The Yomiuri Shimbun March 29, 2014
Designated quake areas must implement safety precautions immediately
巨大地震防災 強化地域の対策推進が急務だ(3月29日付・読売社説)
Countermeasures to deal with possible gigantic earthquakes and tsunami must be implemented without delay. It is hoped that the government’s designation of municipalities for boosting preparations for huge earthquakes will serve as an earnest step toward the local adoption of antiquake measures.
巨大地震・津波対策は待ったなしだ。自治体が本腰を入れて取り組む一歩としたい。
The government’s Central Disaster Management Council on Friday designated a total of 1,017 cities, towns and villages in Tokyo and 31 other prefectures for boosting measures against projected huge earthquakes with focuses in the Nankai Trough or the surface of Tokyo.
南海トラフ巨大地震、首都直下地震について、中央防災会議は、対策を強化する地域として、32都府県の延べ1017市区町村を指定した。
A Nankai Trough earthquake is projected to result in more than 300,000 fatalities and more than ¥200 trillion in damage. A massive temblor with a focus directly under Tokyo, meanwhile, is projected to leave more than 20,000 people dead and put the city at risk of losing its functions as the capital. Thus, countermeasures to prepare for disasters and reduce damage are extremely important tasks of fundamental concern to the nation.
南海トラフ地震では、死者が30万人以上、被害額は200兆円超と予測されている。首都直下地震の死者は2万人以上とされ、首都機能の維持が危ぶまれている。防災・減災対策は、日本の根幹に関わる重要課題と言えよう。
Designated municipalities will each compile and implement a disaster management plan based on the special measures law for dealing with the two projected earthquakes, which was enforced late last year.
対象の市区町村は、昨年末に施行された両地震の特別措置法に基づき、今後、地域の防災計画を策定し、対策を進める。
But municipalities with weak financial foundations will find limitations in pursuing countermeasures on their own. It is necessary for the government to effectively provide support by putting priority on their projects.
ただ、財政基盤の弱い市町村は単独での対策推進に限界がある。事業に優先順位をつけ、政府が効率的に支援することが大切だ。
Under the terms of the special measures law, the government will shoulder two-thirds of the costs when municipalities designated for a Nankai Trough earthquake establish shelters to escape tsunami. It will also pay three-fourths of the cost for purchasing land to relocate primary and middle schools.
特措法の規定では、南海トラフ地震の対象市町村が津波避難施設を整備する際、政府が費用の3分の2を補助する。小中学校の移転については、用地取得費の4分の3が政府負担になる。
In the heart of Tokyo, where a major earthquake is expected to cause major damage, the procedures to approve work to widen roads and to construct or improve parks have been simplified.
首都直下地震の被害が想定される都心部でも、道路拡幅や公園整備の認可が簡素化されている。
It is hoped that such means of government support will be used effectively.
こうした政府の支援策を有効に活用してもらいたい。
Local govts unprepared
Those municipalities must tackle a mountain of challenges. For example, only slightly more than 10 percent of cities, towns and villages required to take measures against tsunami have created hazard maps. Nearly 20 percent of the designated municipalities do not have a disaster management radio system for the local government to use.
取り組むべき課題は山積している。例えば、津波対策が必要な地域で、ハザードマップを作成している市町村は1割強に過ぎない。防災行政無線も、指定された地域の2割近くで未整備だ。
A serious concern is that a number of areas are reluctant to take countermeasures, saying that they cannot possibly take steps when the projected damage is too great to handle.
予測される被害が大き過ぎるため、対策の立てようがないと、取り組みに消極的な地域があることも深刻な問題である。
In Nagoya, where vast areas are expected to be inundated by tsunami, work to make houses earthquake-resistant has not progressed as hoped. Many residents say they cannot bear the expenses of renovating their houses when they know their homes will be washed away by tsunami.
津波による広域浸水が予測されている名古屋市では、住宅の耐震化が進まない。住民の間には「津波で流されると分かっていて改修費は出せない」との声がある。
In parts of Shikoku, where tsunami measuring as high as 30 meters would hit as early as four minutes after the quake, some residents have given up all hope of escaping.
最短4分後に津波が襲来し、最高30メートル超になると予測される四国の一部地域では、「逃げられない」とあきらめる住民もいる。
Whether residents can survive a disaster hinges upon the steady implementation of countermeasures. The central and local governments should explain the basic principles of disaster management to residents to win their cooperation in this regard.
