武器輸出緩和―平和主義が崩れていく

April 03, 2014
EDITORIAL: New arms export rules undermine Japan’s pacifism
武器輸出緩和―平和主義が崩れていく

Japan effectively lifted its ban on weapons exports with Cabinet approval April 1 of a new set of principles to replace the three that had held sway for nearly five decades.
　歴代内閣が、曲がりなりにも５０年近く掲げてきた武器輸出三原則。これに代わる新たな原則を安倍内閣が決定した。

In an apparent effort to blot out images of Japan being a “merchant of death,” the Abe administration named the new rules “three principles concerning transfer of defense equipment.”
　「死の商人」との連想を避けるためだろうか。新原則は「防衛装備移転三原則」という。

But in reality the move represents a 180-degree shift in policy, from banning arms exports in principle to approving them if they meet certain conditions.
だがその実体は、武器輸出の原則禁止から、条件を満たせば認める百八十度の方針転換だ。

This shift has paved the way for Japan’s entry into the international weapons business.
　これで日本は、国際的な武器ビジネスの戦列に加わることができるようになる。

The old principles constituted one of the main pillars of Japan’s postwar pacifism, which is based on the basic tenets of the Constitution. We have to say that the Abe administration's decision was rash to say the least.
　旧原則は、憲法の理念に基づく日本の平和主義の柱のひとつだった。極めて拙速な決定と言わざるをえない。

The three new principles are as follows:
　新しい原則は次の三つだ。

First, Japan cannot export weapons to countries that are violating international treaties or resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.
　①条約や国連安保理決議に違反する国には輸出しない。

Secondly, arms exports are allowed only in cases where the government has decided through strict examinations that they contribute to peace or Japan’s national security.
　②輸出は、平和貢献や日本の安全保障に資する場合などに限定し、厳格に審査する。

Thirdly, the government must make sure that weapons exported from Japan will not be used for purposes other than the original intent or transferred to third countries without Japan’s consent.
　③原則として、日本の同意なしの目的外使用や第三国移転がないよう管理する。

The preamble of the new rules says, “Japan cannot secure its peace and safety on its own, and the international community is expecting Japan to play an active role (in the area of security).”
　新原則は前文で、「我が国の平和と安全は我が国一国では確保できず、国際社会も我が国が積極的な役割を果たすことを期待している」とうたう。

This phrase indicates that the policy change is an embodiment of the “proactive pacifism” advocated by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and reflects his defense policy agenda, which is behind his initiative to allow Japan to exercise its right to collective self-defense.
　安倍首相が唱える「積極的平和主義」の具体化であり、首相がめざす集団的自衛権の行使容認と同じ文脈にある。

The government’s principal purpose in establishing the new rules lies in Japan’s participation in international joint projects to develop state-of-the-art weapons, which have been becoming increasingly more sophisticated and expensive.
　政府が新原則で主に想定しているのは、ハイテク化と高額化が進む最新鋭兵器の国際的な共同開発への参加だ。

The Abe administration has already approved exports of parts for the F-35 fighter jet, which has been developed jointly by nine countries, including the United States and Britain. Japan will deploy the stealth fighters and Japanese companies will manufacture parts for them. The government wants to promote Japan’s participation in such international weapons programs from the development phase in the future.
　安倍内閣はすでに旧原則の例外として、米英など９カ国が共同開発したＦ３５戦闘機の部品輸出を認めているが、今後はこうしたケースに開発段階から加わりたい考えだ。

The Abe administration has been driven by its desire to cut costs for defense equipment and promote the development of the domestic defense industry. Some Japanese defense contractors have been complaining that the old rules hamper their efforts to develop cutting-edge weapon technologies and cause them to lose business opportunities.
　背景には、コスト削減と防衛産業の育成がある。国内の企業には、旧原則が足かせとなって最先端の技術開発から取り残され、ビジネスチャンスを失っているという不満がある。

But the self-imposed ban on arms exports is a policy Japan has maintained amid support from a majority of the public. It must not be abandoned simply to accommodate the logic of business.
　しかし、国民の多くの支持のもと、日本が選んできた道である。産業界の論理で割り切っていいはずがない。

Under the new rules, an export embargo is applied only to countries that are recognized by the U.N. Security Council as parties to conflict. This rule is a very weak measure and limited in its effectiveness to prevent questionable arms exports. The provision calling for disclosure of information about arms exports is too vague to be meaningful.
　新原則では、国連安保理が紛争当事国と認めない限り、禁輸の対象にはならない。歯止めとしては極めて緩く、限定的だ。輸出内容の情報公開の指針も、抽象的すぎる。

These problems with the new rules inevitably raise concerns that Japan's arms exports could create a situation that fuels international conflict while Japanese people are not aware of what is happening.
　これでは国民が知らぬ間に、国際紛争を助長するような事態がおきかねない。

The Abe administration has also started considering using the government’s official development assistance for military purposes in a radical departure from the tradition of limiting such aid to civilian areas. This would be another major shift away from the nation’s postwar pacifist credo.
　安倍政権は、民生分野に限っていた途上国援助（ＯＤＡ）の軍事利用の検討も始めた。これもまた、平和主義の大転換である。

All these moves point a way toward making it possible for Japan to use its right to collective self-defense.
その先に控えるのが集団的自衛権の容認だ。

We can never accept these attempts to gradually erode the pacifist principles to which the nation has long been committed.
　こんな「なし崩し」を、認めるわけにはいかない。

--The Asahi Shimbun, April 3
2014年4月3日（木）付