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タイ在住11年目、妻はタイ人、娘が2人、養女が2人

The Yomiuri Shimbun
China’s People’s Congress prioritizes military despite economic slowdown
中国全人代開幕　経済減速でも続く「強軍路線」

Can China bring its economy to a soft landing by comprehensively employing policies such as structural reforms and fiscal measures?
　構造改革や財政出動といった政策を総動員し、経済の軟着陸を図ることができるか。

China’s National People’s Congress has opened.
　中国の全国人民代表大会（全人代＝国会）が開幕した。

In his address to the congress, Premier Li Keqiang announced the nation’s economic growth target will be set at “at least 6.5 percent” in the 13th five-year plan for economic and social policies from 2016 to 2020, down from an annual average of 7 percent in the previous plan. The figure was fixed in anticipation of such factors as a declining labor force.
　李克強首相は演説で、２０１６～２０年の経済・社会政策に関する「第１３次５か年計画」の成長率目標を、前計画の年平均７％から引き下げ、「６・５％以上」に設定すると表明した。労働人口の減少などを見込んだものだ。

Li also said the country would further strengthen active fiscal policies. China intends to raise the ratio of the fiscal deficit to the gross domestic product to 3 percent this year from 2.4 percent last year, and expand fiscal expenditure.
　李氏は「積極的な財政政策を一層強化する」とも述べた。今年は国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）に対する財政赤字の比率を前年の２・４％から３％に引き上げ、財政支出を拡大する方針だという。

The slowdown of the Chinese economy has triggered low crude oil prices and economic downturns in other emerging economies.
　中国経済の減速は、原油安や新興国の景気悪化を招いている。

The primary cause for confusion on world financial markets is suspicion whether China will be able to smoothly shift to consumption-oriented stable growth from the high-growth model that depends on investment and exports.
　投資や輸出に依存する高成長モデルから、消費主体の安定成長への転換が順調に進むかどうかを疑う見方が、世界の金融市場を混乱させた主因である。

The administration of President Xi Jinping must fulfill the responsibility of eliminating market concerns through appropriate management of the economy.
　習近平政権は、適切な経済運営で、市場の不安を払拭する責務を果たさねばならない。

The key will be painful reforms, including the selection of ballooning government-owned companies, and the merger and abolition of excessive production facilities, such as those for iron and steel production. It will also be necessary to foster advanced technology industries in robotics, medicine and other fields as a driving force for new economic growth.
　カギを握るのは、肥大化する国有企業の淘汰とうたや鉄鋼などの過剰生産設備の統廃合といった痛みを伴う改革だ。新たな成長の牽引けんいん役として、ロボットや医療などの先端技術産業の育成も必要だろう。

Defense spending grows

It is also important to narrow the income gap between urban and farming areas and create a middle class that can drive consumption-led growth.
　都市と農村の所得格差を縮め、消費主導の成長を担う中間層を創出していくことも大切となる。

Meanwhile, the expansion of China’s military power does not stop. China said at the congress that it would raise its military spending this year by 7.6 percent from the previous year. This is more than triple Japan’s defense-related spending. Although the increase is the first single-digit rise in six years, there is no change to the continuing growth of the country’s military budget.
　一方、中国の軍事力の膨張は止まらない。全人代で発表された今年の軍事予算は前年より７・６％増えた。日本の防衛関係費の３倍以上だ。６年ぶりに１桁の伸びになったものの、予算規模が一段と増大したことに変わりはない。

Li stressed in his address that China would proceed with preparations for military struggle. This reflects the Xi administration’s policy of maintaining a strong military to try to remove U.S. influence in Asia by force.
　李氏は演説で、「軍事闘争への備えを進める」と強調した。アジアから米国の影響力を力ずくで排除しようとする習政権の「強軍路線」を示したものと言えよう。

To cope readily with modern warfare, China implemented a military structural reform to establish joint operation of its air, sea and ground forces and a missile force. Budgets for the air and sea forces will receive priority.
　中国は、現代戦に即応するため、陸海空３軍とロケット軍の統合運用体制を整える軍の機構改革を実施した。海空軍に予算を重点投入するのだろう。

Specifically, the focus of the military buildup is expected to be the construction of submarines and a domestically produced aircraft carrier to support its ambitious maritime advances. China will also likely stress the development of a new type of stealth fighter and a nuclear and missile buildup.
　具体的には、野心的な海洋進出を支える潜水艦や国産空母などの建造が中心となる。新型ステルス戦闘機の開発、核・ミサイルの増強にも力を入れるとみられる。

