The Yomiuri Shimbun March 29, 2014 Designated quake areas must implement safety precautions immediately 巨大地震防災 強化地域の対策推進が急務だ（3月29日付・読売社説）
Countermeasures to deal with possible gigantic earthquakes and tsunami must be implemented without delay. It is hoped that the government’s designation of municipalities for boosting preparations for huge earthquakes will serve as an earnest step toward the local adoption of antiquake measures. 巨大地震・津波対策は待ったなしだ。自治体が本腰を入れて取り組む一歩としたい。
The government’s Central Disaster Management Council on Friday designated a total of 1,017 cities, towns and villages in Tokyo and 31 other prefectures for boosting measures against projected huge earthquakes with focuses in the Nankai Trough or the surface of Tokyo. 南海トラフ巨大地震、首都直下地震について、中央防災会議は、対策を強化する地域として、３２都府県の延べ１０１７市区町村を指定した。
A Nankai Trough earthquake is projected to result in more than 300,000 fatalities and more than ¥200 trillion in damage. A massive temblor with a focus directly under Tokyo, meanwhile, is projected to leave more than 20,000 people dead and put the city at risk of losing its functions as the capital. Thus, countermeasures to prepare for disasters and reduce damage are extremely important tasks of fundamental concern to the nation. 南海トラフ地震では、死者が３０万人以上、被害額は２００兆円超と予測されている。首都直下地震の死者は２万人以上とされ、首都機能の維持が危ぶまれている。防災・減災対策は、日本の根幹に関わる重要課題と言えよう。
Designated municipalities will each compile and implement a disaster management plan based on the special measures law for dealing with the two projected earthquakes, which was enforced late last year. 対象の市区町村は、昨年末に施行された両地震の特別措置法に基づき、今後、地域の防災計画を策定し、対策を進める。
But municipalities with weak financial foundations will find limitations in pursuing countermeasures on their own. It is necessary for the government to effectively provide support by putting priority on their projects. ただ、財政基盤の弱い市町村は単独での対策推進に限界がある。事業に優先順位をつけ、政府が効率的に支援することが大切だ。
Under the terms of the special measures law, the government will shoulder two-thirds of the costs when municipalities designated for a Nankai Trough earthquake establish shelters to escape tsunami. It will also pay three-fourths of the cost for purchasing land to relocate primary and middle schools. 特措法の規定では、南海トラフ地震の対象市町村が津波避難施設を整備する際、政府が費用の３分の２を補助する。小中学校の移転については、用地取得費の４分の３が政府負担になる。
In the heart of Tokyo, where a major earthquake is expected to cause major damage, the procedures to approve work to widen roads and to construct or improve parks have been simplified. 首都直下地震の被害が想定される都心部でも、道路拡幅や公園整備の認可が簡素化されている。
It is hoped that such means of government support will be used effectively. こうした政府の支援策を有効に活用してもらいたい。
Local govts unprepared
Those municipalities must tackle a mountain of challenges. For example, only slightly more than 10 percent of cities, towns and villages required to take measures against tsunami have created hazard maps. Nearly 20 percent of the designated municipalities do not have a disaster management radio system for the local government to use. 取り組むべき課題は山積している。例えば、津波対策が必要な地域で、ハザードマップを作成している市町村は１割強に過ぎない。防災行政無線も、指定された地域の２割近くで未整備だ。
A serious concern is that a number of areas are reluctant to take countermeasures, saying that they cannot possibly take steps when the projected damage is too great to handle. 予測される被害が大き過ぎるため、対策の立てようがないと、取り組みに消極的な地域があることも深刻な問題である。
In Nagoya, where vast areas are expected to be inundated by tsunami, work to make houses earthquake-resistant has not progressed as hoped. Many residents say they cannot bear the expenses of renovating their houses when they know their homes will be washed away by tsunami. 津波による広域浸水が予測されている名古屋市では、住宅の耐震化が進まない。住民の間には「津波で流されると分かっていて改修費は出せない」との声がある。
In parts of Shikoku, where tsunami measuring as high as 30 meters would hit as early as four minutes after the quake, some residents have given up all hope of escaping. 最短４分後に津波が襲来し、最高３０メートル超になると予測される四国の一部地域では、「逃げられない」とあきらめる住民もいる。
Whether residents can survive a disaster hinges upon the steady implementation of countermeasures. The central and local governments should explain the basic principles of disaster management to residents to win their cooperation in this regard. 着実な対策の実行が、万が一の際の生死を分ける。政府と自治体は防災の基本原則を住民に説明し、協力を得る必要がある。
The Central Disaster Management Council also compiled outlines for taking action against all possible huge earthquakes that could hit various areas across Japan, including the Nankai Trough region and Tokyo. 中央防災会議は今回、南海トラフ、首都直下地震を含め、各地で起こり得る巨大地震の対策を網羅した大綱もまとめた。
The outlines call for, among others, precautions in the event that the transportation network is paralyzed, dealing with people facing difficulties returning home, and making facilities to be used for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games earthquake-resistant. 交通網のマヒを防ぐ対策、帰宅困難者への対応、２０２０年東京五輪・パラリンピックに向けた関連施設の耐震性確保などを挙げている。
The central and local governments should act in concert to fully meet such requirements. 政府と自治体が連携し、しっかりと対処せねばならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 29, 2014) （2014年3月29日01時35分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 28, 2014 Watanabe must give solid, believable account of how ¥800 million was used 渡辺代表借入金 「もろもろ」で８億円が通るか（3月28日付・読売社説）
What on earth did an opposition party leader use the ¥800 million he borrowed for? Providing an answer to this question is his duty as the leader of a political party. ８億円もの借入金を一体何に使ったのか。公党の党首として国民の疑問に答えてもらいたい。
It has come to light that Yoshiaki Yoshida, chairman of the cosmetics company DHC Corp. and a supporter of Your Party leader Yoshimi Watanabe, loaned the politician ¥300 million about two weeks before the 2010 House of Councillors election and another ¥500 million a month before the 2012 vote for the House of Representatives. みんなの党の渡辺代表を支援していた化粧品販売会社ディーエイチシーの吉田嘉明会長が、２０１０年参院選の直前に３億円、１２年衆院選の直前に５億円を渡辺氏に貸していたことが明らかになった。
Yoshida said he loaned ¥800 million to Watanabe as “election funds.” But neither reports on Watanabe’s campaign finances nor income and expenditure statements for his political funds mention the loans. It is possible Watanabe will be suspected of violating the Public Offices Election Law and the Political Funds Control Law. 吉田会長は「選挙資金として貸した」と証言した。だが、渡辺氏の選挙運動費用や政治資金の収支報告書に８億円の記載はない。公職選挙法や政治資金規正法に違反する可能性がある。
In a news conference Thursday, Watanabe claimed the money he borrowed was “purely intended for my personal support.” 渡辺氏は記者会見で、「純粋に渡辺個人を応援してもらう」趣旨で借りたものだと強調した。
Asked what he used the money for, Watanabe said it had been spent “for various purposes deemed necessary for a politician” and said some of the money had been used to finance conference and travel expenses. He spoke with no apparent awareness of the possible illegality of his behavior, even pointing out that he had repaid part of the loans. 使途の内訳は「政治家として生きていく上で必要なもろもろ」とし、会議費や旅費などに充てたと語った。違法性の認識はなく、一部は返済したとも弁明した。
It seems that Watanabe hopes to ride out the scandal by insisting that the loans were for his personal use. あくまで個人の借り入れだとして、切り抜けたいのだろう。
Parallel with Inose case
But there are parallels between the Watanabe loans and the money scandal surrounding former Tokyo Gov. Naoki Inose, in that both received a huge sum of money in the immediate run-up to an election. If Watanabe argues that the money was not for use in election campaigns, then it falls to him to explain in specific terms just how he spent it. しかし、選挙を間近に控えた時期に巨額の資金提供を受けたという点では、猪瀬直樹・前東京都知事を巡る不祥事と似た構図である。渡辺氏が、選挙目的ではないと言うのなら、何に使ったのか具体的に説明する必要がある。
Even if the money was strictly a personal loan, many factors remain that cannot be overlooked. 仮に、個人の借入金としても看過できない点が少なくない。
The loans from Yoshida are not included in the outstanding loans detailed in a mandatory report of his personal assets. He said it was “a clerical error” and that he “wants to correct it,” but it is unlikely the public will accept it if he shrugs off the transfer of such an enormous sum as a simple clerical mistake. 自らの資産等報告書の借入金残高に吉田会長からの借入金がきちんと反映されていない。渡辺氏は「事務的なミスで訂正したい」と釈明したが、これほどの巨額なやり取りを単なるミスというのでは国民には理解されまい。
It is hard to accept that Watanabe did not prepare documents acknowledging a loan of ¥500 million. ５億円を借りながら、借用書を作らなかったのも不可解だ。
Watanabe said he would have the chairman of the party’s ethics committee probe any potential illegality in association with the borrowed money. But it is questionable whether suspicions can be eliminated solely through an in-house investigation. 渡辺氏は、借入金に法に触れる部分がないかなどについて、党の倫理委員長に調査をゆだねるというが、身内だけで疑惑を十分晴らすことができるだろうか。
Your Party has faced criticism for some time that its management is not democratic, with the party strongly characterized as a “private shop” that defers to Watanabe for all decisions on party matters. みんなの党はかねて、渡辺氏が党務を仕切る「個人商店」的な色彩が強く、党運営が民主的ではないと批判されてきたからだ。
Kenji Eda, who broke with Your Party due to a feud with Watanabe and formed the Yui no To party, said that Watanabe managed state subsidies paid to the party and legislation expenses alone, without consulting other party executives. 渡辺氏との確執で離党し、結いの党を結成した江田憲司氏は、政党交付金や立法事務費を渡辺氏が差配し、幹部との協議はなかったと指摘している。
By taking advantage of personal ties with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Watanabe has promoted a stance of serving as a “responsible opposition party” by cooperating with the Abe administration on a policy-by-policy basis. Watanabe actively promotes changes to the interpretation of the Constitution that would make it possible to exercise the right to collective self-defense, a move backed by Abe. 渡辺氏は、安倍首相とのパイプを生かし、個別の政策で安倍政権と協力する「責任野党」を標榜ひょうぼうしてきた。首相が進める集団的自衛権行使を可能にする憲法解釈の見直しにも前向きだ。
Whether Watanabe will be able to maintain his political leadership is a matter of concern to Abe as well. 渡辺氏が今後も求心力を維持できるかどうかは、首相にとっても関心事だろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 28, 2014) （2014年3月28日01時26分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 27, 2014 Reinforced management of nuclear materials needed to prevent terrorism 核安全サミット テロ防止に問われる管理強化（3月27日付・読売社説）
In confronting the threat of nuclear terrorism, it is essential for countries to cooperate to thoroughly manage nuclear materials. 核テロの脅威に立ち向かうには、各国が連携して核物質の管理を徹底することが欠かせない。
The Nuclear Security Summit, attended by leaders of over 50 countries, including major industrial nations and emerging economies, was held in The Hague, and the leaders adopted a joint communique. 核安全サミットが、オランダ・ハーグで、先進国や新興国など５０か国以上の首脳らを集めて開かれ、共同声明を採択した。
The joint communique places the highest priority on preventing nuclear materials from being acquired by terrorists. It urges countries to accept the guidance mapped out by the International Atomic Energy Agency concerning the protection of their nuclear materials and facilities. 共同声明は、テロリストによる核物質入手の阻止を最重要課題に掲げている。その上で国際原子力機関（ＩＡＥＡ）が策定した核物質や核関連施設の防護に関する指針の受け入れを各国に促した。
According to the IAEA, in 2013 alone there were 146 cases in which nuclear materials or other radioactive materials were traded illegally, stolen or lost. As we cannot deny the possibility of nuclear terrorism, countries concerned must take effective measures in line with the IAEA guidance. ＩＡＥＡによると、核物質や放射性物質の違法取引や盗難、紛失は昨年だけで１４６件に上る。核テロが起きる可能性は否定できず、各国には指針に沿った実効性ある対応が求められよう。
It is also important that the communique encourages countries to minimize their stocks of highly enriched uranium (HEU) and of separated plutonium, both of which can be used in nuclear weapons. This call is aimed at getting countries to hold down their stockpile of such materials and prevent nuclear materials from going into the hands of terrorists. 声明が、各国に対し、核兵器への転用可能な高濃縮ウランやプルトニウムの保有量を最小限とするよう要請したことも重要である。それぞれの保有量を抑えて、テロリストへの流出を防ぐ狙いだ。
Any excess nuclear materials should be transported out of those countries and placed under the control of such nations as the United States, which is capable of disposing of such material responsibly. 過剰な核物質は国外に搬出し、責任を持って処理する能力のある米国のような国の管理下に置くことが望ましい。
In line with the purport of the communique, Italy, Belgium, South Korea and other countries have expressed their willingness to remove unnecessary plutonium and HEU from their countries. 声明の趣旨に沿って、イタリアやベルギー、韓国などが、不要なプルトニウムや高濃縮ウランの国内からの撤去を表明した。
Abe demonstrates resolve
Japan, for its part, has announced a bilateral agreement with the United States under which it will remove several hundred kilograms of HEU and plutonium used for the fast critical assembly at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency and hand them over to the United States. 日本も、日本原子力研究開発機構が高速炉臨界実験装置で使ってきた高濃縮ウランとプルトニウム数百キロを撤去し、米国に引き渡すことで合意したと発表した。
Such measures can be said to be in accord with the principles of the government, which has said the country “will not own plutonium for which no purpose has been set.” 「利用する目的のないプルトニウムは持たない」との日本政府の原則にかなう措置とも言える。
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has shown his determination at the summit, saying “Japan has a responsibility to lead efforts to strengthen nuclear security” in light of its experience with the crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant. 今回のサミットで、安倍首相は東京電力福島第一原子力発電所事故の経験を踏まえ、「日本には核安全の強化を主導する責任がある」との決意を示した。
As Japan is the only country to have suffered atomic bombings in wartime and is also one with advanced technology in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, our country should take a proactive role in this field, too. 唯一の戦争被爆国であり、原子力の平和利用で先進的な技術を持つ日本は、この分野でも積極的に役割を果たすべきだ。
The Nuclear Security Summit started four years ago when U.S. President Barack Obama advocated a goal of realizing a nuclear-free world. Since then, the summit has borne definite fruit, for instance, in the prevention of nuclear terrorism. Yet it is problematic that there has been little progress in the reduction of nuclear arms themselves. 核安全サミットは、「核のない世界」の実現を目標に掲げたオバマ米大統領の提唱で４年前に始まり、核テロ防止などに一定の成果を上げてきた。ただ、核兵器そのものの削減が遅々として進んでいないのは問題である。
It is worrisome that among the five countries allowed to possess nuclear arms under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty—the United States, Britain, China, France and Russia—only China is believed to be increasing its stockpile of nuclear weapons. 気がかりなのは、核拡散防止条約（ＮＰＴ）で核兵器の保有を認められた米英中仏露５か国のうち中国だけが核兵器の保有量を増やしているとされることだ。
China must stop its military buildup with nuclear arms, which has been a destabilizing factor for the world’s nuclear security environment, and reduce its nuclear arms together with other nuclear powers. 中国は、世界の安全保障環境の不安定要因となっている核軍拡をやめ、他の保有国とともに核兵器を削減していかねばならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 27, 2014) （2014年3月27日01時29分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 27, 2014 Crimea must not become a precedent for stealing land from another country Ｇ７ＶＳロシア クリミア編入を前例にするな（3月26日付・読売社説）
Russia’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula must not become a precedent for one nation stealing another nation’s land by force. The international community should reinforce its united front against Moscow. ロシアによるクリミア半島編入が、他国の領土を力で奪うあしき前例とならぬよう、国際社会は一層結束すべきだ。
Leaders of the Group of Seven major industrialized nations—Japan, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Canada—recently met in The Hague over the upheaval in Ukraine, denouncing Russia’s annexation as a “clear violation of international law.” The leaders decided to suspend their participation in the Group of Eight summit meeting to be held in Sochi until Moscow changes course. 日米欧の先進７か国（Ｇ７）は、ウクライナ情勢を巡りハーグで首脳会議を開き、編入を「国際法違反」と改めて非難した。ロシアが方向転換するまで、Ｇ８サミット（主要国首脳会議）への参加を停止すると決めた。
The G-7 leaders also warned they will impose tough economic sanctions on Russia if the nation further escalates its actions, on top of penalties they have already imposed. ロシアが状況を悪化させるなら、現在の制裁に加え、厳しい経済制裁を科すとも警告した。
The success of the G-7 nations in building a united front and showing their resolve against Russia will undeniably strengthen the pressure they have put on the country. Ｇ７が団結して強い意思を示したことは、ロシアに対するさらなる圧力となろう。
At the meeting, Japan pledged up to ¥150 billion in aid to Ukraine, which now faces the risk of default. It is essential for Japan to join hands with the United States and European countries to support Ukraine, to stabilize the situation. 首脳会議で日本は、ウクライナに対して、最大約１５００億円の支援を表明した。ウクライナ経済は債務不履行（デフォルト）も懸念される事態だ。情勢安定化のためにも、米国や欧州と共に支援を行うことが不可欠である。
In reaction to the decisions of the G-7, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow is not clinging to the G-8 format. He suggested putting more focus on the U.N. Security Council and the summit meetings of the Group of 20 nations. Ｇ７の決定に対し、ロシアのラブロフ外相は、「Ｇ８に固執しない」と述べ、国連安全保障理事会や、主要２０か国・地域によるサミットを重視する意向を示した。
‘Russianization’ progressing
The reason behind Lavrov maintaining his assertive stance is the overwhelming public support in Russia for the annexation of Crimea. 外相が強気の姿勢を崩さない背景には、クリミア編入に対するロシア国民の圧倒的支持がある。
Russian President Vladimir Putin has apparently concluded that his strategy to annex the Crimean Peninsula was successful. It is unlikely that receiving some condemnation from the international community will be an incentive for Putin to give up Crimea. Ukraine has decided to withdraw its troops from Crimea, and the “Russianization” of the region, such as the circulation of the ruble, has begun. プーチン大統領は、自らの編入戦略が奏功したと受け止め、国際的に多少非難されても、クリミアを手放さないつもりなのだろう。クリミアでは、ウクライナ軍の撤収が決まり、ルーブルが流通し始めるなど「ロシア化」が進む。
