刻まれた。

Arguing that there can be no ground for asserting that there were “200,000” comfort women, Sugiyama also said the expression “sex slaves” was “contrary to the facts.”
　杉山氏は今回、「２０万人」に根拠はなく、「性奴隷」との表現は「事実に反する」と指摘した。

History researchers in Japan and foreign countries have assumed certain numbers of comfort women based on such data as the number of soldiers at the time. Their majority view is that 200,000 is an overestimated figure.
　慰安婦の数は、国内外の複数の歴史研究者が兵士の数などを基に推計しているが、２０万人は過大だとの見方が有力である。

It is regrettable, however, that the Foreign Ministry did not make any effective refutation when the Coomaraswamy’s report was submitted to the United Nations panel.
　悔やまれるのは、クマラスワミ報告が出た時点で、外務省が有効な反論をしなかったことだ。

This is probably because the ministry was bound by the fact that the report used some quotes from the statement made by then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono in 1993. Kono said that “in many cases they were recruited against their own will” and “administrative/military personnel directly took part in the recruitments.” Revision of the Kono Statement is a heavy challenge for the future.
　慰安婦募集が「総じて本人たちの意思に反して行われ」「官憲等が直接これに加担したこともあった」とした９３年の河野官房長官談話の一部が報告に引用され、それに縛られたのだろう。河野談話の見直しは今後の重い課題だ。

The South Korean government has contended during the U.N. panel session in Geneva that “the forcible mobilization of comfort women is a historical fact.” But it refrained from making a strong condemnation in consideration of the last year’s bilateral agreement that called for both parties to exercise self-restraint on criticizing each other at the United Nations and other international forums.
　韓国政府は、「慰安婦動員の強制性は歴史的事実」と主張した。一方で、国連などで相互批判を自制するとの昨年の日韓合意を踏まえ、強い非難はしなかった。

Japan’s focus this time on explaining the facts about comfort women can be deemed to be based on the same intention. Japan-South Korea relations have started improving after remaining stagnant for a long time. They must avoid a return to the folly of waging a futile battle of mutual criticism.
　日本が今回、事実関係の説明に徹したのも同じ趣旨だろう。長く停滞していた日韓関係は今、改善傾向にある。不毛な批判合戦に逆戻りする愚は避けるべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 19, 2016)

米ＡＳＥＡＮ 南シナ海での狼藉に警告した

The Yomiuri Shimbun
U.S., ASEAN warn Beijing over outrageous actions in S. China Sea
米ＡＳＥＡＮ　南シナ海での狼藉に警告した

A message has been sent to China, which is attempting to turn the artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea into military strongholds, warning that its self-serving actions are unacceptable.
　南シナ海で人工島の軍事拠点化を図る中国に、独善的な行動は許されないとのメッセージを送ったということだろう。

U.S. President Barack Obama invited leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations for the first U.S.-ASEAN summit to be held in the United States.
　オバマ米大統領が東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）１０か国の首脳を招き、米国で初めて会議を開催した。

With the South China Sea in mind, a joint statement by the leaders set forth the importance of maintaining maritime security and safety by ensuring the right to the freedom of navigation, nonmilitarization and self-restraint. It avoided making pointed references to China but implicitly issued a warning regarding China’s outrageous behavior.
　共同声明では、南シナ海を念頭に、「航行の自由」の確保や非軍事化、行動の自制を通じて、海洋の安全を維持する重要性が明記された。名指しは避けたが、中国の狼藉ろうぜきへの警告を意味している。

One of the artificial islands China has built in the Spratly Islands reportedly contains a 3,000-meter-class runway and hangars for fighter jets.
　スプラトリー（南沙）諸島の中国の人工島には、３０００メートル級の滑走路や戦闘機用の格納庫が整備されたという。

Test flights were conducted on the island at the beginning of this year, and full-fledged operations of the runway are expected to start shortly.
今年初めに試験飛行が実施され、滑走路の本格運用が近く始まるとみられる。

China has also reportedly deployed an advanced surface-to-air missile system and a radar system on an island it effectively controls in the Paracel Islands.
　パラセル（西沙）諸島で中国が実効支配する島には、新型の地対空ミサイルとレーダーシステムが配備されたとも報じられた。

Viewing the United States as an “extra-regional state” in the South China Sea, China refuses to accept U.S. intervention in the region. China may be making too light of the situation, thinking that once it excludes U.S. influence from the region, it can make its maritime interests a fait accompli.
　中国は、米国を南シナ海の「域外国」と位置づけ、介入を拒んでいる。米国の影響力を排除すれば、海洋権益を既成事実化できると高をくくっているのだろう。

Yet the safety of sea lanes is a common good for the international community, including Japan.
　だが、海上交通路（シーレーン）の安全は、日本を含む国際社会共通の利益だ。

It was natural for Obama and ASEAN leaders to have announced in the joint statement the significance of “an international order where international rules and norms and the rights of all nations are upheld.”
オバマ氏とＡＳＥＡＮ首脳が、「すべての国の権利を保護する、ルールに基づいた国際秩序」の意義を共同声明で打ち出したのは当然である。

Regular sailings needed

Last October and in January this year, U.S. Navy vessels sailed close to disputed islands in the South China Sea, conducting patrols to concretely demonstrate the right to the freedom of navigation.
　米軍艦艇は昨年１０月と今年１月に、南シナ海で「航行の自由」を行動で示す巡視活動を行った。

At a press conference, Obama said the United States would “continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows,” clarifying again that the United States would continue its activities in the region. To deter China from taking provocative steps, it is essential for U.S. warships to sail there regularly.
　オバマ氏は記者会見で「国際法が許すところでは、どこでも実施し続ける」と述べ、活動継続を改めて明言した。中国の挑発を抑えるには、定期化が欠かせない。

The noticeable difference among ASEAN countries’ enthusiasm for holding China in check is a matter of concern. Such countries as Laos, the current ASEAN chair, and Cambodia have close economic ties with China. A situation in which ASEAN members become further divided in their positions, weakening the pressure they put on China, must be avoided.
　懸念されるのは、ＡＳＥＡＮ内の温度差が目立つことである。議長国ラオスやカンボジアなどは中国と経済関係が深い。ＡＳＥＡＮの分断が進み、対中圧力が弱まる事態は避けねばならない。

The United States is being called on to promote its rebalancing policy, which focuses on Asia, and to exercise strong leadership. Obama’s planned visit to Vietnam in May is part of such efforts.
　米国には「アジア重視」政策の推進と強い指導力が求められる。オバマ氏が５月にベトナムを訪問するのも、その一環となる。

Obama and ASEAN leaders at the summit also discussed the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade accord, participated in by 12 countries, including Japan and the United States.
　首脳会議では、日米など１２か国による環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）についても話し合われた。

Obama welcomed the participation of four ASEAN members, including Singapore, while expressing support for the remaining six, including Indonesia and Thailand, to join.
オバマ氏は、シンガポールなど４か国の参加を歓迎し、インドネシア、タイなど残る６か国の参加に向けた支援を表明した。

