英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun November 20, 2013
Build strategic ties with ASEAN in security, economic fields
ＡＳＥＡＮ外交　安保・経済で戦略的な連携に（11月19日付・読売社説）

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has stepped up efforts to reinforce ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
　安倍首相が東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）との連携強化に力を入れている。

We applaud his efforts for serving as a check against China, which has been increasing its military and economic presence, and for their strategic importance in ensuring regional stability.
　軍事、経済の両面で台頭する中国を牽制(けんせい)し、地域の安定を図る上で戦略的重要性を持つと評価できる。

Abe visited Cambodia and Laos on Saturday and Sunday, completing visits to all 10 ASEAN member nations in less than one year since he took office.
　首相がカンボジアとラオスを訪問した。就任から１年足らずでＡＳＥＡＮ加盟の１０か国すべてを回り終えたことになる。

During his latest swing through the region, Abe explained his government’s diplomatic policies, saying Japan will contribute to world peace through proactive pacifism based on the principle of international cooperation.
　首相は今回の訪問で、日本の外交方針について「国際協調主義に基づく積極的平和主義の立場で貢献していく」と説明した。

Leaders of Cambodia and Laos hailed Japan’s postwar progress as a pacifist nation and supported Abe’s diplomatic stance. They also agreed to promote security dialogue between Japan and their countries. Deepening mutual understanding through such endeavors has great significance.
　カンボジアとラオスの首脳は、平和国家・日本の戦後の歩みを評価し、首相を支持した。安保対話の促進でも合意しており、相互理解を深めていく意義は大きい。

It was also decided that Japan will help train Cambodian personnel who will participate in U.N. peacekeeping operations. Self-Defense Forces personnel were dispatched to Cambodia in 1992 in Japan’s first U.N. peacekeeping mission. Sharing the SDF’s expertise in road construction and maintenance could contribute to deepening bilateral security cooperation.
　国連平和維持活動（ＰＫＯ）に参加するカンボジアの要員育成に日本が協力することも決まった。カンボジアでのＰＫＯに日本は初めて自衛隊を派遣した。自衛隊の道路整備技術などを伝えることは安保協力の深化につながろう。

In a series of meetings, discussions were held on the situation in the South China Sea, where China is locked in territorial disputes with the Philippines, Vietnam and other Asian nations. Abe and the Cambodian and Laotian leaders concurred on the need to finalize as soon as possible the code of conduct that ASEAN and China have been discussing.
　一連の会談では、中国とフィリピン、ベトナムなどとの領有権争いが続く南シナ海情勢についても協議した。ＡＳＥＡＮと中国が交渉中の「行動規範」を早期に策定する必要性で一致した。

A code of conduct, which has legal binding power, would aim to use international rules to curb any Chinese use of force to expand its maritime interests.
　法的拘束力を持つ行動規範は、国際ルールによって、中国の力による進出を抑え込む狙いがある。

Japan, U.S. back code

Japan and the United States support efforts to compile this code, but China has been lukewarm on the matter. Beijing has been trying to curry favor with Cambodia, Laos and other pro-China ASEAN countries, thereby inducing a split among the group’s members.
日米は規範策定を支持するが、中国は消極的だ。親中的なカンボジアやラオスなどを懐柔し、ＡＳＥＡＮ内の分断も図っている。

But now that Cambodia and Laos have shown a positive attitude toward this code of conduct, Tokyo expects it will have a favorable effect on ASEAN’s unity.
　カンボジアとラオスが行動規範に前向きな姿勢を示したことで、日本政府はＡＳＥＡＮの結束に好影響を及ぼすと期待している。

The is not a matter of someone else’s business for Japan, given that this nation has been the target of China’s saber-rattling over the Senkaku Islands.
　尖閣諸島を巡る中国の示威行動に直面する日本にとっても、この問題は他人事(ひとごと)ではない。

Harnessing the vigor of Southeast Asia’s remarkable economic growth will be indispensable for promoting the Abe administration’s growth strategy. It was natural that Abe said at a news conference in Laos, “Japan’s growth cannot be achieved without ASEAN’s.”
　経済発展著しい東南アジアの活力を取り込むことは、安倍政権の成長戦略に欠かせない。首相がラオスでの記者会見で「ＡＳＥＡＮの成長なくして、日本の成長もない」と語ったのはもっともだ。

In the health and medical treatment fields, a memorandum was signed on introducing Japanese-style medical care. This is expected to increase exports of Japanese drugs and medical equipment.
　保健や医療分野の協力では、日本式医療の導入に向けた覚書を締結した。日本の医薬品や医療機器の輸出増も期待できる。

Japan plays a major role in ASEAN market integration. Intergovernmental negotiations should be accelerated to create an environment that can facilitate more investment by Japanese businesses.
　ＡＳＥＡＮの市場統合に日本が果たす役割は大きい。日本企業が投資しやすい環境作りへ、政府間協議を加速させるべきだ。

Japan and ASEAN have a profound relationship, and this year marks the 40 anniversary of bilateral friendship and cooperation. Japan will host a special summit meeting with ASEAN leaders in Tokyo in mid-December. We hope this will be an opportunity to further buttress Japan-ASEAN ties.
　日本とＡＳＥＡＮの関係は深い。今年は、友好協力４０周年の節目に当たる。１２月中旬には、東京に各国の首脳を迎えて特別首脳会議を開く。協力をさらに強固にする機会としたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 19, 2013)
（2013年11月19日02時17分 読売新聞）