英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun June 23, 2013
Obama's call for U.S., Russian N-cuts should help boost stability in Asia
米核軍縮提案　中国の核増強にも目を向けよ（6月22日付・読売社説）

U.S. President Barack Obama’s proposal for Russia to start new negotiations to reduce both sides’ nuclear weapons should lead to enhancement of security in Asia amid a growing mood for nuclear disarmament.
　核軍縮の機運の高まりを生かし、アジアの安全保障環境の改善へつなげることが重要である。

In Berlin, Obama recently made a speech seeking such negotiated cuts with Russia.
　オバマ米大統領がドイツの首都ベルリンで演説し、ロシアに新たな核軍縮交渉を提案した。

Obama said he wants to reduce the maximum number of U.S. and Russian deployed strategic nuclear warheads by one-third from 1,550--set under the New START, which stands for Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty--to about 1,000 each.
　戦略核弾頭の配備数の上限を、現在の米露の新戦略兵器削減条約（新ＳＴＡＲＴ）が規定する１５５０個から３分の１減らして、１０００個程度にしたいという。

He also intends to target smaller, tactical nuclear weapons, which are less powerful, for the proposed cuts.
　比較的威力が小さい戦術核兵器も、削減対象に加える方針だ。

The U.S. president appears to have used the speech to express his willingness to continue to pursue nuclear disarmament during his second term in office after achieving the conclusion of the New START in his first term.
　オバマ氏は、任期１期目で達成した新ＳＴＡＲＴに続く核軍縮の成果を、２期目でも引き続き追求する意欲を表明したと言える。

Prospects of N-talks unclear

However, Russia has given the cold shoulder to Obama’s call, with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin saying Moscow “can’t take such a proposal seriously.”
　ロシア側は、ロゴジン副首相が「真剣に受け止めることはできない」と述べるなど、提案の受け入れには否定的だ。

Russia is strongly concerned that U.S. plans for a missile defense system in Europe could weaken its nuclear deterrent capability.
米国が欧州で進めるミサイル防衛（ＭＤ）計画によって自らの核抑止力が弱まることを強く警戒しているためだ。

Therefore, prospects of the proposed nuclear disarmament negotiations are dim. But the United States and Russia, both nuclear superpowers, in particular bear responsibility for ensuring world stability.
　軍縮交渉の行方は不透明だ。それでも核大国の米露両国には、世界の安定に特別の責任がある。

At present, there are reportedly more than 10,000 nuclear weapons in the world, of which 95 percent are owned by these two countries. It is not convincing if they urge other countries to refrain from having nuclear weapons or to reduce their nuclear arsenals without making any reductions themselves. We hope the both countries will keep that point in mind and sincerely work on nuclear reductions.
　世界には１万を超す核兵器がある。その９５％を保有する両国が、自らの核を削減せずに、いくら他国に核を持つな、核を減らせ、と言っても、説得力は持つまい。その点を自覚して、核軍縮に真摯(しんし)に取り組んでもらいたい。

In making the proposal, Obama also said his country would work together with its North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies to seek cuts in U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear weapons.
　今回の核軍縮提案に際し、オバマ氏は、戦術核の削減へ向け、北大西洋条約機構（ＮＡＴＯ）の同盟国とも協力すると述べた。

N-weapons spreading in Asia

Meanwhile, the ability of Obama, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his vision and work to seek “a world without nuclear weapons,” likely will be tested over his future efforts in Asia, where nuclear weapons have spread.
　「核兵器のない世界」の理念を掲げてノーベル平和賞を受賞したオバマ氏の真価が問われているのは、核を巡る環境が悪化しているアジアでの取り組みだ。

Currently, China has about 250 nuclear warheads. China, India and Pakistan have been building up their nuclear arsenals while North Korea has conducted three nuclear tests, pressing ahead with its efforts to develop nuclear missiles.
　中国の核弾頭は２５０個に達している。その中国やインド、パキスタンは核兵器を増強し、北朝鮮は核実験を３度強行して核ミサイル武装化にひた走っている。

In Japan, which depends on the U.S. “nuclear umbrella” amid such circumstances, some people may worry that Washington’s push for nuclear reductions could have adverse effects on regional stability in Asia.
　米国の“核の傘”に抑止力を頼っている日本としては、こうした状況で米国が核軍縮を進めれば、かえって地域の安定が損われはしまいか、とも懸念される。

However, Obama said in the Berlin speech, “I’ve determined that we can ensure the security of America and our allies, and maintain a strong and credible strategic deterrent,” even if the United States and Russia reduce their nuclear weapons in line with Obama’s proposal. Such remarks are reassuring.
　オバマ氏が、今回提案の核削減を実行しても、「米国と同盟国の安全は確保でき、抑止力を維持できる」と述べたことは心強い。

Meanwhile, we urge China to promote nuclear reductions in tandem with the United States and Russia. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Obama have agreed to push for North Korea’s denuclearization. To urge Pyongyang to abandon nuclear weapons, however, Beijing should scale down its own nuclear capability.
　中国には、米露に協調して核削減を進めるよう、強く求めたい。中国の習近平国家主席はオバマ氏と、北朝鮮の非核化で一致した。北朝鮮に核放棄を迫るためにも自らの核軍縮が求められよう。

Also, to allow the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty to come into force as early as possible, Washington and Beijing should work together to build support in their countries to ratify it.
　核実験全面禁止条約（ＣＴＢＴ）の早期発効へ、条約批准を急ぐ点でも米中は協調すべきである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 22, 2013)
（2013年6月22日01時33分 読売新聞）