中国:中央国家安全委員会初次開會

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:

中国 中央国家安全委員会 初の開催

4月15日 23時22分

中国共産党が新設した中央国家安全委員会の初めての会議が１５日開かれ、経済の混乱や西側の民主的な価値観の浸透などを共産党政権の安定を揺るがす脅威と位置づけて、習近平国家主席がトップダウンで対応する姿勢が鮮明になりました。

中国国営の新華社通信によりますと、中央国家安全委員会の初めての会議には、トップを務める習近平国家主席のほか、李克強首相ら共産党と国の要職を占めるメンバーが出席しました。
演説した習主席は「委員会の目的は、わが国が直面している新しい情勢に適応し、統一的で効率がよい国家の安全保障体制を作ることだ」と述べました。
そして、「安全保障は、外部と内部、伝統的と非伝統的ともに重視しなければならない」としたうえで、軍事に加え、経済、文化、情報など１１にわたる分野を列挙して、「これらを一体とした安全保障体系の構築」を指示しました。
これは、軍事だけでなく、金融危機などによる経済の混乱のほか、インターネットなどを通じて西側の民主的な価値観が浸透することなどを共産党政権の安定を揺るがす脅威と位置づけていることを示しており、委員会の発足によって習主席がトップダウンで対応する姿勢が鮮明になりました。

(試譯文)

The first meeting of Central National Security Council which was newly established by the Communist Party of China was held on the 15^th. Viewing the economic turmoils and the penetration of the western democratic sense of values etc. as threats that could shake the stability of the Communist Party government, the posture of PRC President Xi Jinping’s top-down response became clear.

According to the China government managed Xinhua News Agency, besides PRC President Xi Jinping who was at the top post, Prime Minister Li Keqiang and other members who were occupying important posts of the Communist Party and the country also attended the first meeting of this Central National Security Council.

PRC President Xi Jinping made a speech to say that "the purpose of the committee is to make a unified and efficient security framework for the state which is adapting to new situations that our country is facing".

Then he directed that "for security protections, the external and the internal, the traditional and the nontraditional, all have to be considered as important". In addition to military affairs, eleven fields covering such as the economy, culture, and information were enumerated, and that "all these are to be consolidated into one single unit in the construction of the security system".

It showed that not only the military affairs, but also the monetary crisis and the turmoil in the economy etc. together with the western democratic sense of values permeated through the Internet were all regarded as threats which could shake the stability of the Communist Party government. The commencement of the Council made clear the posture of PRC President Xi Jinping’s top-down response.

It is worrying to note that western democratic sense of values permeated through the Internet would be regarded as threats to the stability of the Communist Party government.

韓国公司破格待遇吸引日本技術流出

Last month the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

年収２倍、韓国メーカー破格の待遇…技術流出

　日本企業を支える最先端技術の海外流出に、初めて捜査が及んだ。

　警視庁が１３日に本格捜査に着手した総合電機大手「東芝」の技術流出事件。不正競争防止法違反容疑で取り調べを受けている、韓国企業に転職した元技術者の男（５２）は、企業が蓄積した研究データを持ち出した疑いが強まっているが、日本人技術者の流出に伴って情報が漏れる危険性は、他の多くの企業も抱えている。

　「約２０年間勤めた会社のおよそ２倍の年収や高級マンションでの生活を保証された。日本に残した家族のもとに向かう日韓の往復航空券２５枚も用意してくれた」。電子部品会社から転職した５０歳代の男性技術者は、韓国メーカーから受けた破格の待遇を明かした。

（2014年3月13日17時45分  読売新聞）

(試譯文)

  For the first time, criminal investigation touched on the overseas outflow of Japanese leading-edge technology which companies were depending on.

  On the 13^th (March) the Metropolitan Police Department started a formal investigation on an incident about technology leakage in "Toshiba" which was a major comprehensive electronics manufacturer. A man (52), the former engineer who had switched his employment to a South Korean company, was being investigated on suspicion of violating the Unfair Competition Prevention Act. It was strongly suspected that the research data which the company had in possession was taken away. Many other companies were having the danger that information would leak out together with an outgoing Japanese engineer.

