The Yomiuri Shimbun November 29, 2013
Passage of NSC bill vital development in safeguarding nation’s peace, security
ＮＳＣ法成立 意義深い与野党の幅広い合意（11月28日付・読売社説）
We welcome the passage of a bill designed to establish an organ to play a key role in issuing directives related to our country’s diplomatic relations and national security. This legislation will soon launch a Japanese version of the U.S. National Security Council, with the aim of ensuring the nation’s peace and security and defending its national interests.
日本の平和と安全を確保し、国益を守るため、政府の外交・安全保障政策の司令塔が誕生することを歓迎したい。
On Wednesday, the Diet enacted the NSC establishment law. Our country’s NSC will be inaugurated in early December. The first task of the soon-to-be-launched command center will be drafting a comprehensive national security strategy, the first of its kind for Japan, while also writing a new version of the National Defense Program Guidelines. This will likely be followed by the launch in January of a national security secretariat that will serve as the NSC’s executive office.
国家安全保障会議（日本版ＮＳＣ）設置法が成立した。１２月初めに日本版ＮＳＣが創設され、まず初の国家安保戦略と、新しい防衛大綱を策定する。年明けには、事務局の国家安全保障局が発足する見通しだ。
The NSC establishment law was endorsed by the governing coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, as well as the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) and Your Party. National security policies should be formulated based on suprapartisan consensus. Given this, it is highly significant that more than 90 percent of lawmakers in both Diet chambers united to pass the NSC bill into law.
設置法には、自民、公明の与党のほか、民主、日本維新の会、みんなの党も賛成した。安保政策は超党派の合意を基に進めるのが望ましい。衆参両院議員の９割超が足並みをそろえた意味は重い。
The envisaged NSC’s central pillar will be a meeting of the prime minister and three key cabinet members—the chief cabinet secretary, the foreign minister and the defense minister. As a general rule, the meeting is to be held once every two weeks, also attended by the deputy prime minister.
ＮＳＣの中核は、首相、官房長官、外相、防衛相による「４大臣会合」で、副総理も交えて、原則、２週間に１回開かれる。
It is most significant that a new system will be set up, by which the prime minister and relevant cabinet members will meet periodically to discuss important issues related to our country’s security and develop a common view on such matters. Themes will include situations related to China and North Korea, the ongoing realignment of U.S. armed forces in this country and issues related to our territory.
中国・北朝鮮情勢や在日米軍再編、領土に関する問題などの重要案件について、首相と関係閣僚が定期的に議論し、共通認識を持つ体制を構築する意義は大きい。
The NSC scheme will make it possible for top officials at the Prime Minister’s Office to afford a certain amount of time and energy to address diplomatic and security matters even at a time when the government is confronted by a number of tasks to be tackled at home. This task will be supported by the NSC executive office, which will comprise personnel with professional expertise, including senior Self-Defense Forces members.
多くの内政課題を抱えている時も、首相官邸が外交・安保案件に一定の時間と精力を充てる。自衛隊の制服組を含め、専門的知見を持つ事務局がこれを支える。
We hope all these arrangements will do much to ensure that diplomatic and security policies are given higher priority and are better formulated.
外交・安保政策の優先度を高め、充実させることにつなげたい。
Ensuring PM takes the lead
It will be necessary to ensure the Prime Minister’s Office takes the lead in determining the direction of security policy, a task that requires eliminating a lack of coordination among pertinent ministries and agencies.
重要なのは、関係省庁の縦割り行政を排し、首相官邸が政策の方向性を主導することだ。
This can be exemplified by such immediate tasks as responding to China’s recent move to set up an expanded air defense identification zone and the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture. Seeking solutions to both problems requires cooperative relations among several government ministries and agencies. The NSC will be tested over its ability to coordinate and adjust cooperation among these government offices.
例えば、当面の課題である中国の防空識別圏や、米軍普天間飛行場の移設の問題などは、複数の省庁の連携が欠かせない。ＮＳＣの総合調整力が試される。
Making appropriate decisions about security issues requires improving the ability of all government organs to gather and analyze information.
