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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 December 15, 2013
Japan, ASEAN strengthen ties in bid to counter China in air and at sea
日・ＡＳＥＡＮ　海と空で対中連携が強まった（12月15日付・読売社説）

In a success in his Southeast Asian diplomacy, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe saw a summit meeting of Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations agree to jointly urge China to abide by international rules.
　中国が国際ルールを順守するよう、連携して働きかけることについては認識を共有できた。安倍首相の東南アジア外交の成果と言える。

At a special summit meeting among Japan and 10 ASEAN nations held in Tokyo, the leaders adopted a joint statement saying it is important to ensure the safety of seas and the freedom of navigation as well as to resolve conflicts in accordance with the “universally recognized principles of international laws.”
　日本と東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）１０か国の首脳らが参加した特別首脳会議が東京で開催され、海上の安全、航行の自由及び、国際法の原則に基づく紛争解決などの重要性をうたった共同声明を採択した。

The statement clearly stated the nations will cooperate to ensure the “freedom of overflight” and “civil aviation safety” in air zones over the high seas—with China’s air defense identification zone in mind, although it did not specifically refer to China.
　名指しは避けたものの、中国の防空識別圏設定を念頭に、公海上空での「飛行の自由」や「民間航空の安全」を確保するため、協力する方針も明記された。

Some Southeast Asian nations, such as Cambodia and Laos, have close ties with China. Nonetheless, it was significant that Japan and the ASEAN member nations issued the joint statement with the aim of holding China in check, which has heightened tensions not only on the seas but also in the air.
　東南アジアにはカンボジアやラオスなど中国と結びつきが強い国もある。だが、海のみならず、空でも緊張を高める中国を牽制(けんせい)する上で、日本とＡＳＥＡＮ各国が共同声明を出した意義は大きい。

Without consulting with its neighbors, China unilaterally set its ADIZ over the East China Sea and threatened to adopt “emergency defensive measures” by the Chinese military against any aircraft that refuses to obey its instructions. It also hinted at setting another ADIZ over the South China Sea.
　中国は周辺国と協議せずに一方的に東シナ海に識別圏を設け、全ての航空機を対象に、指示に従わなければ中国軍による緊急措置を取ると威嚇した。南シナ海での識別圏設定も示唆している。

“Without free ocean and air [navigation], we can’t expect to have active trade,” Abe stressed at a press conference.
　安倍首相は、記者会見で「自由な海や空がなければ、活発な貿易は期待できない」と強調した。

‘Proactive pacifism’

During his separate meetings with the ASEAN leaders and during the summit sessions, Abe said Japan will contribute to regional stability based on “proactive pacifism” and proposed holding a meeting of defense ministers from Japan and the ASEAN members.
　首脳会議や各国首脳との個別会談では、「積極的平和主義」に基づき、地域の安定に貢献すると表明し、日本とＡＳＥＡＮ各国との防衛相会合も呼びかけた。

It is imperative for Japan to deepen cooperative security ties with the ASEAN countries to deal with China and North Korea.
　中国や北朝鮮と向き合うためには、東南アジア諸国と安全保障での協力を深める必要がある。

ASEAN and China are considering setting legally binding codes of conduct in the South China Sea, where they have prolonged territorial disputes, but Beijing is reluctant to accept such codes. Japan should cooperate with the United States in backing ASEAN efforts to conclude an early agreement on codes of conduct with China.
　ＡＳＥＡＮと中国は、領有権争いの続く南シナ海での行動を法的に拘束する「行動規範」を検討中だが、中国は消極的だ。早期策定に向けて、日本は米国と連携し、ＡＳＥＡＮを後押ししなければならない。

During the special summit meeting, participants also made progress in the area of economic cooperation. They broadly agreed in the two fields of investment and service in negotiations for a Japan-ASEAN economic partnership agreement.
　特別首脳会議では経済面での協力も前進した。日・ＡＳＥＡＮの経済連携協定交渉が、投資とサービスの２分野でほぼ合意した。

Abe expressed Japan’s support for an economic community ASEAN aims to create by the end of 2015 and pledged to actively provide official development assistance to the body.
　安倍首相は、２０１５年をめどとするＡＳＥＡＮの経済共同体設立を支援する意向を表明し、政府開発援助（ＯＤＡ）供与も積極的に進めると約束した。

Absorbing the vigor of rapidly growing Southeast Asia will provide a springboard for Japan’s economic growth.
　成長著しい東南アジアの活力を取り込むことが、日本の経済成長にも弾みとなる。

The leaders also formulated a mid- and long-term plan for cooperation not only in political and economic fields but also in the area of antidisaster measures. They also plan to have more active exchanges in culture, arts, tourism and sports.
　特別首脳会議で中長期ビジョンもまとまった。政治・経済だけでなく、防災面での協力を強化し、文化・芸術、観光、スポーツなどで交流を促進するとしている。

Japan and ASEAN have just observed the 40th anniversary of their friendship this year. It is hoped that they will strengthen their strategic ties even further.
　日本とＡＳＥＡＮの友好協力は４０周年を迎えた。戦略的な連携を一層強めていきたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 15, 2013)
（2013年12月15日01時25分 読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun December 13, 2013
Reduced consumption rate system must be at same time as hike to 10%
与党税制大綱　家計と景気への目配り十分か（12月13日付・読売社説）

　◆消費税１０％と同時に軽減税率を

We are concerned that increasing the consumption tax rate to 8 percent from April may dampen personal spending. The latest tax policy agreement between the ruling coalition parties has left unresolved problems regarding measures to shore up business activities.
　来年４月に消費税率を８％に引き上げた後、個人消費の失速を招かないか。景気下支えに課題を残したと言えよう。

The Liberal Democratic Party and coalition partner New Komeito decided Thursday on an outline for tax system revisions for fiscal 2014. The decision signifies the ruling parties’ endorsement of a government budget draft for next fiscal year and a set of tax revision bills to be presented to the Diet early next year.
　自民、公明の与党は２０１４年度の税制改正大綱を決めた。政府の来年度の予算案と、税制改正法案を裏付けるものだ。

The LDP-Komeito agreement has fallen short of deciding on a specific date to introduce a reduced consumption tax rate system to curb the tax rate on food and other daily necessities to benefit low-income people. The agreement also has incorporated such items as income and residential tax levies on salaried workers. Steps to impose heavier tax burdens on households are conspicuous in the accord.
　低所得者対策として、食料品などの消費税率を低く抑える軽減税率の導入時期の決定を見送ったほか、会社員を対象にした増税などを盛り込んだ。家計の負担を増やすメニューが目立つ。

Specific timing ambiguous
　◆導入時期は曖昧なまま

The biggest focus in the tax revision discussions was whether a reduced tax rate system should be introduced at the same time as an increase in the sales tax to 10 percent scheduled for October 2015.
　最大の焦点は、政府が１５年１０月に予定通り消費税率を８％から１０％へ上げる場合、同時に軽減税率を導入するかどうかだった。

In January, the ruling coalition reached an agreement to “make efforts to introduce” a tax break on necessities when the planned hike to 10 percent occurs.
　与党は今年１月、１０％増税時の「導入を目指す」と合意した。

The ruling parties' accord, this time, however, said a reduced tax rate system “will be introduced at a time when the consumption tax rate is 10 percent, after necessary financial resources and understanding from the public, including businesses, are secured.” It added that the ruling camp will “reach a conclusion on the matter by December 2014.”
　だが、今回の大綱は「必要な財源を確保しつつ、事業者を含む国民の理解を得た上で税率１０％時に導入する」と記し、「１４年１２月までに結論を得る」ことにした。

The proviso added to the ruling coalition’s accord, such as “understanding from the public,” will weigh heavily on future discussions on a reduced tax rate, since the wording in the accord can be interpreted as either “at the same time as the hike to 10 percent” or “sometime after” the hike.
　導入に「国民の理解」などの条件を付けた意味は重く、「１０％に引き上げと同時」とも「１０％に引き上げ後のいつか」とも解釈できる。

This is the product of compromise between the LDP, which has remained wary of implementing a reduced tax rate, and Komeito, which has strongly insisted the proposed tax break on such items as food and newspapers be introduced when the rate is raised to 10 percent.
　導入に慎重姿勢を崩さない自民党と、１０％への増税の時期と合わせて食料品や新聞などを対象に導入すべきだとする公明党との妥協の産物にほかならない。

A reduced tax rate system would mitigate tax burdens on all taxpayers, including lower-income people, helping shore up a broad spectrum of household budgets.
　軽減税率は、低所得層を含む国民全体の税負担を幅広く和らげて家計を下支えする。

It is also problematic that the tax system revision outline this time has come short of discussing specifics, such as which items would be eligible for a lower tax rate.
　今回の大綱が、軽減税率の対象品目など具体的な検討に踏み込めなかったのも問題である。