An expanded membership in the TPP accord, which strictly regulates trade and investment, would help restrain China, which is taking hegemonic actions in economic fields as well. Greater participation in the TPP by ASEAN member countries would also help vitalize Japan’s trade.
　高い水準の貿易・投資ルールを適用するＴＰＰの拡大は、経済面でも覇権的行動をとる中国への牽制けんせいになる。ＡＳＥＡＮからの参加国の増加は、日本の貿易活性化にもつながろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 18, 2016)

朝鮮半島緊張 「北」の軍事挑発に警戒怠るな

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Vigilance must be increased over North Korean military provocation
朝鮮半島緊張　「北」の軍事挑発に警戒怠るな

Ignoring repeated calls for self-restraint from the international community, North Korea continues taking provocative actions. Pyongyang should quickly recognize that such actions will only deepen its isolation and aggravate its plight.
　国際社会の再三の自制要求を顧みず、北朝鮮が挑発を重ねている。孤立を深め、自らの困窮を悪化させるだけであることを早く認識すべきだ。

The Korean Central News Agency reported Monday that Kim Jong Un, the first secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, called for more satellite launches in the future. This suggests that the country will launch long-range ballistic missiles again.
　朝鮮中央通信は、北朝鮮の金正恩第１書記が「衛星をもっと多く打ち上げねばならない」と述べたと伝えた。長距離弾道ミサイルの再発射を示唆したものだ。

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani pointed out Tuesday, “We cannot rule out the possibility of North Korea’s repeatedly launching missiles on the pretext of launching satellites.”
　中谷防衛相は「北朝鮮が人工衛星の打ち上げを口実としたミサイル発射を繰り返す可能性も否定できない」と指摘した。

It is important for Japan to cooperate with other countries concerned, including the United States and South Korea, and increase its vigilance.
日本は、米韓など関係国と連携して、警戒を強めることが大切である。

South Korean President Park Geun-hye said in a parliamentary address, “If time passes like this with no change, Kim Jong Un’s regime, on a reckless run without brakes, will deploy nuclear missiles.” It was reasonable for Park to have warned the nation of the danger of an increasing North Korean threat in light of advances in the North’s military technologies.
　朴槿恵韓国大統領が国会で「このままでは、ブレーキなしに暴走する金正恩政権が核ミサイルを実戦配備する」と演説した。軍事技術向上により北朝鮮の脅威が高まる危険性を訴えたのは当然だ。

In imposing sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear test last month and the latest launch of a long-range ballistic missile, South Korea suspended all operations at Kaesong industrial park, a jointly run cooperation project in North Korea.
　韓国は、北朝鮮の核実験と長距離弾道ミサイル発射への独自制裁として、南北協力事業「開城工業団地」の操業を全面中断した。

Problematic is that North Korea has unilaterally declared the Kaesong complex a military control zone and shut down cross-border telecommunications hot lines for both military forces.
　問題なのは、北朝鮮が一方的に開城工業団地を「軍事統制区域」にすると宣言し、南北の軍同士の通信を閉鎖したことである。

North Korea has taken these steps apparently because it was upset by Seoul’s aiming to cut financial resources of the Kim regime.
　金政権の資金源を標的にしたことに猛反発したとみられる。

Concerted trilateral moves

Since the Kaesong industrial complex started operations in 2004, North Korea has earned a total of $560 million (or about ¥63.4 billion) in foreign currency, including workers’ wages. Seventy percent of the money paid in wages and for other things is said to have gone to the Workers’ Party, which funneled it toward its nuclear and missile development programs or to purchase luxury goods.
　開城工業団地の２００４年の操業開始以来、北朝鮮は労賃など計５億６０００万ドル（約６３４億円）の外貨を得ている。労賃などの７割が朝鮮労働党に上納され、核・ミサイル開発や、ぜいたく品購入などに流用されたという。

There were also news reports saying that the chief of staff of the North Korean Army was recently executed. First Secretary Kim may have become unable to maintain his regime without resorting to a reign of terror by purging one aide after another among senior officials of the military or the ruling party.
　北朝鮮軍の総参謀長が最近、処刑されたとの情報もある。金第１書記は側近の軍・党幹部を次々に粛清する恐怖政治でしか、体制を維持できないのではないか。

It is inevitable for the tensions between the two Koreas to increase. The U.S. forces will deploy a nuclear-powered attack submarine and F-22 stealth fighter planes in and around South Korea. The United States and South Korea should cooperate and deter North Korea from engaging in military provocations.
　南北の緊張が高まるのは避けられまい。米軍は攻撃型原潜やステルス戦闘機Ｆ２２を韓国周辺に展開する。米韓が協調し、北朝鮮の軍事挑発を抑止すべきだ。

In her address, Park emphasized that her country is advancing the buildup of defense capabilities of the U.S.-South Korea alliance.
　朴氏は演説で、米韓同盟の「防衛力増強を進めている」と力説した。

Park’s new policy of negotiating with Washington over the deployment of a state-of-the-art U.S. missile defense system in her country, which she had been wary about, is also part of the defense buildup.
これまで慎重だった最新鋭の米ミサイル防衛システムの韓国配備について、米国と協議する方針に転換したのもその一環だ。

In South Korea, senior officials of the ruling party, a leading newspaper and others have begun to publicly refer to the idea of arming the country with nuclear weapons. Park’s parliamentary remarks may also be aimed at cooling off such a move.
　韓国では、与党幹部や有力紙などが公然と核武装論に言及し始めた。朴氏の発言には、これを沈静化する狙いもあるのだろう。

Park has highly rated Japan’s imposition of unilateral sanctions on North Korea, saying it has demonstrated Japan’s strong will not to overlook its behavior.
　朴氏は、日米の対北朝鮮独自制裁の動きについて、「北朝鮮の行動を看過しないという強い意思を示している」と評価した。

It is vitally important to make use of the momentum of concerted moves by Japan, the United States and South Korea toward tough sanctions against North Korea so as to realize the adoption of a resolution by the U.N. Security Council.
　厳格な北朝鮮制裁で日米韓の足並みがそろった機運を生かし、国連安全保障理事会の制裁決議採択につなげることが肝要である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 17, 2016)

丸川環境相 撤回しても残る「軽さ」

--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 16
（社説）丸川環境相　撤回しても残る「軽さ」
EDITORIAL: Marukawa’s gaffe about Fukushima heightens doubts about Cabinet's aptitude

Environment Minister Tamayo Marukawa caused a stir by claiming the government had no scientific grounds for its radiation decontamination target around the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.
　福島第一原発事故への対応で、担当閣僚である丸川環境相の発言が波紋を広げている。

Her comment came in a Feb. 7 speech on the government’s long-term goal of reducing radiation levels near the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant to an annual dose of 1 millisievert or less.
　国が追加被曝（ひばく）線量の長期目標として示した年間１ミリシーベルトについて、７日の講演で