安全保障問題で的確な判断をするには、政府全体の情報収集・分析力の向上が前提となる。
The NSC establishment law states that relevant ministries and agencies are required to supply the new organ with information related to its function. Information to be managed by the NSC will include government secrets whose confidentiality would be tightly guarded under an envisaged law seeking to stiffen penalties on public servants who leak such information.
設置法は、関係省庁のＮＳＣへの情報提供義務を明記した。ＮＳＣは特定秘密も扱う。
With this in mind, relevant cabinet members must give their ministry personnel instructions necessary for facilitating a smooth information supply.
円滑な情報提供が実現するよう、関係閣僚は官僚に指示せねばならない。
It is also essential that the Diet does not fail to pass the bill designed to prevent the leakage of specified government secrets. The government should also make progress in reforming the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office, although it has not done so in connection with the NSC scheme.
関係国との情報交換を進めるため、情報漏洩(ろうえい)を防ぐ特定秘密保護法案も成立させる必要がある。
今回は見送られた内閣情報調査室（内調）の改革も進めるべきだ。
Some duties of the NSC and the intelligence and research office may overlap, including analyzing the overseas state of affairs and intelligence regarding acts of international terrorism. The two organizations should promote effective cooperation between them.
ＮＳＣと内調は、海外情勢や国際テロ情報の分析などの業務が重複する可能性がある。効果的な連携体制が求められる。
The Diet has also adopted a resolution supplementary to the NSC establishment law that will require the government to consider producing the minutes of NSC ministerial meetings. This resulted from negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties.
国会では、与野党協議の結果、ＮＳＣの議事録の作成を検討するとの付帯決議が採択された。
Admittedly, it is necessary to create a system for compiling records regarding how decisions are made about important policy issues, so that each decision-making process could be verified in the future. Nonetheless, whether to produce the minutes of NSC meetings and disclose related information must be considered by putting all relevant government meetings into perspective, including cabinet meetings and conferences attended by cabinet ministers related to the NSC scheme.
重要政策の決定過程の記録を残し、後世の検証を受ける仕組みは大切である。ただ、議事録や情報公開は、閣議や関係閣僚会議なども含めた政府の会議全体について総合的に検討するのが筋だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 28, 2013)
（2013年11月28日01時34分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun November 28, 2013
Scope of secrecy must be narrowed; more Diet discussions needed
秘密保護法案 指定対象絞り「原則公開」確実に（11月27日付・読売社説）
◆参院で文書管理の論議を深めよ
The House of Representatives’ passage of a bill to tighten the confidentiality of specified government information can be regarded as a clear indication that many legislators believe this country needs such legislation comparable to what has already been enacted in other advanced nations.
日本にも他の先進国と同様の機密保全法制が必要だとの意思が、明確に示されたと言えよう。
The bill is designed to tighten penalties on public servants and others who leak classified information related to national security. On Tuesday, the legislation was laid before a plenary session of the lower house, which approved it with the endorsement of a significant 70 percent of lawmakers in that chamber—those from the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, as well as Your Party and some other legislators. The bill was then forwarded to the House of Councillors for further discussions.
安全保障に関する機密情報を漏えいした公務員らへの罰則を強化する特定秘密保護法案が、衆院本会議に緊急上程され、自民、公明の与党とみんなの党など議席の７割もの賛成多数で可決、参院に送付された。
Members of the opposition Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) left the chamber before the bill was put to a vote, despite its earlier agreement to support the legislation if some modifications were incorporated into it. Ishin no Kai was antagonized by the governing coalition’s decision to vote on the bill Tuesday instead of going along with its calls for more discussions.
法案修正で合意していた日本維新の会は採決に反発し、退席した。
Although Ishin no Kai regrettably refused to vote in favor of the bill, we find it commendable that the legislation passed the lower house with the backing of many lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties.
維新の会が賛成票を投じなかったのは残念だが、与野党の枠を超えた多くの支持によって、衆院を通過したことは評価できる。
Japan NSC comes into play
◆日本版ＮＳＣと両輪だ
Still, debates on revisions to the initial bill—an amendment drafted by the ruling parties, Your Party and Ishin no Kai—were far from sufficient. It is also a stretch to say that public anxiety about the nature of the bill has been laid to rest, as shown by the widespread fear that the legislation could restrict the people’s right to know.