Decisions on specific items to be covered and plans to put the reduced rate system into practice must not be postponed unnecessarily. A decision should be made quickly to introduce a reduced tax rate at the same time the rate is increased to 10 percent.
　いたずらに対象品目や制度設計などの決定を遅らせてはならない。１０％増税と同時の導入を速やかに決断すべきだろう。

During the ruling camp’s tax discussions, the LDP’s Tax System Research Commission and the Finance Ministry pointed out the introduction of the reduced tax rate system would make it necessary to employ an invoice system to log the tax rates and amounts item by item, leading to complicated clerical work for businesses.
　今回、自民党税調と財務省は、軽減税率の導入には、商品ごとに税率や税額を記載したインボイス（税額票）が必要で、企業の事務負担が増すと指摘した。

Given that business deals free from the consumption tax, including land transactions, and those subject to the tax have been in place even under the existing tax system, Komeito refuted that argument in the discussions, noting a reduced tax rate system could be realized without an invoice system. The LDP tax panel and the Finance Ministry should have more aggressively addressed resolving impediments to employing a reduced tax rate.
　ただ、今でも土地売買など非課税取引と消費税を課す取引は混在しており、公明党はインボイスは不要だと反論した。自民党税調と財務省は積極的に課題解決へ取り組むべきだったのではないか。

The tax system revision outline also includes steps to reduce the income tax breaks for company employees and other salaried workers, and raising their income and residential taxes. People whose annual income exceeds ¥12 million will be subject to heavier taxes from 2016, and those whose annual income is more than ¥10 million will be subject to them from 2017.
　大綱は、会社員などの給与所得控除を削減し、所得税や住民税を増税する方針も盛り込んだ。１６年から年収１２００万円超の人を対象とし、１７年からは１０００万円超の人まで拡大する。

According to a trial calculation by the Finance Ministry, people with an annual income of ¥15 million are estimated to have an additional tax burden of ¥70,000 to ¥110,000 a year. There are fears this will dampen their motivation to spend in anticipation of an increase in the burden on household budgets.
　財務省の試算では、年収１５００万円の場合、年７万～１１万円の負担増となる見込みだ。将来の家計の負担増を見越し、消費意欲は減退する恐れがある。

As the planned consumption tax hike is expected to increase the perceived burden on low-income earners, the ruling parties seem to have tried to alleviate the sense of unfairness by imposing increased tax burdens on high-income earners.
　消費増税で低所得者の負担感が増すため、与党は、高所得者への課税強化で不公平感を和らげることを狙ったようだ。

Fast and sloppy
　◆拙速な所得控除見直し

However, full-scale discussions on the reexamination of tax deductions were conducted for merely a week. It cannot be helped if the ruling parties are criticized for targeting company employees, whose income can be easily ascertained, unlike that of the self-employed, to ensure tax revenue.
　だが、控除見直しを巡る本格的な議論は、わずか１週間だった。自営業者と違い、収入を把握しやすい会社員を狙い撃ちするのでは「取りやすいところから取る」と批判されても仕方がない。

Quite a few people are increasingly dissatisfied over the fact that the ruling parties quickly decided on a tax hike for salaried workers while not presenting a time frame for introducing the reduced consumption tax rates.
　軽減税率の導入時期を示さない一方で、サラリーマン増税を即決したことに、不満を募らせる人も少なくないだろう。

In the case of taxation on automobiles, the tax hike for light motor vehicles was incorporated into the outline of tax system revisions as a measure to secure fiscal resources needed to phase out the automobile acquisition tax from next fiscal year.
　自動車課税では、購入時に課す自動車取得税を来年度から段階的に縮小・廃止するための財源確保策として、軽自動車税の増税などを盛り込んだ。

The tax on light vehicles is less than that on compact cars. As long as light vehicles also impose burdens on roads and the environment, it is unavoidable for the light vehicle tax to be raised in line with the beneficiary-to-pay principle.
　軽自動車税は、小型車の税金に比べて納税者の負担が軽い。軽自動車も道路や環境に負荷をかける以上、受益者負担として引き上げられるのはやむを得まい。

In regard to lowering the corporate tax, which was regarded as a centerpiece of the government’s growth strategy, the outline said merely that the matter will “continue to be studied.” Discussions on concrete measures such as the timing and margin for a tax cut have not deepened.
　成長戦略の目玉とされた法人税率の引き下げは、「引き続き検討を進める」と記しただけで、減税の時期や引き下げ幅などの具体論は深まらなかった。

Japan’s corporate tax rates—even if excluding the special corporate tax for reconstruction from the 2011 disaster, which is planned to be abolished at the end of fiscal 2013, one year ahead of schedule as an economic measure—are higher than those in Europe and many other Asian countries.
　しかし、経済対策で１年前倒し廃止が決まった復興特別法人税を除いても、日本の法人税は欧州やアジアの多くの国より高い。

Cut corporate tax urgently
　◆法人税率引き下げ急げ

To stem the hollowing out of industry and lure investments from overseas, it will be indispensable to lower corporate tax rates further. The matter must be studied at a faster pace.
　産業空洞化に歯止めをかけ、海外から投資を呼び込むため、税率の一層の引き下げが不可欠だ。検討の加速が求められよう。

Companies that will benefit from the early abolition of the special corporate tax for reconstruction should use improved profits for wage hikes and employment expansion, thereby spreading benefits to households.
　復興特別法人税の前倒し廃止の恩恵を受ける企業は、収益向上を賃上げや雇用拡大につなげ、家計に波及させていくべきだ。

The outline has also put forth a policy of approving up to 50 percent of entertainment expenses used by big businesses to entertain business partners and clients as necessary expenses with no tax levied.
　大綱は、大企業が取引先の接待などに使う交際費の５割までを税務上の経費（損金）として認め、非課税とする方針も掲げた。

It is understandable that the outline aims to expand the tax exemption system, which has been applied to part of the entertainment expenses of small and midsize companies as impairment costs, to big businesses. We hope sales for drinking and eating establishments will increase by making it easier for firms to increase entertainment expenses and that this will prove effective in curbing the adverse effects of the consumption tax hike.
　これまで中小企業の交際費の一部について損金扱いを認めてきた措置を大企業に拡充する狙いは理解できる。企業が交際費を増やしやすくなることで、飲食店などの売り上げが伸び、消費増税の影響を抑える効果に期待したい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 13, 2013)
（2013年12月13日01時39分 読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun December 12, 2013
World must learn from, carry on Mandela’s legacy of forgiveness
マンデラ氏死去　今こそ継承したい寛容の精神（12月12日付・読売社説）

About 100 heads of state and other world leaders mourned the death of Nelson Mandela at a memorial service for the former South African president in Johannesburg on Tuesday, showing how Mandela was revered all around the world.
　約１００人の国家元首や首脳級の要人が集い、その死を悼んだ。世界中で尊敬される指導者だった証しである。

Mandela, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate honored for his strenuous fight against apartheid and eventual success in ending his country’s system of racial segregation, died last Thursday. He was 95.
　南アフリカで、アパルトヘイト（人種隔離政策）を撤廃に導いて、ノーベル平和賞を受けたネルソン・マンデラ元大統領が、９５歳で死去した。

The global dignitaries at the national memorial service held for Mandela at a stadium in South Africa’s largest city included Crown Prince Naruhito and former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. In a memorial address, U.S. President Barack Obama praised the anti-apartheid icon’s achievements, describing him as “a giant of history, who moved a nation toward justice and in the process moved billions around the world.”
　ヨハネスブルクで行われた追悼式には、皇太子さまが、福田康夫元首相とともに参列された。オバマ米大統領は演説で、マンデラ氏を「歴史上の巨人だった。国家を正義に導き、世界の何十億の人々を揺り動かした」と称賛した。

During the second half of the 20th century, Afrikaner whites, the South African minority that ruled the country, repressed the black majority under legislation based on the apartheid policy. Black members of the population did not possess the right to vote and were even restricted in where they could live.
　２０世紀後半の南アでは、支配権を握る少数派の白人が、アパルトヘイトに基づき、多数派の黒人を法的に抑圧した。黒人には参政権がなく、居住地も制限された。

A lawyer, Mandela fought racial discrimination in his country after joining the anti-apartheid activities of the African National Congress, then a political party struggling for the freedom of black South Africans. Mandela’s adherence to his cause despite 27 years in prison for treason provokes amazement.
　弁護士だったマンデラ氏は、黒人解放組織、アフリカ民族会議（ＡＮＣ）の反アパルトヘイト活動に参加して、人種差別と闘った。反逆罪で、２７年間も獄中生活を強いられたにもかかわらず、節を曲げなかったのは、驚嘆に値する。

The true worth of Mandela’s political leadership was demonstrated when and after he was asked by his nation’s white government to help end apartheid. By that time, the South African government could no longer endure the international sanctions imposed on the country.
　マンデラ氏が政治指導者としての真骨頂を発揮したのは、国際社会の制裁に耐えかねた白人政権から、アパルトヘイト撤廃への協力を求められて以降だ。