  "About as much as a double of the annual income like have been working in a company for about 20 years, together with a luxury flat were guaranteed.Twenty-five 2-way air tickets for Japan-South Korea were also prepared for visiting the home family left behind in Japan". This male engineer in his 50's who had changed his employment to another electronic-components company revealed the extraordinary treatment received from a South Korean manufacturer.

(17:45 on March 13, 2014    Yomiuri Shimbun)

The outflow of the leading-edge technology could hurt the Japanese companies. It is understandable that a serious investigation is being carried out.

習国家主席領導軍隊改革

Last month the NHK News on-line reported the following:

中国 習国家主席が軍改革のトップに

3月15日 23時20分

中国共産党の中央軍事委員会が軍の機構改革を進めるための指導グループを新たに設置し、トップに習近平国家主席が就任したことが明らかになり、「海洋強国」の目標の実現に向けて、従来の陸軍主体から海軍や空軍などと合わせた統合運用体制への移行を急ぐものとみられます。

中国国営の新華社通信は「中央軍事委員会の国防と軍隊の改革深化のための指導グループがきょう午前、初会合を開き、習近平国家主席が重要講話を行った」と伝えました。
この中で、習主席は「戦いに勝てる軍隊にする。軍事闘争の準備をあくまでも１番とせよ」と指示するとともに、「組織形態の近代化なくして国防と軍隊の近代化はない」と述べたということです。
共産党は去年１１月に開いた重要会議で、軍の機構改革を行う方針を決定し、統合的な作戦指揮体制の整備や非戦闘部門の人員削減など、多くの具体的な課題を挙げていました。
習主席がみずからをトップとする指導グループを新たに設置したことは、目標とする「海洋強国」の実現に向けた改革に強い意志を示したといえ、従来の陸軍主体から海軍や空軍などと合わせた統合運用体制への移行を急ぎ、高性能の装備により多くの予算を投じていくとみられます。

(試譯文)

The Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party had newly installed a guiding group to advance the reorganization of the army and it became clear that the PRC President Xi Jinping was inaugurated into the top post; it was expected that from the tradition of putting the army the core, it hurried towards realizing the goal of becoming a "sea strong country" by shifting into a joint-operation organization by integrating the army with the navy and the air force etc.

The Chinese government managed the Xinhua News Agency said that "the Central Military Commission’s guiding group, which aims at the reform and enhancement of the national defense and the army, held its first meeting today in the morning, and PRC President Xi Jinping had given an important lecture".

In the meeting, President Xi Jinping directed “to make an army that can win a battle, to be well prepared for the military operation"; he also said that "if there is no modernization in the form of organization, there is no modernization of the national defense and the army".

The Communist Party in a major meeting held in November last year had decided a plan to reorganize the army: to integrate the operational command organization and to reduce personnel in the non-battling sections etc., many other concrete subjects were also mentioned.

President Xi Jinping put himself at the top of this newly installed guidance group, showing the will to reform towards the realization of the goal of becoming a "sea strong country". There was a hurried shifting, from the conventional organization of putting army at the center towards putting in a joint-operation organization by linking it with the navy and air force etc.; it was expected that more budget would go to the highly efficient equipment.

   Obviously, the focus of the Chinese army is shifting in view of the changing international political environments.

豐田從印尼輸出汽車到中東

Last month the NHK New on-line reported the following:

トヨタ インドネシアからの輸出本格化

3月26日 22時59分

トヨタ自動車は、インドネシアで生産した乗用車を中東に向けて本格的に輸出することになり、現地に駐在するサウジアラビアの大使などを招いて、記念の式典を開きました。

トヨタ自動車は去年３月、インドネシアの首都ジャカルタ郊外にある自動車の組み立て工場の敷地内に第２工場を建設し、生産台数を増やしてきました。
そして、今後は中東に向けて乗用車の輸出を本格化させることになり、２６日、インドネシアに駐在するサウジアラビアやイエメンの大使など、中東の８つの国と地域の大使や代表を招いて記念の式典を開きました。
トヨタはインドネシアをタイに並ぶ輸出の拠点にする方針で、去年６万台だったインドネシアからの輸出を、まずは８万台近くにしたい考えです。
式典に出席したインドネシアのルトフィ商業相は、「車を輸出するだけでなく、インドネシアで有名な渋滞も輸出します」などと冗談を交えながら、輸出の振興を歓迎しました。
インドネシアトヨタの福井弘之会長は、「インドネシアではトヨタグループの車の輸出が７割を占めるようになっており、相当、インドネシア経済に貢献できている」と述べ、今後も輸出を増やしていく考えを示しました。
インドネシアでは、ホンダもことし１月に第２工場を完成させたほか、日産自動車も再来年に年間の生産台数を２５万台に増やすなど、各社が生産能力の増強を急いでいます。

