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米空母を殺すゲーム・チェンジャーこと中国の新型ミサイル「東風21D」最新情報2010/12/29 08:40

米空母を殺すゲーム・チェンジャーこと中国の新型ミサイル「東風21D」最新情報


<関連記事引用>

全世界展開の軍事力、めざす中国 米太平洋軍・ウィラード司令官に聞く
2010/12/27 朝日新聞 朝刊

 太平洋からインド洋までを指揮下におく米太平洋軍のウィラード司令官(海軍大将)=写真=に、中国が提起する戦略的課題を尋ねた。(聞き手・加藤洋一編集委員)

 ――米議会証言で「中国軍の急速な変革は(アジア太平洋)地域の軍事バランスに影響を与えている」と述べました。具体的には。

 「一つは中国自体の軍事力増強で地域全体の軍事力のバランスがシフトしているということだ。もう一つは、中国の意図の不透明さに不安を抱く地域諸国が、それぞれの軍事力を強化していることだ。特に潜水艦と先進型航空機の調達ぶりに表れている」

 ――「空母キラー」とも呼ばれる中国の対艦弾道ミサイル(ASBM)の開発状況は。

 「米国流に言えば『IOC(初期運用能力)』に到達した。設計された飛行パターンは達成したが、なお今後数年間は、テストが続けられるのではないか」

 ――「接近拒否」の兵器としては潜水艦より大きな脅威ですか。

 「そうは思わない。中国の『接近拒否』能力とは、防空システム、潜水艦、ASBMの組み合わせだ。第1列島線を越えた海域で、他国の作戦行動に影響を及ぼすよう設計されている。日本、韓国、フィリピン、ベトナムなどが、その範囲に入る。米国にとっても懸念材料だ」

 ――中国の「接近拒否」能力で米国の戦力投射能力は低下しているのですか。

 「太平洋軍の作戦行動に影響を与えているかといえば、それは全くない。そうした能力の伸長に対応していくのが私の責任だ」

 ――尖閣事件の意味は。

 「事件後の中国の対応ぶりは、領有権問題で同国が極めて強く自己主張することを明確に示した。東南アジア諸国連合(ASEAN)諸国には驚きで、その結果、懸念が表明されることになった」

 ――米国が作りつつある海空軍の統合戦略「エアシーバトル」構想は、中国の「接近拒否」能力に対抗するものですか。

 「それも対象の一つだが構想はもっと幅広い。海空両軍の能力をいかに最大限まで伸ばし、あらゆる事態に対応するかだ」

 ――新しい防衛計画の大綱の南西重視の方針は。

 「日本が自国経済にとって最も重要な地域に自衛隊を再配置するのは合理的なことだと思う」

 ――「台湾侵攻」を超えた中国の戦略的な意図は。

 「現在は、黄海、東シナ海、南シナ海など、いわゆる『近海』に焦点を絞り、外国軍の影響をできるだけ小さくするよう力を注いでいる。しかし、その範囲を超えて全世界で活動できる軍事力を持とうとしていると思う。開発している能力をみれば明らかだ」

 ――米中の今後の軍事関係は。

 「中国の軍事力がさらに強大化する一方、日米が現在のような前方展開兵力を維持すれば、双方が接触する頻度は今後ますます増える。お互いをよく理解して、誤解や誤算のないようにすることが極めて重要になる。継続的な軍事交流の必要性を訴えている」

    *

 英文は、27日付のヘラルド朝日に掲載しています。


北朝鮮の挑発行動は続く ウィラード米太平洋軍司令官インタビュー
2010/12/22 朝日新聞 朝刊

 【ホノルル〈米ハワイ州〉=加藤洋一】ウィラード米太平洋軍司令官は20日(日本時間21日)、同軍司令部で朝日新聞のインタビューに応じた。朝鮮半島情勢について「当面の危機は去ったが、北朝鮮の過去の行動を考えれば、次の挑発行動を準備していることに疑いの余地はない」と語った。

