兩中國戰機南中國海上空攔截美軍偵察機

Two Chinese fighter jets carried out an “unsafe” intercept of a US military aircraft that was flying over the South China Sea, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.

美國國防部週三表示，兩架中國戰鬥機對飛越南中國海(South China Sea，中國稱南海)上空的美國軍機進行了“不安全”攔截。

US defence officials said a US maritime reconnaissance aircraft was flying a “routine patrol” and was in international airspace on Tuesday when it was intercepted by two Chinese tactical fighters.

美國國防部官員表示，週二，一架美國海上偵察機在國際領空內“例行巡邏”時，遭到兩架中國戰術戰鬥機的攔截。

“Initial reports characterised the incident as unsafe,” a Pentagon statement said.

美國國防部一份聲明稱：“最初的報告將此次事件定性爲不安全。”

The incident comes at a time of increased tensions in the South China Sea ahead of a trip to the region next week by US President Barack Obama when he will visit Vietnam, which is becoming a closer American partner, and Japan.

此際，南中國海緊張關係升級，美國總統巴拉克•奧巴馬(Barack Obama)下週將訪問亞洲，屆時他將訪問越南以及日本。越南正成爲美國更親密的合作伙伴。

It also comes weeks ahead of an expected ruling by an international court that could question some of the expansive territorial claims that China has made in the South China Sea.

幾周之後，預計一所國際法庭將作出一項裁決，可能會質疑中國對廣袤的南中國海部分海域提出的主權聲索。

The US says it is neutral on specific Chinese claims in the South China Sea but is using an increased presence in the area to push back against efforts by China to claim control of the seas surrounding many of the small islands and land features.

美國表示，美國對中國在南中國海的特別主權聲索保持中立，但目前美國正加大在該地區的影響力，以擊退中國對環繞很多小島和“地物”(land features)的海域聲索主權的努力。

The Pentagon said it was addressing the latest incident through diplomatic and military channels. It also said that over the past year, after the US and China signed an agreement about how to deal with air-to-air encounters, there had been “improvements” in the professionalism of Chinese pilots.

美國國防部表示，正通過外交和軍事渠道解決最新事件。美國國防部還表示，過去一年，在美國與中國就如何解決空對空相遇行爲簽署協議後，中國飛行員的專業性有所“提高”。