英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 11, 2010)
Foolish short-term view on arms exports
武器輸出３原則　将来に禍根残す緩和見送り（12月10日付・読売社説）

Has the Democratic Party of Japan-led administration already forgotten about the abysmal failure of its previous coalition government involving a political party that held a conflicting basic policy?
　基本政策が異なる政党と連立政権を組んだ致命的な失敗の教訓を、もう忘れてしまったのか。

The government has decided not to clearly stipulate the three principles on weapons exports--which effectively ban arms deals with other countries--will be eased in the new National Defense Program Guidelines it will approve next week. Prime Minister Naoto Kan made the decision in consideration of the opposition Social Democratic Party, which he had asked for cooperation in steering the Diet. The SDP opposes any relaxation of the three principles.
　政府は、来週決定する「防衛計画の大綱」に武器輸出３原則の緩和を明記しない方針を決めた。菅首相が国会運営での協力を求めた野党・社民党が、３原則緩和に反対していることに配慮したものだ。

The government had been leaning toward lifting the ban on weapons that would be exported for peace-building operations and to combat terrorism and piracy. It also planned to approve the joint development of weapons with Europe, South Korea and Australia as an extension of defense cooperation between Japan and the United States, and because appropriate export controls are firmly in place.
　政府は、平和構築やテロ・海賊対策などが目的の武器輸出を解禁する方向で調整していた。欧州や韓国、豪州などとの武器の共同開発も、日米両国との防衛協力や適切な輸出管理が実施されている観点から、認める見通しだった。

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Appropriate policy

Such a policy shift would still fit nicely with the philosophy of "a pacifist nation." We think reviewing the weapons export ban policy is appropriate.
　こうした政策は、「平和国家」の理念と十分両立する。本来は妥当な見直しである。

The export of weapons for other nations' peace-building efforts and to combat terrorism and piracy could contribute to global peace and stability. In addition, joining development programs of cutting-edge jet fighters and other weapons will be indispensable for maintaining domestic defense technologies and this nation's production base.
　他国の平和構築やテロ・海賊対策を支援するための武器輸出は、世界の平和と安定に寄与する。最新鋭戦闘機などの共同開発への参加は、国内の防衛技術・生産基盤の維持に欠かせない。

Cabinet ministers involved in defense matters and senior DPJ members were on the same page on this issue. However, the government got cold feet and made a political decision to put the handling of government affairs ahead of an important policy.
　関係閣僚や民主党幹部も同じ認識だったが、政策よりも政権運営を優先する政治判断から、３原則緩和を見送ってしまった。

The Kan administration decided that in addition to the support of coalition partner People's New Party, it needs the SDP's cooperation to help pass key bills into law in the divided Diet. Having both parties onside will make it possible for the DPJ to pass bills into law with a second vote at the House of Representatives by overriding any rejection by the House of Councillors because the three parties will hold at least two-thirds of the members present.
　衆参ねじれ国会で重要法案を成立させるには、国民新党に加え社民党の協力を得て、衆院の３分の２以上の賛成による再可決を可能にする必要があるとの判断だ。

However, cozying up the SDP could come back to haunt the Kan administration. The SDP's foreign and security policies bear little in common with those of the DPJ. This will certainly lead to serious problems in the future.
　だが、外交・安保政策で相いれない社民党との連携は、菅政権の政策遂行に大きな足かせとなる。将来に禍根を残すのは確実だ。

The SDP left the coalition government in disgust at the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture to the Henoko district of Nago in the same prefecture. The SDP's position remains unchanged.
　社民党は米軍普天間飛行場の辺野古移設に反対し、連立政権を離脱した。今も同じ立場だ。

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SDP vs Japan-U.S. alliance

We wonder how Kan can strike a balance between working with the SDP and deepening the Japan-U.S. alliance with his visit to the United States next spring and a bilateral joint statement to be issued during his trip.
首相は、社民党との連携と、来春の訪米と日米共同声明による同盟深化をどう両立させるつもりなのか。

SDP leader Mizuho Fukushima has gone so far as to say Japan will be a "merchant of death" if it softens the weapons exports principles. Her remark is nothing but an irrational, hot-button outburst.
　社民党の福島党首は、３原則を緩和すれば日本が「死の商人」になるかのような主張までしている。感情的な暴論と言うほかない。

Japan's security situation has become increasingly severe. This nation must face up to reality of the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear program and missiles, as well as that country's military provocations, including the recent shelling of a South Korean island, and China's military buildup and overbearing approach to securing marine resources and expanding its territory.
　日本の安全保障環境は厳しさを増している。北朝鮮による核・ミサイルの脅威や、韓国への砲撃などの軍事的挑発、中国の軍備増強と海洋権益・領土拡張への強引な手法を直視せねばなるまい。

With only a limited defense budget, Japan's security policy urgently needs to be revised and the Self-Defense Forces transformed into more effective units. Relaxing the weapons exports principles would be a major pillar of this overhaul.
　限られた防衛予算の中、日本の安保政策と自衛隊の体制をより実効性あるものに見直すことが急務で、３原則緩和はその柱だ。

We think cooperative ties between the DPJ-led administration and the SDP are doomed to crumble before long.
　民主党政権と社民党の協力関係は、政策面の矛盾によって遠からず破綻が避けられないだろう。

The government should take this into consideration. Even if the government shies away from clearly saying in the new defense guidelines that the three principles will be eased, it should at the very least mention problems inherent in the current principles and leave the door open to easing the ban in the future.
　その事態を視野に入れて、新防衛大綱では、３原則緩和の明記は見送っても、現行の３原則の問題点を列挙し、緩和の余地を残しておくことが最低限必要である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 10, 2010)
（2010年12月10日01時45分 読売新聞）