Vietnam is reported to have discreetly started dredging work on a disputed reef in the South China Sea in an apparent move to showcase its claims against the bigger rival, China. Satellite images show activities by Hanoi on Ladd Reef in the Spratly Islands, which is feared to trigger Beijing’s anger.
據(jù)報(bào)道，越南正悄悄地在南海的一個(gè)充滿(mǎn)爭(zhēng)議的島礁上開(kāi)挖，顯然是想向比其強(qiáng)大的鄰國(guó)——中國(guó)宣告主權(quán)。衛(wèi)星圖片顯示，越南正在該群島的日積礁上活動(dòng)，此舉可能引起中國(guó)的不滿(mǎn)。
The reef, which is also claimed by Taiwan, is located on the southwestern fringe of the island- where Vietnam already has a lighthouse and a small military outpost.
日積礁位于南沙群島的西南邊緣，除越南外，臺(tái)灣也曾聲稱(chēng)對(duì)其擁有主權(quán)。越南已經(jīng)在這兒修建了一座燈塔，并部署了一個(gè)小型軍事前哨。
Satellite pictures, provided by US-based satellite firm, Planet Labs on 30 November, show newly dug channels between the lagoon and open sea as well as several vessels in a carved out embankment along the reef’s edge.
美國(guó)一家衛(wèi)星公司Planet Labs 于11月30日提供的衛(wèi)星照片圖像顯示，在日積礁海灣與外海之間，已經(jīng)出現(xiàn)一個(gè)新開(kāi)挖的航道，有幾艘挖泥船正在島礁外圍施工。
Whether the vessels deployed there belong to Vietnam is not clearly visible in the images. But, it is thought that Hanoi is unlikely to let any other claimant to carry out construction work at the reef.
從圖片上難以清楚判斷這些挖泥船是否屬于越南，不過(guò)，據(jù)說(shuō)越南不允許其他國(guó)家在日積礁施工。
It could also not be ascertained why Hanoi is carrying out dredging work on the reef, but it is reported that such similar activity in the past has led to more widespread construction work on other reefs.
至于施工的目的，目前也不能完全確定，但報(bào)道稱(chēng)，過(guò)去也有類(lèi)似的開(kāi)挖工程，主要是為了在其它島礁上進(jìn)行更大規(guī)模的建設(shè)工程。
"We can see that, they are rapidly improving their defenses," Trevor Hollingsbee, a retired naval intelligence analyst with Britain’s defense ministry told Reuters. "They’re doing everything they can to fix any vulnerabilities - and that outpost at Ladd Reef does look a vulnerability."
前英國(guó)國(guó)防部海軍情報(bào)分析員特雷弗.霍靈斯比在接受路透社采訪時(shí)表示，“我們可以發(fā)現(xiàn)，越南在迅速的加固島礁的防務(wù)，日積礁上的前哨顯得很虛弱，越南在盡全力鞏固日積礁的防衛(wèi)?！?BR> Vietnam is yet to officially comment on its activity.
越南國(guó)防部尚未對(duì)此作任何評(píng)論。
Earlier in August, Vietnam had equipped several islands with mobile rocket artillery launchers that were said to be capable of striking China and its vessels across the strategic waterway.
早在今年8月，越南在南沙群島的數(shù)個(gè)島礁上設(shè)置了機(jī)動(dòng)火箭炮裝置，據(jù)稱(chēng)中國(guó)占據(jù)的南沙群島的島礁和通航要道在火箭炮的射程之內(nèi)。
However, it is not clear how far Hanoi’s activity on the reef would go this time, said Greg Poling, aSouth China Sea expert at Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies. He believes it could just be an attempt by Hanoi to improve access for supply ships and fishing boats, rather than an objective to renovate the island to use it as a base.
美國(guó)智庫(kù)戰(zhàn)略與國(guó)際問(wèn)題研究中心南海問(wèn)題專(zhuān)家克雷格.波林則表示，日積礁上的施工將達(dá)到什么程度尚不明確，他認(rèn)為越南可能只是希望提升該島對(duì)來(lái)往船只和漁民的補(bǔ)給能力，而不是建立一個(gè)新的基地。
He added that Ladd Reef could also, in theory, play a role in helping Vietnam’s defend its claims in the nearby Spratly Island, where a runway is being improved and new hangars are built.
波林還表示，日積礁可能對(duì)越占南沙島礁的防衛(wèi)理論上有所幫助，越南正在島礁上建造新的跑道和機(jī)庫(kù)。
"Vietnam’s knows it can’t compete with China but it does want to improve its ability to keep an eye on them," Reuters quoted Poling as saying.
路透社援引波林的話(huà)說(shuō)，“越南知道他們與中國(guó)無(wú)法抗衡，但還是希望提升對(duì)南沙島礁的監(jiān)控能力?！?BR> Vietnam has long been anxious if renewed Chinese military action would target Vietnam and drive the country off its 21 holding in the Spratly Islands.
