山菊知秋
秋風起深壑，秋葉舞商弦。 我在山頭坐，靜觀秋月圓。
危險的寒暄：當中美戰艦在南海遭遇
(翻譯：Cindy Hao)
美國軍艦切斯勞維爾號上，南中國海——當這艘海軍巡洋艦駛入有爭議的斯普拉特利群島（Spratly Islands，中國稱之為南沙群島——譯注）附近海域時，船上的內部通話係統響起了威脅的警告：“史奴比隊走開...史奴比隊走開。”（原文為Snoopie，英文中無此詞，但它與卡通狗“史奴比”[Snoopy]同音——譯注）
隨著“史奴比隊”的水手們進入戒備狀態、在船上各就各位，一艘中國海軍護衛艦出現在地平線上，護衛艦從“惡作劇礁”（Mischief Reef的直譯，中國稱之為美濟礁）方向朝著切斯勞維爾號巡洋艦駛來，這就發生在上周。更令人震驚的是，從這艘護衛艦上起飛的一架中國直升機朝著美國巡洋艦徑直飛來。
在發現中國軍艦開始尾隨時，英塞恩·吉安卡納向那艘軍艦發出訊息。
“這是美國海軍艦艇進行防衛，”海軍少尉安東尼·吉安卡納(Anthony Giancana)在艦艇的駕駛台上對著無線電話機說，他在試圖與那架直升機聯係。“到121.5或243頻率接收。”
隨之而來的是不祥感，對方毫無反應。
在斯普拉特利群島及帕拉塞爾群島（Paracel Islands，中國稱之為西沙群島——譯注）附近，圍繞著珊瑚礁、沙洲和小砂礁的熱帶蔚藍海洋上，中美兩國在爭奪太平洋的主導地位。從美濟礁到斯卡伯勒淺灘(Scarborough Shoal，中國稱之為黃岩島——譯注)，兩國的海軍幾乎處於連續的警戒狀態。在美濟礁，中國不顧越南和菲律賓的主權主張，正在修建軍事基地，而在遠離大陸的有爭議的斯卡伯勒淺灘，中國人正在建設和裝備前哨。
(在中國南海的航行中，美海軍士兵在清洗切斯勞維爾號甲板上的 MH-60 )
雖然南中國南延伸到距離中國大陸800多公裏的地方，但北京已表示對其大部分擁有主權。緊張局勢已變得愈發嚴峻，這預計是美國總統奧巴馬與中國國家主席習近平本周在華盛頓會麵時的主要議題。
南中國海是世界上最繁忙航道之一，美國的目標是保持它對所有的海上交通開放。但是，美國政府官員越來越擔心，如果在未來幾個月裏，海牙的一個仲裁小組對菲律賓2013年提交的一起案子做出人們所預期的裁決的話，那裏的緊張局勢隻會加劇，當時菲律賓指責中國對南海大部分水域提出“過度主權要求”。
兩周前，在五角大樓，參謀長聯席會議主席小約瑟夫·F·鄧福德上將(Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr.)在與奧巴馬的國家安全團隊就中國在太平洋擴張問題召開會議的前一天，與美國太平洋司令部司令、海軍上將小哈裏·B·哈裏斯(Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr.)以及國防部長阿什頓·B·卡特(Ashton B. Carter)在會議接待處進行了交流。
“你會為斯卡伯勒淺灘開戰嗎？”鄧福德問哈裏斯，他們的對話被記者聽到了一點。海軍上將哈裏斯如何回答這個問題，記者沒聽見。
白宮和五角大樓已經明確表示，他們不希望與中國就一群無人居住的小島打仗。但白宮也不想把南中國海割讓給中國，如果北京在其目前的道路上走下去的話，這正是政府官員們擔心將會發生的情況。奧巴馬的國家情報主管詹姆斯·R·克拉珀(James R. Clapper)上個月對參議院軍事委員會表示，到明年年初，中國將“擁有在該地區快速投射大量軍事力量的顯著能力”。
這會意味著，其他國家可能最終需要得到中國政府的允許，才能穿越這片繁忙的海洋。
所以，就目前而言，奧巴馬政府正在派海軍到斯普拉特利群島、以及該海域其他有爭議島嶼附近巡邏，以闡明這片海洋對所有人自由開放的觀點。海軍官員表示，在過去的一年裏，美國在該海域進行了700多次巡邏。三周前，航空母艦約翰·C·斯坦尼斯號(John C. Stennis)和4艘美國軍艦駛入南中國海進行例行演習，據五角大樓官員說，目的是傳達美國是該地區的主要軍事力量的信息。
上周在切斯勞維爾號上，由於中國直升機飛行員拒絕回答，時間隨著緊張氣氛的增長而顯得越來越漫長。直升機在上麵不停地盤旋，最終返回了中國護衛艦，而護衛艦則繼續向美國軍艦駛來。在中國直升機逼近時，指揮官科爾特·A·倫肖(Capt. Curt A. Renshaw)海軍上校沒來得及淋浴就跑到駕駛台上來，與軍官們商量對策。
一天前，倫肖船長曾通過船上的內部通話係統提醒所有人，切斯勞維爾號將從斯普拉特利群島經過，他告訴全體船員保持警覺，警惕可能發生的情況。他早就預期中國人會出現，近幾個月來，北京方麵對敢於進入南中國海的美國軍艦采取了跟蹤的做法。
(在切斯勞維爾號遇到一艘中國軍艦時，25歲的英塞恩·安東尼·吉安卡納查看了一本海軍艦船的指南。)
在船長座椅旁的一個台子上有一本《簡氏戰艦》，頁麵打開在第144頁，上麵是“中國護衛艦”。
“你以前被跟蹤過嗎？”倫肖船長問導航員克莉斯汀·閔(Kristine Mun)海軍少尉。他又轉身向奈爾斯·李(Niles Li)海軍少尉大聲詢問，中國直升機為何拒絕回答無線電發出的信息，李少尉是船上會說中文的幾名軍官之一。
最終，當中國護衛艦進入10公裏距離以內、在地平線上用肉眼就清晰可見後，艦對艦無線電報機伴隨著一秒一秒地報時，劈啪地響起了帶著口音的英語。“美國海軍62艦。.....這是中國海軍575艦。”
於是，一場小心翼翼的外交舞蹈開始了。
“這是美國海軍62艦。早上好，先生。今天是個海上的好日子。完畢。”
沒有回應。
“這是美國海軍62艦。早上好，先生。今天是個很好的出海日子。完畢。”
仍然沒有回應。
倫肖船長轉向李少尉說，“該你了。他們總不能假裝聽不懂中文。”
