日中ガス油田

(Jun. 19, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun

Gas field agreement helps Japan-China ties

日中ガス田合意　「戦略的互恵」へ具体的一歩だ（6月19日付・読売社説）

Things are finally moving forward for joint development by Japan and China of gas fields in the East China Sea.

東シナ海のガス田の日中共同開発が、ようやく動き出す。

After a series of negotiations, the Japanese and Chinese governments have formally agreed on several items, including the joint development of a sea area straddling the Japanese-claimed "median line" of the two nations.

　協議を進めてきた日中両国政府が、双方の境界である「中間線」をまたぐ海域での共同開発などで正式に合意した。

(straddle=またぐ、またがる)

With compromises made by both sides, a first-step settlement has been reached in this long-standing issue. The agreement can be evaluated favorably as a visible step toward the establishment of "a mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests" aimed at expanding common interests for the two nations.

両国の歩み寄りで、長年の懸案に一区切りがついた。日中共通の利益を拡大させる「戦略的互恵関係」構築への、目に見える一歩として評価できる。

With regard to the Shirakaba gas field (called Chunxiao in China)--one of the four gas fields located near the median line and over which Japan had sought joint development with China--it has been decided that Japan will make financial contributions and participate in the Chinese development project. Profits will be distributed on favorable terms to China, which has been engaged in the development.

　日本側が共同開発を求めた中間線付近の４か所のガス田のうち、「白樺」（中国名・春暁）については、日本側が出資し、中国の開発事業に参加する。収益は、先行開発してきた中国側に重点的に配分することになるという。

The two nations also agreed to jointly develop an area that straddles the median line near the Asunaro gas field, called Longjing in China.

さらに、「翌檜（あすなろ）」（同・龍井）ガス田周辺の日中中間線にまたがる海域で共同開発をおこなう。

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Strategic, mutual benefits

（戦略互恵関係）

China previously had not shown any interest in Japan's proposal to jointly develop the four gas fields. With this in mind, the latest agreement can be seen as a reflection of China's stance to place importance on proceeding with a mutually beneficial strategic relationship.

かつて、中国側は、日本の４ガス田の開発提案に全く耳を貸さなかった。それに比べれば、今回の合意は、「互恵関係」の進展を重視する姿勢の反映といえよう。

The major stumbling block in negotiations on development of the gas fields has been conflicting arguments over demarcation of the Japan-China border.

これまで、ガス田交渉を難しくしてきたのは、日中の境界画定をめぐる主張の対立だった。

(stumbling=つまずく、よろめく) (demarcation=分離､区分､区画、境界、境界線)

Japan has claimed that a median line should be drawn at equal distances from the coastlines of the two nations to delineate exclusive economic zones in which nations have sovereign rights over seabed resources.

日本側は、海底資源に主権的権利が及ぶ排他的経済水域（ＥＥＺ）について、両国の海岸線から等距離のところに中間線を引くべきだとしてきた。

(delineate=図で示す、図示する、輪郭を描く) (sovereign=君主、統治者、国王、管轄、管轄権)

China, however, has not accepted this and rather has claimed an EEZ that stretched further east, saying its continental shelf naturally extends to the Okinawa Trough.

中国側は、これを受け入れず、大陸棚が及ぶ沖縄トラフ（海底の溝）まで、という「大陸棚自然延長」論を主張した。

（Okinawa Trough=沖縄トラフ、沖縄海底溝、沖縄海溝）

The agreement on joint development came as the two nations agreed to shelve such differences for the time being and made it a precondition that joint development would not infringe on the maritime laws of each nation.

共同開発は、これらの相違をいったん棚上げし、「双方の海洋法に関する立場を損なわないことを前提」にしたものだ。

(infringe=犯す､破る、侵害する)   

But, as the agreement included joint investment in and the development of a gas field that straddles the median line, it can be interpreted that China accepted Japan's proposals based on its median line claim, even if it was in a limited manner.

だが、日中中間線をまたいだガス田の共同出資、周辺海域での共同開発が盛り込まれたことは、日本側の中間線に基づく主張を、限定的であれ、中国側が受け入れたとみることもできるだろう。

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Border dispute pending

（境界紛争は一時棚上げ）

Talks on the demarcation of the Japan-China border will continue. Japan should maintain its stance of the equal-distance principle for a median line, a stance that has been seen in international legal precedents.

日中の境界画定の交渉は、これからも続く。国際判例でも定着してきている中間線の等距離原則を日本は引き続き堅持すべきだ。

(precedent=前例)

The issue over gas field development in the East China Sea surfaced in 2004. The foreign, defense and economy, trade and industry ministries each neglected to take up the issue even though they had been aware for a long time that China was proceeding with development in the sea areas. We hope the officials concerned regret their attitudes--they acted as if they were trying to avoid rocking the boat--as well as the nature of their compartmentalized administrative system.

ガス田開発は、２００４年に問題化した。外務、防衛、経済産業の各省は、ずっと以前に、中国がこの海域で開発を進めていたのを知りながら放置していた。事なかれ主義、縦割り行政に対して、改めて反省を求めたい。

(compartmentalized administrative system=日本独特の縦割り行政)

Gas fields in the East China Sea are said to matter for China not only for securing energy resources but also for its military strategy to make its naval forces into a "blue water" navy. Japan, as a maritime nation, must further enhance its system for protecting its sovereign rights and national interests.

東シナ海のガス田は、中国にとってはエネルギー資源の確保だけでなく、「外洋型海軍」をめざす軍事戦略に深くかかわっているという。海洋国家・日本として、主権と権益を守る体制を、一層強化していかなければならない。

(maritime nation=海洋国家) (sovereign rights=主権、管轄権)

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 19, 2008)

（2008年6月19日01時42分  読売新聞）