 司令官は韓国軍が射撃訓練に踏み切ったことを取り上げ、「(哨戒艦沈没と大延坪島〈テヨンピョンド〉砲撃で)北朝鮮に2度にわたって攻撃されていることを考えれば、ライス米国連大使が語ったように、韓国がなぜ軍の即応性を維持しなければならないと考えるかは明らかだ」と語り、韓国側に理解を示した。

 今後に向けては「問題は、いかにして北朝鮮を抑止できるかだ」として、「米韓同盟がそうした抑止努力の一翼をになっている」と指摘。

 さらに「国際社会、特に中国がもう一つの要素となっている」と述べ、中国の役割の重要性を強調した。


東シナ海、中国軍機急増 尖閣事件後、緊急発進相次ぐ
2010年12月27日3時0分
http://www.asahi.com/international/update/1226/TKY201012260333.html

 今年9月の尖閣事件以降、東シナ海上空で自衛隊機に対して中国軍機がこれまでにないような接近をする例が出始めている。日本側は「エア・ハラスメント」と呼んで分析と対策の検討を始めた。一方、自衛隊の中国機に対する緊急発進(スクランブル)も今年度すでに44回に達し、過去5年で最多となっている。南西諸島周辺の日中間のせめぎ合いは、海上・海中にとどまらず空にも広がっている。

 海上自衛隊は、P3C哨戒機に加え、EP3電子戦データ収集機や、OP3C画像情報収集機などの「偵察機」を南西諸島の北西空域にほぼ連日飛ばし、中国軍の動きを監視している。航空自衛隊もYS11EB電子測定機で電波を傍受している。いずれも主に日本の防空識別圏(ADIZ)の内側、日中中間線付近を飛んでいるという。

 こうした「偵察活動」に対し、中国側はこれまで戦闘機や攻撃機を発進させてもADIZの外までにとどめていた。ところが、尖閣事件の翌月の10月からは、海軍のJH7攻撃機がADIZ内に入るだけでなく日中中間線も越えて、自衛隊機を視認できる距離まで近づいてくるようになったという。

 これに対して航空自衛隊がスクランブルをかけると引き揚げていくという。日中間でいわば「スクランブル合戦」が繰り広げられている状況だ。

 関係者の間では「中国軍パイロットの技量は日米に比べ劣るうえ飛び方も乱暴」として、「このままエスカレートすれば、2001年に南シナ海上空で米海軍のEP3が中国の戦闘機と空中衝突したような重大事故が起きる恐れもある」との懸念が聞かれる。

 中国側の日本に対する偵察活動も活発化している。

 日米共同統合演習「キーンソード」が行われていた12月7日、那覇基地からF15戦闘機が緊急発進した。対象の国籍不明機はADIZ内に入り日中中間線付近を飛行した。空自機は肉眼で中国海軍のY8X洋上哨戒機と確認し帰投した。

 3月12日には、Y8AEW早期警戒機が初めて日中中間線を越えて日本側に飛来した。中国の東シナ海沿岸部の地上レーダーの探知距離は、日中中間線あたりが限界と見られている。強力なレーダーを搭載した早期警戒機が中間線を越えて日本側に進出すれば、沖縄本島を含む南西諸島全体が中国軍機の作戦行動範囲に入る恐れが出てくる。

 防衛省によると、今年度の中国機に対するスクランブルは12月22日現在で44回にのぼっているが、これは06年度の総計のすでに2倍に達している。

 こうした変化の背景には、中国が「排他的経済水域(EEZ)は国際海域ではない」(「中国国防報」)と主張し、その上空での米軍の活動を非難し、制限しようとしているという事情もある。

 中国海軍艦艇による、南西諸島を含む「第1列島線」の通過も常態化している。日米が動向に最も神経をとがらせる潜水艦は、沖縄本島と宮古島の間を通って太平洋に出るケースがここ数年、年間数件程度で定着しているという。

