新版中國護照內頁中國地圖引越南抗議
Beijing has included its South China Sea territorial claims on maps printed inside new Chinese passports, infuriating at least one of its neighbours.
中國政府在新版中國護照內頁印刷的地圖上將南中國海劃入自己的版圖，此舉至少激怒了它的一個鄰國。
Vietnam has formally complained to Beijing about the new passports. “The Vietnamese side has taken note of this matter and the two sides are discussing it, but so far there has been no result,” said Vietnam’s embassy in Beijing.
越南已正式就新版中國護照向北京方面提出抗議。越南駐華大使館表示：“越南方面已注意到這個問題，越中雙方正就此展開討論，但迄今爲止討論還沒有取得結果。”
Other countries that have clashed with China over the resource-rich region are also worried that Beijing is seeking implicit recognition of its territorial claims through the passports, which would be stamped every time a Chinese citizen visits. “This is viewed as quite a serious escalation because China is issuing millions of these new passports and adult passports are valid for 10 years,” said one senior Beijing-based diplomat who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue. “If Beijing were to change its position later, it would have to recall all those passports.”
其它與中國圍繞資源豐富的南中國海地區發生過沖突的國家，也擔心北京方面通過發放新版護照來謀求它國對其領土主張的默認——中國公民入境這些國家時，它們要在該公民的護照上蓋章。一位駐北京的高級外交官表示：“外界認爲，這意味着局勢嚴重升級，因爲中國正在發放無數的新版護照，而且成人的護照有效期長達10年。如果北京方面稍後改變立場，它就必須召回所有這些新版護照。”這位外交官要求不透露其姓名，因爲這個話題比較敏感。
Territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas have overshadowed Asia-Pacific summits attended by US President Barack Obama this week, with southeast Asian nations divided over how to respond to an increasingly assertive China.
南中國海和東中國海領土爭端給本週的亞太峯會蒙上了一層陰影。東南亞各國就如何應對日益強硬的中國產生了分歧。美國總統巴拉克?奧巴馬(Barack Obama)也出席了此次亞太峯會。
Beijing claims virtually the entire South China Sea. The claims are represented on Chinese maps by a “nine-dash line” that extends to the coastlines of the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia.
中國主張其對幾乎整個南中國海擁有主權。在中國地圖上，這一主張體現爲“九段線”。九段線一直延伸到菲律賓、文萊、馬來西亞、越南和印尼的海岸線附近。
The dashes enclose a region that is believed to be rich in undersea energy reserves and also incorporate the self-ruled island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory.
九段線將一大片據信海下能源儲量豐富的區域劃入中國版圖，也將北京方面聲稱爲其領土、目前處在自治狀態的臺灣劃了進來。
China’s ministry of public security oversees the design and issuance of the passports. The passports also include pictures of two tourist destinations on Taiwan.
中國公安部負責新版護照的設計和發放。新版護照上還印有臺灣兩個旅遊勝地的圖片。
“The map on the Chinese passport is not directed at any specific country,” the foreign ministry said. “China is willing to actively communicate with the relevant countries.”
中國外交部表示，中國護照上的地圖不針對任何特定國家，中國願積極與相關國家進行溝通。
Shi Yinhong, a professor of international affairs at Renmin University, said the decision to include the map was probably made at ministerial level rather than by China’s top leaders.
中國人民大學國際關係學院教授時殷弘表示，決定在護照上印刷地圖的很可能只是部級官員，而非最高層領導人。
