防衛財源、国債償還ルール見直しも　中国は軍事行動抑制を―自民・萩生田氏

　【台北時事】台湾を訪問中の萩生田光一自民党政調会長は１１日、台北市内で講演した。萩生田氏は防衛費増額の財源について、国債償還のルールを見直すことも「検討に値する」と述べた。国債を一部借り換えながら６０年間で完済するルールを見直し、償還費の一部を防衛財源に充てる考えを示したものだ。
　岸田文雄首相は１０日の記者会見で２０２７年度以降の防衛財源として国債を発行する可能性を否定した。萩生田氏は講演後、新竹市で記者団に２７年度に防衛費が国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）比２％に達するまでは国債発行も選択肢との考えを示した上で、首相発言について「２％を確保した後のことを言ったのだろう。５年間は国債も排除しないで防衛力を高めたいということだと思う」と指摘した。
　萩生田氏は講演で日本と台湾の「パートナーシップを新たな次元へ押し上げる」と表明。周辺への威圧を強める中国に触れ、「軍事的緊張を高める行動は差し控えるべきだ」と強調した。（2022/12/11-19:51）

Japanese ruling party executive Koichi Hagiuda on Sunday vowed to elevate the Japan-Taiwan partnership to a new stage.
   In a forum held in the Taiwanese capital of Taipei, Hagiuda, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's Policy Research Council, also said that actions that heighten military tensions should not be taken, apparently referring to China, whose growing coercion is a source of concern in the region.
   A joint semiconductor plant of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world's leading chip foundry, Japanese electronics giant Sony Corp. and major Japanese auto parts maker Denso Corp. is a symbol of Japan-Taiwan cooperation, he noted, saying he hopes that Japan and Taiwan will lead the world in the field of semiconductors as they work hand in hand. The factory is under construction in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan.
   With China in mind, Hagiuda said, "Using economic power in a way that violates international rules cannot be tolerated," expressing his support for Taiwan's bid to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade initiative led by Japan.
   On some of missiles fired by China in early August falling into waters within Japan's exclusive economic zone, Hagiuda said China proved with its action that the view raised by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that a contingency in Taiwan is a contingency in Japan is correct.