At the ASEAN Defense Ministers meeting in Hanoi, Chinese Minister of Defense Liang Guanglie invited his U.S. counterpart Defense Secretary Robert Gates to visit China, in what seems like an easing of military tensions in the region.
Diplomacy appears to be making some progress in reducing tensions at the ASEAN Plus Eight defense ministers' meeting. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations invited the United States, China, Japan, Russia and other regional powers to address security issues in the Pacific.
在东盟加八国国防部长的会议上，外交举措似乎为缓解紧张关系起到一定作用。东南亚国家联盟邀请美国、中国、日本、俄罗斯以及其他区域内大国一同商讨太平洋地区的安全问题。
China resumes military relations
By inviting Defense Secretary Robert Gates to visit next year, China is resuming high-level military relations with the United States. Earlier in the year, China suspended military contacts because of U.S. planned arms sales to Taiwan.
中国邀请美国国防部长盖茨于明年访问中国，这将恢复中美两国的高层军事交流。今年早些时候，中国由于美国对台军售而终止了与美国的军事接触。
The Chinese Defense Minister also said talks with Japan's defense officials were positive. Tensions between the two countries have increased after a Chinese fishing boat collided with Japanese coast guard patrol ships in waters claimed by both sides.
中国国防部长梁光烈还说，与日本防卫省官员的会谈是有建设性的。中日两国的紧张关系有所升级，原因是一艘中国渔船与日本海上保安厅巡逻船相撞，事发地点位于有争议的钓鱼岛水域。
U.S. support for Southeast Asia
Earlier in the day, speaking to members of the military and students at the Vietnam National University in Hanoi, Secretary Gates sent a message to reassure Southeast Asia.
星期一早些时候，盖茨在河内的越南国立大学对军官和学生们发表讲话时，对东南亚地区再度做出保证。
"I think all Asia can be confident that the U.S. intends to remain engaged in Asia as we have been for so many scores of years before and that we intend to be an active party, not only in economic and political matters but also in defense and security matters," Gates said.
盖茨说：“我想整个亚洲都应当有信心，美国有意与亚洲继续保持接触，就像我们数十年来一直做的那样，我们也有意作为一个积极的参与者，不仅仅在经济和政治事务上，也包括国防和安全事务。”
The United States is concerned territorial disputes over small island chains in the region could hurt access to one of the world's busiest sea lanes.
美国担心，由于对东南亚地区一些群岛的领土问题存在争议，这可能会影响到这里世界上最繁忙的海上通道之一。
Beijing says its claims over the Spratly and Paracel islands are a "core national interest." Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia also claim all or part of the islands. Although largely uninhabited, the islands are believed to sit atop vast reserves of oil and natural gas.
北京表示，中国对南沙群岛和西沙群岛拥有的主权涉及“核心利益”。台湾、越南、菲律宾、文莱和马来西亚也都声称拥有这些岛屿的全部或部分主权。
Solution to sea disputes
The United States says it has a national interest in freedom of navigation in international waters. Mr. Gates said Asian sea disputes should be resolved peacefully through negotiations.
美国表示，国际水域的航行自由是美国的国家利益。盖茨说，亚洲水域争端应当通过谈判得到和平解决。
The defense secretary also says by acting together in a multilateral organization like ASEAN, smaller Asian countries can better resolve regional security issues.
盖茨还说，以东盟这类多国组织为框架进行集体行动，亚洲较小的国家能够更好地解决区域安全问题。
"Increasingly we find that relying exclusively on bilateral relationships is not enough," said Gates. "We need multi-lateral institutions in order to confront the most important security challenges in the region."
盖茨说：“我们越来越认识到，仅仅依靠双边合作是不够的。我们需要多边机制来面对区域内最重要的安全挑战”。
During his two-day visit, Gates will meet with several Asian defense ministers who want U.S. support to counter the growth of China as a regional power. |