美國承認尖閣（釣魚台）屬日本？似乎還早

【Comment】

這篇報導，處在中國崛起的當口，令人注意。然而，報導所謂美國「已經」（すでに）承認日本對於尖閣群島的主權，是Jim Webb的發言意見，並非「美國政府」的現實。然而，報導也指出一點，美國通常不介入西太平洋的領土爭議，這點在「林志昇控美」案的辯論中可以明顯看出，美國政府態度總是「這不關我事」。然後，暗中非常關切與掌控。中國對於尖閣群島的立場在名義與實質（實際管轄）上都弱於日本。

中央社的報導美國把琉球歸還給日本時曾一併歸還釣魚台群島「情況特別」，日文是說「其中有典故，可說是特別的」（経緯があり、特別といえるだろう）。這樣看，是把尖閣當「個案」的意思。產經的報導會解釋成支持Jim Webb的意見，可說是稍微樂觀些。講太早了？

此處我們可以回憶酒井對於產經「正論」的批評，但在此不評論。

有趣的是，the Stimson Center的資深研究員Richard Cronin說，試圖將中國污名化會是無效的，反而是要承認中國的大國地位但要其遵守國際規則（we should make every effort to respect China's aspirations for leadership and major power status, but within the internationally recognized rules）。

這，就是「靈巧力」（Smart Power）的實踐。

總之，這個聽證會是擺在中國海軍崛起背景下的一朵浪花。

日媒：美參議員聽證會指釣魚台是日領土　■中央社（2009.07.17）

2009/07/17 11:03:14

（中央社記者張芳明東京17日專電）日本「產經新聞」今天報導，曾任美國海軍部長的參議員韋柏（Jim Webb）在一項參院聽證會指出，美國已承認日本對釣魚台群島擁有領土主權。產經發自華府的報導指出，美國參院外交委員會的亞太小組委員會在當地時間15日召開有關亞洲海洋領土紛爭的聽證會，擔任主席的韋柏在會議發表聲明，批評中國在南海和東海的領土主張，指出美國承認日本對釣魚台群島的領土主權。報導指出，美國政府迄今帶給外界很強的印象是，對他國的領土爭議基本上採取中立的態度，近年來的政權雖承認美日安保條約適用於釣魚台群島，但避開明言釣魚台群島的歸屬主權。報導並引述一名美國專家在聽證會支持韋柏看法的發言指出，美國國務院迄今雖基於不介入一般領土爭議的基本立場而避開明言釣魚台群島問題，但美國把琉球歸還給日本時曾一併歸還釣魚台群島，情況特別。中華民國、中國和日本都主張對釣魚台群島擁有領土主權，形成領土主權的爭議，但目前日本實質上控制釣魚台群島，海上保安廳派出船艦巡邏，不准他國進入日本宣稱的「領海」或登陸島嶼。980717

米有力上院議員「尖閣は日本の主権」公聴会で明言　■產經新聞（2009.07.16）

　【ワシントン＝古森義久】米国のオバマ政権に近い有力上院議員がアジアの領土紛争に関する１５日の公聴会で、尖閣諸島について米国が日本の主権をすでに認めていると発言した。近年の米国政府はそこまでの明言を避けてきた感があるが、同公聴会では米国が戦後、沖縄とともに尖閣諸島を日本に返還した経緯から、米国の日本主権承認という見解が出ても自然だという意見が専門家から述べられた。

　米国上院外交委員会の東アジア太平洋問題小委員会は同日、アジアの海洋領土紛争などに関する公聴会を開いた。議長役を務めた同委員長のジム・ウェブ議員（民主党）は冒頭の声明で、南シナ海や東シナ海での中国の主権主張を批判的に取り上げ、「第二次大戦後の日本による尖閣諸島の支配や、米国とその他の諸国による尖閣諸島の日本の主権承認にもかかわらず、中国は尖閣諸島の領有権を主張している」と述べた。

