4月12日下午，国防部新闻局局长、国防部新闻发言人吴谦大校就近期涉军问题发布消息。

记者：近日，美日澳菲在南海举行首次联合海上演习。四国防长在联合声明中宣称，此举旨在展示加强合作的“集体承诺”。另据报道，美日菲领导人近日举行三方峰会，美方称任何对菲飞机、船只或武装部队的攻击将触发《美菲共同防御条约》。有评论认为，这旨在抵消中国在该地区日益增长的经济、外交和军事影响力。请问中方对此有何评论？

Question: The US, Japan, Australia and the Philippines held their first joint maritime exercise in the South China Sea recently. In a joint statement, the defense leaders of the four countries claimed that the move was to demonstrate “collective commitment” to strengthen cooperation. In addition, it is reported that during a recent trilateral summit of the leaders of the US, Japan and the Philippines, the US side stated that any attack on Philippine aircraft, vessels or armed forces would invoke the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. Some believe that this act aims at offsetting China’s growing economic, diplomatic and military influence in this region. What’s your take on that?

吴谦：中方一贯认为，任何国家间的防务合作都不应针对其他特定国家，都不应损害地区和平稳定。中方在南海的有关活动合理合法、无可非议。反而是个别域外国家频繁派遣舰机到南海炫耀武力，拉拢盟友搞针对中方的“小圈子”，甚至拿触发所谓共同防御条约威胁、胁迫中方，这是不负责任的，也是极为危险的。

Wu Qian: We uphold that defense cooperation between countries should not target any specific country or undermine regional peace and stability. China’s relevant activities in the South China Sea are justified, lawful and beyond reproach. On the contrary, certain non-regional country frequently sends military vessels and aircraft to the South China Sea to flex muscles, gather its allies to build up “small cliques” against China, and even threatens and coerces China with the so-called mutual defense treaty. These acts are irresponsible and extremely dangerous.

南海是地区国家的共同家园。我们一贯主张通过对话协商妥善处理分歧，坚决反对外部势力介入，坚决反对挑衅滋事制造地区紧张局势。近段时间以来，菲方一方面拉拢域外势力介入，侵闯中国南沙群岛有关岛礁，另一方面开动宣传机器炒作所谓中方“以大欺小”，伪装成受害者四处碰瓷卖惨，中方对此坚决反对。解决南海问题要讲道理，而不是比大小。中方从不以大欺小，但也绝不会任凭菲方无理取闹。在捍卫国家主权安全问题上，中国军队一向说到做到。

The South China Sea is a shared home for countries in the region. We stay committed to resolving differences properly through dialogue and consultation and are firmly opposed to external interference and provocations that create regional tensions. Recently, the Philippine side, on the one hand, induced external forces to interfere in the South China Sea issue and intruded into relevant islands and reefs of China’s Nansha Qundao; on the other hand, it activated its propaganda machine against China to hype up the so-called “the big bullying the small” and played victim. The Chinese side is strongly opposed to this. The settlement of the South China Sea issue should be based on reasons, not sizes. China never bullies other countries. At the same time, we will never allow the Philippine side to act willfully. You can count on the Chinese military to keep our word on safeguarding national sovereignty and security.