謀求提高聲望，中國推動海上合作研究
An increase in Sino-foreign joint maritime research, particularly in the disputed South China Sea, is helping China improve its regional reputation by contributing to the health and utility of international waterways, analysts say.
China helped Malaysia with atmospheric studies on the high seas last year, among other marine science projects, reports from Malaysia say.
This month and next China will work with the Philippines on exploring an underwater plateau, and Beijing's official Xinhua News Agency said a vessel of Chinese scientists had reached port in Myanmar January 17 for joint oceanographic research.
Analysts say these cases, and others, let China and its partners find valuable marine resources while casting Beijing as a trustworthy steward of shared oceans in Asia.
Since a world arbitration court ruled against the scope of China's claim in mid-2016, Beijing has improved economic ties with other claimants to put the legal dispute behind them.中國增強與其他國家合作進行海洋研究，尤其是在主權有爭議的南中國海展開合作。分析人士說，中國的這些活動能幫助改進國際海域的海洋健康，也有助於增進中國在這一地區的聲望。
據馬來西亞媒體報道，中國去年幫助了馬來西亞展開在遠海上空的大氣層研究和其他海洋科學研究項目。
今年1月和2月，中國將與菲律賓一道探測海底高原。
中國官方的新華社報道，中國一艘科學研究船1月17日抵達緬甸，準備展開一項聯合海洋科學研究。
分析人士們說，這些活動一方面讓中國和那些夥伴國合作尋找有價值的海洋資源，另一方面又有助於北京爲自己樹立一個值得信賴的亞太共享海域守衛者的形象。
自從2016年7月一個國際仲裁庭在南中國海問題上做出對中國不利的裁決以來，北京改善了跟其他申索國的經貿關係，好讓這些國家不再關注這一法律爭執。