(試譯文)

Toyota Motor would in earnest export to the Middle East its passenger cars produced in Indonesia, and invited the Saudi Arabia ambassador and others who were residing in Indonesia to a commemorative ceremony held by the company.

In March last year Toyota Motor built a 2nd factory at the site of its car assembly plant located in a suburb of Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia to increase the volume of production.

From now on the exportation of passenger cars into the Middle East was formalized. A commemorative ceremony was held on the 26^th (March). The Saudi Arabia ambassador and the Yemen ambassador etc. together with representatives from eight Middle Eastern countries and areas who were residing in Indonesia were invited.

Toyota was planning to make Indonesia the base of export on a par with Thailand. First of all, it intended to set the export from Indonesia to about 80,000 cars while last year was 60,000 cars.

Rutofi the commercial Minister of Indonesia who had attended the ceremony welcomed the promotion of export and exchanged a joke that "it is not only exporting cars, but is also exporting traffic congestion which Indonesia was famous for" etc.

Indonesia Toyota Chairman Hiroyuki Fukui said that "the Toyota group accounts for 70 percent of the car export in Indonesia, and is contributing to the Indonesia economy considerably", and he showed the idea to continue to increase the export.

In Indonesia, Honda also completed its 2nd factory in January this year. Also, Nissan Motor would increase its annual volume of production to 250,000 cars in the year after next. All companies were hurrying to reinforce their production capacity.

  It seems that Japan is shifting its investment to the South-east Asian countries, probably from China.

鰻魚苗價格回復正常: 鰻魚價錢可望下跌

Last month the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

ウナギ稚魚「やっと正常」…豊漁で値下がり期待

　不漁続きだったウナギの稚魚（シラスウナギ）が今年は豊漁だ。

　春までの漁期を残し、主要な産地では、すでに昨年の漁獲量を大幅に上回っている。昨年は１キロ・グラム当たり２４８万円まで高騰した取引価格が、５０万～６０万円に値下がりしている。早ければ半年で成魚になるといい、今夏以降には、店頭でのウナギの値下がりも期待できそうだ。

　国内有数の漁獲量を誇る高知県では、昨年１２月下旬の解禁から２月１５日までの漁獲量が２４８キロ・グラムとなり、過去最低だった昨季（２３キロ・グラム）の１０倍を超えた。好漁の要因について、県の担当者は「黒潮の流れが変わり、海流に乗って来たのではないか」と推測するが、真相は不明だ。

　鹿児島県でも、２月１５日時点で漁獲量が５０１キロ・グラムに上り、昨季全体の１４９キロ・グラムを大幅に上回る。台湾など海外でも比較的、今年の稚魚漁は好調とみられる。台湾産や中国産の稚魚が集まる香港からの昨年１２月の輸入量は約５・５トンで、前年同期（約０・６トン）の９倍に達した。

　国内で流通するウナギはほぼ養殖物。多くの養殖業者は、専門の卸業者などから仕入れたウナギの稚魚を、半年から１年半ぐらい育てて出荷する。稚魚が安くなれば、それだけ、安く出荷できる。

　水産庁が業界団体に聞き取ったところ、昨季に養殖池に入れられた稚魚は約１２・６トンだったが、今季は２月上旬の時点で既に約１１・７トンに達しており、昨季を上回るのは確実だ。養殖ウナギの出荷量が全国一の鹿児島県で、ウナギを養殖する男性（６９）は「昨季が度を越した高値だったので、やっと正常になったという印象」と話す。

（2014年3月1日18時30分  読売新聞）

(試譯文)

The fry (glass eel) of the eel which all along had a poor catch had a bumper fish crop this year.

