台北：美国国务院表示，中国在台湾东海岸的海上活动“严重破坏了地区稳定”，并进一步加剧了紧张局势。此前，路透社曾报道称今年8月首次在该海域发现中国民兵船只的踪迹。
TAIPEI: China's maritime actions off Taiwan's east coast are "deeply destabilising" and only worsen tension, the US State Department said, after Reuters reported the first known sighting of a Chinese militia boat in those waters in August. China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, has stepped up activity off the island's east coast since June with regular coast guard patrols.
中国将台湾视为自己的领土，自6月以来一直在台湾东海岸加强海上巡逻活动（主要由海岸警卫队执行）。
Officials in Taiwan, which rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, say they believe China is practicing for a possible maritime blockade using overlapping military, paramilitary and civilian assets.
台湾方面官员拒绝接受北京的主权主张，他们认为中国正在利用军事力量、准军事组织及民用资源为可能的海上封锁做准备。
Taipei regards the area off its east coast as critical to wartime supply routes from allies in the event of a blockade or conflict.
台北方面认为，台湾东海岸海域对于在发生封锁或冲突时与盟国之间的补给路线至关重要。
The United States remains concerned by China's activity east of Taiwan, a State Department spokesperson said, responding to a question on the sighting of the militia boat.
美国国务院发言人回应有关民兵船只的报道时表示，美国对中国在台湾东海岸的活动仍感到担忧，并补充称：“中国的行为严重破坏了地区稳定。”
"China's actions are deeply destabilising," the spokesperson added.
发言人还指出：“中国试图对台湾多年来和平管理的海域行使管辖权，这不仅加剧了紧张局势，也违背了其所谓‘寻求和平解决问题’的立场。”美国敦促北京停止对台湾的施压，转而与台湾民主选举产生的当局进行“有意义的对话”。
"By asserting authorities around maritime areas that Taiwan has peacefully administered for over 70 years, China only exacerbates tensions and undermines the peaceful resolution of issues that it claims to seek." The US urges Beijing to cease its pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in "meaningful dialogue with Taiwan's democratically elected authorities", the spokesperson added.
中国外交部尚未立即对这一声明作出回应。中国不承认台湾对周边海域的任何主权主张。
China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China recognises no claims of sovereignty by Taiwan, including over waters surrounding it.
美国是台湾最重要的国际支持者，不过唐纳德·特朗普总统尚未批准向台湾出售价值140亿美元的新武器装备的方案。
The US is Taiwan's most important international backer, though President Donald Trump has yet to approve a new US$14 billion arms sale package for the island.
台湾海岸警卫队在关于那艘民兵船只及其伴随船只的声明中称，所有相关活动均发生在“非限制水域”内。
Taiwan's Coast Guard said in a statement about the militia boat and its accompanying vessels that their activities were all located outside of "restricted waters".
这一做法可追溯至20世纪50年代，中国的海上民兵——更常在南海热点地区出没——由渔船组成，船员接受培训和支持，在有争议水域活动，常与海警船协同行动。
In a practice dating to the 1950s, China's maritime militia, more commonly seen around South China Sea flashpoints, consists of fishing vessels whose crews receive training and support to operate in disputed waters, often alongside coast guard ships.
6月，英国、法国、德国和美国均对中国在台湾东海岸的活动表示关切，认为这对地区稳定和航行自由构成威胁。
In June, Britain, France, Germany and the US, all expressed concern over Chinese activities off Taiwan's east coast as a threat to regional stability and freedom of navigation.