 米太平洋軍のウィラード司令官は、朝日新聞とのインタビューで「中国の軍事力がさらに強大化する一方、日米が現在のような前方展開兵力を維持すれば、双方が接触する頻度は今後ますます増える」と指摘した。南西諸島付近では、そうした傾向がすでに現実となっている。(編集委員・加藤洋一)


U.S. commander says China aims to be a 'global military' power (画像引用)
BY YOICHI KATO NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT
2010/12/28
http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201012270241.html

HONOLULU--Adm. Robert Willard, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, said he believes that China aspires to become a "global military (power)" by extending its influence beyond its regional waters.

"In the capabilities that we're seeing develop, that is fairly obvious," Willard told The Asahi Shimbun in a recent exclusive interview in Hawaii.

"They are focused presently on what they term their 'near seas'--the Bohai, Yellow Sea, South China Sea, East China Sea," he said. "(But) I think they have an interest in being able to influence beyond that point."

Willard also said he believes that China's anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) system, known as "aircraft carrier killer," has achieved initial operational capability (IOC), even though "it will continue to undergo testing ・for several more years."

The full text of the interview follows:


* * *


Question: What is your assessment of the current situation in the Korean Peninsula? Are the tense moments behind us? What kind of military posture and deployment do you maintain, and will there be any change because of the change of situation?

Answer: As we both know, there was not a response from the North Koreans to the artillery exercise that was conducted by the Republic of Korea on Dec. 20. Given that the South Koreans had been attacked two times by North Korea, I thought Ambassador Susan Rice, our ambassador to the United Nations, put it very well when she said that to everyone it should be obvious why the Republic of Korea feels it necessary to maintain their military readiness through the exercise of their military forces.

I think, for now, we're past this particular crisis, but we have no doubt, given North Korea's history, that a next provocation is readied. It's a matter of assessing how it might be deterred or how the North Koreans might be dissuaded from exercising the next provocation.

We think the U.S.-Republic of Korea alliance is part of that deterrence effort. We think the international community and China in particular are another part of it.

Q: Looking at what happened in the Cheonan incident and also the recent shelling of the island, some people ask whether deterrence is effective and if it's working. Are the North Koreans deterred?

A: There are various levels of deterrence. For 60 years, we've successfully deterred war on the Korean Peninsula. The U.S.-ROK alliance, 30,000 U.S. soldiers, the command structure, the advances in the Republic of Korea military, all of those things together have been a successful deterrent across the DMZ and have enabled us to maintain this armistice for many decades.

That said, the other forms of deterrence, deterring their nuclear weapon advancements, denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, our ability to deter that development has not been successful to date, and likewise, in this instance, our ability to deter a series of provocations has not been particularly successful.

We don't know what we're able to prevent, given the closed nature of North Korea, but it shouldn't stop us from continuing to attempt to posture ourselves and to have the international community apply what levers they can to try and deter the next provocations.

Q: In March, you told the Senate Armed Services Committee, "China's rapid and comprehensive transformation of its armed forces is affecting regional military balances." Could you elaborate on how China's military expansion is affecting the regional military balance?

A: Two ways. In one sense, the tremendous advancement in China's military itself is shifting the overall balance of military powers in the region. It's been rare in history that any country underpinned by the kind of economic power that China possesses has developed its military so rapidly.

But at the same time, the other countries in the Asia-Pacific region that are troubled by and uncertain of China's intentions are also advancing their own military capabilities, and this is particularly true in the acquisition of submarines and advanced aircraft.

We're seeing not only China advance, but (also) the other militaries in the region that can afford it seek to advance alongside.

Q: Do you think that kind of procurement, or arms race, is detrimental to stability? Or is it better to have other countries procure a certain level of weapon systems to balance out China's expansion?

A: I think that's a very fair question. I think that the nations in the region have a responsibility to be able to maintain security within their territory, and not all of the nations in the Asia-Pacific are self-sufficient militarily.

