集団的自衛権 解釈「適正化」が導く自公合意

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Accord on collective self-defense an epoch-making step forward
集団的自衛権　解釈「適正化」が導く自公合意

We applaud the fact that repeated, tenacious talks between the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito have brought them to the verge of an epoch-making agreement that is critical for Japan’s security.
　自民、公明両党が粘り強く協議を重ね、日本の安全保障にとって画期的な意義を持つ合意をまとめ上げつつあることを、高く評価したい。

The government on Friday presented to the ruling parties a draft outline for a new constitutional interpretation that will approve the limited exercise of the right of collective self-defense. Komeito, which was cautious about condoning the limited exercise of the right, did not object to the draft, leading to a broad accord between the ruling parties. The new interpretation is expected to be approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday.
　政府が、集団的自衛権行使を限定的に容認する新たな憲法解釈の概要案を与党に示した。行使容認に慎重だった公明党から異論は出ず、与党は大筋で了承した。新たな解釈は、７月１日に閣議決定される見通しだ。

According to the draft, the Constitution allows the nation to use the minimum necessary force when a foreign nation with which it has close ties comes under attack and there is a clear danger that threatens to fundamentally undermine the rights of the Japanese people.
　概要案は、「我が国と密接な関係にある他国」が攻撃され、日本国民の権利が「根底から覆される明白な危険がある」場合、必要最小限度の実力を行使することが憲法上許容される、としている。

The government and the Liberal Democratic Party have incorporated expressions in the draft to limit the exercise of the right in line with Komeito’s position, paving the way for the exercise, under certain conditions, of the right of collective self-defense. The exercise of this right has heretofore been seen as banned under the Constitution.
　政府・自民党が、公明党の主張する「歯止め」の表現も盛り込みながら、長年、憲法上はできないとしてきた集団的自衛権の行使を条件付きで容認したものだ。

It is important to mention that this change in the constitutional interpretation is aimed at enhancing the nation’s deterrence by strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance and international cooperation.
　重要なのは、この憲法解釈の変更が日米同盟や国際協調を強化して、抑止力を高めることを目指していることだ。

Extreme opinions, like those in some quarters of the nation, that this will open the way for Japan’s participation in a war are far off the mark.
「戦争参加への道を開く」といった一部の極論は全くの的外れである。

As the draft points out, Japan’s security environment has gone through a fundamental transformation. No single nation can keep peace by itself, given the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles as well as the threat of international terrorism.
　概要案が指摘するように、日本の安全保障環境は根本的に変容している。大量破壊兵器や弾道ミサイルの拡散、国際テロの脅威などを踏まえれば、どの国も一国のみで平和を守ることはできない。

Securing own safety

By contributing to the stability of not only Asia but also the entire world, and by forging closer ties of cooperation with its ally the United States and other friendly nations, Japan will secure its own peace and safety. To that end, the ability to exercise the right of collective self-defense is essential.
　日本が世界とアジアの安定に貢献し、同盟国の米国や友好国と緊密に連携することが、日本自身の平和と安全の確保につながる。集団的自衛権の行使は、そのための重要なカードである。

We must not treat lightly the fact that many relevant countries are supporting Japan’s move to change its constitutional interpretation.
　多くの関係国が、日本の憲法解釈の変更を支持していることを軽視すべきではない。

Masahiko Komura, chairman of the ruling parties’ panel on the development of the legal framework for security, has stressed that the new constitutional interpretation is meant to make appropriate adjustments to the interpretation, not amend the Constitution.
　与党協議会の高村正彦座長は、新たな解釈について「解釈の適正化であって、解釈改憲ではない」と強調している。

Indeed, the new interpretation keeps the core parts of the 1972 government view and only approves the exercise of the right of collective self-defense at the minimal necessary level.
　確かに、新解釈は１９７２年の政府見解の根幹部分を踏襲し、必要最小限度に限定した集団的自衛権の行使しか認めていない。

The reinterpretation is within a rational range and maintains a certain level of consistency with the government’s view thus far.
　従来の見解とも一定の整合性を維持した合理的な範囲内の解釈変更であり、

Criticism that the issue should have essentially been dealt with by a constitutional amendment but was handled through constitutional reinterpretation instead, and that the move goes against constitutionalism, is completely inaccurate.
「本来は憲法改正すべきなのに、解釈変更ですませた」「立憲主義に反する」といった批判は当たるまい。

The draft stipulates that the exercise of the right of collective self-defense in principle requires prior Diet approval, from the viewpoint of democratic control.
　概要案は、集団的自衛権を行使する場合は、民主的統制の観点から、原則として「国会の事前承認」が必要と明記している。

This is an appropriate step. After the Cabinet approval of the new interpretation, the government must spare no efforts to explain the significance and details of the new constitutional interpretation by, for example, discussing the matter at a committee session while the Diet is in recess to win greater acceptance of the interpretation among the people.
　妥当な内容だ。政府は閣議決定後には、国会の閉会中審査などを通じて、新憲法解釈の意義や内容を丁寧に説明し、国民の理解を広げることが求められる。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 28, 2014)