Harris’ Speech: Discuss Security in Your Own Words

Published in Sankei Shimbun
(Japan) on 24 August 2024
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Dorothy Phoenix. Edited by Michelle Bisson.
At the U.S. Democratic National Convention, Vice President Kamala Harris delivered her acceptance speech for the presidential nomination.

Harris stated that this was an opportunity to “move past ... divisive battles of the past” and “chart a new way forward,” an appeal to the middle class for generous support. She criticized Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump's political stance, in a clearly confrontational tone.

It was inevitable that the speech would focus on domestic issues concerning U.S. citizens, such as the economic climate and immigration issues, and criticism of the rival candidate.

However, the U.S. is the country with the greatest economic strength and military power. We had hoped that Harris would clearly articulate views and policies on how her administration will protect the international order, but that did not happen.

Regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine, she rightly declared that she “will stand strong with Ukraine and our NATO allies.”

Concerning the situation in the Palestinian territory of Gaza, while she supported Israel's right to self-defense, she stated that “now is the time to get a hostage deal and cease-fire done.” Even though it was easy to say, it is not enough to convince both those who support and who condemn Israel's actions.

The most disappointing part was that Harris did not make any statement that demonstrated a strong concern about peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and the Taiwan Strait.

The only thing she said about China was that “America — not China” will win “the competition” in high technology fields such as space and artificial intelligence.

The Indo-Pacific region, including the Taiwan Strait and the South and East China Seas, is the site where the outcome of the battle between democracy and despotism will determine control of the international order. Harris ought to display a resolution to deter the threat of China, which is strengthening its military and economic coercion.

Regarding North Korea, in the context of criticizing Trump, who said that he “get[s] along” with Kim Jong Un, the leader of the Workers' Party of Korea, Harris declared that she would “not cozy up to tyrants and dictators like Kim Jong Un.” In that case, how does she intend to confront Chinese President Xi Jinping?

As vice president, Harris has had almost no experience related to diplomatic and military matters, a concern that was pointed out in an editorial in the influential Wall Street Journal, entitled “Kamala Harris: Mystery Commander in Chief.” We hope that in future debates, Harris will address diplomatic and security policies that despotic countries will not be able to exploit.


<主張>ハリス氏の演説 自らの言葉で安保を語れ

米民主党の全国大会で、ハリス副大統領が大統領候補指名の受諾演説を行った。

ハリス氏は「過去の分断を乗り越え、新しい道を進む機会だ」と述べ、中間層への手厚い支援を訴えた。共和党候補のトランプ前大統領の政治姿勢を非難し、対決色をあらわにした。

景気や移民問題など米国民が関心を寄せる内政問題や対立候補の批判が演説の中心になるのはやむを得ない。

だが、米国は最も大きな経済力と軍事力を有する国だ。ハリス氏には自身の政権で国際秩序をどのように守っていくか、見識や政策を明確に語ってほしかったが期待は外れた。

ハリス氏が、ロシアのウクライナ侵略について「北大西洋条約機構(NATO)とウクライナを力強く支え続ける」と表明したのは妥当だ。

パレスチナ自治区ガザ情勢をめぐっては、イスラエルの自衛権行使を支持しつつ、「今こそ人質解放と停戦で合意するときだ」と述べた。言うは易(やす)しだが、これだけではイスラエルを支持する側も非難する側も納得すまい。

最も残念だったのは、ハリス氏が「インド太平洋」や「台湾海峡」の平和と安定に強い関心を有していると示す言葉が発せられなかった点だ。

中国については、宇宙関連やAIなどの先端技術分野で「中国との競争に打ち勝つ」と述べただけである。

台湾海峡や南・東シナ海などのインド太平洋は、民主主義と専制主義がせめぎ合う国際秩序の行方を左右する現場だ。ハリス氏は、軍事的、経済的威圧を強める中国の脅威を抑止する決意を示すべきだった。

北朝鮮については、金正恩朝鮮労働党総書記と「うまくやる」と述べたトランプ氏を批判する文脈で、金氏のような「独裁者には迎合しない」と語った。そうであれば、中国の習近平国家主席とどう対峙(たいじ)するつもりなのか。

ハリス氏は副大統領として外交や軍事に関わった経験がほとんどなく、米有力紙ウォールストリート・ジャーナル(WSJ)が「謎の最高司令官」と題する社説を掲げ、懸念を示しているほどだ。ハリス氏には今後の論戦で専制国家がつけ込むすきのない外交安保政策を語ってもらいたい。
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