“There are people who worry about radiation no matter how much the levels have been lowered, people who might well be described, appropriately or not, as an ‘anti-radiation camp,’” Marukawa said. “While such people were making noise, the environment minister at that time decided (on the target) without any scientific grounds.”
「『反放射能派』と言うと変ですが、どれだけ下げても心配だという人は世の中にいる。そういう人たちが騒いだ中で、何の科学的根拠もなく時の環境大臣が決めた」などと発言した。

Her remarks were reported the following day by The Shinano Mainichi Shimbun, a local newspaper.
翌日の信濃毎日新聞が報じた。

Decontaminating areas polluted with radioactive materials and curbing additional exposure to radiation is one of the top policy priorities for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Cabinet.
　放射性物質の除染や、追加被曝の抑制などは、安倍内閣の最重要課題の一つである。

Nearly five years since the nuclear disaster unfolded, decontamination efforts alone appear unlikely to achieve the long-term target in some areas. Residents from these areas have no hope of returning to home soon.
　原発事故からまもなく５年。除染だけでは長期目標の達成が難しい地域がまだ残り、住民の帰還が進まない現状がある。

The Democratic Party of Japan-led government set the long-term decontamination goal based on recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. The panel recommended annual doses in the range of “1 to 20 millisievert” as a yardstick for recovery from the accident.
　長期目標は、国際放射線防護委員会が原発事故から復旧する際の参考値とする「年１～２０ミリシーベルト」の最も厳しい水準だ。

The government’s decision to adopt the stricter end of the recommended range for the decontamination target reflected strong demand for absolute safety and security among communities in the affected areas.
１ミリシーベルトに決まった背景には、安全や安心を求める地元福島の要望もあった。

Responding to residents’ desire to return home as soon as possible while pursuing the tough long-term goal has proved a formidable challenge.
　一日も早い帰還を願う住民の思いと、長期目標をどう整合させるか。

The goal, determined after considering a complicated mix of factors, has forced the government to continue making strenuous efforts while learning from mistakes.
さまざまな複雑な要素を考慮して決められ、いまなお試行錯誤が続く難題である。

If Marukawa didn’t know this background, she should be accused of failing to do her homework. Or did she know all these facts and was simply trying to demean the previous DPJ-led government?
　丸川氏がそうした経緯を知らなかったとすれば、不勉強と言われても仕方がない。それとも、経緯を知ったうえで、決定当時の民主党政権をおとしめるための発言だったのか。

Even more troubling is how she flip-flopped in replying to questions about her remark.
　さらに深刻なのは発言が報じられて以降の二転三転ぶりだ。

The environment minister initially responded to questions posed at the Diet and from reporters by repeatedly saying she had “no recollection of using such wording” in the speech.
　国会質問や取材に「こういう言い回しをした記憶は持っていない」などと答え続け、

On the morning of Feb. 12, however, she changed her account and admitted having made the comments. She retracted the remarks in the evening that day.
一転して「言ったと思う」と認めたのは１２日朝、発言を撤回したのはその日夕方になってからだ。

Did she really forget making the remarks? Or did she bet that people would eventually forget the matter if she kept saying she had no memory of saying such things?
　本当に発言内容を忘れたのか。記憶がないと言っていれば、いずれ国民が忘れてくれると思ったのか。

In any case, Marukawa’s remarks raise serious questions about her aptitude for her job.
いずれにせよ、閣僚としての適格性が疑われる発言というほかない。

However, Marukawa is not the only Cabinet member who has made a verbal blunder indicating a disturbing carelessness in speech.
　丸川氏だけではない。安倍内閣の言動の「軽さ」を印象づける場面は他にもある。

In a Feb. 9 news conference, Aiko Shimajiri, the state minister for Okinawa and Northern Territories affairs, could not read the kanji characters for the Habomai group of islets, and asked her secretary how the characters should be read. The Habomai islets are part of the Northern Territories, a chain of islands claimed by Japan but occupied by Russia.
　島尻沖縄北方相は記者会見で、北方領土の一部である歯舞（はぼまい）群島の「歯舞」を読めず、秘書官に問う場面があった。

Abe himself recently made an embarrassing verbal error.
In an Internet program of his Liberal Democratic Party, Abe misnamed the 2014 Stockholm agreement in which North Korea promised a fresh investigation into the fates of Japanese citizens it had abducted decades earlier. Abe mistakenly called it the Oslo Agreement, a 1993 peace accord between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization.
　安倍首相も、自民党のインターネット番組で、２０１４年に北朝鮮が拉致被害者らの再調査を約束した「ストックホルム合意」を、中東和平の「オスロ合意」と間違えた。

Nobody is free from slips of the tongue or misunderstandings.
　確かに、言い間違いや思い違いは誰にでもある。

But the above-mentioned errors are serious because dealing with the nuclear disaster, tackling the territorial dispute with Russia and resolving the North Korea abduction issue are important challenges placed high on the Abe Cabinet’s policy agenda.
ただ、原発事故対応や北方領土、拉致問題はいずれも安倍内閣が重要課題に掲げるテーマだ。

These gaffes could call into question not only the ministers’ qualifications for their jobs but also the Cabinet’s stances toward the issues.
閣僚の資質とともに、内閣としての姿勢が問われかねない。

拉致再調査中止 「北」の揺さぶりに冷静対処を

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Govt needs to calmly deal with N. Korea’s halt to abduction probe
拉致再調査中止　「北」の揺さぶりに冷静対処を

North Korea’s latest act is a despicable attempt to pressure our nation. The Japanese government should not be upset by this, and must make persistent efforts to resolve the issue of the Japanese nationals abducted by that country.
　北朝鮮の卑劣な揺さぶりである。政府は、動じることなく、日本人拉致問題の解決に粘り強く取り組まねばならない。

North Korea has announced it will completely halt a renewed investigation it launched regarding the fate of Japanese abductees and others in July 2014. It also said it would dissolve the Special Investigation Committee.
　北朝鮮が、２０１４年７月に開始した拉致被害者らの再調査を全面的に中止すると発表した。「特別調査委員会」は解体するという。

According to an announcement by North Korea, the latest move has been taken as a response to the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s strengthening its unilateral sanctions on the country. In the same announcement, North Korea also threatened Japan that it will “continue strong countermeasures to Japan’s provocative acts of hostility.”
　安倍政権が北朝鮮に対する独自制裁を強化したことへの対抗措置としている。北朝鮮は「日本の挑発的な敵対行為に対する強力な対応措置が続く」と恫喝どうかつした。

North Korea also asserts that Japan’s move to strengthen its sanctions was tantamount to “nullifying” the Stockholm agreement reached in May 2014 to reinvestigate. Japan’s position is that it has no intention to abrogate the accord.
　北朝鮮は、日本の制裁強化で、１４年５月の再調査に関する日朝のストックホルム合意が「破棄」されたとも主張する。日本は「破棄する考えはない」との立場だ。

