英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Chinese govt continues headlong with self-serving, authoritarian approach
中国全人代閉幕　「独善」と「強権」が進む一方だ

It appears the administration of Chinese President Xi Jinping has further strengthened its self-serving approach to foreign policy, and its authoritarian governance over domestic matters.
　中国の習近平政権の独善的な対外姿勢と内政面の強権統治が一段と強まったと言えよう。

China’s National People’s Congress, its equivalent of the Diet, has closed its annual meeting.
　中国の全国人民代表大会（全人代＝国会）が閉幕した。

At a press conference after the Congress closed, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang was asked about Japan-China ties. He said, “There have been some signs of an improvement in Sino-Japanese ties, but it is not fully established and still fragile.” On issues related to perceptions of history, Li made a request to Japan, saying: “It is important to match one’s words with concrete actions. What I don’t want to see is [the issues] going backwards.”
　李克強首相は記者会見で、日中関係について、「改善の勢いはあるが、強固ではなく、脆弱ぜいじゃくだ」と強調した。歴史問題でも、「言行を一致させるべきだ。元の道に戻るのを目にしたくない」と述べ、日本の対応に注文を付けた。

Earlier this month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also displayed his distrust of Japan when he said: “On the one hand, the Japanese government and leaders say nice things about wanting to improve relations. On the other hand, they are making trouble for China at every turn.” He then criticized Japan by saying, “This is a typical case of double-dealing.”
　王毅外相も先に、「日本の政府と指導者は関係改善が必要と言う一方で、絶えず中国に対し、面倒を起こしている」と、不信感を示した。日本を「裏表のある人のやり方だ」とも批判していた。

These comments probably stemmed from resentment at such factors as Japan’s moves, in tandem with the United States, to check the expansion of China’s effective control of the South China Sea.
　日本が米国と歩調を合わせて、中国による南シナ海での実効支配の拡大を牽制けんせいすることなどに反発しているのだろう。

However, we think it is China that is being Janus-faced, as it advocates “peaceful development” even while its actions heighten regional tensions. The point China argues is absurd.
　だが、二面性があるのは、「平和発展」を標榜ひょうぼうしながら、地域の緊張を高める中国の言動ではないか。中国の指摘は筋違いだ。

According to the U.S. government, Beijing is expected to complete the establishment of military facilities on manmade islands in the South China Sea at the end of this year or early next year.
　米政府によると、南シナ海の人工島の軍事拠点化は年末か来年初めに完成する見通しだという。

In a swipe aimed at the United States, Wang said: “China cannot be accused of ‘militarization.’ The label is more suited to some other countries.” But no matter how much the Xi administration uses sophistry, it cannot cover up its military expansion.
　王氏は米国を念頭に、「軍事化のレッテルは中国には貼れない。ぴったりの国がある」とも語った。習政権がいくら詭弁きべんを弄しても、軍拡の実態は糊塗ことできまい。

Senkaku ruling inappropriate

It is unacceptable that the Supreme People’s Court (China’s Supreme Court), in a report to the Congress, insisted China had demonstrated “jurisdiction” over waters around the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. It said a Chinese maritime court had mediated a case involving a collision between a Chinese fishing vessel and a Panama-registered freighter in September 2014.
　最高人民法院（最高裁）が全人代の報告で、沖縄県の尖閣諸島海域で「司法管轄権」を示したと主張したことも受け入れられない。一昨年９月の中国漁船とパナマ船籍貨物船の衝突事故を中国の海事裁判所が調停したとしている。

While this aimed to raise the issue of territorial sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands, the collision actually happened outside the territorial waters of the islands, so China’s standpoint has no foundation. The Japanese government rightly lodged a protest.
　尖閣諸島に対する領土主権を訴える狙いだろうが、そもそも発生場所は尖閣諸島の領域外であり、中国の見解に根拠はない。日本政府が抗議したのは当然である。

The National People’s Congress also adopted a new five-year plan for economic and social development. Worryingly, a chapter titled “building a national security system” that was added to this blueprint included steps to strengthen the monitoring of opinions expressed on the Internet.
　全人代では、経済・社会政策に関する新５か年計画が採択された。懸念されるのは、「国家安全体制の構築」という項目が計画に追加され、ネット世論の管理強化などが盛り込まれたことだ。

Since the Xi administration was launched, it has stepped up its oppression of human rights lawyers and nongovernmental organizations. It is certain that censorship, such as tighter controls on the media, will be further strengthened in the name of this “national security system.”
　習政権は発足以来、人権派弁護士や民間活動団体（ＮＧＯ）に対する抑圧をエスカレートさせてきた。「国家安全体制」を名目に、メディアの締め付けなど言論弾圧をさらに強めるのは確実だ。

The ruling administration’s anxiety over the economic slowdown also is behind its moves to strengthen its control. The string of speakers at the Congress voicing concern over overseas shopping sprees by Chinese was probably another indication of this.
　統制強化の背景には、政権の経済減速への危機感もあろう。中国人による外国での「爆買い」を憂慮する声が全人代で相次いだのは、その表れではないか。

Even if China tries to suppress dissenting opinions by force, its image as an anachronism will only spread through the international community.
　中国が力で異論を抑え込もうとしても、時代錯誤とのイメージが国際社会で広がるだけだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 18, 2016)