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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
Ma’s visit to disputed S. China Sea island won’t contribute to stability
台湾と南シナ海　安定に寄与しない馬氏の訪問

The latest visit to a disputed island in the South China Sea was an action that raises concerns among neighboring countries and does not contribute to regional stability.
　南シナ海周辺国の懸念を高める行動で、地域の安定には寄与しまい。

Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou visited Taiping Island, the largest islet in the Spratlys. He made the day trip to the island aboard a Taiwan Air Force plane and reportedly encouraged officials and other personnel stationed on the island.
　台湾の馬英九総統が、南シナ海のスプラトリー（南沙）諸島で最大の太平島を訪問した。空軍機を使って日帰りで往復し、駐在する当局者らを激励したという。

Taiwan effectively controls Taiping Island, located about 1,600 kilometers from the southern tip of Taiwan. It has built a port for large vessels and a lighthouse.
　台湾南部から約１６００キロ離れた太平島は、台湾が実効支配している。これまで大型船が着岸できる埠頭ふとうや灯台を整備してきた。

The likely aim of Ma’s visit was to demonstrate Taiwan’s sovereignty over the island and to show its presence. Vietnam and the Philippines, which both claim sovereignty over the island, objected to the visit, saying it had seriously violated their respective sovereignty over the island. Concerned parties should refrain from taking precipitous action in disputed waters.
　台湾の領有権を訴え、存在感を示す狙いがあったのだろう。領有権を主張するベトナムとフィリピンは、「深刻な主権侵害だ」などと反発している。係争海域での軽挙は慎まねばならない。

The situation is getting tense in the South China Sea, as China is proceeding with its efforts to unilaterally change the status quo. It is understandable that the United States has criticized Ma’s visit to the island, saying “it would raise tensions.”
　南シナ海は現在、中国が一方的な現状変更を進め、情勢が緊迫している。米国が馬氏の訪問について「緊張を高める行為だ」と批判したのは、もっともである。

Ma has reiterated his call on all countries concerned to accept his South China Sea Peace Initiative, a proposal urging claimants to temporarily shelve their differences over territorial issues and jointly share the resources in the area. But his latest action makes the situation more complex, instead of bringing about regional “peace.”
　馬氏は、領有権を棚上げにし、資源の共同利用などを目指す「南シナ海平和イニシアチブ」構想を関係国に改めて呼びかけた。だが、これでは、「平和」どころか、むしろ事態を複雑化させよう。

Ma, who had planned to visit the island in December, refrained from doing so after Washington expressed opposition. Instead, he sent senior administration officials to the island.
　昨年１２月にも訪問を計画した馬氏は、米国の反対で政権幹部の派遣にとどめていた。

He went ahead with the visit this time, probably because he wanted it to be considered a political “achievement” as his term of office ends in May.
今回、強行したのは、任期満了が５月に迫る中、自らの政治的な「実績」にするつもりだったのではないか。

China main beneficiary

As his ruling Nationalist Party suffered a major defeat in the presidential and legislative elections last month, Ma may also be aiming to have his administration gain centripetal force in the country.
　１月の総統選と立法委員（国会議員）選で与党・国民党が大敗したこともあって、政権の求心力向上にもつなげたいのだろう。

What is problematic is that Ma’s visit benefits China’s efforts to enclose the South China Sea as if it was its own “lake.”
　問題なのは、馬氏の訪問が南シナ海を自国の「湖」のように囲い込む中国を利することである。

China claims sovereignty over an almost equal area of waters as Taiwan does in the South China Sea. As Beijing regards Taiwan as “part of China,” Taiwan’s sovereignty claim will sooner or later be linked to China’s interests.
　中国は、南シナ海で台湾とほぼ同じ範囲の領有権を主張する。「台湾は中国の一部」が前提のため、台湾の領有権主張はいずれ中国の利益と結びつく。

It is for this reason that China has taken a detached stance this time, saying, “Safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as safeguarding the overall interests of the Chinese nation are the common responsibility and obligation of compatriots across the strait.”
　中国が「主権と領土、中華民族の利益を守ることは、両岸（中台）同胞の共同の責任で、義務だ」と静観するのは、そのためだ。

China apparently intends to step up pressure on neighboring countries by forming a “united front” with Taiwan, under the name of the Chinese nation.
　中華民族の名の下に台湾と「共闘」して、周辺国に対する圧力を強める意図があるとみられる。

China’s attempt to turn its artificial islands in the South China Sea into military strongholds continues nonstop. At a press conference held following his talks with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stubbornly maintained that China was building “defense facilities” on artificial islands that had nothing to do with militarizing the area.
　中国による南シナ海の人工島の軍事拠点化も止まらない。王毅外相はケリー米国務長官との会談後の記者会見で、人工島での「防衛施設」の整備は「『軍事化』とは関係がない」と強弁した。

While shaking “freedom of navigation” on the basis of international law, China attempts to expand its own national interests further. To stem such self-righteous moves on the part of China, it is essential for the international community to cooperate closely, in addition to the continued navigation of U.S. warships near the artificial islands.
　国際法に基づく「航行の自由」を揺るがしながら、自国の権益を一段と拡張させようとする。独善的な中国の動きを抑止するには、人工島周辺での米軍艦艇の航行継続に加え、国際社会の緊密な連携が欠かせない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 1, 2016)