The US has said it plans to return to contested areas of the South China Sea, with a top military commander saying it has conducted similar operations worldwide "for decades".
美国计划重返颇有争议的南海地区，其最高军事指挥官称，美国几十年来在全世界范围内一直进行着此类维护航行自由原则的巡航。
The sailing of a US warship within an area claimed by China last week angered Beijing, which issued a warning.
美国军舰进入中国上周宣布的领土地区，这一行为引起了中国政府的不满和警告。Adm Harry Harris, speaking in Beijing, said such moves should surprise no-one. An unnamed US official earlier told Reuters similar patrols would take place at least "twice a quarter".
美军太平洋总部司令哈里斯在北京时表示，人们不应该对美方的这一行为感到吃惊。一位不具名美国政府官员早期告诉路透社，美方将每季度将至少进行两次此类巡逻。
Admiral Harris, of the US Pacific Command, said in a speech at Peking University: "We've been conducting freedom of navigation operations all over the world for decades, so no-one should be surprised by them." "Our military will continue to fly, sail, and operate whenever and wherever international law allows. The South China Sea is not - and will not - be an exception." But he also added that the operations, which he described as "routine", should "never be construed as a threat to any nation".
美军太平洋总部司令哈里斯在北京大学演讲时称：“美国几十年来一直在全世界范围内进行维护航海和飞越自由的例行巡逻，人们不应该对此类举动感到吃惊。美军将继续在任何时间、任何地点行使国际法赋予的航行和飞越自由，南海不是例外。”他还说到，他所提到的“例行巡航”不应被看作是对任何国家的威胁。His remarks came a day after US deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said ensuring freedom of navigation in the South China Sea was in the US interest. "We have a responsibility to demonstrate that we're going to be there but fostering peaceful resolutions," he added.
哈里斯发表这番讲话的前一天，美国国家安全事务副助理罗兹表示，维护美国在南海的航行自由符合美国的利益。他还说到，“我们有责任到那里，但是我们会寻求和平的解决办法。”The US and China's naval commanders spoke by video link last week after the USS Lassen's trip. China told the US that a minor incident could spark conflict in South China Sea if the US did not stop its "provocative acts".
美国拉森号军舰事件之后，中美海军指挥官在上周进行了视频对话。中方表示，如果美方不停止其“挑衅性行动”，类似的事件将在南海引起冲突。