巴基斯坦陸軍參謀長訪華牽動美印神經

Pakistan’s army chief was feted in Beijing this week on a visit that could heighten concerns in New Delhi and Washington over China’s intentions in South Asia.

巴基斯坦陸軍參謀長本週在北京得到款待，他的訪問可能加劇新德里和華盛頓方面對於中國在南亞意圖的擔憂。

The arrival of General Raheel Sharif in the Chinese capital on Monday — a day after India successfully tested an interceptor missile designed to destroy incoming nuclear capable missiles — follows a report by the Pentagon warning that China is seeking to establish a naval base in Pakistan.

拉希勒•謝里夫上將(General Raheel Sharif)本週一抵達中國首都的一天前，印度成功試射了一枚攔截導彈，其設計宗旨是摧毀來襲的可搭載核彈頭的導彈，而五角大樓最近一份報告警告稱，中國正尋求在巴基斯坦建立一個海軍基地。

The report, published last week, said China would “most likely seek to establish additional naval logistics hubs in countries with which it has a longstanding friendly relationship and similar strategic interests, such as Pakistan.”

上週發表的五角大樓報告稱，中國將“最有可能尋求在與其有着長期友好關係、且戰略利益相近的國家，如巴基斯坦，建立更多的海軍後勤樞紐。”

Chinese companies have helped Pakistan build the port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea, the centrepiece of the $46bn pledged by Beijing for infrastructure spending linking China to Pakistan, known as the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. Many observers believe that China will ultimately seek to use the port as a naval base.

中國企業已幫助巴基斯坦建設瀕臨阿拉伯海的瓜達爾港(port of Gwadar)，該港是北京方面承諾投資興建的460億美元“中巴經濟走廊”的核心項目。許多觀察人士相信，中國最終將尋求使用該港作爲一個海軍基地。

However, both Pakistani and Chinese officials said their understanding of the economic corridor is that it is limited to economic co-operation and has no security component.

然而，巴基斯坦和中國兩國官員都表示，他們對經濟走廊的理解是，它僅限於經濟合作，沒有安全成分。

Andrew Small, an expert on China Pakistan relations at the German Marshall Fund, said it was reasonable to expect some sort of basing arrangement “Having crossed the threshold with the Djibouti [in the Horn of Africa] deal, Pakistan would be a very obvious choice, and it appears that the PLAN (People’s Liberation Army Navy) views it that way.”

德國馬歇爾基金會(German Marshall Fund)的中巴關係專家馬安洲(Andrew Small)表示，預期會有某種設立基地的安排是合理的，原因是“（在中國在非洲之角的）吉布提越過門檻後，巴基斯坦將是一個顯而易見的選擇，而且看起來解放軍海軍是這樣認爲的”。

Such a step would be sure to anger India, and raise questions in Washington. Xu Jin, a professor of international relations at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, said that the Chinese-Pakistani friendship is “the closest thing China has to an alliance.”

這一步肯定會激怒印度，並在華盛頓引發問題。北京中國社會科學院世界經濟與政治研究所國際政治理論研究室主任徐進表示，中巴友誼是“中國最接近聯盟的關係”。

While in Beijing, Gen Sharif met Chinese premier Li Keqiang and held talks with Fan Changlong, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, which oversees the country’s military.

在北京期間，拉希勒上將會晤了中國總理李克強，並與中國最高軍事領導機構——中央軍事委員會的副主席範長龍舉行會談。

Pakistan has long viewed China has a counterweight to its historic enemy, India. There are concerns in Islamabad that this week’s interceptor missile test may tip the balance of power between the two nuclear armed neighbours in India’s favour.

巴基斯坦一直把中國視爲制衡其宿敵印度的因素。目前伊斯蘭堡有人擔心，本週的攔截導彈試驗可能使兩個核鄰國之間的實力平衡向印度傾斜。

“In times of difficulty, Pakistan has always turned to its close friend China for help. I am certain the Indian test came up for detailed discussions between General Raheel Sharif and the Chinese,” a senior Pakistani foreign ministry official said.

“在困難的時候，巴基斯坦總是求助於其密友中國。我敢肯定，拉希勒•謝里夫上將和中方之間的詳細討論將談到印度進行的試驗，”巴基斯坦外交部一名資深官員表示。

Gen Sharif’s visit to China follows a recent squabble between Pakistan and Washington over congressional objections to US funding for eight new F-16 fighter jets meant for sale to Islamabad.

拉希勒上將訪華之前，巴基斯坦最近和華盛頓方面發生爭吵，癥結是美國國會反對由美國爲其計劃售予巴基斯坦的八架新型F-16戰鬥機提供資金。

Following the spat, Pakistani officials said they were considering alternatives such as the Chinese J-10 for future purchases. Pakistan is already by far China’s main client for arms exports.

發生爭吵後，巴基斯坦官員曾表示，他們正考慮未來採購替代戰鬥機，如中國的殲-10（J-10，北約代號：Firebird）。巴基斯坦已經是中國遙遙領先的主要軍售客戶。

“The timing of this visit is very significant,” said Masood Khan, Pakistan’s former ambassador to China and now head of the Islamabad Strategic Studies Institute (ISSI). “There’s a long history of China’s co-operation with Pakistan.”

“這次訪問的時機非常重大，”巴基斯坦前駐華大使、現在領導伊斯蘭堡戰略研究所(ISSI)的馬蘇德•汗(Masood Khan)表示。“中巴合作具有悠久歷史。”