美軍艦駛至南中國海永暑礁附近
An American warship on Tuesday morning sailed close to Fiery Cross Reef, a contested feature in the South China Sea, in the latest US pushback against Chinese claims in the disputed maritime region.
週二上午，一艘美國軍艦駛至南中國海爭議地物永暑礁(Fiery Cross Reef)附近。這是美國抵制中國對這一海上爭議地區主權聲索的最新舉動。
The Pentagon said the USS William P Lawrence had conducted a “routine freedom of navigation operation” near Fiery Cross, a feature in the Spratly island chain that is claimed by the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
五角大樓(Pentagon)稱，美國海軍“威廉•P•勞倫斯號”(USS William P Lawrence)導彈驅逐艦在永暑礁附近執行了一次“例行的航行自由行動”。永暑礁是斯普拉特利羣島（Spratly islands，中國稱南沙羣島）中菲律賓、臺灣和越南皆聲索主權的一處地物。
The reef is one of several features on which China has constructed runways as part of its effort to boost its ability to project military power in regional waters.
中國已在永暑礁等幾處地物上修建了飛機跑道，目的是提升對該地區海域投射軍事力量的能力。
“This operation challenged attempts by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam to restrict navigation rights around the features they claim, specifically that these three claimants purport to require prior permission or notification of transits through the territorial sea, contrary to international law,” said Commander Bill Urban, a Pentagon spokesman. “This operation demonstrates, as President Obama has stated, that the United States will fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows.”
“這次行動挑戰了中國、臺灣和越南限制其所聲索地物周邊航行權利的企圖，具體而言，這三個聲索方聲稱要求獲得事先許可、或者要求發出領海過境通知，這是違反國際法的。”五角大樓發言人、海軍中校比爾•厄本(Commander Bill Urban)表示，“這次行動顯示，正如奧巴馬(Obama)總統所言，美國將在國際法許可的一切範圍內飛行、航行及執行任務。”
The move comes as the Obama administration takes a tougher stance on China over its activities in the South China Sea.
美軍做出這一舉動之際，奧巴馬政府針對中國在南中國海的行動採取了更強硬的態度。
The White House has until recently been reluctant to take aggressive action in the region that could antagonise China and jeopardise other facets of the Sino-US relationship. But as China has ramped up construction of man-made islands, the US Navy has had more success in convincing the White House of the need for a more aggressive response.
直到不久前，美國白宮(White House)還不願在南中國海採取可能引起中國敵意並損及美中關係其他方面的激進行動。但是，隨着中國加快人工島嶼建設，美國海軍已更成功地讓白宮相信，做出更激進迴應是必要之舉。
The naval maneouver, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, comes as an international tribunal at The Hague prepares to rule on a case brought against China by the Philippines. This year China stepped up construction of runways on Subi Reef and Mischief Reef, complementing the runway at Fiery Cross, which is already operational.
這次海上行動是由《華爾街日報》(WSJ)率先報道的。與此同時，海牙的一個國際仲裁法庭正準備對菲律賓訴中國仲裁案做出裁決。今年，中國在渚碧礁(Subi Reef)和美濟礁(Mischief Reef)上加快飛機跑道建設速度，這兩處跑道對永暑礁上的跑道構成了補充。永暑礁上的跑道現已投入運行。
