澳洲計劃建造12艘新潛水艇

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

中国海洋進出に抑止力、豪が潜水艦１２隻建造へ

【ジャカルタ＝梁田真樹子】オーストラリア政府は３日、「国防白書」を発表した。

　太平洋海域で米中の角逐が深まる中、中国の挑発行為などに対する抑止力を高めるため、新型または改良型の潜水艦１２隻の建造を目指す方針を示した。

　国防白書の発表は２００９年以来。当初は１４年の発表を予定していたが、中国が海洋進出を強め、同盟国である米国がアジア太平洋重視の姿勢を鮮明にするなど、地域の戦略環境が変化していることを受け、発表を１年前倒しした。

　白書では、インドから東南アジア、北東アジアにかけてのインド洋から太平洋にまたがる地域を、豪州にとって戦略的な「焦点」と位置づけた。潜水艦建造に加え、電子戦機「ＥＡ―１８Ｇグラウラー」１２機の購入計画も盛り込んだ。

（2013年5月3日20時41分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

On the 3rd the Australia government released the "National Defense White Paper".

While the U.S.- China struggle had deepened in the Pacific Ocean area, in order to heighten the deterrent to the China’s provocative action etc., a plan which aimed at the construction of 12 advanced new model submarines was shown.

This announcement of the national-defense white paper was the first time since 2009. Although the announcement was planned for 2014, it was moved forward for one year because China was strengthening its advance at the ocean, and that the U.S. was showing a posture of focusing on Asia-Pacific with its alliance in response to the fact that the strategic environment of the area was changing.

In the white paper, the area at the Pacific Ocean from the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia and from India to Northeast Asia was regarded as the strategic "focus" of Australia. In addition to the submarine construction, the plan to purchase 12 electronic warfare machines "EA-18G Growler" was also incorporated.

It seems that the military situation in South-east Asia is changing gradually.