菲律賓可能允許美國擴大駐軍

The United States is reportedly negotiating a deal with the Philippines to expand the U.S. military presence in the Pacific island nation. The Washington Post Thursday quoted officials from both governments as saying the negotiations are in the early stages, but that both sides are favorably inclined to a deal. The paper said the two sides are considering operating U.S. Navy ships from the Philippines, deploying troops on a rotational basis and staging more frequent joint exercises. But the deal is not expected to involve the creation of any U.S.-only military bases.

據報道，美國正與菲律賓商討一項協議，增加美國在這個太平洋島國的駐軍。據《華盛頓郵報》星期四援引兩國政府官員的話說，談判還處於初期階段，但雙方都傾向於達成協議。《華盛頓郵報》說，雙方將考慮在菲律賓駐紮美國海軍軍艦，定期輪換部署軍隊，以及更加頻繁地舉行聯合軍事演習。但預計協議不會涉及建立美軍自己的軍事基地。

About 600 U.S. special operation troops are currently stationed in the Philippines to advise local forces in their fight with al-Qaida-linked rebels. U.S. forces were tossed out of a large naval base in the country in 1992 when lawmakers failed to reach a deal to extend their stay. The report quotes unnamed Philippine officials as saying their priority is to strengthen maritime defenses, especially near the resource-rich South China Sea.

目前大約有600名美國特種部隊軍人駐紮在菲律賓，爲當地軍隊跟與基地組織有聯繫的反政府力量作戰提供諮詢。1992年，由於菲律賓國會未能達成延長美國駐軍的協議，美軍被迫從一個大型海軍基地撤出。這份報道援引一名未透露姓名的菲律賓官員的話說，他們的當務之急是加強海上防務，尤其是在自然資源豐富的南中國海。