国防部：航行不是“横行” 自由不能妄为
Ministry of National Defense: Freedom of Navigation does not Mean Willful Trespassing
5月30日下午，国防部举行例行记者会，国防部新闻局局长、国防部新闻发言人吴谦大校答记者问。
记者：美国防部近日发布2023财年“航行自由”报告，从2022年10月1日至2023年9月30日，美方共挑战包括中国在内的17个国家或地区的29项“过度海洋主张”。请问对此有何评论？
Question: The US Department of Defense recently released its Freedom of Navigation Report for Fiscal Year 2023. According to the report, during the period from October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023, US forces operationally challenged 29 different “excessive maritime claims” advanced by 17 different countries and regions including China. What’s your comment on this?
吴谦：美方所谓“航行自由”是个伪命题。举个例子，南海是世界上航行最自由、最安全的海域之一，美方却一再拿“航行自由”说事，这是毫无道理的，其目的不过是借此插手地区事务、维护美霸权而已。中方一贯尊重各国依据包括《联合国海洋法公约》在内的国际法享有的航行和飞越自由，但航行不是“横行”，自由不能妄为。我们坚决反对“横行自由”，坚决反对任何国家以“航行自由”为名进行侵权挑衅，损害沿岸国主权和安全，危害地区和平与稳定。
Wu Qian: The so-called “freedom of navigation” is a false narrative. Take the South China Sea as an example, it is untenable for the US to make an issue of “freedom of navigation” when the South China Sea is one of the world’s freest and safest waters for navigation. The true purpose of the US is to use it as an excuse for meddling in regional affairs and maintaining its own hegemony. The Chinese side always respects the freedom of navigation and overflight entitled to countries under international law including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). However, there is a huge difference between navigation and trespassing and between freedom and willfulness. We firmly stand against “willful trespassing” and oppose any country conducting unlawful provocations in the name of “freedom of navigation” to harm the sovereignty and security of coastal countries and undermine regional peace and stability.
遇到问题，不沟通不交流，单方面硬干蛮干，这是美方的一个老毛病了，现在确实有必要改一改了。我们要求美方切实尊重地区国家主权和安全，不要一意孤行、兴风作浪。中国军队将采取坚决措施，坚定捍卫国家主权和安全，坚定维护地区和平稳定。
The US liked to choose aggressive and reckless actions over communication when problems occur, and they do need to change this old habit now. We ask the US side to earnestly respect the sovereignty and security of regional countries, and stop provoking troubles and walking down the wrong path. The PLA will take resolute measures to firmly safeguard our national sovereignty and security and maintain regional peace and stability.