ただ、与党とみんな、維新がまとめた修正案に対する審議は十分ではない。「知る権利」が制限されることなどへの国民の懸念が払拭されたとも言い難い。
The government and the ruling parties should carefully explain how the envisaged law would be applied in actuality during upper house debates on it, with the aim of gaining broad support for it.
政府・与党は参院審議で、幅広い支持を目指し、制度の運用のあり方も丁寧に説明すべきだ。
Japan’s security environment has become even more difficult in recent years due to such factors as North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs and China’s growing military build-up.
北朝鮮の核・ミサイル開発や中国の軍備拡大など日本の安全保障環境は厳しさを増している。
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had every reason to tell a session of the lower house Special Committee on National Security that “information gathering is critical for defending the safety of the people.”
衆院国家安全保障特別委員会で、安倍首相が「国民の安全を守るため情報収集が極めて重要だ」と述べたのはもっともだ。
The Abe administration intends to establish a Japanese version of the U.S. National Security Council that would play a central role in issuing directives related to Japan’s diplomatic relations and national security. Every nation needs to refine its legal framework to ensure none of its secrets are leaked. This is essential for promoting efforts to exchange and share critical information among allies and friendly powers.
安倍政権は、外交・安全保障政策の司令塔となる国家安全保障会議（日本版ＮＳＣ）を創設する方針だ。同盟国や友好国と重要情報の交換・共有を進めるには、機密が漏えいしない法制を整えることが必要である。
Given this, the envisaged NSC and legislation for preserving the secrecy of crucial information are inseparable when it comes to the government’s strategic decision-making function.
日本版ＮＳＣと機密保全法制は、政府の戦略的な意思決定に欠かせない車の両輪と言える。
The most contentious issue debated in connection with the bill was how the government would actually apply the envisaged law. During debates in the lower house, legislators said it would be impossible to dispel the anxiety that the government could arbitrarily expand the scope of information to be designated under the legislation, thus making it possible to keep concealing such secrets.
法案を巡る最大の論点は、政府が恣意(しい)的に秘密指定を拡大し、都合の悪い情報を秘匿し続けるという懸念が拭えないことだった。
The prime minister brushed off that assertion as a mistaken notion about the bill. He insisted that the legislation would be used as a multilayered system by which the government would be prevented from making arbitrary decisions about designating information as secret. Steps to be taken for that purpose include limiting the scope of designation to items stated in a table attached to the bill, and setting standards for secrecy designation based on the opinions of experts.
首相は、それを誤解だとし、指定範囲が法案の別表に限定され、かつ指定基準も有識者の意見に基づくなど恣意性を排除する「重層的な仕組み」だと主張した。
Information to be classified under the legislation would be removed—as a general rule—from the list of secrets 30 years after its designation. The modified bill stipulates the term of designation for each secret could be renewed by consent of the cabinet, but that the ultimate period would not exceed 60 years, except for areas of critical importance, including secret codes used by the government and sources of confidential information.
特定秘密は原則３０年で解除される。内閣の承認を得て指定が継続されたとしても、暗号や情報源など７項目の例外を除いて「６０年は超えられない」と修正された。
The prime minister told the lower house that information whose designation period could be extended beyond 30 years would be limited, as a general rule, to these seven areas.
首相は、３０年を超えて指定を継続する情報は「７項目に限ることを基本とする」とも表明した。
Debates on the bill in the lower house certainly did much to clarify the government’s thinking about how to apply the law, and also imposed tighter limits on the duration of secrecy designation.
審議を通じて、政府の考え方が明確になり、指定期間もより限定的になったのは確かだろう。
Fend off arbitrary judgment
◆恣意的判断の排除を
Nonetheless, bureaucratic organizations, with their ingrained principle of not rocking the boat, are expected to broaden the range of documents subject to protection as specifically designated secrets and become more cautious about declassifying them.
それでも官僚機構は、「事なかれ主義」の発想で秘密指定の対象を拡大し、解除にも慎重になることが予想される。
Presently, the government possesses about 420,000 documents containing specially managed secrets. Ninety percent of these documents are said to be related to Japan’s information-gathering satellites. The government should narrow down the range of classified information to be protected when it transfers documents into the category of specifically designated secrets.
