--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 25
EDITORIAL: Despite tussles, Japan, S. Korea, China must learn to cooperate
（社説）日中韓会談　協力の重み自覚して

Although the current mood among Japan, China and South Korea is not totally positive, the foreign ministers of the three countries held talks in Tokyo on Aug. 24.
いまの日中韓の間に漂う雰囲気は、それほど良好とは言えない。それでも、３カ国の外相が集う会談が東京で開かれた。

Such meetings among the top diplomats of the three countries should play a vital role in stability and development in Northeast Asia.
We welcome the fact that this important meeting took place again this year following the one held last year.
北東アジアの安定と発展に重要な役割を果たすべき会合であり、昨年に続き定期開催できたことを前向きに受け止めたい。

Disputes tend to immediately strain relations between two countries. But the two countries locked in a diplomatic row may feel comfortable attending a meeting involving a third nation.
This smart formula should be used effectively for three-way relationships. A meeting among the leaders of the three countries should also be held by the end of the year.
２国間に対立問題があれば、外交関係は直ちに滞りがちだ。だが、３カ国の枠組みという名目なら出席しやすい。この知恵を生かしたい。首脳会談も年内に必ず実現させるべきだ。

Unlike last year, when perceptions about history took center stage, tensions this year have grown over national security issues.
歴史認識の問題が大きく取り上げられた昨年とは様相が変わり、今年は安全保障問題で緊張が高まっている。

One security issue straining relations between Japan and China are the disputes over islands in the East China Sea and the South China Sea.
その一つは日中間にある東シナ海・南シナ海問題である。

The number of Chinese government vessels entering areas around the Senkaku Islands has increased sharply this month. China has continued sending ships into Japanese waters around the islands despite Tokyo’s repeated protests.
China’s actions run counter to a bilateral agreement struck in 2014 to “prevent the deterioration of the situation through dialogue.”
今月、尖閣諸島周辺の領海に侵入する中国の公船が一気に増え、日本政府が抗議をしても続いている。「対話を通じて情勢の悪化を防ぐ」とした一昨年の日中合意に反するものだ。

Another security issue creating tensions in the region lies between China and South Korea.
もう一つは中国と韓国の間にある。

In response to the decision by Seoul and U.S. forces stationed in South Korea to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system in the country, China has taken steps that appear to be reprisals, such as canceling some cultural exchange events.
韓国と在韓米軍が新たなミサイル防衛システムの配備を決めたことに対し、中国が文化交流行事の停止など、報復ともみられる動きをみせている。

Behind all these issues are internal political factors that make it hard for the countries to make concessions. The tussles also reflect the intensifying tug of war between the United States and China in the Asia-Pacific region.
これらの背景には、それぞれの国内で、対外的に譲歩しにくい政治の事情があり、また、アジア太平洋地域での米中間の綱引きの現れという面もある。

The factors creating friction among Japan, China and South Korea will continue rocking their diplomatic relations. That makes it all the more important for the three countries to hold regular meetings of their leaders and ministers.
日中韓を取り巻く多くの摩擦の要因は今後も外交関係を揺らし続けるだろう。だからこそ、３カ国が首脳や閣僚の会合を定期的に開く意義は大きい。

Despite their disagreements over certain issues, the three countries face a raft of challenges they should tackle in a cooperative manner.
対立点を残しながらも協調して取り組むべき課題はいくつもある。

The biggest challenge is the security threat posed by North Korea. The country fired a missile from a submarine on Aug. 24 that reached Japan’s air defense identification zone.
最大のテーマは北朝鮮だ。きのう、再び北朝鮮が潜水艦発射弾道ミサイルを発射し、日本の防空識別圏内に到達した。

In a natural response to the missile firing, the foreign ministers of the three countries agreed to demand that North Korea stop such provocative acts.
３外相が挑発行動の自制を北朝鮮に求めることで一致したのは当然だ。

In particular, China, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council with close ties to North Korea, should use its influence to put pressure on Pyongyang.
特に国連安保理常任理事国であり、北朝鮮と密接な関係をもつ中国がその影響力を使うよう強く求めたい。

It is also a pity there has been little progress in creating a framework for economic cooperation among the three countries, such as a trilateral free trade agreement.
日中韓の自由貿易協定といった経済協力の枠組みづくりが滞っていることも残念だ。

Given the combined economic weight of the three countries, which together account for 20 percent of the world economy, they should do more to find a formula to expand their economic cooperation.
３カ国合わせて世界経済の２割という比重を考えれば、もっと歩み寄りの工夫を追求すべきだろう。

Earlier this month, a Japan Coast Guard patrol vessel rescued crew members of a Chinese fishing boat that sank after a collision with a Greek freighter off the Senkaku Islands.
今月、尖閣沖の海域で中国の漁船が沈没し、日本の巡視船が乗組員を救助した。

The episode drove home the reality that situations requiring cooperation from the two neighboring countries facing the same sea can arise at any time.
同じ海を囲む隣国間では、手を差し伸べ合う事態が日常的に起こりうる現実を思い起こさせた。

The three countries are bound by the undeniable need for cooperation over not only rescue operations at sea but also environmental problems and disaster responses.
They should continue steady efforts to expand and enhance their cooperative relationships.
海難救援だけでなく、環境問題や災害対策などを含め、３カ国には切っても切れぬ近隣ならではの関係がある。地道に協力を積み上げていきたい。