政府、首相祝意を保留　米大統領選、勝敗確定まで注視

　日本政府は、米大統領選の勝敗が確定するまで菅義偉首相による祝意伝達を留保する考えだ。共和党のトランプ大統領陣営が一部の州で集計作業の中止を求めて提訴しており、確定までなお時間を要する可能性もあるためだ。
　首相は５日の参院予算委員会で大統領選について「結果にかかわらず引き続き米国と緊密に連携していく考えに変わりはない」と述べ、行方を注視する姿勢を強調した。
　ただ、麻生太郎副総理兼財務相は麻生派会合で「裁判になれば長引く可能性が極めて高い」と指摘。外務省幹部も５日の自民党外交部会などで「結果はまだ分からない」と拙速な判断を避けた。（2020/11/05-19:24）

The Japanese government plans to withhold Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's congratulatory message to the winner of the U.S. presidential election, hoping to watch related legal battle developments at least until a concession speech is given by the loser.
   "There is no need to rush. We'll move after we see the result," a senior Japanese government official said, after Republican incumbent Donald Trump accused Democratic candidate Joe Biden's campaign of fraud and filed lawsuits in some states to halt vote counting.
   At Friday's meeting of the House of Councillors Budget Committee, Suga said, "Although we still do not know which candidate will win, the Japan-U.S. alliance is the axis of Japan's diplomatic and security policies and the basis of peace and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region and the international community."
   "We'll continue to closely cooperate with the United States," the prime minister added.
   Meanwhile, Japanese Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso said at a gathering on Thursday, "The election turning into a court battle means that the contest is highly likely to become prolonged." He also said Friday that the United States seems to be in a "considerable confusion."