To Make an ‘Area’ of Japanese-American ANPO Cooperation

Published in Nikkei Shimbun
(Japan) on 21 November 2015
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by . Edited by Paul Lynch.
In the Asia-Pacific region, the developing center of the world, embers capable of disturbing its stability smolder all around. It is important that Japan and America broaden their mutual cooperation and security from a “line” to an “area,” and join with other countries in order to protect the order in this region.

Thanks to a conference held between Prime Minister Abe and President Obama, it is clear once more they must hasten their efforts. After all, most of the pending problems they discussed cannot be solved by the two countries alone.

At the conference, they addressed topics from cyber spies stealing state and business information, to countermeasures designed to combat large-scale terrorism. Considering how Japan is preparing for the Group of 8 summit on Ise-Shima next year, and the Tokyo Olympics as well as the Paralympics in 2020, we require cooperation not only from America, but from countries all over the world.

Yet another issue is how we should respond to China’s reclamation of the South China Sea and its construction of artificial islands. China is behaving as if it’s all its own territory, and if its militarization proceeds any further, many countries may have their “freedom of navigation” severely restricted.

At the conference, President Obama made it clear he would not recognize the artificial islands as Chinese territory. He declared he would continue to send American military vessels within 12 nautical miles (approximately 22 kilometers or 7.5 miles) of them. Prime Minister Abe is also taking inspiration from “the influence made by ANPO,” advising our Self-Defense Forces to investigate activity in the South China Sea.*

The South China Sea is a crucial maritime traffic route. In order to preserve the stability of the region, even Japan must carry out the established role we have.

Even in our current situation, it is not impossible for us to send the Self-Defense Forces as a precautionary measure or for training. The only thing is, no matter how hard we try, there is a limit to how much America and Japan can hold down China’s forceful actions by themselves. That is why it’s essential that they work closely with nearby countries in the South China Sea, and have everyone create a system that will press for some self-control by China.

In addition to the Self-Defense Force’s past experience in joint training with Philippine forces, it has also agreed to cooperate with Vietnamese forces. So that many countries may increase the strength of their maritime defense, I would like Japan and America to cooperate and broaden their support for a well-equipped area.

*Editor’s note: ANPO stands for The Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan.


日米の安保協力を「面」に

 世界の成長センターであるアジア太平洋では、安定を揺るがしかねない火種があちこちでくすぶっている。日米は安全保障協力を「線」から「面」に広げ、他国と一緒になってこの地域の秩序を支えることが大切だ。

 安倍晋三首相とオバマ米大統領による会談は、そうした努力を急がなければならない現実を改めて印象づけた。話し合われた懸案の多くが、日米両国だけでは解決できない問題だったからだ。

 会談では、国家や企業の情報を盗むサイバースパイや、大規模テロへの対策が取り上げられた。日本では来年に主要国首脳会議(伊勢志摩サミット)、2020年には東京五輪・パラリンピックが控える。米国だけでなく、世界各国との協力が欠かせない。

 もうひとつの課題が、中国が南シナ海を埋め立て、人工島をつくっていることへの対応だ。それらが自分の領土であるかのように中国が振る舞い、軍事化を進めれば、各国の「航行の自由」は大きく制限されかねない。

 オバマ大統領は会談で、人工島を中国の領土と認めない姿勢を鮮明にするため、12カイリ(約22キロメートル)以内に米軍艦船を送り続けると言明した。安倍首相も「日本の安全保障に与える影響」を踏まえ、自衛隊による南シナ海での活動を検討すると伝えた。

 南シナ海は重要なシーレーン(海上交通路)であり、安定を保つため、日本としても一定の役割を果たすべきだ。

 現状でも、警戒や訓練のために自衛隊を送ることは不可能ではない。ただ、いくら頑張っても、米国や日本だけで中国の強硬な行動を抑えるには限界があるだろう。そこで肝心なのは日米が南シナ海の周辺国と密に連携し、みなで中国に自制を迫れるような体制をつくり上げることだ。

 自衛隊はフィリピンと共同訓練をしたほか、ベトナムとも実施で合意した。各国が海上警備力を底上げできるよう、装備面の支援も日米が協力して広げたい。
This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

Hot this week

Hong Kong: Cordial Cross-Strait Relations Will Spare Taiwan Trump’s Demands, Says Paul Kuoboug Chang

Russia: Trump Names Man Fomenting Revolution in the U.S.*

Australia: Australia Boosts Corporate Law Enforcement as America Goes Soft

Ireland: We Must Stand Up to Trump on Climate. The Alternative Is Too Bleak To Contemplate

Topics

Japan: US President and the Federal Reserve Board: Harmonious Dialogue To Support the Dollar

Austria: The EU Must Recognize That a Tariff Deal with Trump Is Hardly Worth Anything

Mexico: The Network of Intellectuals and Artists in Defense of Venezuela and President Nicholás Maduro

Hong Kong: Cordial Cross-Strait Relations Will Spare Taiwan Trump’s Demands, Says Paul Kuoboug Chang

Germany: The Tariffs Have Side Effects — For the US Too*

Ireland: We Must Stand Up to Trump on Climate. The Alternative Is Too Bleak To Contemplate

Canada: Carney Takes Us Backward with Americans on Trade

Thailand: Appeasing China Won’t Help Counter Trump

Related Articles

Nigeria: 80 Years after Hiroshima, Nagasaki Atomic Bombings: Any Lesson?

Taiwan: Trump’s Japan Negotiation Strategy: Implications for Taiwan

India: Trump’s Tariffs Have Hit South Korea and Japan: India Has Been Wise in Charting a Cautious Path

Japan: Iran Ceasefire Agreement: The Danger of Peace by Force

Japan: Trump’s 100 Days: A Future with No Visible Change So Far

1 COMMENT

  1. It will now be a better world with Japan stepping up to its rightful place as a first-class world power. We in the U.S. need you and so do the other Asian democracies. Together we will show our united strength and be ready to defend our selves so as to insure that no one would want to break the peace 🙂