美國智庫稱中國在華陽礁建雷達塔

China appears to be building radar installations on contested reefs in the southern part of the South China Sea, according to satellite images released by a US think-tank, in a Move that could significantly boost Beijing’s surveillance capabilities.

一家美國智庫公佈的衛星圖像顯示，中國似乎正在位於南中國海南部的爭議島礁上佈置雷達裝置，此舉可能顯著提高北京方面的監視能力。

The Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies late on Monday published photographs that it said showed the development of high-frequency radar towers on Cuarteron Reef and several other Chinese-controlled features in the Spratly Islands.

位於華盛頓的戰略與國際問題研究中心(Center for Strategic and International Studies)週一晚間發佈圖片，稱這些圖片顯示在位於斯普拉特利羣島（Spratly Islands，中國稱南沙羣島）的華陽礁(Cuarteron Reef)及其他幾個中國控制的地物上，出現了高頻雷達塔。

It said that while Beijing’s recent construction of airstrips and deployment of anti-aircraft missiles in the South China Sea had caused concern, the apparent radar installations “will prove equally important to Beijing’s long-term strategy” because they “could significantly change the operational landscape in the South China Sea”.

該中心表示雖然最近北京方面在南中國海建設簡易機場、部署防空導彈已引起關注，但圖片中的雷達裝置“將證明對於北京的長期戰略同樣重要”，因爲它們“可能顯著地改變南中國海的軍事格局。”

In its analysis of the images from Cuarteron Reef, CSIS said that “two probable radar towers have been built on the northern portion of the feature, and a number of 65ft (20m) poles have been erected across a large section of the southern portion”.

戰略與國際問題研究中心對華陽礁圖像分析後表示，“在該地物的北部已建成兩座貌似雷達塔，而在南部大片地區樹立起了許多65英尺（20米）高的杆子。”

It continued: “These poles could be a high-frequency radar installation, which would significantly bolster China’s ability to monitor surface and air traffic across the southern portion of the South China Sea.”

該中心還表示：“這些杆子可能是高頻雷達裝置。該裝置將顯著加強中國對南中國海南部水面及空中交通的監控能力。”

Euan Graham, a security analyst at Sydney think-tank the Lowy Institute, said that as tensions grow between China and the US, as well as other claimants, the development of radar in the Spratlys would “change the balance” by giving Beijing a “surveillance capability in the southern part of the South China Sea”.

悉尼智庫洛伊國際政策研究所(Lowy Institute)的安全分析師尤安格雷厄姆(Euan Graham)表示，隨着中國與美國和其他聲索國之間緊張升級，在南沙羣島佈置雷達將賦予北京“對南中國海南部的監視能力”，這會“改變平衡”。

He said that from China’s perspective these islands would have a “natural function as listening posts to monitor air and surface traffic”, and that Beijing would consider the deployment of radar a “low-risk, non-provocative step”.

他表示從中國角度來看，這些島嶼具備“監聽站的天然功能，可以監視空中和海面交通”，北京方面會認爲部署雷達是“低風險，沒有挑釁性的一步”。

News of the possible radar development comes as Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, travels to the US to meet John Kerry, the secretary of state.

在中國可能部署雷達的新聞出現之時，中國外長王毅正前往美國會見美國國務卿約翰克里(John Kerry)。

A spokesman for the state department said on Monday that the US government would continue to “press China to de-escalate and to stop its militarisation”.

美國國務院發言人在週一表示，美國政府將繼續“敦促中國逐步降級緊張局勢，並停止軍事化。”

Beijing defended its recent activities in comments made before the images of the purported radar facilities were published.

在雷達裝置傳聞發佈以前，北京方面曾發表言論爲近期自己的活動辯護。

“China’s deployment of limited defence facilities on its own territory is its exercise of self-defence right to which a sovereign state is entitled under international law,” said a foreign ministry spokesman. “It has nothing to do with militarisation.”

中國外交部發言人表示：“中方在自己的領土上部署必要的國土防衛設施，是行使國際法賦予主權國家的自保權和自衛權。這與所謂的南海‘軍事化’沒有關係”。