美日取消沖繩基地年遷移期限

The United States and Japan have agreed to drop a 2014 deadline for completing the relocation of a critical U.S. Marine base on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa. The agreement, aimed at easing a thorny issue in bilateral relations, came at meeting of the two countries’ foreign and defense ministers in Washington.

美國和日本同意取消以2014年爲美軍在沖繩基地完全遷移的最後期限。這項共識是美日外交和國防首長在華盛頓會談中達成的，目的在於緩和雙邊關係中的一個棘手問題。

Implementation of the base deal, intended to ease the impact of U.S. forces on Okinawa, has been delayed by Japanese politics, including protests by islanders that it does not go far enough to reduce base-related noise and pollution.

爲了舒解美國駐軍對衝繩形成的壓力而達成的基地搬遷協議，已經由於日本方面的政情而延緩執行。這些政治情勢，包括沖繩島居民因爲協定內容，不足以減低美軍基地造成的噪音和污染問題而引發的抗議活動。

The agreement announced here is a recognition that the 2014 completion date cannot be met. But it also commits Japan to complete the costly project “at the earliest possible date” after 2014, and to help underwrite the relocation of some U.S. troops to Guam.

美日雙方這次在華盛頓公佈的協議承認以2014年爲遷移完成期限一點無法做到。但是協議也要求日本承諾在2014年之後，儘早完成這項耗資巨大的遷移計劃，並且資助部分美軍人員調往關島。

The anticipated compromise deal was announced at a closing news conference of a two-day meeting of the Pacific allies’ foreign and defense ministers, hosted by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

這項預期中的協議，是在爲期兩天的美日外交國防部長級會議結束後的記者會上宣佈的。會議的東道主是美國國務卿克林頓。

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he and Clinton raised a recent letter by key U.S. Senators suggesting the base deal be re-examined because of delays and cost-overruns.

美國國防部長蓋茨說，他和克林頓國務卿提出了美國資深參議員最近的一封信，信中對基地遷移協定的延擱和費用超支表示不滿，建議重新考量。

“The letter from Senators [Jim] Webb and [Carl] Levin about the realignment is really a manifestation of growing Congressional impatience with the lack of progress. We both reaffirmed the U.S. government’s commitment to the 2006 realignment plan, but at the same time emphasized the importance of concrete progress over the next year,” Gates said.

蓋茨說：“韋布和萊文參議員有關重新部署協定的來信，確實反映出國會對此事缺乏進展日益感到不耐煩。我們雙方重申美國政府對2006年擬訂的重新部署駐軍計劃的承諾，但同時也強調明年開始穩定進展的重要性。”

The so-called two-plus-two meeting was the first between the two allies in four years, and the first involving ministers of the Democratic Party of Japan, which has been often been critical of the U.S. military presence.

這項所謂二加二會議，是四年來美日雙方首次舉行的此類會議，也是首次包括了日本民主黨籍的部長級官員。日本民主黨經常批評美軍在日本駐紮的問題。But Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa said the DPJ is now committed to fulfilling the deal, despite continued local opposition from Okinawan politicians, some of whom want U.S. forces off the island altogether.

但是，日本防衛大臣北澤俊美說，儘管沖繩島地方政界繼續反對，日本民主黨會承諾履行基地重新部署協定。有些沖繩島地方政界人士希望美軍完全撤離。

“Opinions in Okinawa are very harsh, and we confirmed in our meeting today at we will make our best effort to try and get the understanding of Governor [Hirokazu] Nakaima of Okinawa, and the local people there. The purpose of U.S. realignment, as I mentioned earlier, is to maintain deterrence and to reduce the local impact, the local burden,” Kitazawa said.

日本防衛大臣北澤俊美說：“沖繩島的輿論非常嚴酷。我們在今天的會中肯定，我們將盡可能取得沖繩縣知事仲井真弘多以及當地民衆的諒解。正如我早先所說的，美軍在當地重新部署，是爲了維持嚇阻力量，同時也減輕了當地的壓力和負擔。”

Under the 2006 accord, the U.S. Marine base at Futenma, Okinawa - which adjoins an urban area - will be moved to a more remote site on the northern part of the island. The sides said they have reached agreement on the runway configuration for the new U.S. base.

根據2006年的協議，美軍在沖繩島連接市區的普天間的陸戰隊基地，將遷移到沖繩島北部的邊遠地區。雙方表示，他們已經就新基地飛機跑道的模式達成協議。

Analysts say Japanese concerns about the U.S. presence has eased in recent months, owing to aggressive North Korean actions, an expanded Chinese naval presence in the region, and massive U.S. aid to Japan following its earthquake disaster in March.

分析人士說，日本方面對美軍駐紮的擔心，近幾個月來已經減輕，原因是北韓的挑釁行爲，以及區域內中國海軍力量的擴張，再加上日本三月間發生震災之後，美國提供的大量援助。

A joint statement from the “two-plus-two” meeting said U.S.-Japanese military aid operations after the earthquake had given “new confidence” to the 50-year-old alliance.

這次二加二會議的聯合聲明說，美軍在地震之後給予日本的援助，使具有50年曆史的盟國關係，重新獲得信心。

It cited an increasingly uncertain security environment in the region due in part to North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs and “provocative behavior.”

聯合聲明指出，這個區域裏由於北韓的導彈，核武計劃以及挑釁行爲，安全問題越來越不確定。

The statement said the United States and Japan seek a responsible and constructive Chinese regional security role that adheres to “international norms of behavior,” as well as openness and transparency in China’s military modernization program.

聲明中還說，美日兩國希望中國在本地區的安全中，扮演符合國際行爲標準的負責任和建設性角色，並且公開和透明化中國軍隊的現代化進行情況。