There is one worrying move from Russia—the nation is now concentrating its troops on the southern and eastern borders of Ukraine. 懸念されるのは、ロシアがウクライナの東部や南部の国境周辺に軍を集結させていることだ。
If Russia begins a military intervention against Ukraine in regions other than Crimea, there is no doubt the United States and other G-7 nations will impose full-scale economic sanctions on Russia. The sanctions will not only hit the Russian economy, but they will also cause enormous repercussions to the global economy. ロシアが、クリミア以外のウクライナ国内に軍事的に介入した場合、米国始めＧ７各国は本格的な経済制裁に乗り出すに違いない。ロシアだけでなく、世界経済に甚大な影響が及ぶのは確実だ。
It is crucial that the international observers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe enter Ukraine as soon as possible, and begin monitoring the security situation there to prevent tensions with Ukrainian citizens of Russian descent, which would give Russia the pretext for directly intervening in Ukraine. ロシア系住民の動揺を防ぎ、ロシアに介入の口実を与えないためにも、全欧安保協力機構（ＯＳＣＥ）による国際監視団が一刻も早く、ウクライナに赴き、治安情勢の監視を始めることが必要だ。
The Crimea issue has massive implications for Japan, which faces China’s repeated intrusions into Japanese territorial waters in areas near the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. クリミア問題は、沖縄県・尖閣諸島周辺で中国による領海侵入を繰り返し受けている日本にとっても重要な意味を持つ。
During the G-7 meeting, Abe told other leaders that Japan will not tolerate any attempt to change the status quo by force. He then went on to say that the Ukranian issue is a problem for the entire international community, including Asia, and multiple nations reportedly agreed with his remarks. 今回のＧ７首脳会議で安倍首相が、力を背景とした現状変更は許せない、と踏み込んだ上で、「アジアなど国際社会全体の問題だ」と指摘したところ、複数の国から賛同意見が寄せられたという。
It will be important for Japan to assert the legitimacy of its position on the Senkaku issue to the international community, and obtain the understanding of other nations over the issue. 尖閣諸島についても、日本の立場の正当性を主張し、国際的理解を得ていくことが肝要である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 26, 2014) （2014年3月26日01時47分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 25, 2014 China-South Korea summit clearly shows ‘united front against Japan’ 中韓首脳会談 鮮明になった「反日共闘」路線（3月25日付・読売社説）
It seems fair to say that China and South Korea have demonstrated clearly their “united front against Japan” on history-related issues. 中国と韓国が、歴史問題で「反日共闘」路線をますます鮮明にしてきたと言えよう。
Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Park Geun-hye met for talks in a suburb of The Hague where they highlighted the significance of a memorial hall dedicated to Korean independence activist Ahn Jung Geun in a train station in Harbin, China. 中国の習近平国家主席と、韓国の朴槿恵大統領がオランダ・ハーグ郊外で会談し、中国黒竜江省のハルビン駅に開設した朝鮮独立運動家・安重根の記念館の意義を強調した。
According to South Korean officials, Xi told Park he had given “direct instructions” for building the hall, while Park responded that the hall would strengthen ties between the two peoples. 韓国側によると、記念館開設について、習氏は「私が直接指示した」と語り、朴氏も「両国民の結び付きを強める」と応じた。
We believe that what Xi offered Park was a united front in taking a hard-line policy against Japan, a policy that has support of the South Korean people, in a bid to draw the attention of the Seoul government. 習氏は、朴氏に対して、韓国民が支持する対日強硬路線で共闘を持ちかけて、韓国を引きつけようとしているのではないか。
Ahn Jung Geun assassinated Hirobumi Ito, Japan’s first prime minister. For Japan, the two nations’ praise for the opening of a hall dedicated to such a person is unacceptable. 安重根は、初代首相の伊藤博文を暗殺した人物であり、記念館開設を称賛するのは、日本にとって受け入れ難い。
Xi appears to have sought to drive a wedge in cooperative ties among Japan, South Korea and the United States ahead of their tripartite summit scheduled for Tuesday on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit. The Xi-Park talks threw cold water on the much-anticipated summit, which comes against a backdrop of deteriorating Japan-South Korea relations—a summit made possible through U.S. mediation efforts. 習氏には、２５日に予定される日米韓首脳会談をにらみ、３国連携にくさびを打ち込む狙いがあったに違いない。日韓関係が悪化する中で、米国の仲介努力によってようやく実現する日米韓首脳会談に冷や水を浴びせる形になった。
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga described the exchanges between Xi and Park and the praise Beijing and Seoul have expressed for Ahn as “founded on one-sided assessment” of history. He also pointed out quite reasonably that such public statements do not help to build peace and cooperation in the region. 菅官房長官が、こうした中韓のやり取りを「一方的評価に基づく主張」と断じて、地域の平和と協力の構築にとってマイナスだと指摘したのも、もっともである。
A new anti-Japan symbol
During their talks, Xi also told Park of a “memorial stone” that China is constructing in Xian in Shaanxi Province, the city where a Korean anti-Japanese resistance force known as the “Korean Liberation Army” was based during the period of Japanese colonial rule. Park reportedly asked Xi to erect the memorial. Although there are few details about the resistance force, the memorial is certain to become a new symbol for anti-Japan sentiment. 中韓首脳会談で習氏は、日本の植民地統治期に「光復軍」と呼ばれる朝鮮の抗日部隊が駐屯したという陝西省西安に石碑を建設中だと述べた。朴氏が要望したものだ。光復軍の実態は定かではないが、反日の新たな象徴となろう。
There is also cause for concern that Park has been keeping step with China. Although she has not yet held talks with Japanese leaders, Park has met with Xi four times since her inauguration. She probably thinks stronger relations with China are important for her country’s North Korea policy and economic cooperation. 朴氏が、中国と足並みをそろえているのも気がかりだ。日本を差し置いて習氏とは何度も会談している。中国との関係強化が、対北朝鮮政策や、経済協力でも重要であると考えているのだろう。
In contrast, she has effectively rejected Japan-South Korea summit meetings by imposing conditions concerning so-called comfort women and other areas of contention. これと対照的に、日本に対しては、いわゆる従軍慰安婦問題などで条件を付けて、日韓首脳会談の開催を事実上拒んでいる。
It is quite clear that neither the Japan-U.S. alliance nor the U.S.-South Korean alliance—both partnerships in which United States is the keystone—will function effectively without good Japan-South Korean relations. 良好な日韓関係なしには、米国を要とする日米及び米韓同盟が有効に機能しないのは明らかだ。
The prospect of further strengthening Seoul-Beijing ties over history issues is worrisome. 歴史を巡る中韓連携は、今後さらに強まることが懸念される。
Late last month, a Chinese court for the first time accepted a lawsuit in which former Chinese workers who were forcibly brought to Japan to work in Japanese companies during World War II are demanding apologies and compensation from the companies. Similar lawsuits have been filed in South Korea by former forced laborers. 中国の裁判所は先に、戦時中、強制連行された中国人元労働者らが日本企業を相手取り、謝罪と損害賠償を求めた訴状を初めて受理した。韓国でも元徴用工が同様の裁判を起こしている。
This type of suit threatens to undermine the foundation of pledges made by Japan and by the two nations upon the normalization of diplomatic relations, and cannot be accepted. いずれも、日本との国交正常化の際の約束を根底から揺るがす恐れがあり、容認できない。
It is important for Japan to make its case and demonstrate the legitimacy of its legal stance, not only to China and South Korea, but to the international community as a whole. 日本は、中韓両国だけでなく国際社会に対しても、法的な正当性を主張していくことが肝要である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 25, 2014) （2014年3月25日01時45分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 24, 2014 Browbeating smaller firms to avoid consumption tax burden unforgivable 消費増税の転嫁 不当な「買いたたき」を許すな（3月24日付・読売社説）
The increase in the consumption tax to 8 percent from the current 5 percent, effective from April 1, is drawing near. 消費税率が５％から８％に引き上げられる４月１日が迫っている。
While it is important to have the consumption tax increase included in the prices of goods, it also is essential to provide appropriate and easy-to-understand information of prices after the tax hike on products and services to avoid confusing consumers. 増税分を円滑に販売価格に転嫁するとともに、消費者にわかりやすい価格表示によって、混乱を回避することが不可欠である。
With the tax increase close at hand, many companies, including restaurant chains and railway operators, have been publicizing their plans one after another to add the tax hike to their prices. 消費増税を目前に控え、外食や鉄道などの企業各社は、増税分を転嫁するための値上げを相次いで発表している。
A number of companies, meanwhile, plan to leave their prices unchanged in the face of the higher consumption tax. Corporate efforts to maintain current prices can certainly be called a significant pricing strategy. 一方、あえて価格を据え置く例も少なくない。コスト削減など企業努力で顧客の減少を防ぐのも、重要な価格戦略と言えよう。
However, unlawful attempts by major companies to use their strong positions to force subcontractors and wholesale suppliers to keep prices down must never be condoned. Such illegitimate actions could cause the business situations of many small and medium-size enterprises to deteriorate. ただし、大企業が優位な立場を利用して納入業者に価格の据え置きを強いる「買いたたき」などは許されない。多くの中小企業を経営悪化に追い込む恐れがある。
In October last year, the government put into force a law on special measures to ensure the smooth and proper shifting of the tax increase to prices and prohibiting efforts to refuse to pass the higher tax on to prices. A team comprising about 600 monitors has been set up to clamp down on refusals to shift the consumption tax increase on to prices. The monitors will maintain a tight rein over violations. 政府は昨年１０月に消費税転嫁対策特別措置法を施行し、価格転嫁を拒否する行為を禁止した。転嫁拒否を取り締まる約６００人の「転嫁Ｇメン」も新設し、違反に目を光らせている。
It is problematic that 850 businesses had been given administrative warnings over suspected violations across the country as of the end of February. 特措法に触れる恐れがあるとして指導を受けた企業が、２月末ですでに約８５０社に達したのは問題だろう。
There is a possibility that major firms’ moves to try to force the higher tax burdens unlawfully on their subcontractors and suppliers may spread further after the consumption tax increase to offset increased tax burdens of the big firms. The government must maintain utmost vigilance. 納入業者に負担を押しつけようとする動きが、増税後はさらに拡大しかねず、政府は監視を一段と強めねばならない。
Tax-exclusive price tags
A number of subcontractors and suppliers with business ties with large companies are likely to be reluctant to report to the government in the event of big firms refusing their requests to increase their prices, out of fear that their business partnerships could be severed in retaliation. 取引の打ち切りを恐れ、転嫁を拒否されても通報できない納入業者も少なくないはずだ。
After the April 1 tax increase, the Fair Trade Commission and the Small and Medium Enterprises Agency plan to survey about 4 million small and midsize companies on the tax hike situation. The survey should help prevent unfair business transactions. 公正取引委員会と中小企業庁は増税後、全国の中小企業約４００万社を調査する。不当取引の防止につなげたい。
The government should not merely wait for businesses to provide relevant information. It should aggressively carry out fact-finding activities, such as by conducting hearings. 政府は業者からの情報提供を待つだけでなく、独自に聞き取り調査を行うなど、積極的な実態把握にも努めるべきである。
It is important for subcontractors and suppliers to take steps to defend themselves, such as documenting in detail the process of pricing negotiations with large companies. 納入業者側も、価格交渉の経緯を詳細に記録するなど、自衛策を講じることが大切だ。
Retailers generally have been obliged to put tax-inclusive prices on their products to enable customers to understand at a glance how much they have to pay, but the law for the special measures acknowledges that price tags might exclude the tax. 小売店での価格表示は従来、支払額が顧客に一目で分かる税込み価格が義務づけられていたが、特措法は小売店での税抜き価格の表示も容認した。
Given that the consumption tax is scheduled to be raised again, from 8 percent to 10 percent, in October 2015, this provision is aimed at allowing retailers to avoid changing price tags again. ２０１５年１０月に税率が８％からさらに１０％へ引き上げられる予定であることから、再び値札を変更する手間を省く狙いがある。
Retailers should ensure that their prices are easy for consumers to understand, regardless of whether they include the tax hike or not. 小売店は価格が税込みか税抜きか、明確に表示し、消費者が戸惑わないようにしてほしい。
Railway and bus fares in some regions are to be raised in increments of ¥1 for users of IC cards, while fares for those who pay in cash will be raised in ¥10 increments for the same railway and bus service sections. 鉄道やバスでは同一区間の料金が、ＩＣカード乗車券は１円単位で、現金で買う切符は１０円単位で値上げされる地域もある。
It is quite possible that train and bus passengers will express dissatisfaction over the “double fare” structure. Efforts must be made to thoroughly familiarize passengers with the new fare system. 二重運賃に対して、乗客から不満が出る恐れもある。新たな運賃制度の周知徹底が求められる。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 24, 2014) （2014年3月24日01時29分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 23, 2014 China faces difficult task in trying to reduce risks of ‘shadow banking’ 中国経済リスク 「影の銀行」収束への険しい道（3月23日付・読売社説）
China must rein in the expansion of “shadow banking” activities that are threatening to drag the Chinese economy down to avert financial turmoil. The Chinese government is now being confronted by a thorny policy-handling task. 中国経済の足を引っ張る「シャドーバンキング」（影の銀行）の拡大を食い止め、混乱を回避すべきだ。中国政府は難しい舵かじ取りを迫られる。
A struggling manufacturer of solar cells and panels in Shanghai failed early this month to meet interest payments on corporate bonds it issued, the first debt default in the history of China’s corporate bond market. 上海市の太陽光パネルメーカーが今月初め、経営に行き詰まって社債の金利を払えず、中国社債市場で初めて、債務不履行（デフォルト）に陥った。
In this connection, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has said the government was prepared to allow defaults on some financial products. This switch on China’s financial policy is significant, and should be considered carefully. 李克強首相はこれに関連し、金融商品のデフォルトを一部容認する考えを示した。政府の方針転換であり、その意味は重い。
Financial authorities in China have so far been bailing businesses and investors out of trouble, but there can be no denying that doing so has contributed to creating moral hazards among market players. 中国当局は従来、危機に陥った企業や投資家を救済してきたが、市場のモラルハザード（倫理の欠如）を助長した面は否めない。
Allowing the solar equipment maker’s bond default may have been aimed at warning investors by informing them that there may be bond defaults in the future depending on circumstances. パネルメーカーのデフォルト容認は、場合によってはデフォルトもあり得ることを示し、投資家に警告するのが狙いだろう。
This seems to indicate a sense of crisis that shadow banking, or financial transactions not mediated by commercial banks, have continued to bloat, threatening to gnaw away at the Chinese economy as a whole. 背景には、銀行を介さない金融取引であるシャドーバンキングが膨張し、中国経済を蝕むしばんでいることへの危機感がうかがえる。
Many investors have flocked to speculative financial instruments, such as those marketed by nonbank entities trumpeting high yields. There have been many instances such as investment companies under the umbrella of local governments engaging in real-estate development projects by leveraging such investment funds, while companies unable to obtain loans from banks have been issuing corporate bonds with nonbanks as subscribers. 投資家はノンバンクなどの高利回りの財テク商品に群がった。地方政府傘下の投資会社がそれらを原資に不動産開発を進めたり、銀行から融資を受けにくい企業が社債を発行し、ノンバンクが引き受けたりする例が目立つ。
If a local government or company with a huge amount of liabilities faces a funding shortfall, it will be unavoidable for investors to suffer losses. 巨額債務を抱えた地方政府や企業が行き詰まると、投資家に被害が及ぶことが避けられない。
‘China risk’ affecting stocks
Even more troublesome is the fact that the actual state of shadow banking services has been shrouded in opacity. An estimate has been released that funds poured into shadow banking stand at a value amounting to half of China’s gross domestic product, so Beijing’s decision to place curbs on the swelling shadow banking money is right and proper. さらに厄介なのが、シャドーバンキングの不透明な実態である。総額が国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）の半分に達するという推計もある中、膨張マネーに歯止めをかけようとする政策判断はもっともだ。
In addition to the policy of allowing bond defaults, it is also noteworthy that Gov. Zhou Xiaochuan of the People’s Bank of China has said the central bank is considering the liberalization of bank deposit rates, the upper limits on which are currently fixed, in one to two years. デフォルト容認方針とともに、中央銀行にあたる中国人民銀行の周小川総裁が、上限規制がある預金金利を１～２年以内に自由化する方針を示した点も重要だ。
It seems that China’s financial authorities, through the liberalization of interest rates, are ready to brake the flow of capital that has been pouring into speculative financial instruments, as investors are averse to low-interest bank deposits. 金利自由化によって、低い預金金利を嫌って財テク商品に流入してきた資金の流れにブレーキをかけようとしているようだ。
Drastic reform measures for reducing shadow banking activities are indispensable. There also are concerns, however, over the adverse impact on the Chinese economy if the envisioned reform is undertaken too hastily. シャドーバンキングを縮小させるための大胆な改革は欠かせない。一方で、改革を急ぎすぎることによる副作用も懸念される。
The adverse consequences could be aggravated in the event of a contraction of credit, resulting in local governments and businesses to have cash-flow problems. 信用収縮によって、地方政府や企業の資金繰りが相次いで行き詰まるような事態を招けば、悪影響が広がるだろう。
Stock prices in New York, Tokyo and elsewhere have continued to fluctuate erratically with the “China risk” being cited as one of the major factors behind the instability. ニューヨーク、東京などの株式市場では、中国リスクが一因となり、株価の乱高下が続く。
Will China be successful in dowsing the overheated economic bubble and in soft-landing the country’s economy, which has continued to slow down, by putting it on a stable growth track of around 7.5 percent a year? バブル過熱を制御し、景気減速傾向が続く中国経済を７・５％程度の安定成長に軟着陸させられるか。