Above all, China’s military spending is said to largely exceed what was announced. Beijing will not be able to eliminate concerns in the international community if it does not explain sufficiently about its spending to make artificial islands in the South China Sea into military strongholds and other developments. The opaque military expansion of the Xi administration only escalates regional tensions.
　中国の軍事費は、そもそも公表分を大きく上回るとされる。南シナ海の人工島を軍事拠点化する費用などについて十分な説明がなければ、国際社会の懸念は拭えまい。習政権の不透明な軍拡は、地域の緊張を高めるだけである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 6, 2016)

--The Asahi Shimbun, March 4
EDITORIAL: The Constitution is not Abe’s plaything
（社説）安倍首相へ　あなたの憲法なのか

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe continues to show his ardent ambition to amend Japan’s postwar Constitution.
　安倍首相が、憲法改正で踏み込んだ発言を続けている。

At a recent Upper House Budget Committee session, Abe voiced his desire to bring pro-amendment forces together for the two-thirds majority in both house of the Diet required to initiate the process for constitutional amendments, which includes a national referendum. He then indicated a time frame for achieving the goal.
“I want to amend the Constitution while I am still in office,” he said.
　改憲案を国民投票にかけるのに必要な３分の２以上の議席確保をめざす考えに続き、先の参院予算委員会では「私の在任中に成し遂げたいと考えている」と、期限まで示した。

Politicians are expected to talk about their policy goals.
　政治家だから、自らの政治目標を語ることは一般的にはあるだろう。

But there is serious confusion of priorities in Abe’s agenda for constitutional amendments.
しかし、憲法へのの態度にはあべこべがある。

One problem is how he intends to rewrite the Constitution.
　ひとつは改憲の進め方だ。

He says he will first seek to secure a two-thirds majority for pro-amendment politicians in both Diet houses. When asked which part of the Constitution he wants to change, however, he has repeatedly said that each party should make its own proposal for debate at the Commission on the Constitution of both houses.
　首相はまず３分の２の勢力を集めたいという。では憲法のどこをどう変えるのかと問われると、「各党が（案を）出して、（国会の）憲法審査会で議論していくことが求められている」と繰り返す。

This is tantamount to saying he just wants to make any amendment to the Constitution, starting where there is the least resistance.
　何でもいいから変えたい、やりやすいところからやりたい。こう言っているに等しい。

Abe’s approach to this policy challenge probably reflects his long-held wish to recreate the Constitution, which was “imposed” on Japan by the United States.
　背景には、米国に「押しつけられた」憲法を、自らの手で制定し直したいとの思いがあるのだろう。

It is true that political discourse on the Constitution during the postwar era has been dominated by the amendment issue.
戦後の憲法論争が「変える」「変えない」を焦点にしてきたのも確かだ。

We can understand arguments to revise specific parts of the Constitution to correct perceived shortcomings.
　憲法のここが不都合だから、こう正したい、そんな議論なら分かる。

But if Abe’s campaign for constitutional amendments puts priority on rewriting the document itself, then he is putting the cart before the horse.
だが、「とにかく変える」ことが何よりも先だというなら、順序が逆さまだ。

Abe’s interest in protecting the Constitution stands in sharp contrast to his solid commitment to revising it. This is another example of his misplaced priorities.
　一方、首相は改憲への意欲に比べ、憲法を守ることにはこだわりがないようだ。もうひとつのあべこべである。

Abe has overturned the government’s traditional interpretation of the Constitution regarding Japan’s right to collective self-defense.
Only through discussions within his administration, Abe has thrown away the official government position, endorsed by successive Cabinets, that Japan must amend war-renouncing Article 9 if it wants to take part in collective self-defense.
　憲法を改正しなければ集団的自衛権の行使はできないとの歴代内閣の解釈を、内部の議論だけで覆してしまう。

Despite repeated calls by the Supreme Court for reapportionment of Diet seats to realize equality in vote value, Abe has been trying to postpone taking necessary steps to tackle the problem.
最高裁から定数配分を見直し、投票価値の平等を実現するよう繰り返し求められても、先送りを図る。

More recently, Abe has refused to reprove communications minister Sanae Takaichi for her assertion that the government can legally shut down broadcasters that continue to air “biased political reports.”
　最近は、高市総務相が放送法などをたてにテレビ局の電波停止の可能性に触れ、首相もこれを容認した。

A group of experts, including Yoichi Higuchi, professor emeritus of the Constitution at the University of Tokyo, said at a news conference in Tokyo on March 2 that it would be unconstitutional for Takaichi to take such a move based solely on the Broadcast Law’s Article 4, which requires political fairness and neutrality in broadcasting.
　これには樋口陽一・東大名誉教授らが、「政治的公平」などを定めた放送法の文言だけを根拠に処分を行うのは違憲だとの見解を表明している。