The power of forgiveness

Mandela ended the ANC’s pursuit of an armed struggle and negotiated with the white government, which resulted in an end to apartheid and a national election open to all races. This enabled the ANC to take the reins of government, with Mandela becoming South Africa’s first black president. However, he urged the black majority not to retaliate against whites.
　ＡＮＣの武力闘争路線を終わらせ、政権との交渉で、アパルトヘイト廃止と全人種参加選挙にこぎつけた。ＡＮＣが政権を掌握したのに伴い、黒人として初の大統領に選出されたが、白人に対する報復を強く戒めた。

In his inaugural address as South African president in 1994, Mandela pledged to “build the society in which all South Africans, both black and white, will be able to walk tall, without any fear in their hearts.” In fact, the position of vice president was assumed by Mandela’s predecessor, a white president.
　１９９４年の大統領就任演説で「黒人や白人ら全ての国民が、胸を張って歩ける社会を建設する」と約束し、副大統領には白人の前大統領が就いた。

Mandela’s spirit of tolerance—with which he sought to transform South Africa into a nation in which all ethnic groups could live in harmony—deeply affected people around the world.
多人種共存を目指す寛容の精神が、世界の人々に深い感銘を与えたと言える。

In 1995, South Africa hosted the rugby World Cup. Mandela cheered for his country’s national team, which comprised mostly white players—an episode that helped create a sense of unity among South Africans. The story was later made into an American film that became known to many people around the world.
　南アで開催されたラグビー・ワールドカップ（Ｗ杯）で、白人主体の代表チームを自ら応援し、国民の一体感を育んだ逸話は、映画化され、よく知られている。

Mandela’s achievements also included his successful post-apartheid economic policies, which included efforts to skillfully utilize the vitality of white industrialists instead of depriving them of management rights. He did not persist in his own view that his country’s mines should be placed under state control. All this contributed to economic growth.
　白人の企業家から経営権を奪わず、むしろその活力を生かした経済政策も実績である。持論だった鉱山国有化などには固執せず、南アの経済成長につなげた。

However, today South Africa seems to be experiencing what may be regarded as the adverse effects of the ANC’s prolonged rule, including corruption within its administration and abuse of privilege. Little progress has been made in narrowing economic disparities between the white minority and the black majority.
　だが、現在の南アでは、ＡＮＣ政権が長期化するに伴い、政権内で腐敗や特権乱用の傾向が目立っている。白人と黒人の間の経済格差の解消も進まない。

Ethnic conflicts and bloodshed attributable to religious differences continue to rage in many parts of the world. Not only South Africans but also people around the world must remind themselves of the precious lessons taught by Mandela.
　世界各地では、民族や宗教の違いに根ざす流血が続く。南アに限らず、国際社会全体で、マンデラ氏の残した教訓を改めてかみしめる必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 12, 2013)
（2013年12月12日01時27分 読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun December 11, 2013
Final TPP accord postponed due to conflict between Japan, U.S.
ＴＰＰ交渉　日米対立が招いた合意先送り（12月11日付・読売社説）

As participating countries failed to reconcile a variety of conflicts, including one between Japan and the United States, an accord on creating a new free trade zone in Asia and the Pacific region has been postponed till next year. A rough road lies ahead for the negotiations.
　日米などの対立が解けず、アジア太平洋地域での新たな自由貿易圏作りの合意は、来年に先送りされた。交渉の前途は多難である。

A ministerial meeting of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade talks ended in Singapore on Tuesday.
　シンガポールで開かれていた環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉の閣僚会合が閉幕した。

Japan, the United States, Australia and nine other nations in the talks abandoned their goal of reaching an accord by the end of this year, which they originally hoped for. The countries will continue intensive discussions and hold a ministerial meeting again in January, they said in a joint statement issued after the meeting.
　日米、豪州など１２か国は、当初目指した年内妥結を断念し、「交渉の妥結に向けて集中的に作業を続ける。閣僚会合を１月に開く」との声明を発表した。

As the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama had given the highest priority to reaching a final accord within this year, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman continued pressing Japan and emerging countries on tariff elimination and market liberalization.
　オバマ米政権は年内合意を最優先し、フロマン通商代表が、日本や新興国に関税撤廃や市場開放を求める圧力をかけ続けた。

But it is difficult to settle negotiations on issues on which the participants’ interests are complexly tangled. It can be said the latest talks highlighted the reality that the talks will not proceed as Washington hoped.
　しかし、参加国の利害が複雑に絡み合う交渉のとりまとめは難しい。米国の思惑通りに進まない現実を浮き彫りにしたと言える。

In particular, the conflict between Japanese and U.S. interests became clear. There is no denying that the conflict between the two countries may have held up negotiations as a whole.
　とくに鮮明になったのが日米両国の対立だった。全体の交渉も停滞させた印象が否めない。

Sticking points

The Liberal Democratic Party has been asserting that rice, wheat and barley, and three other sensitive agricultural products should be regarded as “sanctuaries” exempt from tariff elimination. Bearing this in mind, Japan rejected the U.S. call for full tariff elimination, with no exceptions.
　自民党はコメ、麦など農産品５項目を関税撤廃の聖域扱いとするよう主張している。これを踏まえた日本は、全品目の関税撤廃を求める米国の要求を拒否した。

Instead, Japan reportedly proposed, as a concession, to the U.S. side that it would raise its liberalization rate—the percentage of trade items that will be tariff-free—to about 95 percent. But the United States reportedly rejected the proposal.
　その代わり、全品目のうち関税撤廃に応じる自由化率を約９５％に引き上げる譲歩案を提示した模様だが、米国は拒んだという。

On the other hand, Washington, which aims at expanding sales of U.S. automobiles in Japan, called on Tokyo to ease regulations on vehicle safety and environmental standards. But Japan steadily refused.
　一方、米国車の販売拡大を目指す米国が日本市場での自動車の安全や環境の基準緩和を求めた点では、日本が拒否を続けた。

With midterm elections slated for next November, the Obama administration, which wants to showcase a final TPP accord as its achievement, is not in a position to make easy compromises.
　来年１１月の中間選挙を控え、ＴＰＰ合意を成果としてアピールしたいオバマ政権には、安易に妥協できない事情があるのだろう。

Yet Japan needs to proactively tap into the vitality of fast-growing Asian economies and fuel its own growth, rather than merely maintaining a defensive stance.
　だが、日本も守りに徹するだけでなく、成長著しいアジアの活力を取り込み、成長に弾みをつける攻めの姿勢が必要である。

While trying to reinforce the international competitiveness of agriculture, a sector Japan has been called on to liberalize further, the government must make a strategic plan to promote free trade, centering around the TPP.
　一層の市場開放を求められる農業の競争力強化を図りつつ、ＴＰＰを軸に自由貿易を推進する戦略を練らなければならない。

Fierce conflicts between the United States and such emerging economies as Malaysia and Vietnam over the protection of intellectual property rights and competition policies can also be cited as reasons why the participating countries gave up on the final accord in Singapore.
　シンガポールでの妥結を断念した一因として、知的財産権や競争政策を巡り、米国と、マレーシア、ベトナムなど新興国が激しく対立した事情も挙げられる。

The conflicts among the 12 countries are deep-rooted, so there is little cause for optimism that they will be able to reach an accord at next month’s ministerial meeting. The major focus will be how flexibly the United States can respond to other countries’ assertions.
　１２か国の対立は根深く、１月の閣僚会合での決着は楽観できない。米国がどこまで柔軟に対応できるかが最大の焦点になろう。

Meanwhile, South Korea’s next moves deserve close attention, as that country has made clear its intention to participate in the TPP.
　注視すべきは、ＴＰＰへの参加意向を表明した韓国の動きだ。

For South Korea to join the negotiations, it needs to win the approval of the 12 participating countries. That could happen as early as the spring. Before that happens, Japan needs to take the lead in formulating the trade rules and aim to reach an early accord to best take advantage of having already been a member.
　韓国の合流には１２か国の同意が必要で、早くても来春になるが、日本はその前に貿易ルール作りを主導して早期妥結を図り、先行メリットを生かしたい。

Japan must demonstrate tough bargaining power in pursuit of its national interests.
　国益の追求へ、したたかな交渉力が日本に求められる。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 11, 2013)
（2013年12月11日01時43分 読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun December 10, 2013
Eda’s split from Your Party may trigger political realignment
みんなの党分裂　「江田新党」は野党再編序章か（12月10日付・読売社説）

Four years and four months after its inception, Your Party has split. This event has the potential of leading to a realignment of opposition parties.
　みんなの党が、結党４年４か月でとうとう分裂した。野党再編への序章となる可能性がある。

Former Secretary General Kenji Eda and 13 other members of the party have submitted letters of resignation to the party and announced plans to establish a new party before the end of the year. The 14 defectors—eight from the House of Representatives and six from the House of Councillors—account for 40 percent of the party’s 35 lawmakers. Mito Kakizawa, an independent in the lower house, will join the planned new party.
　江田憲司前幹事長らが離党届を提出し、年内に新党を結成する方針を表明した。離党するのは１４人の衆参両院議員で、党所属３５人の４割に上る。新党には無所属の柿沢未途衆院議員も加わる。