“中國海軍575艦，這是美國海軍62艦，”李少尉用中文說。“今天是海上航行的一個陽光燦爛的日子。完畢。”
好幾分鍾過去了。上午在甲板上執勤的安東尼·吉安卡納海軍少尉有點越來越坐立不安。“這點像比賽開始的那天，”他自言自語道。“我們已經完成了春訓。”
突然，無線電報機再次劈啪作響起來，傳來了護衛艦用中文的回應：“美國海軍62艦，這是中國海軍575艦。今天的天氣真不錯。很高興在海上遇到你。”
李少尉仍用中文回應道：“這是美國海軍62艦。天氣的確不錯。也很高興遇到你。完畢。”
（在發現中國軍艦開始尾隨時，英塞恩·吉安卡納向那艘軍艦發出訊息。）
客套話交換完之後，中國軍艦改用英語談起了正事。“你們駛離母港後已經有多久了？完畢。”
倫肖船長立刻搖起頭來。“不，我們不回答這個問題。我絕不會問他這個問題。”
吉安卡納少尉再次拿起了無線電話機。“中國海軍575艦，這裏是美國海軍62艦。我們不討論我們航行時間表。不過，我們正在海上度過愉快的時間。完畢。”
兩艘軍艦就這樣在海上對峙著，它們相互交流著有關天氣的寒暄，而各自卻攜帶著導彈、魚雷和重型火炮。為了檢驗中國是否要公開跟蹤，切斯勞維爾號轉了個彎，船上的軍官們站在一旁觀望著。
之後，船上響起了來自倫肖船長另一名下級軍官的喊聲：“他剛轉了彎，長官！”切斯勞維爾號現在有了一條尾巴。但會有多久呢？
顯然，中國軍艦也想知道這個問題的答案。
“美國海軍62艦，這是中國海軍575艦，”新的通話這樣說道。“你要在海上繼續長期航行嗎？完畢。”
這又是一個不能回答的問題。把船隻預期的航行時間告訴中國人將等於承認他們有知道的權利，倫肖船長說。而這不被認為是航行自由。
“這是美國海軍62艦，”倫肖船長回應道。“收到，我們所有的航行都很短，因為我們喜歡我們在海上度過的時光，不管我們離開母港多久了。完畢。”
正像所發生的那樣，中國軍艦已有了一個現成的答案。
“美國海軍62艦，這是中國海軍575艦，“對方回答道。“明白，我將在未來幾天與你一起航行。完畢。”
這是在周二。周三，一艘中國驅逐艦替換了那艘護衛艦，並一直跟蹤美國軍艦，直到周四午夜美國軍艦離開南中國海為止。
Patrolling Disputed Waters
U.S. and China Jockey for Dominance
(By HELENE COOPER, MARCH 30, 2016)
ABOARD THE U.S.S. CHANCELLORSVILLE, in the South China Sea — The Navy cruiser was in disputed waters off the Spratly Islands when the threat warning sounded over the ship’s intercom: “Away the Snoopie team. ... Away the Snoopie team.”
As the sailors of the “Snoopie team” went on alert and took up positions throughout the ship, a Chinese naval frigate appeared on the horizon, bearing down on the cruiser Chancellorsville last week from the direction of Mischief Reef. More alarming, a Chinese helicopter that had taken off from the frigate was heading straight for the American cruiser.
“This is U.S. Navy warship on guard,” Ensign Anthony Giancana said into his radio from the ship’s bridge, trying to contact the helicopter. “Come up on Frequency 121.5 or 243.”
Ominously, there was no response.
Here in the hot azure waters off the Spratly and Paracel Islands — which encompass reefs, banks and cays — the United States and China are jockeying for dominance in the Pacific. From Mischief Reef, where China is building a military base in defiance of claims by Vietnam and the Philippines, to Scarborough Shoal, where the Chinese are building and equipping outposts on disputed territory far from the mainland, the two naval forces are on an almost continuous state of alert.
(Crew members washed an MH-60 on the flight deck of the Chancellorsville as it sailed the South China Sea. )