“The basic principle of a free democratic society that any person cannot appoint themselves as court judges about matters they are involved in is important,” Higuchi said of Takaichi’s claim.
　樋口氏は「何人（なんぴと）も自分自身が関わっている事柄について裁判官となってはならない」と批判する。

By this comment Higuchi meant politicians are not entitled to determine the definition of political fairness.
何が政治的公平かを政治家が判断することはおかしい、との指摘である。

The Constitution imposes various restraints on the government’s power to prevent violations of people’s rights, such as freedom of expression.
　憲法は、表現の自由など国民の権利がおかされないよう、権力に様々な制約を課している。

But the Abe administration has shown a disturbing tendency to disregard these restraints without much hesitation.
ところが安倍政権は、こうした制約を乗り越えてしまうことに、あまりにためらいがない。

The administration’s lack of respect for the Constitution seems to be behind its anything-is-good attitude regarding its constitutional amendment agenda.
　憲法を軽んじる姿勢が、中身はともかく改憲をという態度につながっているのではないか。

Abe is part of the government, whose power and authority is defined and limited by the Constitution. He must understand that the Constitution is not the possession of the person who is in power.
　安倍首相は憲法によって縛られる側にいる。憲法は、権力者たるあなたのものではない。

The Yomiuri Shimbun
China holds key to strictly enforcing sanctions resolution on North Korea
対「北」制裁決議　厳格な履行へカギ握る中国

It is crucial for the international community to stand united and crank up the pressure on North Korea to bring about Pyongyang’s abandonment of its nuclear weapons program.
　国際社会が結束して、北朝鮮への圧力を強め、核放棄の実現につなげることが肝要である。

The U.N. Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution that significantly strengthens sanctions on North Korea in response to its latest defiant nuclear test and launch of a long-range ballistic missile.
　核実験と長距離弾道ミサイル発射を強行した北朝鮮に対して、国連安全保障理事会が制裁を大幅に強化する決議を全会一致で採択した。

This is the fifth resolution imposing sanctions on North Korea. While it was unusual that it took nearly two months after the nuclear test to reach an agreement on the resolution, the sanctions are the toughest imposed on North Korea to date.
　対北朝鮮制裁決議は５回目だ。核実験実施から２か月近くを要したのは異例だが、これまでにない強力な内容になったと言える。

The resolution obliges states to inspect all cargo going to and from North Korea, rather than limiting inspections to shipments suspected to contain embargoed goods in fields related to Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile development programs.
　決議は、北朝鮮に出入りする貨物について、核・ミサイル関連分野などで禁輸品の疑いがある場合に限らず、すべて検査することを各国に義務づけた。

Most noteworthy is that these steps are aimed squarely at revenue sources of the military and the Workers’ Party of Korea — two mainstays of the Kim Jong Un regime.
　注目すべきは、金正恩政権の中枢を担う朝鮮労働党や軍の収入源を狙い撃ちした措置である。

The resolution bans, in principle, exports of North Korean mineral resources, including coal and iron ore. It also placed an embargo on aviation fuel, a step aimed at weakening the military. If the sanctions are strictly enforced, we think they will deliver a strong blow to the Kim administration, which has been recklessly pursuing nuclear missile development.
　北朝鮮産の石炭や鉄鉱石など鉱物資源の輸出は原則、禁止した。軍の弱体化を狙い、航空用燃料も禁輸とした。制裁が厳格に履行されれば、核ミサイル開発へ暴走する金政権に相当な打撃を与えられるのではないか。

North Korea bristled at moves to adopt the resolution. The official Korean Central News Agency described them as an “infringement on [North Korea’s] sovereignty and [a] grave challenge to it.”
　北朝鮮は朝鮮中央通信を通じて、決議採択の動きに対し、「自主権に対する侵害であり、重大な挑戦だ」などと反発している。

Shortly after the resolution was adopted, North Korea fired six projectiles thought to be short-range missiles or rockets into the Sea of Japan. Vigilance must be maintained against further military provocations.
　採択直後には、短距離ミサイルかロケット弾とみられる６発を日本海に向けて発射した。さらなる軍事挑発への警戒は怠れまい。

Do not allow loophole

Having China stand front and center is paramount for sharpening the effect of these sanctions. There are suspicions that previously goods were illicitly transported to and from North Korea via China.
　制裁の効果を高めるには、中国が前面に立つことが不可欠だ。従来は、中国経由で物資が不正に輸送されている疑いがあった。