Under the agreement, Japan lifted part of the sanctions it imposed on North Korea in exchange for Pyongyang’s renewed investigation into the fate of the Japanese nationals in question. They include the 12 people who have been acknowledged by the Japanese government as abductees, but have not yet returned to Japan, as well as other Japanese missing and thought have been abducted by North Korean agents.
　合意では、未帰国の拉致被害者１２人や、拉致の可能性のある特定失踪者らの再調査と引き換えに、日本が制裁の一部を解除した。

Japan’s action to reinforce sanctions was in response to North Korea’s recent move to conduct a nuclear test and launch a ballistic missile, thereby threatening regional security. North Korea’s accusations against our nation are absurd.
　制裁の強化は、北朝鮮が核実験と弾道ミサイル発射を強行し、地域の安全を脅かしたためである。北朝鮮の批判は筋違いだ。

It should be noted, first of all, that North Korea has put off reporting the pertinent findings of its probe for more than 1½ years, including what has become of those who were abducted. Although North Korea told Japan that it “has set up four subcommittees” on the committee, it is doubtful whether the country has actually seriously renewed its investigations into the abductions.
　そもそも、北朝鮮は１年半以上も、被害者の安否情報などの報告を先送りしてきた。「４分科会を設置した」などと説明していたが、真剣に拉致問題の再調査を行ったかどうかすら疑わしい。

World must step up pressure

North Korea’s conduct has been particularly hard on the abductees’ families, who had pinned their hopes on the renewed probe.
　再調査に期待を寄せた被害者家族の感情を踏みにじる行為だ。

Shutting its eyes to its own atrocities, Pyongyang has blamed the whole problem on Japan. Its assertions are totally unacceptable.
　自らの非道を棚に上げて、日本に責任を押しつける北朝鮮の主張は、到底容認できない。

The Japanese government has lodged a protest with North Korea through diplomatic channels. Katsunobu Kato, the minister in charge of the abduction issue, has emphasized that he wants to “do [his] utmost to get North Korea to take specific actions, through dialogue and pressure and under the principle of action for action.” He had every reason to strongly demand Pyongyang continue its reinvestigation into the abduction issue.
　政府は、外交ルートを通じて北朝鮮に抗議した。加藤拉致問題相は「対話と圧力、行動対行動の原則の下、北朝鮮から具体的な行動を引き出すよう、最大限努力したい」と強調した。再調査の継続を強く要求していくのは当然だ。

North Korea has sought to gain greater rewards for fewer concessions by providing various pieces of scattered information. This approach is the country’s usual ploy. The Japanese government should never be cajoled into following North Korea’s lead on bilateral negotiations.
　様々な情報をちらつかせ、より少ない譲歩で、より多くの見返りを得ようとするのは北朝鮮の常套じょうとう手段である。相手の交渉ペースにはまってはなるまい。

North Korea’s announcement on its suspension of the renewed probe may also be viewed as an attempt to disrupt Japan’s cooperative ties with the United States and South Korea by focusing on a problem unique to our nation.
　北朝鮮の再調査の中止表明は、日本固有の問題を取り上げ、米韓両国との足並みの乱れを生じさせる狙いもあるとみられる。

Japan’s basic policy is to seek a comprehensive solution to both the abduction issue and North Korea’s nuclear weapon and missile development. This is the time for Japan to cooperate with the international community to step up pressure on North Korea to rein in its dangerous acts of provocation.
　拉致と核・ミサイル問題の包括的な解決が日本の基本方針だ。今は、国際社会と連携し、北朝鮮の危険な挑発に歯止めをかけるために、圧力を強める時である。

South Korea has imposed a unilateral sanction on the North by shutting down operations at the Kaesong industrial complex, an inter-Korea cooperative project. The United States is also set to strengthen its economic sanctions on North Korea.
　韓国は、独自の制裁として、南北協力事業「開城工業団地」の操業中断に踏み切った。米国も北朝鮮への経済制裁を強化する。

As in the past, it is important for Japan, the United States and South Korea to closely cooperate with each other. The emphasis should be put on ensuring that the U.N. Security Council soon adopts additional stern sanctions on North Korea.
　日米韓３か国の緊密な協調が引き続き大切である。国連安全保障理事会での厳格な追加制裁決議の早期採択に力を入れたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 14, 2016)

衆院選制度改革 自民党案で合意形成できるか

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Can consensus be achieved through LDP’s lower house electoral reform plan?
衆院選制度改革　自民党案で合意形成できるか

The electoral system is the foundation of democracy. It is desirable that the system is reformed based on a broad consensus among the ruling and opposition parties. However, a draft plan proposed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party looks unlikely to win the understanding of other parties.
　選挙制度は民主主義の土台だ。与野党の幅広い合意で見直すことが望ましい。自民党案では他党の理解は得られまい。

According to the draft plan on reforming the House of Representatives electoral system compiled by the LDP, only demarcation of single-seat constituencies would be reviewed based on simplified censuses conducted in 2015, while the number of seats allocated to prefectures would be maintained, to reduce vote-value disparities to less than 2 to 1.
　自民党が衆院選挙制度改革の原案をまとめた。小選挙区の「１票の格差」を２倍未満に抑えるため、２０１５年の簡易国勢調査に基づき、都道府県の定数配分は維持したまま、選挙区の区割りだけを見直す。

The LDP draft plan also says the reduction of lower house seats and the review of their allocation to prefectures would be postponed until after full censuses are conducted in 2020. The LDP proposes eliminating six seats in single-seat constituencies and four in proportional representation blocs, but details on how to allocate the number of seats to prefectures — which is the most important point — are still unclear.
　定数の削減と配分見直しは、２０年の国勢調査後に先送りする。削減幅は小選挙区６、比例選４という。しかし、肝心の具体的な定数配分方式は曖昧なままだ。

The LDP claims its draft plan is based on a report submitted by a research panel of experts on lower house electoral system reform, but the party seems to lack sincerity.
　自民党は、有識者調査会の答申に沿っていると強弁するが、誠実さが欠けていないか。

The panel says in its report that the Adams’ method should be used to reallocate lower house seats to prefectures. According to the report, this would increase the number of seats allocated to Tokyo and four prefectures by seven in total, while 13 prefectures would lose one seat each. Even if population changes in the future are taken into consideration, the vote-value disparity is expected to be less than 2 to 1 for a while.
　答申は、「アダムズ方式」で都道府県定数の再配分を求めた。定数は東京都と４県で計７増え、１３県で各１減る。将来の人口変動を加味しても、１票の格差は当面、２倍未満に収まる見通しだ。

Compared to other major allocation methods, the Adams’ method is said to be advantageous to less-populated prefectures. The LDP is critical of the panel’s report for being harsh on provincial regions. However, it certainly pays due consideration to them.
　アダムズ方式は、他の主な配分方式と比べて、人口の少ない県に有利とされる。自民党は「地方に冷たい」と批判するが、地方にも一定の配慮をしている。

In the report, redrawing electoral districts at the time of simplified censuses is considered merely a supplementary measure for the correction of the number of lower house seats to be done every 10 years.
　簡易国勢調査時の区割り見直しは、あくまで１０年ごとの定数是正の補完措置との位置づけだ。