China, the world’s second largest economic power, is continuing to walk on a tightrope. 世界２位の経済大国・中国の綱渡りが続いている。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 23, 2014) （2014年3月23日01時42分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 22, 2014 Reducing global warming effects is essential to Japan’s future 日本の温暖化 被害軽減へ効率的対応が要る（3月22日付・読売社説）
Efficient, effective measures must be implemented to curb the adverse effects of global warming. 地球温暖化の悪影響を抑えるため、効率的かつ効果的な対策を講じていかねばならない。
An Environment Ministry research team has put together a report on the various effects of global warming on Japan. 温暖化が日本に及ぼす影響について、環境省の研究班が報告書をまとめた。
It predicts that if greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase, the average temperature in Japan is expected to rise by a maximum of 6.4 C, and the sea level is anticipated to go up by 60-63 centimeters, both by the end of this century. 温室効果ガスの排出量がこのまま増え続けると、国内の平均気温は今世紀末に最大６・４度上昇し、海面も６０～６３センチ上昇する。
In all likelihood, global warming will have a serious impact on people’s daily lives. 国民の日常生活に深刻な影響が及ぶのは必至である。
According to the report, the nationwide death toll from heatstroke and other results of global warming will more than double by the end of this century. Asian tiger mosquitoes, which spread infectious diseases, are expected to multiply in nearly every area of the country. 報告書によると、今世紀末、熱中症などによる死者数が、全国で２倍以上に増える。感染症を媒介する蚊の一種ヒトスジシマカの分布がほぼ全国に拡大する。
The northern limit for rice production will move further northward. It will become possible to grow Tankan mandarins, a subtropical citrus fruit, instead of satsuma oranges even in the Kanto region, while 85 percent of the country’s sandy beaches will disappear. These changes would deal a blow to such regional industries as agriculture and tourism. コメの生産地は北上する。温州ミカンに代わり、亜熱帯果樹のタンカンが関東でも栽培可能になる。全国の砂浜の８５％が消滅する。農業、観光など地域産業にとっても打撃となるだろう。
Due to the elevation of the sea level, Okino Torishima, the southernmost island that marks the beginning of Japan’s exclusive economic zone, could submerge. 海面上昇により、日本の排他的経済水域（ＥＥＺ）の基点である沖ノ鳥島が水没してしまう可能性もあるのではないか。
It is appalling to see predictions of such enormous damage. Annual flood damage, which totaled about ¥200 billion at the end of the 20th century, is expected to expand to a maximum of approximately ¥480 billion. The damage caused by high tides is likely to increase by about ¥260 billion a year. 膨大な被害額も目を引く。２０世紀末には年間約２０００億円だった洪水被害額が、最大で約４８００億円増加する。高潮被害も年間約２６００億円増える。
Steps to minimize damage
Efforts must be made to reduce such damage as much as possible. こうした被害を少しでも軽減する取り組みは重要だ。
But it is not realistic to completely eliminate damage by reinforcing dams and river levees throughout the nation. Society must study “adaptation measures” that can accommodate climate changes while predicting to a certain extent the progress of global warming. だが、ダムや堤防を全国にくまなく整備して、被害を完全に食い止めようとするのは現実的ではあるまい。温暖化の進行をある程度、見越した上で、社会が気候変動に順応する「適応策」を検討していくのが重要となるだろう。
For example, it is imperative to study explicit, meaningful measures such as putting priority on hardware improvement in densely populated and industrial complex areas while trying to improve the compilation of hazard maps for evacuation in other areas. 例えば、ハード面の整備は人口密集地や産業集積地に重点を置き、他の地域は避難用のハザードマップを充実させるなど、メリハリのある対策を考えるべきだ。
It will be also necessary to promote research on breed improvements to develop agricultural products with high heat resistance, and conduct a green campaign to alleviate the heat island phenomenon in urban areas. 高温に強い農作物への品種改良の研究や、都市部のヒートアイランド現象を緩和するための緑化促進なども必要だろう。
The government will compile specific adaptation measures in the summer of next year. It is crucial to make these measures capable of dealing flexibly with hard-to-predict climate changes. 政府は来夏に具体的な適応策をまとめる。予測が難しい気候の変化に柔軟に対応できるようにすることが肝要だ。
Of course, the most crucial goal in efforts against global warming is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It was natural for the report to point out that if cuts in gas emissions prevail globally, it will dramatically lessen the adverse effects of global warming on Japan. 無論、温暖化対策で最も重要なのは、温室効果ガスの排出量を減らすことである。報告書が、世界規模での排出削減が進めば、日本への悪影響は大幅に軽減されると指摘しているのはもっともだ。
Holding the key in this regard are China and the United States, which together account for more than 40 percent of the world’s total gas emissions. Japan should proactively commit itself to ensuring that a new framework for gas emission controls, which is scheduled to take the place of the Kyoto Protocol in 2020, leads to emission cuts by the two countries. カギとなるのは、世界全体の排出量の４割以上を占める中国と米国の取り組みである。京都議定書に代わり、２０２０年発効予定の新たな枠組みが両国の排出削減につながるよう、日本も積極的に交渉に関与していくべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 22, 2014) （2014年3月22日01時27分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 21, 2014 Recent fatal incident underlines need for ensuring quality of babysitters ネット託児事件 ベビーシッターの質も確保を（3月21日付・読売社説）
A recent fatal case has brought into stark relief the dangerous aspects inherent in online babysitting service sites. インターネットのベビーシッター紹介サイトに潜む危険な一面が、浮き彫りになった。
Kanagawa prefectural police have arrested a man on suspicion of abandoning the body of a 2-year-old boy he had been asked to care for via an online babysitting service site. 神奈川県警が、ベビーシッターの男を、預かった男児の死体遺棄容疑で逮捕した。
Even before the incident, the child’s mother, a resident of Yokohama, had previously used the man’s babysitting services through the online site, but had found various problems with his babysitting habits. However, this time the man used a fictitious name in an exchange of e-mails, and a proxy appeared at a designated meeting place. She entrusted the boy and his 8-month-old younger brother to the proxy, also a babysitter, without knowing the man in question would actually be babysitting again. 横浜市に住む男児の母親は、以前にも紹介サイトを通じて男にシッターを依頼し、トラブルになった。しかし、メールのやりとりで男が偽名を使い、待ち合わせ場所には代理人が現れたため、同一人物と気づかずに預けたという。
The boy was found dead in an apartment in Saitama Prefecture three days later. The whole picture of this fatal case must be urgently unraveled, and measures to prevent the recurrence of such a terrible incident must be worked out. 男児は、男が保育室として使っていた埼玉県内のマンションの一室で３日後、遺体で発見された。事件の全容解明と、再発防止に向けた対策が急がれる。
Behind the spread of online babysitting service sites is the convenience of being able to secure babysitters at lower costs and more quickly than via babysitter-dispatch agencies. For economic reasons, many parents have no alternative but to ask for babysitters from online sites to take care of their children. 紹介サイトが広がっている背景には、派遣事業者を通すよりも低料金で、すぐにシッターを確保できるという利便性がある。経済的な事情から、個人シッターに頼らざるを得ない親も少なくない。
However, it has been pointed out that online babysitting sites are not completely trustworthy because they do not confirm the identities of the babysitters. しかし、サイト側がシッターの本人確認をしないなど、信頼性に欠ける面が指摘されている。
Fact-finding is more important than anything else. This was emphasized by Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Norihisa Tamura, who said, “We’d like to examine the circumstances to understand the nature of these services.” 田村厚生労働相が、「どういう仕組みなのか、状況を調査してみたい」と語ったように、まずは実態把握が重要だ。
Room for improvement
There is room for improvement not only in online babysitting sites, but also in the babysitting industry as a whole. No public qualification is required for babysitters and no registration is mandatory with administrative offices. In fact, administrative checks have failed to reach the actual babysitting work to which children’s lives are entrusted. 紹介サイトに限らず、ベビーシッター業界全体にも、改善すべき点がある。ベビーシッターには公的資格がなく、行政への届け出も必要ない。子どもの命を預かるシッターの仕事に、行政のチェックが及んでいないのが実情だ。
On the other hand, the way parents’ work has diversified, and the number of single-parent households has been increasing. The demand for babysitters who can provide service at night and on holidays has therefore been rising in recent years. 一方で、親の働き方が多様化したことに加え、ひとり親家庭も増えている。夜間や休日も対応してくれるベビーシッターの需要は近年、高まっている。
Ensuring the quality of babysitters is a big challenge. シッターの質の確保が、大きな課題である。
The All Japan Childcare Services Association, comprising 100 member companies, has set its own qualification system for babysitters. More voluntary efforts are urged on the part of the babysitting industry as a whole. 事業者１００社が加盟する「全国保育サービス協会」では、独自の資格制度を設けている。業界の自主的な取り組みをさらに強化してもらいたい。
Under a new system for supporting child-rearing that will begin in fiscal 2015, some babysitting businesses will be licensed by the governments of cities, towns and villages. Subsidies will be provided to babysitters if they receive designated seminar programs. ２０１５年度に始まる政府の子育て支援の新制度では、シッター業務の一部を市町村の認可制とする。所定の研修を受ければ、シッター側に補助金を支給する。
The subsidies thus granted will lessen the financial burden on those using babysitting services. This is expected to lead to eliminating dishonest operators who advertise their low-price services. The quality of babysitters must be enhanced as a whole by expanding such a support system. 補助金の分、利用者負担が軽減され、安さを売り物にした悪質業者の排除につながると期待される。こうした仕組みを拡充し、全体の質を高めたい。
Users are responsible for deciding which babysitters they will choose. In the aftermath of the fatal incident, the welfare ministry has presented a list of matters to be attended to when using babysitters. These include having an interview beforehand to confirm whether babysitters can be trusted. It is crucial to pay attention to such matters. どのシッターを選ぶかは、利用者側の責任だ。厚労省は事件を受け、シッター利用時の注意事項を示した。事前に面接し、信頼できる人物かどうか確かめる。こうした点に留意する必要がある。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 21, 2014) （2014年3月21日01時25分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 17, 2014 Use of unauthorized textbook at schools in Taketomi should not be overlooked 竹富町の教科書 学校の違法状態は看過できぬ（3月17日付・読売社説）
It is extremely problematic that the law has been ignored for nearly two years at schools, and this situation must be corrected as soon as possible. 教育現場で法律を無視した状況が２年近くも続いているのは、極めて問題だ。一刻も早く是正されなければならない。
Education minister Hakubun Shimomura has finally issued the so-called demand for corrective action, urging the town board of education in Taketomi, Okinawa Prefecture, to stop using a textbook it has unilaterally adopted in defiance of rules regarding the selection of textbooks to be used in schools. 下村文部科学相が、教科書採択のルールを守らず、独自採択した教科書を使っている沖縄県の竹富町教育委員会に対し、是正要求に踏み切った。
It was the first time that the demand based on the Local Government Law has been issued to a municipal government. The Taketomi Board of Education should not take it lightly. 地方自治法に基づく措置で、国が直接、市町村に発動するのは初めてだ。竹富町教委は深刻に受け止めてもらいたい。
In the summer of 2011, the Yaeyama district, including the city of Ishigaki and the towns of Taketomi and Yonaguni, selected a civics textbook published by Ikuhosha Publishing Inc. for use in middle schools. The problem started when the Taketomi Board of Education alone decided to adopt a textbook published by Tokyo Shoseki Co. 石垣市、竹富町、与那国町から成る八重山地区は２０１１年夏、中学校の公民教科書に育鵬社の教科書を選んだ。ところが、竹富町教委だけが東京書籍の教科書を採択した。それが問題の発端だ。
The law on supplying free textbooks at public primary and middle schools requires a wide-area educational district consisting of more than one municipality to adopt the same textbooks, on the grounds that it makes it easier for teachers to conduct joint studies on educational materials. The unilateral action by the Taketomi board constitutes a clear violation of the law. 教科書無償措置法は、複数の市町村で構成される広域地区では、教師が教材の共同研究をしやすいといった理由から、同一の教科書の採択を義務づけている。竹富町の独自採択が、無償措置法に違反するのは明白である。
Since April 2012, the Taketomi Board of Education has distributed to students copies of the Tokyo Shoseki textbook paid for by donations from town residents. The then administration of the Democratic Party of Japan showed a lenient attitude toward such textbook purchases. It is undeniable that the misstep by the DPJ administration has served to fuel disarray. 竹富町教委は町民らの寄付で東京書籍の教科書を購入し、一昨年４月以降、生徒に配布してきた。当時の民主党政権が、自前での教科書購入を容認する姿勢を示したためだ。民主党政権の誤った対応が、混乱に拍車をかけた。
Prevent recurrence
Since a change of government in December 2012, the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has repeatedly urged the Taketomi board to adopt the Ikuhosha textbook in accordance with the law on the provision of free textbooks—which, we believe, is a matter of course for a nation under the rule of law. If the Taketomi board continues to defy correction demands, the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry should consider filing a lawsuit to confirm the illegality of the board’s action. 政権交代後、安倍政権が竹富町教委に対し、再三、無償措置法に則(のっと)った教科書の採択を求めたのは、法治国家として当然だ。今後、是正要求にも従わないようなら、文科省は違法確認訴訟を起こすことも検討すべきだろう。
The Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education’s responses to the problem cannot escape criticism. これまでの沖縄県教委の対応も、非難を免れない。
Last October, Shimomura instructed the prefectural board to demand the Taketomi board rectify the situation. The prefectural board did not comply, saying the Taketomi action has not caused any major problems, among other reasons given. 下村文科相は昨年１０月、まず沖縄県教委に、竹富町教委への是正要求を指示したが、県教委は「大きな問題は生じていない」などとして、これに応じなかった。
To prevent a recurrence of such a development, the government has submitted a bill to revise the law on the provision of free textbooks to the current Diet session. The key point written in the bill would require any educational district comprising more than one municipality to establish a council to select textbooks at public primary and middle schools, and that educational boards adopt textbooks in accordance with the council’s decision. 今回のような事態の再発を防ぐため、政府は無償措置法改正案を今国会に提出した。広域地区では教科書を選定する協議会を必ず設け、教委の教科書採択はその協議結果に基づくよう、法案に明記したのがポイントだ。
It is significant to give more clarity to the procedure of adopting textbooks. 採択の手続きをより明確化することは意味がある。
The revised bill also includes a stipulation that would require boards of education to make efforts to publicize reasons for adopting certain textbooks. 改正案には、教科書採択の理由の公表を、教委の努力義務とする規定も盛り込まれている。
For example, a good amount of description given to territorial issues was one of the reasons that the Yaeyama district— located close to the Senkaku Islands—selected the Ikuhosha textbook. Heightened tension between Japan and China is the reason for its adoption. 例えば、尖閣諸島に近い八重山地区が育鵬社版を選択した理由の一つは、領土に関する記述の充実だった。日本と中国との緊張が高まっているからだ。
It is of utmost importance for each board of education to win the acceptance of local residents and students’ parents or guardians by fully explaining the reasons for adopting certain textbooks. 採択の根拠を、各教委が丁寧に説明し、地域住民や保護者の理解を得ていくことが肝要である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 17, 2014) （2014年3月17日01時59分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 18, 2014 Megumi’s absence casts shadow over parents’ meeting with granddaughter 横田夫妻と孫娘 対面にめぐみさん不在の重み（3月18日付・読売社説）
“Something like a dream come true.” “She [our granddaughter] looks like Megumi when she was young.” 「夢のようなことが実現した」「若い時のめぐみによく似ている」
The words of Shigeru Yokota and his wife Sakie show that being able to meet their granddaughter was a pleasure greater than they had dreamed of. 孫娘とようやく出会えたことは、やはり望外の喜びだっただろう。
The Yokotas met Kim Eun Gyong, the daughter of their daughter Megumi—one of the many Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea—for the first time in Ulan Bator from March 10 to 14. The pair said they also met their 10-month-old great-granddaughter. 北朝鮮による拉致被害者・横田めぐみさんの両親の横田滋さん、早紀江さん夫妻が、めぐみさんの娘、キム・ウンギョンさんとモンゴルのウランバートルで、初めて対面した。生後１０か月のひ孫にも会えたという。
The Yokotas had expressed a desire to meet their granddaughter since her existence became known in 2002. But they had refrained from doing so for fear that if they visited North Korea to meet her, Pyongyang would use the visit as an excuse to say the abduction issue had been put to rest. 夫妻は、孫娘の存在が判明した２００２年から、会いたいとの意向を示していた。だが、訪朝すれば、拉致問題の幕引きに利用されかねないと見送ってきた。
With Shigeru at 81 and Sakie at 78, the government considered the advanced ages of the Yokotas an important humanitarian concern and did all it could do to make the meeting possible through negotiations with North Korea. 夫妻が高齢であることなど、「人道的な見地」を重視して、政府が北朝鮮と交渉し、面会実現に尽力したことは評価したい。
Senior Foreign Ministry officials reportedly began a series of secret meetings with their North Korean counterparts in Hanoi and Hong Kong in late January to make arrangements to allow the meeting to happen in a third country. The realization of this meeting could be the first step in resolving the abduction issue, on which Prime Minister Shinzo Abe places great priority. 外務省の幹部は今年１月下旬以降、ベトナム・ハノイや香港で北朝鮮の当局者と極秘に接触し、第三国での対面の実現に向けて調整したという。拉致問題の解決を前面に掲げる安倍首相にとって、具体的な一歩だと言える。
The fact remains, however, that Megumi was not present when the Yokotas met their granddaughter, and no information about her safety has been ascertained. Her absence must be taken seriously. ただ、その場にめぐみさんの姿はなく、安否に関する情報は得られなかった。その重みもまた、かみしめなければならない。
North Korea insists that Megumi died, and provided Japan with what it claimed to be her remains, but the remains provided were later shown not to be hers. After that discovery, Pyongyang pledged to restart investigations of the abductions of Japanese nationals, but has postponed delivering on that promise. The country has shown an extremely disingenuous attitude. 北朝鮮は、めぐみさんが「死亡した」と主張し、日本に遺骨を提供したが、別人のものだった。その後も、拉致問題の再調査を約束しながら、一方的にこれを見送った。極めて不誠実な態度だ。
What’s behind concession?
