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南シナ海情勢 緊張高める中国の「現状変更」

The Yomiuri Shimbun
China must be urged not to unilaterally change status quo in South China Sea
南シナ海情勢 緊張高める中国の「現状変更」

On one hand, China is discussing peace in the South China Sea with its Southeast Asian neighbors, but on the other, it is trying to change the status quo there through unilateral actions. Beijing needs to realize this inconsistency will result only in aggravating tensions and distrust between the two sides.
 南シナ海の平和について協議しながら、一方的な「現状変更」を強行する。これでは、関係国との緊張と相互不信を拡大させるばかりだ。

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s administration is undertaking reclamation work on several reefs it effectively controls in the Spratly Islands to create artificial islands. The reclamation work is under way at six of the seven reefs controlled by China, according to reports. All the reefs are subject to territorial disputes between China and other countries, such as Vietnam and the Philippines.
 中国の習近平政権がスプラトリー(南沙)諸島で、実効支配する岩礁を埋め立てて、「人工島」を造成する工事を進めている。七つの岩礁中、六つが対象という。いずれも、ベトナムやフィリピンなどと領有権を巡って係争中だ。

China claims sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea based on the so-called nine-dash line it drew after ignoring international law. However, the international community, represented by Japan, the United States and Europe, does not recognize the nine-dash line because it lacks legal grounds.
 中国は、国際法を無視する形で独自に設定した「九段線」を基に、南シナ海のほぼ全体に主権が及ぶと主張している。しかし、九段線には法的根拠がなく、日米欧を含む国際社会は認めていない。

It is apparent that the reclamation work runs counter to the 2002 Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, which was signed between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to avoid tensions from escalating or becoming more complex.
 事態の複雑化や紛争を避けるため、中国と東南アジア諸国連合(ASEAN)が2002年に署名した南シナ海の「行動宣言」にも反する行動ではないか。

The reclamation work has drawn angry responses from Hanoi and Manila, and nations indirectly involved have expressed deep concern. We call on China to exercise restraint in building artificial islands, which is an attempt by China to reinforce its control over the reefs in the Spratly Islands.
 ベトナムやフィリピンは強く反発し、関係国は懸念している。中国は、実効支配の強化を狙った人工島造成を自制すべきだ。

Hegemonic behavior

In October, China revealed that Fiery Cross Reef, a reef that used to be submerged at high tide, had become an “island” with an area of about one square kilometer, the biggest island in the Spratly chain. About 200 military personnel are now stationed there, and Beijing has decided to build an airfield there, according to reports.
 中国誌は10月、満潮時に水没する暗礁だった「永暑礁」が、南沙諸島で最大の約1平方キロの「島」になったと伝えた。軍関係者約200人が駐留し、飛行場の建設も決まっているという。

Currently, there are no airfields in the Spratly Islands. China’s aim is apparent — to develop Fiery Cross Reef into a military base so it can command the skies in the area. Some observers believe China is now considering the establishment of an air defense identification zone in the South China Sea.
 現在、南沙に中国の飛行場はない。「制空権確保」に向け、永暑礁を軍事拠点化する中国の狙いは明らかだ。防空識別圏の設定を検討しているとの見方もある。

For Japan and the United States, important sea-lanes straddle the South China Sea. Ensuring the freedom of navigation there is vital for the two nations. China’s hegemonic behavior should never be condoned.
 日本や米国にとって、南シナ海は主要な海上交通路(シーレーン)に位置する。「航行の自由」の確保が死活的に重要だ。中国の覇権主義的行動は、看過できない。

ASEAN is now calling for upgrading the nonbinding 2002 declaration to a legally binding code of conduct.
 ASEANは、南シナ海の「行動宣言」を、関係国への法的拘束力を持つ「行動規範」に格上げすることを求めている。

China has agreed to hold talks with ASEAN, but is extremely reluctant on formulating the code of conduct. The two sides were unable to start compiling a draft at a high-level meeting last month. We cannot help but conclude that China is using the talks to gain time until it succeeds in amassing faits accomplis, such as building artificial islands.
 中国は、協議に応じながらも、規範策定には極めて慎重だ。10月の高官協議でも、原案の策定作業に入れなかった。人工島などの既成事実化までの「時間稼ぎ」と批判されても仕方あるまい。

Next week, a summit meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum will take place in Beijing. The East Asia Summit will also be held in Myanmar.
 来週には、北京でアジア太平洋経済協力会議(APEC)首脳会議、ミャンマーでは東アジア首脳会議(EAS)が開かれる。

The security situations in the South China and East China seas will likely become a point of contention at the two meetings.
 南・東シナ海の安全保障情勢も一つの焦点となるだろう。

The importance of preventing nations from using their military or economic power to unilaterally change the status quo and of establishing order on the high seas based on the rule of law should be widely shared by state leaders.
 軍事力や経済力を背景にした一方的な現状変更を許さず、「法の支配」による海洋秩序を構築する。この重要性の認識を首脳レベルで広く共有しなければならない。

It is important for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Barack Obama to join hands with other nations concerned to press China to take responsible actions.
 安倍首相やオバマ米大統領が、関係国と連携し、中国に責任ある行動を促すことが大切である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 5, 2014)Speech
by kiyoshimat | 2014-11-06 13:39 | 英字新聞

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