英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun
China’s military reform could lead to heightened tensions with U.S.
中国軍機構改革　対米挑戦姿勢は緊張を高める

China has started a structural reform of its military to enhance its readiness for modern warfare entailing the full use of high-tech weapons.
　ハイテク兵器を駆使する現代戦への即応態勢を整えるため、中国が軍の機構改革に着手した。

The latest move can be described as a new phase in China’s drive to build a strong army, the goal pursued by President Xi Jinping through rapid progress in his country’s military build-up. Japan and the United States must closely cooperate to strengthen their guard against China’s continuously evolving military.
　軍備増強を急速に進めてきた習近平国家主席の「強軍路線」が新たな段階に入ったと言えよう。日米は緊密に協調し、進化する中国軍への警戒を強めねばならない。

At a recent military conference, Xi emphasized that deepening national defense and military reform are “requirements of the times” to be fulfilled in pursuing “the dream of a strong army.” He also said China would seek to build, by the end of 2020, a structure for the integrated operation of units from its army, navy, air force and 2nd Artillery (strategic missile forces).
　習氏は最近、軍の会議で、「国防と軍隊の改革を深めることは、『強軍の夢』を実現する時代の要請だ」と強調した。２０２０年までに、陸海空３軍と第２砲兵（戦略ミサイル部隊）を統合運用する体制を構築する方針も示した。

The reform drive entails a plan to reorganize the current structure, which divides the whole country into seven major military districts, each mainly controlled by the army. The plan will rearrange these districts into four to five combat zones, followed by a measure to establish a joint operational command organization in each zone. The reform is aimed at ensuring that orders from the nerve center of the military are thoroughly enforced among frontline troops, thereby making it possible to flexibly respond to any situation.
　全土を７地域に分けた陸軍主導の７大軍区を、４〜５程度の「戦区」に改編した上で、各戦区に「統合作戦指揮機構」を新設するという。軍中央の命令を前線部隊に徹底し、機動的な対応ができるようにする狙いである。

The current military districts are so strongly influenced by the army that there is a serious degree of vertical segmentation in military management there. There is inadequacy of the army’s cooperation with the navy, air force and missile unit. Xi’s reform drive seems to reflect his belief that, if the current situation goes unrectified, his country will not be able to effectively implement its strategy − known as “anti-access area denial (A2/AD)” − for preventing U.S. intervention in a military contingency.
　現行の軍区は陸軍の影響力が強く、縦割りが深刻だ。海空軍やミサイル部隊との連携も十分でない。このままでは、米軍の有事介入を阻む「接近阻止・領域拒否（Ａ２ＡＤ）」戦略を有効に実施できないと判断しているのだろう。

Xi in command

China’s military reform reflects Xi’s wishes. Since the launch of his administration in the autumn of 2012, he has striven to build “an army that can win a war,” a task necessary for transforming his nation into “a great maritime power.”
　軍改革は、１２年秋の政権発足以来、「海洋強国」建設に向けて、「戦いに勝てる軍」を目指してきた習氏の意向を反映したものだ。

The prevailing view has been that it will be difficult to reorganize the military districts due to strong resistance from the army. However, Xi’s success in initiating his reform drive means that he has cemented his power base by removing all foes within the military through his policy of clamping down on corrupt practices. He may also have intended to further tighten up the military.
　軍区の改編はこれまで、陸軍の抵抗が激しく、難しいとの見方が多かった。今回、習氏が改革を始動できたのは、腐敗摘発で軍内の政敵を完全に排除し、権力基盤を固めたことを意味する。軍をさらに引き締める意図もあろう。

Earlier, the Xi administration said it would slash his country’s 2.3 million soldiers by 300,000. This seems to entail cuts mainly in the number of noncombatants in the army, a task that can be made possible through a reorganization of the military districts. Budgetary resources to be accrued from this will likely be used for selected purposes of high priority, such as those tied to state-of-the-art weapons to be used by the three arms of the military.
　習政権は先に、２３０万人の兵力を３０万人削減する計画を表明している。軍区改編に伴い陸軍の非戦闘員らを中心に減らし、その分の予算を海空軍の最新兵器などに重点投入するとみられる。

China is reportedly accelerating efforts to develop a next-generation stealth bomber and a new intercontinental ballistic missile while also building several domestically designed aircraft carriers.
　中国は、次世代ステルス戦闘機や新型の大陸間弾道ミサイル（ＩＣＢＭ）の開発、複数の国産空母の建造を急いでいるとされる。

We believe Xi’s decision to unveil his military reform plan at this point in time signifies he was keenly aware of how relevant nations have acted in connection with China’s recent movements. For instance, the United States sent a warship to the South China Sea, and conducted patrol activities in waters near artificial islands reclaimed by China in the region. Japan too has been trying to restrain China.
　この時期に軍改革を発表したのは、南シナ海の人工島付近で艦艇による巡視活動を行った米国や、中国を牽制けんせいする日本など関係国の動向を意識したのではないか。

China is also increasing the frequency of naval exercises in the Western Pacific, with a view to advancing into the so-called Second Island Chain, which extends from the Izu Islands to Guam. China’s maritime activities have also been noticeable in waters around the Senkaku Islands. The country’s undisguised provocative acts against the Japan-U.S. alliance will only add to tensions in the region.
　伊豆諸島からグアムに至る「第２列島線」まで進出するため、西太平洋で海軍の訓練も増やしている。尖閣諸島周辺での活動も目立つ。日米同盟に露骨に対抗する動きは地域の緊張を招くだけだ。

However, it should be noted that even the U.S. forces required many years to achieve integrated military operation. Our nation’s Self-Defense Forces are still halfway there in pursuit of a similar goal. China’s neighboring countries need to closely watch whether Xi’s military reform drive will proceed as he calculated.
　ただ、統合運用は米軍でさえ、実現に長年を費やした。自衛隊もまだ途上にある。周辺国は、中国軍の改革が習氏の計算通りに進むのか、注視する必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 16, 2015)