長(zhǎng)期以來(lái)，越南都在擔(dān)心中國(guó)憑借日益增長(zhǎng)的海上軍事實(shí)力將他們從目前所占21個(gè)南沙島礁上趕走。
據(jù)報(bào)道，越南正悄悄地在南海的一個(gè)充滿(mǎn)爭(zhēng)議的島礁上開(kāi)挖，顯然是想向比其強(qiáng)大的鄰國(guó)——中國(guó)宣告主權(quán)。衛(wèi)星圖片顯示，越南正在該群島的日積礁上活動(dòng)，此舉可能引起中國(guó)的不滿(mǎn)。
The reef, which is also claimed by Taiwan, is located on the southwestern fringe of the island- where Vietnam already has a lighthouse and a small military outpost.
日積礁位于南沙群島的西南邊緣，除越南外，臺(tái)灣也曾聲稱(chēng)對(duì)其擁有主權(quán)。越南已經(jīng)在這兒修建了一座燈塔，并部署了一個(gè)小型軍事前哨。
Satellite pictures, provided by US-based satellite firm, Planet Labs on 30 November, show newly dug channels between the lagoon and open sea as well as several vessels in a carved out embankment along the reef’s edge.
美國(guó)一家衛(wèi)星公司Planet Labs 于11月30日提供的衛(wèi)星照片圖像顯示，在日積礁海灣與外海之間，已經(jīng)出現(xiàn)一個(gè)新開(kāi)挖的航道，有幾艘挖泥船正在島礁外圍施工。
Whether the vessels deployed there belong to Vietnam is not clearly visible in the images. But, it is thought that Hanoi is unlikely to let any other claimant to carry out construction work at the reef.
從圖片上難以清楚判斷這些挖泥船是否屬于越南，不過(guò)，據(jù)說(shuō)越南不允許其他國(guó)家在日積礁施工。
It could also not be ascertained why Hanoi is carrying out dredging work on the reef, but it is reported that such similar activity in the past has led to more widespread construction work on other reefs.
至于施工的目的，目前也不能完全確定，但報(bào)道稱(chēng)，過(guò)去也有類(lèi)似的開(kāi)挖工程，主要是為了在其它島礁上進(jìn)行更大規(guī)模的建設(shè)工程。
"We can see that, they are rapidly improving their defenses," Trevor Hollingsbee, a retired naval intelligence analyst with Britain’s defense ministry told Reuters. "They’re doing everything they can to fix any vulnerabilities - and that outpost at Ladd Reef does look a vulnerability."
前英國(guó)國(guó)防部海軍情報(bào)分析員特雷弗.霍靈斯比在接受路透社采訪時(shí)表示，“我們可以發(fā)現(xiàn)，越南在迅速的加固島礁的防務(wù)，日積礁上的前哨顯得很虛弱，越南在盡全力鞏固日積礁的防衛(wèi)?！?BR> Vietnam is yet to officially comment on its activity.
越南國(guó)防部尚未對(duì)此作任何評(píng)論。
Earlier in August, Vietnam had equipped several islands with mobile rocket artillery launchers that were said to be capable of striking China and its vessels across the strategic waterway.
早在今年8月，越南在南沙群島的數(shù)個(gè)島礁上設(shè)置了機(jī)動(dòng)火箭炮裝置，據(jù)稱(chēng)中國(guó)占據(jù)的南沙群島的島礁和通航要道在火箭炮的射程之內(nèi)。
However, it is not clear how far Hanoi’s activity on the reef would go this time, said Greg Poling, aSouth China Sea expert at Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies. He believes it could just be an attempt by Hanoi to improve access for supply ships and fishing boats, rather than an objective to renovate the island to use it as a base.
美國(guó)智庫(kù)戰(zhàn)略與國(guó)際問(wèn)題研究中心南海問(wèn)題專(zhuān)家克雷格.波林則表示，日積礁上的施工將達(dá)到什么程度尚不明確，他認(rèn)為越南可能只是希望提升該島對(duì)來(lái)往船只和漁民的補(bǔ)給能力，而不是建立一個(gè)新的基地。
He added that Ladd Reef could also, in theory, play a role in helping Vietnam’s defend its claims in the nearby Spratly Island, where a runway is being improved and new hangars are built.
波林還表示，日積礁可能對(duì)越占南沙島礁的防衛(wèi)理論上有所幫助，越南正在島礁上建造新的跑道和機(jī)庫(kù)。
"Vietnam’s knows it can’t compete with China but it does want to improve its ability to keep an eye on them," Reuters quoted Poling as saying.
路透社援引波林的話(huà)說(shuō)，“越南知道他們與中國(guó)無(wú)法抗衡，但還是希望提升對(duì)南沙島礁的監(jiān)控能力?！?BR> Vietnam has long been anxious if renewed Chinese military action would target Vietnam and drive the country off its 21 holding in the Spratly Islands.
長(zhǎng)期以來(lái)，越南都在擔(dān)心中國(guó)憑借日益增長(zhǎng)的海上軍事實(shí)力將他們從目前所占21個(gè)南沙島礁上趕走。