The latest sanctions resolution allows, as an exception, the export of North Korean coal and iron ore provided revenue from their sale is spent for civilian purposes. The decision to buy these resources rests with China and other importing nations. This must not become a loophole used to flout the resolution.
　今回の制裁決議は、収入が民生用の場合は例外として、北朝鮮産の石炭や鉄鉱石の輸出を認めた。その判断は中国など輸入国に委ねられる。これを抜け道として利用させてはならない。

Discussions on the resolution became protracted because the United States was demanding tough sanctions, which China strongly resisted.
　決議を巡る協議は、強力な制裁を求める米国に、中国が強く抵抗し、長期化した。

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit the United States at the end of March. We wonder if China relented in an attempt to avoid criticism for dragging out the resolution discussions at a time when Washington and Beijing are at odds over the situation in the South China Sea.
　習近平国家主席は今月末に訪米する。中国が譲歩したのは、南シナ海情勢で米国と対立する中、制裁協議の引き延ばしへの批判を避けようとしたためではないか。

Russia wanted to make changes to the resolution during the final stage of the discussions. It appears Russia’s intention was to secure some influence in Korean Peninsula affairs.
　ロシアも協議の最終局面で決議の修正を求めた。朝鮮半島問題での影響力を確保しようという思惑があったのだろう。

Japan, as a nonpermanent member of the Security Council, contributed to the adoption of the resolution. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe emphasized Japan will “work with the international community and rigorously implement [the resolution].”
　日本は、安保理非常任理事国として、決議採択に貢献した。安倍首相は「国際社会と協力し、厳格に実施していく」と強調した。

The resolution also mentioned “the humanitarian concerns of the international community” with regard to North Korea. Based on close cooperation among Japan, the United States and South Korea, it is vital that the nuclear and missile problems are linked to seeking progress in resolving the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korea.
　決議は北朝鮮に関し、「国際社会による人道上の懸念」にも言及している。日米韓の連携を基盤に、核、ミサイル問題と連動して、日本人拉致問題の進展を目指すことが欠かせない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 4, 2016)

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Republican front-runner Trump accelerates a dangerous whirlwind
米大統領選　危うさもはらむトランプ旋風

Voting was held on Super Tuesday, the biggest day of nominating contests for both the Democratic and Republican parties’ candidates in the U.S. presidential election.
　米大統領選で、民主党と共和党の指名候補を争うスーパーチューズデーの投票が行われた。

The day marked the climax of the early-stage primaries in which more than 10 states held primary elections and caucuses. In the Republican race, Donald Trump, a real estate tycoon, and in the Democratic race, Hillary Clinton, a former secretary of state, advanced toward securing their parties’ presidential nominations by winning the most states on the day.
　１０を超える州の予備選と党員集会が集中する序盤戦最大のヤマ場だ。共和党は不動産王のドナルド・トランプ氏、民主党はヒラリー・クリントン前国務長官がそれぞれ多くの州で勝利し、指名獲得に前進した。

In his victory speech, Trump boasted that he has expanded the support base of the Republican Party, referring to “the numbers that we got in terms of extra people coming in. They came from the Democratic Party ... And they were independents.”
　トランプ氏は勝利宣言で、「民主党員や無党派層がこちら側に来ている」と述べ、支持層が拡大したことを誇示した。

The whirlwind set off by an outsider with no political experience shows no sign of subsiding. Lying behind this development is voters’ anger at “Washington politics,” epitomized by gridlock due to constant partisan conflict. This can also be seen as a manifestation of anti-intellectualism, which is firmly rooted in the United States.
　政治経験のないアウトサイダーの旋風は、とどまるところを知らない。党派対立に明け暮れ、物事が決まらない「ワシントン政治」への有権者の怒りが背景にある。米国に根強い「反知性主義」の表れとも言えるだろう。

Trump has proposed that he would build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border to stop the flow of immigrants, ban all Muslims from entering the United States, and forcibly deport all the illegal immigrants from the country. These radical assertions made by Trump are ones that an established politician cannot afford to make.
　「移民の流入を阻止するため、メキシコ国境に壁を築く」「イスラム教徒の入国禁止」「すべての不法移民の強制送還」――。トランプ氏の過激な主張は、既存の政治家には口にできまい。

Novelty appeal

For those people who are angry, feeling their jobs were taken by immigrants, and for those who are hostile to Islam, Trump’s words may strike a chord in their hearts as novel remarks not assimilated into established politics.
　移民に職を奪われたと憤り、イスラム教を敵視する人々には、既成政治に染まらない斬新な発言として、心に響くのではないか。

Voters’ hope of entrusting to Trump the task of breaking the current deadlock has begun to spread among a wide range of supporters of the Republican Party. There is even speculation prevailing that Trump is the Republican candidate most likely to win the November election.
　トランプ氏に閉塞状況の打破を託す思いは、共和党の幅広い支持者に浸透しつつある。「１１月の本選で勝てる可能性が最も大きい候補」との見方も広がってきた。

