防衛省、ソロモン警察に能力支援　対中念頭、軍以外で初

　防衛省は１８日、太平洋島しょ国ソロモン諸島の国家警察に対し、不発弾処理に関する能力構築支援を実施すると発表した。軍隊以外への単独の能力構築支援は初めて。中国が影響力を強めるソロモン諸島との関係強化につなげる狙い。
　ソロモン諸島は太平洋戦争の激戦地ガダルカナル島があり、１００万発の不発弾があるとされる。処理が円滑に進むよう、防衛省は今月下旬に陸上自衛隊武器学校の教官らを派遣し、旧日本軍の弾薬や信管の構造などの知見を国家警察不発弾処理部隊と共有する。（2024/01/18-14:53）

Japan's Defense Ministry said Thursday that it will provide capacity-building aid to the national police of the Solomon Islands, a Pacific nation, for the disposal of unexploded shells.
   It will be the ministry's first independent aid for capacity building to any organization of a foreign country other than armed forces.
   Through the assistance, Tokyo hopes to strengthen its relations with the Solomons, over which China is increasing its influence.
   The Solomon Islands is home to the island of Guadalcanal, a fierce battlefield in the Pacific War, a theater of World War II. An estimated one million unexploded shells are believed to remain in the country.
   To ensure that disposal work for the shells goes smoothly in the Solomon Islands, the ministry will send a team including instructors from the Ground Self-Defense Force's Ordnance School this month.