Although the South China Sea stretches some 500 miles from mainland China, Beijing has claimed most of it. Tensions have risen sharply, and the topic is expected to dominate President Obama’s meeting in Washington this week with the Chinese president, Xi Jinping.
America’s goal is to keep the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, open to all maritime traffic. But administration officials are increasingly worried that tensions will only worsen if an arbitration panel in The Hague rules as expected in the coming months on a 2013 case brought by the Philippines, which has accused China of making an “excessive claim” to most of the sea.
At the Pentagon two weeks ago, the day before a meeting of Mr. Obama’s national security team to discuss Chinese expansion in the Pacific, Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was talking with Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., the commander of the United States Pacific Command, in the reception area of Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter’s office.
“Would you go to war over Scarborough Shoals?” General Dunford asked Admiral Harris, in a conversation overheard by a reporter. If Admiral Harris responded, it could not be heard.
The White House and the Pentagon have made it clear that they do not want a war with China over a group of uninhabited islands.
But neither does the White House want to cede the South China Sea to China, which is what administration officials fear will happen if Beijing continues on its current course. James R. Clapper, Mr. Obama’s director of national intelligence, told the Senate Armed Services Committee last month that by early next year China would “have significant capacity to quickly project substantial military power to the region.”
That could mean that other countries might eventually need Beijing’s permission to traverse the heavily trafficked sea.
And so for the moment, the Obama administration is sending Navy patrols through the Spratlys and other disputed island chains in the region, to drive home the message that the sea is free to all. Some 700 American patrols have gone through in the past year, Navy officials say. Three weeks ago the aircraft carrier John C. Stennis and four other American warships sailed into the South China Sea for routine exercises, meant to convey the message, Pentagon officials said, that the United States is the dominant military power in the region.
