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海兵隊移転協定 民主党は「反米」志向なのか

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Apr. 16, 2009)
DPJ taking wrong stance on marine relocation
海兵隊移転協定 民主党は「反米」志向なのか(4月16日付・読売社説)

The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan has reiterated that the Japan-U.S. security alliance is the linchpin of this nation's security. But does the party really regard it this way?
 民主党は、日米同盟を「わが国の安全保障の基軸」と強調している。だが、本当にそう考えているのか。大いに疑問を抱かせる対応である。

The House of Representatives approved Tuesday an accord that commits Japan and the United States to following through on the planned transfer of U.S. marines from Okinawa Prefecture to Guam by 2014. But the DPJ voted against the accord.
 在沖縄米海兵隊のグアム移転に関する日米協定承認案の衆院採決で民主党が反対した。

Due to the constitutional superiority of the lower house, the accord will clear the Diet within 30 days regardless of how the House of Councillors votes on the bill.
 協定承認案は、与党などの賛成多数で衆院を通過した。憲法の規定で、参院の議決にかかわらず、協定は30日以内に承認される。

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Opposing accord unwise

Under the accord, 8,000 U.S. marines would be transferred to Guam, and Japan would shoulder 2.8 billion dollars for projects related to U.S. base facilities for the marines in Guam. This would result in a significant reduction in the prefecture's burdens in hosting U.S. bases. The measures must be implemented as stipulated.
 協定は、2014年までに米海兵隊員8000人をグアムに移転し、日本がグアムでの米軍施設整備費28億ドルを支出する内容だ。沖縄の基地負担を大幅に軽減するものであり、着実に実現したい。

The DPJ argued it opposed the accord as the disclosure of information on the relocation plan is not sufficient and the grounds for cost calculations have not been made clear.
 民主党は、反対の理由として、グアム移転に関する情報開示が不十分なうえ、経費の積算根拠が不明確だ、と主張する。

Such problems have arisen mainly because the United States has yet to decide on certain details of the relocation plan. Of course, the government should call on the United States to cooperate in disclosing more information and see if it can reduce its financial burden.
 これらの問題は主に、米側の移転計画の詳細が決まっていないことに起因している。政府が米側に働きかけ、情報開示や経費節減に努めるのは言うまでもない。

But opposing the accord means something very different. It would not be wise to overturn the landmark accord that will see 8,000 U.S. marines leave the prefecture. Such a move would significantly damage the relationship of trust that exists between Japan and the United States.
 だが、協定に反対するのは、次元の違う重みを持つ。米兵8000人の削減という画期的な合意を覆すのは得策でないうえ、日米の信頼関係を大きく損なう。

The DPJ also opposes the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Ginowan within the prefecture. This relocation plan is seen as integral to the relocation of marines to Guam. The DPJ stance is that the functions of Futenma Air Station should be relocated outside the prefecture or abroad.
 民主党は、海兵隊のグアム移転と一体の計画とされる普天間飛行場の沖縄県内移設にも反対し、県外・国外移設を訴えている。

When Japan and the United States reached a basic agreement on the return of Futenma Air Station in 1996, it was premised on the air station being relocated within the prefecture. Even concerned local governments, including the Okinawa prefectural government, have accepted this, although they have called for minor adjustments regarding the location of alternative facilities. This is because the local governments want to see their burdens reduced as soon as possible.
 普天間飛行場の返還は1996年の日米の基本合意以来、一貫して県内移設が前提だった。沖縄県など地元自治体も、代替施設の位置の微修正は求めているが、県内移設は容認している。迅速な負担軽減を希望するからだ。

Revisiting the plan to relocate Futenma within the prefecture would mean turning the clock back 13 years. Is the DPJ determined and confident enough to press ahead with undoing every bilateral agreement related to the relocation and to renegotiate with the United States to try to achieve a new agreement that would better serve Japan?
 県内移設の見直しは、時計の針を13年前に戻すことを意味する。民主党は、一連の日米合意をすべて白紙にする覚悟と、再交渉を通じて日本により有利な合意をまとめる自信があるのだろうか。

The DPJ also has called for the discontinuation of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling activities in the Indian Ocean and for a review of the so-called sympathy budget allocation tied to hosting U.S. forces in Japan. DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa has said that the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet alone would be sufficient to secure the U.S. military presence in the Far East in connection with the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.
 民主党は、インド洋での海上自衛隊の給油活動の中止や、在日米軍の思いやり予算の見直しも唱えている。小沢代表は「在日米軍は第7艦隊で十分」と発言した。

Such remarks could be interpreted as meaning Ozawa is taking an anti-American stance rather than acknowledging the importance of the Japan-U.S. security alliance.
 これでは、日米同盟を重視するどころか、「反米」志向と受け止められても仕方あるまい。

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Recognize responsibilities

It is not a bad thing per se to make demands of the United States. But it is a serious defect of the DPJ to make demands while failing to talk about the burdens it would take on to strengthen the alliance.
 米国に注文すること自体は悪くない。だが、民主党の重大な欠陥は、要求するだけで、同盟強化のため自らどんな負担をするのか、何も具体的に語らないことだ。

Prior to the next lower house election, the DPJ should hold intraparty discussions on its foreign policy and security platform so it can present comprehensive policies on these matters. This would be the minimum responsibility that a political party seeking to take power should fulfill.
 民主党は衆院選前に、外交・安全保障全般の党内論議を行い、包括的な政策をきちんと明示すべきだ。それが、政権交代を目指す政党として最低限の責任である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 16, 2009)
(2009年4月16日01時32分 読売新聞)
by kiyoshimat | 2009-04-16 12:00 | 英字新聞

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by kiyoshimat