The primary reason for the split was a feud between party leader Yoshimi Watanabe and Eda over the party’s future course.
　分裂の主因は、路線を巡る渡辺代表と江田氏の確執である。

Watanabe has insisted on cooperating with other parties in one political bloc, while maintaining the independence of Your Party. Eda, on the other hand, does not hesitate to run the risk of dissolving the party to help realign opposition forces. Watanabe scorned Eda’s move as an “antiparty action.”
　渡辺氏は、みんなの党を存続させたまま、他の野党と連携する「政党ブロック」の構想を主張する。野党再編のためなら、解党も辞さないとする江田氏の動きを「反党行為」と攻撃してきた。

Watanabe removed Eda from the post of party secretary general in August and forced Eda’s close follower, Kakizawa, to leave the party later that month.
　８月には、江田氏を幹事長から外し、その後、江田氏の側近である柿沢氏を離党に追い込んだ。

The situation was brought to a head over the party leadership’s handling of the government-proposed legislation on protecting specially designated state secrets.
　特定秘密保護法を巡る対応が、分裂の直接の引き金となった。

Eda vehemently criticized Watanabe’s role in working out an agreement to amend the bill through talks with the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, New Komeito, as “wooing the LDP.”
　江田氏は、渡辺氏が主導した自民、公明の与党との法案修正合意について、「自民党へのすり寄り」と厳しく批判している。

Attention will be focused on whether Eda’s action will evolve into interparty tie-ups or a realignment of opposition parties involving the Democratic Party of Japan and Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party).
　今後の焦点は、江田氏の動きが、民主党や日本維新の会を巻き込み、政党の枠を超えた連携や野党再編に発展するかどうかだ。

After submitting his letter of resignation to the party Monday, Eda said at a news conference that political forces should work together to compete with the LDP. This probably means he wants his new party to act as the foundation for future realignment of opposition parties.
　江田氏は離党届提出後の記者会見で、自民党に対抗する政治勢力を結集する必要性を指摘した。「江田新党」も将来の野党再編への布石とする考えなのだろう。

Fighting a behemoth

Given that the current political map is dominated by the LDP, leaving small and weak parties far in its wake, the unity of opposition parties is being put to the test. It is understandable that the opposition parties will try to rally their forces to increase their voice against the behemoth ruling party.
　自民党が突出した「１強多弱」の状況の下、野党の結束が問われている。巨大与党に対抗し、発言力を高めるために、野党が勢力結集を目指すのは理解できる。

But the question remains whether they can agree on political ideals and policies. Ishin no Kai’s acting secretary general, Yorihisa Matsuno, plans to form a parliamentary group with Eda’s new party. This is a realistic option.
　だが、政治理念、政策で一致できるのか。維新の会の松野頼久幹事長代行が、維新と「江田新党」による統一会派結成という緩やかな連携を呼び掛ける意向を示しているのは、現実的と言える。

Ishin no Kai, which was founded before the lower house election in December last year, is not a monolithic party either, as policy differences have emerged between its Osaka-based members, led by party coleader Toru Hashimoto, and a group of lawmakers in Tokyo.
　昨年の衆院選前に結党した維新の会も、橋下共同代表ら大阪の勢力と東京の国会議員団との間で政策の違いが表面化しており、一枚岩ではない。

If a unified parliamentary group can be realized by Eda’s party and Ishin no Kai, it will surpass the DPJ in strength in the lower house to become the second political force after the LDP. As the biggest parliamentary group of the opposition camp, it will have the strongest voice among opposition groups in the Diet.
　統一会派が実現すれば、衆院議席で民主党を上回り、自民党に続く勢力となる。野党第１会派として、国会での発言権は増そう。

Your Party, under Watanabe’s leadership, is expected to increase its cooperation with the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Watanabe will reportedly offer advice to the Abe Cabinet in its reexamination of the constitutional interpretation of the right to collective self-defense.
　一方で、みんなの党の渡辺氏は、安倍政権と政策面での協調姿勢を強めるのではないか。集団的自衛権の憲法解釈見直しについても近く安倍内閣に提言するという。

DPJ President Banri Kaieda cannot sit back and calmly watch the split of Your Party without taking action. Quite a few DPJ members also lean toward a realignment of the opposition parties. Unless something is done to change the status quo, the DPJ’s leadership will see its power further wane.
　みんなの党の分裂劇を静観する構えの民主党の海江田代表も安閑とはしていられまい。党内にも野党再編を志向する議員は少なくない。今のままでは、執行部の求心力が一層弱まる可能性がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 10, 2013)
（2013年12月10日01時45分 読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun December 9, 2013
Spouse’s rights must be respected despite change on inheritance rights
婚外子格差撤廃　配偶者の権利も尊重したい（12月8日付・読売社説）

The Diet has approved a bill to revise the Civil Code that will delete an article that discriminates against the inheritance rights of children born to unmarried parents.
　婚姻届を出していない男女の間に生まれた非嫡出子（婚外子）の相続格差をなくす改正民法が成立した。

For now, we can only praise the Diet’s swift action following a ruling by the Supreme Court’s Grand Bench that said the article “runs counter to the Constitution, which guarantees equality under the law.”
　「法の下の平等を保障した憲法に違反する」という最高裁大法廷の判断を受け、国会が速やかに対応したことを、まずは評価したい。

The revision will delete the article limiting the inheritance an out-of-wedlock child receives to half that of a child born in wedlock. Among major advanced nations, Japan was the only country that maintained such a discriminatory regulation.
　婚外子の遺産相続分を法律上の夫婦の子（嫡出子）の２分の１とする民法の規定を削除したのが、今回の改正である。このような格差が残っていたのは、主要先進国の中では日本だけだった。

In its ruling in September, the Supreme Court stressed, “Children born out of wedlock should not be at a disadvantage as a result of their parents not being married, a situation the children had no control over.”
　最高裁は９月に出した家事審判の決定で、「父母が婚姻関係になかったという、自ら選択・修正する余地のない事柄を理由として、子に不利益を及ぼすことは許されない」と強調した。

The number of so-called de facto marriages and single mothers has increased, and the narrow social view of perceiving children born out of wedlock as different has declined considerably. The court’s decision is in line with changing public awareness.
　事実婚やシングルマザーが増え、婚外子を特別視する風潮も薄れてきている。国民の意識の変化に沿った判断だったと言える。

At the same time, the court’s ruling does not diminish respect for de jure marriages, in which couples follow all legal procedures.
　しかし、最高裁決定は、法律上の手続きを経た「法律婚」の尊重まで否定したわけではない。

We should bear in mind that there is no change in this way of thinking under the revised Civil Code.
改正後の民法でも、この考え方自体には変更がない点に留意したい。

During discussions on the revision, strong concerns were voiced within the Liberal Democratic Party that the family system based on legal marriage could be undermined and that adultery could be encouraged.
　改正に向けた議論で、自民党内には「法律婚に基づく家族制度が揺らぎかねない」「不倫を助長する」といった懸念が強かった。

Even if a spouse of a deceased person has no previous acquaintance with an out-of-wedlock biological child, that child is still entitled to receive the same inheritance as the spouse’s child.
　仮に故人の配偶者と婚外子の間に面識がなかった場合でも、突然現れた婚外子が配偶者の子供と同じ額を相続することになる。

If the only asset is a house, some people have said there may be an increase in cases of a spouse selling the house to pay a portion of the inheritance to an out-of-wedlock child.
　家屋以外に財産がない相続では、配偶者が家屋を売却し、婚外子に相続分を支払うケースが増えるとの見方も出ている。

Importance of family ties

We can understand to some extent the concern expressed by the LDP and other parties that the deletion of the article could undermine the rights of a spouse—who had lived with his or her spouse for many years before that spouse died, built up their family and accumulated wealth together—and those of the spouse’s child.
　故人に長年連れ添って家庭を築き、共に財産を形成してきた配偶者と、その子供の権利が損なわれるという自民党などの指摘には、うなずける面がある。

To deal with these problems and to maintain the family system founded on legal marriage, other measures must be taken, besides those concerning discriminatory inheritance between in-wedlock and out-of-wedlock children.
　こうした問題に対処し、法律婚に立脚した家族制度を維持していくためには、嫡出子・婚外子の相続格差によってではなく、別の仕組みや手段を講じるべきだ。

The government and the LDP have decided to study what form the legal system for inheritance should take, particularly in regard to spouses, in an effort to protect family bonds, and to come up with a conclusion one year from now.
　政府・自民党は「家族の絆を守るための諸施策」として、配偶者に配慮した相続法制のあり方などを検討し、１年後をめどに結論を取りまとめることを決めた。

Granting a higher share of inheritance to a spouse than under the current system is a good option.
　配偶者の相続分を現行より手厚くすることも、有力な選択肢の一つではないか。

