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The Yomiuri Shimbun
U.S. vessel patrol shows Beijing cannot militarize South China Sea
米艦南シナ海に　中国の軍事拠点化を許さない

The latest U.S. action serves as a stern warning to China, a country that is attempting to change the status quo by the use of force and making the change a fait accompli in the South China Sea.
　南シナ海で力による現状変更を進め、既成事実化を図る中国への厳しい警告を意味しよう。

A U.S. Navy Aegis-equipped destroyer sailed within 12 nautical miles (about 22 kilometers) of artificial islands built by China in the Spratly archipelago in the South China Sea.
　米海軍のイージス駆逐艦が、南シナ海のスプラトリー（南沙）諸島で、中国が造成した人工島の１２カイリ（約２２キロ・メートル）内を航行した。

U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter calls the operations as “routine activities” and made clear that Washington would continue the operations.
　カーター米国防長官は「通常実施している作戦だ」と述べ、継続的に行う方針を表明した。

The U.S. operations embody, for all the world to see, the “freedom of navigation” in the South China Sea by conducting patrols, as on any other part of the open sea, in what China claims as its “territorial waters.”
　中国が「領海」と主張する海域で公海と同様に巡視することで「航行の自由」を体現し、アピールする作戦だ。

Washington gets high marks for making clear its stance of not tolerating any act that would threaten sea-lanes, which are maritime interests of the international community.
国際社会の利益である海上交通路（シーレーン）を脅かす行為は容認しない姿勢を明確に示したことは評価できる。

China is promoting the establishment of military strongholds in the sea by building artificial islands through reef reclamation and by constructing a 3,000-meter-class runway, in an attempt to change the South China Sea into a “Chinese sea.”
　中国は、岩礁埋め立てによる人工島造成や３０００メートル級の滑走路建設など軍事拠点化を推進し、南シナ海を「中国の海」にしようとしている。

This is part of China’s “anti-access and area denial (A2/AD)” strategy to prevent the intervention of U.S. forces in the event of a contingency.
米軍の有事介入を阻む「接近阻止・領域拒否（Ａ２ＡＤ）」戦略の一環でもある。

Subi Reef, near which the U.S. destroyer sailed, was previously a sunken rock that was submerged at high tide.
　米艦が航行したスービ礁は、もともと満潮時に水没する暗礁だ。

The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea stipulates that sunken reefs, artificial islands and facilities off shore are not entitled to the 12-mile territorial waters.
国連海洋法条約は、暗礁や人工島、沖合の施設はそれ自体の領海を有しないと定めている。

It is unjustifiable for China to claim that “China’s sovereign rights [over the South China Sea] were formed in the course of history,” while establishing the so-called nine-dash line, which has no legal basis under international law, in the sea.
　国際法に根拠のない９本の境界線「九段線」を設定し、「歴史の中で主権が形成された」という中国の主張には無理があろう。

Refrain from rash moves

It is absurd for Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to oppose the U.S. naval action by saying, “We urge the U.S. side to think twice, not to take rash moves and stir up trouble.” Isn’t it China itself that should refrain from rash moves?
　中国の王毅外相が「米に軽率な行動を慎むよう促す」と反発したのは筋違いだ。「軽率な行動」を控えるべきは中国ではないか。

China has reportedly taken such actions as having its vessels, including a guided-missile destroyer, monitor, shadow and give warnings to the U.S. warship. We strongly urge China to exercise self-restraint so that its military units do not take any dangerous, provocative acts.
　中国は、ミサイル駆逐艦などが米艦を「監視・追跡、警告した」という。軍部隊が危険な挑発に出ないよう強く自制を求めたい。

The U.S. Defense Department had earlier proposed that the U.S. military vessels should conduct patrols, but U.S. President Barack Obama had put off making his final decision.
　米国防総省は早くから艦艇航行を進言していたが、オバマ大統領は最終判断を先送りしていた。

During his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington last month, Obama urged China to suspend reef reclamation activities and facility construction in the South China Sea. But Xi refused to comply, saying they are China’s territory, prompting Obama to give the go-ahead to the naval action at last.
　９月の米中首脳会談で、埋め立てや施設建設などの停止を要求したのに対し、習近平国家主席が「中国の領土だ」とはねつけたのを見て、ようやく踏み切った。

Obama may have had too much confidence in his ability to persuade Xi.
　オバマ氏は、習氏を説得できると過信していたのではないか。

The United States is cooperating with China in dealing with climate change and antiterrorism measures. But this is no reason for the United States to overlook China’s self-righteous actions.
　米国は気候変動問題やテロ対策で中国と協力しているが、その独善的行動を見過ごす理由にはなるまい。

Washington needs to rethink its strategy toward China, while taking measures to prevent any accidental military clash.
偶発的な軍事衝突を防ぐ措置をとりながら、対中戦略を練り直すことが求められる。

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said, “It is extremely important for the international community to cooperate so as to protect open, free and peaceful seas,” supporting the U.S. dispatch of the naval vessel to the area. The Philippines and Australia have also hailed the latest U.S. action.
　菅官房長官は「開かれた、自由で平和な海を守るために国際社会が連携することは極めて大事だ」と語り、米国の艦艇派遣を支持した。フィリピンやオーストラリアも歓迎している。

While cooperating closely with the United States and other countries concerned, Japan should keep a watch on China’s moves in the South China Sea.
　日本は、米国や関係国と緊密に連携しつつ、南シナ海での中国の動きを警戒せねばならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 29, 2015)Speech