英字新聞

終戦直後、普天間基地は当時の広大な空き地に建設された。
基地を当て込んで人々が住み始めたのは、その後のことだ。
それを今更移設しろというのは筋が違うと思いますが。
普天間基地の周辺は米軍基地で成り立っている。
周辺の住民が辺野古移設を強硬に求めているというのはウソ。
辺野古に移設しないと困るのは、辺野古周辺に土地を買い占めた議員たちだけでしょう。
（スラチャイ）

--The Asahi Shimbun, June 23
EDITORIAL: More talks needed on bilateral defense alliance
日米安保合意―同盟修復にはなったが

For the first time in four years, the foreign and defense ministers of Japan and their U.S. counterparts reviewed "common strategic objectives" on June 21 and agreed on military cooperation and role-sharing.
　日米両国の外務・防衛担当閣僚が、４年ぶりに「共通戦略目標」を見直し、防衛協力や役割分担について合意した。

The first meeting of its kind since the Democratic Party of Japan came into power, it served a certain purpose as an occasion for Tokyo and Washington to compare notes on various issues, especially the East Asia situation that has grown more complex.
　民主党政権では初めてのことであり、不透明さを増す東アジア情勢などをめぐり、日米が認識や政策をすりあわせたことには一定の意義があった。

A joint statement issued after the meeting warned of "challenges posed by the increasingly uncertain security environment" in East Asia due to China's emergence, and urged China to "adhere to international norms of behavior."
　新たな戦略目標は、中国の台頭に「地域の安全保障環境を不安定にしうる」との懸念を示し、国際法の順守や責任ある役割を促した。

With regard to North Korea, the statement also spelled out a new common strategic objective, which is to "deter provocations by North Korea."
北朝鮮にも「挑発を抑止する」と強い姿勢で臨んでいる。

Another point that should be noted is that Tokyo and Washington are now calling for multilateral security cooperation with Australia, South Korea, India and others.
　オーストラリアや韓国、インドなどと多国間の安保協力を進めようという発想も目を引く。

But the main purpose of the meeting was to mend and reinforce the Japan-U.S. alliance that became shaky over the proposed relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, since the DPJ came to power.
　ただ、今回の合意は民主党政権になって、普天間飛行場の移設問題をめぐって揺らいだ同盟関係を、修復させることに大きなウエートがおかれた。

Although the joint statement was titled "Toward a Deeper and Broader U.S.-Japan Alliance: Building on 50 Years of Partnership," we believe the partners were well aware of the need to stop the alliance from further deterioration.
　副題には「より深化し、拡大する日米同盟に向けて」とあるが、「同盟の退化を止めた」というのが実情だろう。

While the successful Japan-U.S. cooperation in aiding survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11 helped advance the bilateral alliance, some of the new common strategic objectives the partners agreed on suggest that Tokyo bit the bullet in order to accommodate Washington's wishes.
　東日本大震災での日米協力の成功がその機運を高めたとはいえ、米側の期待に応えようとして日本側が困難を承知の上で、あえて盛り込んだと映る内容もある。

On the thorny Futenma relocation issue, for instance, Tokyo agreed to spell out the construction of a facility in the Henoko district of Nago in the prefecture even though there is still no prospect of building such a facility because of adamant local opposition.
　たとえば、懸案の普天間飛行場の移設問題では、沖縄の根強い反対で実現の見通しが立たない名護市辺野古への代替施設建設を明記した。

The agreement has not only reversed the clock to the days of the coalition government of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, but is also certain to further deepen the rift between Tokyo and Okinawa.
自公政権時代の合意に戻っただけでなく、沖縄とのミゾをさらに深めるのは確実だ。

The new agreement means Okinawa's demand for the relocation of U.S. military training facilities remains unanswered, and a dangerous military base is going to become a permanent fixture in a crowded residential zone.
　これでは、地元が求める訓練移転が進まないまま、住宅密集地の中に危険な軍用空港が固定化されてしまうことになる。

With regard to the proposed transfer of U.S. carrier-based aircraft to the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Tokyo agreed to consider Mageshima island in Kagoshima Prefecture as the site of the landing and takeoff training facility required by Washington.
　また米空母艦載機の岩国基地への移駐にからみ、米側が求める発着訓練の実施先として、鹿児島県の馬毛島を検討することも決めた。

The locals are resisting this vehemently, and Tokyo has certainly created a new source of strife.
地元の反発は強く、米軍再編の新たな火種になるのは避けられない。

Moreover, on the matter of export to third countries of jointly-developed ballistic missile interceptors, Tokyo agreed to Washington's proposal without coming up with any clear guidelines of its own.
　それだけではない。共同開発を進める弾道ミサイル防衛用の迎撃ミサイルの第三国移転についても、あいまいな指針で、なし崩し的に合意してしまった。

We have consistently called for serious discourse in the Diet concerning our country's three basic principles of arms export.
　私たちはかねて、武器輸出三原則に絡めた国会での本格論議を求めてきた。

We cannot possibly allow the new export agreement in the absence of any regulatory measure.
具体的な歯止めがないまま移転が進む事態は、とても見逃すことができない。

Japan is going to pay dearly for the result of the ministerial meeting in Washington.
　日本が背負う代償が大きいのに、

But Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who has already announced his intention to resign, is in no shape to handle the situation.
いったん退陣表明をした菅直人首相には、まともに向き合う余裕はない。

And U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is stepping down at the end of this month.
米側も今月末で国防長官が交代する。

Given these irregular circumstances in which the ministerial agreement was hammered out, a fresh round of talks must be held to give the agreement any meaning and truly deepen the bilateral alliance.
　こんな、どたばたの中での合意に意義を持たせるには、改めて同盟深化を着実に進めるための仕切り直しが必要だ。