To an extent, the acquisition of systems (and) the advancement of our regional militaries will assist all of us in sharing the responsibility to maintain security across Asia-Pacific.

To the extent the acquisitions are specifically to counter China or any other nation's growing military, it would raise the question whether or not those acquisitions are properly balanced to achieve self-sufficiency or whether it's targeted against counter-balancing other military powers.

Q: Is the strategic balance in the region tipping toward China's favor because of its military expansion?

A: Well, when you say "strategic balance," you and I would have to help define that because there's more to strategic balance than just a growing military. I would say that the military balance is undoubtedly shifting as China's military expands faster than other regional nations, but the strategic balance remains in flux. And again, there is an economic factor in that. There is a diplomatic factor in that. There is a military factor in that. (And) there is an economic factor associated with that.

When we talk strategic balance, we have to talk about relative influence in the international community globally. China bears a responsibility, given its growing economic power, growing diplomatic power globally and growing military, to be a greater contributor to the overall security--of not only the Asia-Pacific but elsewhere--brought about by its many elements of national power.

Japan and the United States, two longstanding economic powers, are good examples of nations that have achieved a strategic balance in the world and are meeting many of their global responsibilities.

Q: Let me go into China's anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities. What is the current status of China's anti-ship ballistic missile development, and how close is it to actual operational deployment?

A: The anti-ship ballistic missile system in China has undergone extensive testing. An analogy using a Western term would be "initial operational capability," whereby it has--I think China would perceive that it has--an operational capability now, but they continue to develop it. It will continue to undergo testing, I would imagine, for several more years.

Q: China has achieved IOC?

A: You would have to ask China that, but as we see the development of the system, their acknowledging the system in open press reporting and the continued testing of the system, I would gauge it as about the equivalent of a U.S. system that has achieved IOC.

Q: Has China already perfected the technology to fly that missile and also the sensor systems for targeting? Has the entire system integration been completed?

A: Typically, to have something that would be regarded as in its early operational stage would require that that system be able to accomplish its flight pattern as designed, by and large.

Q: But they have not conducted the actual flight test or the test to attack moving ships yet, have they?

A: We have not seen an over-water test of the entire system.

Q: But do you believe they already have that capability?

A: I think that the component parts of the anti-ship ballistic missile have been developed and tested.

Q: Is it a bigger threat to the United States than submarines in terms of their A2/AD capabilities?

A: No, I don't think so. Anti-access/area denial, which is a term that was relatively recently coined, is attempting to represent an entire range of capabilities and capacities that China has developed and that other countries have developed.

It's not exclusively China that has what is now being referred to as A2/AD capability. But in China's case, it's a combination of integrated air defense systems, advanced naval systems such as the submarine, advanced ballistic missile systems such as the anti-ship ballistic missile, as well as power projection systems into the region.

The anti-access/area denial systems, more or less, range countries, archipelagos such as Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam, so there are many countries in the region that are falling within the envelope of this, of an A2/AD capability of China. That should be concerning--and we know is concerning--to those countries.

While it may be largely designed to assure China of its ability to affect military operations within its regional waters, it is an expanded capability that ranges beyond the first island chain and overlaps countries in the region. For that reason, it is concerning to Southeast Asia, (and) it remains concerning to the United States.

Q: Do you think China already has the area denial capability inside of the first island chain?

A: I think they are growing the capability inside of the first island chain. There is not one system that connotes an A2/AD capability. It's multiple systems. Some of those systems have the range capability to encompass the first island chain. Other aspects of A2/AD do not.

To the extent that China is developing that capability, it is in development and advancing. I think that eventually, it's very likely that it will encompass what China is referring to as the "near seas," that extend to the first island chain.

Q: What's the impact of China's growing A2/AD capabilities on the power projection capability of the United States? Is the U.S. power projection capability deteriorating because of China's A2/AD capability?

A: No, I don't think so. Certainly, this kind of capability should be a concern to the region, and it poses a challenge to any naval or air operations that would be conducted in that area were it to be employed.