The family will remain the foundation of society. During and after the Great East Japan Earthquake, people once again recognized the importance of the family ties.
　家族が社会の基礎を構成することは、これからも変わるまい。東日本大震災では家族の絆の大切さを国民が再認識した。

We should deepen our discussion on family ties now that the Civil Code has been revised.
　今回の民法改正を機に、改めて家族のあり方に関する議論を深めていきたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 8, 2013)
（2013年12月8日01時23分 読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun December 8, 2013
Make use of intelligence protection law to strengthen national security strategy
秘密保護法成立　国家安保戦略の深化につなげよ（12月7日付・読売社説）

　◆疑念招かぬよう適切な運用を

A law to protect state secrets, comparable to those in other advanced countries, has finally been enacted in Japan.
　日本にもようやく米英など他の先進国並みの機密保全法制が整った。

The government must use the law to strengthen diplomatic and national security policies. At the same time, it should pay special attention in applying the law, so the general public does not feel as if its right to know will be limited.
　外交・安全保障政策の強化につなげる一方で、「知る権利」が損なわれるという疑念を国民から抱かれぬよう、政府は運用に十分配慮しなければならない。

The specially designated intelligence protection law, which strengthens punishments of public employees who leak classified information concerning national security, was enacted after a bill on the law passed a House of Councillors plenary session late Friday, with a majority of votes by the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito.
　安全保障に関わる機密情報を漏らした公務員らの罰則を強化する特定秘密保護法が６日深夜、参院本会議で自民、公明両党の賛成多数によって可決、成立した。

With the ruling and opposition parties in fierce confrontation over the bill, members of Your Party—which agreed to passage of the bill in the House of Representatives—walked out of the plenary session, criticizing the ruling camp’s way of managing Diet business as “high-handed.” We regret that this extremely important law was born in such unusual circumstances.
　与野党が激しく対立する中、衆院で賛成したみんなの党が与党の「強引な国会運営」を批判して退席した。極めて重要な法律が異例の事態で誕生したのは残念だ。

Unified rules clarified
　◆統一的なルール明確に

As epitomized by China’s recent declaration of an air defense identification zone, the national security environment surrounding Japan has become increasingly severe.
　中国の防空識別圏設定の動きが象徴するように、日本の安全保障環境は厳しさを増している。

Japan needs to obtain important intelligence on the matter from the United States and other countries and must strengthen its cooperation with them. To do so, it is indispensable to enhance the credibility of its efforts to protect secret information.
　米国はじめ各国から重要な情報を入手し、連携を強めねばならない。それには、秘密保護への信頼を高めることが不可欠だ。

Japan already had rules in place to protect state secrets, including obligations for public officials to protect secrets under the National Civil Service Law, rules for special defense secrets in line with the Japan-U.S. Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement of 1954, and another set of rules for defense secrets under the Self-Defense Forces Law revised in 2001.
　既に国家公務員法の守秘義務や１９５４年の日米相互防衛援助協定に伴う特別防衛秘密、２００１年の改正自衛隊法による防衛秘密などの法制はある。

However, these rules have not adequately protected important intelligence, and it has been pointed out that intelligence is easily leaked in Japan. With the new law, unified and full-fledged rules covering the entire government have been put in place to protect state secrets concerning defense, diplomacy and anti-espionage and antiterrorism activities.
　それでも十分ではなく、日本は情報が漏れやすいと指摘されてきた。今回、防衛、外交、スパイ活動防止、テロ防止に関する、政府全体の統一的かつ本格的な秘密保全ルールが整ったと言える。

The Japanese version of the U.S. National Security Council was launched Wednesday. To enhance the council’s intelligence gathering and analysis abilities, the new law is indispensable.
　今週発足した国家安全保障会議（日本版ＮＳＣ）の情報収集と分析の能力を高めていく上でも、欠かせない法制度である。

However, the legislative intent of the law, which is to protect the Japanese people, has been made light of by some people.
　ところが、国民を守るための立法趣旨が軽んじられている。

We were surprised that during Diet deliberations on the bill some opposition party members criticized the legislation, even comparing it to the prewar public order maintenance law, which was used to clamp down on ideological criminals. That is an extremely irrational opinion that ignores Japan’s postwar history as a democratic nation as well as changes in the political system and media coverage.
　審議の中で戦前、思想犯の弾圧に用いられた治安維持法になぞらえた批判まで出たのには驚く。戦後の民主主義国家としての歩みや政治体制、報道姿勢の変化を無視した暴論と言うほかなかろう。

In answer to a question during Diet deliberations on the bill, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said: “The general public won’t have access to specially designated secrets, so prosecution of citizens under the law won’t be possible.” As he said, ordinary citizens will not be subject to the law.
　安倍首相が「一般国民が特定秘密を知ることはあり得ない。ゆえに処罰されることはあり得ない」と答弁したように、普通の国民が対象となることはない。

Yet, it cannot be denied that the people’s distrust of the government increased through the deliberations of the bill. The government must explain the intent of the secret intelligence protection law carefully to the people and seek their understanding.
　ただ、法案審議を通じ、政府に対する国民の不信感が増したことも否めない。政府は、秘密保護法の趣旨を国民に丁寧に説明し、理解を求めていくべきである。

Through discussions between the ruling parties and the opposition parties Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) and Your Party, the range of subjects that can be designated as special secrets was narrowed further, and the principles for disclosing them after they are declassified was made clear. This is praiseworthy.
　与党と維新の会やみんなの党との協議で、秘密指定対象がより絞られ、指定解除後の公開原則も明確になったことは評価できる。

Concern over right to know
　◆知る権利とのバランス

The biggest point of contention in the upper house deliberations was whether bureaucrats would arbitrarily expand the range of secrecy.
　参院審議の最大の論点は、官僚が恣意(しい)的に秘密の範囲を拡大するのではないかという点だった。

Abe pledged to establish a third-party surveillance committee to check the validity of confidentiality designations. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga also mentioned that an information oversight office with about 20 members will be established in the Cabinet Office. These appear to be the results of concessions made by the government thus far.
　秘密指定の妥当性をチェックする第三者機関として、首相は「保全監視委員会」を設けると約束した。菅官房長官も、内閣府に２０人規模の「情報保全監察室」を発足させると言明した。政府側が次々と妥協を図ったと言える。

It is essential that the proposed third-party organ be equipped with functional capabilities. Due heed must especially be taken of the public’s strong concern about secrets handled by such organizations as the National Police Agency and the Public Security Investigation Agency, which are involved in dealing with terrorism and espionage activities.
　第三者機関には実効性を持たせることが肝要だ。特に、警察庁や公安調査庁などテロやスパイ活動を取り締まる分野での秘密については、国民の不安が強いことに留意しなければならない。

The Democratic Party of Japan has maintained that a third-party body, if established within the government, would be unable to perform its functions. However, it is doubtful whether a third-party committee comprising experts nominated by both the ruling and opposition parties, as proposed by the DPJ, would be able to adequately judge the secrecy of information.
　民主党は、政府内の組織では、機能を果たせないと言うが、民主党の提案するように与野党が指名した有識者による委員会で的確に検証できるのか、疑問だ。

High-level judgments on how to handle highly confidential state secrets can be made only in light of government policy and national strategy. We thus believe an oversight body established within the government is desirable in view of the high risk of an information leak.
　秘匿性の高い情報をどう扱うかという高度の判断は、政府の方針や国家戦略に基づいてこそ可能になる。情報漏えいリスクが高まる観点からも、政府内の監視組織の方が望ましい。

The biggest concern is whether government employees will become apprehensive about answering questions from the media out of fear of severe punishment, namely up to 10 years in prison imposed on people who violate the secrecy law. They also might use the law as an excuse to hide information.
　最も懸念されるのは、公務員が懲役１０年以下という厳罰を恐れ、報道機関の取材に対して萎縮しかねないことだ。秘密保護法を理由に情報を秘匿する恐れがある。

Due to such overreaction to the Personal Information Protection Law, it is already difficult to share even information that needs to be shared for the good of society. This trend should not be accelerated.
　個人情報保護法に対する過剰反応で、社会に必要な情報まで流通しにくくなった。その傾向に拍車をかけてはなるまい。

Concrete steps needed
　◆「原則公開」も問われる

The law calls for highly confidential state secrets to be disclosed in principle after 30 years of secrecy designation. An extension of up to 60 years will be allowed, with a few exceptions. Concrete measures, such as how to disclose or destroy documents after the secrecy period ends, have been left up in the air.
　特定秘密の公開は原則３０年後だ。延長する場合も一部例外を除き最長６０年である。指定解除後の文書をどう公開・廃棄するのか、具体的な方策はこれからだ。

There are also problems related to the freedom of information system that is supposed to be linked with the protection of secrets. The current system makes it difficult for people to access information because of the narrow range of disclosure.
　秘密保護とセットであるべき情報公開制度にも問題がある。現行の制度では公開の幅が狭く、国民が情報にアクセスしにくい。

