与党安保協議 自衛隊活動を制約し過ぎるな

The Yomiuri Shimbun
SDF’s ability to defend nation must not be excessively restricted
与党安保協議　自衛隊活動を制約し過ぎるな

The government and the ruling parties are trying to make arrangements to have a Cabinet decision sometime next week on a reinterpretation of the Constitution that will allow this nation to exercise its right of collective self-defense.
　政府・与党は、集団的自衛権の行使を容認する閣議決定を来週中に行う方向で調整している。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has indicated he wants this decision made sooner rather than later. “As responsible ruling parties, we will make a decision when it needs to be made,” he said at a press conference.
　安倍首相は記者会見で「責任与党として決める時はしっかり決める」と語り、早期の閣議決定に意欲を示した。

Initially, the ruling parties were not in tune on this issue. The Liberal Democratic Party was enthusiastic about enabling Japan to exercise a right it possesses but has prohibited itself from using. By contrast, New Komeito was very cautious about making any changes to the government’s interpretation. We warmly applaud both parties for being willing to compromise and reaching a point where their discussions have neared an agreement.
　当初、行使容認に前向きな自民党と、慎重な公明党の主張の隔たりは大きかった。双方が歩み寄り、詰めの協議に入ったことを前向きに評価したい。

During a series of meetings, representatives of the LDP and Komeito discussed the draft of the wording for the Cabinet decision. It has been proposed that the limited exercise of this right would be permitted only when there is an “impending danger” that the nation’s existence is threatened and the people’s right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness will be fundamentally undermined. This wording would be a change from the condition that there was a “fear” that these threats could occur.
　与党協議では、閣議決定案の文言を調整した。集団的自衛権の行使要件である「国民の生命、自由及び幸福追求の権利が根底から覆されるおそれがある」場合について、「おそれ」を「明白な危険」に変更することが提案された。

This was a nod to Komeito, which wanted to ensure adequate restraint on the scenarios in which Japan could exercise the right of collective self-defense.
　行使できるケースを極力限定するため、「歯止め」をかけたい公明党に配慮したものだ。

Both ruling parties will need to make some compromises as they seek an agreement, but the important thing is to ensure that in the event of an emergency, the Self-Defense Forces can operate effectively and are not subjected to excessive restrictions.
　与党合意に向けて一定の妥協は必要としても、重要なのは、緊急事態の発生時に、自衛隊が過剰な制約を受けることなく、効果的に活動できるようにすることだ。

We think a framework should be put in place to ensure the nation can fundamentally exercise this right of collective self-defense in the eight key instances presented by the government, including protecting U.S. vessels under armed attack, minesweeping operations and missile defense.
　米艦防護、機雷除去、ミサイル防衛など、政府が示した集団的自衛権の８事例は基本的に実施できるようにしておくべきだ。

Minesweeping in limelight

The move to enable the use of this right was designed to guarantee the nation’s peace and security, and to strengthen the bilateral alliance with the United States and relations with other affected nations, as the security environment surrounding Japan has deteriorated in recent years. Imposing excessive restrictions on the scope under which this right can be exercised will prevent Japan from being able to achieve these goals.
　集団的自衛権の行使容認は、近年の安全保障環境の悪化を踏まえて、日米同盟や米国以外の関係国との連携を強化し、日本の平和と安全を確保するのが目的だ。行使できる範囲を限定しすぎれば、その目的が果たせなくなろう。

The LDP had sought to have minesweeping operations permitted under a U.N. collective security framework, as well as making it a case in which Japan could exercise the right of collective self-defense. However, it plans to postpone a decision on this matter.
　機雷除去に関しては、自民党が集団的自衛権の行使に加えて、集団安全保障に基づく活動も可能にするよう求めていたが、結論を先送りする方向となった。

This delay was unavoidable, as the LDP’s priority is to quickly gain Cabinet approval on the reinterpretation even as some Komeito members remain firmly opposed to yielding any ground. Nevertheless, it is important that some leeway be left in place regarding authorizing the use of force as part of a collective security framework.
　公明党内の慎重論が強い中、早期の閣議決定を優先するには、それもやむを得ない。だが、集団安保に基づく武力行使を認める余地は残しておくことが大切だ。

If the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution authorizing minesweeping while the Maritime Self-Defense Force was already engaged in clearing mines, the basis for the operation would switch to the collective security framework, and the MSDF might come under pressure to abort its mission. This is absurd. The international community will not understand how such a situation came to pass.
　海上自衛隊が機雷を除去中に、国連安全保障理事会で掃海の決議が採択されたら、活動の根拠が集団安保に移るため、掃海の中断を迫られるのは、おかしな話だ。国際社会からも理解されない。

The adoption of a U.N. resolution was originally a process for adding legitimacy to the use of force, but under Japan’s current position, it would do the opposite.
　国連決議の採択は本来、武力行使の正当性を高めるはずなのに、本末転倒である。

Abe has denied Japan will use force under a collective security framework, but that was in the context of an attack on another country. There is no need to lump minesweeping operations that do not injure or kill personnel under the same “use of force.”
　安倍首相は集団安保による武力行使を否定しているが、それは他国を攻撃するケースを念頭に置いたものだ。同じ武力行使でも、人員の殺傷などを伴わない機雷除去を同列に扱う必要はない。

It is possible that the basis for an operation could change from the exercise of collective self-defense to a collective security framework in situations other than minesweeping. The government and ruling parties should reach a definite conclusion on this matter in the near future.
　集団的自衛権の行使が集団安保に移行する例は、掃海以外にも起こり得る。政府・与党は近い将来、きちんと結論を出すべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 25, 2014)