菅首相、今月下旬の訪米検討　「コロナ専念」と矛盾？

　菅義偉首相が今月下旬に米国を訪問し、バイデン大統領との首脳会談を調整していることが分かった。政府関係者が８日、明らかにした。ニューヨークで行われる国連総会の一般討論演説に合わせたものとみられるが、退陣直前の首相外遊は極めて異例。新型コロナウイルス対応に専念するとして自民党総裁選出馬を断念したこととの整合性も問われそうだ。（2021/09/08-22:56）

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is considering traveling to the United States late this month for talks with U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese government sources said Wednesday.
   It is unusual for an outgoing Japanese prime minister to make an overseas trip. Suga last week said he will not seek re-election as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, meaning that he will resign as prime minister.
   Suga last met with Biden in person in Britain in June during the Group of Seven summit. The Japanese leader hopes to use the planned trip to bid farewell to the U.S. president while discussing issues such as China.
   But the trip to the United States is expected to draw criticism from opposition lawmakers as Suga said he will resign to focus on the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.