オバマ氏来日―問われる同盟管理の意思

--The Asahi Shimbun, Nov. 12(IHT/Asahi: November 13,2009)
EDITORIAL: Hatoyama-Obama talks.
オバマ氏来日―問われる同盟管理の意思

A year ago, Barack Obama, who will visit Japan on Friday, won the U.S. presidential election with his slogan of "change." Since he took office in January, Obama has come up with a number of innovative domestic and foreign policies.
　オバマ米大統領があす来日する。

　ちょうど１年前の大統領選挙で「チェンジ」を訴え、就任後は内政、外交で次々と新機軸を打ち出してきたオバマ氏。

International society is watching with interest how Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who also took the reins of government this year, will open new horizons in Japan-U.S. relations together with President Obama.
こちらも政権交代を果たした鳩山由紀夫首相がオバマ氏とともに、日米関係の新しい地平をどう開いていくか、国際社会が注目する。

Both administrations plan to promote multilateral cooperative diplomacy while attaching importance to such global issues as climate change and nuclear disarmament.
　ともに地球温暖化対策や核軍縮といった地球規模の課題を重視し、多国間の協調的な外交で取り組もうという政権だ。

We urge both leaders to confirm a solid alliance and draw a vision that is considerably different from the one embraced by the administrations of George W. Bush and the Liberal Democratic Party.
両首脳は、強固な同盟を確認しつつ、ブッシュ政権、自民党政権の時代とはひと味もふた味も違う構想を描いてほしいと願う。

However, the proposed relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, has become a sticking point in the alliance. U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates pressed the Japanese government to relocate the facility to Henoko in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, as agreed upon three years ago.
But both Japan and the United States do not plan to make the Futenma issue a major item on the agenda at their summit. 　だが、その同盟ののど元に太いとげがささっている。米海兵隊の普天間飛行場の移設問題だ。ゲーツ国防長官は、大統領来日までに３年前の合意通り名護市辺野古への移設を受け入れるよう迫ったが、日米とも今回の首脳会談では主要な議題にしない方針だ。

Instead, they decided to seek an early settlement in a ministerial working group. We also think it would be unwise to complicate the summit with this problem.
　代わりに、閣僚級の作業グループで移設問題の決着を急ぐことになった。確かに、この問題で首脳会談全体をこじらせてしまうのは得策ではない。

Yet, the situation is becoming increasingly serious. While the Okinawa governor and Nago mayor are ready to accept the relocation to Henoko, the change of government gave new hope to Okinawa citizens and Nago residents who want Futenma's functions to be transferred outside the prefecture. They are also growing impatient with Hatoyama, who has still not made a decision.
　しかし、事態はますます困難さを増している。沖縄県知事や地元の名護市長は辺野古移設を容認するが、政権交代によって県民や地元住民たちには県外移設への新たな期待が生まれている。方針がなかなか定まらない首相へのいらだちも募る。

Meanwhile, the dangerous situation of Futenma must be eliminated immediately. If no decision is made concerning the issue, one piece in the reorganization of U.S. forces, all plans to alleviate Okinawa's burden of hosting U.S. military bases, such as the return of Futenma and the relocation of Marines to Guam, would stall.
　一方で、普天間飛行場の危険な状態は一日も早く除かねばならない。日米合意を白紙にすることで、米軍再編という大きな構図のひとこまが埋まらなければ、普天間返還や海兵隊のグアム移転など沖縄の基地負担の軽減策がすべて足踏みしてしまう。

Hatoyama should frankly explain the difficulty and complexity of the problem when he meets Obama. Instead of avoiding the issue, the leaders should seriously exchange views because the issue affects the very foundation of the alliance.
　鳩山首相は会談で問題の難しさ、複雑さを率直に説明してはどうか。避けて通るのではなく、同盟の根幹にかかわるからこそ、真剣に意見を交わす。そうした姿勢が大事だ。

Whatever decision Hatoyama makes, considerable political energy is needed to change the actual situation. Both leaders need to show a strong political will to settle the problem as soon as possible.
　首相がいずれどういう決断を下すにせよ、それに基づいて現状を打開するには大変な政治的エネルギーがいる。この問題を早期に解決するという強い政治意思を両首脳が表明し、打開への弾みをつける必要がある。

In an interview with Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK), Obama said it was "perfectly appropriate" for the Hatoyama administration to review the Futenma relocation plan. But he also expressed hope that Tokyo will ultimately follow through on the agreement.
　オバマ氏はＮＨＫのインタビューで、鳩山政権が辺野古移設をめぐる日米合意を検証していることに理解を示しつつ、最終的にはそのまま受け入れるよう期待を表明した。

Policies may change when a new administration takes over, leading to friction with allies. The maintenance of the Japan-U.S. alliance in an age of government change is now being tested.
　政権交代があれば、前政権からの政策の変更はありうるし、それによって摩擦が生じることもある。政権交代の時代の同盟管理のあり方が問われているのだ。

Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the revision of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. Work to redefine the Japan-U.S. alliance in the 21st century and the division of roles started when governments changed hands in both countries. We hope the summit will befit this important occasion.
　来年は日米安保条約改定から５０年にあたる。両国で政権が代わったこの機会に、２１世紀の新しい日米同盟の姿と役割分担を描き直す作業が始まる。それにふさわしい会談にしたい。