A matter of concern is that the party has yet to see policy discussions among candidates deepened at debates or other occasions, with Trump’s assertions left largely unexamined in terms of appropriateness and feasibility.
　懸念されるのは、討論会などで政策論争が深まらず、トランプ氏の主張の妥当性や実現性がほとんど検証されていないことだ。

Repetition of such simplistic slogans as “We will overwhelm Japan, China and Mexico in trade,” and “We will make America great again,” sounds like nothing but perilous demagoguery.
　「日本や中国、メキシコを貿易で打倒する」「偉大な米国を取り戻す」といった単純なスローガンの繰り返しは、危うい大衆扇動そのものではないか。

Among mainstream Republicans, negative voices have arisen about the prospect of Trump winning the party’s presidential nomination. Yet the very gravity of the whole situation lies in the likelihood that such negative opinions would provoke opposition as “interference by establishment elites,” which may actually help expand Trump’s support.
　共和党の主流派には、トランプ氏の指名獲得に否定的な声も出ている。だが、それが「既存支配層の介入」と反発を呼び、トランプ支持がむしろ拡大しかねないところに事態の深刻さがある。

At a victory rally, Clinton said, “Instead of building walls we need to be tearing down barriers ... We need to make America whole again.” It seems Clinton is already thinking about having a showdown with Trump.
　クリントン氏は勝利集会で「壁を築くのではない。取り払うのだ」「米国を再び一つにしよう」と語った。トランプ氏との対決を早くも意識しているのだろう。

Her experience of having been the first lady and a senator are Clinton’s strong point and also her weakness. How those people disgruntled with the “establishment elites” evaluate her will be the key to the campaign.
　ファーストレディーや上院議員などの経験と実績がクリントン氏の強みであり、弱みだ。「支配層」に不満を持つ人々がどう評価するかが、選挙戦のカギとなる。

It is worrisome that both Trump and Clinton have made clear their opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement. The accord, which is aimed at reinvigorating trade in Asia and the Pacific regions, must not be scrapped with the change of president.
　トランプ、クリントン両氏が、環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）への反対を明言しているのは心配だ。アジア太平洋地域の貿易活性化を目指す協定が、大統領の交代で反故ほごにされてはならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 3, 2016)

--The Asahi Shimbun, March 1
EDITORIAL: Fukushima disaster trial offers chance to reveal TEPCO's organizational woes
（社説）原発強制起訴　検証の重要な機会だ

A case concerning responsibility for the disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant will be brought to court.
　甚大な被害をもたらした福島第一原発事故の責任が、司法の場で問われることになった。

Three former executives of Tokyo Electric Power Co., operator of the plant, face a trial over the nuclear crisis triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
Court-appointed lawyers serving as prosecutors filed indictments with the Tokyo District Court on Feb. 29 against the three former executives on charges of professional negligence resulting in death and injury.
　東京電力の勝俣恒久元会長ら当時の幹部３人がきのう、業務上過失致死傷罪で強制起訴された。

Former TEPCO Chairman Tsunehisa Katsumata, 75, and two former vice presidents are accused of failing to implement sufficient safety measures against tsunami. A number of patients at hospitals in the vicinity of the plant died in the subsequent evacuation and workers were injured at the plant.
事前の津波対策を怠り、原発周辺の入院患者を死亡させたなどと起訴状は指摘している。

The mandatory indictments reflect public criticisms and suspicions concerning the nuclear accident.
　あの事故を「想定外」で片付け、誰の責任も問わぬままでいいのか。

Many citizens have taken a dim view of the fact that nobody has been held accountable for the nuclear accident, which the company claims was “beyond expectation.” TEPCO’s profit-oriented policy is also believed to be behind the failure to take sufficient safety measures at the plant.
東電は利益優先で原発の安全対策を怠ったのではないか――。そうした市民の疑念を反映した強制起訴である。

Such huge accidents are caused by a complicated confluence of factors. There is inevitably a limit to what the trial of the former TEPCO executives can do in terms of clarifying the whole picture of the disaster. The trial will be focused on the three individuals’ criminal liability for negligence from the viewpoint of the law and evidence.
　巨大事故は、さまざまな要因が複雑に絡みあって起きる。絞られた争点で元幹部ら個人の過失責任を「法と証拠」に照らして問う法廷は、全容解明の場としては、おのずと限界がある。

Still, the trial can reveal important facts about the information the former executives had before the accident and the decisions they made in responding to the information.
　それでも、元幹部が事故前にどんな情報を得ていて、どんな判断をしたかは、これまで十分に明らかになっていない重要なパーツだ。

