US efforts to contest maritime claims by Beijing in the South China Sea remain unchanged under the administration of Donald Trump, according to a senior US naval officer.
美国海军一名高级军官表示，在唐纳德·特朗普(Donald Trump)政府主政下，美国在南中国海挑战中国海上主权声索的努力保持不变。
But while the US is continuing “freedom of navigation operations” (Fonops) by warships, the country’s military is being quieter about the strategy.但是，尽管美国继续出动军舰进行“航行自由行动”(FONOPS)，美国军方对这一战略说得更少。Speaking during a visit to China, Admiral Scott Swift, commander of the US Pacific Fleet, confirmed the policy of talking less about efforts to challenge China’s maritime claims.美国太平洋舰队(US Pacific Fleet)司令斯科特?斯威夫特海军上将(Admiral Scott Swift)在访华期间发表讲话时，证实了少谈美国挑战中国海上主张的政策。“I think it’s a very positive step that current policy?.?.?.?is that we’re not going to talk about freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea,” he said in an interview aboard the USS Sterett, a destroyer that visited the Chinese Southern Naval base in Zhanjiang last week.“我认为这是非常积极的一步，当前政策……是我们不谈论在南中国海进行的航行自由行动，”他在“斯泰雷特号”驱逐舰(USS Sterett)上接受采访时表示。该舰上周访问了中国南海舰队总部所在地湛江军港。Such operations typically involve a US warship sailing inside a contested claim.这些行动通常涉及一艘美国军舰在有争议海域航行。Admiral Swift declined to discuss details of a May 24 challenge by a US destroyer, in which the USS Dewey sailed within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island claimed by China, known as Mischief Reef, sparking protests from Beijing.斯威夫特拒绝讨论美方在5月24日发起的一次挑战的细节，当时美国“杜威号”驱逐舰(USS Dewey)在美济礁(Mischief Reef) 12海里范围内航行，引发北京方面的抗议。Under the administration of Barack Obama, the US had begun to publicise such operations, partly as a way to reassure its allies in the region, said Bonnie Glaser, an expert on China at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.华盛顿智库——国际战略研究中心(Center for Strategic and International Studies)中国问题专家葛莱仪(Bonnie Glaser)表示，美国是在巴拉克·奥巴马(Barack Obama)政府主政期间开始宣传这类行动的，部分是为了让地区盟友安心。Under the Trump administration, she said, “a decision was made to not discuss” Fonops.她表示，在特朗普政府领导下，“有关方面决定不讨论” 航行自由行动。“Fonops are conducted globally and have been for decades. They are not intended to be announced. They enforce freedom of navigation,” she added.“航行自由行动在全球范围进行，几十年来一直如此。它们本来不是需要宣布的事情。它们意在强制执行航行自由。”Since 2013 the US has conducted an average of two such operations per year against Chinese claims, according to a US Navy spokesperson. “I don’t see how those operations in the South China Sea should be viewed from a navy perspective as any more consequential than they are anywhere else,” said Admiral Swift. The quieter approach equated to a softer US posture in the region, he added.美国海军一名发言人称，自2013年以来，美国每年平均针对中国的主权主张进行两次此类行动。“从海军的视角看，我看不出在南中国海进行的这些行动应该被视为比其他任何地方的行动更加举足轻重，”斯威夫特表示。他补充说，少说的态度相当于美国在该地区采取更柔和的姿态。The number of days spent by US ships in the South China Sea was on track to exceed 900 in 2017 — higher than the long-term average of 600-700 days — he said. “The policy is consistent between the two administrations,” he added.他介绍说，2017年，美国各军舰累计将在南中国海航行900天以上，高于每年600至700天的长期平均水平。“两届政府之间的政策是一致的，”他补充说。China’s claims to virtually the entire South China Sea, and US efforts to push back on them, remain an irritant in Beijing’s relations with Washington. Over the past few years China has buttressed its claims by dredging seven artificial islands from the sea floor.
中国提出的几乎覆盖整个南海的主权主张，以及美国反制这些主张的努力，仍是中美关系中的一根刺。过去几年里，中国用吹填法造出了七座人工岛，借此支撑自己的主权声索。The US has accused China of militarising the sea by stationing weaponry and airfields on the islands, although Beijing insists its intentions are peaceful.美国指责中国在这些人造岛上部署武器，建造机场，从而使南海军事化，尽管北京方面坚称其意图是和平的。The ultimate goal of US policy in the South China Sea, was to demonstrate “strength through presence”, Admiral Swift said.斯威夫特表示，美国在南海政策的最终目标是“通过存在来展示力量”。However, he added, the operations were unlikely to deter Beijing in the immediate future: “I don’t think anyone is expecting a huge reversal. This is going to take time.”不过，他补充说，这些行动不太可能在最近的将来阻止北京：“我不认为会有人期待巨大逆转。这将需要时间。”The three-day visit by the USS Sterett is the first port call by a US warship on the Chinese mainland since August 2016, and suggests military co-operation between the US and China remains unaffected by political tensions.“斯泰雷特号”舰在湛江访问三天，是自2016年8月以来美国军舰首次访问中国内地，似乎表明美中之间的军事合作没有受到政治紧张的影响。