The intentions of North Korea in accepting the meeting between the Yokotas and Eun Gyong in a third-party country should be examined carefully. 第三国でのウンギョンさんとの対面を受け入れた北朝鮮側の意図を十分見極めたい。
The North Korean administration of Kim Jong Un purged Choe Thae Bok, who had served as a link with China, in December, and in doing so threw cold water onto bilateral relations between the two, further exacerbating the country’s economic plight. Pyongyang is expected to use the abduction issue as a bargaining chip to call for Tokyo to ease its economic sanctions, hoping to ward off the people’s discontent. 昨年１２月、金正恩政権は中国とのパイプ役だった張成沢氏を粛清し、中国との関係が冷え込んだ。経済は一層困窮している。国民の不満をかわそうと拉致問題で駆け引きし、見返りに日本に経済制裁の緩和を求めてくるだろう。
Behind North Korea’s conciliatory move is a quickly tightening international noose around North Korea over the abduction issue. 背景には、拉致問題を巡る北朝鮮包囲網の強まりもある。
A U.N. investigation panel on human rights abuses has compiled a report accusing North Korea of infringing on human rights under its state leaders. Pyongyang evidently wants to calm international criticism of the country by improving relations with Tokyo. 国連の調査委員会が、北朝鮮は国家ぐるみで拉致など人権侵害を行っていると糾弾した報告書をまとめた。北朝鮮は、対日関係の改善を図ることで、国際的な批判を和らげたいのではないか。
Japan must tackle the abduction issue seriously. At the same time, it needs to seek a comprehensive solution to North Korea’s nuclear and missile development programs, which threaten the international community. Japan must firmly maintain its stance of holding dialogue with and applying pressure on North Korea. 日本は、拉致問題に真剣に取り組まねばならない。同時に、国際社会を脅かす核・ミサイル問題の包括的な解決も求めていく必要がある。北朝鮮への「対話と圧力」を堅持していくべきだ。
Japan and North Korea will hold an unofficial meeting of foreign ministerial division directors in Shenyang, China, on Wednesday and Thursday. It is essential for Japan to seek to build on the unofficial meeting to schedule official meetings and sound out North Korea’s response. 日朝両政府は１９、２０の両日に中国・瀋陽で外務省課長級による非公式協議を行う。これを正式な協議に格上げするとともに、北朝鮮の出方を探ることが肝要だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 18, 2014) （2014年3月18日01時59分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 15, 2014 Sendai reactor checks must be 1st step in ending nuclear power suspension 「川内」優先審査 原発を再活用する第一歩に（3月15日付・読売社説）
The Nuclear Regulation Authority has selected the Nos. 1 and 2 reactors at Kyushu Electric Power Co.’s Sendai nuclear power plant in Kagoshima Prefecture as priority targets for confirming their safety, a prerequisite for resuming operations. 原子力規制委員会が、再稼働に向けて優先的に安全性を確認する原子力発電所として、九州電力川内原発１、２号機（鹿児島県）を選んだ。
This must be made a step toward ending the long-running suspension of nuclear power generation. 原発の長期停止を脱する一歩としなければならない。
Currently, the NRA is screening the safety of 17 reactors at 10 nuclear plants. The Sendai plant is the first candidate likely to pass the screening, with legal procedures expected to be completed as early as this summer for resuming operations. 規制委は、１０原発１７基の安全審査を進めている。川内原発は、その中で初の「合格」候補となった。今夏にも再稼働に向けた法的手続きが終わる見通しだ。
With all the nation’s 48 nuclear power reactors suspended in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake, fuel costs for alternative thermal power generation have jumped, resulting in higher electricity charges. Some utilities are considering additional increases in charges. 東日本大震災の影響で、国内の全４８基の原発が停止する中、代替の火力発電用燃料費が増加し、電気料金が上がった。再値上げを検討中の電力会社もある。
The seriousness of this situation, which is affecting industry and people’s livelihoods, should never be underestimated. 産業や国民生活への影響が深刻であることを軽視すべきではない。
In July, the NRA compiled a new set of standards for regulating nuclear power plants that takes into consideration what happened during the outbreak of the nuclear crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima No. 1 power plant. The NRA originally estimated that safety screenings based on the standards would be “completed in a half-year or so.” 規制委は昨年７月、東京電力福島第一原発事故を踏まえた原発の新規制基準を策定した。それによる安全審査は、「半年程度で終わる」との見通しを示していた。
But the NRA and utilities had been at odds for a while over the kinds of data necessary for the screenings and interpretations of the new standards, dimming prospects for completing the screenings any time soon. しかし、規制委と電力会社の間で、必要なデータの種類や、データの解釈などを巡って見解が食い違い、審査終了の見通しが立たない状況が続いていた。
New framework built To break the impasse, the NRA last month came up with a framework to set priorities in screening, a move that merits praise. 規制委が先月、優先審査の仕組みを打ち出したのは、現状打開の観点から評価できる。
Under the framework, the NRA would deploy screening experts to plants on a priority basis and expedite compilation of a screening document equivalent to a pass certificate, if the scale of earthquakes and other scenarios studied by the utility are deemed appropriate. It may compile a draft of screening results as early as next month. 想定すべき地震の規模などで電力会社の検討内容が適切と判断した原発については、優先的に審査官を配置し、「合格証」に相当する審査書作りを急ぐ。早ければ来月にも審査書案をまとめる。
It is hoped that the NRA and Kyushu Electric will effectively proceed with screening work. 規制委と九電は、効率的に審査を進めてもらいたい。
What is worrying is that the NRA is planning to solicit public opinion and hold public hearings when the draft is compiled. 懸念されるのは、規制委が、審査書案の段階で意
A considerable number of officials will be needed to deal with the vast number of opinions expressed, which could lead to insufficient staff for the screening work at the Sendai plant. It will inevitably have adverse implications on how screening of other reactors will proceed. 膨大な意見への対応に相応の人員を割くことになり、肝心の川内原発の審査が手薄にならないか。川内原発以外の原発の審査にも、しわ寄せが出るだろう。
Asking for outside opinion on any draft that the NRA itself compiles from a scientific perspective will harm the NRA’s credibility. そもそも、自らが科学的観点からまとめた審査書案に、改めて外部の意見を求めるのは、規制委の信頼を損なうものだ。
The NRA’s stance has invited criticism among many members of the Liberal Democratic Party. “It’s akin to a judge soliciting opinions on a draft document giving his or her ruling” and “It’s trying to skirt responsibility for making a decision” are some of the skeptical comments made by members of the LDP project team discussing nuclear regulation issues. 規制委の姿勢に対しては、自民党内にも批判が多い。党原子力規制プロジェクトチームからは、「裁判官が判決文の案に意見を募集するようなもの」「判断の
The NRA should cancel its plans to solicit public opinion and hold public hearings. 規制委は、意見公募、公聴会の実施を取りやめるべきだ。
Many residents near the Sendai plant want to see it reactivated. Municipalities in the vicinity of the plant are making progress in compiling evacuation plans. The government and Kyushu Electric should make their utmost efforts to persuade local residents to accept how important restarting the plant is. 川内原発の地元では再稼働を期待する声が多い。周辺自治体では避難計画の策定も進んでいる。政府は、九電とともに再稼働の重要性について、丁寧に理解を得ていかねばならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 15, 2014) （2014年3月15日01時33分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 15, 2014 Urawa Reds bear heavy responsibility for inaction against supporters’ folly 浦和レッズ処分 愚行を放置した責任は重い（3月15日付・読売社説）
Many soccer fans have been troubled by the problematic act of a handful of Urawa Reds’ supporters and the club’s clumsy handling of the case. The team has also lost the public’s confidence. The incident could be regarded as an alarm for the sports world as a whole. 一部のサポーターの問題行動と、チーム側の拙い対応のために、多くのファンが迷惑を被る。チームの信頼も失墜する。スポーツ界全体への警鐘と言えるだろう。
The J.League has administered an unprecedentedly heavy punishment in ordering the club to play a home game without any spectators in the stands. Ｊリーグは、浦和レッズに対し、無観客試合の実施という過去に例のない重い処分を下した。
The club faces such a heavy penalty due to their fans displaying a banner, which could be perceived as racist, and for leaving the banner up until the end of a recent game despite the club confirming the banner’s existence. The incident left a huge blemish on the J.League’s history, which began in 1993. 浦和のサポーターが、人種差別とも受け取れる垂れ幕を試合の際に掲げ、クラブ側はそれを確認しながら、試合終了まで撤去しなかった、という理由からだ。１９９３年にスタートしたＪリーグの歴史における大きな汚点である。
The banner in question bore the words “JAPANESE ONLY” in English, which could be taken as a message to deny entry to foreign nationals into the area for supporters. 問題の垂れ幕には「ＪＡＰＡＮＥＳＥ ＯＮＬＹ」と書かれていた。「日本人以外、お断り」との意味にとれる。
The banner was hung in front of an entrance to the Urawa supporters’ section behind a goal post, which is located inside the concourse of Saitama Stadium, during a home match with Sagan Tosu on March 8. 埼玉スタジアムで８日に行われた浦和―鳥栖戦で、浦和サポーターが陣取るゴール裏観客席の入場口に、グラウンドとは反対向きに掲示された。
The three Reds’ supporters who made the banner were quoted as saying during an investigation by the club: “The area behind the goal post is our domain. We don’t want to see other people, especially foreigners, entering that area.” 垂れ幕を作った３人は、クラブの調査に対し、「ゴール裏は自分たちのエリア。他の人たち、特に外国人が入ってくるのは困る」などと説明したという。
Petty motive
Do such fans believe they, as fanatic supporters, have the right to select spectators? Many soccer fans might have felt extreme displeasure over the incident as they sensed the perpetrators’ narrow-minded motive to eliminate foreigners. 熱狂的ファンである自分たちには、入場者を選別する権利があるとでも思っているのだろうか。よそ者を排除しようという狭量な意図を感じ、不快感を覚えたファンは多かっただろう。
It took more than one hour for the club to remove the banner after confirmation of its existence, showing its poor handling of the incident. The J.League slapped the heavy penalty on the club because it took the fact the banner was left up for such a long time especially seriously. 垂れ幕の撤去までに１時間以上を要したクラブ側の対応は、お粗末だった。Ｊリーグが重い処分に踏み切ったのは、クラブの落ち度を重くみたためだ。
J.League Chairman Mitsuru Murai denounced the club, saying, “The club’s failure to remove the racist banner immediately is tantamount to the club having a hand in this racist act.” His criticism was reasonable. 村井満チェアマンが「差別的な掲示を放置したのは、差別的な行為に加担したのと同じ」と批判したのは、もっともである。
It is hard to understand the club’s custom that a supporters’ permission is needed to remove banners they put up. This manifests the club’s stance of conceding anything to avoid trouble. 垂れ幕の撤去にはサポーターとの合意が必要だとするクラブの慣習も、理解に苦しむ。サポーターといざこざを起こしたくない事なかれ主義の表れだ。
In a May 2010 game with Vegalta Sendai, Urawa supporters made racist calls toward opponent players. The club was ordered to pay a fine for that. 浦和のサポーターは、２０１０年５月の仙台戦でも、人種差別的な言葉を仙台の選手に浴びせ、クラブは制裁金の処分を受けた。
Urawa will not be able to earn about ¥100 million in admission fees because it was ordered to host a home match on March 23 without any spectators. This could be the price the club must pay for the failure to take measures to prevent a recurrence of racist incidents. 無観客試合により、入場料収入だけで１億円近い減収となるのは、クラブが再発防止策を怠った代償と言える。
Racist words and deeds by supporters, such as slander toward African soccer players, have been emerging as a big issue in soccer worldwide. If such an incident as that committed by the Urawa supporters happened during an international match, it could adversely affect the relationship between the two countries concerned. 世界のサッカー界では、アフリカ選手に対する中傷など、サポーターの差別的な言動が大きな問題となっている。国際試合で今回のような行為があれば、国家間の関係にも悪影響を及ぼそう。
In cooperation with the international soccer governing organization, FIFA, preventive measures must be urgently worked out at home by all involved in the sport. 国際サッカー連盟（ＦＩＦＡ）と連携し、日本のサッカー界挙げての防止策が急務である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 15, 2014) （2014年3月15日01時33分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 14, 2014 Referendum on Crimea joining Russia would only deepen turmoil クリミア危機 住民投票は新たな混乱を呼ぶ（3月14日付・読売社説）
The Autonomous Republic of Crimea in the southern part of Ukraine, having effectively come under the military control of Russia, is poised to proceed with plans to merge with the Russian Federation through a referendum in the Crimean Peninsula. 実質的にロシアの軍事支配下にあるウクライナ南部クリミア自治共和国が、住民投票によってロシアへの編入を進めようとしている。
If carried out, the referendum would almost certainly create a critical showdown between Russia, the United States and European countries over the Ukrainian crisis. Moscow should rethink its actions regarding Ukraine. 実施されれば、ロシアと米国・欧州との対立は決定的だ。ロシアは、ウクライナへの対処方針を見直すべきである。
The Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol—a city on the Baltic Sea coast that has a special status in Ukraine—is scheduled to hold a referendum on Sunday on whether to break from Ukraine and join Russia. Given that a large majority of the residents are Russian speakers, the planned merger with Russia is expected to be approved if the local plebiscite takes place. クリミア自治共和国とセバストポリ特別市は、編入の是非を問う住民投票を１６日に行う予定だ。住民の多数はロシア系のため、承認されるのは確実と見られる。
The parliament of the autono-mous republic has already adopted a “declaration of independence” in the run-up to its incorporation into Russia. Moscow has thrown its support behind the declaration. 自治共和国議会は既に、編入の前提となる「独立宣言」を採択しロシア政府は宣言を支持した。
In response, leaders of the Group of Seven major economies declared in a joint statement Wednesday their decision not to recognize the outcome of the referendum, which the G-7 believes would be in violation of Ukraine’s constitution. これに対して、日米欧などの主要７か国（Ｇ７）首脳は、共同声明で、住民投票はウクライナ憲法違反であり、投票結果を認めないとの方針を示した。
The constitution of Ukraine stipulates that alterations to Ukraine’s borders require national referendums. It is therefore obvious that any unilateral decision by the autonomous republic on the border issue would be null and void. The argument on the part of the G-7 is absolutely reasonable. ウクライナ憲法は、領土変更には国民投票による承認が必要だと定めている。自治共和国だけの決定が無効なのは明らかだ。Ｇ７の主張は当然である。
It is also reasonable that the joint statement points out that the annexation of Crimea by Russia violates international law, including the U.N. Charter, which forbids threatening another country’s territorial integrity through military force. 声明が、クリミアのロシアへの編入を、他国領土の一体性を武力で脅かすことを禁じている国連憲章などの国際法に違反するとしたのも、もっともだ。
This statement came about because the current problems facing Ukraine come against the background of Russia’s hard-line posture in which it thinks nothing of exercising military force for the sake of severing the Crimean Peninsula from the rest of Ukraine. 今回の問題の背景に、クリミアをウクライナから切り離すためには軍事力行使をためらわないロシアの強硬姿勢があるからだ。
Battle of sanctions looming
Moscow has indicated the possibility of military intervention in the eastern region of Ukraine in the name of “protecting Russian-speaking residents” there. Since residents of the Crimean Peninsula, including those who speak Russian, are members of the nation of Ukraine, Moscow’s argument must be seen as nothing more than a pretext for sending troops to the autonomous republic. ロシアは、「ロシア系住民の保護」を名目に、ウクライナ東部での軍事介入の可能性も示唆している。ロシア系といえどもウクライナ国民であり、派兵のための口実と取られても仕方ないだろう。
The G-7 has proposed prodding Russia to accept three measures: the withdrawal of Russian troops from Crimea, allowing international observers into Ukraine and direct consultations with the provisional Ukrainian government. Moscow should promptly agree to the proposal. Ｇ７は、ロシアに対して、軍部隊の撤収と、ウクライナへの国際監視団の受け入れ、ウクライナ暫定政府との直接協議の３点に応じるよう提案している。ロシアは速やかに受け入れるべきだ。
If the referendum is carried out as planned, which could lead to Crimea’s merger with Russia, it would be inevitable for the United States and Europe to impose sanctions on Russia, such as visa bans and asset freezes on influential Russian individuals responsible for Moscow’s intervention in Ukraine. このまま住民投票が実施され、編入へと発展すれば、米欧がロシアに対し、要人の渡航禁止や資産凍結などの制裁措置を実際に発動するのは避けられまい。
U.S. President Barack Obama has firmly warned that the international community will be “forced to apply a cost to Russia’s violation of international law and encroachment on Ukraine,” if Moscow continues on its current aggressive path. オバマ米大統領は、ロシアが態度を変えない限り、「国際法違反とウクライナ侵犯の代償を払わせる」と強く警告している。
For its part, Moscow has hinted at taking countermeasures against sanctions, giving rise to anxieties about a battle of punitive actions. That would certainly adversely affect the global economy. ロシアも対抗措置を取るとしており、制裁合戦になることが懸念される。世界経済にも悪い影響が及ぶのは必至だ。
With the aim of breaking the impasse, foreign ministerial talks are scheduled for Friday between Russia and the United States. The Japanese government has sent Shotaro Yachi, head of the secretariat for the government’s National Security Council, to Moscow. 事態打開を目指す米露外相会談が１４日に予定される。日本政府は谷内正太郎国家安全保障局長をロシアに派遣した。
Japan must do its best to pursue ways of resolving the crisis by continuing to make diplomatic endeavors along with the United States and European countries. 日本は、米欧と共に外交努力を続け、解決策を模索することが肝要である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 14, 2014) （2014年3月14日01時23分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 13, 2014 New weapons export rules needed to clarify national security stance 武器輸出新原則 安全保障の観点を重視したい（3月13日付・読売社説）
In streamlining arms export rules, it is important to give serious consideration to how to respond to the new security environment surrounding Japan, taking into account changes in the times. 時代の変化を踏まえ、新たな日本の安全保障環境への対応を重視することが肝要である。
The government has presented to the ruling parties a draft on “three principles on transferring defense equipment” to replace the current three principles on arms exports. After gaining the consent of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, the government aims to obtain Cabinet approval this month. 政府が、武器輸出３原則に代わる「防衛装備移転３原則」の原案を与党に示した。与党の了承を経て、月内の閣議決定を目指している。
The contents of the current three principles became very complicated because the government has so far authorized as many as 21 exceptions by way of statements by chief cabinet secretaries and other measures after a de facto total ban on arms exports was adopted in 1976 by the cabinet of then Prime Minister Takeo Miki. It is appropriate to reorganize all the rules into easier-to-understand principles. 武器輸出３原則は、１９７６年の三木内閣による実質的な全面禁輸後、官房長官談話などで計２１件もの例外を認め、複雑な内容となった。全体を整理し、分かりやすい新原則にすることは妥当だ。
The government said it would change the name of the principles to “three principles on transferring defense equipment” to more accurately reflect reality. For instance, heavy machinery used in international cooperation activities by the Self-Defense Forces, and other things which may not appear to be a type of weapon, is subject to the arms export rules. ３原則の名称を「防衛装備移転」に改めるのは、国際協力活動で使う重機など、武器には見えないものも対象とする実態を、より正確に反映するためだという。
According to the draft, the government will continue to ban exports to countries engaged in conflict, as it will not allow exports to such countries if they may hinder international peace and security. On the other hand, it will allow exports after a strict screening process if the exports contribute to peace, international cooperation and Japan’s national security. 原案は、国際的な平和と安全を妨げる場合は輸出しないとして、紛争当事国への禁輸を継続した。一方で、平和貢献・国際協力や日本の安全保障に資する場合は、厳格な審査を経て輸出を認める。
It also contains a policy that in very important cases, final decisions on exports will be made by the National Security Council, not the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, which basically oversees the rules. 重要案件は、主管の経済産業省でなく、国家安全保障会議（日本版ＮＳＣ）が輸出の可否を最終判断する方針も示している。
It is quite significant that the draft clarifies the stance on national security in arms exports. 武器輸出における安全保障の観点を明確化した意義は大きい。
Arms exports, as well as their joint development and production, are not just trade. As a form of defense cooperation, they are extremely meaningful in the relations between the countries involved. そもそも武器の輸出や共同開発・生産は、単なる貿易にとどまらず、防衛協力として、国家間の関係に極めて重要な意味を持つ。
Important diplomatic tool
Japan has been promoting Japan-U.S. joint development and production of a ballistic missile defense system and the next-generation main fighter F-35 with the goal of strengthening the two nations’ alliance through sharing of state-of-the-art defense technologies. 日本が弾道ミサイル防衛システムや次期主力戦闘機Ｆ３５の日米共同開発・生産を進めたのは、最新鋭の軍事技術の共有により、同盟関係を強化する狙いがあった。