Aboard the Chancellorsville last week, the minutes — and the tension — stretched out as the Chinese helicopter pilot refused to answer. The helicopter kept circling and eventually flew back to the Chinese frigate, which then continued toward the American warship. At the helm, Capt. Curt A. Renshaw, who had skipped his morning shower to race up to the bridge when the Chinese helicopter approached, huddled with his officers.
The day before, Captain Renshaw had warned the entire ship over the intercom that the Chancellorsville would be transiting through the Spratlys, and told the crew members to be on their toes and alert to trouble. He had been expecting the Chinese to show up — Beijing, in recent months, has taken to shadowing American warships that have dared to enter the South China Sea.
(Ensign Anthony Giancana, 25, of Minneapolis, searched a maritime guide to naval vessels as the Chancellorsville encountered a Chinese frigate. )
On a stand near the captain’s chair, a copy of “Jane’s Fighting Ships” was open to Page 144: “China Frigates.”
“You’ve ever been shadowed before?” Captain Renshaw asked Ensign Kristine Mun, a navigations officer. He turned to Ensign Niles Li, one of several officers who speak Chinese, and wondered aloud at the Chinese helicopter’s refusal to answer the radio message.
Finally, when the Chinese frigate was six miles away and clearly visible to the naked eye on the horizon, the ship-to-ship radio crackled with the sounds of accented English. “U.S. Navy Warship 62. ... This is Chinese Warship 575.”
And so began an elaborate diplomatic dance.
“This is U.S. Warship 62. Good morning, sir. It is a pleasant day at sea, over.”
No response.
“This is U.S. Warship 62. Good morning, sir. It is a pleasant day to be at sea, over.”
Still no response.
Captain Renshaw turned to Ensign Li. “You’re up,” he said. “They can’t pretend they don’t speak Chinese.”
“Chinese Warship 575, this is U.S. Warship 62,” Ensign Li said in Chinese. “Today is a sunny day for a sea voyage, over.”
More minutes ticked by. Ensign Anthony Giancana, the junior officer on deck for the morning, was getting antsy. “This is like Opening Day,” he said to no one in particular. “We’ve done spring training.”
Suddenly, the radio crackled again as the frigate responded in Chinese: “U.S. Warship 62, this is Chinese Warship 575. Today’s weather is great. It is a pleasure to meet you at sea.”
Ensign Li responded, also in Chinese: “This is U.S. Warship 62. The weather is indeed great. It is a pleasure to meet you, too, over.”
(Ensign Giancana directed a message to the Chinese frigate that had begun shadowing the Chancellorsville. )
Preliminaries dispensed with, the Chinese ship got down to business, switching to English. “How long have you been since departing from your home port? Over.”
Captain Renshaw was immediately shaking his head. “No, we’re not answering that. I would never ask him that.”
Ensign Giancana picked up the radio again. “Chinese Warship 575, this is U.S. Navy Warship 62. We do not talk about our schedules. But we are enjoying our time at sea, over.”
And on it went as the two warships, each loaded with missiles, torpedoes and heavy artillery, confronted each other with an exchange of weather pleasantries at sea. Testing whether the Chinese were openly following, the Chancellorsville made a turn, and its officers stood back and waited.
A shout came from another one of Captain Renshaw’s junior officers: “He just turned, sir!” The Chancellorsville now had a tail. But for how long?
Apparently the Chinese ship wanted an answer to that question as well.
“U.S. Navy Warship 62, this is Chinese Navy Warship 575,” came a new message. “Do you continue to have long-term voyage at sea? Over.”
Another no-no. Telling the Chinese the intended duration of the trip could be an inherent acknowledgment that they had the right to know, Captain Renshaw said. And that is not considered freedom of navigation.
“This is U.S. Navy Warship 62,” Captain Renshaw responded. “Roger, all of our voyages are short because we enjoy our time at sea no matter how long we are away from home. Over.”
As it happened, the Chinese ship had a ready answer for that.
“U.S. Navy Warship 62, this is Chinese Navy Warship 575,” came the reply. “Copy that I will be staying along with you for the following days. Over.”
That was Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Chinese frigate was replaced by a destroyer, which followed the Navy warship until midnight Thursday, when the American vessel exited the South China Sea.
英文原文鏈接如下（點擊藍色字）：