We also hope the trial will shed light on problems with the organization and corporate culture of a large utility operating many nuclear reactors so that important lessons can be gleaned.
原発を抱える電力会社の組織の在り方や企業風土にも光を当て、教訓がくみ取れる裁判になることを期待する。

After residents and citizens groups filed a criminal complaint, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office decided not to indict the former executives, citing the difficulty in predicting such an accident.
　この事故では告発を受けた東京地検が「今回のような規模の津波は予見できなかった」と不起訴にしたが、

But a committee for the inquest of prosecution comprising 11 citizens has twice decided that the former TEPCO executives should be prosecuted, triggering the process for forced indictment.
１１人の市民からなる検察審査会が２度にわたって「起訴相当」と議決した。

A report on the accident published by TEPCO in 2012 did not make clear who should be held responsible and what kind of lessons should be learned. The document’s descriptions were vague about many key subjects, especially issues regarding TEPCO’s entire organization, such as the company’s advance assumptions about possible tsunami, steps it had taken against the risk, and how the company handled related information during the crisis.
　１２年に東電が公表した事故報告書は、事前の津波想定とその対応、事故時の情報の扱いなど、組織全体にかかる問題ほど抽象的な記述で、責任や教訓があいまいなままだ。

The Diet-appointed commission tasked with investigating the nuclear accident said the root cause dated back before the disaster.
　国会の事故調査委員会（事故調）は「事故の根源的な原因は震災以前に求められる」と指摘した。

But many questions remain unanswered about how the utility dealt with the risks before the accident.
だが、東電の事前対応に関してはいまも、不明な部分が多い。

Why didn’t TEPCO take stronger measures against the risk of tsunami even though it had estimated a tsunami of up to 15.7 meters could hit the plant? What was the thinking behind this failure to take such measures?
最大１５・７メートルの津波が襲うとの試算を手にしながら、なぜ十分な備えをしなかったのか。どんな判断が働いたのか。

The government’s investigative committee has interviewed around 770 people and disclosed the testimonies of about 200, who have given their consent. But only about 20 of them are former TEPCO executives and other people linked to the utility.
　政府の事故調は約７７０人から聞き取りをし、これまでに同意が得られた約２００人分の調書を公表したが、東電関係者はわずか２０人ほどにとどまる。

We do hope the trial will fill in as many information gaps as possible.
　裁判が大きな空白を少しでも埋めるものになってほしい。

The trial should also provide an opportunity to take a closer look at the roles played by the investigative panels.
　同時に、事故調の役割も改めて考えたい。

All panels established to look into the accident finished their work in about one year, leaving many stones unturned.
いずれの事故調も１年ほどで活動を終え、検証は不十分なままだ。

These panels should scrutinize all relevant factors, including flaws with related organizations, to prevent a recurrence of the disaster. The systems and functions of investigations into nuclear accidents should be expanded and enhanced.
再発防止を目的に関係組織の問題にまで切り込むのが事故調の本来の役割のはずだ。そうした仕組みや機能をもっと充実させるべきだ。

The damaged nuclear reactors that have spewed large amounts of radioactive materials into the environment must be continuously cooled with water. Water contaminated with radioactive substances keeps accumulating at the plant.
　放射性物質をまき散らした原子炉は水で冷やし続けねばならず、汚染水が生じている。

Around 100,000 people are still living away from their homes as evacuees. The nuclear accident has still not been brought under control.
今も約１０万の人々が故郷から避難している。事故は今も続いている。

Obviously, more efforts are needed to draw crucial lessons to ensure nightmarish nuclear accidents will never happen again.
二度と繰り返さない教訓を引き出す努力がもっと必要だ。

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Uncertainties remain about Russia-led ceasefire to end Syrian civil war
シリア情勢　露主導の停戦に不安が残る

The ceasefire brokered by the United States and Russia to end the Syrian civil war has taken effect. Fighting between the administration of President Bashar Assad and antigovernment groups has largely subsided but it remains to be seen whether the truce can be maintained.
　シリア内戦を巡り、米国とロシアが共に呼びかけた停戦が発効した。アサド政権と反体制派の戦闘は概おおむね沈静化したが、このまま維持できるかどうかは予断を許さない。

Large-scale fighting has been halted temporarily for the first time in the five years since the start of the civil war. The United Nations has announced a plan for peace talks, suspended in early February, to resume next Monday. The ceasefire must be maintained to help promote these talks.
　５年に及ぶ内戦で大規模な戦闘が一時停止したのは、初めてである。国連は、２月上旬から中断している和平協議を７日に再開する方針を発表した。停戦を保ち、協議進展につなげねばならない。

