英字新聞

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）