The Yomiuri Shimbun January 21, 2014
Urgent need to establish legal framework for minor self-defense rights
マイナー自衛権　円滑な危機対処法制を整えよ（1月21日付・読売社説）

With the deteriorating security environment around Japan, establishing a legal framework that would enable the nation to deal with a variety of crises promptly and effectively is an urgent need.
　日本の安全保障環境が悪化する中、様々な危機に迅速かつ効果的に対処できる法制度を整えておくことが急務である。

The government is studying plans for legal arrangements and responses that fall under what have been called minor self-defense rights, which cover contingencies that stop short of full-scale military attacks.
　政府が、本格的な武力攻撃には至らないような緊急事態に対する自衛権（マイナー自衛権）に関する法整備や対応策の検討を進めている。

Possible scenarios in which such defense rights would be exercised include the occupation of a remote island by armed special forces of an unknown nationality or disguised as fishermen, and intrusions into Japanese territorial waters by foreign submarines that continue underwater operations in defiance of requests to exit the area.
　武装した国籍不明の特殊部隊や偽装漁民が離島を占拠する。他国の潜水艦が領海侵入し、退去要請に応じずに潜没航行を続ける。そんな事態を想定したものだ。

Last year, Chinese military vessels directed fire-control radar at Japanese vessels and the country unilaterally established an air defense identification zone. China’s intrusions into waters around the Senkaku Islands have become constant.
　中国は昨年、海軍艦船のレーダー照射や一方的な防空識別圏の設定を強行した。尖閣諸島周辺での領海侵入も恒常化させている。

Rather than being an unrealistic scenario, the occupation of a remote island is a “clear and present danger.”
　離島占拠などは、決して非現実的なシナリオではなく、「今そこにある危機」である。

There have been very few cases in contemporary warfare in which one country has launched an armed attack along with a large-scale invasion following a declaration of war. It is more likely that a small crisis would accidentally develop into a serious situation.
　現代戦では、国家が宣戦布告し、大規模な侵攻を伴う武力攻撃を仕掛ける例は少ない。むしろ小さな危機が重大な事態に発展する蓋然性の方が高い。

We are pleased that the new National Defense Program Guidelines highlight the importance of coping with events that fall into “gray areas” between peace and overt hostilities. Countermeasures must be implemented flexibly and seamlessly based on the situation from the first signs of an emergency.
　新防衛大綱が、平時と有事の中間にある「グレーゾーンの事態」への対応の重要性を指摘しているのは、適切だ。事態の兆候段階から、その進展に応じて、機動的でシームレスな（継ぎ目のない）対処が求められよう。

Weapon usage

The focal point is how to expand the Self-Defense Forces’ right to use weapons.
　焦点は、自衛隊の武器使用権限の拡大である。

Currently, the SDF has only slightly more discretion to use force than the police do, even when patrolling the seas. There is a large difference between what is currently permitted and allowing the defense forces to be mobilized based on the right of self-defense, with the discretion to use all weaponry at their disposal. Thus, the current rules cannot be considered sufficient to deal with a heavily armed group that has occupied a remote island.
　現在は、海上警備行動の発令時でも、武器使用の裁量は警察権より若干広いだけだ。自衛権に基づき、あらゆる武器使用が可能な防衛出動との落差は大きい。離島を占拠した重武装の集団などを制圧するのに十分とは言えない。

Ordering an SDF mobilization must meet three requirements: “an imminent and illegal incursion against this country,” “the lack of appropriate alternative measures” and “using the minimum amount of military force.” These are high hurdles to clear, and going through necessary procedures takes time.
　一方で、防衛出動の発令には、「我が国に対する急迫不正の侵害」「他に適当な代替手段がない」「必要最小限の武力行使」という自衛権発動の３要件を満たす必要がある。そのハードルは高く、手続きにも時間がかかる。

Filling the legal gaps in the Self-Defense Forces Law, which sets these three conditions, could enable smooth crisis management and help strengthen Japan’s deterrent force.
　この法の隙間を埋めることが円滑な危機対処を可能にする。抑止力の強化にもつながるはずだ。

One option could be, for example, revising the SDF law to establish new fields of duty, including territorial security, and giving the SDF discretion to use force accordingly.
　例えば、自衛隊法を改正し、自衛隊に領域警備任務などを新設して、それに応じた武器使用権限を与えることが、一つの有力な選択肢となるだろう。

However, there is concern that if the requirements are set too strictly, the SDF could not effectively perform their new duties. It is essential to adopt a system that would enable the flexible mobilization of defense forces.
　ただ、新たな任務の要件を厳しくしすぎると、実効性が失われる。自衛隊の柔軟な部隊運用が可能な仕組みにすることが肝心だ。

Minor self-defense rights fall within the range of individual self-defense rights. Discussions on the matter must be promoted along with the government’s revision of constitutional interpretation of the right of collective self-defense, which is indispensable for strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance and furthering international cooperation.
　マイナー自衛権は、個別的自衛権の範囲内である。日米同盟と国際連携の強化に不可欠な集団的自衛権に関する政府の憲法解釈の見直しと同時並行で、検討作業を着実に進めてもらいたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 21, 2014)
（2014年1月21日01時14分  読売新聞）