現在、政府が保有する特別管理秘密文書は４２万件に上っている。その９割は日本の情報収集衛星に関する情報だというが、特定秘密に移行する際は、さらに対象範囲を絞る努力をすべきである。
If the number of specifically designated secrets grows too large, it would be physically difficult to check every piece of classified information and to declassify them should “the heads of administrative organizations” be replaced through a change of government or a cabinet reshuffle. It is important to work out a structure that prevents bureaucrats from hanging on to specifically designated secrets for too long.
特定秘密が大量になれば、政権交代や内閣改造によって「行政機関の長」が代わっても、秘密指定をいちいちチェックし、解除することは、物理的に難しい。官僚が特定秘密を抱え込まない仕組みを工夫することも肝要だ。
During a Diet session, Abe went so far as to say the government should establish a “third-party body” that would examine the appropriateness of the designation of documents branded as secret. He referred to such organizations as the Information Security Oversight Office within the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.
秘密指定の妥当性を検証する「第三者機関」設置について、首相は、米国の国立公文書館にある情報保全監督局などを参考に、「設置すべきだと考えている」と踏み込んだ答弁をした。
It would be unreasonable for specifically designated secrets to be examined by people outside the organization. It would also give rise to the danger of information leaks. If a third-party organization is to be set up, it would be proper to have an internal unit within an administrative organization do the job, modeled on the setup in the United States.
部外者が特定秘密をチェックするのは無理がある。情報漏れのリスクも生じる。第三者機関を設けるならば、米国にならって、行政の内部組織の方が適切だ。
According to the modified bill, all secret documents that have been declassified “are to be made public, in principle” after a certain period. This modification is an improvement that will enable future generations to examine these documents.
修正案で、秘密が解除された情報は一定期間後に「原則公開」とされ、後世の検証が可能になるように改善されたと見ていい。
How such documents should be made public, stored or destroyed are major issues to be resolved. The Democratic Party of Japan asserted that certain rules should be established on information disclosure so that courts will be able to look at specific documents when handling a lawsuit that involves classified information. We think this proposal has some merit.
文書の公開や保存、廃棄のあり方は大きな課題となる。民主党が主張するように情報公開のルールを整備し、機密を巡る訴訟で裁判所が対象文書を見ることを可能にするのも一案ではないか。
As to the Diet’s involvement in specifically designated secrets, the ruling and opposition parties should stipulate such matters as the management of closed meetings through lawmaker-initiated legislation.
国会の特定秘密への関与については、与野党が秘密会の運営など議員立法で規定すべきだ。
Protecting ‘right to know’
◆「知る権利」どう担保
The bill also clearly gave some consideration to the freedom of news gathering and reporting. We welcome the fact that news gathering activity by people in the media will not be considered a crime unless it is conducted illegally or extremely improperly.
法案には、取材・報道の自由への配慮が明記された。報道関係者の取材行為は違法または著しく不当でない限り、罪に問われないとした点は前向きに評価できる。
Some opposition parties have been up in arms and claimed this bill “will cover the people’s eyes and ears and muzzle their mouths” and “control the state’s information and silence any criticism of the Japan-U.S. alliance.” But such fears are off the mark.
一部の野党がこの法案を「国民の目と耳、口をふさぐ」「国家の情報を統制し、日米同盟への批判を封じ込める」と声高に非難しているが、これは的外れである。
That being said, there is a danger that public servants will become so afraid of leaks that they will reject requests for interviews, making it harder for the media to share necessary information with the public.
だが、公務員が萎縮して取材に応じず、報道機関が必要な情報を伝えられなくなる恐れは残る。
How should the protection of classified information for national security be balanced with the people’s “right to know”? This topic also needs in-depth discussion in the upper house.
安全保障のための機密保全と、「知る権利」のバランスをどうとっていくか。この問題も参院で掘り下げるべきテーマだろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 27, 2013)
（2013年11月27日02時13分 読売新聞）
国民には消費税値上げで負担を強い、大企業には法人税減税をほどこす。
税収を狙うんだったら、法人税も１０％切り上げすれば良いと思います。
国際競争力の強化を理由にする法人税減税政策にはうんざりします。
減税で儲けた分、企業の内部留保に回されるのは歴史が証明しています。
企業が海外にどんどん出ていくことは望ましいことです。
大量の日本人スタッフを派遣すれば、失業対策にもなります。
海外からの投資家はすでに活躍しています。
東証で荒稼ぎしているではありませんか。
＞国内企業の７割超が法人税を払っていない点も問題である。
大企業優遇政策であることが判明しました＾＾。
（スラチャイ）
The Yomiuri Shimbun November 27, 2013
Tax changes should boost companies’ competitiveness to promote growth
法人税減税 競争力強化へ具体策を詰めよ（11月26日付・読売社説）
Reducing the corporate tax rate is an effective way to enhance the competitiveness of Japanese companies and reinforce the foundations for national economic growth.