着実な対策の実行が、万が一の際の生死を分ける。政府と自治体は防災の基本原則を住民に説明し、協力を得る必要がある。
The Central Disaster Management Council also compiled outlines for taking action against all possible huge earthquakes that could hit various areas across Japan, including the Nankai Trough region and Tokyo.
中央防災会議は今回、南海トラフ、首都直下地震を含め、各地で起こり得る巨大地震の対策を網羅した大綱もまとめた。
The outlines call for, among others, precautions in the event that the transportation network is paralyzed, dealing with people facing difficulties returning home, and making facilities to be used for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games earthquake-resistant.
交通網のマヒを防ぐ対策、帰宅困難者への対応、2020年東京五輪・パラリンピックに向けた関連施設の耐震性確保などを挙げている。
The central and local governments should act in concert to fully meet such requirements.
政府と自治体が連携し、しっかりと対処せねばならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 29, 2014)
(2014年3月29日01時35分 読売新聞)
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 28, 2014
Watanabe must give solid, believable account of how ¥800 million was used
渡辺代表借入金 「もろもろ」で8億円が通るか(3月28日付・読売社説)
What on earth did an opposition party leader use the ¥800 million he borrowed for? Providing an answer to this question is his duty as the leader of a political party.
8億円もの借入金を一体何に使ったのか。公党の党首として国民の疑問に答えてもらいたい。
It has come to light that Yoshiaki Yoshida, chairman of the cosmetics company DHC Corp. and a supporter of Your Party leader Yoshimi Watanabe, loaned the politician ¥300 million about two weeks before the 2010 House of Councillors election and another ¥500 million a month before the 2012 vote for the House of Representatives.
みんなの党の渡辺代表を支援していた化粧品販売会社ディーエイチシーの吉田嘉明会長が、2010年参院選の直前に3億円、12年衆院選の直前に5億円を渡辺氏に貸していたことが明らかになった。
Yoshida said he loaned ¥800 million to Watanabe as “election funds.” But neither reports on Watanabe’s campaign finances nor income and expenditure statements for his political funds mention the loans. It is possible Watanabe will be suspected of violating the Public Offices Election Law and the Political Funds Control Law.
吉田会長は「選挙資金として貸した」と証言した。だが、渡辺氏の選挙運動費用や政治資金の収支報告書に8億円の記載はない。公職選挙法や政治資金規正法に違反する可能性がある。
In a news conference Thursday, Watanabe claimed the money he borrowed was “purely intended for my personal support.”
渡辺氏は記者会見で、「純粋に渡辺個人を応援してもらう」趣旨で借りたものだと強調した。
Asked what he used the money for, Watanabe said it had been spent “for various purposes deemed necessary for a politician” and said some of the money had been used to finance conference and travel expenses. He spoke with no apparent awareness of the possible illegality of his behavior, even pointing out that he had repaid part of the loans.
使途の内訳は「政治家として生きていく上で必要なもろもろ」とし、会議費や旅費などに充てたと語った。違法性の認識はなく、一部は返済したとも弁明した。
It seems that Watanabe hopes to ride out the scandal by insisting that the loans were for his personal use.
あくまで個人の借り入れだとして、切り抜けたいのだろう。
Parallel with Inose case
But there are parallels between the Watanabe loans and the money scandal surrounding former Tokyo Gov. Naoki Inose, in that both received a huge sum of money in the immediate run-up to an election. If Watanabe argues that the money was not for use in election campaigns, then it falls to him to explain in specific terms just how he spent it.
しかし、選挙を間近に控えた時期に巨額の資金提供を受けたという点では、猪瀬直樹・前東京都知事を巡る不祥事と似た構図である。渡辺氏が、選挙目的ではないと言うのなら、何に使ったのか具体的に説明する必要がある。
Even if the money was strictly a personal loan, many factors remain that cannot be overlooked.
仮に、個人の借入金としても看過できない点が少なくない。
The loans from Yoshida are not included in the outstanding loans detailed in a mandatory report of his personal assets. He said it was “a clerical error” and that he “wants to correct it,” but it is unlikely the public will accept it if he shrugs off the transfer of such an enormous sum as a simple clerical mistake.
自らの資産等報告書の借入金残高に吉田会長からの借入金がきちんと反映されていない。渡辺氏は「事務的なミスで訂正したい」と釈明したが、これほどの巨額なやり取りを単なるミスというのでは国民には理解されまい。
It is hard to accept that Watanabe did not prepare documents acknowledging a loan of ¥500 million.