In the remaining spring fishing season, it had already far exceeded the fish catch of last year in major production locations. The market price which once had soared to 2,480,000 yen per kg last year fell by 500,000 to 600,000 yen. If early, it could be said that they would become adult fish in six months and a price fall in eels at the shop front starting from this summer could be expected too.

In Kochi Prefecture which was proud of being taking the lead in fish catch in the country, its fish catch from late December last year, when the ban was lifted, to February 15th was 248 kg, exceeding 10 times that of last season (23 kg) which was the lowest ever. The truth was not known although the prefecture’s people in charge surmised on factors for a good fishery as "may be the flow of the Japan Current had changed; has not it ridden on an ocean current?”

Even in Kagoshima Prefecture, the fish catch went up to 501 kg as of February 15, and this by far exceeded the 149 kg of the whole last season. It was concluded that in overseas such as in Taiwan, the fry fishery this year was also good comparatively. For Hong Kong, where fry flock produced in Taiwan and China gathered, the volume of import last December was about 5.5 tons, being 9 times the corresponding period of a year before (about 0.6 tons).

The eel circulating in the country was a cultivated product mostly. Many aquaculture companies bred the fry of the eel brought from special wholesalers etc., and ranging from six months to about one year and a half, shipped them out. If the fry became cheap, it could be shipped out at a low price.

The Fisheries Agency had listened to the voice of the economic organizations; the fry that was put into the aquaculture pond last season was about 12.6 tons. It was certain that it had already reached about 11.7 tons by early February, exceeding last season. A man (69) who cultivated eels in the Kagoshima Prefecture, which was the No.1 in the country in the shipment of cultivated eels, said that "the impression was that at last it had become normal, last season it reached an excessive high price".

(18:30 on March 1, 2014    Yomiuri Shimbun)

I like eating eels. To a consumer, it is good news if the price is going down to a reasonable level.

東芝銷售国内最小型４Ｋ電視機

Yesterday the Asahi News on-line reported the following:

４Ｋテレビ、家庭で手軽に　東芝が国内最小４０型

2014年4月14日22時02分

　東芝は１４日、４Ｋテレビでは国内で最も小さい４０型を７月中旬に発売すると発表した。液晶テレビの「レグザ」シリーズに加える。家庭でも買いやすいように想定価格を税別で２３万円前後に抑えた。

　４Ｋテレビは国内で２０１１年１２月に販売が始まった。画素数がこれまでのフルハイビジョンの４倍あり、よりきめ細かい画像が映る。７月から国内で４Ｋテレビに対応した映像の試験放送が始まるため、家電各社は販売に力を入れている。

　東芝は１年前にいまのモデルを発売した時、最も小さい５８型の想定価格が５０万円前後だった。売り場では３０万円台でも売られ始めたが、今回の小型化でさらに買いやすくする。また、赤色がより自然で鮮やかに映るようにバックライトなども改良した。

(試譯文)

   On the 14th Toshiba announced that regarding the 4K television it would put the smallest type, the Model 40 on the market in mid-July. It would add to the "Regza" series of liquid crystal televisions. The anticipated regular price was held down to around 230,000 yen excluding tax so that families could also buy it easily.

   The sale of 4K television was started in the country in December 2011. As the pixel count was 4 times more than the full hi-vision now in existence, a finer picture was reflected. Because test broadcasting with images corresponding to 4K televisions would start in July in the country, all household appliance companies were putting effort into the sale.

   When Toshiba put the present model on the market a year ago, the regular price of the smallest type, the Model 58 was around 500,000 yen. Although selling also began at the level of 300,000 yen at the sales counter, with this miniaturization, it was further made easy to buy. Moreover, as the red color was more natural, the reflection was vivid; also the back light etc. had been improved.

I would like to buy a 4K television when the price becomes more affordable.

