The head of the U.S. Pacific Command, Admiral Timothy Keating, is in China for a visit he says is aimed at further strengthening military relations, a task he personally began when he first visited China last May. He also acknowledges there are still points of contention.
美军太平洋司令部司令、海军上将基廷正在中国访问。他说，此行目的在于进一步加强美中两国军事关系，这是他去年5月首次访问中国时开始的使命。他同时承认双方之间仍然存在一些矛盾。
Admiral Keating said the overriding theme of his visit is to build confidence and trust with his Chinese counterparts. In comments to reporters Tuesday, he said he is developing a realistic relationship with General Guo Boxiong, the vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission.
基廷海军上将说，他此行的主题是和中国军方将领建立互信。他在对记者发表讲话时说，他正在同中国中央军委副主席郭伯雄将军发展务实的关系。
"We're developing, I believe, an honest and true friendship, Admiral Keating said. "I can pick up the phone and call some of these guys. General Guo, he's going to be a pal. We've got differences. He acknowledges them. I acknowledge them. But we're working through them."
他说：“我们在发展我相信是一种真诚的友谊。我能够拿起电话跟这些人当中的几个人通话。郭将军会是一位好朋友。我们之间有分歧。他承认这些分歧。我也承认这些分歧。但是我们在设法跨越这些分歧。”
Keating praised Chinese military capabilities as "impressive." He says the United States is carefully watching China's military development.
基廷称赞中国军事能力令人印象深刻。他说，美国在很注意地观察中国的军事发展。
"We are concerned about development of long-range cruise and ballistic missiles. We're concerned about anti-satellite technology, execution thereof. We're concerned about area-denial weapons," he said.
他说：“ 我们关注远程巡航弹道导弹方面的研发。我们关注反卫星技术及其使用。我们关注区域封锁武器。”
He says the U.S. is not as interested in knowing exactly what the Chinese military is capable of, as it is in knowing why and in what situation it would use certain capabilities.
他说，美国对了解中国军方究竟有什么能力的兴趣程度不如了解中国在什么原因以及什么情况下会使用某些军事能力。
Two issues dominated Keating's news conference - Taiwan, and China's decision in November to deny a Hong Kong port call by a U.S. carrier group.
在基廷的记者会上占主导地位的两大问题分别是台湾问题和中国去年11月拒绝美国航空母舰编队停靠香港的事情。
China regards Taiwan a part of Chinese territory, and has threatened to use military force to bring about reunification. The United States agrees with Beijing that there is only "one China," but says it would help defend Taiwan, under certain circumstances, if it were attacked.
中国把台湾视为中国领土的一部分，并且发出过使用武力实现统一的威胁。美国同意北京的只有一个中国的立场，但是表示一旦台湾遭到攻击，美国将在某些情况下协助保卫台湾。
The U.S. sale of defensive weaponry to Taiwan is one of those areas of acknowledged disagreement between Beijing and Washington. Keating says the U.S. position remains unchanged, and he warned against any actions that would destabilize the status quo.
美国向台湾出售防御性武器是北京和华盛顿之间承认的分歧之一。基廷说，美国的立场仍然没有改变。他警告切勿采取任何将会破坏稳定现状的举动。
"There is one China," he noted. "We at the U.S. Pacific Command are particularly interested in whatever elements could be viewed as destabilizing."
他说：“我们的政策是一个中国。我们在美军太平洋司令部尤为关注可能被视为破坏稳定的任何因素。”
He told reporters U.S. leaders were unhappy when Chinese officials denied permission last November for the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk to make a port call in Hong Kong. He says he was assured that the Chinese will give more favorable consideration to an upcoming request for a ship visit to Hong Kong.
他对记者说，去年11月中国官员拒绝美国海军“小鹰号”停靠香港的时候，美国领导人感到不悦。他说，中方将对美方即将提出的军舰访问香港的请求给予更多善意的考虑。
From Beijing, the U.S. military leader also travels to Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.
基廷在离开北京以后将前往上海、广州和香港访问。 |