5億円を借りながら、借用書を作らなかったのも不可解だ。
Watanabe said he would have the chairman of the party’s ethics committee probe any potential illegality in association with the borrowed money. But it is questionable whether suspicions can be eliminated solely through an in-house investigation.
渡辺氏は、借入金に法に触れる部分がないかなどについて、党の倫理委員長に調査をゆだねるというが、身内だけで疑惑を十分晴らすことができるだろうか。
Your Party has faced criticism for some time that its management is not democratic, with the party strongly characterized as a “private shop” that defers to Watanabe for all decisions on party matters.
みんなの党はかねて、渡辺氏が党務を仕切る「個人商店」的な色彩が強く、党運営が民主的ではないと批判されてきたからだ。
Kenji Eda, who broke with Your Party due to a feud with Watanabe and formed the Yui no To party, said that Watanabe managed state subsidies paid to the party and legislation expenses alone, without consulting other party executives.
渡辺氏との確執で離党し、結いの党を結成した江田憲司氏は、政党交付金や立法事務費を渡辺氏が差配し、幹部との協議はなかったと指摘している。
By taking advantage of personal ties with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Watanabe has promoted a stance of serving as a “responsible opposition party” by cooperating with the Abe administration on a policy-by-policy basis. Watanabe actively promotes changes to the interpretation of the Constitution that would make it possible to exercise the right to collective self-defense, a move backed by Abe.
渡辺氏は、安倍首相とのパイプを生かし、個別の政策で安倍政権と協力する「責任野党」を標榜ひょうぼうしてきた。首相が進める集団的自衛権行使を可能にする憲法解釈の見直しにも前向きだ。
Whether Watanabe will be able to maintain his political leadership is a matter of concern to Abe as well.
渡辺氏が今後も求心力を維持できるかどうかは、首相にとっても関心事だろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 28, 2014)
(2014年3月28日01時26分 読売新聞)
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 27, 2014
Reinforced management of nuclear materials needed to prevent terrorism
核安全サミット テロ防止に問われる管理強化(3月27日付・読売社説)
In confronting the threat of nuclear terrorism, it is essential for countries to cooperate to thoroughly manage nuclear materials.
核テロの脅威に立ち向かうには、各国が連携して核物質の管理を徹底することが欠かせない。
The Nuclear Security Summit, attended by leaders of over 50 countries, including major industrial nations and emerging economies, was held in The Hague, and the leaders adopted a joint communique.
核安全サミットが、オランダ・ハーグで、先進国や新興国など50か国以上の首脳らを集めて開かれ、共同声明を採択した。
The joint communique places the highest priority on preventing nuclear materials from being acquired by terrorists. It urges countries to accept the guidance mapped out by the International Atomic Energy Agency concerning the protection of their nuclear materials and facilities.
共同声明は、テロリストによる核物質入手の阻止を最重要課題に掲げている。その上で国際原子力機関(IAEA)が策定した核物質や核関連施設の防護に関する指針の受け入れを各国に促した。
According to the IAEA, in 2013 alone there were 146 cases in which nuclear materials or other radioactive materials were traded illegally, stolen or lost. As we cannot deny the possibility of nuclear terrorism, countries concerned must take effective measures in line with the IAEA guidance.
IAEAによると、核物質や放射性物質の違法取引や盗難、紛失は昨年だけで146件に上る。核テロが起きる可能性は否定できず、各国には指針に沿った実効性ある対応が求められよう。
It is also important that the communique encourages countries to minimize their stocks of highly enriched uranium (HEU) and of separated plutonium, both of which can be used in nuclear weapons. This call is aimed at getting countries to hold down their stockpile of such materials and prevent nuclear materials from going into the hands of terrorists.
声明が、各国に対し、核兵器への転用可能な高濃縮ウランやプルトニウムの保有量を最小限とするよう要請したことも重要である。それぞれの保有量を抑えて、テロリストへの流出を防ぐ狙いだ。
Any excess nuclear materials should be transported out of those countries and placed under the control of such nations as the United States, which is capable of disposing of such material responsibly.
過剰な核物質は国外に搬出し、責任を持って処理する能力のある米国のような国の管理下に置くことが望ましい。
In line with the purport of the communique, Italy, Belgium, South Korea and other countries have expressed their willingness to remove unnecessary plutonium and HEU from their countries.