中国維持治安費用増加６.１％

Last month the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:

中国全人代:治安維持費６．１％増　不満、力で抑え込み

毎日新聞　2014年03月05日　22時08分

　中国の習近平（しゅう・きんぺい）指導部は５日開幕した全国人民代表大会（全人代＝国会）で、２０１４年度に国内の治安維持に使われる中央政府の「公共安全」予算案として前年度実績比６．１％増の２０５０億元（約３兆４０００億円）を計上した。貧富の格差や抑圧的な少数民族政策への不満を力で抑え込む方針を鮮明にした。

　中国では土地の強制収用や官僚腐敗、公害問題に怒った民衆による抗議活動が年々増加。ウイグル族やチベット族など少数民族による暴力事件や焼身自殺も相次いでおり、社会の不安定化が深刻さを増している。（共同）

(試譯文)

At the National People's Congress (N P C = the Parliament) opened on the 5^th (March), Xi Jinping’s Guidance Department of China calculated that for the 2014 fiscal year, the central government's "public safety" draft budget for the maintenance of domestic public order would add up to 205 billion yuan (about 3,400 billion yen), being an increase of 6.1% compared with the actual record of last fiscal year. It made clear a plan to use power to suppress the dissatisfaction towards the gap between the wealthy and poor, and towards the repressive policy over the minority ethnic groups.

  

In China, protest activities by the public who were angry with the compulsory expropriation of land, the bureaucrat decomposition, and the pollution problems were increasing every year. Also there were lots of violence incidents, and cases of suicide by fire by ethnic minorities, such as the Uighur people and the Tibet people. Increasingly social instability is becoming serious.

     A 6.1% increase is a huge amount of money.

========================================================================

CNN.co.jp on 13^th April 2014 carried the following article. For record purpose I copy it to my blog for reference and to trace the development of the China’ Dream.

「中国の夢」、幻想か現実か

2014.04.13 Sun posted at 18:15 JST

北京（ＣＮＮ） 米国人の誰もが「アメリカン・ドリーム」を夢見るように、中国人にも夢がある。習近平（シーチンピン）国家主席は、指導者の座について以来、このような「中国の夢」について熱弁してきた。庶民の夢について、中国でこれほど強力かつ雄弁に語られるのは、かつてないことだ。

習主席が初めて「中国の夢」に言及したのは２０１２年、中国共産党総書記に就任して直後のことだ。北京の国家博物館で「復興の道」展を見学した習氏は談話を発表、中華民族の偉大な復興を実現することこそ中国の夢だと述べた。

さらに国家主席に選出後の１３年３月１７日、主席としての初めての演説で、「中国の夢」を前面に押し出した。「中国の夢は民族全体の夢であり、一人ひとりの中国人の夢でもある。中国の夢とはつまり人民の夢だ。人民と共に実現し、人民に幸せをもたらすものだ」と語ったのである。

宣伝キャンペーン

この演説以来、「中国の夢」という言葉は一気に人口に膾炙（かいしゃ）した。政府がこのスローガンを強力に宣伝したことも大きい。学会やテレビ番組など、至る所で「中国の夢」が中心テーマとして取り上げられるようになったのである。

改革

汚職対策という面に限っていえば、習主席自身、このスローガンを有言実行したといえる。かつてないほど厳しく汚職を取り締まり、就任からわずか１年あまりのうちに、２０人の政府高官を調査し処罰した。さらに「８項目の規定」「６項目の禁令」を採択、公務の簡素化を図るとともに、公費よるぜいたくを禁じた。

ただ、賄賂や官位売買、地上げ、権力乱用といった不正は、いまだ中国社会最大の課題となっている。依然として不正がはびこる中では、夢の実現どころか、人々の政府への不信の念が募る一方だ。

信頼を取り戻す

中国が経済的にも軍事的にも大きく力をつけ、庶民の暮らし向きも豊かになってきたのとは裏腹に、人々は政府や国の未来への信頼を失いつつあるかにみえる。怒りと絶望にさいなまれる中国人も増えているようだ。

習主席が「中国の夢」について明言し不正対策を講じているのは、党と政府への人々の信頼を取り戻すため、指導層として第一歩を踏み出したということだろう。これまでのところ、習主席の施策は熱狂的な支持を受けている。おそらく鄧小平以来、国民に最も人気がある指導者なのではないだろうか。

しかし、人々の夢が１人の指導者に依存しているようでは、法の支配とはいえないだろう。それでは、指導者が退任したり誤った決断を下したりした際、一緒に中国の夢までついえてしまう。