Unless the system is changed to allow judges to see relevant documents in the event of a lawsuit filed over highly confidential secrets, the courts will be unable to fulfill their roles.
　特定秘密に関する訴訟が起きた場合、裁判官が対象文書を見ることができるようにしなければ裁判所としても役割を果たせない。

The Diet’s role also needs to be discussed. The ruling and opposition parties must deepen discussions on how to steer closed-door meetings in which highly confidential state secrets are provided, and how to relate such meetings to parliamentary rights to investigate state affairs.
　国会の関与のあり方も、検討課題である。特定秘密の提供を受ける秘密会をどう運営するか、国政調査権との関係をどう考えるか、与野党は議論を深めるべきだ。

The law will take effect within a year after its promulgation. We urge the ruling and opposition camps to hold consultations to improve the legal system regarding secrets.
　公布後、１年以内に施行される。与野党は協議を重ね、より良い法制に仕上げてもらいたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 7, 2013)
（2013年12月7日01時42分 読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun December 7, 2013
President Xi must pay heed to Japan, U.S. concerns over ADIZ
中国防空識別圏　習主席は日米の懸念に応えよ（12月6日付・読売社説）

China must take seriously the explicit declarations by Japan and the United States of their intentions regarding Beijing’s announcement of its new air defense identification zone.
　日米両国の明確な意思表示を中国は重く受け止めるべきだ。

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday in Beijing, declaring that the United States does not recognize or accept the ADIZ recently established by China over the East China Sea, expressing Washington’s “significant apprehension.”
　米国のバイデン副大統領が、中国の習近平国家主席と北京で会談し、東シナ海に設定された中国の防空識別圏を認めないと述べた上で「深い懸念」を表明した。

In the talks, Biden reportedly called for Beijing to take measures to reduce tensions with countries concerned, prodding the Chinese leadership to exercise self-restraint to prevent a crisis over the zone.
　バイデン氏はさらに、中国に対し、関係国との緊張緩和に向けた措置を取り、この問題で危機を誘発するような行動を自制するよう要請したという。

Both of Biden’s calls were in line with what was confirmed in his talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the previous day.
　いずれも、安倍首相との会談で確認した内容に沿ったものだ。

It was especially significant that Biden conveyed directly to Xi the strong sense of apprehension both Japan and the United States have over the way China declared the ADIZ and the rules of its implementation, which both Tokyo and Washington said deviate from international norms.
　中国の防空識別圏の設定の仕方や運用が国際常識から外れているとの日米両国の強い懸念を、習氏に直接伝えた点に意味がある。

In declaring the ADIZ, which changes the status quo in the East China Sea, China failed to consult with countries concerned beforehand. Rather, it unilaterally implemented the zone and abruptly announced it.
　中国は、現状を変更する識別圏設定に当たり、周辺国との事前調整をせず、一方的に発表した。

The means by which China implemented the new ADIZ strays from implementation protocol for air defense identification zones of other countries.
　その運用方法も、国際社会のやり方とは大きく異なっている。

In the ADIZs of countries other than China, including Japan, only aircraft found to be heading toward the countries’ territorial airspace are subject to alert. China, however, made it mandatory for all aircraft passing through its new ADIZ to report flight plans to Chinese authorities. Also, Beijing has warned it will make planes that fail to comply with its ADIZ rules subject to unspecified “defensive emergency measures.”
　日本などの防空識別圏では、領空に向かう航空機だけが警戒の対象となる。だが、中国は、識別圏内を飛行する全航空機に、飛行計画の提出を義務付けたばかりか、従わないと、「防御的緊急措置」の対象になると警告している。

Dangerous mind-set

Although most of the ADIZ is set above high seas, China’s warning is tantamount to treating the zone as part of its own airspace. We believe this is an illegitimate and dangerous mode of thinking.
　識別圏の大半は公海上空に設定されているのに、自らの領空のように扱っている。不当かつ極めて危険な考え方である。

In reply to calls from Biden, Xi was cited as reiterating China’s “principled stance” that its new ADIZ was established “in accord with international law and practice.” Does China intend to continue treating its air zone in its own fashion?
　バイデン氏に対し、習氏は、中国の「原則的な立場」を繰り返し、識別圏は「国際法や国際慣例に合致している」と述べたという。識別圏を引き続き、自己流で運用し続けるつもりなのだろうか。

As long as China takes such an attitude, it will never win the understanding of countries concerned, including Japan and the United States. First, Beijing should do away with its hard-line stance, which could invite the risk of an accidental military conflict.
　こうした態度では、日米をはじめ関係国の理解は得られまい。中国は、偶発的な軍事衝突を引き起こしかねない強硬な姿勢を、まず改める必要がある。

In his talks with Xi, Biden was also quoted as calling for China to create a crisis management mechanism in cooperation with Japan, with which China has an ongoing sovereignty row over the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, and other countries surrounding the new air zone.
　バイデン氏は習氏に、不測の事態を回避するために、沖縄県・尖閣諸島をめぐり対立する日本や周辺国と危機管理メカニズムを構築するよう促した。

It is crucial to expedite the opening up of communication channels among the countries concerned. The Chinese government has made an overture to the Japanese government to hold consultations with the aim of “securing safe flights” in the airspace where the two countries’ ADIZs overlap.
　関係国間で、意思の疎通を図ることは欠かせない。中国政府も日本に対して、「識別圏が重なっている空域での安全な飛行」のための協議を呼びかけている。

We worry, however, that in the process of such consultations, China will insist that Japan acknowledge China’s ADIZ, including airspace over the Senkakus, as if it were a fait accompli.
　ただ、気がかりなのは、話し合いの過程で、中国が、尖閣諸島上空を含む自らの防空識別圏を既成事実であるかのように主張してくると見られることだ。

Even if such consultations take place, Japan must not give up its stance of refusing to recognize China’s declaration of the air defense identification zone.
協議を行う場合でも、識別圏を認めないとの立場を崩してはならない。

In dealing with the ADIZ, it is important that Japan work closely with the United States in taking strategic measures against China.
　防空識別圏の問題を巡っては、米国との足並みをそろえながら、中国に戦略的に働きかけることが肝要である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 6, 2013)
（2013年12月6日01時26分 読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun December 6, 2013
Encouraging men to take child-care leave would benefit society
男性の育児休業　働く母親支える環境作りを（12月5日付・読売社説）

Increasing the amount of child-care leave taken by men will help create a social environment more conducive to child-rearing.
　男性の育児休業をより増やすことが、社会全体で子育てを支援する環境作りにもなるだろう。

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has started discussions highly likely to result in raising the child-care benefits paid through employment insurance.
　厚生労働省が、雇用保険から育児休業の取得者に支払われる給付額を増額する方向で検討に入った。

The anticipated change is designed to increase the number of working men who take child-care leave. Fewer than 2 percent do so now.
わずか２％足らずの男性の育児休業取得率を引き上げるのが目的だ。

The ministry plans to submit a bill to revise the Employment Insurance Law to the ordinary Diet session next year.
来年の通常国会に雇用保険法改正案を提出する。

Under the current system, a working couple is able to take child-care leave, in principle, until their baby is 14 months old if the leave is taken by only one parent at a time. A parent taking leave is entitled to receive benefits worth 50 percent of the wages earned before taking the leave.
　育児休業は、夫婦がそれぞれ取得する場合、原則として、子供が１歳２か月になるまで認められる仕組みだ。その間、休業前賃金の５０％が支給される。

The government is likely to raise the child-care leave benefit to 67 percent of wages for at least the first six-month period for each parent.
　政府は、この育児休業給付を最初の半年に限って６７％に引き上げる方針だ。

For example, if a new mother takes two months of maternity leave after giving birth, followed by child-care leave for six months, and then her husband takes child-care leave for the next six months, the couple would be assured of a full year of child-care benefits worth 67 percent of the wages of whichever parent was taking leave at the time.
例えば、妻が子供が２か月になるまで産休を取った後に半年育児休業を取得し、続いて夫も半年の育児休業に入れば、１年間は６７％を維持できる。

The government hopes that by boosting such economic assistance, the child-care leave taken by men will increase.
　政府は、こうした経済的な支援の強化によって男性の育児休業が増えると期待している。

Companies must help

Yet there is also a sense of unwillingness in business circles.
　だが、経済界には抵抗感もある。

While the central government pays for a little under 7 percent of the child-care leave benefit, the rest is to be covered by insurance for which employers and employees pay equally. Therefore, the increase in the benefit is likely to raise the financial burden on both labor and management.
育児休業給付の７％弱は国が負担し、残りを事業主と被保険者である労働者が折半するため、給付増で労使の負担が増すことになりかねないからである。

It is also unlikely that a hike in child-care leave benefits alone will be sufficient to increase the amount of child-care leave taken by men.
　育児休業給付の増額だけで男性の休業取得が増える、とも考えにくい。