声明の趣旨に沿って、イタリアやベルギー、韓国などが、不要なプルトニウムや高濃縮ウランの国内からの撤去を表明した。
Abe demonstrates resolve
Japan, for its part, has announced a bilateral agreement with the United States under which it will remove several hundred kilograms of HEU and plutonium used for the fast critical assembly at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency and hand them over to the United States.
日本も、日本原子力研究開発機構が高速炉臨界実験装置で使ってきた高濃縮ウランとプルトニウム数百キロを撤去し、米国に引き渡すことで合意したと発表した。
Such measures can be said to be in accord with the principles of the government, which has said the country “will not own plutonium for which no purpose has been set.”
「利用する目的のないプルトニウムは持たない」との日本政府の原則にかなう措置とも言える。
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has shown his determination at the summit, saying “Japan has a responsibility to lead efforts to strengthen nuclear security” in light of its experience with the crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.
今回のサミットで、安倍首相は東京電力福島第一原子力発電所事故の経験を踏まえ、「日本には核安全の強化を主導する責任がある」との決意を示した。
As Japan is the only country to have suffered atomic bombings in wartime and is also one with advanced technology in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, our country should take a proactive role in this field, too.
唯一の戦争被爆国であり、原子力の平和利用で先進的な技術を持つ日本は、この分野でも積極的に役割を果たすべきだ。
The Nuclear Security Summit started four years ago when U.S. President Barack Obama advocated a goal of realizing a nuclear-free world. Since then, the summit has borne definite fruit, for instance, in the prevention of nuclear terrorism. Yet it is problematic that there has been little progress in the reduction of nuclear arms themselves.
核安全サミットは、「核のない世界」の実現を目標に掲げたオバマ米大統領の提唱で4年前に始まり、核テロ防止などに一定の成果を上げてきた。ただ、核兵器そのものの削減が遅々として進んでいないのは問題である。
It is worrisome that among the five countries allowed to possess nuclear arms under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty—the United States, Britain, China, France and Russia—only China is believed to be increasing its stockpile of nuclear weapons.
気がかりなのは、核拡散防止条約(NPT)で核兵器の保有を認められた米英中仏露5か国のうち中国だけが核兵器の保有量を増やしているとされることだ。
China must stop its military buildup with nuclear arms, which has been a destabilizing factor for the world’s nuclear security environment, and reduce its nuclear arms together with other nuclear powers.
中国は、世界の安全保障環境の不安定要因となっている核軍拡をやめ、他の保有国とともに核兵器を削減していかねばならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 27, 2014)
(2014年3月27日01時29分 読売新聞)
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 27, 2014
Crimea must not become a precedent for stealing land from another country
G7VSロシア クリミア編入を前例にするな(3月26日付・読売社説)
Russia’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula must not become a precedent for one nation stealing another nation’s land by force. The international community should reinforce its united front against Moscow.
ロシアによるクリミア半島編入が、他国の領土を力で奪うあしき前例とならぬよう、国際社会は一層結束すべきだ。
Leaders of the Group of Seven major industrialized nations—Japan, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Canada—recently met in The Hague over the upheaval in Ukraine, denouncing Russia’s annexation as a “clear violation of international law.” The leaders decided to suspend their participation in the Group of Eight summit meeting to be held in Sochi until Moscow changes course.
日米欧の先進7か国(G7)は、ウクライナ情勢を巡りハーグで首脳会議を開き、編入を「国際法違反」と改めて非難した。ロシアが方向転換するまで、G8サミット(主要国首脳会議)への参加を停止すると決めた。
The G-7 leaders also warned they will impose tough economic sanctions on Russia if the nation further escalates its actions, on top of penalties they have already imposed.
ロシアが状況を悪化させるなら、現在の制裁に加え、厳しい経済制裁を科すとも警告した。
The success of the G-7 nations in building a united front and showing their resolve against Russia will undeniably strengthen the pressure they have put on the country.
G7が団結して強い意思を示したことは、ロシアに対するさらなる圧力となろう。
At the meeting, Japan pledged up to ¥150 billion in aid to Ukraine, which now faces the risk of default. It is essential for Japan to join hands with the United States and European countries to support Ukraine, to stabilize the situation.
首脳会議で日本は、ウクライナに対して、最大約1500億円の支援を表明した。ウクライナ経済は債務不履行(デフォルト)も懸念される事態だ。情勢安定化のためにも、米国や欧州と共に支援を行うことが不可欠である。
In reaction to the decisions of the G-7, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow is not clinging to the G-8 format. He suggested putting more focus on the U.N. Security Council and the summit meetings of the Group of 20 nations.
