外國軍機頻繁出入中國東海防空識別區

After China announced an air defense zone in November, the U.S. demonstrated its displeasure by deliberately entering the air space with an unannounced incursion by a pair of B-52 bombers. As with that dramatic gesture, new Chinese figures suggest the air zone did not deter activity by foreign militaries.

在11月份中國宣佈劃設東中國海(East China Sea, 中國稱東海)防空識別區後，美國兩架B-52轟炸機在未通知中方的情況下故意進入該區域，以展示美方對中國劃設該防空識別區的不滿。正如美國這一戲劇性的姿態一樣，中國新公佈的數字也表明，劃設東海防空識別區並未威懾到其他國家和地區的軍事行動。

China's Defense Ministry said this week it monitored nearly 800 foreign warplanes within the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone during its first month. At a press conference Thursday, Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng also said China sent 87 of its own aircraft into the area on 51 missions during the period, both for routine patrols and 'emergency identification missions.'

中國國防部本週表示，自一個月前中國宣佈劃設東海防空識別區以來，共掌握其他國家和地區軍機近800架次進入中國防空識別區活動。國防部新聞發言人耿雁生週四在例行記者會上表示，中國軍隊共出動51批87架次飛機赴有關空域執行例行巡邏警戒以及必要的緊急識別查證等任務。

'We have had effective monitoring and management of the East China ADIZ and will take corresponding measures in accordance with different air threats to safeguard national air security,' Mr. Geng said.

耿雁生還稱，中國對東海防空識別區實施了有效監管，將根據不同空中威脅採取不同措施，保衛國家空防安全。

Countries set up air defense zones as early-warning buffer areas; planes flying through them may be required to identify themselves to distinguish potentially hostile incursions. China says its zone is needed because of evolving military risks in the region, stressing that it doesn't reflect any new territorial claims by Beijing.

各國劃設防空識別區作爲預警緩衝區，飛越防空識別區的飛機必須表明身份，從而與潛在的惡意入侵區別開來。中國稱，該地區不斷變化的軍事風險使劃設東海防空識別區成爲必要，並強調稱，此舉並不反映中國政府的任何新領土主張。

But the U.S. and China's Asian neighbors charged China with raising risks in an already tense region, in part because its zone overlaps with ones previously declared by Japan and South Korea.

但美國以及中國的亞洲鄰國都指責中國此舉使本已緊張的亞洲局勢再添風險，部分原因在於該防空識別區與日本和韓國之前劃設的防空識別區有重疊。

Washington regularly warns that stepped up military activity in and above the East China Sea raises the possibility of accidents and miscalculations.

美國政府經常警告稱，加強在東中國海及其上空的軍事活動增加了“事故和誤判”的可能性。

In the press conference, the Chinese defense ministry spokesman made no suggestion any dangerous incidents arose from the foreign military flights into the zone. He didn't characterize any communication with intruding aircraft, or say which sections of the zone were entered.

新聞發佈會上，中國國防部發言人耿雁生完全沒有談及外國軍機進入中國防空識別區所引發的危險事件。他沒有具體描述中方與入侵飛機之間進行的任何交流，也沒有說入侵飛機進入的是中國防空識別區的哪一部分。

'The Chinese military has dispatched reconnaissance, early warning and fighter aircraft to the relative airspace and identified and managed the activities,' Mr. Geng said.

耿雁生說，中國軍方出動了偵察機、預警機和戰鬥機，赴有關空域執行識別查證等任務。

The ministry didn't identify nationalities of the foreign aircraft. But Mr. Geng suggested some of them were Taiwanese, saying the 800 figure included planes from foreign countries 'and regions,' terminology that reflects how Beijing regards the island as a secessionist province.