企業の競争力を高め、日本経済の成長基盤を強化するには、法人税率の引き下げが有効だ。
At the instruction of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, tax system talks on further reducing corporate tax have gotten into full swing between the government and the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito.
安倍首相の指示を受けて、一層の税率引き下げを巡る政府と自民、公明両党の税制協議が本格化している。
Their commitment to a growth strategy will be tested by how far they go in presenting a specific course of action.
どこまで具体的な方向性を示せるか。成長戦略への姿勢が問われよう。
In Tokyo, the effective corporate tax rate, when national and local taxes are combined, stands at about 38 percent. Even if the special reconstruction corporate tax—temporarily imposed on companies to finance post-disaster reconstruction projects—is excluded, companies still face corporate tax up to about 36 percent, which is much higher than the rates in European and other Asian countries, where it is mostly in the 20 percent range.
法人税の実効税率は、東京都の場合、国税と地方税合わせて約３８％だ。一時的に上乗せされている復興特別法人税を除いても約３６％となり、２０％台が多い欧州やアジアの国々と比べて高い。
As long as the corporate tax remains high, not only will much of the vitality of Japanese companies be lost, but the hollowing out of industry—companies moving production overseas to avoid the high cost of operating in Japan— may accelerate. The high tax will also have an adverse impact on employment and wages. Furthermore, to attract investment from abroad, a further reduction in the corporate tax rate is urgently needed.
高税率のままでは企業の活力を奪うばかりか、海外移転などで国内空洞化を加速させかねない。雇用や賃金にも悪影響が及ぶ。海外から投資を呼び込むためにも、一層の引き下げが急がれる。
Abe’s intention of improving the competitive environment for companies and adding impetus to the growth of the national economy is quite appropriate.
企業の競争環境を改善し、日本の成長に弾みをつけようとする首相の狙いは適切だ。
More than a few ruling party members take a cautious view about having ordinary households bear a heavier burden due to the consumption tax increase set for next spring, while reducing the corporate tax at the same time.
与党内には、来春の消費税率の引き上げで家計に負担を強いる一方、企業課税を軽くすることに慎重な意見も少なくない。
But it would be more beneficial to create a virtuous circle in which the invigoration of companies would have a ripple effect that would benefit households through wage hikes and other improvements.
だが、企業活性化が賃上げなどを通じて、家計にも波及する好循環を目指すことが有益だろう。
Seek new revenue sources
A cut of even one percentage point in the corporate tax rate is projected to reduce government revenue by about ¥400 billion. Therefore, one significant remaining hurdle is finding a tax revenue source to make up for the shortfall.
ハードルとなるのが、１％の引き下げで約４０００億円とされる法人税減税の財源確保策だ。
As the fiscal situation is harsh, the tax base must be broadened so as to collect taxes from a wider range of companies.
財政事情が厳しいだけに、より幅広い企業から税収を得る課税ベースの拡大が避けられまい。
Special policy measures to reduce corporate taxes on specific sectors of industry have a worth totaling about ¥7 trillion. As these measures vest interests in certain companies and industries, many criticize them as unfair. It is also argued that the policy effects of these steps are uncertain.
政策目的のために特定業種の法人税などを軽減する租税特別措置（租特）は約７兆円に上る。一部企業や業界の既得権益となり、不公平だとの批判が多い。政策効果が不透明だという指摘もある。
The government and the ruling parties should consider abolishing the special tax-cut measures deemed to have outlived their intended purpose, and cutting the scale of measures whose effect has been lessened.
租特のうち、役割を終えた制度の廃止や、効果が薄れた制度の縮減などを検討すべきだろう。
The fact that more than 70 percent of domestic companies do not pay corporate taxes is also problematic.
