英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun March 13, 2014
New weapons export rules needed to clarify national security stance
武器輸出新原則　安全保障の観点を重視したい（3月13日付・読売社説）

In streamlining arms export rules, it is important to give serious consideration to how to respond to the new security environment surrounding Japan, taking into account changes in the times.
　時代の変化を踏まえ、新たな日本の安全保障環境への対応を重視することが肝要である。

The government has presented to the ruling parties a draft on “three principles on transferring defense equipment” to replace the current three principles on arms exports. After gaining the consent of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, the government aims to obtain Cabinet approval this month.
　政府が、武器輸出３原則に代わる「防衛装備移転３原則」の原案を与党に示した。与党の了承を経て、月内の閣議決定を目指している。

The contents of the current three principles became very complicated because the government has so far authorized as many as 21 exceptions by way of statements by chief cabinet secretaries and other measures after a de facto total ban on arms exports was adopted in 1976 by the cabinet of then Prime Minister Takeo Miki. It is appropriate to reorganize all the rules into easier-to-understand principles.
　武器輸出３原則は、１９７６年の三木内閣による実質的な全面禁輸後、官房長官談話などで計２１件もの例外を認め、複雑な内容となった。全体を整理し、分かりやすい新原則にすることは妥当だ。

The government said it would change the name of the principles to “three principles on transferring defense equipment” to more accurately reflect reality. For instance, heavy machinery used in international cooperation activities by the Self-Defense Forces, and other things which may not appear to be a type of weapon, is subject to the arms export rules.
　３原則の名称を「防衛装備移転」に改めるのは、国際協力活動で使う重機など、武器には見えないものも対象とする実態を、より正確に反映するためだという。

According to the draft, the government will continue to ban exports to countries engaged in conflict, as it will not allow exports to such countries if they may hinder international peace and security. On the other hand, it will allow exports after a strict screening process if the exports contribute to peace, international cooperation and Japan’s national security.
　原案は、国際的な平和と安全を妨げる場合は輸出しないとして、紛争当事国への禁輸を継続した。一方で、平和貢献・国際協力や日本の安全保障に資する場合は、厳格な審査を経て輸出を認める。

It also contains a policy that in very important cases, final decisions on exports will be made by the National Security Council, not the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, which basically oversees the rules.
　重要案件は、主管の経済産業省でなく、国家安全保障会議（日本版ＮＳＣ）が輸出の可否を最終判断する方針も示している。

It is quite significant that the draft clarifies the stance on national security in arms exports.
　武器輸出における安全保障の観点を明確化した意義は大きい。

Arms exports, as well as their joint development and production, are not just trade. As a form of defense cooperation, they are extremely meaningful in the relations between the countries involved.
　そもそも武器の輸出や共同開発・生産は、単なる貿易にとどまらず、防衛協力として、国家間の関係に極めて重要な意味を持つ。

Important diplomatic tool

Japan has been promoting Japan-U.S. joint development and production of a ballistic missile defense system and the next-generation main fighter F-35 with the goal of strengthening the two nations’ alliance through sharing of state-of-the-art defense technologies.
　日本が弾道ミサイル防衛システムや次期主力戦闘機Ｆ３５の日米共同開発・生産を進めたのは、最新鋭の軍事技術の共有により、同盟関係を強化する狙いがあった。

Expansion of defense equipment cooperation with the United States, European countries and Australia, for instance, will ensure the peace and security of Japan itself.
It would also follow the policy of “proactive contribution to peace” advocated by the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. On some occasions, it may serve as an important diplomatic trump card.
　米国や、欧州各国、豪州などと装備面の協力を拡大することは、日本自身の平和と安全の確保につながり、安倍政権の「積極的平和主義」とも合致する。時には、有力な外交カードともなろう。

For instance, there would be mutual advantages for Japan and the countries that become export destinations in such cases as Japan exporting anti-tank helicopter parts whose production has been discontinued in the United States or providing weapons to coastal countries along Japan’s sea lanes.
　例えば、米国で生産中止となった対戦車ヘリコプター部品の輸出や、日本の海上交通路の沿岸国への武器提供は、日本と輸出先の双方にメリットがある。

In light of the need to maintain domestic defense production and technology bases amid concerns over their decline due to continued defense budget cuts in recent years, excessive controls on arms exports should be relaxed.
　近年続いた防衛費削減で衰退が懸念される国内防衛生産・技術基盤を維持する必要性も踏まえ、過剰な規制は緩和すべきだ。

In the draft, international organizations such as the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons were added as export destinations. The new addition will enable Japan to respond swiftly in such cases as the one in December last year in which rifle ammunition was supplied to South Korean forces in South Sudan through the United Nations.
　原案は、輸出先として、国連や化学兵器禁止機関（ＯＰＣＷ）など国際機関を追加した。昨年１２月の南スーダンにおける国連経由の韓国軍への弾薬提供のケースなどで、円滑な対応が可能になる。

In cases of weapons transfers to third countries from export destinations, the draft obliges the countries that originally imported the equipment to obtain prior consent from Japan in principle. Naturally, strict export controls will be a requirement in determining such rules. However, they should be made practical to have a flexible framework that simplifies the process of issuing permission for a very small portion of weapons parts.
　輸出先からの第三国移転には、基本的に日本の事前同意を義務づけた。厳格な輸出管理を求めるのは当然だが、武器のごく一部の部品については、同意を簡略化する柔軟な仕組みが現実的だろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 13, 2014)
（2014年3月13日01時22分 読売新聞）