米国政府は他国の領土紛争には基本的に中立の立場をとっており、近年の歴代政権は尖閣諸島への日米安保条約の適用を認めながらも、その帰属主権について明言することは避けてきたという印象が強い。

　東南アジアの中国の動きに詳しい証人のスティムソン・センター研究員リチャード・クローニン氏は「国務省は領土紛争一般への不介入という基本から尖閣諸島についても明言を避けてきたのだろうが、尖閣諸島は米国政府が沖縄とともに日本に返還した経緯があり、特別といえるだろう」と述べ、ウェブ議員の見解を支持する形となった。

　中国の海洋政策に詳しい米海軍大学のピーター・ダットン教授も証人として、「領有権の基盤はその地域の実効統治と独占支配だが、尖閣諸島に関しては中国側はその２つの条件を満たしていないため、主権の主張は弱くなる」と述べて、中国の尖閣諸島の主権保持の主張は根拠が希薄であることを強調した。

　ウェブ議員は海軍長官を務めた経験があり、オバマ大統領にも近く、オバマ政権にとって上院での有力な政策推進役となっている。

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/world/america/america.htm

US sounds alarm on China seapower　■AFP（2009.07.17）

By Shaun Tandon (AFP) – 1 day ago

WASHINGTON — The United States voiced concern Wednesday about rising tension between China and Vietnam in the South China Sea as a senator led calls to boost US seapower faced with Beijing's growing military.
Experts at a Senate hearing pointed to a string of incidents -- including standoffs this year between US and Chinese ships -- as evidence of a more assertive sea posture by Beijing.
State Department official Scot Marciel said that Beijing has told US and other foreign oil companies to halt work with Vietnamese partners in the South China Sea or face consequences inside lucrative China.
"We object to any effort to intimidate US companies," Marciel, a deputy assistant secretary of state handling Asia, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He said Washington has raised concerns directly with China.
"We have also urged that all claimants exercise restraint and avoid aggressive actions to resolve competing claims," he said.
But Marciel said the United States would not take sides on the myriad island disputes involving China and its neighbors including Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Senator Jim Webb, who called the hearing, said he understood the need to stay out of Asia's sometimes emotionally charged territorial disputes but worried that the lack of US position may embolden China.
"We don't discuss it enough here in the United States -- we are the only guarantor there to provide a credible umbrella under which those other countries in the region can successfully grow their economies without intimidation," said Webb, a Democrat from Virginia.
Webb, a former secretary of the navy, worried that China was quickly closing the gap with the United States in seapower.
"If the United States is to remain an Asian nation, and a maritime nation, our nation's leaders have a choice to make," he said. "The United States should maintain the quality and strength of its seapower -- if not improve it."
China, which has historic tensions with Vietnam, has administered the Paracel islands since 1974 when it overran a South Vietnamese outpost shortly before the end of the Vietnam war.
The islands -- known as the Xisha by China -- are considered strategic outposts with potentially vast oil and gas reserves, and rich fishing grounds.
Tension recently mounted when Vietnam named a "president" for a government body overseeing the islands.

China disputes the Diaoyu, or Senkaku, chain with Japan along with Taiwan, which Beijing also claims as a whole.
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso raised hackles in Beijing earlier this year when he said the United States would defend the uninhabited chain as part of its security alliance with Tokyo.
Separately, the potentially oil-rich Spratly island chain is claimed entirely or in part by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Richard Cronin, director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Stimson Center think-tank, told the Senate hearing that President Barack Obama should end the "passive" US attitude on sovereignty issues.
"The Obama administration should lend at least moral support to Southeast Asian countries which are subject to intimidation, and be resolute in asserting its own rights to free passage in the face of Chinese provocations," Cronin said.
But he said the United States would fail if it tried to "stigmatize" China.
"Instead, we should make every effort to respect China's aspirations for leadership and major power status, but within the internationally recognized rules," Cronin said.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ic0POmkTeUiDB6btINtKOSzJgOow