Is it affecting my operations today? Not at all. Were it to pose a challenge to the United States, I'm confident that I have the capability to operate in that air space and water space.

Q: It may have an impact on the U.S. power projection in the years to come, but at present, there is no impact at all, right?

A: I would say that it's my responsibility to assure that the U.S. capabilities pace those kind of challenges, and we're endeavoring to do that.

Q: In 1996, China launched missiles over Taiwan to influence its election; the United States sent two carrier battle groups close to Taiwan. Some experts say the United States cannot do that anymore unless you are ready to take a lot of risks because of China's A2/AD capabilities. Is it a fair statement to say you have to run much bigger risks to conduct the same kind of operations near Taiwan now compared with 1996?

A: The anti-access/area denial capabilities, fully employed, will present a challenge to military operations in the region. That will have to be overcome.

Q: The next topic is the collision off the Senkaku Islands. What should we read into the recent Senkaku incident between Japan and China in terms of China's maritime strategy or expansion?

A: Clearly, China has articulated broad claims, both in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, and as a consequence of that, the Senkakus fall into (those) claims, as we all know, and remain a contested area between Japan and China.

For the United States, we don't take sides in those contested claims areas but rather leave it to the claimants to solve the sovereignty issue between themselves.

That said, in the case of the Senkakus, and regardless of the blame regarding the actual incident that occurred between the fisherman and the Japanese Coast Guard, China's subsequent actions were illustrative, both to Japan, to us in our observation, and to the region, regarding their willingness to be very assertive regarding those claims.

From the detention of Japanese representatives that were in China to the suspension of rare earth mineral contracts, it was clear that China had intended to exert a number of levers in order to very strongly establish its position regarding the claim and the incident itself.

At the end of the day, that was a signal to the region, and I think it was certainly eye-opening enough to raise concerns in ASEAN and in some of the dialogue that occurred subsequent to that.

Q: Don't you think it backfired?

A: In a way, yes. It appeared to be overplayed and, as a consequence, revealed a great deal to many of the countries, such as that they will be guarded regarding their exposure or their vulnerability to levers such as (the ones) China was exerting.

Q: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the Senkakus fall within the scope of Article Five of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. Don't you think it is necessary for Japan and the United States to work out a joint operation plan for contingencies and conduct a joint exercise based on that plan?

A: First, Secretary Clinton was articulating a longstanding obligation that the United States has, so the fact that an administered set of islands falls under Article Five is not new. To the extent that Pacific Command is obligated to coordinate the defense of Japan with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and that the U.S. government and the Japanese government are obligated to come together in issues regarding defense of Japan, again (it) is longstanding.

General (Ryoichi) Oriki, (chief of staff, joint staff of the Self-Defense Forces), and I are obligated to discuss my defense relationship and obligations as it pertains to our treaty together and plan accordingly.

Q: So is there going to be planning?

A: There is constant planning (for overall defense of Japan).

Q: The next subject is the air-sea battle concept. It got a lot of attention in Japan when it appeared in the Quadrennial Defense Review, but it hasn't been clearly explained by the United States. Can you tell us what the joint air-sea battle concept is?

A: There was formerly a ground-air battle construct between our Army and our Air Force that was an effort some years back to more optimally combine the capabilities of our Army and the capabilities and capacities of our Air Force to optimize their ability to conduct joint warfare together.

This, similarly, is the same construct, related to our Navy and our Air Force. The secretary of defense was interested in ensuring that all the things that we're procuring in terms of future capabilities in our Air Force and our Navy have been optimally combined to achieve the maximum synergy that those two services can achieve in their operations together, and that's what the study has been about and has accomplished.

This is attempting to optimize not only our current capabilities but our future capabilities together, so that when we are conducting joint warfare between those two services, it is maximizing the capability of both.

They've added Marine Corps capabilities into it, and in the future, we're going to add and complement Army's capabilities as they relate to the maritime domain.

