The Yomiuri Shimbun(Sep. 10, 2009)
Coalition deal could shake alliance with U.S.
３党連立合意 日米同盟の火種とならないか（9月10日付・読売社説）
A major hurdle has finally been cleared for the launching of a new coalition cabinet under Democratic Party of Japan President Yukio Hatoyama, as the DPJ, the Social Democratic Party and People's New Party on Wednesday reached an agreement to form a coalition.
鳩山連立内閣の発足に向けて、大きなハードルをようやく乗り越えた。民主、社民、国民新の３党が連立政権を樹立することで合意した。
Their policy agreement comprises 10 items, including a freeze on the consumption tax rate and a drastic review of postal-related services.
政策合意の文書は、消費税率据え置き、郵政事業の抜本的見直しなど１０項目で構成されている。
Regarding diplomatic and security issues, which were sticking points in talks for forming the coalition, the agreed document includes a review of the planned realignment of U.S. forces in Japan and the role of U.S. bases in Japan, as well as a proposal to revise the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, all of which were requests by the SDP. The DPJ had been reticent about including these pledges in the agreement, but it ended up conceding after the PNP sided with the SDP.
焦点の外交・安全保障政策では、社民党の求める「米軍再編や在日米軍基地のあり方の見直し」や「日米地位協定の改定の提起」が盛り込まれた。民主党は難色を示していたが、国民新党も社民党に同調し、押し切られた。
The new administration, however, could find itself tied to the specific wording of the document, and could hamper its relations with the United States. This could cause problems in the future.
鳩山内閣は対米外交で、この連立合意に一定の縛りを受ける。将来の火種となりかねない。
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Relocation plan already set
The U.S. government has said it will not renegotiate with Japan over a plan, agreed by both governments, to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station within Okinawa Prefecture. Though the prefectural government is calling for minor amendments, it has accepted the relocation plan within the prefecture as it has placed priority on an early return of the U.S. air base to Japan.
米政府は、日米が合意した海兵隊普天間飛行場の沖縄県内移設計画の再交渉に応じない立場だ。沖縄県も、計画の微修正を求めつつ、飛行場の早期返還を優先して県内移設自体は容認している。
Is it really responsible for the government to call for a review of the relocation plan, which both the United States and local governments already have accepted, without offering any realistic alternatives? This also could damage the relationship of trust underlying the Japan-U.S. security alliance.
現実的な代案もないまま、米側も地元自治体も納得している計画の見直しを提起することが、政府として責任ある態度だろうか。日米同盟の信頼関係も傷つく。
Such important issues as foreign and security policy affect the very foundation of the nation, and the DPJ must not concede these points so easily to the SDP out of concerns that not conceding could affect the cohesion of the coalition government.
民主党は今後、連立政権の維持を優先するあまり、国家の基本にかかわる外交・安保政策などで、社民党に安易に妥協することを繰り返してはなるまい。
On the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling activities in the Indian Ocean, the SDP dropped its demand for the immediate withdrawal of the mission. But the DPJ still has no intention to extend the mission beyond its expiration in mid-January.
インド洋での海上自衛隊の給油活動については、社民党が「即時撤退」との主張を取り下げたが、来年１月の活動期限を延長しない方向は変わっていない。
As alternatives to the refueling mission, the DPJ is considering such measures as increased humanitarian and reconstruction aid to Afghanistan.
民主党は、給油活動の代案としてアフガニスタンへの人道復興支援の増額などを検討している。
But physical support in the form of MSDF personnel and financial support to Afghanistan should be seen as "two wheels on the same cart." Putting an end to physical support would be a big step backwards for Japan's international cooperation activities. The DPJ should reconsider the planned end of the MSDF mission.
だが、海自の人的支援とアフガンへの資金支援は本来、「車の両輪」だ。人的支援がなくなることは、日本の国際協調行動の大きな後退を意味する。民主党は、海自の撤退を再考すべきだ。
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Unbalanced influence?
During talks for forming the coalition, the three parties agreed to set up a consultation body of party leader-level cabinet members rather than a policy consultation body of the ruling parties as proposed by the SDP.
連立協議では、社民党が求めていた与党の政策協議機関の代わりに、政府内に３党の党首級協議機関を設けることでも一致した。
The agreement is a compromise between the SDP, which wants to secure a say in the administration, and the DPJ, which intends to establish a system to unify decision-making functions in the cabinet without the involvement of ruling parties.
政権内での発言権を確保したい社民党と、政策決定に与党が関与せず、内閣に一元化する体制を目指す民主党の折衷案である。
The worry is that the SDP and PNP might choose to stick to their guns on certain issues just to make their presence felt. This would certainly shake the DPJ-led administration. Indeed, there have been a number of coalition governments in the past in which junior partners have exerted control over the main coalition partner.
今後、懸念されるのは、社民、国民新両党が存在感を示そうとして、独自の主張に固執し、政権を混乱させる事態だ。過去の連立政権でも、少数党が多数党を振り回した例が少なくない。
The SDP has emphasized an "equal" partnership among the three parties. But this concept lacks merit, given that the DPJ won 308 seats in the House of Representatives election compared with seven for the SDP and three for the PNP.
社民党は「３党の対等な立場」を強調する。だが、民主党３０８、社民党７、国民新党３という衆院選の獲得議席数を踏まえれば、その主張には無理があろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 10, 2009)
（2009年9月10日01時08分 読売新聞）
