美國防部長訪問中國參觀遼寧艦

China's military opened its doors on Monday to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, offering America's top defense official a rare look at its new aircraft carrier.

中國軍方週一打開大門接待美國國防部長哈格爾(Chuck Hagel)，爲這位美國最高防務官員提供了一次難得的參觀中國新航空母艦的機會。

The two-hour visit was the first China has granted to a foreign official seeking a close view of the Liaoning, a refurbished Ukrainian ship that is the centerpiece of the county's naval ambitions.

這次歷時兩個小時的參觀是中國第一次授權外國官員近距離觀察遼寧艦。這艘航空母艦進口自烏克蘭，經過了翻修，是中國實現其海洋抱負的重要一環。

The U.S. ambassador to China, former Sen. Max Baucus, and top Pentagon officials joined Mr. Hagel on the tour during the defense secretary's first visit to China since taking command at the Pentagon a year ago.

美國駐華大使、前參議員鮑卡斯(Max Baucus)和數名五角大樓高級官員與哈格爾一道參觀了遼寧艦。這是哈格爾一年前就任美國國防部長以來第一次訪華。

The visit provided American officials with a rare opportunity to assess the capabilities of the Liaoning and Chinese military development. Chinese officials compared their carrier development to the beginning of the American carrier fleet in the early 1900s, U.S. officials said.

這次參觀爲美國官員提供了一次難得的評估遼寧艦和中國軍力發展狀況的機會。美國官員們說，中國官員將中國的航母發展與20世紀初期美國航母艦隊的初建階段相提並論。

'They know they have a long way to go in naval aviation,' said one defense official traveling with Mr. Hagel.

與哈格爾一同訪華的一名防務官員說，中國官員知道他們在海軍航空方面還有很長的路要走。

The official praised China for allowing Mr. Hagel to visit the ship as a milestone in military openness.

該官員稱讚中國允許哈格爾登艦的做法是軍事開放的里程碑。

The tour came hours after Mr. Hagel delivered a pointed message to China about its relationship with its neighbors.

而就在數小時之前，哈格爾剛剛就中國與鄰國之間的關係發表了尖銳評論。

Over the weekend in Tokyo, Mr. Hagel chided China over its long-standing disputes with its neighbors over control of waters in islands in the East China Sea and South China Sea.

週末期間，哈格爾在東京指責中國在東中國海(East China Sea, 中國稱東海)和南中國海(South China Sea, 中國稱南海)島嶼主權問題上與鄰國陷入長期糾紛。

The Liaoning, named after the northeastern Chinese province where it is based, isn't yet considered operationally effective. Pilots are still learning how to take off from and land on the aircraft carrier, and it lacks the full complement of technologically sophisticated support ships that characterize U.S. carrier groups.

遼寧艦以該艦基地所在的東北部省份取名，尚沒有作戰能力。飛行員仍在學習如何在航母上起飛和降落，該艦也缺乏像美國航母羣那樣的技術成熟的支持性艦船。

Still, the Liaoning serves as a symbol of China's regional ambitions and growing military might. In November, the Philippines warned that the Liaoning's first training mission in the South China Sea could aggravate regional tensions.

但遼寧艦是中國的地區雄心和軍事實力增強的象徵。去年11月，菲律賓警告稱，遼寧艦在南中國海的首次訓練可能會加劇地區緊張局勢。

A Chinese company purchased the carrier's empty hull from Ukraine in 1998, and the refurbished carrier made its first sea trial under Chinese control in August 2011.

1998年一家中國公司從烏克蘭購買了航空母艦的空殼，2011年8月份，這艘重新改造過的中國航母首次出海試航。