社説：日中外相会談 「尖閣」で政治摩擦を高めるな

(Mainichi Japan) March 2, 2009

Progress made at Beijing FM conference, but still a long way to go

社説：日中外相会談　「尖閣」で政治摩擦を高めるな

At a foreign ministerial conference in Beijing on Saturday, Japan and China agreed to urge North Korea to practice restraint in light of what appears to be preparations for a missile launch. However, the two countries remained fundamentally at odds on the dispute over the Senkaku Islands, and no specific progress was seen on the issue of gas field development in the East China Sea. With U.S.-China relations showing signs of expansion under the Obama administration, we hope for the facilitation of "strategic, reciprocal relations" between Japan and China.

　北京で行われた日中外相会談は、弾道ミサイル発射の動きを見せている北朝鮮に自制を求めていくことで一致した。だが、尖閣諸島（中国名・釣魚島）問題では原則論で対立し、東シナ海のガス田問題などの懸案では具体的進展がなかった。米オバマ政権の発足で米中関係が広がりをみせつつある中、日中の「戦略的互恵関係」も加速させたい。

What sparked the recent Senkaku controversy was the trespassing of a Chinese ship into Japanese territorial waters off the islands last December. Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso expressed his regret at a Japan-China summit meeting immediately following the incident, but Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao retorted that the area "has long been Chinese territory."

　「尖閣」問題をめぐる最近の日中論争のきっかけは、昨年１２月に中国船が尖閣諸島周辺の日本領海に侵入したことだ。その直後の日中首脳会談で麻生太郎首相が遺憾の意を伝えたが、温家宝首相は「古くからの中国の領土だ」と反論した。

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson lodged a protest over remarks made by Aso and Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone's prior to the conference that the Japan-U.S. Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security applies to the Senkaku Islands. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi brought up the Senkaku issue, after which both countries made their respective arguments. But they also agreed not to let the dispute affect the two nations' overall relations.

　外相会談を前に麻生首相や中曽根弘文外相が「尖閣は日米安全保障条約の対象だ」と発言したことにも中国側は即座に反応し、外務省報道局長が不満表明の談話を発表している。外相会談では楊潔〓（ようけつち）外相が「尖閣」問題を提起し双方が原則的立場を主張し合ったが、この問題を日中関係全体に影響させないよう努力することは確認したという。

The two countries have handled the situation wisely. We are facing a time when Japanese-Chinese cooperation is imperative in dealing with the unsettling activity taking place in North Korea, the current financial and economic crisis, and global warming. Intensified political friction between the two countries would merely create innumerable negative effects and no benefits.

　賢明な対応である。不穏な動きを見せている北朝鮮や金融・経済危機への対処、地球温暖化対策への取り組みなどで協調が必要なこの時期に、日中があえて政治的摩擦を高めるのは百害あって一利なしである。

It is unfortunate that no headway was made on the issue of gas field development. In a June 2008 agreement, Japan and China agreed that two of the four gas fields in the East China Sea midway between the two countries would be jointly developed with Japanese funding, while arrangements for the remaining two were to undergo further discussion.

　ガス田問題で進展がなかったのは残念だ。東シナ海の日中中間線付近の四つのガス田のうち二つについて日本側の出資や共同開発を行い、他の二つについては継続協議というのが昨年６月の合意内容だ。

However, formal treaty deliberations on the joint development show no signs of starting. It has also been revealed that China has been engaging in independent development of one of the two gas fields whose development rights have yet to be resolved. In response to Nakasone's request for an early discussion on the matter, Yang only stated China's intention to continue working-level negotiations, as it was an issue that involved "sensitive, complex problems."

　ところが、共同開発を具体化するための公式の条約交渉はいまだに始まる気配がない。継続協議とされたガス田のうち一つについて中国側が単独開発を続けていることも判明した。早期の交渉入りを求めた中曽根外相に対し、楊外相は「敏感、複雑な問題もかかわっている」として事務レベル協議を継続する考えを示すにとどまった。

There is said to be an increasing number of Chinese voices on the Internet calling for a firm approach to Japan within the context of the economic slowdown. China appears to have its reasons for showing a constant level of consideration for such public opinion. However, the development of gas fields is a joint project that represents the "strategic, reciprocal relationship" between Japan and China. We urge Chinese officials to make efforts towards an agreement.

　経済の減速などを背景に、中国では対日強硬姿勢を求めるインターネット世論が強まっているという。中国側にはこうした動きに一定の配慮をせざるをえない事情もあるようだ。ただ、ガス田の共同開発は「戦略的互恵関係」の象徴とされる日中の共同作業である。中国側には合意を前へ進める努力を求めたい。

Still, the conference did bear some fruit. Among them was the decision to begin negotiations to make it possible for suspects who have fled to be extradited and to allow the transfer of convicts to their home country to serve their prison terms. The two countries also agreed to expand their teacher exchange program, and to resume bilateral security talks for the first time in two and a half years.

　成果もあった。相手国に逃亡した容疑者の引き渡しを可能にする「犯罪者引き渡し条約」や相手国で罪を犯した受刑者を本国で服役させる「受刑者移送条約」の締結ヘ向け交渉を開始すること、教員交流を拡大すること、外務・防衛担当幹部による日中安保対話を２年半ぶりに再開することなどである。

We value these low-key, painstaking efforts. We also hope that China soon offers an explanation for the poisoned dumpling incident, which came to light over a year ago.

　こうした地道な努力を大切にしたい。発覚から１年以上過ぎた中国製ギョーザ中毒事件も中国側は早期に解明してほしい。

毎日新聞　2009年3月2日　東京朝刊