国民の大々的な支持を集めている今だからこそ、習主席は制度改革に着手し、あらゆる中国人が夢を抱き実現できるよう、国民主体の制度を整備しなければならない。改革が目標とするのは政治経済の発展だけでない。米国人が「アメリカン・ドリーム」に誇りを抱くように、中国人も「中国の夢」に真の自負を持つことができる、そんな未来を目指しているのである。

(本記事は北京外国語大学英語学院教授であり、政治学が専門のシエ・タオ氏によるものです。記事における意見や見解はすべて謝韜氏個人ものです。)

Translation

"Chinese Dream", fantasy or reality

2014.04.13 Sun posted at 18:15 JST

Beijing (CNN)   Just as every American had an "American Dream", every Chinese  also had a dream. Xi Jinping the State Chairman, since taking up the leadership, had been spiel about such "Chinese Dream". In China it had never been so powerfully and eloquently in talking about the common people's dream.

Xi first mentioned “the dream of China” in 2012, shortly after he became the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party. After visiting the “Recovery Road” exhibition at Beijing's National Museum, Mr. Xi made a talk and stated that it was China's dream to realize the great recovery of Chinese people.

In addition, on March 17, 2013, after being elected as the Chairman of the State, in his first speech as the Chairman, he pushed "the dream of China" to the front. "The dream of China was the dream of the whole nation, and the dream of each individual Chinese. The dream of China was, in other words, the dream of the people. It was said that the dream would be realized with the people and would bring happiness to the people."

Promotional campaign

Since this speech, the word "China's dream" had at once became a popular phrase among the population.  The government’s forceful promotion of this slogan was huge. "China's Dream" was taken up as a central theme everywhere, such as in academic societies and television programs.

Reform

As far as anti-corruption measures were concerned, it could be said that the Chairman himself was true to the words of this slogan. Cracking down corruption as never before, he investigated and punished 20 high-ranking government officials in less than a year. Furthermore, the government adopted the "Rule on eight items " and the "Ban on six items" to simplify public affairs and prohibit luxurious charging on public spending.

However, injustices such as bribery, official position trading, land raising, abuse of power were still the biggest issues in Chinese society. In the midst of injustice, even the dream was realized, the people went the other way in not trusting the government.

Regain trust

 China had put in great effort on economic and military power; while the well-being of the general population was getting better, people seemed to be losing confidence in the future of the government and the country. It seems that more Chinese were angry and desperate.

The leader of China had stated that “China's dream” and was taking measures against corruption, he has taken the first step as a leader for the purpose of regaining the people's trust in the Party and the government. So far, the policies of the Chairman had received enthusiastic support. Perhaps, since Deng Xiaoping, he was the most popular leader among the people.

However, if people's dreams depend on one leader, it might not be the rule of law. So, when a leader resigned or made a wrong decision, together the China's dream would dwindle away.

Now that a massive support from the people had been received, the Chairman should start reforming the system and develop a people-centered system so that all Chinese could have their dreams come true. The goal of reform was not only the development of political economy. Just as Americans took pride in the American Dream, Chinese people were looking for a future where they could have true pride in the China dream.

中国最新駆逐艦加入南海艦隊服役

Last month the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

中国最新鋭ミサイル駆逐艦が就役、南海艦隊へ

　【広州＝吉田健一】中国国営新華社通信などによると、同国海軍の最新鋭ミサイル駆逐艦０５２Ｄ型の一番艦「昆明」（全長約１５７メートル、満載排水量約７０００トン）が２１日、就役した。

　南シナ海を管轄する南海艦隊に配備される見通し。

　２２日付の中国系香港紙・文匯報は、０５２Ｄ型は他の駆逐艦と比べレーダー性能が大幅に強化され、対空、対艦戦闘能力ともに向上したと指摘した。海軍は数年以内に同型艦約１０隻を配備するとみられている。

　上海で２１日行われた昆明の就役式典には、呉勝利・海軍司令官が出席した。

（2014年3月22日18時06分  読売新聞）

(試譯文)

According to the national China Xinhua News Agency etc., the country’s state-of-the-art missile-guided destroyer 052D type No. 1 battle ship "Kunming" of the navy (about 157 meters in full length, full load displacement about 7000 tons) was commissioned on the 21^st (March).

