領土外交 冷静に主権を守る知恵が要る

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 8, 2012)
Cool heads indispensable for territorial diplomacy
領土外交　冷静に主権を守る知恵が要る（12月7日付・読売社説）

Defending Japan's sovereignty and the integrity of its land and seas while achieving a breakthrough on issues involving them: We urge every political party to seriously and responsibly discuss specific measures to deal with these challenges.
　日本の主権と領土・領海をいかに守り、事態をどう打開するか。各政党は、具体的な方策をしっかり論じるべきだ。

In waters near Okinawa Prefecture's Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, Chinese government vessels have repeatedly intruded into Japan's territorial waters.
　沖縄・尖閣諸島の近海では、中国政府の船による領海侵入が繰り返されている。

This summer, South Korean President Lee Myung Bak landed on Shimane Prefecture's Takeshima islets--which his country controls--in the Sea of Japan, while Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev made a trip to the island of Kunashiri, one of Japan's Russian-held northern territories off eastern Hokkaido.
今夏、韓国の李明博大統領が竹島を、ロシアのメドベージェフ首相が北方領土の国後島をそれぞれ訪れた。

It is of high importance for this country to appeal to a wide spectrum of the international community to recognize the legitimacy of Japan's sovereignty over the islands in question.
　日本の領有権の正当性を国際社会に広くアピールする必要がある。

As rightly advocated by the Democratic Party of Japan, the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and Your Party, it is an urgent priority for Japan to strengthen its ability to communicate with the international community on these matters.
民主、自民、公明、みんなの各党が掲げているように、対外発信力の一層の向上は急務だ。

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Be on alert night and day

Regarding the Senkaku problem, all major parties' pledges for the Dec. 16 general election, including those of the DPJ, the LDP and Komeito, are united in calling for the Japan Coast Guard to be given greater ability to deal with emergencies. Such calls are right and proper.
　尖閣諸島に関し、民自公３党をはじめ、主要政党の公約は、海上保安庁の体制強化で足並みをそろえている。当然の主張である。

If China takes a high-handed stance over the problem, Japan must respond resolutely. But in non-emergency circumstances it should maintain control over the islands cool-headedly.
　中国が強圧的な外交を展開してくれば、毅然(きぜん)とした対応を取らねばならないが、普段は淡々と実効支配を継続していくべきだ。

To do so, the JCG must conduct patrol and surveillance activities day and night and issue alerts every time a Chinese surveillance ship attempts to enter Japan's territorial waters.
　そのためには、海保が昼夜を問わず警戒監視活動を行い、日本の領海に入ろうとする中国の監視船に警告を発しなければならない。

There will be more cases in which the JCG must take measures to urge such Chinese vessels to leave the territorial waters.
場合によっては退去を求める措置が必要となる。

Given that China has been rapidly increasing its number of surveillance ships, it is indispensable for Japan to beef up its fleet of patrol boats and the ranks of JCG personnel to ensure the ability to respond effectively.
　中国が監視船を急ピッチで増やしている以上、それに確実に対応できるよう、海保の巡視船と海上保安官の増強が不可欠である。

Noteworthy in this connection is a proposal by the LDP to study the feasibility of stationing government officials on the Senkakus on a regular basis.
　目を引くのは、自民党が尖閣諸島への公務員常駐を検討課題としたことだ。

Nippon Ishin no Kai leader Shintaro Ishihara, for his part, has argued for building a port on one of the islands where Japanese fishermen could take shelter in stormy weather.
日本維新の会の石原代表も漁船が荒天時に避難できる船だまりの整備を主張している。

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Avoid antiforeign nationalism

Although these proposals are understandable as medium- and long-term tasks to enhance Japan's control over the Senkakus, it should be kept in mind that such steps could touch off Chinese countermeasures, possibly leading to an extremely strained situation. The government must be circumspect.
　実効支配の強化に向けた中長期の課題としては理解できるが、中国が対抗措置を取れば、緊張状態は抜き差しならないものとなろう。慎重な対処が求められる。

With a view to coping with South Korea's claim to the Takeshima islets, the LDP has incorporated into its election platform a pledge for the central government to hold a ceremony on Feb. 22, which the Shimane prefectural government has proclaimed "Takeshima Day."
　自民党は韓国への対抗上、島根県が定めた２月２２日「竹島の日」に、政府式典を開催することも政策集に盛り込んだ。

The LDP and Komeito advocate creating a new organization to be tasked with matters affecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
　自民、公明両党は、主権と領土の問題に関する組織の創設を提唱している。

We believe it is more important to boost collaboration and liaison among such existing government organs as the Foreign Ministry, the Defense Ministry and the JCG, centering around the Prime Minister's Office, than to set up a new organization.
だが、新組織を設けるよりも首相官邸を中心に外務、防衛、海保など関係省庁が緊密に連携することが重要ではないか。

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda stressed in a recent street campaign speech, "Although wholesome nationalism is important, the country would be in jeopardy should nationalism descend into antiforeign rhetoric."
　野田首相は街頭演説で「健全なナショナリズムは重要だが、排外主義に陥れば国は危うい」と強調している。

What Noda likely had in mind is radical statements by Ishihara, such as "We hate becoming a vassal state of China."
念頭にあるのは石原氏の「シナの属国になるのは嫌だ」といった過激な言動だろう。

Japan has become closely intertwined economically with China and South Korea. Deterioration of the respective bilateral relationships would be bound to harm their national interests.
　日本と中韓両国は今や、経済的に深く結びついており、２国間関係の悪化は互いにマイナスだ。

The task of constructing broad-range cooperative relations among the three countries is a prerequisite for peace and prosperity for all of Northeast Asia.
３か国の幅広い協力関係を構築することは、北東アジアの平和と繁栄にも欠かせない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 7, 2012)
（2012年12月7日01時32分  読売新聞）