China opposes Carter’s comments on construction in South China Sea

China on Saturday opposed US Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s remarks that China’s island-building activities in the South China Sea are undermining security in the Asia-Pacific region.

周六，美国防部长阿什·卡特称，中国在南海岛礁建设活动破坏亚太地区和平，中国对此表示强烈反对。

"China’s construction in the South China Sea is within China’s sovereign rights and its activities are lawful, reasonable and justified," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, following Carter’s comments on Saturday at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

周六，卡特在新加坡举行的“香格里拉对话”年会中发表上述评论，随后中国外交部发言人华春莹表示：“中国在南海的建设活动符合国家主权，建设活动合情、合理、合法。”

Hua urged the United States to keep its promise of a neutral position on the sovereignty issue and to stop harming regional peace and stability.

华春莹敦促美国在主权问题上信守中立立场的承诺，并停止损害区域和平与稳定。

The South China Sea is not a US concern, so it should act prudently and respect efforts by countries in the region to maintain peace and stability, Hua said.

华春莹表示，中国南海问题与美国无关，所以美国应该谨慎行事，并尊重该地区国家为保持和平与稳定所做的努力。

"China’s construction activities on the Nansha islands and reefs are entirely within China’s sovereignty. They are lawful, justified and reasonable and do not affect or target any particular country," Hua said.

华春莹说：“中国在南沙群岛的岛礁建设活动完全符合中国的国家主权，活动正当合法、 合情合理，不影响也不针对任何特定国家。”

The construction is aimed at strengthening the function of some islands and reefs by providing services, Hua said, adding that aside from meeting necessary defense needs, it is also geared at serving civilian purposes.

华春莹同时指出，建设活动旨在加强岛礁提供服务的作用，除了满足必要的国防需要，同时也满足民用需求。

Hua reaffirmed that China firmly upholds its sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and is opposed to words or actions that encroach on China’s sovereignty and legitimate rights and interests or affect regional peace and stability.

华春莹重申中国坚定地维护国家主权和海洋权益，反对侵犯国家主权和合法权利、影响区域和平与稳定的的言论和行为。

There has never been any issue with freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, nor will such an issue arise in the future, Hua said.

她说，不存在中国南海自由航行的议题，将来也不会出现。

Hua said the right to freedom of navigation and the air should not be abused or infringe on the sovereignty, rights and security of littoral states, which are protected by international law.

华春莹说道，海域空域自由航行权利不能滥用，也不能侵犯沿岸国家的主权、权利和安全，这是受国际法保护的。

Rather than affecting freedom of navigation, Hua said, the construction will contribute to joint responses to maritime challenges and safety of navigation in the South China Sea.

华春莹表示，岛礁建设将有助于联合应对海上挑战，有助于中国南海的航行安全，并不影响自由航行。

Hua said progress has been made in consultations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), and the COC is meant to be a set of rules for China and countries in the region rather than rules set by outsiders.

她说，关于《中国南海行为准则》的协商取得了重大成果，该准则是为中国和本区域国家制定的一套规则，而不是让区域外的人制定的规则。

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来源:CNN 英语新闻爱语吧作者:孙梦光