A speech made by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday caught the attention of the Western media. Duterte said that China's claim of sovereignty over the waters surrounding and airspace above newly-built islands in the South China Sea "is wrong" and Beijing should not urge others to leave those areas to avoid possible clashes.
菲律宾总统杜特尔特星期二的一个讲话受到西方媒体关注，据报道，他表示中国在南海建设的岛礁周边水域以及上空宣示主权“是错的”，北京不应该要别人离开那个地区以避免冲突。
Western media reported that Duterte's remarks in a speech to the audience that included the American ambassador and other foreign guests were rare public criticism of China.
有西方媒体渲染说，杜特尔特对商业领袖发表演讲时对中国发出“罕见批评”，当时台下听他讲话的还包括美国大使和其他外国宾客。
From the Western media's reports on Duterte's speech, it was apparent to us that Duterte was merely elaborating on Manila's consistent attitude. There are disputes over territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea and the positions of the involving parties have been remaining unchanged.
仔细读西方媒体对杜特尔特演讲的报道，我们的感觉是，杜特尔特阐述的是马尼拉的一贯态度。南海存在领土主权和海洋权益争议，各方对那些争议的立场都未曾变化。
However, the Philippines has changed its radical approach to disputes with China since Duterte took office. It has shown the willingness to water down the differences and make bilateral cooperation the main theme of the China-Philippine relations.
但是自杜特尔特掌权以来，菲律宾改变了以往与中国开展争议的激进做法，它表现出愿意淡化双方分歧、让两国合作重新成为中菲关系主旋律的意愿。
We noticed that Duterte praised the China-Philippine economic cooperation in his speech on Tuesday. He said that the Philippines has improved its economic relations with China, and China has not asked for anything from the Philippines.
我们注意到，杜特尔特在星期二的演讲中同时赞扬了中菲经济合作，他表示菲律宾改善了与中国的经济关系，而中国并没有向菲律宾索求什么。
Duterte's speech showed no signs of intensifying the territorial disputes with China or placing such disputes above the promotion of economic cooperation between the two countries. If Duterte merely explained his attitude on the territorial issues to the American ambassador and business leaders, the impact and consequences would be different from the Philippines’ readiness to put this attitude into new action.
通过杜特尔特的这次演讲，我们看不出菲律宾方面有重新激化中菲领土纷争、将之放在推进两国经济合作之上的迹象。如果杜特尔特仅仅是面对美国大使和商界领袖做一次针对领土问题态度的阐释，与菲方准备将这一态度付诸新的行动比起来，所产生的影响和后果会是不一样的。
Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines Alan Cayetano explained Duterte's speech on Wednesday. He said that Duterte's speech shows the Philippines feels closer to China, because the two sides can express each other’s feeling better with closer relations. He also said that Duterte hopes the disputes over the South China Sea are only part of China-Philippine relations.
菲律宾外长卡耶塔诺星期三对杜特尔特的讲话作了解释，他说杜特尔特的演讲表明菲律宾与北京的关系更亲密了，因为彼此越是亲密越能互相表明感情。他还说，杜特尔特希望围绕南海的争端只是中菲关系的一部分。
Still, President Duterte’s speech is confusing. Instead of building new islands in the South China Sea, China only expanded the original islands and reefs and built necessary infrastructure on them. Vietnam and the Philippines took similar actions in the Nansha Islands in a smaller scale due to their limited technical capabilities.
尽管这样，杜特尔特总统阐释的内容还是有问题的。中国并非在南海上凭空造岛，而是扩建了原有岛礁，并且在上面建设了必要的基础设施。越南菲律宾都在南沙有过类似行动，尽管它们因为技术能力的限制，工程规模要小一些。
There is no problem with free navigation in the South China Sea. The problem is that the US military aircraft and ships always harass the adjacent airspace and waters of the Chinese islands though the South China Sea is massive. This is a deliberately targeted and provocative action. For example, would you feel annoying if someone constantly waves in front of your eyes and nearly touches your face?
南海的自由航行始终没有问题，问题是南海那么大，美军飞机和舰艇一去南海就到中国岛礁的邻近空域和水域骚扰，有很强的针对性，是彻头彻尾的挑衅。一个人总拿手在你眼前挥来挥去，虽然没碰到你的脸，但这种行为是不是很讨厌？
Duterte was worried that "one of these days a hothead commander there will just press a trigger." We think it is appropriate to send his warning to the US military. China's islands and reefs are already there. It is the most important to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea if the US military can stop showing off muscles and playing “edge ball”.
杜特尔特表示担心：将来有一天那里会有一个鲁莽的指挥官就这么扣下了扳机。我们认为，他的这一警告应当多对美国军人去说。中国的岛礁已经在那里，美军少来展示肌肉，少打危险的擦边球，对保持南海和平稳定最重要。
At present, the situation in the South China Sea has been effectively controlled under the joint efforts of the surrounding countries. The situation will become dangerous if extra territorial countries, especially the US, implement risky South China Sea policy.
现在南海局势总的来说在域内国家的共同努力下得到了有效管控，未来的危险主要在域外国家、尤其是美国是否会推行更加冒险的南海政策上。
Countries in the region will benefit the most from the peace and stability in the South China Sea. On the contrary, all countries in the region will lose in the event of new turmoil. Countries outside the region such as the US can leverage the region with the intensified disputes in the South China Sea to maximize their interests. All countries in the region are aware of this.
南海的和平与稳定，域内国家是最大受益者。一旦出现新动荡，域内国家必将皆输。而美国等域外国家则可以利用南海纷争的激化来撬动这个地区，实现它们的利益最大化。这个道理恐怕域内国家都心照不宣。
Some countries in the South China Sea have always been tempted to use the US' strategic conception of the South China Sea to engage in a "balance" between China and the US. By doing so, they can attract the US to offer more support and assistance and gain the maximum benefits from major powers. But it is very difficult to strike such "balance" and in some cases it’s like to pull the chestnut out of fire.
南海一些域内国家始终面临一种诱惑，那就是利用美方的南海战略构思，通过在中美间搞“平衡”，吸引美国更重视它们，向它们提供更多支持和援助，从而实现在大国中间左右逢源的利益最大化。但要指出，使这样的利用“恰到好处”是很难的，在有些时候，它们相当于火中取栗。
All countries in the region should neither provide any opportunity for countries outside the regions to add military tension in the South China by leverage, nor encourage those countries to conduct military activities in the South China Sea. This should be the bottom line for all parties to promote a balanced strategy among major powers. This is also the common interest of all countries in the South China Sea.
所有域内国家不应为域外国家制造南海的军事紧张提供支点及杠杆，也不应鼓励域外国家单独在南海开展军事冒险行动，这应当是各方推动在大国间平衡战略的底线。这也是所有域内国家共同利益之所在。
President Duterte has long demonstrated the rationality in dealing with the territorial disputes between China and the Philippines and the friendly cooperation between the two countries. We believe his wisdom will continue and flourish in the future.
杜特尔特总统长期展现了在处理中菲领土争议和两国友好合作彼此关系上的理性。我们相信，他的这一大智慧会在他的未来任期里继续发扬光大。
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