That would be hugely provocative. Although America is deeply reluctant to risk a conflict, President Barack Obama is thought in March to have warned his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, that any move on Scarborough Shoal would be seen as threatening American interests (the Philippines is a treaty ally). For China to call its bluff in a sea that carries $5.3 trillion in annual trade would be reckless and irresponsible. 

provocative：挑発的な
thought：考え
bluff：call A's bluff A〈人〉にやれるものならやってみろと言う.
reckless：無謀な
irresponsible：無責任な

There is a better way. China could climb down and, in effect, quietly recognise the court’s ruling. That would mean ceasing its island-building, letting other countries fish where UNCLOS allows and putting a stop to poaching by its own fishermen. It would have good reason: its prestige and prosperity depend on a rules-based order. It would be in China’s interests to secure peace in its region by sitting down with the Philippines, Vietnam and other South-East Asian neighbours and trying to resolve differences. Right now those countries, and America, should avoid action that will needlessly enrage China, and instead give it a chance to walk back from the edge. 

poaching：侵入する
prestige：威信
enrage：ひどく怒らせる

中国がこの判決に従うべきだと言っている。アジアの関係諸国だけでなく、アメリカを敵に回すことになる。そうしたことが中国にとっていいわけがないと言っている。果たして、このエコノミストの意見通りになるのだろうか。日本人は物事を白黒はっきりつけたがるが、中国人は灰色のままで何とも思わない。そうした寛容さが日本人には必要だ。

What is the Turkish for rapprochement?
Turkey is suddenly making friends, not enemies
President Erdogan’s attitudes to Israel, Russia and Syria have undergone a sudden reset
Jul 15th 2016 | ISTANBUL | Europe

rapprochement：和解・関係改善
undergone：を受ける
reset：再設定

トルコが関係改善をしようとしているがそれは何を意味するのか？
トルコは突然、敵ではなく友人を作り出した。
イスラエル、ロシア、シリアに対してのエルドアン大統領の態度が突然、再設定された。

TURKEY’s newly installed prime minister, Binali Yildirim, has dusted off a time-honoured formula for dealing with his country’s troublesome neighbours: turn down the rhetoric and act nicely. “Our most important foreign-policy goal is to increase the number of friends,” he said in a speech on July 11th. “There is no reason for us to quarrel with Iraq, Syria, Egypt; with the countries of this region.” 

dusted：埃を払う
time-honoured：長年の
quarrel：諍い



Mr Yildirim has got off to a good start. In a single day last month, Turkey agreed to restore ties with Israel, with which it has been at odds since 2010, and apologised to Russia for bringing down a jet that veered into its airspace in November after a bombing run over Syria. Officials from the ruling party have since raised hopes of progress in peace talks in Cyprus, divided since 1974 between an internationally recognised Greek south and a Turkish-occupied north. They have also floated a cautious opening with Egypt and a rethink of Turkey’s botched Syria policy. After the Arab Spring of 2011, Turkey rushed headfirst into the flames that engulfed the Middle East, backing the Muslim Brothers in Egypt and Islamist insurgents in Syria. Having been burned, it now appears to be running to safety. 

at odds：不和で
veered ：方向を変える
floated：流れる・提案する
botched：やりそこなう
headfirst：頭から先に・大急ぎで
engulfed：を完全に変える
 
水曜日。今日はこれまで。トルコが対外的な政策を急遽、和平の方向に転換しだした。イスラエル、ロシア、シリア、ギリシャとの軋轢の和解に乗り出した。ただし、この記事はトルコのクーデターは起こる直前のものだ。だからと言って内容が変わるものではないが。

昨日の昼は藤田さんの紹介で同友会で講演をさせていただいた。今日の昼は元上司の森さんとの会食がある。夜は海野塾がある。ではまた明日。