An opinion survey taken by the ministry found that men most often cited “workplace atmosphere” as a reason for not taking child-care leave.
厚労省の実施した世論調査によると、男性が育児休業を取得しなかった理由としては、「職場の雰囲気」が最も多かった。

If more working men were to take child-care leave, even for a very short period, it would give mental support to working women. We think it important for businesses to understand this well and to start creating environments in which men feel it is easier to take their child-care leave.
　短期間でも男性が育児のために休暇を取るようになれば、働く女性の精神的な支えとなろう。企業がそれをよく理解し、休業を取得しやすい環境作りから始めていくことが大切ではないか。

At leading consumer products maker Kao Corp., winner of the grand prize of the “Ikumen Company Award 2013,” the rate of men taking child-rearing leave has been hovering in the 35-40 percent range in recent years. (“Ikumen” is a recently coined word for fathers who actively take part in raising children.)
　厚労省の「イクメン企業アワード」のグランプリを受賞した日用品メーカーの花王では、近年の男性社員の育児休業取得率は、３５～４０％で推移している。

The company has established a system of giving its male employees fully paid child-care leave for up to five days. It encourages them to take the leave more actively by holding seminars. Although the average period of child-care leave taken by male employees is only 11 days, the company said its employees’ attitudes have been changing.
　最高５日間の有給の休業制度を設けたほか、セミナーを開催するなど積極的な活用を呼びかけてきたという。男性の取得期間の平均は１１日間と短いものの、社員の意識も変わってきている。

Since earlier this year, the Tokyo Stock Exchange has selected listed companies that excel at utilizing women, calling these companies “Nadeshiko issues” and recommending their stock to potential investors. The rate of male workers taking child-care leave is one yardstick for the TSE’s selection.
　東京証券取引所では、今年から女性を積極的に活用する企業を選定し、「なでしこ銘柄」として推奨している。男性の育児休業取得率も選定基準の一つだ。

Hiroshima Prefecture Gov. Hidehiko Yuzaki provided another positive example with his announcement that he was taking child-care leave himself, apparently pushing up the rate of men taking such leave at companies in the prefecture to 7 percent.
　広島県のように知事の「育休宣言」が一つのきっかけとなり、県内企業の男性の育児休業取得率が７％にまで伸びた例もある。

Measures to deal with the low birth rate are a matter of urgency.
　少子化対策は喫緊の課題だ。

Both the public and private sectors need to consider ways to broadly support child-rearing, including the child-care leave taken by men.
男性の育児休業も含め、官民で幅広い子育て支援策を考えたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 5, 2013)
（2013年12月5日01時50分 読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun December 5, 2013
Japan, U.S. must reinforce alliance to deal with China’s forceful methods
バイデン氏来日　対中国で日米同盟強める時だ（12月4日付・読売社説）

We heartily applaud the clear political message sent from a high diplomatic level that Japan and the United States will not tolerate any self-righteous step taken by China.
　中国による独善的な措置は認めない、という明確な政治的メッセージを高いレベルで発信したことを評価したい。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday held talks in Tokyo. They agreed both countries would not recognize China’s newly established air defense identification zone, which they called an “attempt by China to change status quo unilaterally by force,” and would cooperate closely on the issue.
　安倍首相とバイデン米副大統領が東京で会談し中国の防空識別圏設定について、中国の「力による一方的な現状変更の試み」を黙認せず、日米が緊密に連携する方針で一致した。

They also confirmed they “will not condone any action that could threaten [the] safety of civilian aircraft.”
　「民間機の安全を脅かす行動は許容しない」ことも確認した。

Biden is expected to present the opinions of Japan and the United States when he holds talks Wednesday with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
　バイデン氏は４日の中国の習近平国家主席との会談で、こうした日米の考えを提起する予定だ。

Allowing China’s latest move to go unchallenged could set a bad precedent, as China is using strong-arm methods to back up its own assertions. This would send a message that China might misconstrue.
　今回の措置を看過すれば、中国が強引な手法で主張を押し通すという悪(あ)しき前例を残しかねず、中国に誤ったシグナルを送る。

To halt Chinese diplomatic moves that deviate from existing international rules and threaten the regional peace and stability of Asia, it is vital that Japan and the United States reinforce their alliance and calibrate their diplomatic policies.
　既存の国際規範を逸脱し、アジアの平和と安定を脅かす中国外交に歯止めをかけるには、日米両国が同盟関係を強化し、外交政策を調整することが欠かせない。

The Japanese version of the U.S. National Security Council, which is to be launched Wednesday, should assume a pivotal role in this task.
　４日に発足する国家安全保障会議（日本版ＮＳＣ）がその中核的な役割を担うべきだろう。

It is also important to seek support on this issue not only with South Korea, whose air defense zone overlaps with the one China is claiming, but also with countries in Southeast Asia and Europe. A broad consensus must be built, based on the conviction that ensuring China abides by international rules is a common challenge for the global community.
　防空識別圏が重なる韓国だけでなく、東南アジアや欧州各国とも共同歩調を取ることも大切だ。中国に規範を守らせることが、国際社会の共通課題だという幅広い合意形成を図らねばならない。

Move Futenma issue forward

During their talks, Abe and Biden confirmed they would “push forward with a strong resolve” the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station to the Henoko district in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture.
　会談では、米軍普天間飛行場の辺野古移設について「強い決意で進める」方針を確認した。

The Futenma issue has been like a splinter stuck in the Japan-U.S. alliance since 1996. If Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima approves land reclamation necessary for the relocation off the Henoko district, the issue will take a great step forward. The issue is at a crucial juncture.
　普天間問題は、１９９６年以来、日米同盟に突き刺さったトゲのような存在だ。沖縄県の仲井真弘多知事から辺野古埋め立ての承認を得られれば、問題は大きく進展するだけに、今が正念場である。

Making the relocation to Henoko a reality will eliminate the possibility of the Futenma base remaining where it is for years and years, and also accelerate the planned transfer of U.S. marines stationed in Okinawa Prefecture to Guam.
　辺野古移設の実現は、普天間飛行場の長期の固定化を避けるだけでなく、在沖縄海兵隊のグアム移転も加速する効果を持とう。

Biden also emphasized that Washington would cooperate with Japan so the Futenma base can be moved soon.
　バイデン氏は、米側も早期移設に協力する考えを強調した。

To create conditions in which Nakaima would find it easier to approve the reclamation, both Tokyo and Washington must do more to quickly alleviate Okinawa Prefecture’s burden of hosting U.S. military bases. Steps for this could include agreeing to allow prior on-site inspections of U.S. bases planned to be returned to the prefecture, and partially lifting restrictions in waters U.S. forces use for training exercises.
　知事が承認しやすい環境整備のため、日米両政府は、米軍訓練海域の一部制限解除に加え、返還予定の基地への事前立ち入り調査の合意など、沖縄県の基地負担軽減策の具体化を急ぐ必要がある。

Abe and Biden agreed both countries would continue cooperating on a process to conclude Trans-Pacific Partnership trade accord negotiations by the end of the year.
　環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉に関して、首相と副大統領は、年内の妥結へ道筋をつける方向で協力を続けることで合意した。

However, Japan is poised to refuse the total scrapping of tariffs on items in five key categories of rice, wheat and other farm products, leaving the talks between Japan and the United States with nowhere to go.
　ただ、日本は、コメや麦など農産品の重要５項目の全面的な関税撤廃には応じない方針で、日米協議は平行線が続いている。

It is important for Japan to aim at concluding the TPP talks by reminding itself from a broader perspective that, while maintaining tariffs that are vital for Japan, reaching an agreement as a whole would serve the common interests of the 12 participating countries.
　日本としては、守るべき関税は守りつつ、ＴＰＰ交渉全体の妥結は参加１２か国の共通の利益となるとの大局的観点を忘れず、交渉決着を目指すことが重要である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 4, 2013)
（2013年12月4日01時50分 読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun December 4, 2013
Review of taxation must also be discussed in pension system reform
年金制度改革　課税の見直しも議論したい（12月3日付・読売社説）

Finding ways to alleviate the sense of unfairness regarding financial burdens to be shared by pensioners and working generations is a crucial challenge for the nation that must be tackled to maintain the pension system with limited fiscal resources.
　年金受給者と勤労世代の間にある負担の不公平感をいかに和らげるか。限られた財源の中で、年金制度を維持するために重要な課題である。

A bill that will set the procedures for a package of social security system reform programs is likely to pass the current session of the Diet. But the bill only says that pension system reform is necessary. The government must step up efforts to study ways to create a solid system and a timetable for its implementation.
　社会保障制度改革の手順を定める「プログラム」法案は、今国会で成立する見通しだ。ただ、年金改革については、その必要性を明記するにとどまっている。政府は具体的な制度設計と実施時期の検討を急がねばならない。

In its August report, the National Council on Social Security System Reform, which laid the foundation for the bill, pointed out that “even the elderly must be asked to sustain the system in accordance with their burden-sharing ability.”
　この法案の土台となった社会保障制度改革国民会議は、８月の報告書で「高齢者にも、負担能力に応じて制度の支え手になってもらうべきだ」と指摘している。