国内企業の７割超が法人税を払っていない点も問題である。
One possible idea is to review the system of carrying forward net operating losses, under which companies can reduce their tax expense by applying net operating losses from the past several years to the current year’s profit. With this option it would be possible to have more companies pay their fair share of taxes.
長期間にわたって、過去の損失を利益から差し引ける繰越欠損金制度を見直し、多くの企業に相応の税負担を求めるのは一案だ。
The abolition of the special corporate tax for post-disaster reconstruction one year earlier than initially planned, as worked out by the government, is also an important topic for talks by the ruling parties.
政府が打ち出した復興特別法人税の１年前倒し廃止案も、与党の重要な協議テーマである。
The one-year difference will cut tax revenues by ¥900 billion, lessening the burden on companies.
前倒し廃止により、９０００億円規模の税負担軽減が見込まれる。
However, a shortage of funds needed for reconstruction projects because of this measure must be avoided. The government and ruling parties have to clearly state an alternative revenue source and win the understanding of the people so as not to hinder the rebuilding effort.
ただ、そのために、復興財源が不足する事態は避けるべきだ。復興に支障をきたさぬよう、政府・与党は代替財源を明示し、国民の理解を得なければならない。
Also needed is for companies to use their accumulated internal reserves to make their own efforts. We hope to see the reinforcement of a strategy in which surplus funds at companies are used effectively and help rejuvenate the national economy.
内部留保を手元に積み上げてきた企業の自助努力も求められる。余剰資金を投資に有効活用し、日本経済再生に寄与する戦略を強化してもらいたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 26, 2013)
（2013年11月26日01時45分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun November 26, 2013
Push ahead measures to tackle climate change with international cooperation
ＣＯＰ１９閉幕 国際協調で温暖化対策を前へ（11月25日付・読売社説）
Due to the conflicting interests of developed and developing countries, including emerging economies, the just-concluded discussions on climate change made hardly any progress. The latest U.N. talks on the issue vividly demonstrated the difficulties facing the international effort to tackle global warming.
先進国と、新興国を含む途上国の利害がぶつかり、議論が進まない。地球温暖化対策の現状が如実に示された。
The 19th Conference on Climate Change (COP19) has ended in Warsaw. The participants extended the meeting by one day, managing to prevent it from breaking down.
ワルシャワで開かれていた国連気候変動枠組み条約の第１９回締約国会議（ＣＯＰ１９）が閉幕した。会期を１日延長し、決裂だけは回避した。
A new greenhouse gas reduction framework to replace the Kyoto Protocol is to be implemented in 2020. By when should the participating countries submit their voluntary greenhouse gas emission targets for the years beyond 2020? As to this major point of contention, the participants agreed on a final draft of their joint communique that encourages their governments to present their targets in 2015.
京都議定書に代わる新たな枠組みは、２０２０年に発効予定だ。各国は温室効果ガスの２０年以降の自主的な削減目標をいつまでに提出するか。最大の焦点について、「１５年に提出することを奨励する」との最終案が合意に達した。
While advanced countries had tried to put a specific process in motion to build a new framework, developing countries opposed specifying the timing. It can be said that both sides went as far as they could in reaching the agreement. The negotiations on a new framework have a tough road ahead.
新たな枠組みへの具体的な道筋を着けようとする先進国に対し、途上国は時期の明示に反発した。ぎりぎりの線での合意だったと言えよう。新たな枠組みを巡る交渉の前途は多難である。
Recent spates of climate catastrophes such as the occurrence of super typhoons are said to be caused by global warming. When the delegation from the Philippines, which was hit hard by Typhoon No. 30, appealed for an immediate increase in efforts to tackle global warming, the appeal won the sympathy of other countries.
巨大台風の頻発など、このところの気候異変は、地球温暖化に起因しているとも言われる。台風３０号による甚大な被害を受けたフィリピンの交渉団が「すぐに行動を」と温暖化対策の前進を訴えると、各国の共感を呼んだ。
Developing nations want help
While sharing a sense of crisis over global warming, developing countries repeatedly asserted that advanced countries should proactively support them because of their weak financial position. They did so because they believe the advanced countries are responsible for global warming, as they have emitted a massive amount of greenhouse gas with their industrial production.