At the end of the day, it's about joint warfare at an even higher level than simply combining our current capabilities and establishing command relations accordingly. Rather, this is about ensuring that our capabilities are optimized and synergistic.

Q: Is it against the A2/AD challenge?

A: That is one of the challenges that it's designed to be optimized against, but it's much more general than that. It's trying to maximize the capability of the two services in any environment. If anti-access/area denial environments are considered to be a particular challenge, then it would optimize the two services' ability to operate within that kind of an environment.

Q: How does it apply to the Western Pacific or Asia-Pacific in your area of operational responsibility (AOR)? What kind of change are we going to see?

A: The Asia-Pacific AOR is inherently maritime. Look at the Japanese archipelago as an example. It's an inherently maritime environment, where naval forces and air forces become particularly important in addressing contingencies throughout this region.

As a consequence, the end result of this study and the actions that we take to optimize the naval and air contributions should benefit the Asia-Pacific as much as any other area of responsibility in the world.

Q: What kind of role do you expect Japan to play in this air-sea battle concept?

A: I would hope that, at the point in time when it's matured enough, that we'll have that discussion with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces in terms of assisting them in seeing the same benefits in combining the capabilities of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force.

We've learned a great deal through the course of this study and the development that's resulting from it, and it should benefit our allies and partners as well.

Q: Japan has just renewed its National Defense Program Guidelines, a 10-year-long defense plan. One of the pillars is to shift the strategic focus from the north to the southwestern islands, including Okinawa. The idea is to enhance its role as a gatekeeper of those exits in the first island chain. Do you think this is the right way for Japan to shift its strategic focus?

A: In a discussion that I had with General Oriki, we were having a strategic-level discussion of the importance of maritime security (and) sea lines of communication in the region. He showed me a chart. It was a view from the coastline of China and Russia and Korea northward, or upward, to Japan. It was informative in terms of the expanse of the Japanese archipelago, and the relative importance of the East China Sea and South China Sea regions and the sea lines of communication to Japan.

General Oriki made the point to me that the East China Sea and South China Sea are vitally important to Japan and its economy for the purpose of the security of the commerce there.

The idea that Japan would balance Self-Defense Forces' locations to try and optimize those regions that are of utmost importance to Japan's economy makes very good sense.

Q: What is the main concern that the United States has for the South China Sea? Is it that the freedom of navigation along the sea lines of communication (SLOCs) would be jeopardized or is it that the South China Sea would be turned into what they call a "bastion" for China's nuclear submarines equipped to launch ballistic missiles (SSBNs)?

A: It's very much the sea lines of communication, the fact that this region of the world carries about something in excess of $5 trillion annually of commerce, $1.3 trillion of annual trade for the United States. Those sea lines of communication are exceedingly vital. They're a national interest to the United States. I would offer they're a national interest to Japan. And their safety is a major concern.

The idea that any nation would become overly assertive in terms of its claims or in terms of its relative influence in the South China Sea, at the expense of the other nations who have that same commercial interest, is the issue at hand.

The ASEAN discussions--the ASEAN Regional Forum, the ASEAN Defense Minister Meeting Plus that occurred, the Shangri-la Dialogue, all of the multinational dialogue that occurred throughout 2010--that asserted the importance of the South China Sea, the importance of the sea lines of communication and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and the relative national interests in the South China Sea were illustrative of that point and, I think, represent the answer to your question.

Q: Some experts I've talked with in Washington have said that one of the reasons why China calls the South China Sea a "core interest," but not the East China Sea, is because of this "SSBN bastion" theory. You don't quite buy that?

A: I don't. In fact, we would cast it a little bit differently. We would tell you that the South China Sea "contains" what China refers to as their "core interests," both economically and from a sovereign standpoint. So does the East China Sea.

Q: What do you think is China's strategy beyond Taiwan? Do you think they're just pursuing sea control out to the second island chain or do you think they seek a larger strategic goal, even global hegemony?