It was expected to be deployed in the South Sea Fleet which had the jurisdiction over the South China Sea.

A China affiliated Hong Kong newspaper the Wen Wei Po dated the 22nd showed that the ship’s radar performance was greatly strengthened compared with other destroyers, and the anti-air and combat efficiency were improved for a warship of the 052D type. It was expected that the navy would be equipped with about ten same-type battle ships within several years.

Wu Shengli the naval commander had attended the commission ceremony of “Kunming” held in Shanghai on the 21st.

(18:06 on March 22, 2014    Yomiuri Shimbun)

Clearly China is continuing to strengthen its navy in order to help handling the territorial disputes with Vietnam and the Philippines over the South China Sea. 

三陸鉄路全線開通

A few days ago the FNN News on-line reported the following:

三陸鉄道・南リアス線が全線で運転再開　地元沿線は復活に沸く

04/05 19:58

東日本大震災で大きな被害を受けた岩手県の三陸鉄道・南リアス線が、5日、全線で運転を再開し、地元の沿線は復活に沸いた。
三陸鉄道・南リアス線は、2013年4月、大船渡市内の盛と吉浜の間が、運転を再開していた。
5日は、残る釜石までの区間が再開し、全線で復旧した。
乗客は「楽しいですね。よかったと思います」、「いろいろ、みんなバラバラになったけども、みんな寄り添うようになってうれしい」などと話した。
赤十字広報特使で女優の藤原紀香さんや、三陸鉄道におよそ400億円の支援をしたクウェートの駐日大使も駆けつけ、全線再開を祝った。
震災以降、不通区間となっていた平田や唐丹でも、およそ3年ぶりに力強く走る列車の姿が見られた。
記念列車が釜石駅に到着すると、三陸鉄道の望月正彦社長が、「産業振興や地域の活性化に貢献したい」と、全線再開を宣言した。
6日は、北リアス線の不通区間も運転を再開する予定で、北と南の全線で列車が走ることになる。 (岩手めんこいテレビ)

(試譯文)

Sanriku Railroad South Riasu Line in Iwate Prefecture which had suffered serious damage due to the Great East Japan Earthquake resumed operation on the whole line on the 5th, and the local area along the railway line were excited by the revival.

The Sanriku Railroad South Riasu Line, between Sakari and Yoshihama of the metropolitan city Ofunato had resumed operation in April, 2013. The remaining section to Kamaishi was resumed on the 5^th, thus the whole line was restored.

Some passenger said "it is pleasing, I think it was good", "although in many ways it had fallen apart, I am glad that it comes back together" etc.

An actress, Ms. Norika Fujiwara of the Red Cross public-relations special envoy, together with Kuwait’s ambassador to Japan who had offered about 40 billion yen in support for the Sanriku Railroad, also arrived at the scene to celebrate the re-opening of the whole line.

Hirata and Toni were the interrupted section after the earthquake disaster, for the first time in about three years, the glimpse of a train that ran with energy could be caught.

When the commemorative train arrived at the Kamaishi Station, Sanriku Tetsudo President Masahiko Mochizuki declared the resumption of the whole line and "would like to contribute to the industrial development and activation of the area".

On the 6th the interrupted section in North Rias Line would resume operation, and a train could run on the whole line north and south.

It is worth noting that Kuwait has given 40 billion yen in support for the re-opening of the Sanriku Railroad. A friend in need is a friend indeed: a sure friend is made known when one is in difficulty. Hopefully I shall try this line some time in the future.