Respect panel’s report

The LDP’s draft plan, which would change demarcation of constituencies first, cannot help but give the impression that the party has employed only parts of the report for its own convenience. Doesn’t the LDP, in its heart of hearts, only want to avoid opposition from incumbent lawmakers whose constituencies are in prefectures where lower house seats might be reduced?
　区割り見直しを先行させる自民党案は、答申のうち、自らに都合の良い部分をつまみ食いした印象が拭えない。定数が減る県の現職議員らの反発を避けたいのが本音ではないか。

A major problem with the LDP’s draft plan is that electoral districts would have to be redrawn widely twice — this time, and five years from now.
　問題なのは、自民党案では、今回と５年後の２回、大幅な区割り変更を余儀なくされることだ。

If demarcation of constituencies is changed often, it could damage the stability of the electoral system. It would also weaken relations between voters and lawmakers or candidates.
　選挙区の境界が頻繁に変わるようでは、制度の安定性が損なわれかねない。有権者と議員・候補者の関係も希薄になろう。

Since the LDP failed to reach an agreement on an electoral reform plan in its negotiations with the other parties in the first place, didn’t the party decide to let experts discuss the issue and pledge to respect their report?
　そもそも、自民党は他党との協議で改革案に合意できなかったため、有識者に検討を委ね、その答申を「尊重する」と約束したはずではなかったのか。

Of course, as the report expresses doubt about the necessity to reduce the number of lower house seats, there is some room for discussion on that point. However, it is unreasonable not to accept the Adams’ method, a basic part of the report, and postpone fundamental reform for as long as five years.
　答申は、定数削減の必要性に疑問を示しており、その点は議論の余地はある。だが、答申の根幹部分と言えるアダムズ方式を受け入れず、抜本改革を５年も先延ばしするのは筋が通らない。

Some members of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan have already voiced criticism about the LDP plan, calling it “out of the question.”
　民主党などからは早くも、自民党案について「論外」などと批判する声が出ている。

Transition to a new electoral system will require revision of the Public Offices Election Law and other relevant laws, and reviewing the demarcation of electoral districts.
　新制度への移行には、公職選挙法などを改正したうえ、区割りの見直し作業などが必要となる。

The LDP, which is far more powerful than any of the other parties in the lower house, bears the grave responsibility of leading discussions on electoral system reform. The party must refine its draft plan, rising above party interests and strategy.
　衆院で「１強」の自民党は、選挙制度改革論議を主導する重い責任がある。党利党略を排し、原案を練り直さねばならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 13, 2016)

「重力波」初観測 宇宙への新しい窓が開いた

The Yomiuri Shimbun
1st detection of gravitational waves opens new window to universe
「重力波」初観測　宇宙への新しい窓が開いた

It is highly significant that a new observation method has been acquired to unravel the mysteries of the universe.
　宇宙の謎を解き明かす新たな観測方法を手に入れた意義は大きい。

A research team that includes the California Institute of Technology has announced it detected gravitational waves from the universe.
　米カリフォルニア工科大などのチームが、「宇宙から到来した重力波を捉えた」と発表した。

Albert Einstein hypothesized the existence of gravitational waves a century ago based on his theory of general relativity.
　重力波は、アインシュタインが一般相対性理論に基づき、１００年前に存在を予言した現象だ。

According to Einstein’s theory, celestial bodies like black holes, which have a huge mass, would warp space-time around them. If such bodies collided, the warp would spread like ripples.
　一般相対性理論によると、ブラックホールなどの巨大な質量の天体は、周囲の時空間をゆがめる。天体同士が衝突すると、ゆがみがさざ波のように広がっていく。

The research team believes the gravitational waves it detected were generated 1.3 billion light years from Earth when two black holes merged.
　今回捉えた重力波について、研究チームは、１３億光年の彼方で二つのブラックホールが合体して発生したものと推定している。

Celestial bodies with a large mass could not be observed directly by the electromagnetic waves — such as light, radio waves and X-rays — that have been conventionally used in astronomy.
　これまで、天文学で用いられてきた光や電波、Ｘ線などの電磁波では、巨大質量を持つ天体を直接観測することは出来なかった。

The mass and internal conditions of stars can be inferred by observing gravitational waves. The findings may lead to elucidating such mysteries as how black holes whose nature has not been fully understood are created and how they inflate.
　重力波を観測することで、星の質量や内部の様子を推定できる。実態がほとんど分かっていないブラックホールがどのように誕生し、増大するのかといった謎の解明につながるかもしれない。

Gravitational waves are said to have been generated in the huge expansion of space that occurred right after the Big Bang, which created the cosmos, and the same ripples are said to still exist in space even today. The detection of such ripples may become reality.
　宇宙が誕生したビッグバンの直後に起きた空間の大膨張でも、重力波が発生し、残滓ざんしが今も宇宙に存在するとされる。その発見も現実味を帯びてきたと言えよう。

Hopes for KAGRA project

The U.S. team’s landmark discovery has been supported by high-precision observation equipment.
　米チームによる発見を支えたのは、高精度の観測装置だ。

The coherence of laser beams was used to measure the warps. Laser beams were sent through two pipes, each measuring four kilometers long, to detect warps of space-time caused by gravitational waves.
　ゆがみの測定には、レーザー光の干渉を利用した。長さ４キロ・メートルの２本のパイプ内にレーザー光を走らせて、重力波による空間のゆがみを検出した。

The measured warps were only one-ten quadrillionth of a millimeter. Vibration control equipment was installed to prevent the observation from being affected by vibrations caused by wind, sea waves and road traffic. The team has reportedly looked into all other possibilities to confirm that the observed data represented gravitational waves.
　観測したゆがみは、１京分の１ミリほどしかなかった。風や海の波、道路交通などの振動に影響されないよう、防振装置を設けた。今回の観測データが重力波であることを確認するため、他のあらゆる可能性を検討したという。

Similar observations have been attempted in Japan and Europe. A gravitational wave telescope named KAGRA, now under construction at the site of a mine in Hida, Gifu Prefecure, will start test operations this spring.
　日本や欧州でも同様の観測が試みられている。岐阜県飛騨市の鉱山跡に建設が進む「かぐら」では今春から試験観測が始まる。

Leading the KAGRA project is Takaaki Kajita, a 2015 Nobel Prize laureate in Physics and the director of the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research at the University of Tokyo. Kajita expressed willingness to join international efforts in space observation, saying, “With the participation of KAGRA, the accuracy of observations will improve.”
　チームリーダーは、昨年のノーベル物理学賞を受賞した梶田隆章・東京大学宇宙線研究所長だ。梶田氏は「かぐらが加わることで、観測の精度がよくなる」と意欲を示している。

The U.S. team was able to obtain its results soon after it started observations. Expectations are mounting regarding what discoveries KAGRA will make.
　米チームの成果は、観測を始めてから、ほどなくして得られた。かぐらによって、どのような発見があるのか、期待が膨らむ。

