美防長視察南中國海美國航母
BBC News –The US DefenceSecretary, Ash Carter, has visited an American aircraft carrier in thecontested waters of the South China Sea.
BBC新聞- 美防長卡特視察停泊在南中國海爭議水域的一艘美國航母.
The visit came as China said one of itshighest-ranking military officials had also visited the region recently.
此次訪問恰逢中國表示其最高級別的軍事官員之一近期也視察了該地區.
Tensions have escalated in the South ChinaSea in recent years, with China steadily expanding its military presence in theregion.
近幾年南中國海緊張態勢升級，中國穩步擴張其在該地區的軍事勢力．
This week the US and the Philippines agreedto conduct joint patrols there.
本週，美國和菲律賓同意在該地區進行聯合巡邏．
China claims most of the sea as its own andhas become increasingly assertive.
中國宣稱南中國海大部分海域屬其所有，並變得越來越強硬．
Ash Carter arrived on board the USS John CStennis on Friday and gave a statement alongside Philippine Defense SecretaryVoltaire Gazmin.
卡特週五登上斯坦尼斯號航母，與菲律賓防長加茲明並肩發表聲明．
He said that the US wanted to work togetherwith China and that the trip was meant to show support for allies, rather thanprovoke Beijing.
他說，美國希望與中國合作，此次南中國海之行是爲了表示對盟友的支持，而不是爲了向北京挑釁．
What's new is not an American carrier inthis region, he said. "What's new is the context of tension which exists,which we want to reduce."
“新的情況並不是一艘美國航母出現在該地區．”他說．“新的情況是業已存在，我們希望減少的緊張形勢產生的環境．”
The US has expanded its support for alliesin the South Pacific in recent months, following China's military build-up -which includes the construction of islands with airstrips.
因爲此前中國的軍事建設活動－包括修建帶簡易機場的島嶼，美國近幾個月擴大了對其南太平洋盟友的支持．
China, which claims a wide swathe of thesea, has been reclaiming land around reefs.
中國對南中國海大片海域宣稱主權，一直在島礁周圍填海造地．
The US and other countries have called forthe halt of such activities, accusing China of militarisation but Beijing hasinsisted that the construction is for civilian purposes.
美國和其他國家呼籲停止這樣的活動，指責中國的軍事化行動，但北京堅稱這些建設活動爲民用目的．
Last week, US military officials announcedthey would send $40m in military assistance to the Philippines to increaseintelligence-sharing, surveillance and naval patrols.
上週，美國軍方官員宣佈，將爲菲律賓送去４千萬美元軍援，加強情報分享，監測和海上巡邏．