Expansion of defense equipment cooperation with the United States, European countries and Australia, for instance, will ensure the peace and security of Japan itself. It would also follow the policy of “proactive contribution to peace” advocated by the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. On some occasions, it may serve as an important diplomatic trump card. 米国や、欧州各国、豪州などと装備面の協力を拡大することは、日本自身の平和と安全の確保につながり、安倍政権の「積極的平和主義」とも合致する。時には、有力な外交カードともなろう。
For instance, there would be mutual advantages for Japan and the countries that become export destinations in such cases as Japan exporting anti-tank helicopter parts whose production has been discontinued in the United States or providing weapons to coastal countries along Japan’s sea lanes. 例えば、米国で生産中止となった対戦車ヘリコプター部品の輸出や、日本の海上交通路の沿岸国への武器提供は、日本と輸出先の双方にメリットがある。
In light of the need to maintain domestic defense production and technology bases amid concerns over their decline due to continued defense budget cuts in recent years, excessive controls on arms exports should be relaxed. 近年続いた防衛費削減で衰退が懸念される国内防衛生産・技術基盤を維持する必要性も踏まえ、過剰な規制は緩和すべきだ。
In the draft, international organizations such as the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons were added as export destinations. The new addition will enable Japan to respond swiftly in such cases as the one in December last year in which rifle ammunition was supplied to South Korean forces in South Sudan through the United Nations. 原案は、輸出先として、国連や化学兵器禁止機関（ＯＰＣＷ）など国際機関を追加した。昨年１２月の南スーダンにおける国連経由の韓国軍への弾薬提供のケースなどで、円滑な対応が可能になる。
In cases of weapons transfers to third countries from export destinations, the draft obliges the countries that originally imported the equipment to obtain prior consent from Japan in principle. Naturally, strict export controls will be a requirement in determining such rules. However, they should be made practical to have a flexible framework that simplifies the process of issuing permission for a very small portion of weapons parts. 輸出先からの第三国移転には、基本的に日本の事前同意を義務づけた。厳格な輸出管理を求めるのは当然だが、武器のごく一部の部品については、同意を簡略化する柔軟な仕組みが現実的だろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 13, 2014) （2014年3月13日01時22分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 13, 2014 Lessons from 2011 quake must be put to use for Japan and the world ３・１１の誓い 震災の記憶を防災に生かそう（3月12日付・読売社説）
Every possible effort must be made to prevent and mitigate damage from major natural disasters that may strike in the future. It is essential to learn from the many lessons of the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, to ensure that our nation is better prepared for natural calamities in the future. 様々な教訓を将来への備えに生かせるよう、防災・減災に全力で取り組まねばならない。
A government-sponsored ceremony in Tokyo paid tribute to the memory of those who died in the 2011 catastrophe on Tuesday. The event was attended by about 1,200 people, including the Emperor and Empress. Also present at the ceremony were the chiefs of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, along with representatives of the victims’ families and foreign ambassadors to this country. All prayed for the souls of the departed. 政府主催の東日本大震災追悼式が東京で開かれた。天皇、皇后両陛下をはじめ、安倍首相ら三権の長、遺族代表、各国駐日大使ら約１２００人が参列し、犠牲者の冥福を祈った。
Attendants included Mikiko Asanuma, who represented the families of the deceased in Iwate Prefecture. “The pain of those who fell victim [to the earthquake], and the great sorrow and suffering of their families must be conveyed to future generations,” she said in her memorial address at the ceremony. 岩手県遺族代表の浅沼ミキ子さんは、「亡くなった方々の無念さと、その数倍もの遺族の悲しみと悔しさを未来へと語り伝えていかねばなりません」と訴えた。
The prime minister reiterated his determination to see implemented a set of measures that his administration has pursued to render Japan disaster-ready and disaster-resistant. “I take to heart the valuable lessons learned from the ordeal, and I will promote efforts to build a country that can resist and withstand damage from disasters in order to steadfastly defend our people from future disasters,” Abe said before the assembled crowd. 首相は「試練から我々が得た貴重な教訓を胸に刻み、災害から国民を守り抜くため、災害に強い強靱(きょうじん)な国づくりを進める」と述べ、政権が掲げる国土強靱化政策の推進に改めて意欲を示した。
The hurdles are high and numerous. They include making seismic retrofits of existing buildings to make them more quake-resistant and revamping outdated infrastructure. There is also an urgent need to prepare in earnest for disasters that have been forecast, including a quake centered just below the surface of Tokyo or a quake in the Nankai Trough. Either one of these envisaged disasters could strike any day. 建物の耐震化や老朽化した社会資本（インフラ）の更新など、課題は山積している。いつ起きても不思議ではない首都直下地震と南海トラフ巨大地震の対策にも、本腰を入れる必要があろう。
But we must avoid the pointless allocation of massive budgets to nonessential public works projects. What is needed instead is an examination of whether the costs a given project will incur will be worth the benefits derived from it. ただし、不要不急の公共事業に巨額の予算を投入するようなことがあってはならない。費用対効果の十分な吟味が求められる。
In pursuing improved disaster-resistance, it is important not to limit ourselves to improving the quake resistance of buildings and infrastructure, but to incorporate human expertise, experience and other intangible resources related to disaster management. ハード面だけでなく、ソフト面のアプローチも大切だ。
Raising public awareness
According to a Cabinet Office survey conducted in late 2013, just over 60 percent of respondents said they had discussed how to cope with disasters with their families in the past one or two years. That figure is nearly double the number from a similar poll taken in 2002. 内閣府が昨年末に実施した防災に関する世論調査によると、この１～２年に家族らと災害時の対応を話し合った人は、６割強に上っている。２００２年の前回調査と比べると、２倍近くに増えた。
The 2011 disaster did much to raise the public’s awareness of disaster damage prevention. This improvement must be exploited to help make each local community better prepared for disaster management. 東日本大震災後に高まった防災意識を、地域社会の体制作りにつなげることが肝要である。
Learning the skills that can help mitigate disaster damage should start in childhood. We should teach how earthquakes and tsunami are generated and the ways they can strike people and buildings. We should teach people history of their communities, and build awareness of the sorts of of disaster likely to hit their community, and the areas most at risk. This will all require improvements to disaster-mitigation education and evacuation drills. 災害への対応力は、子どもの時から養いたい。地震や津波の仕組みを学び、地域の歴史を調べて、起きやすい災害や危険な場所を知る。それには、防災教育や避難訓練の充実が欠かせない。
People should always be encouraged to recognize the importance of helping one other within their communities in the event of a disaster. 近隣で助け合う「共助」に日頃から心掛けておくべきだろう。
At a House of Councillors Budget Committee session, the prime minister emphasized the importance of imparting this nation’s hard-won knowledge to the rest of the world to promote disaster damage management worldwide. He said in the Diet that doing so “is Japan’s obligation as a nation that received helping hands from so many other countries in the wake of the [2011] great earthquake.” 首相は参院予算委員会で、防災に役立つ知見を世界に発信することが「大震災で多くの国々から支援の手を差し伸べられた日本の責務だ」との認識も示している。
Our nation is extraordinarily prone to such natural calamities as earthquakes, typhoons and landslides due to heavy rainfalls. 日本は、地震や台風、土石流など自然災害が突出して多い。
For years, our nation has offered disaster-damage reduction technologies to less developed countries in the form of official development assistance. The invaluable lessons Japan has learned from the various disasters it has overcome should be put to use to improve diplomatic relations with other countries. これまでも政府開発援助（ＯＤＡ）で途上国に防災技術を供与してきたが、多様な災害から得た貴重な情報は外交にも生かすべきだ。
In March next year, the United Nations’ third World Conference on Disaster Reduction will be held in Sendai to discuss guidelines for disaster-damage management. 来年３月、仙台市で第３回国連防災世界会議が開かれ、防災政策の指針について話し合う。
Japan should not only lead discussions in the U.N. meeting. It should use the conference as an opportunity to show the rest of the world how far post-quake rehabilitation has come in areas hit by the 2011 catastrophe and demonstrate its efforts to make each community in this country strong and resilient against disaster damage. 日本にとっては、議論を主導するだけでなく、被災地の復興と災害に強い町づくりを国際社会にアピールする場としたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 12, 2014) （2014年3月12日01時32分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 11, 2014 Housing reconstruction remains an urgent task 3 years after disaster 復興加速へ 住まいの再建が喫緊の課題だ（3月11日付・読売社説）
◆支援の「格差」是正に目配りを
Today marks the third anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake. 東日本大震災から３年を迎えた。
In addition to 18,500 people who died or went missing in the earthquake and ensuing tsunami, disaster-related deaths have continued to rise. As many as 270,000 people are still living as evacuees, while 100,000 are living in prefabricated temporary housing. １万８５００人の死者・行方不明者に加え、震災関連死も増え続ける。今も２７万人が避難生活を余儀なくされ、プレハブ仮設住宅で暮らす人は１０万人に上る。
It must be stressed anew that all-Japan efforts are needed to assist the disaster victims. 国を挙げて被災者を支援していく。その思いを新たにしたい。
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a news conference Monday that reconstruction is still just “halfway” done. “I am determined to make the people feel reconstruction this year,” Abe said. He announced plans to move people to higher ground in 200 locations and build more than 10,000 housing units by next March. 安倍首相は１０日、復興の現状について「道半ば」との認識を示した。「復興を実感できる１年にする決意だ」とも語り、来年３月までに、２００か所の高台移転や１万戸以上の住宅建設を実現させると表明した。
It is essential to carry out policies steadily to accelerate reconstruction. 政策を着実に実行し、復興の加速につなげることが肝要だ。
Difficulty in land acquisition ◆宅地確保が進まない
To secure stable housing, local governments in the disaster-affected areas are taking such measures as promoting mass moves to higher ground and construction of recovery housing units. 安定した住まいの確保策として被災地の自治体が進めているのが、高台への集団移転や復興住宅建設などである。
The government has come up with a policy to spur housing reconstruction by establishing a system under which measures are discussed by bureau-chief level officials of the government ministries and agencies concerned under the leadership of Takumi Nemoto, state minister for reconstruction. This is praiseworthy, to a degree, as a reinforcement of the Reconstruction Agency’s role as a control tower. 政府は、根本復興相の指揮下で関係省庁の局長級が対応を協議する仕組みを作り、住宅再建の促進策を打ち出してきた。復興庁の司令塔機能強化の具体策として、一定の評価はできよう。
The fact remains, however, that housing lots and reconstruction housing units made available to the disaster survivors in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures as of early February amounted to the equivalent of 985 units, a mere 2.1 percent of the total planned number. Thus, the delay in housing reconstruction is serious. しかし、岩手、宮城、福島３県で、２月初めまでに被災者に引き渡された宅地や復興住宅は、総計画数の２・１％の９８５戸分に過ぎない。住宅再建の遅れは極めて深刻である。
One reason for that is the difficulty in acquiring land. It takes time to ascertain the rights related to plots of land because their owners are often unknown, posing a significant obstacle for land transactions. 原因の一つは、用地取得の難しさだ。所有者が不明で、権利関係の把握に時間のかかる土地が多いことが、障害になっている。
The Iwate prefectural government has asked the central government to allow starting construction without an owner’s permission in the case of land whose owners are not accounted for. The prefecture did so probably because it felt that only a limited effect can be obtained by implementing the government policies, such as shortening the screening period for land expropriation. 岩手県は、所有者不明の土地の場合、所有者の同意がなくても着工できる制度を設けるよう、政府に要望した。土地収用手続きの審査期間短縮といった政府の対策だけでは、限界があると実感しているのだろう。
Spikes in construction material prices and manpower shortages have further delayed housing projects. 建設資材の高騰や人手不足も、住宅整備の遅れに追い打ちをかけている。
Bidding on contracts to build reconstruction housing has failed time and again. 復興住宅建設などに絡む入札不調も相次いでいる。
The longer housing reconstruction is delayed, the more residents leave, thereby further accelerating the decline of disaster-stricken areas. The government must cope with the situation swiftly and flexibly by listening to the needs of local governments and residents. 住宅の整備が遅れるほど、住民が流出し、被災地は一層衰退してしまう。政府は、地元の要望に耳を傾け、迅速かつ柔軟に対応していくことが大切である。
Consensus needed fast ◆防潮堤合意を急ぎたい
Some communities were indeed protected from the quake-triggered tsunami by seawalls, so the central and local governments have been going ahead with seawall construction plans to prevent future tsunami deaths. 東日本大震災では、防潮堤に守られた集落があった。行政側は、住民を二度と津波の犠牲にしたくないとして、防潮堤の建設計画を進めている。
But residents in some areas are asking for a review of construction plans for seawalls in their communities. Some of the primary objections include the fear that a high seawall could lead to complacency, making people become too dependent on seawalls for safety and lowering their guard against tsunami, and the impact that a high seawall can make on natural scenery. 一方、住民の間には、計画の見直しを求める動きがある。防潮堤に頼り、かえって津波への警戒心が薄れる。高すぎて景観が損なわれる、といった理由からだ。
Abe said: “Residents’ feelings have become gradually settled [compared with immediately following the disaster]. With regards to the review [of the construction plans], the central government needs to consider the plans, while consulting with local governments.” 首相も、震災直後に比べて「住民の気持ちがだんだん落ち着いてきた。今後、見直しについて、国も自治体と相談しながら考えていく必要がある」と述べた。
In some districts, a compromise between residents and local governments has been reached over seawall plans by relocating the building site of a seawall to a higher, inland ground, allowing a decrease in the height of the seawall corresponding to the elevation. 防潮堤の場所を、標高の高い内陸側に移し、その分、高さを抑えることで折り合った地区もある。
Because the height of seawall construction is closely tied to the specifics of community reconstruction plans, including the location and extent of work to raise elevations in disaster-hit areas, local governments and residents should expedite their efforts to negotiate. 防潮堤の高さは、被災地のかさ上げの範囲など、地域の再興計画とも密接に関わるだけに、自治体と住民は協議を急ぐべきだ。
Compared with Iwate and Miyagi prefectures, post-disaster reconstruction in Fukushima Prefecture has been much delayed. In areas near Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima No.1 nuclear power station, there are districts where even the removal of debris has made almost no progress. 岩手、宮城両県に比べ、福島県は復興の遅れが目立つ。東京電力福島第一原発周辺では、がれきの処理さえ進まない地域がある。
The government’s new guidelines on the reconstruction of Fukushima Prefecture, made public in December, shift from the previous policy of “eventually having all those who were forced to live as evacuees return home” to include for the first time support measures for evacuees who have decided to live elsewhere than their hometown. 政府が昨年１２月に公表した福島復興の新指針は、これまでの「全員帰還」の方針を転換し、古里以外で住居を設けることにした避難者への支援策を初めて盛り込んだ。
In municipalities with districts that have unclear prospects for decontamination, and that have been deemed difficult for former residents to return to, a growing number of residents have chosen not to return to their original homes. The new guidelines do right by incorporating such ideas and facing up to reality. 除染の見通しが立たない帰還困難区域を抱える自治体などでは、元の家に戻らないと決めた住民も増えている。新指針は、そうした現実を直視した妥当な内容である。
Compensation from TEPCO has opened a separate and worrisome rift between residents who have received payment and those who have not. Residents are also divided over the amount of compensation they are receiving. 気がかりなのは、東電からの賠償金の有無や額を巡り、住民の間に溝が生まれていることだ。
In some cases, compensation amounts have differed among residents, even though their houses are located near the crippled power plant, with only small differences in distance. It is quite natural for residents to feel unconvinced. If sizable differences in the assistance distributed to residents exist, emotional conflicts could arise among them. 福島第一原発からのわずかな距離の違いで、受給額などに差が出るケースがある。住民が割り切れない思いを抱くのも無理はない。住民への支援に大きな格差が生じれば、感情的な対立までもが引き起こされる。
Long delays in Fukushima ◆遅れ目立つ福島の再生
Central and local governments must cooperate and hammer out measures that can relieve the sense of unfairness among them as much as possible. 政府と自治体が連携し、住民の不公平感を少しでも解消する方策を検討せねばならない。
In Fukushima Prefecture, incumbent mayors were defeated one after another in mayoral elections held last year in Koriyama, Iwaki and Fukushima cities. Their defeats are said to have stemmed from the voters’ demand for change, as residents seemed to be gripped by a feeling of helplessness over the poor progress made in reconstruction. 福島県では昨年、郡山、いわき、福島の３市長選などで現職が相次ぎ落選した。復興が進まないことによる閉塞感から、有権者が変化を求めた結果とみられている。
Residents were instructed to evacuate 11 cities, towns and villages. On April 1, evacuation instructions will be lifted for the first time for one district in the city of Tamura where the radiation level has declined thanks to the decontamination efforts. The lifting of evacuation instructions is a new step forward in post-disaster reconstruction. １１市町村に及ぶ避難指示区域のうち、除染の効果で放射線量が低減した田村市の対象地域で、来月１日、初めて避難指示が解除される。復興に向けた新たな一歩と言えるだろう。
If the people of Tamura are able to bring their daily lives back on track, it will give hope to others in the prefecture. 帰還者の生活が軌道に乗れば、福島の人々に希望を与えよう。
The reconstruction of Fukushima Prefecture is essential to move forward beyond the ravages of the quake and tsunami. 震災の惨禍を乗り越えるには、福島の復興が不可欠である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 11, 2014) （2014年3月11日01時05分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 10, 2014 Need for mental care for children in disaster areas facing crucial phase 被災地の教育 心のケアはこれから正念場だ（3月10日付・読売社説）
In areas devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, many children suffer anxiety disorders for such reasons as the deaths of relatives in the disaster and subsequent drastic changes to their living conditions. 東日本大震災の被災地では、肉親との死別や生活環境の変化などから、心に不安を抱える子供が少なくない。
It took three years after the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake for the number of primary and middle school students requiring psychological care in connection with the earthquake to peak, and so the need to provide children affected by the March 2011 calamity with such mental care is entering a critical phase. １９９５年の阪神大震災の３年後に、精神面の配慮が必要な小中学生の数がピークとなったことを考えると、これからが心のケアの正念場と言える。
According to a survey by a Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry study team, which released its findings earlier this month, about 30 percent of children in the three Tohoku prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima aged 3 to 5 at the time of the disaster exhibited symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, such as flashbacks of their horrific experiences. 今月発表された厚生労働省研究班の調査結果によると、岩手、宮城、福島の東北３県で３～５歳の時に震災を経験した子供の３割に、怖い体験がよみがえるといった心的外傷後ストレス障害（ＰＴＳＤ）の症状がみられた。
The more painful events a child has experienced, such as witnessing his or her home being swept away by tsunami and losing friends, the more likely the child is to show PTSD symptoms, according to an analysis of the findings. 津波で家屋が流されるのを目撃したり、友達を亡くしたりするなどのつらい体験を多く経た子供ほど、ＰＴＳＤの症状が出やすいと分析している。
Many children are under great stress because they suppress their sadness and other disaster-related feelings out of consideration for people around them. 周囲に気兼ねして、悲しみなどの感情を抑え込み、ストレスをためる子供も多いとされる。