Japan has a long tradition in the field of astrophysics, and has contributed to the observation of neutrinos, thereby developing the science of astronomy.
　日本は、宇宙物理学の分野で長い伝統がある。ニュートリノの観測や、これによる天文学の開拓に貢献してきた。

We also want to see next-generation researchers mature in the field of gravitational wave astronomy.
　重力波天文学でも、次代を担う研究者を育てていきたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 13, 2016)

米大統領選 政治不信が招く非主流派躍進

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Outsider candidates dominate U.S. presidential race amid public distrust
米大統領選　政治不信が招く非主流派躍進

Candidates outside the mainstream who are rebelling against the establishment have been gaining ground in the race for the Democratic and Republican nominations for president of the United States. The final election will be held in November.
　１１月の米大統領選に向けた民主党と共和党の指名候補争いで、既存支配層（エスタブリッシュメント）に反旗を翻す非主流派が躍進している。

Sen. Bernie Sanders, a strongly left-wing, self-described “democratic socialist,” won the Democratic Party’s primary in New Hampshire over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. This marked a difficult start for Clinton, the favored candidate for the party’s nomination, despite her narrow win in the Iowa caucuses.
　民主党では、「民主社会主義者」を名乗る最左派のバーニー・サンダース上院議員がニューハンプシャー州予備選を制した。「本命候補」のクリントン前国務長官は、初戦のアイオワ州党員集会で辛勝したが、厳しい滑り出しだ。

Real estate tycoon Donald Trump, who has no prior political career, emerged victorious in the Republican Party’s primary in New Hampshire. In Iowa, Trump placed second behind Ted Cruz, a nonmainstream conservative hard-liner.
　共和党は、政治経験のない不動産王ドナルド・トランプ氏がニューハンプシャーを押さえた。アイオワでも、非主流の保守強硬派、テッド・クルーズ上院議員が勝利し、トランプ氏が２位だった。

Indecisive politics continue due to partisan confrontation in Washington. The decline of American influence in the international community is evident. The emergence of these nonmainstream candidates, it may be said, reflects the people’s distrust of and discontent with such developments.
　ワシントンでは、党派対立で「決められない政治」が続く。国際社会での米国の影響力低下も目立つ。これらに対する国民の不信と不満が表れた結果と言える。

If candidates prevail in early-stage primaries that draw significant media attention, they will be able to gather more campaign funds and support due to the psychological effect of jumping on the bandwagon. The whirlwind set off by the candidates who are standing outside the center of politics will not cease for some time.
　メディアの注目を集める序盤戦で優位に立てば、勝ち馬に乗る心理効果で、選挙資金や支持をさらに呼び込める。政治の中心から離れたアウトサイダーの旋風は当面、収まらないだろう。

Conservatives and liberals have become further polarized under the administration of Democratic President Barack Obama. No national consensus can be found regarding the reform of the medical insurance system, the strengthening of gun control and the process for accepting immigrants.
　オバマ民主党政権下で、米社会は保守とリベラルの両極化が進んだ。医療保険制度改革や銃規制強化、移民受け入れ策について、国民的合意を見いだせずにいる。

National consensus illusive

The standard of living for middle- and low-income earners has not improved as their job opportunities decreased due to the transfer of factories to China and other countries, as well as the inflow of immigrants. A sense of unfairness toward the rich has spread among the people.
　中国などへの工場移転や移民流入で、中低所得層の雇用が減り、生活水準は上がらない。富裕層に対する不公平感が広がる。

Of concern is the emergence of a populism that serves to incite amid such a deadlock.
　懸念されるのは、こうした閉塞状況を背景に扇動的なポピュリズムが台頭することである。

Trump has called for “making America great again” and openly expressed his hostile feelings toward China and Mexico, among other countries. He has even gone so far as to argue for forcible deportation of illegal immigrants and an entry ban on Muslims. Trump is also opposed to the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade framework and is calling for huge tax cuts.
　「偉大な米国の復活」を唱えるトランプ氏は中国やメキシコなどへの敵対心をむき出しにし、不法移民の強制送還やイスラム教徒の入国拒否まで主張している。環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）にも反対し、大規模減税を訴える。

Sanders, a champion of “antiestablishment” policies whose signature campaign promise is the correction of economic inequality, has obtained overwhelming support from the young and other voters by proposing to make tuition free at public universities, and dissolve major financial institutions.
　「反エスタブリッシュメント」と格差是正を看板とするサンダース氏は、公立大学の無償化や大手金融機関の解体を掲げ、若者らの圧倒的支持を得ている。

But the campaign promises of Trump and Sanders are nothing but extreme arguments with little chance of being realized.
　だが、２人の公約は実現性に乏しい極論に過ぎない。

It is hard to understand why Clinton, who had pushed for the TPP pact as a member of the Obama administration, has changed tack to oppose it. Even if it is a temporary strategy for the campaign, we are left with the undeniable impression that she has been drawn into a swirl of populism.
　オバマ政権の一員としてＴＰＰを推進したクリントン氏が、反対姿勢に転じたのも理解に苦しむ。暫定的な選挙向け戦術だとしても、ポピュリズムのうねりに巻き込まれている印象は否めない。

If the candidates only deny the existing political and economic systems and compete to make radical and inward-looking arguments, neither national reconciliation nor the recovery of America’s credibility can be realized. We want to see constructive debate that will contribute to repairing social rifts.
　既存の政治や経済の仕組みを否定し、急進的で内向きの主張を競い合っているだけでは、国民融和も、米国の威信回復も実現できまい。社会の亀裂の修復につながる建設的な論戦を求めたい。

対「北」独自制裁 厳格な安保理決議の先駆けに

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan should lead push for tough UNSC resolution on North Korea
対「北」独自制裁　厳格な安保理決議の先駆けに

It is important not to ignore the reckless actions repeatedly taken by North Korea and to swiftly implement tough sanctions against that country. Japan should play a leading role in a concerted effort by the international community.
　度重なる北朝鮮の暴挙を看過せず、厳しい制裁措置を迅速に発動することが重要である。国際社会の一致した取り組みを日本が主導したい。

The government held a meeting of the National Security Council on Wednesday, attended by its four ministers, and decided to revive and strengthen its unilateral sanctions against North Korea.
　政府は、国家安全保障会議（ＮＳＣ）の４大臣会合を開き、北朝鮮に対する独自制裁を復活・強化する方針を決めた。

Nuclear tests and the launch of long-range ballistic missiles by North Korea pose direct threats to Japan. It is a matter of course for Japan to have promptly taken harsh measures.
　北朝鮮の核実験と長距離弾道ミサイル発射は、日本にとって直接の脅威である。いち早く厳格な対応を取ったのは当然だ。

These measures include a ban on the reentry of senior officials of the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) who have returned home to North Korea, and a ban on entry into Japanese ports by all vessels of North Korean registry, including those on humanitarian missions. All these measures were lifted when Pyongyang began in July 2014 its reinvestigation of Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea or suspected to have been abducted.
　北朝鮮に帰国した在日本朝鮮人総連合会幹部の再入国を禁止する。人道目的を含むすべての北朝鮮籍船舶の入港を認めない。いずれも、２０１４年７月の日本人拉致被害者らの再調査開始時に解除した措置を復活するものだ。

