中國正尋找新辦法維護在南中國海的主權

Beijing could employ controversial measures to control the disputed airspace over the South China Sea, according to an expert with close ties to the Chinese government, as it seeks new ways to assert its authority in the hotly contested region.

一位與中國政府關係密切的專家表示，北京方面可能採取有爭議的舉措來控制南中國海上方的爭議空域。目前，中國正在尋找新的辦法來維護其在這個存在激烈爭議的地區的管控權。

Wu Shicun, head of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, said Beijing reserves the right to impose a so-called air defence identification zone (Adiz) once it had built its second aircraft carrier.

中國南海研究院(NISCSS)院長吳士存表示，北京方面保留在建成第二艘航空母艦後立即設立所謂的防空識別區(Adiz)的權利。

Although about 20 countries, including the US and Japan, use the zones to control access to their airspace, employing such a measure over the South China Sea, where nine countries have competing territorial claims, would be regarded by Beijing’s neighbours and in Washington as extremely provocative.

儘管包括美國和日本在內的約20個國家設立了防空識別區來控制飛行物進入其空域，但在有9個國家提出彼此衝突的領土主張的南中國海採取這樣的舉措，可能會被中國的鄰國和美國視爲極度挑釁的行爲。

Mr Wu, who made the comments at a military forum in Beijing, is not an official government spokesman but he has a record of floating proposals that turn out to be policy.

吳士存是在北京一個軍事論壇上發表這些言論的。他並非政府官方發言人，但他過去提出的一些方案最終變成了政策。

His observation suggests China is maintaining — or even strengthening — its assertive strategic stance in the Pacific Ocean.

他的言論表明，中國正在維持乃至加強其在太平洋上的強硬戰略立場。

I don’t think this is just his opinion, one US analyst said of Mr Wu’s statement.

我不認爲這只是他的觀點，一名美國分析人士在談到吳士存的話時說。

Mr Wu later told analysts his comments had been partly mistranslated.

吳士存後來告訴分析人士，他的言論在一定程度上被錯譯了。

Beijing’s experience of employing an Adiz, which requires foreign aircraft to identify themselves, could mean it will refrain from declaring a new one before it can properly enforce it.

北京方面此前設立防空識別區的經歷或許意味着，它在能夠有效落實之前，不會宣佈設立新的防空識別區（防空識別區要求外來飛機通報身份）。

When China sought to impose the measure in the East China Sea in 2013 it was immediately challenged by the US, which flew two B-52 bombers through it.

2013年，中國尋求在東中國海劃設防空識別區時，立即遭到了美國的挑戰，後者派出兩架B-52轟炸機飛過了該區域。

Beijing was unable or unwilling to scramble aircraft to intercept them.

當時北京方面未能或並未打算緊急派出飛機來攔截它們。

The construction of a second Chinese aircraft carrier was revealed in March 2015.

中國正在建造第二艘航母的消息在2015年3月曝光。

Latest photos show the hull is nearly complete.

最新的照片顯示，船體已幾近造好。

Analysts expect it could be finished by 2018 but training naval aviators and crews mean it may be a decade before it is fully functioning.

分析人士預期，這艘航母可能將在2018年完工，但訓練海軍飛行員和船員意味着，這艘航母可能還需要10年才能充分發揮作用。

Tensions have been rising in the South China Sea.

南中國海的緊張氣氛一直在加劇。

Beijing has been irked by repeated efforts by Washington to test its territorial claims there by moving ships and aircraft close to artificial islands claimed by Beijing.

美國多次挑戰中國在南中國海的領土主張，派遣艦船和飛機靠近中方宣稱擁有主權的人工島，這些舉動已經惹惱了中方。

Declaring an Adiz would, in theory, offer Beijing a way to cement further control over the sea, which it claims as its territorial waters.

理論上，宣佈設立防空識別區爲中方提供了進一步加強對南中國海控制的途徑（中方主張南中國海爲其領海）。

That claim was repudiated this year by an international arbitration court, which ruled in favour of a Philippine challenge to China’s claims in the South China Sea — a decision that infuriated Beijing.

今年，一個國際仲裁法庭否定了中方的這一主張，做出的裁決有利於菲律賓對中國在南中國海主張構成的挑戰——這一裁決激怒了北京方面。

The comments from Mr Wu were made at the Xiangshan Forum, an annual three-day gathering in Beijing that offers a window into the strategic thinking of China’s military.

吳士存的言論是在香山論壇(Xiangshan Forum)上發表的，這是一個在北京舉行的、爲期三天的年度會議，這一會議爲外界瞭解中國軍方的戰略思維提供了一個窗口。

In another apparently orchestrated message to the US, Chinese and Russian military officials held a joint briefing on their opposition to Washington’s plans to deploy an anti-ballistic missile system in South Korea.

中國和俄羅斯軍方官員舉行了聯合吹風會，反對美國在韓國部署反彈道導彈系統的計劃——這是對美髮出的另一個明顯經過精心安排的信息。

Seoul requested the Terminal High-Altitude Air Defence system following successive nuclear warhead tests this year by North Korea.

在今年朝鮮連續舉行核彈頭試驗後，韓國請求美國在韓部署末段高空區域防禦系統（THAAD，簡稱：薩德）。

Cai Jun, a general in the People’s Liberation Army, said Russia and China would hold a second set of missile defence joint manoeuvres next year, following a first round in Moscow in May.

中國人民解放軍少將蔡軍表示，俄羅斯和中國明年將舉行第二輪導彈防禦聯合演習，今年5月雙方已在莫斯科舉行了第一輪演習。

The drills underline how opposition to the US has driven Russia and China closer together on military matters.

這些演習凸顯出，對美國的反對如何推動俄中在軍事問題上越走越近。