The main framework of the ceasefire agreement is for the Assad regime and rebel groups to end their hostilities and accept food and water supplies for citizens from the United Nations and other organizations. The accord also calls for both parties to resume peace talks and discuss how to implement a road map starting with the establishment of a transitional government and leading to an election and formation of a new government.
　アサド政権と反体制派が攻撃を中止し、国連などによる住民向けの食糧や水を受け入れることが停戦の主な枠組みだ。和平協議に応じ、移行政権樹立から選挙実施、新政権発足までの行程表の履行を話し合うことも含まれる。

The truce does not apply to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militant group, the Al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front and other terrorist organizations. The U.S.-led coalition and Russia are permitted to continue military campaigns against these groups.
　過激派組織「イスラム国」や、アル・カーイダ系の「ヌスラ戦線」などのテロ組織には、停戦は適用されない。米国主導の有志連合やロシアは、こうした勢力への軍事作戦を継続できる。

ISIL has stated it will try to thwart the ceasefire by continuing hostilities and terrorist attacks. Resolute responses are needed by the countries concerned.
　「イスラム国」は、戦闘やテロを続け、停戦を妨害する構えを示している。関係国の断固とした対処が求められよう。

Ukraine a vexing precedent

One worry is a scenario in which the Assad regime and its ally Russia attack rebel groups under the pretext of wiping out terrorist groups, thereby breaking the truce.
　懸念されるのは、アサド政権と、政権を支援するロシアがテロ組織掃討の名目で反体制派を攻撃し、停戦が破られる事態だ。

Before the ceasefire went into effect, air raids were carried out on the rebels’ stronghold in Aleppo on the grounds that Nusra Front fighters “are in the neighborhood.”
停戦前の反体制派拠点アレッポへの空爆も、「ヌスラ戦線兵士が周辺にいる」ことが理由になっていた。

The activities of the Nusra Front and the rebel groups overlap in many areas. Can Russia give a good explanation that it is not attacking the rebels?
　ヌスラ戦線と反体制派の活動範囲は、重なる場合が多い。ロシアは、反体制派を攻撃していないという十分な説明ができるのか。

The ceasefire will be monitored by U.S., Russian and other working teams, but their operations are limited to information-gathering in areas where Russian troops are stationed and in Jordan, a country adjacent to Syria.
　停戦監視は、米露などの作業チームが、シリアの露軍駐屯地や隣国ヨルダンなどで、情報収集を進めるにとどまっている。

The effectiveness of the truce cannot be assured unless an international framework including the United Nations is established to confirm on the spot when the ceasefire is violated and to respond adequately.
国連などが現地で停戦違反を確認し、対応する体制でなければ、実効性は期待できない。

U.S. President Barack Obama revealed his suspicions about Russia over the truce, saying that he was “not under any illusions.” He made this statement likely because of what happened in the Ukrainian conflict. While calling for a ceasefire, Russia continued to provide assistance to pro-Russia armed groups.
　オバマ米大統領は停戦について、「いかなる幻想も抱いていない」と述べ、ロシアへの不信を露あらわにした。ウクライナ紛争での前例があるからだろう。ロシアは停戦を呼びかける一方で、親露派武装集団への支援を続けた。

The truce this time was reached with Moscow taking the leading role. Russian President Vladimir Putin said, “The true opportunity for ending bloodshed and violence has finally come.” He made this statement likely because he had ascertained that the Assad regime could be kept in place and Russia could secure influence in the Middle East to counter that of the United States.
　今回の停戦を主導したのはロシアだ。プーチン大統領は「流血と暴力に終止符を打つ真の機会がようやく訪れた」と語った。アサド政権の温存や、中東で米国に対抗する影響力の確保に、メドがついたという判断からではないか。

The U.S.-Russia struggle for hegemony will only make it more difficult to resolve the conflict. Unless the civil war is ended, ISIL will not be weakened and the outflow of refugees will not be curbed. The international community must not forget this.
　米露の覇権争いは、事態収拾を困難にするだけである。内戦が終結しなければ、「イスラム国」の弱体化や難民流出の抑制への道が開かれないことを、国際社会は忘れてはなるまい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 1, 2016)

--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 28
EDITORIAL: G-20 members need to end dependence on easy money policies
（社説）Ｇ２０協調　緩和依存から脱却を

The top finance officials of the world’s major economies met last week for the first time since global financial turbulence started early this year.
　年初来の世界金融波乱のあと初めて主要国の国際金融をつかさどる責任者たちが一堂に会した。