Added to the reentry ban are engineers related to nuclear and missile technologies. The government has also gone so far as to ban, in principle, remittances to North Korea.
　さらに、再入国禁止の対象に核・ミサイル技術者を追加する。北朝鮮向けの送金については、「原則禁止」に踏み込んだ。

North Korea has postponed presenting to Japan the results of its reinvestigation into Japanese citizens abducted to that country or suspected to have been abducted. As long as Pyongyang continues making such insincere responses, it is reasonable for Japan to decide to revive and strengthen unilateral sanctions on North Korea, in line with the principle of “action for action.”
　北朝鮮は、拉致被害者らの再調査に関し、日本への報告を先送りしている。こうした不誠実な対応を重ねる以上、制裁を復活・強化するのは、「行動対行動」の原則に沿う妥当な判断と言える。

Don’t close doors

Actions taken by the North Korean regime under Kim Jong Un have become ever more uncertain.
　北朝鮮の金正恩政権の行動は、不確実性が高まっている。

The Foreign Ministry, the National Police Agency and other government organizations must cooperate closely to ensure the effectiveness of the sanctions. At the same time, the government needs to respond flexibly to North Korea, by not cutting off openings for dialogue, for instance.
　外務省や警察庁などが密接に協力し、制裁の実効性を確保しなければならない。一方で、北朝鮮との対話の窓口は閉ざさないなど、柔軟な対応が求められる。

The government must adhere to its policy of comprehensively resolving the issues of the Japanese abductees and North Korea’s nuclear and missile development, and deal with them tenaciously.
　政府は、拉致と核・ミサイル問題を包括的に解決する方針を堅持し、粘り強く対処すべきだ。

Needless to say, Japan’s unilateral sanctions alone will only have a limited effect. It is necessary to hasten the establishment of an international coalition network committed to containing North Korea.
　無論、日本単独の制裁では、効果が限られる。国際的な対北包囲網の構築を急ぐ必要がある。

South Korea announced Wednesday that it would suspend operations at the joint industrial complex in Kaesong, North Korea, as a unilateral sanction. The move is aimed at reducing the foreign currency earned by Pyongyang, but suspending operations could risk losing a channel for dialogue with North Korea.
　韓国は、独自の制裁として南北協力事業「開城工業団地」の操業中断を発表した。外貨収入を減らす狙いがあるが、北朝鮮との対話の窓口を失うリスクも伴う。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held separate phone talks with U.S. President Barack Obama and South Korean President Park Geun-hye. They agreed to cooperate toward the early adoption of a resolution by the U.N. Security Council.
　安倍首相はオバマ米大統領、韓国の朴槿恵大統領と個別に電話会談した。国連安全保障理事会での制裁決議の早期採択に向けて、連携することで一致した。

The biggest stumbling block for the UNSC resolution is China’s reluctant posture.
　安保理決議の採択にとって、最大の障害は中国の消極姿勢だ。

China has been asserting that sanctions on North Korea should be limited to measures related to its nuclear and missile developments, and opposes sanctions that would affect the lives of the public.
　中国は、制裁の対象を核・ミサイル開発に関連するものに限定するよう主張し、国民生活に影響を与える措置には反対している。

Yet this conciliatory stance taken for many years by China has bolstered North Korea, letting Pyongyang conduct nuclear tests and missile launches repeatedly. This time, it is vital to strengthen real pressure on North Korea.
　だが、こうした長年の融和的な態度が北朝鮮を増長させ、再三の核実験やミサイル発射を許したのではないか。今回こそ、北朝鮮に対する実質的な圧力を強化することが欠かせない。

It is important for Japan, the United States and South Korea to unite to urge China to modify its stance.
　日米韓は結束し、中国に軌道修正を働きかけることが大切だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 11, 2016)

長期金利低下 マイナスに潜む不安

--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 10
EDITORIAL: BOJ's negative interest rate policy positively ineffective
（社説）長期金利低下　マイナスに潜む不安

The benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond yield on Feb. 9 fell below zero percent on the market for the first time. Is this good news or bad? Many people probably don’t know, but they certainly must be feeling anxious.
　これは良いニュースか、悪いニュースか。多くの人がそれさえ理解できないまま、おぼろげな不安だけを感じたのではないか。長期金利の指標となっている１０年物国債がきのうの市場で初めてマイナスになった。

In normal transactions, the idea of negative interest rates is absurd.
　本来なら正常な取引でマイナス金利はありえない。

Just think about it: You lend money to someone and you have to pay interest to the borrower? That’s ridiculous. You are obviously better off not lending to anyone because you at least won’t lose any money.
お金を貸した者が借りる者に金利を払うくらいなら、自分でお金を抱えている方が減らないだけましだからだ。

The ridiculous situation surrounding Japanese government bonds was caused by the Bank of Japan’s negative interest rate policy announced on Jan. 29.
　にもかかわらずこんな異常な金利が生じたのは、先月２９日に日本銀行が発表した「マイナス金利政策」の影響である。

BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda stressed that adding this negative interest rate policy to his already substantial monetary easing policy “should make for probably the most effective framework in the history of the central bank.”
　日銀の黒田東彦総裁は、これまで実施してきた大規模な量的緩和政策にマイナス金利政策を加えることで「これまでの中央銀行の歴史の中で、おそらく最も強力な枠組み」になると強調した。

In a sense, the outcome has surpassed Kuroda’s expectations. Mortgage rates, which were already historically low, have come down further, and the near-nonexistent interest rates on time deposits have shrunk even more. Financial institutions have stopped selling low-yield fund products.
　その狙いはある意味で想定以上に効果を発揮した。もともと歴史的低水準にあった住宅ローン金利は一段と下がった。わずかばかりの定期預金金利もさらに圧縮された。金融機関は利回りの魅力が乏しいファンド商品の発売を取りやめた。

But will these developments improve the Japanese economy? We believe the opposite will be the case.
　だが、こうした動きが日本経済を好転させるのかといえば、むしろ逆ではないか。

Even if lending rates drop further, it is unlikely that businesses will suddenly start investing more amid sluggish domestic demand. And even if banks further lower interest rates on savings and move on to negative rates, consumers probably will not start spending more so long as their future remains uncertain.
　貸出金利が一段と下がったとしても、国内需要が盛り上がりを欠く中で、企業が急に投資意欲を増すとは考えにくい。銀行が預金金利をゼロに近づけ、さらにマイナス金利にしたとしても、先行きへの不安が解消しないのに人々が急に消費に走るわけでもなかろう。

Switzerland and Sweden have already implemented negative interest rate policies, but their economy-pumping effects have been marginal at best. In fact, there are growing fears of “side effects,” such as people keeping their money under the proverbial mattress and banks losing their earnings.
　マイナス金利政策で先行するスイスやスウェーデンなどでも景気浮揚効果はほとんどなかった。むしろタンス預金の増加や銀行の収益悪化といった副作用のほうが心配されている。

