美國開始少談南海航行自由行動

US efforts to contest maritime claims by Beijing in the South China Sea remain unchanged under the administration of Donald Trump, according to a senior US naval officer.

美國海軍一名高階軍官表示，在唐納德·特朗普(Donald Trump)政府主政下，美國在南中國海挑戰中國海上主權聲索的努力保持不變。

But while the US is continuing “freedom of navigation operations” (Fonops) by warships, the country’s military is being quieter about the strategy.

但是，儘管美國繼續出動軍艦進行“航行自由行動”(FONOPS)，美國軍方對這一戰略說得更少。

Speaking during a visit to China, Admiral Scott Swift, commander of the US Pacific Fleet, confirmed the policy of talking less about efforts to challenge China’s maritime claims.

美國太平洋艦隊(US Pacific Fleet)司令斯科特?斯威夫特海軍上將(Admiral Scott Swift)在訪華期間發表講話時，證實了少談美國挑戰中國海上主張的政策。

“I think it’s a very positive step that current policy?.?.?.?is that we’re not going to talk about freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea,” he said in an interview aboard the USS Sterett, a destroyer that visited the Chinese Southern Naval base in Zhanjiang last week.

“我認為這是非常積極的一步，當前政策……是我們不談論在南中國海進行的航行自由行動，”他在“斯泰雷特號”驅逐艦(USS Sterett)上接受採訪時表示。該艦上週訪問了中國南海艦隊總部所在地湛江軍港。

Such operations typically involve a US warship sailing inside a contested claim.

這些行動通常涉及一艘美國軍艦在有爭議海域航行。

Admiral Swift declined to discuss details of a May 24 challenge by a US destroyer, in which the USS Dewey sailed within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island claimed by China, known as Mischief Reef, sparking protests from Beijing.

斯威夫特拒絕討論美方在5月24日發起的一次挑戰的細節，當時美國“杜威號”驅逐艦(USS Dewey)在美濟礁(Mischief Reef) 12海里範圍內航行，引發北京方面的抗議。

Under the administration of Barack Obama, the US had begun to publicise such operations, partly as a way to reassure its allies in the region, said Bonnie Glaser, an expert on China at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

華盛頓智庫——國際戰略研究中心(Center for Strategic and International Studies)中國問題專家葛萊儀(Bonnie Glaser)表示，美國是在巴拉克·奧巴馬(Barack Obama)政府主政期間開始宣傳這類行動的，部分是為了讓地區盟友安心。

Under the Trump administration, she said, “a decision was made to not discuss” Fonops.

她表示，在特朗普政府領導下，“有關方面決定不討論” 航行自由行動。

“Fonops are conducted globally and have been for decades. They are not intended to be announced. They enforce freedom of navigation,” she added.

“航行自由行動在全球範圍進行，幾十年來一直如此。它們本來不是需要宣佈的事情。它們意在強制執行航行自由。”

Since 2013 the US has conducted an average of two such operations per year against Chinese claims, according to a US Navy spokesperson. “I don’t see how those operations in the South China Sea should be viewed from a navy perspective as any more consequential than they are anywhere else,” said Admiral Swift. The quieter approach equated to a softer US posture in the region, he added.

美國海軍一名發言人稱，自2013年以來，美國每年平均針對中國的主權主張進行兩次此類行動。“從海軍的視角看，我看不出在南中國海進行的這些行動應該被視為比其他任何地方的行動更加舉足輕重，”斯威夫特表示。他補充說，少說的態度相當於美國在該地區採取更柔和的姿態。

The number of days spent by US ships in the South China Sea was on track to exceed 900 in 2017 — higher than the long-term average of 600-700 days — he said. “The policy is consistent between the two administrations,” he added.

他介紹說，2017年，美國各軍艦累計將在南中國海航行900天以上，高於每年600至700天的長期平均水平。“兩屆政府之間的政策是一致的，”他補充說。

China’s claims to virtually the entire South China Sea, and US efforts to push back on them, remain an irritant in Beijing’s relations with Washington. Over the past few years China has buttressed its claims by dredging seven artificial islands from the sea floor.

中國提出的幾乎覆蓋整個南海的主權主張，以及美國反制這些主張的努力，仍是中美關係中的一根刺。過去幾年裡，中國用吹填法造出了七座人工島，藉此支撐自己的主權聲索。

The US has accused China of militarising the sea by stationing weaponry and airfields on the islands, although Beijing insists its intentions are peaceful.

美國指責中國在這些人造島上部署武器，建造機場，從而使南海軍事化，儘管北京方面堅稱其意圖是和平的。

The ultimate goal of US policy in the South China Sea, was to demonstrate “strength through presence”, Admiral Swift said.

斯威夫特表示，美國在南海政策的最終目標是“通過存在來展示力量”。

However, he added, the operations were unlikely to deter Beijing in the immediate future: “I don’t think anyone is expecting a huge reversal. This is going to take time.”

不過，他補充說，這些行動不太可能在最近的將來阻止北京：“我不認為會有人期待巨大逆轉。這將需要時間。”

The three-day visit by the USS Sterett is the first port call by a US warship on the Chinese mainland since August 2016, and suggests military co-operation between the US and China remains unaffected by political tensions.

“斯泰雷特號”艦在湛江訪問三天，是自2016年8月以來美國軍艦首次訪問中國內地，似乎表明美中之間的軍事合作沒有受到政治緊張的影響。