中方對美轟炸機飛入爭議空域做出迴應

China's defense ministry said Wednesday it monitored and identified U.S. military aircraft that flew near disputed islands in the East China Sea and that it had the capability to exercise control over a new Chinese air defense zone in the area.

中國國防部週三表示，美軍飛機沿東海防空識別區東部邊緣南北方向往返飛行，中國軍隊進行了全程監視、及時識別，中方有能力對相關空域實施有效管控。

In Beijing's first public comment to the over-flight by two U.S. B-52 bombers, the ministry said U.S. military aircraft had flown on the eastern edge of the new Chinese zone, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the islands.

國防部稱，美軍飛機沿東海防空識別區東部邊緣南北方向往返飛行，位釣魚島以東約200公里（合125英里）活動。這是北京方面對美國兩架B-52轟炸機飛入爭議空域首次做出的公開評論。

The ministry said the flights in the area took place between 11 a.m. and 1:22 p.m. local time Tuesday. The time differs from that given by U.S. officials. The Chinese statement did not say how many aircraft there were, or specify the kind of plane.

國防部稱，上述美軍飛機的飛行時間是北京時間26日11時至13時22分。這個時間與美國官方給出的時間不同。中國國防部的聲明沒有透露美軍飛機的數量，也沒有具體說明飛機類別。

'The Chinese military was monitoring from beginning to end, and immediately identified and ascertained the category of the U.S. aircraft, ' Chinese defense ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said in a statement faxed to The Wall Street Journal and other news organizations.

中國國防部發言人耿雁生在傳真給《華爾街日報》(The Wall Street Journal)和其他新聞機構的聲明中稱，中國軍隊進行了全程監視、及時識別，判明瞭美方飛機類別。

Mr. Geng also said China will identify all aircraft entering the zone and has the capability to exercise 'effective control' of the 'relevant airspace.'

耿雁生還表示，中國將對防空識別區內的所有航空器的活動進行識別。中方有能力對相關空域實施有效管控。

China announced Saturday that it set up a new Air Defense Identification Zone, or ADIZ, covering disputed islands that are controlled by Japan but claimed by both Beijing and Tokyo. That prompted protests from the U.S. and Japan, which criticized the Chinese action for escalating tensions over the islands. Analysts have said that the new zone and an increase in marine patrols around the islands over the past year are part of an attempt by China to call into question Japan's control over the islands.

中國上週六宣佈劃設防空識別區。該區域覆蓋的爭議島嶼由日本控制，但中日雙方均稱對其擁有主權。中國的這一舉動引發了美國與日本的抗議，美日兩國批評中國的行動令爭議島嶼的緊張態勢升級。分析人士已經表示，新的防空識別區以及過去一年爭議島嶼附近海上巡邏次數增加，都是中國質疑日本對爭議島嶼控制權的表現。

As part of the new zone, China published rules requiring that all aircraft identify themselves and their flight plans to Chinese authorities upon entering the zone, which overlaps with similar ones established by Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

作爲新防空識別區的一部分，中國還公佈了相關規則，要求所有進入識別區的航空器通報其身份與飛行計劃。這一識別區與日本、韓國以及臺灣設定的類似區域存在重疊的地方。

U.S. officials said two American B-52 bombers flew from Guam to the East China Sea and back, crossing into the new Chinese zone without notifying Chinese authorities at around 7 p.m. ET on Monday. That is 8 a.m. Tuesday in China. It was not immediately clear why there was a discrepancy between the timings for the flights in the two sides' accounts.

美國官員稱，兩架美國B-52轟炸機從關島起飛，飛過東中國海（中國稱東海）上空並返回。在沒有通知中國政府的情況下，兩家轟炸機在美東時間週一晚上大約7點（北京時間週二早上8點）進入中國新劃設的防空識別區。目前尚不清楚爲何中美雙方對飛行時間的描述會存在差異。

U.S. officials said there was no attempt by the Chinese military to contact the B-52s.

美國官員表示，中國軍方沒有試圖與上述兩架轟炸機進行聯繫。