温暖化の危機感は共有しつつ、途上国側は、先進国が資金力に乏しい途上国を積極的に支援すべきだと主張し続けた。温暖化を招いた責任は、生産活動で温室効果ガスを大量に排出してきた先進国にあるとの理由からだ。
Indeed, it will be necessary to extend a certain amount of support to developing countries that cannot afford to take measures to deal with environmental issues on their own.
環境対策に手が回らない途上国に、一定の支援は必要だろう。
On the other hand, we should not forget the reality that the total amount of emissions from developing countries as a whole has topped the total amount for advanced countries now. It was quite reasonable for advanced countries, including Japan, to call on developing countries to adopt the stance of reducing emissions on their own initiative.
一方で、途上国全体の排出量が今や、先進国を上回っていることを忘れてはならない。途上国にも主体的に排出量を減らす姿勢が求められる、とする日本など先進国側の主張はもっともだ。
In particular, such emerging economies as China—the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gas—need to assume their fair share of responsibility for reducing the emissions.
特に、世界一の排出国である中国など新興国は、排出削減に応分の責任を負う必要がある。
Environment Minister Nobuteru Ishihara emphasized at the COP19 conference that the new framework should be fair and effective and be applied to all countries. It is vital to firmly maintain this course of action.
石原環境相はＣＯＰ１９で、新たな枠組みについて、「公平で実効性があり、すべての国に適用される内容でなければならない」と強調した。この方向性を堅持していくことが肝要である。
At the conference, the Japanese government expressed its new goal of “reducing its domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 3.8 percent from the fiscal 2005 level by the end of fiscal 2020,” a target that drew criticism from other countries as being too low.
日本政府は「２０年度までに０５年度比３・８％削減」という目標を表明したが、各国から「削減率が低すぎる」との批判を浴びた。
Yet the 3.8 percent cut is a numerical value set at a time when none of the nation’s nuclear power stations, which do not emit any carbon dioxide when generating electricity, are operating.
しかし、「３・８％減」は、発電時に二酸化炭素を排出しない原子力発電所が一つも稼働していない現状での数値だ。
The government should expedite its efforts to work out a basic energy plan that specifies a future ratio of nuclear power generation. It is important for the government to raise the emissions reduction target by the end of 2020 based on such a basic plan and to make steady progress in setting a realistic target for the years beyond 2020.
政府は、原発の将来的な比率を明示したエネルギー基本計画の策定を急ぐべきだ。その上で、２０年までの削減目標の上積みと、２０年以降の現実的な目標の設定を着実に進めることが重要である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 25, 2013)
（2013年11月25日01時17分 読売新聞）
企業は何故政治献金をするのか？
見返りがあるからです。
政治献金は法律で禁止すべきだと思います。
そうしない限り自民党の特定企業中心優遇政策は続きます。
お金があればなんでもしても良いというわけではありません。
1票は1票なんです。
大卒でも小学卒でも。
タイではそれを問題にしているようですが、それはエリート意識というものです。
タイからロンドンのオックスフォード大学に留学している子女たちのエリート意識には、唖然とさせられます。
タイに戻って政界に入ったら、農民や貧困層無視の政策を展開するのでしょう。
それでも1票は1票なんです。
（スラチャイ）
The Yomiuri Shimbun November 25, 2013
Inose's explanation of why he took Tokushukai funds defies common sense
猪瀬氏に５０００万 「個人の借り入れ」は通らない（11月24日付・読売社説）
In a development that left many scratching their heads, Tokyo Gov. Naoki Inose was found to have received ¥50 million from the Tokushukai medical group—under investigation by prosecutors for suspected election law violations—just before the December Tokyo gubernatorial race, in which he was elected to the post for the first time.
極めて不自然な現金の授受である。
昨年１２月の東京都知事選で初当選した猪瀬直樹知事が、強制捜査を受けた医療グループ「徳洲会」側から選挙前に５０００万円を受け取っていた。
According to his accounts, Inose visited Torao Tokuda, a former House of Representatives member and the founder of Tokushukai, in November last year to solicit support for his election bid, shortly after which the hospital group offered to provide funds to Inose. He received the ¥50 million directly from Takeshi Tokuda, the second son of Torao and a lower house member, at the Diet members’ building.
