DPJ's troubling stand on refueling mission
外交・安保 民主党は「給油」の代案を示せ(7月31日付・読売社説)
How should the nation deal with the threats posed by North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles as well as acts of international terrorism? How can Japan's national interests be protected while this nation works in tandem with international society?
北朝鮮の核・ミサイルや国際テロの脅威にどう備えるのか。国際社会と協調しながら、日本の国益をいかに守るか。
We hope political parties will hold animated discussions on what course Japan's diplomatic and security policies should take, during their campaigns for the upcoming House of Representatives election.
各政党は衆院選を通じて、外交・安全保障政策の方向性を大いに論じてもらいたい。
At the moment, the topic on many observers' lips is the Self-Defense Forces' refueling mission in the Indian Ocean.
目下の焦点は、インド洋での海上自衛隊の給油活動だ。
In a recent moderation of its foreign and security policy, the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan announced a plan to continue, for the time being, the refueling mission, which the party once decried as violating the Constitution.
民主党は、かつて「憲法違反」とまで批判していた給油活動を当面継続する新方針を打ち出した。
However, DPJ leader Yukio Hatoyama said Wednesday his party would not extend the mission once the new Antiterrorism Law expires in January. We find the party's fickle response to this important mission hard to fathom.
ところが、鳩山代表は、来年1月の新テロ対策特別措置法の期限切れ後は活動の延長はしないと表明した。分かりにくい対応だ。
Why did the DPJ decide to continue the operation for the time being if it believes it violates the Constitution? If the party withdraws the Maritime Self-Defense Force from the Indian Ocean, just what does it plan to contribute to the international fight against terrorism? Does it plan to do nothing at all?
「憲法違反」の活動を、なぜ当面は継続するのか。仮に海自を撤収させる場合、「テロとの戦い」のために、代わりに何をするのか。それとも何もしないのか。
The DPJ has a responsibility to provide clear answers to these questions.
民主党は衆院選前に、これらの点を明確にする責任がある。
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Afghanistan proposal weak
In 2007, the party submitted to the Diet a counterproposal to the ruling bloc's antiterrorism bill. The DPJ's alternative plan called for providing humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan after a formal ceasefire has been reached in the war-torn country. The grim reality, however, is that there is absolutely no prospect of such an accord being signed. The upshot is that the DPJ proposal practically means that Japan would sit on its hands and offer nothing to the international fight against terrorism.
一昨年、民主党が国会に提出した新テロ特措法の対案は、アフガニスタンでの武力抗争停止の合意後に人道復興支援を行う内容だった。そんな合意の見通しはなく、事実上は何もしない案だ。
Given that, the proposal is unlikely to be warmly supported in foreign capitals.
同じ案では、国際社会の理解は到底得られまい。
The DPJ proposed in its manifesto that Japan will share roles with the United States and proactively fulfill its responsibilities to build an "equal Japan-U.S. relationship."
民主党の政権公約は、「対等な日米関係」を構築するため、「米国と役割を分担しながら日本の責任を積極的に果たす」と明記した。
The expression "equal relationship" suggests the DPJ intends to back away from the path trodden by the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, which it claims have been content to follow the lead of the United States.
「対等な関係」とは、自公政権は米国に追従してきたが、民主党政権は違う、という趣旨だろう。
The DPJ manifesto says the party plans to propose to the United States that the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement be revised and the realignment of U.S. forces stationed in Japan be reviewed.
公約によれば、日米地位協定や米軍再編の見直しを米側に提起するという。
But if the DPJ is serious about bringing these pledges to fruition, it must explain what international responsibilities it plans to fulfill. Failure to do so will sink any hopes the party has of building an "equal relationship" with the United States.
だが、その実現には、まず、どんな国際的な「責任」を果たすのかを示すことが不可欠だろう。それなしに、「対等な関係」を築けるはずがない。
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Adapting to the real world
On the other hand, the party offered forward-looking pledges on the antipiracy mission off Somalia and cargo inspections that form part of the international sanctions imposed on North Korea. These steps indicate the DPJ is open to taking a more realistic approach to foreign and security policy matters.
一方で、ソマリア沖の海賊対策や、北朝鮮制裁目的の貨物検査に前向きな政策を示したことは現実路線化の表れと評価できる。
But we have some niggling doubts, not least the party's plan to form a coalition government with the Social Democratic Party, which opposes the dispatch of SDF personnel on overseas missions. Will the DPJ be able to continue the MSDF antipiracy mission despite the SDP's objections?
ただ、懸念もある。自衛隊の海外派遣に反対する社民党との連立政権を目指していることだ。社民党の反対を押し切って海自の海賊対処活動を継続できるのか。
The right to collective self-defense is another key issue. The LDP plans to incorporate this subject in its election pledges. We welcome this move.
集団的自衛権の問題も重要な論点である。自民党は政権公約に盛り込む方針だ。歓迎したい。
The LDP's election pledge will be based on a proposal by a panel of experts led by former Ambassador to the United States Shunji Yanai. The pledge is expected to state that the government will review its interpretation of the right to collective self-defense, which, according to the government, the nation possesses but is prohibited from exercising under the Constitution.
柳井俊二・元駐米大使が座長を務めた有識者懇談会の提言を基に、集団的自衛権の行使を禁じる政府の憲法解釈の変更を想定している。
The threats posed by North Korea amplify the need to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance. Exercising the nation's right to collective self-defense will be an important step to achieving this goal.
北朝鮮の脅威を踏まえれば、日米同盟を強化する必要性は高まっている。集団的自衛権の行使は、その重要な一歩となろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 31, 2009)
(2009年7月31日01時21分 読売新聞)