中國國防預算或繼續增加
China's defense budget this year will rise about 10 percent compared with 2014, a top government official said on Wednesday, outpacing the slowing economy as the country ramps up investment in high-tech equipment such as submarines and stealth jets.
據中國政府高層官員週三（3月4日）表示，2015年中國國防預算將比去年增加10%左右。中國在潛艇、隱形戰機等尖端武器裝備的投入使其國防預算增速超過了正在放緩的經濟增速。
Parliament spokeswoman Fu Ying told a news conference that the actual figure would be released on Thursday, when the annual session of the National People's Congress opens. Last year, defense spending rose 12.2 percent to $130 billion, second only to the United States.
人大發言人傅瑩在新聞發佈會上表明，實際數字將會在週四全國人大會議開幕時公佈。中國去年國防支出增長12.2%，達到1300億美元，增速僅次於美國。
The military build-up has jangled nerves around the region, particularly as China has taken an increasingly robust line on its territorial disputes in the East and South China Seas.
中國軍事力量的發展一直牽動着周邊國家地區的神經，尤其中國在東海和南海領土爭端上採取了更加強硬的立場。
"Compared with great powers, the road ofChina's defense modernization is more difficult. We have to rely on ourselves for most of our military equipment and research and development," Fu said.
“中國國防現代化的路，在大國中，走得應該還是比較艱難的，大部分的軍事裝備研發，都要靠自己。”傅瑩說。
"In addition, we must strengthen the protection of our officers and soldiers. But fundamentally speaking,China's defense policy is defensive in nature. This is clearly defined in the constitution. We will not easily change this direction and principle."
“另外，我們廣大官兵的保障還需要不斷加強，但是從根本上講，中國國防政策是防禦性的，這個在憲法明確規定的。這個方向原則，我們不會輕易改變。”
While Beijing keeps the details of its military spending secret, experts have said additional funding would likely go towards beefing up the navy with anti-submarine ships and developing more aircraft carriers beyond the sole vessel in operation.
中國政府沒有公開國防開支細節，但有專家認爲，增加的國防經費可能會用於加強海軍力量，增加反潛艇和研發更多的航空母艦，中國目前只有一艘現役的航母。
"Carriers have definitely got to be on the list," said John Blaxland, Senior Fellow at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University in Canberra.
澳大利亞國立大學戰略與防衛研究中心高級研究員約翰·萊克斯蘭指出：“航母一定會在清單上。”
"But also we've seen a massive surge in the number of submarines, and of course everybody loves submarines. The intimidatory effect of a submarine is hard to be beat."
“但我們也看到了潛艇數量的劇增。當然，每個人都喜歡潛艇。潛艇的威懾作用是難以比擬的。”
Money would also likely go into cyber capabilities and satellites, Blaxland added.
萊克斯蘭補充說道，經費也可能用於發展網絡作戰能力和衛星。
China's leaders have routinely sought to justify the country's military modernization by linking defense spending to rapid GDP growth. But growth of 7.4 percent last year was the slowest in 24 years, and a further slowdown to around 7 percent is expected in 2015.
中國領導以往通常解釋，GDP（國內生產總值）快速增長，那麼增加國防開支，推動軍事現代化在情理之中。然而，中國去年GDP僅增長了7.4%，爲24年以來最低，預計2015年GDP增速將滑落至7%左右。
"We have achieved so much success with reform and opening up, we have not relied on gunboats to develop roads, but instead we have relied on complete and mutual beneficial cooperation," Fu said.
“我們改革開放這麼多年，取得了這麼大的成就，我們不是靠炮艦開路去開拓經貿的，而是完全靠互利互惠的合作。”傅瑩說。
"We have been successful on this road, the road of peaceful development. We will adhere to the path of peaceful development."
“這條道路，和平發展的道路，我們走的是成功的，我們今後會繼續堅持走和平發展的道路。”
The US military and diplomatic "rebalancing" towards Asia and President Xi Jinping's crackdown on corruption in the People's Liberation Army, which has caused some disquiet in the ranks, are among the other factors that have kept military spending high, experts have said.
專家認爲，美國軍事、外交上重返亞洲的“再平衡”戰略，習近平主席在人民解放軍軍隊中的反腐鬥爭，也是軍費開支持續增加的原因。
Beijing also says it faces a threat from Islamist militants in the far western region of Xinjiang, and is drafting a new anti-terror law that will create a legal framework for sending troops abroad on counter-terrorism missions.
中國政府還提到，中國面臨着新疆伊斯蘭激進分子的威脅。中國正在起草新的反恐法，爲反恐部隊海外派遣建立法律框架。
Vocabulary
defense budget：國防預算
stealth jet：隱形戰機
jangle：使煩躁不安
aircraft carrier：航空母艦