G7の決定に対し、ロシアのラブロフ外相は、「G8に固執しない」と述べ、国連安全保障理事会や、主要20か国・地域によるサミットを重視する意向を示した。
‘Russianization’ progressing
The reason behind Lavrov maintaining his assertive stance is the overwhelming public support in Russia for the annexation of Crimea.
外相が強気の姿勢を崩さない背景には、クリミア編入に対するロシア国民の圧倒的支持がある。
Russian President Vladimir Putin has apparently concluded that his strategy to annex the Crimean Peninsula was successful. It is unlikely that receiving some condemnation from the international community will be an incentive for Putin to give up Crimea. Ukraine has decided to withdraw its troops from Crimea, and the “Russianization” of the region, such as the circulation of the ruble, has begun.
プーチン大統領は、自らの編入戦略が奏功したと受け止め、国際的に多少非難されても、クリミアを手放さないつもりなのだろう。クリミアでは、ウクライナ軍の撤収が決まり、ルーブルが流通し始めるなど「ロシア化」が進む。
There is one worrying move from Russia—the nation is now concentrating its troops on the southern and eastern borders of Ukraine.
懸念されるのは、ロシアがウクライナの東部や南部の国境周辺に軍を集結させていることだ。
If Russia begins a military intervention against Ukraine in regions other than Crimea, there is no doubt the United States and other G-7 nations will impose full-scale economic sanctions on Russia. The sanctions will not only hit the Russian economy, but they will also cause enormous repercussions to the global economy.
ロシアが、クリミア以外のウクライナ国内に軍事的に介入した場合、米国始めG7各国は本格的な経済制裁に乗り出すに違いない。ロシアだけでなく、世界経済に甚大な影響が及ぶのは確実だ。
It is crucial that the international observers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe enter Ukraine as soon as possible, and begin monitoring the security situation there to prevent tensions with Ukrainian citizens of Russian descent, which would give Russia the pretext for directly intervening in Ukraine.
ロシア系住民の動揺を防ぎ、ロシアに介入の口実を与えないためにも、全欧安保協力機構(OSCE)による国際監視団が一刻も早く、ウクライナに赴き、治安情勢の監視を始めることが必要だ。
The Crimea issue has massive implications for Japan, which faces China’s repeated intrusions into Japanese territorial waters in areas near the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture.
クリミア問題は、沖縄県・尖閣諸島周辺で中国による領海侵入を繰り返し受けている日本にとっても重要な意味を持つ。
During the G-7 meeting, Abe told other leaders that Japan will not tolerate any attempt to change the status quo by force. He then went on to say that the Ukranian issue is a problem for the entire international community, including Asia, and multiple nations reportedly agreed with his remarks.
今回のG7首脳会議で安倍首相が、力を背景とした現状変更は許せない、と踏み込んだ上で、「アジアなど国際社会全体の問題だ」と指摘したところ、複数の国から賛同意見が寄せられたという。
It will be important for Japan to assert the legitimacy of its position on the Senkaku issue to the international community, and obtain the understanding of other nations over the issue.
尖閣諸島についても、日本の立場の正当性を主張し、国際的理解を得ていくことが肝要である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 26, 2014)
(2014年3月26日01時47分 読売新聞)
The Yomiuri Shimbun March 25, 2014
China-South Korea summit clearly shows ‘united front against Japan’
中韓首脳会談 鮮明になった「反日共闘」路線(3月25日付・読売社説)
It seems fair to say that China and South Korea have demonstrated clearly their “united front against Japan” on history-related issues.
中国と韓国が、歴史問題で「反日共闘」路線をますます鮮明にしてきたと言えよう。
Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Park Geun-hye met for talks in a suburb of The Hague where they highlighted the significance of a memorial hall dedicated to Korean independence activist Ahn Jung Geun in a train station in Harbin, China.
中国の習近平国家主席と、韓国の朴槿恵大統領がオランダ・ハーグ郊外で会談し、中国黒竜江省のハルビン駅に開設した朝鮮独立運動家・安重根の記念館の意義を強調した。
According to South Korean officials, Xi told Park he had given “direct instructions” for building the hall, while Park responded that the hall would strengthen ties between the two peoples.
韓国側によると、記念館開設について、習氏は「私が直接指示した」と語り、朴氏も「両国民の結び付きを強める」と応じた。
We believe that what Xi offered Park was a united front in taking a hard-line policy against Japan, a policy that has support of the South Korean people, in a bid to draw the attention of the Seoul government.
