領空侵犯の扱い
ロシア機による領空侵犯。このニュースを伝える記事があまりに国内と国外で違うのがなんだか気になる。
まず、日本を代表する経済新聞である日本経済新聞。
■ロシア軍機が領空侵犯・33年ぶり、伊豆諸島上空3分間
http://www.nikkei.co.jp/news/shakai/20080209AT1G0901209022008.html
9日午前7時半すぎ、伊豆諸島南部の上空で、ロシア機1機が領空を侵犯した。航空自衛隊はＦ15戦闘機など計24機を緊急発進させ、警告したところ、約3分後に退去した。防衛省によると、ロシア機による領空侵犯は北海道周辺が多く、伊豆諸島まで南下するコースをたどったケースは旧ソ連時代の1975年9月以来という。
同省によると、領空を侵犯したのはロシア軍の爆撃機Ｔｕ—95。午前7時半から同33分まで父島と八丈島の間の海域にある嬬婦岩（そうふがん）の上空を通過した。
続いて、いろんな意味で日本を代表する朝日新聞の記事。
■ロシア機が領空侵犯 空自が緊急発進
http://www.asahi.com/national/update/0209/TKY200802090129.html
防衛省は９日、ロシアの爆撃機が午前７時３０分から約３分間、伊豆諸島南部の領海上空を侵犯したと発表した。航空自衛隊は百里基地（茨城県）などからＦ１５戦闘機と早期警戒管制機を緊急発進（スクランブル）させ、警告した。ロシア機は北海道東部沖から太平洋上を南下し、伊豆諸島上空で旋回した。他国機の領空侵犯は０６年１月以来。
火事が起きて２名が重傷というような、とてもさっぱりとして関係者以外だれも目にとめないような淡々とした記事。村上春樹的にいうと、新人記者が練習がてらに書かされたような雰囲気。もしかすると大本営発表の練習なのか、これ？
さて、比較対象は海外の新聞記事から。まずは、New York TImes。乱暴だけれど、全文引用する。
■Japan Says Russian Plane Violated Space
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-japan-russia-plane.html
TOKYO/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Japan protested to Moscow after a Russian military plane violated Japanese air space over the Izu Islands on Saturday, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said.The Foreign Ministry told Moscow to investigate the case and sought an explanation, the official said.
The Russian warplane flew over the isle of Sofugan, about 650 km (400 miles) south of Tokyo, around 7:30 a.m. (2230 GMT on Friday), the official said.
"We strongly protest against the violation," the official said.
Russia said four turbo-prop TU-95 "Bear" strategic bombers went on a routine 10-hour mission over the Pacific and were accompanied by Japanese and U.S. war planes.
"All flights of the Russian Air Force were carried out in accordance with international air space regulations without breaching the other states' borders," Air Force spokesman Alexander Drobyshevsky told Interfax news agency.
The TU-95, Russia's longest serving bomber, is capable of carrying AS-15 "Kent" cruise missiles which can deliver a nuclear warhead. The air force did not say if the aircraft involved were carrying live weapons.
Russia last violated Japanese air space in January 2006, when a Russian plane flew over Rebun Island off the coast of Hokkaido, a major island in the north, the Japanese official said.
Kyodo news agency reported that 22 Japanese fighter jets were scrambled to deal with the intrusion.
REVIVED POWER
Russia's air force cut down on long-distance bomber missions during the 1990s because of a shortage of fuel and serviceable aircraft, but last year it resumed regular patrolling outside its borders in a sign its military might was reviving.
Analysts say the missions are a way for the newly-confident and better-funded Russian military to flex its muscles.
Russia has resumed 24-hour strategic air patrols over its territory and carried out long-range air missions over international airspace, nudging close to other NATO member states.
On January 22, two Russian long-range "Blackjack" bombers flew to the Bay of Biscay, off the coasts of NATO members France and Spain, to test-launch missiles.
NATO defense chiefs asked Russia on Friday for advanced warning of military exercises and repeated a call for Moscow to tone down its rhetoric in disputes with NATO members.
President Vladimir Putin on Friday delivered an address with long passages of tough rhetoric aimed at the West, including accusing the United States of unleashing a new arms race.
Japan and Russia have been locked in a decades-old territorial dispute that has prevented the two sides from signing a peace treaty putting a formal end to World War Two. Japan is not a NATO member.
Despite the long-standing row, Russia and Japan have been trying to expand ties. Russia is keen for funds to develop its far eastern regions, while Japan is eager to tap Russia's booming oil industry to reduce its reliance on Middle Eastern energy.
Putin has offered new talks to resolve the territorial dispute, prompting Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda to consider a visit to Moscow.
Fukuda said earlier in the week he had received a letter in which Putin had expressed his willingness to end the dispute.
もう一つ。BBC News から。
■Japan accuses Russia of incursion
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7236241.stm
Japan has accused Russia of violating its airspace over the Pacific Izu islands and demanded an explanation.A Russian Tupolev 95 bomber flew for about three minutes over the isle of Sofugan, 650km (400 miles) south of Tokyo, Japanese officials said.
Japan responded by scrambling 22 jets and lodging an official protest with the Russian embassy.
But a spokesman for the Russian air force denied any incursion into Japanese airspace had occurred.
Alexander Drobyshevsky told Russia's Itar-Tass news agency that strategic bomber flights had been "carried out in strict accordance with international rules on flying over neutral waters, without violating the border between the two countries".
Rally
Russia last violated Japan's airspace in January 2006 near Rebun Island near the northern island of Hokkaido, Japanese officials said.
On Thursday, Japan held an annual rally to demand the return of four disputed islands - known as the Kurils in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan - which Russia seized in the closing days of World War II.
The dispute has prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty to formally end the war.
It was not clear whether Saturday's flyby was related to the rally.
Despite their territorial disputes, Japan and Russia have recently indicated their desire to improve relations, the BBC's Chris Hogg reports from Tokyo.
Russia wants Japanese financial support for development of its far eastern regions while Japan wants greater access to Russia's oil reserves.
Whether the alleged incident was a mistake or something more sinister, such as an attempt to test Japan's defensive tactics, it has rattled the Japanese government, our correspondent says.
Tokyo has demanded a full explanation from Moscow.
仮に新人記者の記事だとすると、いずれもずいぶん長いものである。簡単に読んだだけでわかるが関係しそうな事実をしっかり伝えている（あるいは伝えようとしている）。
これらの記事を簡単に比較してみると、こうやってスポイルされていく国民が徐々に育まれていくのだ、ということがよくわかる。この国だけに特有な問題じゃないのだけれど、でもメディアがこういう状況であることはとても残念な状態である。