The meeting of Group of 20 finance ministers and central bank governors, which ended Feb. 27 in Shanghai, confirmed the nations will “use all policy tools” to prevent a further rise in global financial risks.
きのうまで上海で開かれた主要２０カ国・地域（Ｇ２０）財務相・中央銀行総裁会議は、世界的な金融リスクがこれ以上高まらないように各国が政策を総動員することを確認した。

The opportunity for the G-20 members to show they are ready to work together may have helped suppress market turmoil. But the occasion may have also revealed that it is never easy for the G-20 to come up with effective, concrete measures.
　Ｇ２０の協調を演出できたことは市場の動揺を抑えるのに一役買ったかもしれない。ただ、Ｇ２０が有効な具体策を打ち出すことは難しい実情もあらわになったのではないか。

A slowdown in the Chinese economy, a sharp drop in crude oil prices, and the recent interest rate hike in the United States are believed to be the primary factors behind the market anxiety.
　市場不安の主な要因は（１）中国経済の減速（２）原油価格の急落（３）米国の利上げ、の三つとされる。

Instability in the world, as exemplified by the influx of refugees into Europe, rising tensions over North Korea and the chaotic situation in the Middle East, is another factor leading markets to believe the global economy could remain sluggish over the long term.
加えて欧州の難民問題、北朝鮮をめぐる緊張の高まり、泥沼化する中東情勢など、世界の不安定化が経済の長期停滞を市場に意識させている面もある。

Since the 2008 collapse of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers triggered a worldwide financial crisis, all major economies of the world have been reacting to similar situations with stimulus packages and monetary easing.
　リーマン・ショック以来、こういう事態に主要国はこぞって財政出動や金融緩和のエンジンをふかしてきた。

But those countries have used up almost all available means, leaving little room now for additional measures.
ところが各国はほぼ手を打ち尽くし、今では追加策を打つ余地に乏しい。

Moreover, the excess of such response measures has generated investment bubbles in emerging economies and natural resources, which ended up triggering the financial turbulence we are currently in. Ironically enough, the responses to crises have engendered other crises.
　しかもそうした対策の過剰が新興国バブルや資源バブルを生み、結果的にいまの金融波乱を招いてきた。危機対応が新たな危機を生む皮肉な構図である。

To end this cycle, the major economies should refrain from indulging further in stimulus spending and easy money. While awareness of that issue was not shared during the G-20 meeting, it is probably high time its member states change course.
　同じ過ちを繰り返さないためにも、主要各国が財政出動と金融緩和にこれ以上のめりこむことは避けるべきだ。今回のＧ２０でそういう問題意識は共有されなかったが、軌道修正するときが来ているのではないか。

The most necessary policy measure is structural reform, designed to achieve long-term economic stability. For China, that reform would include clearing overcapacity and excessive debt and reforming state-owned enterprises; in Europe, deepening fiscal integration; and in Japan, reforming tax and social security systems and stabilizing state finance.
　本当に必要な政策は長期的に経済を安定させる構造改革だ。中国なら過剰設備・過剰債務の解消や国有企業改革、欧州は財政統合の深化、日本は税と社会保障改革や財政の安定である。

Amid the shortage of effective means, there are worries that countries may rush to devalue their currencies in favor of their own export industries. The G-20 members confirmed during the latest meeting that they will refrain from “competitive devaluations.”
　心配なのは、各国が有効な手が見つからないなかで自国の輸出産業を有利にする通貨安政策に走ることだ。Ｇ２０でも通貨安競争はしないことを確認した。

But the Bank of Japan’s recently introduced negative interest rate policy has devaluing effects. If Japan and Europe, which have adopted that policy, were to continue or even intensify it, that could trigger a devaluation race across the globe.
　ただ、日本銀行が導入したマイナス金利政策には通貨安を促す効果がある。これを導入している日欧がこの政策を継続・強化すれば世界の通貨安競争を招きかねない。

In a worrisome development, leading candidates for the U.S. presidential election, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, are blaming Japan for moving to weaken the yen.
クリントン前国務長官など米大統領選の有力候補者たちが日本の円安誘導を批判しているのも気になる動きだ。

After all, the super-easy monetary policy, being continued by Japan and Europe, is nothing more than a stopgap stimulant, and it has yet to create the economic growth expected of it. Moreover, gradual erosion of market functions, a side effect of that policy, is growing more serious as the policy becomes prolonged.
　そもそも日欧が続ける超金融緩和は一時的なカンフル剤にすぎず、期待された経済成長にはつながってこなかった。しかもその長期化が次第に市場機能を損なう副作用の方が深刻になってきている。

Japan and Europe should outgrow their dependence on easy money as early as possible. That is precisely what the major economies of the world should be working together for.
　日欧は一刻も早くこの「緩和依存」から脱却しなければならない。そのためにこそ主要国の協調が必要ではないか。