習氏は、朴氏に対して、韓国民が支持する対日強硬路線で共闘を持ちかけて、韓国を引きつけようとしているのではないか。
Ahn Jung Geun assassinated Hirobumi Ito, Japan’s first prime minister. For Japan, the two nations’ praise for the opening of a hall dedicated to such a person is unacceptable.
安重根は、初代首相の伊藤博文を暗殺した人物であり、記念館開設を称賛するのは、日本にとって受け入れ難い。
Xi appears to have sought to drive a wedge in cooperative ties among Japan, South Korea and the United States ahead of their tripartite summit scheduled for Tuesday on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit. The Xi-Park talks threw cold water on the much-anticipated summit, which comes against a backdrop of deteriorating Japan-South Korea relations—a summit made possible through U.S. mediation efforts.
習氏には、25日に予定される日米韓首脳会談をにらみ、3国連携にくさびを打ち込む狙いがあったに違いない。日韓関係が悪化する中で、米国の仲介努力によってようやく実現する日米韓首脳会談に冷や水を浴びせる形になった。
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga described the exchanges between Xi and Park and the praise Beijing and Seoul have expressed for Ahn as “founded on one-sided assessment” of history. He also pointed out quite reasonably that such public statements do not help to build peace and cooperation in the region.
菅官房長官が、こうした中韓のやり取りを「一方的評価に基づく主張」と断じて、地域の平和と協力の構築にとってマイナスだと指摘したのも、もっともである。
A new anti-Japan symbol
During their talks, Xi also told Park of a “memorial stone” that China is constructing in Xian in Shaanxi Province, the city where a Korean anti-Japanese resistance force known as the “Korean Liberation Army” was based during the period of Japanese colonial rule. Park reportedly asked Xi to erect the memorial. Although there are few details about the resistance force, the memorial is certain to become a new symbol for anti-Japan sentiment.
中韓首脳会談で習氏は、日本の植民地統治期に「光復軍」と呼ばれる朝鮮の抗日部隊が駐屯したという陝西省西安に石碑を建設中だと述べた。朴氏が要望したものだ。光復軍の実態は定かではないが、反日の新たな象徴となろう。
There is also cause for concern that Park has been keeping step with China. Although she has not yet held talks with Japanese leaders, Park has met with Xi four times since her inauguration. She probably thinks stronger relations with China are important for her country’s North Korea policy and economic cooperation.
朴氏が、中国と足並みをそろえているのも気がかりだ。日本を差し置いて習氏とは何度も会談している。中国との関係強化が、対北朝鮮政策や、経済協力でも重要であると考えているのだろう。
In contrast, she has effectively rejected Japan-South Korea summit meetings by imposing conditions concerning so-called comfort women and other areas of contention.
これと対照的に、日本に対しては、いわゆる従軍慰安婦問題などで条件を付けて、日韓首脳会談の開催を事実上拒んでいる。
It is quite clear that neither the Japan-U.S. alliance nor the U.S.-South Korean alliance—both partnerships in which United States is the keystone—will function effectively without good Japan-South Korean relations.
良好な日韓関係なしには、米国を要とする日米及び米韓同盟が有効に機能しないのは明らかだ。
The prospect of further strengthening Seoul-Beijing ties over history issues is worrisome.
歴史を巡る中韓連携は、今後さらに強まることが懸念される。
Late last month, a Chinese court for the first time accepted a lawsuit in which former Chinese workers who were forcibly brought to Japan to work in Japanese companies during World War II are demanding apologies and compensation from the companies. Similar lawsuits have been filed in South Korea by former forced laborers.
中国の裁判所は先に、戦時中、強制連行された中国人元労働者らが日本企業を相手取り、謝罪と損害賠償を求めた訴状を初めて受理した。韓国でも元徴用工が同様の裁判を起こしている。
This type of suit threatens to undermine the foundation of pledges made by Japan and by the two nations upon the normalization of diplomatic relations, and cannot be accepted.
いずれも、日本との国交正常化の際の約束を根底から揺るがす恐れがあり、容認できない。
It is important for Japan to make its case and demonstrate the legitimacy of its legal stance, not only to China and South Korea, but to the international community as a whole.
日本は、中韓両国だけでなく国際社会に対しても、法的な正当性を主張していくことが肝要である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 25, 2014)
(2014年3月25日01時45分 読売新聞)