A: I think China has global aspirations, and economically, socially, diplomatically and militarily, they are focused presently on what they term their "near seas"--the Bohai, Yellow Sea, South China Sea, East China Sea. They are interested in minimizing foreign military influence in that region, and that's what we see occurring.

I think they have an interest in being able to influence beyond that point, and they have aspirations to eventually become a global military. In the capabilities that we're seeing develop, that is fairly obvious.

Q: What's the strategic chemistry between the United States and China, and is that a competition between the United States and China over primacy in the Asia-Pacific? How do you characterize the nature of the strategic chemistry or competition between the two countries?

A: There is an effort on the part of the United States to engage China. I think there is an effort on the part of China to engage the United States. And I think that it's very broad.

At the Strategic and Economic Dialogue that I attended with Secretary Clinton, I was struck by the very rich and mature engagement across many of our secretariats and many of China's ministries and the depth of commitment that they both had to their dialogue.

On the military side, we're relatively immature and behind in our relationship, and I think it affects the perception of that strategic relationship between the two nations. I think that one of the purposes of the restart of our mil-to-mil engagement, on the part of the United States, is to be convincing to the United States regarding the importance of maintaining a continuum of that dialogue so that eventually it can catch up to the other engagement that's ongoing.

I think there are differences, frankly, in China's overall approach, strategic approach, and there is divergence in some areas, convergence in others with those of the United States. In those areas of difference, I think the two nations have got to (engage in) dialogue and eventually work those out.

When you say, "competition," I would offer "engagement, with areas of divergence that ultimately have to be resolved between the two countries."

Q: You said the mil-to-mil dialogue between the United States and China has resumed. But it's been suspended over half a year because of the Taiwan arms sale. Japan has also experienced a similar suspension because of the Senkaku and other issues.

How can we overcome this kind of on and off dialogue with China and make it into a continuum?

A: We need China's cooperation to do that obviously. The appeal that I made was the relative risk associated with the on-again, off-again nature of mil-to-mil. As China becomes a more consequential military and as the United States and Japan continue to maintain their forward presence in the region, we will come into contact at an ever-increasing rate, and we are doing that now.

Therefore, it becomes very important that there be no misunderstanding or no miscalculation between our militaries as they contact with one another.

During those periods when mil-to-mil relations are suspended and there's no dialogue, we will tend to lose fractions of or whole generations of young officers and enlisted personnel who aren't familiar with the other military. As a consequence, when they do come into contact, there is risk of misunderstanding, miscommunication and miscalculation.

It's very important that we prevent that, and it's a responsibility that China bears, as do we, to ensure that that military dialogue is a continuum. We're making that appeal to them now. It's appealing to their leadership and to their responsibility.

But again, unless they're willing to embrace it, it will be hard to overcome what has traditionally been an on-again, off-again experience with them.

Q: Regarding multilateral relationships, Japan is pursuing the enhancement of a security relationship with South Korea and is perhaps looking at some sort of a virtual Japan-U.S.-South Korea trilateral arrangement eventually. I understand the United States is very eager to develop this kind of relationship.

Will you discuss how you see the potential of a Japan-South Korea-U.S. trilateral security arrangement?

A: First of all, I think it's a natural fit. I mean, when you look at our three militaries, and the fact that the United States is allied with both the Republic of Korea and Japan, we've grown our militaries to be very complementary, very interoperable and very capable.

All three nations' militaries are a match, if you will. All three nations are like-minded in many ways. From a security standpoint, we have similar objectives.

It would seem natural that we would combine those capabilities and cooperate with one another to ensure the future security of Northeast Asia and, frankly, the broader Asia-Pacific.

In our view, it's a natural trilateral security arrangement if we can overcome some differences (and) some policy gaps. The things that would enable us to bring three nations' militaries, three nations' security establishments, more closely together. That's been the purpose of the dialogue that has been occurring.

I've had the opportunity to meet with chiefs of defense of both nations. We've had those similar dialogues at the ministerial level and higher.