It is extremely important for homeroom teachers as well as school nurses to be mindful of the well-being of the students by creating a classroom atmosphere in which they can confide their worries to teachers. If a child is suspected of developing psychological anomalies, it may be necessary for the problem to be diagnosed by a medical institution. 担任の教師や養護教諭が、日頃から子供たちの様子に目を配り、子供が悩みを打ち明けやすい雰囲気を作ることが大切だ。心の変調が疑われる場合には、医療機関に診断を求める必要もあろう。
The truancy that has become conspicuous at schools in the disaster areas is also worrisome. 被災地で、不登校が顕在化していることも問題だ。
Power of neighborhoods
According to a survey recently conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun in 42 cities, towns and villages in the coastal regions of the three disaster-struck prefectures and in the vicinity of Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, 2,414 students enrolled at publicly operated primary and middle schools refused to go to school during the school year that ended on March 31, 2013. That was an increase of 76 from the figure just before the disaster. 読売新聞が東北３県の沿岸部や東京電力福島第一原子力発電所周辺の４２市町村を調べたところ、２０１２年度に不登校となった公立小中学校の子供は２４１４人で、震災前より７６人増えた。
About half the municipalities surveyed cited the impact of the earthquake and the nuclear crisis at the TEPCO plant as reasons behind the rise in truancy. Some students reportedly were distressed about attending school after being repeatedly shunted from one place to another because of the nuclear crisis. 原因として、震災や原発事故の影響を挙げている市町村が約半数にのぼった。原発事故で避難を繰り返すうちに、学校に通う気力をなくした子もいるという。
The Yomiuri Shimbun survey’s findings are particularly disturbing, given that truancy has declined on a nationwide basis. 全国的に見ると、不登校の小中学生は減少傾向にあるだけに、気がかりな結果である。
Children’s parents and other guardians in the disaster areas are often on the verge of a nervous breakdown because of the instability of their livelihoods. 生活が安定しない被災地の保護者は、精神的な余裕をなくしがちだ。
Both the central and local governments should improve counseling arrangements through such steps as increasing school social workers, who would visit children’s homes and help improve living environments. 子供の家庭を訪問し、環境改善を図るスクールソーシャルワーカーの増員など相談体制の強化が、国や自治体に求められる。
As they have spent a long time living in temporary housing with little floor space, many children have difficulty finding sufficient time to study at home. 手狭な仮設住宅の暮らしが長期化する中、家庭学習の時間が確保しづらいという傾向もある。
In the town of Onagawa, Miyagi Prefecture, the nonprofit organization Katariba has been running Onagawa Kogakukan, an after-school tutoring course in cooperation with the local board of education. About 30 percent of the town’s primary and middle school students attend. 宮城県女川町では、ＮＰＯ法人「カタリバ」が教育委員会と協力して、放課後の学習塾「女川向学館」を運営している。町の小中学生の約３割が通ってくる。
Instructors at Onagawa Kogaku- kan, including a former lecturer at a preparatory school, inform the children’s guardians and their schoolteachers about what the children are learning there. This undertaking seems to be designed to help improve disaster-affected children’s scholastic abilities on the strength of the collective effort of local neighborhoods. 塾の中で子供たちがどのように学習しているかを、指導役の元塾講師らが学校の教師や保護者にも伝えている。地域ぐるみで学力向上を図る仕組みだ。
Cooperation between the government and public sectors should be encouraged to ensure a good learning environment for children. 官民の連携で、こうした試みを継続し、学習環境を整えたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 10, 2014) （2014年3月10日00時55分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 09, 2014 LDP should have in-depth talks on collective right to self-defense 集団的自衛権 行使容認へ与党の議論深めよ（3月9日付・読売社説）
As a first step toward reviewing the government’s current constitutional interpretation to enable the country to exercise its right to collective self-defense, it is crucial for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to accelerate intraparty discussions to develop a common perception and consensus among party members. 集団的自衛権の行使の容認を実現するため、まずは与党内で大いに議論し、共通理解と合意を形成することが大切だ。
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last week told LDP Secretary General Shigeru Ishiba and other senior officials to hold in-depth discussions with the party’s coalition partner, New Komeito, with an eye on seeking Cabinet approval to revise the constitutional interpretation on the right to collective self-defense. 安倍首相が自民党の石破幹事長らに対し、集団的自衛権に関する憲法解釈の変更の閣議決定に向けて自民、公明両党内の調整を本格化するよう指示した。
The LDP will hold an unofficial meeting of its General Council members later this month, in addition to a study session open to all party members. 自民党は月内に総務懇談会や、全議員対象の勉強会を開く。
The Advisory Panel on Reconstruction of the Legal Basis for Security is scheduled to release a report next month, after which the ruling camp is expected to start discussions on revising the constitutional interpretation on the right to collective self-defense. ４月に予定される政府の有識者会議の報告後には、解釈変更に関する与党協議が始まる見通しだ。
Abe and Ishiba are among LDP members who favor the revision, while others remain skeptical. Komeito takes an even more cautious stance. 首相や石破氏らは解釈変更に前向きだが、自民党の一部には消極論もある。公明党は、より慎重だ。
Yoshio Urushibara, chairman of Komeito’s Diet Affairs Committee, has criticized Abe, saying: “In expressing his views, the prime minister fails to consider a most important element—listening to the voices of the public. We can’t agree with him.” 漆原良夫国会対策委員長は「首相の考えは『国民の声を聴く』という一番大切な部分が欠落しており、賛成できない」と主張する。
Some Komeito members insist that Cabinet approval should be put off. However, it is unreasonable for the party to try to postpone a decision on this issue before talks have even started. 公明党には閣議決定の見送り論があるが、最初から結論の先送りを図るのはおかしい。
How can Japan maintain the nation’s peace and prosperity in the face of the deteriorating security environment? Komeito should take a positive stance in holding discussions on the right to collective self-defense. 日本の安全保障環境が悪化する中、いかに平和と繁栄を維持するか。この観点から前向きな議論をすべきだ。
It is not problematic for the government to review its current constitutional interpretation on the matter after taking steps in the right direction—which include ensuring consistency with past government views and seeking Cabinet approval. 政府が、過去の見解との論理的整合性を取り、閣議決定などの手続きをきちんと踏んで、解釈を見直すことに何ら問題はない。
Avoid misconceptions
However, it is important for the LDP to hold in-depth intraparty discussions to avoid misconceptions that the government planned to review its constitutional interpretation on the basis of decisions taken by a limited number of officials. These efforts will promote public understanding about why the current government constitutional interpretation should be reviewed and that the steps needed to carry out the process are justified. ただ、一部の独断で解釈を変更するかのような誤解を招かないためには、与党内での徹底した議論が欠かせない。それが、解釈変更の必要性や正当性への国民の理解を広げることにつながろう。
We hope Abe and Ishiba will exercise leadership in this respect. 首相や石破氏は、積極的に論議を主導してもらいたい。
Shinichi Kitaoka, acting chairman of the government-appointed expert panel, has set five conditions to allow Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense. For example, it should be exercised only when a nation with which Japan has close ties comes under attack and when the nation’s security would be seriously threatened if Japan did not do anything for a particular situation. 有識者会議の北岡伸一座長代理は、集団的自衛権の行使に必要な５条件を示している。「密接な関係にある国への攻撃」「放置すれば日本の安全に大きな影響が出る」
Two other conditions cited by Kitaoka were obtaining Diet approval first and receiving a request for Japan’s help when that country came under attack. 「当該国からの明確な要請」「国会承認」などだ。
We believe these conditions are reasonable. The most important condition is that Japan’s right to collective self-defense should be exercised when the nation’s security is seriously threatened if Japan did not do anything for a particular situation. 妥当な内容である。特に重要なのが「放置すれば日本の安全に大きな影響が出る」との条件だ。
Japan has been able to maintain its security since the end of the World War II mainly because of its alliance with the United States. Under the government’s current constitutional interpretation on its right to collective self-defense, however, Japan would not be able to help even if a U.S. warship came under attack in international waters. The Japan-U.S. alliance would collapse if Japan were confronted by such an event. 日本が戦後、自国の安全を確保できたのは日米同盟に負う部分が大きい。だが、米軍艦船が公海上で攻撃されても、現行の憲法解釈では、日本は「放置」するしかない。実際にそんな事態に直面すれば、同盟関係は崩壊しかねない。
Japan should not remain aloof if the United States or any other country comes under attack. Under a revised constitutional interpretation, even if Japan acted in such a situation, this action would not be deemed as exceeding the “minimum action necessary” to defend the nation, as permitted under the Constitution. 米国などが攻撃され、日本として「放置」できない事態は、起こり得る。その際の日本の反撃は、憲法の認める「必要最小限の実力行使」の範囲内にとどまる、という新解釈は十分成り立とう。
Needless to say, it is necessary to take steps to prevent the right to collective self-defense from being abused. It is time for the LDP to launch in-depth discussions on when the right to collective self-defense should be exercised and how to put a brake on it. 無論、集団的自衛権の際限のない拡大は防ぐ必要がある。どんな場合に行使を可能にし、どう歯止めをかけるのか。与党は、そうした具体論を始める時である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 9, 2014) （2014年3月9日01時22分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 08, 2014 Construct facilities to store N-waste to get decontamination work on track 中間貯蔵施設 「２町集約」で早期完成目指せ（3月8日付・読売社説）
Constructing interim facilities for the bulk storage of radioactive waste is key to quickly pushing forward with the reconstruction of Fukushima Prefecture. 福島の復興を加速させるカギとなるのが、放射性物質に汚染された廃棄物を一括保管する中間貯蔵施設の建設だ。
It is indispensable for the Environment Ministry to give thorough explanations to local residents about why such facilities are needed and what kinds of safety measures will be taken, and finish building the storage sites as soon as possible. 環境省は地元住民に必要性や安全対策を丁寧に説明し、早期完成を図る必要がある。
The facilities will store soil contaminated by the crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, and ash from burning contaminated items. They will accommodate enough waste to fill Tokyo Dome more than 20 times. The government has decided to procure ¥1.1 trillion in construction costs from part of revenues from the promotion of power-resource development tax. 中間貯蔵施設に搬入するのは、東京電力福島第一原子力発電所の事故により汚染された土や焼却灰だ。最大で東京ドーム２０杯分以上の廃棄物を保管する。政府は１・１兆円の建設費に電源開発促進税を充てることを決めている。
Contaminated soil removed during decontamination work and other waste is now being stored at temporary sites at municipalities across the prefecture. As there has been no progress in the plan to construct the facilities, contaminated waste is stuck at the temporary sites. In addition, such sites are in short supply. 除染作業で除去された汚染土などは現在、県内各地の仮置き場で保管されている。中間貯蔵施設の建設が前に進まないため、仮置き場から動かせない。仮置き場も不足している。
As the things stand now, the vicious cycle in which the shortage of storage sites is suspending decontamination work cannot be broken. このままでは、除染作業が滞る悪循環は解消しない。
Last December, Environment Minister Nobuteru Ishihara asked that the three towns of Futaba, Okuma and Naraha, which are located close to the crippled nuclear power plant, host the storage facilities. Under the proposal, the state would purchase a total of 19 square kilometers of land tracts for the facilities. 石原環境相は昨年１２月、福島第一原発に近い双葉、大熊、楢葉の３町に建設の受け入れを要請した。用地として、計１９平方キロを国有化する計画だった。
Fukushima Gov. Yuhei Sato consulted with the three towns and other parties concerned last month, and asked Ishihara to drop Naraha from the list and make Futaba and Okuma the only candidate sites for construction. これに対し、福島県の佐藤雄平知事が先月、３町などと調整した上で、楢葉町を建設候補地から除外し、双葉、大熊両町に集約するよう石原環境相に要請した。
Naraha’s airborne radioactive material readings have been lower than those of Futaba and Okuma, which has raised the prospect of evacuated residents making an early return. It is therefore understandable that Naraha residents do not want to have a large facility storing high-level radioactive waste in their town. 楢葉町は、双葉、大熊両町に比べ、空間放射線量が低い。住民の早期帰還が期待できるだけに、高濃度汚染ごみの大規模保管施設を町内に設置してほしくないという住民の声は理解できる。
Encouraging residents’ return
Naraha Mayor Yukiei Matsumoto, while giving thoughtful consideration to the other two towns, has commented that if the town is excluded from the list of candidate sites, it will likely increase the number of evacuated residents who want to return. 楢葉町の松本幸英町長は、両町に配慮しつつ、建設地から外れることで、「楢葉に戻りたいという住民が増えるのでは」と語る。
Accepting such facilities would likely be an agonizing choice for Futaba and Okuma, where there are currently no prospects of allowing their residents to return, made to facilitate the reconstruction of the prefecture as a whole. 一方、住民帰還の見通しが立たない双葉、大熊両町にとっては、福島全体の復興を考慮した苦渋の選択だと言えよう。
Aiming to start sending radioactive waste to the new facilities in January 2015, the Environment Ministry plans to present a new construction plan to the prefectural government. It is hoped that narrowing down the candidates to the two towns will break the impasse. 環境省は２０１５年１月の搬入開始を目指し、近く新たな建設案を県側に示す。２町集約を早期建設の突破口としたい。
The government plans to propose regional promotion measures for Futaba and Okuma. What kinds of promotion measures will be effective for the towns, where contamination makes it difficult for residents to return? It is essential for the government to grasp the needs of evacuated residents and provide them with finely tuned support. 政府は、双葉、大熊両町の地域振興策も提示する方針だ。帰還困難な地域に、どのような振興策が効果的なのか。避難住民のニーズを把握し、きめ細かい支援に徹することが重要である。
The interim storage sites are to operate for up to 30 years. On final disposal sites beyond that, the government said it intends to build them outside the prefecture, but there are no prospects for such sites. 中間貯蔵施設での保管期間は最長３０年だ。しかし、その先の最終処分場について、政府は県外設置の方針を明らかにしただけで、全くメドがついていない。
Residents of the candidate sites for the interim facilities continue to suspect that the sites will eventually be used for final disposal facilities. The government must take the lead in working to select final disposal sites. 中間貯蔵施設候補地の住民の間では、「結局、最終処分場になるのではないか」という不信感が根強い。政府は、最終処分場の選定についても、前面に出て対応していかねばならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 8, 2014) （2014年3月8日02時02分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 07, 2014 International community must pressure Russia to remove troops from Crimea クリミア情勢 国際圧力でロシア軍撤収迫れ（3月7日付・読売社説）
Russia has taken full military control of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in Ukraine. International pressure must be stepped up on Russia, which has infringed on the sovereignty of a foreign country. ロシアがウクライナのクリミア自治共和国を軍事的に掌握した。他国の主権を侵害したロシアに対し、国際社会は圧力を強めねばならない。
Russia should pull its troops out of Crimea immediately. ロシアは直ちに展開した部隊を撤収すべきである。
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has conferred with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Paris, the first foreign ministerial meeting between the two countries since the collapse of the former Ukraine government. They remained apart on the issue, as Kerry called for the withdrawal of Russian troops, but Lavrov refused the demand. ケリー米国務長官はロシアのラブロフ外相とパリで会談した。ウクライナ政変後初の米露外相の直接交渉だったが、ロシア軍の撤収を求める米側の主張に露側が応じず、議論は平行線をたどった。
U.S. President Barack Obama has announced a plan to study economic and diplomatic sanctions against Russia. His administration has also taken steps to restrict the entry into the United States of people whom it accuses of threatening Ukraine’s sovereignty. Attention is now focused on what economic sanctions Washington will adopt. オバマ米大統領は、ロシアへの「経済的、外交的手段」の検討を表明している。主権侵害に関与した人物への入国制限などの措置を取ったが、さらにどのような経済制裁を行うかが焦点となろう。
The European Union, for its part, has entered into discussions on concrete steps to be taken against Russia. 一方、欧州連合（ＥＵ）も具体的な措置の協議に入った。
The economic relationship between Europe and Russia is profound, with Europe importing natural gas from Russia. Germany and Britain are wary of economic sanctions, while Poland and other Eastern European countries that formerly belonged to the Soviet-led Eastern bloc during the Cold War are insisting on hard-line measures toward Russia. It is uncertain whether the European countries will be able to iron out their differences and agree on stern sanctions. 欧州は、天然ガスを輸入するなど、ロシアとの経済関係が深い。ドイツや英国は経済制裁に慎重だ。ポーランドなど旧東側陣営諸国は、強硬策を主張している。足並みをそろえて厳しい措置で合意できるかは不透明である。
A summit meeting of the Group of Eight major powers is scheduled for June in Sochi, Russia. Japan and six other G-8 members, excluding Russia, have lashed out at Moscow, saying Russia has violated Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, thereby threatening the holding of the summit meeting. ロシア・ソチでは６月に主要８か国首脳会議（Ｇ８サミット）が予定されているが、ロシアを除く日本など７か国は「ウクライナの主権と領土の一体性に違反した」とロシアを強く非難した。首脳会議の実施が危ぶまれる状況だ。
Russia is being increasingly isolated from the international community. ロシアは孤立を深めている。
Putin refutes criticism
Russian President Vladimir Putin has brushed aside international criticism as groundless, even denying Russia’s military deployment in Crimea. Regarding wider military intervention in Ukraine, Putin has said it will not be necessary for now. プーチン・ロシア大統領は、クリミアでのロシア軍展開自体を否定して、国際的非難には根拠がないとの立場だ。ウクライナへの軍事介入についても「今のところ必要はない」と述べている。
He apparently believes that Russia has achieved its purpose for the moment, now that it has Crimea under its control. クリミアを事実上、支配下に置いたことで当面の目的は達成したと考えているのだろう。
A referendum will be held in Crimea on March 16 to decide whether the autonomous republic should become part of Russia. Given the fact that Russian-affiliated people account for a majority of the republic’s population, it is most certain that pro-integration votes will prevail. Russia is expected to go ahead with the integration of Crimea once the results are known. クリミアでは、今月１６日に、ロシアへの編入の是非を問う住民投票が行われることになった。ロシア系住民が多いため、編入支持の結果が出るのは確実である。ロシアは、それを受けて、併合に突き進むつもりではないか。
Japan cannot sit back and watch Russia’s actions. If the United States and Europe implement sanctions, Japan will have no alternative but to go along with them eventually. However, it is also true that Japan wants to avoid deterioration in its relations with Moscow, which would adversely affect bilateral negotiations over the return of the four islands off eastern Hokkaido that have been held by Russia since the end of World War II. 日本も、ロシアの行動を座視してはいられない。米欧が制裁に踏み切れば、最終的に同調せざるを得まい。ただ、日露関係が悪化し北方領土交渉に影響を及ぼす事態は避けたいのも確かだ。
While the United States and other countries have canceled plans to send government officials to the Paralympics opening in Sochi on Friday, Japan will send Yoshitaka Sakurada, a senior vice minister of education, culture, sports and science and technology. ソチで開幕するパラリンピックに、米国などが政府代表団派遣をとりやめる中、日本は桜田義孝文部科学副大臣を派遣する。
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said, “A prudent stance must be taken about bringing the political situation to the Paralympics.” 菅官房長官は、「パラリンピックに政治状況を持ち込むことには慎重であるべきだ」と述べた。
It is imperative for Tokyo to carry out strategic diplomacy based on maintaining cooperation with the United States and Europe. 日本は、米欧との協調を軸とした戦略的外交が問われよう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 7, 2014) （2014年3月7日01時23分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 06, 2014 China’s blatant military buildup threatens peace in Asia-Pacific region 中国国防費膨張 平和を脅かす露骨な軍拡路線（3月6日付・読売社説）
In a bid for hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region, the administration of Chinese President Xi Jinping is rapidly proceeding with its military buildup. These moves are certain to reinforce the opinion that China may pose a great threat to other countries. アジア太平洋で覇権を握ろうと、中国の習近平政権が急速な軍備増強を進めている。中国脅威論にも拍車がかかろう。
The 12th National People’s Congress (NPC) began in Beijing on Wednesday, at which the Chinese government announced that its national defense spending for this year will total about 808.2 billion yuan (about ¥13 trillion), up 12.2 percent from last year. 北京で全国人民代表大会が開幕した。中国政府が公表した今年の国防予算は、前年実績比１２・２％増の約８０８２億元（約１３兆円）となった。