中國國防部沒有確認那些外國飛機的國籍。但耿雁生表示，其中一些架次是臺灣飛機。他說，進入中國防空識別區的800架次軍機包括其它國家和地區的軍機。

For comparison, Japan's Defense Department in its latest report on military activity says it scrambled warplanes 193 times between July and September in response to flights of by foreign military aircraft. Most were Russian and Chinese, 105 and 80 respectively, it said.

而日本防衛省則在最近發佈的一份軍事活動報告中說，今年7月至9月該國爲應對其它國家的軍機曾緊急出動戰機193架次。報告說，其中大多數外國軍機爲俄羅斯和中國籍，分別是105和80架次。

Also in the first month after China introduced its zone, according to its Defense Department, foreign commercial carriers actively informed Beijing civil aviation authorities when flight plans included crossing into the area. Some 56 foreign airlines reported 21,475 fight plans into the zone between Nov. 23 and Dec. 22, the defense ministry spokesman said.

中國國防部表示，在中國劃設防空識別區的第一個月裏，當外國商業航空公司有需要穿越中國防空識別區的飛行計劃時，都會積極通報中國民航管理機構。耿雁生說，11月23日至12月22日期間，大約有56家外國航空公司向中方通報飛行計劃21,475架次。

While the new zone has raised regional tensions between China and its neighbors, as well as the U.S., an incident at sea this month came close to illustrating the risks of military movements in East Asian.

中國的新防空識別區引發了中國與鄰邦以及與美國的地區緊張態勢。在這種情況下，本月海上發生的一起事件幾乎就可以顯示出東亞軍事行動帶來的風險。

The U.S. Navy says that in early December the guided missile cruiser USS Cowpens was forced to take evasive action when a Chinese ship crossed its bow in the South China Sea. 'That action by the Chinese, cutting in front of their ship, 100 yards out in front of the Cowpens, was not a responsible action. It was -- it was unhelpful. It was irresponsible,' U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said on Dec. 19.

美國海軍表示，12月初美國“考本斯號”(USS Cowpens)導彈巡洋艦在南中國海（中國稱南海）國際水域航行時，被一艘中國船隻迎頭逼停，因此被迫採取避讓措施。美國國防部長哈格爾(Chuck Hagel) 12月19日稱，事件發生時，中方的船隻距離美國“考本斯號”巡洋艦僅有100碼，這是一種不負責任的行爲。

China saw it differently. Xinhua news agency said U.S. vessels were 'following and harassing' China's vessels, including its aircraft carrier Liaoning.

中方則不這麼看。新華社稱，美方船隻尾隨並騷擾包括“遼寧號”航空母艦在內的中方船隻。

Mr. Peng, the defense ministry spokesman, was asked repeatedly about the incident by Chinese reporters attending Thursday's nearly one-hour press conference.

在週四舉行的近一個小時的記者會上，與會的中國記者就上述事件反覆追問中國國防部發言人耿雁生。

In one response, he cited a 'new model of major country relations' between the U.S. and China, adding that foreign nations must 'take China's security concerns into consideration.'

耿雁生在回答其中一個記者的提問時稱，外國艦機在中國近海活動，應該遵守有關國際法，尊重中國的安全關切；中美兩軍對話和溝通的渠道是暢通的；推動兩軍關係健康穩定發展，是構建中美新型大國關係的重要方面，需要雙方共同作出努力。

Asked how the Chinese and U.S. militaries communicate when incidents occur, he cited various agreements and understandings reached at bilateral meetings. He said that the captains of the USS Cowpens and China's Liaoning, for example, 'talked directly to each other and ensured that this issue was properly resolved.'

有記者問到中美兩軍在發生事件時將如何交流，耿雁生稱，中美已通過雙邊會議達成了各種協議和共識。他表示，這次在南海兩國軍艦相遇後，中美艦長直接進行了通話，使有關情況得到妥善處置。

'It should be said,' Mr. Peng added, 'it is quite necessary for the Chinese and U.S. militaries to have channels of communication.'

耿雁生還稱，要指出的是，中美兩軍建立溝通渠道是非常有必要的。