Pension payments amount to about ¥52 trillion, which is about half of social welfare spending. Welfare expenses are anticipated to increase year after year as the population ages. To ensure the system remains stable, pension benefits and payment burdens must be reexamined.
　年金給付額は社会保障費の半分に当たる約５２兆円に上る。高齢化で社会保障費は年々増えていく。制度を安定させるには、給付と負担の見直しが欠かせない。

One concrete reform step would be to bolster pension taxation on high-income earners.
　改革の具体策の一つが、高所得者に対する年金課税の強化だ。

For example, in the case of single people aged 65 or older who receive public pensions, at least ¥1.2 million is deducted when their tax payment is calculated. No income tax is imposed on a married couple when their annual income is no more than about ¥2.05 million.
　例えば、公的年金を受給している６５歳以上の高齢者には、課税の際、最低でも１２０万円の控除が適用される。夫婦世帯では通常、年金収入が年間約２０５万円までなら所得税がかからない。

In the case of salaried workers, however, total tax deductions from their income amounts to ¥650,000, and the minimum taxable income is set as low as about ¥1.57 million.
　一方、サラリーマンの給与所得控除は６５万円で、課税最低限は年収１５７万円程度と低い。

Unfair taxation

Many people, including low-income irregular workers who pay taxes while supporting their families, apparently consider the current situation, in which no tax is levied on pensioners even with the same amount of income as theirs, as unfair.
　低賃金の非正規労働で家計を支えながら納税している人など、同じ年収でも年金受給者には課税されない現状を不公平に感じる人も少なくないのではないか。

Various measures for low-income earners are applied to pension-receiving households. For households with no resident tax imposed, their nursing care insurance premiums are reduced. In addition, a lower financial ceiling is set on treatment expenses they must pay to medical institutions.
　非課税の年金受給世帯には様々な低所得者対策も適用される。住民税非課税世帯の場合、介護保険料の軽減措置を受けられる上、医療機関に支払う治療費の限度額も低く設定されている。

However, many senior citizens possess a large amount of assets even if their income is low. It would not be proper to regard tax-exempt pensioners in the same way as the socially vulnerable.
　だが、低収入でも多額の資産を有する高齢者も多い。非課税の年金受給者を一律に社会的弱者とみなすのは適切ではなかろう。

Half of the basic pension is financed by state coffers. Even so, pension financing will remain difficult unless something is done. It is unavoidable to bolster taxation on pensioners to a certain extent so as not to impose an excessive burden on working generations.
　基礎年金の２分の１は国庫負担で賄われているが、それでも、このままでは年金財政は厳しい。現役世代の負担を過重にしないためにも、年金受給者に対する一定の課税強化はやむを得まい。

Raising the age for beginning to receive pension payments is also a major challenge.
　年金の支給開始年齢の引き上げも大きな課題である。

The age of people entitled to receive corporate employees pension benefits will be raised, in phases, to 65.
The United States, Britain and Germany have already decided to raise the entitlement age to 67 or 68.
　厚生年金を受け取れる年齢は段階的に６５歳に引き上げられているが、米英やドイツは既に６７～６８歳への引き上げを決めている。

However, the population is aging faster in Japan than in these three countries. Raising the starting age for pension payments, therefore, is an inevitable course of action that Japan must take.
　日本は、これらの国より高齢化が進んでいる。支給開始年齢の引き上げは避けられないだろう。

The next national election will be held almost three years from now at the latest. The ruling and opposition parties should work tenaciously and earnestly toward building a consensus on pension system reform.
　次期国政選挙まで最大３年近く時間がある。与野党は、じっくりと腰を据えて合意形成への道を探るべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 3, 2013)
（2013年12月3日01時34分 読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun December 3, 2013
Apply new law effectively to curb use of quasi-legal drugs by young people
脱法ドラッグ　規制強化で若者への蔓延防げ（12月2日付・読売社説）

The use of so-called quasi-legal drugs must be checked from spreading further among young people.
　いわゆる「脱法ドラッグ」が若者の間にこれ以上、蔓延(まんえん)するのを食い止めなくてはならない。

A bill to revise the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law designed to ban the possession, use and purchase of these hazardous substances has passed through the House of Representatives.
　脱法ドラッグの所持や使用、購入を禁止する薬事法改正案が衆院を通過した。

The bill provides for imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to ¥3 million for violations. It should be passed into law as soon as possible so its provisions can be enforced.
　違反者には、３年以下の懲役または３００万円以下の罰金が科される。規制強化のため、早期の成立が望まれる。

Quasi-legal drugs are not subject to laws and regulations, despite the fact that people who use them hallucinate or develop other symptoms similar to those caused by narcotics or stimulant drugs.
　脱法ドラッグとは、麻薬や覚醒剤に似た幻覚、興奮作用がありながら、法による取り締まりの対象にならない薬物を指す。

The drugs can cause serious health problems such as disturbed consciousness and breathing difficulty. There have been a spate of fatal cases. Last year, 209 people were taken to the hospital by ambulance in Tokyo alone after using the drugs, a marked increase from the 11 such cases in the previous year.
　使用すると、意識障害、呼吸困難など深刻な健康被害を招く恐れがある。死亡例も相次いでいる。昨年は東京都内だけで２０９人が救急車で搬送され、前年の１１人から大幅に増えた。

In some cases, drivers who had used the drugs struck and killed pedestrians. In one case, a man who had used them intruded into the premises of a primary school and chased students around. The use of the drugs should be considered a threat to public safety.
　吸引して車を運転し、歩行者を死亡させた例がある。小学校に侵入して児童を追い回す事件も起きた。治安面でも看過できない。

Also worrisome is the fact that the use of such substances has spread among minors.
　未成年者に乱用が広がっていることも憂慮される。

According to a survey of about 50,000 middle school students, 120 said they have taken quasi-legal drugs. Sixty percent of the users said they also took stimulant drugs.
　約５万人の中学生を対象に行われた調査では、１２０人が「脱法ドラッグを使った経験がある」と回答している。そのうち６割が覚醒剤を使用していた。

This shows quasi-legal drugs may be “gateway drugs,” as people who casually take them face a risk of eventually using narcotics and stimulant drugs.
　脱法ドラッグが麻薬や覚醒剤に手を染める「入り口」になっていることを示すデータだ。

Measures urgently needed

To prevent young people from being trapped in a vicious circle of drug abuse and addiction, measures must be urgently taken.
若者が薬物依存の深みにはまるのを防ぐためにも、対策は急務である。

These substances are sold almost openly under such names of “legal herbs” and “legal aroma” in entertainment areas and on the Internet. Many of them can be bought for several thousand yen.
　「合法ハーブ」「合法アロマ」などと称し、繁華街やインターネットで半ば公然と売られている。数千円で買えるものが多い。

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry categorizes quasi-legal drugs as “designated items” based on the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law. Currently, however, the drugs are regulated only for their production, import and sales.
　厚生労働省は、脱法ドラッグを薬事法に基づく「指定薬物」としているが、規制の対象は現在、製造や輸入、販売に限っている。

Probably behind the abuse of such substances is the ease of their use, which so far has not been legally penalized. Punishing both sellers and users is appropriate. Penalties under the revised law are nearly as severe as those for violations of the Stimulant Drugs Control Law and the Narcotics Control Law.
　使っても刑罰が及ばない気安さが、乱用の背景にあるのだろう。売る側だけでなく、使う側も処罰の対象とするのは適切な措置だ。法改正により、覚醒剤取締法や麻薬取締法に次いで重い罰則が科されることになる。

It is important to properly teach young people, both at home and at school, the danger and illegality of quasi-legal drugs.
　家庭や学校で、脱法ドラッグの危険性や違法性について、きちんと教えることが大切だ。

Some illegal substances whose chemical structures have been slightly changed to avoid being categorized as illicit drugs have been put on the market one after another, frustrating authorities.
　脱法ドラッグを巡っては、薬物指定を逃れるため、化学構造を少し変えた薬物が次々に登場し、イタチごっこが続いてきた。

This spring, the ministry imposed a comprehensive ban on substances that do not have the exact chemical structures as substances subject to punishment but share their primary components. The ban makes it possible for narcotics officers to apprehend violators.
　厚労省は今春、類似薬物に一括して網をかける「包括指定」を導入した。麻薬取締官による摘発も可能にした。

If the revised bill is passed into law, the overall framework of regulations will have been changed to make it possible for related measures to be implemented steadily.
今回の改正案が成立すれば、規制の枠組みが整い、対策は着実に前進しよう。

The reinforcement of regulation is also considered an effective way to contain crime syndicates, which use drug trafficking as a source of funds.
　薬物を資金源とする暴力団を封じ込めるためにも、規制強化は有効と言える。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 2, 2013)
（2013年12月2日02時06分 読売新聞）