This will mark the fourth consecutive year of a year-on-year double-digit increase, and bring China’s defense expenditures to nearly three times those of Japan. ４年連続２桁の伸びで、日本の防衛費の３倍近くに膨れあがった。
This is the first NPC to be held under the leadership of Xi and Premier Li Keqiang. It also can be said that the administration has bluntly indicated its intention of pursuing military buildup. 今回は、習国家主席と李克強首相が主導する初めての全人代だ。軍備増強への意思を露骨なまでに示したと言える。
China’s national defense budget has become ever more opaque, as military spending by local governments, which had been included in the nation’s total military spending until last year, was excluded from this year’s outlay. 中国の国防費は、一段と不透明になった。昨年まで含まれていた地方分予算が、今年は除外されたためだ。
The prevailing view is that actual defense spending, including expenditures on related research and development, will be double the amount made public. 研究開発費などを含めた実際の国防予算は、公表分の２倍程度に上るとの見方が強い。
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga has indicated that Japan will urge China to enhance transparency in its military spending, saying that China’s military expenditures “have become a cause for concern for the international community.” Such a stance is quite reasonable. 菅官房長官が、「国際社会の懸念事項になっている」として、中国に透明性の向上を働きかける意向を示したのは当然である。
In a government work report, which is equivalent to a policy speech in Japan, Li emphasized that China would “make great effort in the building of a maritime power.” He also said China would “place war preparations on a regular footing and enhance border, coastal and air defenses.” 李首相は、施政方針演説にあたる政府活動報告で、「海洋強国の建設に大いに力を入れる」と強調した。「平時における戦闘への備えと、国境・領海・領空防衛の管理を強化する」とも宣言した。
Aggression may be prolonged
Such remarks can be interpreted as Beijing’s intention to expand its claimed national interests in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. 東シナ海や南シナ海で、権益拡大を図る意図が読み取れる。
Japan must be prepared for the possibility that China’s attempts to change the status quo through the use of force, such as China’s entry into Japan’s territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands, may last for an extended period. At the same time, it will become necessary for both countries to have a dialogue to avoid accidental clashes between vessels or aircraft. 日本は、尖閣諸島周辺での領海侵入といった、中国の力による現状変更の試みが長期化することを覚悟せねばなるまい。同時に、艦船や航空機の偶発的衝突を避けるための対話も必要となろう。
Li said: “China will maintain the postwar international order at all costs. We will never let the course of history turn back.” 一方、李首相は、「中国は、戦後の国際秩序を守り抜く。歴史の流れを逆行させることは、決して許さない」と述べた。
If this remark was made to criticize Japan in light of the recent visit to Yasukuni Shrine by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, it is widely off the mark. Rather it is China that has been rocking the postwar international order by taking such actions as its unilateral announcement of an air-defense identification zone in the East China Sea. 安倍首相の靖国神社参拝を念頭に置いた日本批判だとしたら、見当違いだ。一方的な防空識別圏設定などで、戦後秩序を揺さぶっているのは、むしろ中国である。
Li’s report has also brought to the fore the country’s thorny management of its domestic affairs. In the report, the administration set the nation’s economic growth target for this year at 7.5 percent, unchanged for three years in a row. This demonstrates the administration’s stance of maintaining stable growth amid spreading concern over the nation’s future economic prospects. 首相報告は、難しい内政運営も浮き彫りにした。今年の経済成長率の目標を、３年連続で７・５％に据え置いたのは、景気の先行きに不安が広がる中で、安定成長を維持したい姿勢の表れだ。
With regards to corruption, toward which the people harbor strong antipathy, Li said, “We would never pardon any corrupt elements.” As countermeasures to air pollution, he unveiled numerical targets for such measures as scrapping coal boilers. However, the degree to which the administration can achieve tangible results in such areas remains to be seen. 国民の反感が強い汚職について「いかなる腐敗分子も容赦しない」と断じ、大気汚染対策では石炭ボイラー廃棄などの数値目標を示した。具体的成果が問われよう。
Social unrest is spreading, as demonstrated by the mass murder incident in Yunnan Province recently. Li indicated that the administration would further intensify public security measures. 雲南省で無差別大量殺人事件が起こるなど、社会に動揺が広がっている。李首相は、治安対策をさらに強める考えを示した。
Tightening domestic security measures may lead to the administration’s taking a hard-line stance toward foreign countries in an attempt to divert public frustration. Japan, for its part, has to keep a close watch on such moves. 国内での引き締めは、国民の不満をそらすための対外強硬姿勢につながりやすい。日本も、その動きを注視しなければならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 6, 2014) （2014年3月6日02時01分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 05, 2014 Press China to take measures against its horrendous pollution ＰＭ２・５汚染 中国の排出源対策が急務だ（3月5日付・読売社説）
Air pollution is becoming ever more serious in China. It is mainly caused by a high density of particulate matter 2.5, or PM2.5, which is apparently reaching Japan on a massive scale after sweeping over the sea. 中国で大気汚染が深刻の度を増している。主因の微小粒子状物質（ＰＭ２・５）は、海を越えて日本にも大量に飛散しているとみられる。
Immediate measures must be taken to curb PM2.5. There is no time to waste. ＰＭ２・５の発生を抑える対策は待ったなしである。
PM2.5 is the general term for the microparticle substances with a diameter of up to 2.5 micrometers (one micrometer is equivalent to one-thousandth of a millimeter). Their size is about one-tenth that of a grain of Japanese cedar pollen, and they can travel deep into the lungs once inhaled. Experts say that PM2.5 causes such diseases as asthma and bronchitis. ＰＭ２・５は、直径２・５マイクロ・メートル（１マイクロ・メートルは１０００分の１ミリ）以下の物質の総称だ。スギ花粉の１０分の１ほどの粒子で、吸い込むと肺の奥まで入りやすい。ぜんそくや気管支炎などの原因になるとも指摘される。
At one point on Feb. 26, the concentration of PM2.5 exceeded 500 micrograms per cubic meter of air in Beijing. In Japan, local governments issue alerts to the public if the daily average amount of PM2.5 exceeds 70 micrograms per cubic meter. Beijing’s figure shows how serious China’s air pollution has become. 北京市では２月２６日、ＰＭ２・５の大気中濃度が、１立方メートル当たり５００マイクロ・グラムを超えた。日本国内で自治体が住民に注意喚起をする濃度は７０マイクロ・グラムだ。中国の汚染の深刻さが分かる。
The Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, a public research organization, has warned that Beijing’s pollution is “approaching a level unsuitable for inhabitation.” Air pollution is also becoming acute in cities and regions other than Beijing. 公的研究機関の上海社会科学院は、北京の状況について、「居住に適さないレベルに近づいている」と警告した。北京以外の地域でも汚染が悪化している。
The rapid increase of PM2.5 is caused by soot produced when burning coal, as well as vehicle emissions. Last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping traveled around smog-covered Beijing and ordered factories to curb their use of coal. Xi also ordered regulations for car usage. ＰＭ２・５急増の原因は、石炭を燃やす際に生じる煤煙(ばいえん)や自動車の排ガスだ。習近平国家主席は先月、濃霧の北京市内を視察し、工場での石炭使用の抑制や自動車の利用規制などを指示した。
Ineffective measures
The Chinese government has periodically announced measures to tackle air pollution, but no significant improvement has been seen. We believe the reason for this is that many factories have ignored government regulations, putting short-term profits ahead of environmental issues. 中国政府はこれまでも、大気汚染対策の実施を表明してきたが、大きな改善はみられない。多くの生産現場が、環境問題よりも目先の利益を優先し、規制を無視してきたということだろう。
The National People’s Congress was set to convene Wednesday, and air pollution is likely to be one of the main issues on the agenda. We urge the Chinese government to take this opportunity to come up with comprehensive measures to deal with the problem. ５日に開幕する全国人民代表大会では、大気汚染問題も重要テーマになる見通しだ。抜本対策に着手する契機としてもらいたい。
From now on, Japan and South Korea will have to bear the full brunt of PM2.5 sweeping from China as westerly winds become stronger. 日本や韓国が中国からのＰＭ２・５の影響をもろに受けるのは、偏西風が強まるこれからの時期だ。
On Feb. 26, the day China’s PM2.5 concentration exceeded 500 micrograms per cubic meter, the particulate concentration rose in wide areas of western Japan and the Hokuriku region, prompting 10 prefectural governments to issue alerts. 北京の汚染濃度が５００マイクロ・グラムを記録した同じ日、西日本と北陸などで濃度が上昇し、１０府県が住民に注意を促した。
Environment Minister Nobuteru Ishihara said the main cause of the phenomenon was “transborder pollution caused by China.” 石原環境相は、主な要因に「中国からの越境汚染」を挙げた。
It will be crucial for the Environment Ministry and local governments to continue providing prompt detailed information on PM2.5 to the public. 環境省と各自治体は今後とも、住民にきめ細かい情報を迅速に提供していくことが重要だ。
Of course, the issuance of alerts does not mean that people are under immediate threat to their health. We urge people to act calmly, refrain from going out unless necessary and avoid opening windows or using ventilators. 注意喚起がなされたからといって、直ちに健康被害の危険があるわけではない。不要不急の外出を控える。窓の開閉や換気は最小限にとどめる――。住民は冷静な対応を心がけてほしい。
People who have respiratory or heart problems, as well as elderly people, should especially be careful of their health. The physical conditions of children should also be monitored frequently. 呼吸器や心臓に病気がある人や高齢者、子供の体調管理には、十分に留意せねばならない。
This month, officials from Japan, China and South Korea will hold a policy dialogue to discuss measures to deal with the PM2.5 problem in Beijing. It will be an important opportunity to share PM2.5 data, but it is also essential to pressure China to reinforce measures to curb emissions of the microparticle substances. 日中韓の担当者は今月、ＰＭ２・５対策を協議する政策対話を北京で行う。観測情報を共有するほか、中国に対し、排出抑制策の強化を求めることが肝要だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 5, 2014) （2014年3月5日01時29分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 04, 2014 Vandalism of Anne Frank books a blow against intellectual heritage 「アンネの日記」 「知の遺産」に対する蛮行だ（3月4日付・読売社説）
Who was behind the many recent acts of vandalism against books relating to Anne Frank, and why did they do it? This sort of criminality can never be pardoned. 誰がどのような目的で行ったのか。許すことのできない蛮行である。
At public libraries and bookstores in and outside of Tokyo, Japanese-language copies of “The Diary of a Young Girl,” which tells of Nazi Germany’s persecution of the Jewish people, and related books have been found vandalized with pages ripped out. All told, the number of books damaged exceeded 300. 東京都内などの図書館や書店で、ナチス・ドイツによるユダヤ人への迫害を伝える「アンネの日記」や関連書籍が破られる事件が相次いでいる。被害を受けた本は、３００冊を超える。
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga expressed strong displeasure over the incidents, saying, “Such acts are shameful and can never be pardoned in this country.” It was a natural reaction. 菅官房長官が「わが国として受け入れられるものではなく、恥ずべきこと」と、強い不快感を示したのは当然である。
The Metropolitan Police Department has established an investigation headquarters, a rare move in property damage cases, as it works to find the culprit. 警視庁は器物損壊事件として異例の捜査本部を設置し、犯人の割り出しを急いでいる。
This vandalism cannot be shrugged off as simple property damage. This crime could trample on the efforts of many men and women who have looked squarely at history and fought against discrimination based on prejudice. 一連の事件は、単なる器物損壊では片づけられない。歴史の汚点を直視し、偏見に基づく差別を克服しようとしてきた人類の努力を踏みにじる行為だからだ。
“The Diary of a Young Girl” is a notebook left behind by Anne Frank, a Jewish girl who lived with her family in a hidden room of a house in the Netherlands to evade being detected and forcibly relocated by the Nazis during World War II. The diary expresses her anxieties and fears as well as hope for the future. 「アンネの日記」は、第２次大戦下のオランダで、ナチスの強制連行から逃れるため、家族と共に隠れ家で生活したユダヤ人少女、アンネ・フランクが残した手記だ。不安、恐怖と共に未来への希望がつづられている。
The Japanese translation of the diary has been read for generations. The original diary was registered as a Memory of the World in 2009. 日本でも多くの人々に読み継がれてきた。２００９年には世界記憶遺産にも登録された。
Other books damaged in the incidents include materials relating to Chiune Sugihara, who served as Japan’s vice consul in Lithuania during World War II. Sugihara is remembered for his act of conscience, issuing transit visas to Japan to 6,000 Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazis. 「アンネの日記」のほか、第２次大戦中、駐リトアニア領事代理だった杉原千畝の関連書籍なども被害を受けた。杉原は、ナチスから逃れたユダヤ人難民６０００人に自らの判断で日本通過のビザを発給したことで知られる。
An organized act?
The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights organization in the United States, has expressed deep concern over the incidents. The organization suspects that the vandalism was committed by “an organized effort to denigrate the memory” of Jewish victims of the Holocaust. 事件について、米国のユダヤ系人権団体「サイモン・ウィーゼンタール・センター」は「深い懸念」を表明した。虐殺犠牲者の記憶を侮辱する組織的試みがあるのではないか、とも指摘している。
One matter of concern is whether these incidents will fuel the spread of mistaken perceptions of Japan around the world. 日本に対する誤った認識が世界に広がらないか、心配だ。
Some media outlets in the United States and South Korea have reported on the incidents, connecting them to a purported rightward shift in Japan. Their arguments miss the mark, because they draw mainly on discourse from an extremely limited number of Internet posts expressing admiration for Adolf Hitler. 米国や韓国などの一部メディアは、「日本の右傾化」と関連づけて報じている。ヒトラーを礼賛するような、ネット上の極めて限られた言説などを根拠としているが、的外れな論調である。
Japan has never engaged in anti-Semitism, even during the prewar period. 日本は、戦前も含め、反ユダヤ政策に同調したことはない。
The Israeli Embassy in Tokyo has received many phone calls and e-mails of apology and encouragement from the Japanese people. 在日イスラエル大使館には、日本国民から謝罪や励ましの電話、メールが多数寄せられている。
The embassy expressed gratitude for these sentiments, calling the damage to the books sad, adding that they had also received warm words of support from the Japanese people. The embassy also donated more than 300 copies of Anne Frank-related books to the libraries affected by the vandalism. 大使館でも「被害は悲しいが、日本のみなさんから温かく励ましの言葉をもらった」と感謝の意を表し、被害を受けた図書館に約３００冊の本を寄贈した。
Libraries are tasked with providing intellectual wealth to the people. As a defensive measure, Tokyo libraries have begun putting Anne Frank-related books on shelves within sight of library staff. We hope to see an early resolution to this shameful vandalism. 図書館は、知の資産を市民に提供する場である。都内の図書館では、自衛策として関連図書を職員の目が届く場所に置いている。事件の早期解決を望みたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 4, 2014) （2014年3月4日01時54分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 03, 2014 Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine is absolutely unacceptable ウクライナ危機 露の軍事介入は容認できない（3月3日付・読売社説）
The situation in Ukraine has become increasingly tense. There are absolutely no circumstances under which Russia should be allowed to conduct a military intervention in Ukraine. ウクライナ情勢が緊迫の度を増してきた。ロシアの軍事介入は到底認められない。
Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted a motion Saturday to the upper house of Russia’s parliament to exercise Moscow’s military might in the territory of Ukraine, and obtained the permission of the legislature. ロシアのプーチン大統領は、ウクライナ領内で軍事力を行使することを上院に提案し、承認を得た。
In seeking parliamentary approval, Putin insisted the plan to send military forces is aimed at “protecting the lives of Russian citizens and military personnel” amid political turmoil until Ukraine is stabilized. 政治が正常化するまで、「ロシアの国民・同胞、ロシア軍要員の安全を守る」のが目的だという。
There are certainly many Russian-speaking residents in Ukraine, which was part of the former Soviet Union. What Russia likely aims to do, however, is put pressure on Ukraine’s new government, which is friendly to the United States and European countries and came into being by ousting a pro-Russia president, with a view to keeping Ukraine in Russia’s sphere of influence. 旧ソ連の一部だったウクライナにロシア系住民が多いのは確かだ。だが、ロシアの狙いは、親露派の大統領を解任して誕生した親欧米政権に圧力をかけて、ウクライナをロシアの勢力圏につなぎとめておくことではないか。
Russia’s military intervention plans target the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in southern Ukraine. ロシアが、軍事介入の準備を進めているのは、ウクライナ南部のクリミア自治共和国だ。
In the Crimea region, residents who identify as Russian account for about 60 percent of the population. The president of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is friendly to the Russian Federation, and some residents have repeatedly called for Crimea to break off from Ukraine. クリミアはロシア系住民が全体の約６割を占める。自治共和国首相も親露派で、住民の間からウクライナからの分離を求める声がかねて上がっていた。
Russia has its key Black Sea Fleet stationed in a naval port on the Black Sea. An airport and other installations in the port’s vicinity have already been seized by Russian troops. 黒海沿いの軍港にはロシアの黒海艦隊が駐留している。空港などは既にロシア軍兵士によって占拠されている。
Avoid chaos, bloodshed
Should Russia resort to a full-scale military intervention, it would certainly have an impact not only on Crimea but also the entire eastern and southern regions of Ukraine, where many Russians live. Demands from separatists in those areas would intensify all the more, aggravating the chaos. ロシアが本格的な軍事介入に踏み切れば、クリミアだけでなく、ロシア系住民の多い東部や南部全体に影響が及ぶのは確実だ。住民の分離要求は一層激しくなり、混乱は拡大しよう。
There are even concerns that the western region of Ukraine, which has tilted in favor of Europe, and the country’s pro-Russia eastern and southern regions could possibly move toward a split. 親欧州的傾向の強い西部と親露的傾向が強い東部・南部が分裂に向かう可能性すら懸念される。
In 2008, Russia made military inroads into Georgia, whose administration was also friendly to the United States and Europe, under the claim of protecting Russian nationals, incurring condemnation from the international community. Moscow must never repeat the same mistake. ロシアは２００８年に、ウクライナ同様の親欧米政権だったグルジアに自国民保護の名目で武力侵攻し、国際的非難を浴びた。同じ過ちを繰り返してはならない。
It is essential for the international community to step up efforts to ensure that Putin stops short of engaging in military intervention. 国際社会が、軍事介入を思いとどまるよう、プーチン氏への働きかけを強めることが肝要だ。
U.S. President Barack Obama spoke with Putin by telephone on Saturday, expressing his “deep concern” about Russia’s behavior, which he called a “violation of international law.” Although Obama subsequently called for Russia to pull its troops out of Crimea, the talks ended inconclusively. 米国のオバマ大統領は、電話会談で、プーチン氏に対し、ロシアの行動は「国際法違反だ」として「深い懸念」を表明した。その上で、露軍兵士を撤収させるよう求めたが、物別れに終わった。
An emergency session of the U.N. Security Council was convened on Saturday, during which Russia was strongly criticized by ambassadors of various countries. 国連安全保障理事会でも緊急会合が開かれ、各国大使からロシアへの強い非難が相次いだ。
The United States and Canada have indicated they are poised to boycott Moscow’s plans to host a Group of Eight economic summit scheduled for June at Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi if Russia intervenes militarily in Ukraine. 米国やカナダは、軍事介入があれば、６月にロシアのソチで行われる主要８か国首脳会議（Ｇ８サミット）をボイコットする構えだ。
The government must carefully consider how to respond to the situation. 日本政府の対応も問われよう。
Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida has made a statement on the matter, calling on all parties involved in the situation in Crimea to “exercise maximum restraint and act responsibly by respecting the rule of law and the territorial integrity” of Ukraine. 岸田外相は、「全ての当事者が法の支配と領土の一体性を尊重し、最大限の自制を発揮するよう求める」との談話を発表した。
Putin is strongly urged to listen to voices from the international community and do his utmost to avoid the chaos and bloodshed that could be brought about by military intervention. プーチン氏は、国際社会の声に耳を傾け、軍事介入がもたらす混乱と流血を回避すべきである。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 3, 2014) （2014年3月3日02時12分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 02, 2014 Bitcoin exchange collapse highlights virtual currency’s lack of protection ビットコイン 仮想通貨の危うさが見えた（3月2日付・読売社説）
Risks involving the bitcoin virtual currency, which is traded on the Internet but lacks state-backed credibility, has been thrown into the spotlight. 国の信用という裏付けを持たない「仮想通貨」の危うさをさらけ出したと言えよう。
Mt. Gox, the operator of a major bitcoin exchange based in Tokyo, has gone bankrupt. インターネット上の仮想通貨「ビットコイン（ＢＴＣ）」の大手取引サイトを運営するマウントゴックス社（東京）が、経営破綻した。
