4月12日下午，國防部新聞局局長、國防部新聞發言人吳謙大校就近期涉軍問題發布消息。

記者：近日，美日澳菲在南海舉行首次聯合海上演習。四國防長在聯合聲明中宣稱，此舉旨在展示加強合作的“集體承諾”。另據報道，美日菲領導人近日舉行三方峰會，美方稱任何對菲飛機、船只或武裝部隊的攻擊將觸發《美菲共同防御條約》。有評論認為，這旨在抵消中國在該地區日益增長的經濟、外交和軍事影響力。請問中方對此有何評論？

Question: The US, Japan, Australia and the Philippines held their first joint maritime exercise in the South China Sea recently. In a joint statement, the defense leaders of the four countries claimed that the move was to demonstrate “collective commitment” to strengthen cooperation. In addition, it is reported that during a recent trilateral summit of the leaders of the US, Japan and the Philippines, the US side stated that any attack on Philippine aircraft, vessels or armed forces would invoke the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. Some believe that this act aims at offsetting China’s growing economic, diplomatic and military influence in this region. What’s your take on that?

吳謙：中方一貫認為，任何國家間的防務合作都不應針對其他特定國家，都不應損害地區和平穩定。中方在南海的有關活動合理合法、無可非議。反而是個別域外國家頻繁派遣艦機到南海炫耀武力，拉攏盟友搞針對中方的“小圈子”，甚至拿觸發所謂共同防御條約威脅、脅迫中方，這是不負責任的，也是極為危險的。

Wu Qian: We uphold that defense cooperation between countries should not target any specific country or undermine regional peace and stability. China’s relevant activities in the South China Sea are justified, lawful and beyond reproach. On the contrary, certain non-regional country frequently sends military vessels and aircraft to the South China Sea to flex muscles, gather its allies to build up “small cliques” against China, and even threatens and coerces China with the so-called mutual defense treaty. These acts are irresponsible and extremely dangerous.

南海是地區國家的共同家園。我們一貫主張通過對話協商妥善處理分歧，堅決反對外部勢力介入，堅決反對挑釁滋事制造地區緊張局勢。近段時間以來，菲方一方面拉攏域外勢力介入，侵闖中國南沙群島有關島礁，另一方面開動宣傳機器炒作所謂中方“以大欺小”，偽裝成受害者四處碰瓷賣慘，中方對此堅決反對。解決南海問題要講道理，而不是比大小。中方從不以大欺小，但也絕不會任憑菲方無理取鬧。在捍衛國家主權安全問題上，中國軍隊一向說到做到。

The South China Sea is a shared home for countries in the region. We stay committed to resolving differences properly through dialogue and consultation and are firmly opposed to external interference and provocations that create regional tensions. Recently, the Philippine side, on the one hand, induced external forces to interfere in the South China Sea issue and intruded into relevant islands and reefs of China’s Nansha Qundao; on the other hand, it activated its propaganda machine against China to hype up the so-called “the big bullying the small” and played victim. The Chinese side is strongly opposed to this. The settlement of the South China Sea issue should be based on reasons, not sizes. China never bullies other countries. At the same time, we will never allow the Philippine side to act willfully. You can count on the Chinese military to keep our word on safeguarding national sovereignty and security.