We're eager to see this advance. I think Japan has been very forward-leaning. We're encouraged by Korea's willingness to engage as well.

Small things, like Japanese observers in the recent Sea of Japan exercise, or Korean observers invited into Keen Sword. Those are very positive steps to bring our three militaries together, and when we do come together, all three of us will find ourselves very similar in capability and very like-minded in terms of our military objectives.

Q: What is the impact of eventual operational control (opcon) transfer from the United States to South Korea, upon the future command structure of the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM)? Will it change the status of United States Forces Japan, which is currently an administrative command, so that it can assume the command of, perhaps, Joint Task Force (JTF) in time of war?

A: Well, when you refer to operational control transition in 2015 in the Republic of Korea, that's intended to address the relationship of Combined Forces Korea and the ROK military, such that Combined Forces Korea becomes a supporting command to the ROK in time of war.

Right now, the Republic of Korea Forces chop to, become under the operational command of, a United States general, in time of war. And we think that, after so many decades of development of the ROK military, that they're more than capable of assuming the supported role in their own defense.

In terms of how that opcon transition will affect broader command relations in the region, I would only offer that I see potential in U.S. Forces Japan, as a command and staff, in assuming a more effective role in dialogue with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and their needs insofar as defense of Japan is concerned.

I've been working with General Oriki to imagine, at the operational level of command, the kind of command structure that would meet his needs the best, and whether or not United States Forces Japan is the right staff to have that dialogue with. Those discussions continue.

We have a ways to go to see whether the shift in who's supported and who's supporting on the Korean Peninsula, what ripple effect that could have in PACOM. But right now I would offer that I regard USFJ (U.S. Forces Japan) very highly and a command with more potential, perhaps, than the administrative nature of its work in the past.


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コメント

_ NA ― 2010/12/29 21:16

今日の覚書、集めてみました Anti-ship capabilities(対艦攻撃能力)
http://blog.goo.ne.jp/kitaryunosuke/e/62b47fa6759f86006486058b227dfda6
>>また中国は、DF-21という短距離ミサイルを入手して対艦弾道ミサイルを作り、それを対空母兵器に変えようとしている。
>>米海軍は2008年に、ミサイル防衛能力を欠いていることを理由に、DDG-1000を8隻から3隻に減らした。
>>しかし、中国にとっての課題は対艦弾道ミサイルの製造が恐ろしい難しさだ。
ロシアは何十年も取り組んだ挙句失敗した。
米国は敵国艦隊を脅す役目は巡航ミサイルと攻撃潜水艦に任せる方を好んで、一度も開発を試みていない。
>>中国航天科工集団公司に6年間ミサイル設計者として勤務したWu Riqiang氏は、そのようなミサイルの存在は確認出来ないものの、このような兵器は本質的に「政治的切り札」だと思うとし、それを示唆しただけで米海軍に中国沿岸付近での活動を躊躇させるという目標は達成されたと述べた。

実際は所持しているかいないかではなく、言った者勝ちのような気がします。数年前の"北朝鮮が核実験をした"のか、"大規模な爆発をさせただけ"なのかわからないのと同様に。この時は確かアメリカは、観測飛行機が核物質を確認したと一方的に宣言していましたね。

_ Y-SONODA ― 2010/12/30 10:33

NAさんへ

>実際は所持しているかいないかではなく、言った者勝ちのような気がします。数年前の"北朝鮮が核実験をした"のか、"大規模な爆発をさせただけ"なのかわからないのと同様に。この時は確かアメリカは、観測飛行機が核物質を確認したと一方的に宣言していましたね。

このあたりの情報はどこまで本当なのか疑ってしまいますよね。
ただし、地球温暖化祭が見事ずっこけた今、盛大な軍拡祭開幕へ
米主催の軍拡祭を大いに盛り上げる中国と北朝鮮。
このお祭り騒ぎは結構長く続くかもしれませんね。
実際に衝突するとは思えない。

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