2017考研英语拓展阅读：越南在南沙日积礁开挖新航道

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　　2017考研英语拓展阅读：越南在南沙日积礁开挖新航道

　　Vietnam is reported to have discreetly started dredging work on a disputed reef in the South China Sea in an apparent move to showcase its claims against the bigger rival, China. Satellite images show activities by Hanoi on Ladd Reef in the Spratly Islands, which is feared to trigger Beijing’s anger.

　　据报道，越南正悄悄地在南海的一个充满争议的岛礁上开挖，显然是想向比其强大的邻国——中国宣告主权。卫星图片显示，越南正在该群岛的日积礁上活动，此举可能引起中国的不满。

　　The reef, which is also claimed by Taiwan, is located on the southwestern fringe of the island- where Vietnam already has a lighthouse and a small military outpost.

　　日积礁位于南沙群岛的西南边缘，除越南外，台湾也曾声称对其拥有主权。越南已经在这儿修建了一座灯塔，并部署了一个小型军事前哨。

　　Satellite pictures, provided by US-based satellite firm, Planet Labs on 30 November, show newly dug channels between the lagoon and open sea as well as several vessels in a carved out embankment along the reef’s edge.

　　美国一家卫星公司Planet Labs 于11月30日提供的卫星照片图像显示，在日积礁海湾与外海之间，已经出现一个新开挖的航道，有几艘挖泥船正在岛礁外围施工。

　　Whether the vessels deployed there belong to Vietnam is not clearly visible in the images. But, it is thought that Hanoi is unlikely to let any other claimant to carry out construction work at the reef.

　　从图片上难以清楚判断这些挖泥船是否属于越南，不过，据说越南不允许其他国家在日积礁施工。

　　It could also not be ascertained why Hanoi is carrying out dredging work on the reef, but it is reported that such similar activity in the past has led to more widespread construction work on other reefs.

　　至于施工的目的，目前也不能完全确定，但报道称，过去也有类似的开挖工程，主要是为了在其它岛礁上进行更大规模的建设工程。

　　"We can see that, they are rapidly improving their defenses," Trevor Hollingsbee, a retired naval intelligence analyst with Britain’s defense ministry told Reuters. "They’re doing everything they can to fix any vulnerabilities - and that outpost at Ladd Reef does look a vulnerability."

　　前英国国防部海军情报分析员特雷弗.霍灵斯比在接受路透社采访时表示，“我们可以发现，越南在迅速的加固岛礁的防务，日积礁上的前哨显得很虚弱，越南在尽全力巩固日积礁的防卫。”

　　Vietnam is yet to officially comment on its activity.

　　越南国防部尚未对此作任何评论。

　　Earlier in August, Vietnam had equipped several islands with mobile rocket artillery launchers that were said to be capable of striking China and its vessels across the strategic waterway.

　　早在今年8月，越南在南沙群岛的数个岛礁上设置了机动火箭炮装置，据称中国占据的南沙群岛的岛礁和通航要道在火箭炮的射程之内。

　　However, it is not clear how far Hanoi’s activity on the reef would go this time, said Greg Poling, aSouth China Sea expert at Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies. He believes it could just be an attempt by Hanoi to improve access for supply ships and fishing boats, rather than an objective to renovate the island to use it as a base.

　　美国智库战略与国际问题研究中心南海问题专家克雷格.波林则表示，日积礁上的施工将达到什么程度尚不明确，他认为越南可能只是希望提升该岛对来往船只和渔民的补给能力，而不是建立一个新的基地。

　　He added that Ladd Reef could also, in theory, play a role in helping Vietnam’s defend its claims in the nearby Spratly Island, where a runway is being improved and new hangars are built.

　　波林还表示，日积礁可能对越占南沙岛礁的防卫理论上有所帮助，越南正在岛礁上建造新的跑道和机库。

　　"Vietnam’s knows it can’t compete with China but it does want to improve its ability to keep an eye on them," Reuters quoted Poling as saying.

　　路透社援引波林的话说，“越南知道他们与中国无法抗衡，但还是希望提升对南沙岛礁的监控能力。”

　　Vietnam has long been anxious if renewed Chinese military action would target Vietnam and drive the country off its 21 holding in the Spratly Islands.

　　长期以来，越南都在担心中国凭借日益增长的海上军事实力将他们从目前所占21个南沙岛礁上赶走。