死囚被監禁48年後獲釋放再審

Last month the NHK News on-line reported the following:

袴田さん釈放 再審決定は捜査機関批判

3月27日 19時09分

昭和４１年に静岡県で一家４人が殺害されたいわゆる「袴田事件」で死刑が確定し、２７日再審＝裁判のやり直しが認められた袴田巌さんが、逮捕から４８年たって東京拘置所から釈放されました。

再審を認めた決定は、捜査機関が証拠をねつ造し、死刑の恐怖のもとに身柄を拘束した疑いがあると強く批判しました。

袴田巌さんは、昭和４１年、今の静岡市清水区でみそ製造会社の専務の一家４人が殺害された事件で強盗殺人などの罪で死刑が確定し、無実を訴えて再審＝裁判のやり直しを求めた結果、２７日静岡地方裁判所で認められました。
裁判所は決定で元被告が事件を起こした時に着ていたとかつての死刑判決で認定された衣類について、捜査機関がねつ造した疑いがあると指摘しました。
再審請求の審理のなかで行ったＤＮＡ鑑定などをもとに、事件から１年以上たってみそタンクの中から見つかった衣類は、犯人のものでも袴田さんのものでもない可能性が強まったという判断でした。
さらに裁判所は、「元被告は死刑の恐怖のもとで極めて長い間、身柄を拘束された。これ以上勾留を続けることは耐えられないほど正義に反する」と指摘して死刑の執行と勾留を停止し、釈放を認める異例の決定をしました。
検察は再審を認めた決定を取り消すよう不服を申し立てる方針ですが、勾留を続ける法的な根拠がなくなったとして釈放の準備を進めていました。
これによって、裁判で無実を訴え続けながら死刑が確定した袴田さんは、昭和４１年に逮捕されて以来、４８年たって東京拘置所から釈放されました。
死刑囚の再審を認める決定は、９年前、平成１７年の、いわゆる「名張毒ぶどう酒事件」以来、６件目で、裁判所が再審開始の決定を出した段階で死刑囚の勾留を停止し、釈放を認めたのは今回が初めてです。
これまでに死刑囚の再審が認められた５件のうち、名張事件はのちに決定が取り消されましたが、ほかの４件はその後、いずれも再審が開始され、無罪となっています。

(試譯文)

In what was called the "Hakamada Incident" in which four family members were murdered in the Shizuoka Prefecture in Showa 41 and Mr. Iwao Hakamada was given the death penalty for that, on the 27th a retrial: to redo the trial was admitted and he was released from the Tokyo prison after being detained for 48 years since his arrest.

In the decision to accept a retrial, the criminal investigation agency was strongly criticized for being suspected to have fabricated evidence and that to detain that person was due to the fear of executing the death penalty.

Mr. Iwao Hakamada appealed for innocence and asked for a retrial; to redo the trial was accepted in the Shizuoka District Court on the 27^th. The decision on a death penalty for crimes, such as the murder and robbery, was related an incident happened in Showa 41 in which four family members of an executive director of a bean paste manufacturing company were murdered in the present Shimizu-district of Shizuoka-city.

The court suspected that the criminal investigation agency had fabricated the clothing that were recognized as having been worn by the defendant when the incident occurred, and based on these clothing the death sentence was decided.

Based on DNA identification etc. which were performed in an appeal hearing for a retrial, the clothing found in the bean paste tank one year or more after the incident occurred was strongly judged to have a possibility that they were not possessed by the criminal, or Mr. Hakamada either.

Furthermore, the court pointed that "the original defendant had been detained for a long time under an extreme fear of a death penalty, to continue the detention anymore cannot be tolerated and is incompatible with the justice". The execution of the death penalty and detention were stopped, and an exceptional decision was made to allow his release.

Although the policy for the prosecutors was to revoke the decision of admitting a retrial, preparation of the release was pushed ahead noting that the legal basis to continue with the detention had been lost.

While continuing to sue for innocence in a trial, Mr. Hakamada, on whom the death penalty was decided, was released from the Tokyo prison where he had been detained for 48 years since his arrest in Showa 41.

Since nine years ago, starting from the so called the "Nabari poison wine incident" happened in Heisei 17, this was the 6th case that a decision was made to accept a death-row inmate's retrial, and this was the first time that the court stopped a death-row detention and permitted the release of the inmate during the stage of taking out the decision to reopen the proceedings.

Up to now, regarding the five cases in which a death-row inmate's retrial was accepted, for the Nabari incident, the decision was later canceled. Apart from that for all other four cases, a retrial was started and found not guilty.

I am shock by the observation of the court that the criminal investigation agency in Japan might have fabricated the evidence when prosecuting Mr. Iwao Hakamada.