It will soon be three years since Kuroda went ahead with a “new phase” of quantitative and qualitative monetary easing in keeping with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s “Abenomics” theory that drastic monetary easing should jump-start the anemic economy.
　強力な金融緩和が経済を押し上げるというアベノミクス路線に乗って走り出した黒田日銀の異次元緩和も開始からまもなく３年になる。

Although Abenomics has raised stock prices and devalued the yen against the dollar, it has brought no significant changes to the nation’s economic growth rate and consumer prices. Because of this disappointing outcome, the Bank of Japan adopted the negative interest rate policy last month.
円安と株高はもたらしたものの、経済成長率や物価はほぼ横ばいで目立った効果はうかがえなかった。その手詰まり感からマイナス金利政策にも手を広げることになった。

On Feb. 9, the Nikkei 225 index fell by more than 900 points, and the yen-dollar exchange rate closed in the lower 114-yen level for the first time in 15 months. These market reactions were the opposite of what all past monetary easing policies brought, and the central bank obviously did not expect this highly irregular outcome.
　きのうの日経平均株価は９００円超下げ、円は一時１年３カ月ぶりの円高ドル安の１ドル＝１１４円台前半をつけた。これまでの緩和策への反応とは逆である。これは日銀にとっても想定外の異常事態ではないのか。

If this situation continues, the Japanese economy may well become trapped in a vicious cycle of having to rely on further extreme monetary easing, with no relief in sight. An urgent review of the central bank policy is called for.
　このままでは超金融緩和を続けないと回らない経済へと、はまっていきかねない。出口はますます遠くなるばかりだ。早急に政策の見直しが必要だ。

北方領土問題 首脳会談で打開の糸口を探れ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Abe should find way forward on Northern Territories in talks with Putin
北方領土問題　首脳会談で打開の糸口を探れ

Russia maintains a tough, inflexible position regarding the territorial issue over the northern islands it occupies off Hokkaido. We hope the stalemate will be broken as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe holds more talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
　北方領土問題に対するロシアの姿勢は、硬直的で厳しい。安倍首相がプーチン大統領との会談を重ねる中で、打開の糸口を見つけたい。

Speaking at a national meeting to demand the return of the four islands on Northern Territories Day on Sunday, Abe said, “Negotiations will be conducted tenaciously to work out a final solution through a dialogue of top leaders.”
　首相は「北方領土の日」の７日、返還要求全国大会に出席した。領土問題について「首脳レベルの対話を通じ、最終的解決に向けて粘り強く交渉に臨む」と訴えた。

Arrangements are being made for Abe to meet with Putin in the southern Russian city of Sochi during the extended holiday period from late April to early May. Tokyo and Moscow will also attempt to determine the most appropriate time for Putin to visit Japan.
　４～５月の大型連休にロシア南部のソチで、プーチン氏と会談する方向で調整している。プーチン氏の来日も、日露両政府が「最も適切な時期」を模索する。

Putin’s decision on the matter is indispensable to resolving the territorial issue. Abe’s desire to seek a solution by visiting Russia is therefore understandable.
　領土問題の解決にはプーチン氏の決断が不可欠なだけに、自らの訪露で問題の前進を図ろうとする首相の意図は理解できる。

But opposition can be expected from the United States and some European countries, which are at odds with Russia over the Ukrainian situation. To realize Abe’s visit to Russia ahead of the Ise-Shima summit of the Group of Seven major powers, which will be chaired by Abe, it is essential to secure the understanding of the other G-7 leaders.
　ただ、ウクライナ情勢を巡ってロシアと対立する米欧の反発も予想される。主要国首脳会議（伊勢志摩サミット）前に議長の首相が訪露することには、他の首脳の理解を求める努力が欠かせない。

Last month, the government established a new representative post on bilateral issues with Russia and appointed Chikahito Harada, former ambassador to Russia. Harada will represent Japan at vice-ministerial meetings with Russia instead of a deputy minister for foreign affairs. The appointment is believed to be aimed at more intensively tackling the territorial issue by establishing a task force for that purpose.
　政府は１月に、日露関係担当の政府代表ポストを新設し、原田親仁・前ロシア大使を起用した。従来の外務審議官に代わって、日露外務次官級協議に出席する。領土交渉の専従体制を作り、腰を据えて取り組むのが狙いだろう。

Abe apparently wants to bolster security relations with Russia, thereby checking China’s increased maritime advancement and North Korea’s nuclear and missile development.
　首相には、ロシアとの安全保障関係を強化し、中国の海洋進出や、北朝鮮の核・ミサイル開発を牽制けんせいしたい思惑もあるようだ。

No ‘token of goodwill’

Russia is also wary over China’s emergence. Due to the drop in crude oil prices and the weakness of the ruble, Russia’s economy has continued to deteriorate, with its gross domestic product falling to less than one-fourth of China’s. Some people have expressed concern about the widening gap in strength between the two countries.
　ロシアにも、中国の台頭への警戒感がある。原油・ルーブル安によるロシア経済の悪化が続き、国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）は中国の４分の１以下に落ち込んだ。国力の格差拡大を危惧する声もある。

Whether Moscow concurs with Tokyo about the importance of improving bilateral relations in Russia’s rivalry with Beijing could be a factor in making progress on the territorial issue.
　ロシアが中国との対抗上、日露関係を改善する重要性を日本と共有するかどうかが、領土問題を進展させる一つのカギとなろう。

A statement made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a news conference in late January cannot be overlooked. “Conclusion of a peace treaty is not a synonym for resolution of the territorial issue,” he said bluntly.
　看過できないのは、ロシアのラブロフ外相が１月下旬の記者会見で、「平和条約（の締結）は領土問題の解決と同義語ではない」と言い放ったことだ。

Concerning the return of the Habomai group of islets and Shikokan Island, based on the Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration of 1956, Lavrov said these islands “would be handed over as a token of goodwill, not returned.”
　１９５６年の日ソ共同宣言に基づく歯舞、色丹両島の返還についても「返還ではなく、善意のしるしとして引き渡す」と語った。

But since the 1993 Tokyo Declaration on Japan-Russia Relations, both governments have confirmed repeatedly that they would try “to resolve the sovereignty issue over the four islands and conclude a peace treaty.” Thus resolution of the territorial issue and conclusion of a peace treaty are inseparable.
　だが、９３年の東京宣言以降、日露両政府は再三、「北方４島の帰属問題を解決し、平和条約を締結する」と確認してきた。領土問題と平和条約は不可分である。

There is no mention of “a token of goodwill” in the Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration. Lavrov’s self-serving interpretation cannot be accepted.
　日ソ共同宣言に「善意のしるし」との文言はない。ラブロフ氏の独善的な解釈は容認できない。

While attempting to explore the real intention behind Putin’s reference to resolving the territorial dispute “in a draw,” the government must proceed with negotiations prudently and strategically.
　政府は、「引き分け」による領土問題の解決を唱えるプーチン氏の真意を探りながら、慎重かつ戦略的に協議を進めるべきだ。

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