猪瀬知事は昨年１１月、グループ創業者の徳田虎雄・元衆院議員を訪ね、知事選への支援を要請した。その後、徳洲会側から資金提供に応じるとの申し出があり、次男の徳田毅衆院議員から議員会館で５０００万円を渡されたという。
What was the purpose of the funds?
現金の趣旨は何だったのか。
If they were meant for election campaigning, Inose was required to declare the ¥50 million in a campaign funds report, in accordance with the Public Offices Election Law. But there was no mention of the funds from Tokushukai in Inose’s report.
選挙運動のためであれば、公職選挙法に基づき、選挙運動費用収支報告書に記載しなければならない。知事の収支報告書に５０００万円の記載はない。
At a press conference, the governor said, “I personally borrowed the funds because I worried my savings would be wiped out due to election campaigning.” He is apparently claiming that because the funds from Tokushukai were not for his election campaign, his conduct did not violate the election law.
知事は記者会見で「選挙活動で預金が底をつくかも分からず、個人として借りた」と述べた。選挙資金ではないから、公選法に抵触しないとの主張だろう。
It is, however, only natural to assume he received the cash with the view of possibly using it for election campaigning as it was just before the start of official campaigning for the Tokyo race when he asked Tokuda to support his candidacy.
だが、選挙運動に充てる可能性もあったと解釈するのが自然ではないか。支援を要請したのは告示が間近に迫った時期だった。
Inose said he gave an IOU to Tokuda, but what exactly he scribbled down on the note is unknown, although he claimed the money was a no-interest, no-collateral loan. It was nonetheless a monetary transaction that is far from the social norm.
借用書を渡したと語ったものの、記載内容は明確でない。５０００万円は無利子、無担保だったという。常識からかけ離れた現金のやり取りだったと言えよう。
Disclosure came late
Even if it was a personal loan, as Inose claims, there is a problem. Although a metropolitan government ordinance requires the governor to report any loans, if any, in an asset disclosure statement, Inose did not do so. He revised the statement only after the scandal came to light Friday.
猪瀬知事が主張するように、個人の借り入れだったとしても問題はある。都条例は、借入金などを資産報告書に記載するよう義務付けているが、知事は記載していなかった。問題が発覚した２２日になって、資産報告書を訂正した。
The timing of his returning the money also stokes suspicion. The governor returned the money in full in late September right after the special investigation squad of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office searched Tokushukai’s Tokyo headquarters and other locations, suspecting violations of the election law.
返済時期も不自然である。知事は、東京地検特捜部が公選法違反容疑で徳洲会東京本部などの強制捜査に乗り出した直後の今年９月下旬、全額を返していた。
“I told them I would return the money in January or February, but I never got around to it,” Inose explained. But it is hard not to suspect he returned the money hastily as the investigation unfolded.
知事は「今年１～２月に返すと伝えたが、チャンスがなかった」と説明している。捜査の進展を受け、慌てて返済したのではないかとの疑念はぬぐえない。
The metropolitan and prefectural governors have the authority to grant permission to open hospitals and supervise them after they open. 都道府県知事は病院などの開設を許可する権限を持つ。開設後も指導監督する立場にある。
There are a number of hospitals and nursing homes for the elderly run by Tokushukai in Tokyo, but Inose denied providing any quid pro quos to the medical group for receiving the money—an act, in the first place, showing his lack of consciousness about social norms.
都内には徳洲会グループの病院と介護老人保健施設が存在する。猪瀬知事は、徳洲会側への便宜供与を否定したが、そもそも資金の受領自体、規範意識に欠ける。
The governor is playing a central role in preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. We regret that this scandal has poured cold water on the festive mood of hosting the sports extravaganza.
都知事は、２０２０年東京五輪・パラリンピックの開催準備で、中心的役割を担う。今回の問題が、せっかくの五輪ムードに水を差したのは残念である。
If the scandal is prolonged, it could have negative ramifications on his management of the Tokyo metropolitan government. He must urgently give every possible explanation to convince doubters.
問題が長引けば、都政にも支障を来しかねない。知事は早急に説明を尽くすべきである。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 24, 2013)
（2013年11月24日01時49分 読売新聞）