Almost all bitcoins belonging to Mt. Gox’s customers are presumed to have been fraudulently withdrawn by some unknown person or persons, resulting in an excess of liabilities over assets, the exchange said. The damage is said to total about 850,000 bitcoins (equivalent to about ¥11.4 billion), including Mt. Gox’s own store of the virtual currency. 利用者から預かっていたビットコインが、何者かによって不正に引き出され、債務超過に陥ったためとしている。被害は同社の保有分も含め８５万ＢＴＣ（約１１４億円）にのぼるという。
We are astounded that such a huge sum of bitcoins has vanished like a puff of smoke. 巨額のコインが煙のように消えてしまったのが事実とすれば、驚きを禁じ得ない。
The exchange operator said a hacker or hackers exploited vulnerabilities in the firm’s software system. It said there is a great possibility the bitcoins were stolen. 同社はシステム上の弱点をハッカーに突かれ、コインを奪われた可能性が高いと説明している。
Mt. Gox’s explanations are highly suspicious, such as its argument that as much as ¥2.8 billion in cash deposited by its customers has also disappeared. Thorough investigations must be carried out to clarify what happened. だが、顧客から預かった現金２８億円も消えるなど不可解な点は残る。徹底した実態解明が必要だ。
Bitcoins are useful as they can be transacted freely around the world via the Internet, and are not subject to control by any country. However, unlike ordinary currency, bitcoins are unprotected because they are not regulated by any monetary authority. It seems that no measures can be taken that would help the firm’s customers recover their money. ビットコインは国家の統制を受けず、世界で自由に取引できる利点がある。一方、通常のお金と違い、どの国の金融当局からも規制を受けず、保護の枠外にある。被害の救済は困難だろう。
Even in the United States, where the use of bitcoins has been rapidly spreading, Federal Reserve Board Chairwoman Janet Yellen said in testimony before the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday, “This is a payment innovation that’s taking place entirely outside the banking industry.” 普及の進む米国でさえ、米連邦準備制度理事会（ＦＲＢ）のイエレン議長がビットコインを巡る混乱について「銀行決済の枠外で起きている。
She said the Fed lacks the ability to supervise and regulate exchanges between bitcoins and banks as “there is no intersection at all, in any way.” ＦＲＢに監督や規制の権限がない」と述べている。
Act responsibly amid risk
The value of bitcoins soared sharply last year, with the outstanding balance at one time exceeding an equivalent of ¥1 trillion in the global virtual currency community. ビットコインは昨年、価格が急騰して、一時は全世界で１兆円超の残高に膨らんだ。
With increasing fears over possible erratic fluctuations of bitcoins, along with warnings from analysts pointing to potential money-laundering and other criminal uses of virtual currency, the Bank of Japan has been researching and investigating bitcoin exchange services. 乱高下への警戒感が強まり、資金洗浄など犯罪への悪用といった弊害も指摘されたことから、日銀は調査・研究を進めていた。
Most victims of the bitcoin scandal are believed to be non-Japanese, but as the website of the Tokyo-based bitcoin exchange operator is at the center of the trouble, both the government and the central bank will probably have to deal with the issue in earnest. 被害を受けた利用者のほとんどは外国人と見られるが、東京に拠点のある業者の取引サイトが問題を起こした以上、政府と日銀も対応に本腰を入れざるを得まい。
Finance Minister Taro Aso, who is also in charge of financial services, said Friday, “I was thinking it [Mt. Gox] would collapse eventually...but it came earlier than I thought, and we will take prompt [countermeasures].” The government should waste no time in preventing a recurrence of bitcoin irregularities, and regulate the virtual currency in close cooperation with other countries concerned. 麻生財務・金融相は「どこかで破綻すると思っていたが、意外に早かった。早急に（対策を）詰める」との考えを示した。関係国と緊密に連携し、再発防止策や規制に関する検討を急ぐべきだ。
Despite the collapse of the major bitcoin exchange, transactions using the digital currency are continuing on the Internet. This is largely because bitcoins allow users to make remittances globally for small fees. 大手取引サイトが破綻したというのに、ネット上ではビットコインの取引が続いている。安い手数料で全世界に送金できるといったメリットがあるからだろう。
There are fears, however, that other malicious hackers are waiting in the wings to find the next bitcoin target. Bitcoin exchange services operators are strongly urged to take stringent steps to guard against unauthorized access to their computer systems. ただし、悪質なハッカーが、次の標的を狙っている恐れがある。ビットコインのサービスを提供する業者は、不正アクセスの防護などを徹底する責務がある。
Bitcoin users, for their part, should be aware that the virtual currency has no guarantee and protection based on public credibility, so they should act responsibly. 利用者も、公的な信用の裏付けや保護のない現状をきちんと理解し、自己責任を肝に銘じてもらわなければならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 2, 2014) （2014年3月2日01時33分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 01, 2014 Greater efforts needed to ensure health of 2011 disaster victims 被災地の医療 避難者の健康守る体制拡充を（3月1日付・読売社説）
Though three years will soon have passed since the March 2011 natural disasters and nuclear crisis, 267,000 people are still forced to live as evacuees. 東日本大震災から３年を迎える今も、２６万７０００人が避難生活を強いられている。
The system to protect the health of disaster victims must be expanded and further improved. 被災者の健康を守るための体制をさらに充実させるべきである。
About 100,000 of the victims live in small, prefab temporary housing. Forced to live away from their hometowns in isolated environments with no familiar faces, many evacuees tend to stay in their rooms all day long. There have been many cases in which they develop such lifestyle-related diseases as hypertension and diabetes and fall into a state of depression. 被災者のうち、プレハブの手狭な仮設住宅に暮らす人は約１０万人に上る。住み慣れた土地を離れて孤立し、部屋に閉じこもる人は少なくない。高血圧、糖尿病といった生活習慣病や、うつ状態に陥るケースも目立つ。
With the loss of homes and jobs, some evacuees cannot see any hope of reconstructing their livelihood. This casts dark clouds over them both physically and mentally. 自宅や職場を失い、生活再建を見通せないことが、被災者の心身に暗い影を落としている。
The situation is especially serious for residents who formerly lived along the coast of Fukushima Prefecture, as they cannot be sure of any prospect of returning home due to the continued effects of the disaster at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant. 東京電力福島第一原子力発電所の事故で、帰還のめどすら立たない福島県沿岸部の住民の場合は、特に深刻である。
Alleviating the psychological stress of victims is a major challenge. 被災者の心理的ストレスを軽減することが大きな課題だ。
It is also important to deal with the continued increase in deaths caused by health deterioration due to such chronic illnesses as heart disease in the aftermath of the disaster. 心臓病など、持病の悪化による震災関連死が増え続けている問題への対処も重要である。
Many medical institutions have yet to be rebuilt after being damaged by tsunami that followed the Great East Japan Earthquake. In some areas, railways have been left cut off. As a result, it is not easy for disaster victims to go to hospitals. Local governments are urged to make such arrangements as home-based medical services after obtaining assistance from the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and the prefectural governments concerned. 津波で被災し、再建されていない医療機関は多い。鉄道が寸断されたままの地域もある。被災者にとって通院は容易ではない。地元自治体は、厚生労働省や県の支援を受け、訪問診療などの体制を整備してもらいたい。
In the case of temporary housing in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, where about 4,000 evacuees live, doctors and nurses are sent from a temporary clinic built on the housing site to take care of the residents. There are also support staff for disaster survivors, who have work experience as health aides and make the rounds of housing units. 約４０００人が暮らす宮城県石巻市の仮設住宅では、敷地内の仮設診療所から医師、看護師が訪問診療、看護に出向いている。「被災者支援員」と呼ばれるヘルパー経験者らも各戸を巡回する。
There are said to be cases in which such staffers have discovered residents’ health problems as they often talked to them, and ailing evacuees were able to receive medical treatment through their referrals. 支援員が話し相手になり、入居者の体調の異変に気づいて治療に結びつけることもあるという。
Aid must be multilateral
Junichi Cho, director of the temporary clinic, said: “It is difficult to take care of the disaster victims with doctors and nurses alone. It is essential for various kinds of people in society to provide cooperation.” 長純一所長は「医師や看護師だけで被災者をケアするのは難しい。様々な立場の人が協力することが大切だ」と強調する。
The population has been aging further in the disaster-stricken areas due to an outflow of young people. 被災地では、若い世代の流出で高齢化が一段と進んだ。
Those involved in medical treatment and nursing care, as well as nonprofit organizations and volunteers, sustain home-based medical services for the elderly. Such a support system must be established nationwide amid the rapid aging of the population and is most urgently needed in disaster-affected areas. 医療・介護関係者をはじめ、ＮＰＯ（非営利組織）やボランティアが連携し、在宅の高齢者を支える。その仕組み作りは、高齢化が進む日本全国で必要だが、とりわけ被災地では急務である。
Such areas were suffering a shortage of doctors even before the disaster occurred. 被災地は元々、医師不足が深刻だった地域だ。
To help secure a sufficient number of doctors, the government has decided to permit the establishment of new medical departments at universities, which have not been allowed for a long time, only in the Tohoku region. This is expected to have some effect from a mid- to long-term perspective. 政府は、医師の確保策として、長年認めていなかった医学部の新設を、東北地方に限って容認する方針を決めた。中長期的には、一定の効果は見込めるだろう。
In addition, assistance measures must be taken to promote the assignment of doctors and nurses to disaster-stricken and underpopulated areas plagued by a shortage of such personnel. これに加え、医師や看護師が、人材不足の被災地や過疎地に赴くための支援策も必要になる。
The most crucial task for the moment is to secure enough doctors. Medical societies and hospitals across the country must join hands to ensure the continued dispatch of doctors to the disaster-affected areas. 最優先の課題は、当面の医師の確保である。医学会や全国の病院が協力し、被災地への医師の派遣を継続していくべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 1, 2014) （2014年3月1日01時31分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun February 28, 2014 Chinese damages suit against Japan firms threatening to harm bilateral ties 個人賠償請求 訴え受理なら日中関係損なう（2月28日付・読売社説）
A damages suit filed with a Beijing court may shake the very foundation of Japan-China relations, depending on how it is handled. The Chinese administration of President Xi Jinping should deal with the issue with an eye on future bilateral relations. 日中関係の大原則をゆるがせにしかねない。習近平政権は将来を見据えた判断をすべきだ。
The suit was filed against two Japanese businesses by former Chinese workers and others who called for an apology and compensation, claiming they were forcibly brought to Japan in wartime and made to work under severe labor conditions. 戦時中に中国から強制連行され、過酷な労働を強いられたとする中国人の元労働者らが、日本企業２社を相手取り、謝罪と損害賠償を求める訴状を北京の裁判所に提出した。
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga emphasized the Japanese government’s position on the matter, saying, “There is no reparation issue left pending between Japan and China, including those concerning individual demands for reparation.” これに対し、菅官房長官は「日中間の請求権問題は、個人の請求権問題を含め、存在していない」と日本政府の立場を強調した。
In the Japan-China joint statement signed in 1972 to mark the normalization of bilateral relations, the Chinese government declared its relinquishment of reparation demands for damage related to the war. 中国政府は、１９７２年の国交正常化時の日中共同声明で、日本に対する戦争被害の賠償請求を放棄する、と宣言している。
In a case filed in Japan by Chinese people and others for individual reparations, the Supreme Court turned down the plaintiffs’ claim in 2007, saying, “Due to the Japan-China joint statement, individual Chinese are unable to file reparation claims for war damage.” This can be judged as an appropriate decision. 日本では、中国人による個人賠償請求訴訟があったが、最高裁は２００７年、「日中共同声明により、中国人個人は戦争被害について、裁判上の賠償請求はできなくなった」として訴えを棄却した。適切な判断だったと言える。
The key point is whether the lawsuit will be accepted by the Chinese court, which is under the control of the Chinese Communist Party-led government. If accepted, it will become the first Chinese reparation case against a Japanese company over alleged forced relocation and labor. 問題は、今回の訴えを、共産党政権の指導下にある裁判所が受理するかどうかだ。受理されれば、中国では、日本企業に対する初めての強制連行訴訟となる。
Detrimental factors
The Chinese government holds the position that individual rights to claim damages are not included in the joint statement. But, in fact, no such a claim has been accepted by a Chinese court. 中国政府は、日中共同声明には個人の賠償請求権は含まれないという立場を取っている。しかし、実際には、裁判所は今までそのような訴えを受理しなかった。
Behind this could be the fact that China attached importance to relations with Japan, which sustained its economic development with various kinds of assistance, including the provision of a huge amount of yen credit. 巨額の円借款などで経済発展を支えた日本との関係維持を重視したからだろう。
There must have been wariness on the part of China’s leadership that if one court battle over a historical incident was accepted, it could ignite large anti-Japan rallies and invite public criticism that the government was weak regarding Japan. ひとたび歴史を巡る国内での法廷闘争を容認すれば、大規模な反日デモや、政権の対応を「弱腰」とする批判を誘発しかねないとの警戒感もあったに違いない。
But the situation today is different from what it was before. The bilateral relationship has worsened to such an extent that top leaders of the two countries cannot hold a summit meeting. The Xi administration has been intensifying its anti-Japan propaganda campaign over the issue of history since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to Yasukuni Shrine in late December. ただ、現在の状況はこれまでと異なる。日中間では首脳同士が会談さえできない。習政権は、安倍首相による昨年末の靖国神社参拝を機に、歴史問題で日本を攻撃する反日宣伝を一層強めている。
If the Xi administration changes tack and the court accepts the damages suit, the bilateral relationship will deteriorate more seriously. 習政権が従来の方針を転換し、裁判所が訴えを受理すれば、関係の悪化はより深刻となろう。
If that happens, it is impossible to anticipate how many more individual claims will be filed against Japanese firms. Beijing claims that about 40,000 Chinese were forced to work in Japan in wartime. そうなれば、どれだけの個人が被害を訴え出るのか、予測もつかない。中国は、強制連行された人は約４万人に上るとしている。
Due to concern about Chinese downside risks, bilateral trade, investments and tourism could cool off. 中国リスクの高まりが懸念され、日中間の貿易や投資、観光などが冷え込む可能性もある。
Court battles over damages claim filed by former South Korean forced workers and the Chinese suit over forced labor can be taken by Japan as basically in the same paradigm. 日本にとって、韓国で元徴用工が日本企業に損害賠償を求めている裁判と、中国の強制連行訴訟は、基本的に似た構図と言えよう。
The Japanese government should support the firms against which damages claim was filed. To China, South Korea and the international community, Tokyo must strongly argue the invalidity of rekindling issues that have already been settled legally. 日本政府は、訴えられた企業を支援すべきだ。中韓及び国際社会に対しては、法的に解決済みの問題を蒸し返すことの不当性を強く訴えていかねばならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 28, 2014) （2014年2月28日01時21分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun February 27, 2014 Japan, U.S. should cooperate to stop TPP talks from drifting ＴＰＰ交渉不調 日米が協力して漂流させるな（2月27日付・読売社説）
Ministerial talks for the Trans-Pacific Partnership multilateral economic partnership agreement once again failed to reach a basic agreement, mainly due to a confrontation between Japan and the United States. 日本と米国の対立が障害となり、環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉の閣僚会合は再び、大筋合意を見送った。
The TPP negotiations should not be left drifting. Japan and the United States, the countries responsible for leading the negotiations, must swiftly put the talks onto a desirable track. このまま交渉を漂流させてはならない。主導すべき日米両国が交渉を早急に立て直すべきである。 It was a fresh start from the previous talks in December, but the negotiations have broken down for the second time. No schedule has been officially set for the next meeting. This result is utterly disappointing. 昨年１２月の仕切り直しだったのに、２度目の物別れだ。妥結目標を示さず、次回日程も決まっていない。期待外れの結果である。
The latest TPP ministerial talks held in Singapore, in which 12 countries including Japan, the United States and Australia participated, have ended. 日米を始め、豪州など１２か国が参加したシンガポールでのＴＰＰ閣僚会合が終了した。
The aim of the TPP is to create new free trade rules in the Asia-Pacific region to lead the world with an economic partnership framework for the 21st century. However, if the negotiations were to lose momentum, it would be difficult to break the state of deadlock. ＴＰＰは、アジア太平洋地域で新たな自由貿易ルールを作り、２１世紀型の経済連携で世界をリードすることが狙いだ。しかし、交渉の勢いが弱まれば、膠着(こうちゃく)状態を打開するのは難しくなるだろう。
The main reason that the participating ministers have given up on reaching a basic agreement was a confrontation between Japan and the United States over the elimination of tariffs. 大筋合意を断念した主因は、関税撤廃を巡る日米の対立だ。
Regarding the Liberal Democratic Party’s insistence that five sensitive agricultural categories, including rice, wheat and barley, be exempted as sanctuary items, the United States has maintained its hard-line stance, persistently seeking tariff cuts on them. Japan sought a point of compromise on the five categories by suggesting the possibility of lowering tariffs on beef and pork to sound out the U.S. reaction. However, the abyss between the two countries on the issue was so deep that they could not find any point of compromise. 自民党がコメ、麦など農産品５項目を関税撤廃の聖域として主張している問題で、米国はあくまで関税撤廃を求めて強硬だった。日本は５項目のうち、牛肉や豚肉の関税引き下げを打診し、妥協点を探ったが、溝は深かった。
On the issue of tariffs on automobiles and auto parts, which Japan demanded that the United States remove, the two countries could not solve their confrontation. 日本が米国に要求した自動車や自動車部品の関税撤廃問題でも、対立は解けなかった。
It will be difficult to find a way out of the deadlock in the TPP talks if Japan and the United States, two economic giants, only stick to their negotiation principles and do not show flexibility. The two countries should reflect on their attitudes, which have lacked broader perspective. 経済大国の日米がＴＰＰ交渉で互いに原則論に終始し、柔軟性を示さなければ活路は開けない。ともに大局的見地を欠いていた点は反省すべきだ。
Reshaping the talks
Australia and emerging countries such as Malaysia, which have closely watched the Japan-U.S. negotiations, have also become passive in the TPP talks. Broad differences were also seen between the claims of the United States and emerging nations as well. Japan and the United States should feel a serious sense of responsibility for holding up the overall TPP talks. 日米協議を注視していた豪州やマレーシアなど新興国も消極的になった。米国と新興国の主張にも開きがあった。交渉全体の足を引っ張った日米の責任は大きい。
The focus from now on is how to put the talks onto a desirable course. 今後の焦点は、ＴＰＰ交渉をどう立て直すかである。
The 12 countries are expected to have the next meeting when the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum holds a meeting of trade ministers in Qingdao, China, in May. １２か国は中国・青島で５月に開くアジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）貿易相会合の際に次回会合を開く考えとみられる。
Another important factor for breaking the deadlock of the TPP talks is a Japan-U.S. summit meeting between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Barack Obama, who will visit Japan in late April. It is inevitable that the TPP should become a main discussion agenda for their talks. ＴＰＰ交渉打開に向けて重要になるのが、４月下旬に来日するオバマ米大統領と安倍首相との日米首脳会談である。ＴＰＰが主要議題にならざるを得ない。
In the United States, the protectionist pressure has been increasing with midterm elections of the U.S. Congress scheduled for November. For this reason, we are concerned about how the U.S. side’s difficulty with compromising in the talks will play out. 米国では、１１月の議会中間選挙を控え、保護貿易主義圧力が高まっている。このため、米国が譲歩しにくい展開も懸念される。
Obama has maintained that concluding the TPP agreement is the top priority issue for employment and export expansion. We hope he exercises his leadership in domestic coordination and efforts to make progress in the TPP negotiations. 大統領は雇用や輸出拡大のためＴＰＰ妥結を最優先課題に掲げてきた。国内調整と交渉進展で指導力を発揮してもらいたい。
The attitude of Abe, who made the TPP a pillar of his growth strategy, will be put to a test. Abe must stand at the helm in finding a point of agreement with the United States, while reinforcing the competitiveness of Japan’s agricultural sector ahead of market liberalization. ＴＰＰを成長戦略の柱に据える安倍首相の姿勢も問われる。市場開放に備え、農業分野の競争力を強化しながら、米国との接点を見いだす先頭に立つ必要がある。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 27, 2014) （2014年2月27日01時34分 読売新聞）
