中国国防部周三宣布，中国海军派遣辽宁舰航母编队前往西太平洋进行联合军事训练，日本预计将密切关注此次演习。
The Chinese Navy sent its Liaoning aircraft carrier flotilla for joint military training in the western Pacific, the Defense Ministry in Beijing announced Wednesday, with Japan expected to keep a watchful eye on the drills.
国防部在一份简短声明中表示，演习是“按照年度常规训练计划组织进行，旨在检验和提升编队的实战化训练水平，持续增强执行任务的能力。”声明强调，演习“符合相关国际法和惯例，不针对任何特定国家或目标。”声明未提供更多细节，但近年来中国海军已多次派遣兵力深入西太平洋，引发东京的担忧，因为该地区的行动被一些日本防务官员称为“暴露的侧翼”。
The ministry said in a brief statement that the exercises are being “organized in accordance with the annual routine training plan, aiming to test and improve the group’s realistic training level and continuously enhance the capabilities to execute missions.”It emphasized that the drills are “in compliance with relevant international law and practices and not directed against any specific country or target.”The statement did not offer further details, but the Chinese Navy has in recent years sent its forces deep into the western Pacific, triggering concern in Tokyo as it operates in the area — one some Japanese defense officials have said is an exposed flank.
该地区演习频率的提升导致中日军方近距离接触事件增加，最近一次事件发生在今年6月。
The increased tempo of drills there has prompted a rise in close encounters between the Chinese military and the Self-Defense Forces, with the most recent incident occurring in June.
在此次事件中，北京指责东京在辽宁舰航母编队进行超过40天的“远海战斗训练”时，实施了“危险”的近距离侦察和“挑衅性骚扰”。
In that encounter, Beijing accused Tokyo of “dangerous” close-in reconnaissance and “provocative harassment” during more than 40 days of “far-sea combat training” by the Liaoning flotilla.
日本防卫省联合参谋部驳斥了这些指控，承诺将“继续保持冷静和坚定的立场，将安全置于首位，同时在日本周边海域和空域专业且认真地开展监视和监控。”去年12月，辽宁舰载战机在冲绳县东南部国际上空两次对日本航空自卫队战机实施雷达锁定。
The Japanese Defense Ministry’s Joint Staff Office refuted those claims, pledging to “continue to maintain a calm and resolute stance, prioritizing safety above all else, while professionally and diligently conducting surveillance and monitoring in the waters and airspace surrounding Japan.”Last December, fighter jets from the Liaoning carrier twice locked their radar on Air Self-Defense Force aircraft over international waters southeast of Okinawa Prefecture.
去年夏天，中国还曾派遣辽宁舰及另一艘航母深入西太平洋，并多次让战机接近日本军机——东京方面表示，此举存在碰撞风险。
In the summer of last year, China also dispatched the Liaoning and another of its aircraft carriers deep into the western Pacific and sent its warplanes near Japanese aircraft multiple times — moves that Tokyo said risked collisions.
然而，自去年11月首相高市早苗发表言论称日本可能在台海危机中假设性地进行军事干预以来，中日关系已跌至数十年来的最低点。尽管如此，东京一直在采取审慎——但坚定——的做法，以避免与北京的任何升级。
Still, Tokyo has been taking a cautious — if firm — approach to avoiding any escalation with Beijing, after ties plummeted to their lowest point in decades following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks last November that Japan could hypothetically intervene militarily in a Taiwan crisis.
中国声称民主的台湾是其领土的一部分，并誓言必要时将以武力将其纳入其控制之下。东京的许多政策制定者认为，任何针对台湾的行动也代表着对日本的生存威胁。
China claims democratic Taiwan as its own and has vowed to bring it under its control, by force if necessary. Many policymakers in Tokyo view any moves against Taiwan as also representing an existential threat to Japan.